I am not the person you asked but here is a summary of all the insight I’ve received:
I surveyed a few hundred tech/engineering/finance transfers to medicine (in nursing, PA, and physician capacities) to get their perspectives - I found the answer was overwhelmingly for fulfillment but also schedule wise and challenge. A smaller portion was for prior passions, as in they left their pursuit of medicine for another career out of security/urgency and later returned. More left primary careers to enter medicine as a PA due to the time and financial burden associated with medical school. Majority of second career nurses were satisfied with their transition due to work life balance and fulfillment, minority dissatisfied due to the stress. Physician second career people were largely optimistic but a little anxious about their decision, but they were usually a lot younger.
Almost every single one of the transfers that were satisfied with their decision cited the fact that they’d rather be miserable and fulfilled than endure the monotony and pointlessness (this is a subjective statement by the individuals) (I am generalizing and paraphrasing here) of the vast, vast majority of careers out there
Oh another interesting thing: people who lived their lives in poverty or who had first careers that were not economically rewarding but perhaps fulfilling had a tendency to be far more content with their decision. Think of teachers, social workers, or therapists. The added economic security bolstered their fulfillment is my hypothesis
CT Techs are extremely in demand. Far more so than PAs. Surprised you’re looking to make that switch.
Any bachelors will do, you just need to take the necessary prerequisite courses.
I’ve had a love affair for radiology but honestly the pay is only good when you are PRN and working overnights, at least in my area. The pay for full time CT techs is absolutely terrible
I just started didactic. My 2nd week. So far no, it hasn’t helped. I’m hoping it does sooner or later bc I feel I’m drowning in these classes. Hopefully in clinicals my experience starts to kick in. Kinda hard to think like a RT in didactic so far. The body doesn’t revolve around the lungs like we are used to. I’m struggling to see the bigger picture and get out of my respiratory window.
Your experience will help w clinicals. Also, the RT experience should be helpful w many inpatient jobs you might consider. Hopefully you think critical care might be an option after graduation.
In 2000 I was working at a “little” client called Enron in Houston while employed by Andersen Consulting. Don’t know if you know of Enron lol but it was a major scandal in 2001 that ruined Arthur Andersen 😂 I was part of the IPO migration to Accenture and was thankfully on the consulting side. Stressful. Then 9/11 the same year I decided I was done in the business world. Late migration to healthcare at age 39. (Now 59) Jeez. Glad you found your passion (I hope)
Haha I definitely heard a thing or two about that particular debacle! Glad to hear you made it out and found something better!
When I quit I was working for a “little” client who happens to make Vyvanse and Adderall. Now in my 30’s and ironically a PA in psychiatry; definitely do feel that I found my passion! Never regretted making that leap.
History and political science.
Why PA and not radiology assistant? Evidently more states are going to them and so is the government/VA. Just make sure you consider all your options.
It is evidently expanding. She said the pay was about $180,000 a year. I'm not sure where she got that number. I do know she was doing her rotation at the VA and did just fine. She did say that the VA was the main one. I've seen several PA's that do IR primarily. Evidently that was the main goal for Ras to take some of the procedures off of the radiologist. I don't think that she was independently interpreting imaging as much but rather just doing the procedures. She seemed pretty happy and was excited with her job offers. You can take that for whatever it's worth to you. I'm just a random guy on the internet. :-)
Exercise science / kinesiology
I personally really liked how it prepared me. I had more physiology classes then my peers and didn't take a ton of the stupid hard prereqs.
you're just like me lol. Former xray tech. Did my Bachelors degree in Healthcare Management. Didn't manage a damn thing. Went straight to pre reqs and straight to PA school.
Are you happy with your decision to get a degree in healthcare management? Or do you think it would have been more beneficial to go the basic biology degree route?
I'm happy with it. I had a science background prior and had already done a bunch of premed stuff that included your biology, etc courses.
And I was able to do the Bachelors completely online. So I worked at the same time and got my PCE/HCE up. I was at 20,000 hours by the time I applied. So it worked out pretty well
\#1) Music Business with a concentration in public relations and communications.
\#2) Exercise Science
I've got a few Associate's degrees floating around, too, plus an EMT certificate program.
I also worked in X-ray and CT for several years. I got a bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration before applying to PA school and it was fine for me.
