What experience helped get you into medic school?

[griffithsgriffin]

Besides working as a Basic on an ambulance or FD? I ask because the schos in the area either want or require so much EMS experience. Not very many Basic jobs or volunteer opportunities. Honestly, does medical transport, drug/alcohol technician, or something like casino security even make you a competitive candidate?

 

[griffithsgriffin]

*the schools

 

[DesertMedic66]

Each school is different on what they will accept. The best way to find out is to call the school directly and ask what they will take.

 

[joshrunkle35]

Every school has different requirements. Some schools around here are super hard to get into, like 500 applicants for 40 spots. In that case, they want to see a great GPA like 3.5-4.0, experience in a "sworn in" job, how many college credits you've completed, really excellent reference letters, and how high you score when you test in. In other schools that are further from metropolitan areas, you might have only 60 people competing for 40 spots. In this case, it's much easier, but odds are you will lose a lot more students along the way.

 

[Anjel]

4000 dollars helped me. Lol

None of the schools around here really require anything. At most they recommend basic experience or anatomy classes.

 

[blachatch]

There isn't much needed for the schools around me.. Just a basic anatomy class was all I needed.

 

[Akulahawk]

What helped me get in was a couple things: my A&P background, passing the written exam, about 1.5 years time as an EMT, the interview, and working closely with 2 or 3 of the instructors.
It was mostly the interview and the instructors working with me, knowing what I can actually do and how well I perform under pressure.

 

[MMiz]

Motivation. I have a million and a half reasons why I don't want to further my education. I'm scared of the test, I don't want to fail, I'm not sure it's worth the money, it'll require jumping through many hoops.

Do what you have to do so you can advance your career.

 

[abckidsmom]

Motivation. I have a million and a half reasons why I don't want to further my education. I'm scared of the test, I don't want to fail, I'm not sure it's worth the money, it'll require jumping through many hoops.

Do what you have to do so you can advance your career.

This is what's holding me up from the next step I haven't taken yet. I'm getting closer.

 

[hogwiley]

I've never heard of Paramedic School being competitive for admission slots. Nursing School yeah, you need at least a 3.5 in your pre reqs to even be considered for a BSN program, and a 3.8 or above to have a decent chance, and even then theres often a long waiting list, but for Paramedic usually an EMT license is about it.

If its a college they will require some pre reqs like A&P and maybe a minimum score on some math and english on your entrance exam, but Paramedic school isnt competitive at all. If anything they cant fill all the seats they have around here.

 

[ExpatMedic0]

I've never heard of Paramedic School being competitive for admission slots. Nursing School yeah, you need at least a 3.5 in your pre reqs to even be considered for a BSN program, and a 3.8 or above to have a decent chance, and even then theres often a long waiting list, but for Paramedic usually an EMT license is about it.

If its a college they will require some pre reqs like A&P and maybe a minimum score on some math and english on your entrance exam, but Paramedic school isnt competitive at all. If anything they cant fill all the seats they have around here.

I have never herd of an undergraduate degree (excluding possibly ivy league schools) requiring a 3.8 GPA. Especially for a trade like nursing which can be completed in Jr college or online with excelsior. Are you sure your not mixing your facts up with Medical School at John Hopkins University? Can you please site your source or provide us some compelling evidence to support this claim?

Regarding Paramedic school, its different everywhere you go. My own personal experience is that I have always seen more students apply than there are slots available. Different programs have different ways of weeding applicants out.

 

[Wheel]

I've never heard of Paramedic School being competitive for admission slots. Nursing School yeah, you need at least a 3.5 in your pre reqs to even be considered for a BSN program, and a 3.8 or above to have a decent chance, and even then theres often a long waiting list, but for Paramedic usually an EMT license is about it.

If its a college they will require some pre reqs like A&P and maybe a minimum score on some math and english on your entrance exam, but Paramedic school isnt competitive at all. If anything they cant fill all the seats they have around here.

Not every area is like this though. I don't think you can definitively say none are competitive outside of pre reqs and a emt cert.

I have never herd of an undergraduate degree (excluding possibly ivy league schools) requiring a 3.8 GPA. Especially for a trade like nursing which can be completed in Jr college or online with excelsior. Are you sure your not mixing your facts up with Medical School at John Hopkins University? Can you please site your source or provide us some compelling evidence to support this claim?

Regarding Paramedic school, its different everywhere you go. My own personal experience is that I have always seen more students apply than there are slots available. Different programs have different ways of weeding applicants out.

It happens. There are some competitive RN programs. From what I've seen they are usually accelerated or second degree programs, but in this economy where no one can find work and nursing looks like a golden ticket to a decent paying job, lots of programs get way too many applications. Programs have the luxury of being selective.

 

[ExpatMedic0]

In Portland one of our most competitive nursing programs is at OHSU, which is also where the PA school and medical school is. They require a 3.0 GPA and not any one grade below a C- for the BSN program. here is a link http://www.ohsu.edu/xd/education/schools/school-of-nursing/admissions/bs_ocne_prereqs.cfm

I checked 3 other universities in Portland and found nothing above 3.0 required to apply.
At my universities Paramedic bachelor degree "GPA of 3.0 is strongly preferred".

 

[VFlutter]

I have never herd of an undergraduate degree (excluding possibly ivy league schools) requiring a 3.8 GPA. Especially for a trade like nursing which can be completed in Jr college or online with excelsior. Are you sure your not mixing your facts up with Medical School at John Hopkins University? Can you please site your source or provide us some compelling evidence to support this ?

