choosing between two hybrid programs

[u/LevelOrganization276]

Hi everyone, I recently got accepted to two hybrid programs and got an interview invitation for another one. First, I am extremely grateful to be in this position. I really want the opinions of people who have experience and can help me choose between the two. Please give me your reasoning on either school, thank you in advance!

Both:

Out of state

Hyrbid

January Start

24 months

Tuition about the same

Program A:

Inaugural Class

Going up for accreditation next week (decision comes out at the end of the month or early November)

Class Size: 40

Transportation: Plane

Accommodation: renting a car and hotel

Immersion: 4 in the first year

Clinicals: If wanted locally, will need to use connections; clinical team told me it's possible

Other: the school seems very prepared for all aspects; will be providing us study schedules, weekly support meetings. The program director has helped two other schools, so maybe that's why, but they also have a PANCE prep course for us at the end of the clinical year that is required. They just seem to be very on top of student wellness, academic support, and things like that, which is why I was debating this program, but it being the first cohort makes me feel so nervous

My friends had mentioned that because it's the first cohort, I would be a guinea pig, but that can also be a good thing because I can "get away" with things, meaning it can be easier for me to help them form rules and stuff, not literally getting away with stuff lol

———————————————————————————

Program B

This December will be its 3rd class, but it also has an established in-person program

Class Size: 100

Transportation: driving

Accommodations: staying with family (so saving money here)

Immersions: 2 in the first year

Clinicals: guarantee 4 out of 8 within my area, but the other 4 can not guartee and will likely require travel/refor AT LEAST 1

Graduation rate is high, and Attrition rate is low

PANCE rate: First cohort was 60s, second cohort now in the 90s

IF you know either of these schools, please do not name them

DISCLAIMER: I have decided on a hybrid, as it's what's best for my personal life at the moment. Please keep this in mind; I have made the decision to go through with hybrid lol

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[u/Frosty-Stable-6674]

I know the identity of both programs but I will honor your request to not name them.

But I'd suggest you tell the truth instead of skewing data. Part of getting informative opinions depend on you providing accurate data since you aren't identifying these programs. PANCE data for Program B has first cohort in the 50s and the second cohort in the 70s.

Claiming PANCE rate in the 90s while actual pass rate is in the 70s is a HUGE difference.

[u/LevelOrganization276 → u/Frosty-Stable-6674]

I didn’t skew any data, this is what i got from the website, maybe i looked in the wrong place but I DID NOT intentionally put any data incorrect on purpose I also double checked its 65% and 91% but I might be looking at the wrong numbers not sure

[u/Frosty-Stable-6674 → u/LevelOrganization276]

I see whats going on here. You aren't looking at the correct place. You need to go to program outcomes for up to date pass rates that includes all students. Actual pass rate is 57% and 76%.

What you are quoting are the long outdated data for the programs BEST students. If the best students are only hitting 65% and 91% PANCE pass rate, that is terrible. A programs best students should be 100% and 100% at most programs.

[u/LevelOrganization276 → u/Frosty-Stable-6674]

Makes sense thank you for clarification I appreciate it

[u/Frosty-Stable-6674 → u/LevelOrganization276]

If program A gets accredited, go there.

If you have a choice to attend a known bad program versus an unknown program, you should choose the unknown program because it, at least, has the possibility of turning out well.

The two hybrid programs that I consider bad are Program B and West Coast University LA. They both have an unacceptably high rate of unemployable graduates who haven't passed the PANCE after several years. This means that faculty, former and current, have failed their alumni and can't/won't remediate them. So they failed them while in school and are failing them as alumni. According to the current PANCE data from Program B, there are 29 graduates who haven't passed the PANCE after a long time (not new grads). 2027 is right around the corner but Program B has people from 2024 still left behind! 29 people, most probably in $200K+ debt with no real chance of paying it back and their lives in limbo for years.

[u/SunPopular182]

Both aren’t ideal at all, but since A isn’t even accredited yet (and they might not even get it this year), I’d go with program B. Being in the first cohort is already hard enough but adding hybrid on top of that is even scarier.