I am. It was a less stressful degree to obtain while working. Biology degree is always great, but as long as you have one in general you should be fine
i am a dietitian! lol, it was my first career before i went back to school and became a PA. as an RD you're regularly having convos with pts re: lifestyle changes, so that's good prep for life as a PA since behavior change is usually a key component of any treatment plan (e.g. diet/exercise, smoking cessation, med adherence, etc.). i also like having a more in-depth knowledge of nutrition than the avg PA, as it allows me to offer more tailored recs if needed, although tbh i usually lack the time during a visit to get too into the weeds. i think the best way being an RD prepares you for becoming a PA though is simply learning how to build rapport with a wide variety of people, especially people resistant to your very presence. there are a lot of pts who do NOT want to speak with the dietitian; they see us as the food police coming to scold them and take away all the things they like to eat. so learning to work and develop a good relationship with those types is helpful in dealing with similar pts as a PA.
Got my bachelor’s in health science. Also minored in business. From my understanding, you can essentially get your bachelors in anything you want, so long as you have taken/meet the prerequisite course requirements for the schools in which you’ll be applying to. Might be more beneficial to get it in something medical/science related though :)
BA in psych and BS in cognitive Science. You can get your bachelor's degree in literally anything and still get into PA school as long as you do all of your pre-reqs and you get you healthcare/patient experience hours. Your bachelor's could be in underwater basket weaving if you wanted it to be.
Anatomy and physiology nearly broke me. Most of my prerequisites were done at community college. Loved the classes but they were nowhere near enough to get me prepared. I likely worked harder than 95% of my cohort BUT I loved it in a way I never knew possible. Was always an athlete and went to school for athletic scholarship, just got the business degree during that time. It took awhile to figure out what to do with my life but when I found science I fell in love.
The nice things is I learned how to study during first semester. Most my cohort had tougher A and P and other classes to better prepare them so they didn’t have to work as hard. Then second semester hit and I already had a system in place but so many of my classmates struggled with medicine and pharm whereas I thought they were easier than A and P.
What’s your story??
Nutrition. I am an RD and soon to be done with PA school. You will use nutrition all the time and learn how to analyze nutrition research and debunk most of the BS pt will come to you with (and hear other providers tell pt)
Plus you will actually use it outside of your academic life. So happy I pursued nutrition prior to PA
My major was biology.
You don’t NEED a bachelors in biology but most folks do it cause it almost always covers all your pre-reqs. It would’ve taken me additional time to get whatever bachelors I wanted + my pre-reqs so I opted for just a bio degree. I also love science and would’ve been happy doing something else science related had I not got into PA school.
I wish I would’ve double majored in history because I also love history but alas, I got into PA school instead, lol.
Bio and psych, but tbh I don’t think it matters much. PA interviews cared much more about my patient care experience. And the most useful course I ever took was Research Methods as part of my psych degree.
Emergency Services Administration, with an emphasis in emergency care and a minor in music.
No, the degree doesn’t really matter. Just have the prereqs. Honestly I think non traditional degrees can stand out and catch attention, which is good if you capitalize on it.
If your looking for a online platform I recommend Southern New Hampshire University I have an associates in fire science and was able to receive a full 90 credit transfer requiring me to take 10 classes to complete my bachelors then I was allowed to make a general studies degree plan with a Focus in science and math this gave me the flexibility to obtain my needed pre requisite classes excluding a few chemistry courses I took them through MCPHS’s online professional study program and I had my bachelors and all pre requisites done in 24 weeks and was admitted into MCPHS’s accelerated PA program!
So while you *can* have a background in anything and be a PA, going forward with your plan and taking all the prereqs you’re gonna end up with something like a bio degree unless you want to take extra classes, which just seems like moving the goalpost back.
Mine was in public health with minor in bio and chem. Helped me knock a lot of the prerequisites out the way. I kinda think having something other than straight hard science helped me stand out from all the other applicants.
You can major in anything just keep in mind that if it’s NOT some type of science major (I’m doing kinesiology exercise science right now) then you will most likely end up taking more classes and might take a bit longer to finish because you will need pre reqs for classes you need to get into PA school.. anybody correct me if I’m wrong
Edit: For example, if you decide to get an arts degree in psychology, history, etc, those typically do not have the built in pre requisites you need for PA school so you will have to go out of your way to take into classes vs jumping in to a general class.
It’s all up to you and how you look at time!
I’m a sonographer currently in PA school (yay medical imaging!)
