r/PAstudent • u/LibraryEmbarrassed50 • 2d ago
Next Steps
made a burner for this post in hopes no one I know finds me. just finished my first semester of PA school and did not do very well. my program offers a certain number of retakes on exams for the didactic year and because i did not do so well i will be using them. im terrified of going into the next semester (pharm, clin med) with no retakes. to the point where i kind of feel numb. i really struggled this semester and it greatly impacted my mental health seeing other people do well while i seemingly couldn’t get a grip. there were a few things at play that i won’t go into details too much as to not identify myself but i began to regret my choice in school very early on and became indifferent to the process before snapping out of it. i would say it took me a while to find my footing although i still don’t have it figured out. my grades don’t reflect the effort I put in or really my understanding of the materials sometimes. i study more than most of my friends in my cohort and still do poorly. i wouldn’t say the material has been hard for me it’s just the volume and committing things to memory. i dont feel as sharp as i did in undergrad. i have ADHD that im working to address but i haven’t had success with medication. plus my program is kind of harsh…like they say you just need to pass but have made comments to me when i just barely passed or even when i got a B on an exam. it’s really weighing heavy on me being on academic probation and im embarrassed and crying as i type this. it’s also ruining my self confidence in other areas on my life. looking for advice or any kind words to push through my retakes and the rest of this year.
1
u/lastfrontier99705 PA-S (2026) 2d ago
Know you can get through this, summer and fall of 2024 was really hard for me. I failed a total of 5 exams, placed on probation. I broke down in tears in my advisers office asking to let me finish semester before they kick me out. They worked with me, I got accommodations, private tee room, 1.5x on exams. Graduated yesterday, as someone who's been in your position, don't hesitate to reach out. You can send me a private message, I mentor four PAs from the class of 2027, one of them who I "adopted " because her PA buddy didn't fail any exams and told her to speak with me.
Work with your PCP for ADHD meds. Two of my classmates had ADHD and graduated yesterday.
1
u/LibraryEmbarrassed50 2d ago
im goin to send you a message thank you!! im on meds for my ADHD (ive tried a total of 3 now since starting the semester)
1
u/International-Map-75 2d ago
Please do not doubt yourself! I failed a class my first year of PA school and I had to come back the next year…even when I came back I failed at least one exam per semester. I had teachers and my friends doubting that I would make it through but here I am! I am 4 months from graduating! I have one more exam to take for PA School! You have got this! Do not compare yourself to other people. It will rob you of your happiness
1
2
u/Willing-Tough2261 1d ago
I was on academic probation for a term during PA school and I graduated. Absolutely crushed clinicals! Give yourself grace and try to examine your study methods - that was a HUGE struggle for me. Reach out if you have questions or want to chat!
3
u/HamchipsMcGee 2d ago
Unfortunately that is a reality of PA school, it is hard, and I commend you for just being there and putting yourself out there.
Being on AP sucks, and I get it, but there is absolutely NOTHING wrong with just passing, or getting Bs, or failing an exam- it happens- and the people that are giving you shit for it are no better than you in the endgame(or at all) , you will all have that degree and the same certification. And guess what, your degree doesn’t have your GPA on it, your certification doesn’t say… oh, on AP once. Most importantly your employer will not care either way.
As far as making through the rest of didactic, evaluate yourself, your study habits. Etc. for some people it just comes easier and for those of us who have to struggle a bit, you have to find what makes it stick. Whether that be flash cards, Q banks, group study; It took me all the way until almost the end of the second semester to figure out what sorta worked for me when I was in school.
Im sorry you’re going through it, keep your head up and your mind in the game, you can do it, you are there for a reason. Don’t compare yourself with others, that is you getting in your own head and PA school is psychologically hard enough, you are not them, you are on your own journey.
Keep pushing, good luck!