My school requires a 3.0 and C or above on all sciences for admission. That is the bare minimum for admission but it's not considered "competitive". Most advisors recommend a 3.5 or above. In my cohort the average GPA was 3.72 at admission. However we had a couple hundred applicants for 50 spots and had a 2 semester wait list. They could be as picky as they wanted.

That is just my personal experience. That is most likely not the average across the nation. But I do not doubt that the more prestigious schools have an average GPA of 3.5+

 

[ExpatMedic0]

Ya I guess it must depend on your area quite a lot. I think if I got a 3.8 in all my science classes I would probably be applying to medical school not nursing school. That is just me though ;-)
In Portland we actually have a diploma nurse school with a degree completion option but every Oregon Paramedic program requires a degree. Wrap your mind around that one... :blink:

 

[Arovetli]

I have never herd of an undergraduate degree (excluding possibly ivy league schools) requiring a 3.8 GPA. Especially for a trade like nursing which can be completed in Jr college or online with excelsior. Are you sure your not mixing your facts up with Medical School at John Hopkins University? Can you please site your source or provide us some compelling evidence to support this claim? .

http://nursing.gsu.edu/340.html

Higher GPAs than all but 1 of the states medical schools.

Although to be fair, if nursing students had to take organic and higher level sciences like med students I'm pretty sure those numbers would plummet.

However it is also to note the other requirements beyond mere GPA to get into med school vs. nursing

 

[Carlos Danger]

Some schools around here are super hard to get into, like 500 applicants for 40 spots. In that case, they want to see a great GPA like 3.5-4.0

For paramedic school? Really?

I have never herd of an undergraduate degree (excluding possibly ivy league schools) requiring a 3.8 GPA. Especially for a trade like nursing which can be completed in Jr college or online with excelsior. Are you sure your not mixing your facts up with Medical School at John Hopkins University? Can you please site your source or provide us some compelling evidence to support this claim?

You might be surprised how competitive many nursing programs are. Published minimums are often like 3.0 or 3.2, but what you need to have to be competitive is much higher. Of course it varies, but I would guess an average GPA needed to get into an average program is around 3.4 or 3.5, with many being higher. Some ASN programs have 2 year waiting lists. BSN programs actually tend to be easier to get into, but can still be very competitive.

 

[Clipper1]

Ya I guess it must depend on your area quite a lot. I think if I got a 3.8 in all my science classes I would probably be applying to medical school not nursing school. That is just me though ;-)
In Portland we actually have a diploma nurse school with a degree completion option but every Oregon Paramedic program requires a degree. Wrap your mind around that one... :blink:

But unlike nursing, you can work with a provisional Paramedic license in Oregon while promising to finish your degree within two years through reciprocity. You can be a California Paramedic and cross over easily into OR for a job with just a cert and the NREMT.

http://public.health.oregon.gov/Pro...STrainingCertification/Pages/provisional.aspx

For the degree you can also take Fire Rescue Training and other firefighter classes toward the degree. The prerequisites don't look that bad. I think using 10 credit hours for EMT in a degree is like using the CNA cert which is not done in nursing programs. That does not leave many more required classes. They even include Intro to Micro Computers as a filler for 3 more credits.

http://public.health.oregon.gov/Pro...uments/2011/ParamedicEducationRequirement.pdf

Didn't Good Sam change their curriculum a few years ago for nursing to 2+2 transfer?

For paramedic school? Really?

Many FDs want the Paramedic certs on the applications. You also see a rise in applications after a new TV show like Third Watch, Chicago Fire or Trauma. And, as the doctor's commentary about attitudes in EMS and hospital administration, since 9/11 there are a lot of those who want to have the same hero status as those who were in NY on that day.

 

[ExpatMedic0]

http://nursing.gsu.edu/340.html

Higher GPAs than all but 1 of the states medical schools.

Although to be fair, if nursing students had to take organic and higher level sciences like med students I'm pretty sure those numbers would plummet.

However it is also to note the other requirements beyond mere GPA to get into med school vs. nursing

Well in regards to George State University I eat my words. Although, I think it must depend on your location quite a bit. I am friends with quite a few nurses who got by with B's and C's in school.

At the same time Paramedic programs can also be highly competitive in some areas of the U.S. depending on the program. At the end of the day though, I can't argue the nurses probably have a higher overall GPA requirement and minimum standards in the majority of cases.

 

[Akulahawk]

But unlike nursing, you can work with a provisional Paramedic license in Oregon while promising to finish your degree within two years through reciprocity. You can be a California Paramedic and cross over easily into OR for a job with just a cert and the NREMT.

http://public.health.oregon.gov/Pro...STrainingCertification/Pages/provisional.aspx

For the degree you can also take Fire Rescue Training and other firefighter classes toward the degree. The prerequisites don't look that bad. I think using 10 credit hours for EMT in a degree is like using the CNA cert which is not done in nursing programs. That does not leave many more required classes. They even include Intro to Micro Computers as a filler for 3 more credits.

If I wanted to work in Oregon as a Paramedic, it appears that all I'd have to do is regain my NREMT-P cert and show that I've been awarded a degree above an Associate's... and that would be through the reciprocity process, not the provisional license process. If you do not have a degree, you'd have to go through the provisional license process instead, but that requires documentation of work experience.

After 2015, all Paramedic applicants must show they're current to the new NRP standard. The chance of me working in Oregon as a Paramedic any time soon? Pretty close to zero...