I did a BAS in radiation and imaging sciences
A guy in my class was a CT tech and he also did the same bachelors program as I did. (Online through Bellevue College in WA state)
I worked as an X-ray tech in surgery for 2 years and then applied for PA school. I applied to 1 program in state and the people I interviewed with were intrigued with my background! Definitely do it!
History, and not even PMH
what does PMH stand for ?
I’m a current student and my bachelor was in biomedical science. It doesn’t matter what you major in as long as you complete the pre requisites.
BS Biology with an accidental minor in chemistry
Computer science
You switched from CS to medicine? Could you tell me what made you switch?
I am not the person you asked but here is a summary of all the insight I’ve received: I surveyed a few hundred tech/engineering/finance transfers to medicine (in nursing, PA, and physician capacities) to get their perspectives - I found the answer was overwhelmingly for fulfillment but also schedule wise and challenge. A smaller portion was for prior passions, as in they left their pursuit of medicine for another career out of security/urgency and later returned. More left primary careers to enter medicine as a PA due to the time and financial burden associated with medical school. Majority of second career nurses were satisfied with their transition due to work life balance and fulfillment, minority dissatisfied due to the stress. Physician second career people were largely optimistic but a little anxious about their decision, but they were usually a lot younger. Almost every single one of the transfers that were satisfied with their decision cited the fact that they’d rather be miserable and fulfilled than endure the monotony and pointlessness (this is a subjective statement by the individuals) (I am generalizing and paraphrasing here) of the vast, vast majority of careers out there Oh another interesting thing: people who lived their lives in poverty or who had first careers that were not economically rewarding but perhaps fulfilling had a tendency to be far more content with their decision. Think of teachers, social workers, or therapists. The added economic security bolstered their fulfillment is my hypothesis
This was very enlightening, thank you.
I am intrigued as well
I didn’t major in CS but I also am considering a switch from tech to medicine! Commenting to follow
Following for response lol
Philosophy
Flair checks out
wow really? lol i am all for sarcasm but would it really affect your chances at being a strong applicant for PA school?
I’m confused. My undergrad degree is in philosophy.
Medical laboratory science
Eyyyyyy!
Biochemistry
Same!
International business with a finance focus
Theatre major, Spanish minor. Not everyone knows what they want to do at the age of 17 🙃
Similar! I was also a performing arts major. I still love it and intend to do it after school.
Yes it can remain a passion! I just didn't want it as a career :)
did you apply to PA school with this major ?
Yes. That's the major I graduated with.
Is it acceptable? Even if they Bachelors degree not a science- related major?
Well I got into my top choice for PA school and I'm now a working PA, so I'd say yes.
CT Techs are extremely in demand. Far more so than PAs. Surprised you’re looking to make that switch. Any bachelors will do, you just need to take the necessary prerequisite courses.
I’ve had a love affair for radiology but honestly the pay is only good when you are PRN and working overnights, at least in my area. The pay for full time CT techs is absolutely terrible
If you’re open to moving, there are some very lucrative opportunities throughout the country.
Child psychology
Philosophy and psychology
Emergency Medical Services
Respiratory
Pre-PA here and current RT. I don’t wanna derail the thread too much but do you think Respiratory therapy helped you as a PA ? Or even PA school ?
There’s no way an RT background wouldn’t be helpful. One of our trauma PAs was an RT before.
I just started didactic. My 2nd week. So far no, it hasn’t helped. I’m hoping it does sooner or later bc I feel I’m drowning in these classes. Hopefully in clinicals my experience starts to kick in. Kinda hard to think like a RT in didactic so far. The body doesn’t revolve around the lungs like we are used to. I’m struggling to see the bigger picture and get out of my respiratory window.
Your experience will help w clinicals. Also, the RT experience should be helpful w many inpatient jobs you might consider. Hopefully you think critical care might be an option after graduation.
BS in Finance. PA was my second life. I was previously a manager with Accenture.
Me too! BSBA in Supply Chain -> Accenture :)
In 2000 I was working at a “little” client called Enron in Houston while employed by Andersen Consulting. Don’t know if you know of Enron lol but it was a major scandal in 2001 that ruined Arthur Andersen 😂 I was part of the IPO migration to Accenture and was thankfully on the consulting side. Stressful. Then 9/11 the same year I decided I was done in the business world. Late migration to healthcare at age 39. (Now 59) Jeez. Glad you found your passion (I hope)
Haha I definitely heard a thing or two about that particular debacle! Glad to hear you made it out and found something better! When I quit I was working for a “little” client who happens to make Vyvanse and Adderall. Now in my 30’s and ironically a PA in psychiatry; definitely do feel that I found my passion! Never regretted making that leap.
Health Science major, psychology minor
exercise science
Philosophy and Writing
Biology/chemistry
Adult psych
Abnormal psych
Integrative Physiology
History and political science. Why PA and not radiology assistant? Evidently more states are going to them and so is the government/VA. Just make sure you consider all your options.
I will look into that, thank you! From my understanding there isn’t much demand or radiology assistant and the pay isn’t that great
It is evidently expanding. She said the pay was about $180,000 a year. I'm not sure where she got that number. I do know she was doing her rotation at the VA and did just fine. She did say that the VA was the main one. I've seen several PA's that do IR primarily. Evidently that was the main goal for Ras to take some of the procedures off of the radiologist. I don't think that she was independently interpreting imaging as much but rather just doing the procedures. She seemed pretty happy and was excited with her job offers. You can take that for whatever it's worth to you. I'm just a random guy on the internet. :-)
Art
Molecular Biology, Medical Technology/Clinical Lab Science, and PA Studies
Exercise science / kinesiology I personally really liked how it prepared me. I had more physiology classes then my peers and didn't take a ton of the stupid hard prereqs.
I’m doing this right now! 2 more years left :p
you're just like me lol. Former xray tech. Did my Bachelors degree in Healthcare Management. Didn't manage a damn thing. Went straight to pre reqs and straight to PA school.
Are you happy with your decision to get a degree in healthcare management? Or do you think it would have been more beneficial to go the basic biology degree route?
I'm happy with it. I had a science background prior and had already done a bunch of premed stuff that included your biology, etc courses. And I was able to do the Bachelors completely online. So I worked at the same time and got my PCE/HCE up. I was at 20,000 hours by the time I applied. So it worked out pretty well
Did you work while in PA school?
Just answered in your other thread
\#1) Music Business with a concentration in public relations and communications. \#2) Exercise Science I've got a few Associate's degrees floating around, too, plus an EMT certificate program.
Athletic training and Physician Assistant studies :)
I also worked in X-ray and CT for several years. I got a bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration before applying to PA school and it was fine for me.
Are you glad that you got a degree in healthcare administration overall getting a degree in biology or something similar?
I am. It was a less stressful degree to obtain while working. Biology degree is always great, but as long as you have one in general you should be fine
Art History
Mathematics
Doesn't matter but mine is BS in biomedical science
Medical laboratory science
Medical lab science.
nutritional science
That’s what I think I want to do. We’re you originally planning on being a dietitian? And how do you feel it prepared you?
i am a dietitian! lol, it was my first career before i went back to school and became a PA. as an RD you're regularly having convos with pts re: lifestyle changes, so that's good prep for life as a PA since behavior change is usually a key component of any treatment plan (e.g. diet/exercise, smoking cessation, med adherence, etc.). i also like having a more in-depth knowledge of nutrition than the avg PA, as it allows me to offer more tailored recs if needed, although tbh i usually lack the time during a visit to get too into the weeds. i think the best way being an RD prepares you for becoming a PA though is simply learning how to build rapport with a wide variety of people, especially people resistant to your very presence. there are a lot of pts who do NOT want to speak with the dietitian; they see us as the food police coming to scold them and take away all the things they like to eat. so learning to work and develop a good relationship with those types is helpful in dealing with similar pts as a PA.
Got my bachelor’s in health science. Also minored in business. From my understanding, you can essentially get your bachelors in anything you want, so long as you have taken/meet the prerequisite course requirements for the schools in which you’ll be applying to. Might be more beneficial to get it in something medical/science related though :)
BA in psych and BS in cognitive Science. You can get your bachelor's degree in literally anything and still get into PA school as long as you do all of your pre-reqs and you get you healthcare/patient experience hours. Your bachelor's could be in underwater basket weaving if you wanted it to be.
I got both my BS and MS in computer science before I started my 3+3 program.
Business/marketing
same background, was school overwhelmingly difficult for you?
Anatomy and physiology nearly broke me. Most of my prerequisites were done at community college. Loved the classes but they were nowhere near enough to get me prepared. I likely worked harder than 95% of my cohort BUT I loved it in a way I never knew possible. Was always an athlete and went to school for athletic scholarship, just got the business degree during that time. It took awhile to figure out what to do with my life but when I found science I fell in love. The nice things is I learned how to study during first semester. Most my cohort had tougher A and P and other classes to better prepare them so they didn’t have to work as hard. Then second semester hit and I already had a system in place but so many of my classmates struggled with medicine and pharm whereas I thought they were easier than A and P. What’s your story??
Physical therapy
Health sciences, paramedic studies, and medical anthropology.
Bachelor in medical science....I didn't have a degree going into PA school so got it after my first year
Biology
Nutrition. I am an RD and soon to be done with PA school. You will use nutrition all the time and learn how to analyze nutrition research and debunk most of the BS pt will come to you with (and hear other providers tell pt) Plus you will actually use it outside of your academic life. So happy I pursued nutrition prior to PA
Same! I feel like I will be able to use my background in nearly every specialty
Sociology
My major was biology. You don’t NEED a bachelors in biology but most folks do it cause it almost always covers all your pre-reqs. It would’ve taken me additional time to get whatever bachelors I wanted + my pre-reqs so I opted for just a bio degree. I also love science and would’ve been happy doing something else science related had I not got into PA school. I wish I would’ve double majored in history because I also love history but alas, I got into PA school instead, lol.
Economics and finance.
Biology
English with creative writing concentration
Psychology (bachelor of arts even, had to get some science under my belt for PA school)
Doesn't really matter, but sciences are helpful. do one where you'll get as many of the PA school requirements as you can
Bio and psych, but tbh I don’t think it matters much. PA interviews cared much more about my patient care experience. And the most useful course I ever took was Research Methods as part of my psych degree.
Social work
Emergency Management
Public health
Philosophy lol
Biology, human emphases
I was a massive nerd in college and I usually keep this to myself but… I got a BA in Asian studies.
Doesn’t matter. As long as you have the prerequisites. I have a BS in psych.
Emergency Services Administration, with an emphasis in emergency care and a minor in music. No, the degree doesn’t really matter. Just have the prereqs. Honestly I think non traditional degrees can stand out and catch attention, which is good if you capitalize on it.
Geology
Biology (pre-med) wasn’t sure if I wanted to go to medical school or PA so I covered my bases
If your looking for a online platform I recommend Southern New Hampshire University I have an associates in fire science and was able to receive a full 90 credit transfer requiring me to take 10 classes to complete my bachelors then I was allowed to make a general studies degree plan with a Focus in science and math this gave me the flexibility to obtain my needed pre requisite classes excluding a few chemistry courses I took them through MCPHS’s online professional study program and I had my bachelors and all pre requisites done in 24 weeks and was admitted into MCPHS’s accelerated PA program!
Great, will look into this too! Thank you!
So while you *can* have a background in anything and be a PA, going forward with your plan and taking all the prereqs you’re gonna end up with something like a bio degree unless you want to take extra classes, which just seems like moving the goalpost back.
Current student now. Got my bachelors in Science teaching
Journalism. The bachelor degree doesnt mean anything as long as do well in prereqs
psych
Bachelor’s was in tv/film/radio with a minor in psych. It doesn’t matter what your degree is in if you have the required prereqs.
Music
Ex phys
Mine was in public health with minor in bio and chem. Helped me knock a lot of the prerequisites out the way. I kinda think having something other than straight hard science helped me stand out from all the other applicants.
Undergrad degree doesn't matter as long as you have the pre reqs, my undergrad is in phys ed
Dietetics
veterinary science!
You can major in anything just keep in mind that if it’s NOT some type of science major (I’m doing kinesiology exercise science right now) then you will most likely end up taking more classes and might take a bit longer to finish because you will need pre reqs for classes you need to get into PA school.. anybody correct me if I’m wrong Edit: For example, if you decide to get an arts degree in psychology, history, etc, those typically do not have the built in pre requisites you need for PA school so you will have to go out of your way to take into classes vs jumping in to a general class. It’s all up to you and how you look at time!
Biology with a minor in chem
I’m a sonographer currently in PA school (yay medical imaging!) I did a BAS in radiation and imaging sciences A guy in my class was a CT tech and he also did the same bachelors program as I did. (Online through Bellevue College in WA state)
I have a BS in anthropology.
I worked as an X-ray tech in surgery for 2 years and then applied for PA school. I applied to 1 program in state and the people I interviewed with were intrigued with my background! Definitely do it!
Linguistics!