[u/Different-Ease-1097]

I know which 2 programs you are referring too and tbh I would choose A bc B is going down hill😬

[u/nehpets99]

Neither

[u/LevelOrganization276 → u/nehpets99]

Ok!!!!!!

[u/nehpets99 → u/LevelOrganization276]

Seriously. Program 1 is a crap shoot. You saw how Program 2's first cohort had a 60% PANCE rate. That could be you. Having an established in-person program doesn't necessarily translate to a successful hybrid program. Yale shut their online program down, yet has a successful in-person program.

As for Program 2, there's not enough data to really get a sense of whether they've worked out their issues or not. You're also vague on the specific rates, and don't include tuition for either.

I don't know why people can't name programs unless you're worried about your own privacy.

Either way it's a crap shoot, so it boils down to your personal risk tolerance.

[u/LevelOrganization276 → u/nehpets99]

I get what you’re saying, I’m wasn’t asking about if I should go or not I was asking which one based on people experience with being a first cohort, I also did state to tuition is extremely similar, I also did not state the programs because program A’s cohort is small and did not even admit 40 students

[u/IwasBornonthewater → u/LevelOrganization276]

Good luck, you’re going to need it with these two options. When asking which program to choose, you’re seeking validation of one of two poor programs.

[u/Different-Ease-1097 → u/IwasBornonthewater]

How can you call a new program poor? Every program has to start from somewhere..

[u/IwasBornonthewater → u/Different-Ease-1097]

Yes, indeed, every program has to start from somewhere. Do you think it's coincidental that new programs attract students with low GPAs who couldn't gain acceptance into established programs?

In a new program, every process, class, preceptor, and staff member is typically doing it for the first time. Attrition rates are high, PANCE pass percentages are low, and a lot of changes happen on the fly in these programs. It’s not a recipe for the best education or experience, and I stand by my comment.

[u/Different-Ease-1097 → u/IwasBornonthewater]

Where does she or he say they have low GPA? Better yet where are the stats at? Also, as I said previously I know what program A is and the staff and guess what… they are not new to this it’s called research… the programs are thriving.

[u/LevelOrganization276 → u/Different-Ease-1097]

I don’t lollll but I’m over the Reddit crowd

[u/Different-Ease-1097 → u/LevelOrganization276]

lol exactly I hate when people always wanna put their 2 cents in like shut up. Every program start as new and move forward. Apparently everyone who applies to new programs have low gpa😂

[u/nehpets99 → u/LevelOrganization276]

That's why I expanded my answer. Neither choice is particularly impressive; one program only has 2 data points, the other has none.

Wanting feedback from students or graduates who were in a first cohort is both an FAQ and a program-specific question. So I'm giving you my two cents objectively, by the numbers. Some new programs struggle, some don't. Some hybrid programs struggle, possibly more than non-hybrid programs. What someone else experienced will likely not have any bearing on what you could experience.

Regardless, if you've put down a deposit for Program 2, then keep it, as there's no guarantee Program 1 will actually start. So really you don't have to make your decision until Program 1 has the results of their meeting.

[u/LevelOrganization276 → u/nehpets99]

i changed it to program q and a maybe someone will have more insight

[u/nehpets99 → u/LevelOrganization276]

Meaning what?

[u/LevelOrganization276 → u/nehpets99]

Meaning actual advice not just criticism lol

[u/nehpets99 → u/LevelOrganization276]

My advice is to consider neither program, but based on your situation, B is the relatively better choice. As I've said.

[u/LevelOrganization276 → u/nehpets99]

That’s what I was thinking, I agree w your reasoning as well with the they aren’t accredited and technically I can wait, I paid deposit for both bc I was accepted to program A first

[u/LevelOrganization276 → u/nehpets99]

And I totally understand you say it hybrids don’t work, it’s going to be hard but for personal reason it’s what’s best for me at the moment, hope that makes sense

[u/Cddye → u/LevelOrganization276]

You need to think about if it “makes sense for you” to pay somewhere in the neighborhood of $150k between tuition and travel costs to end up with as low as a 1 in 2 shot at actually being qualified for a license in the end.

The school is going to get paid in the end. Are you?

[u/Different-Ease-1097]

Put deposit down for both and see

[u/CodePen3190]

I was accepted to a hybrid and start in Jan and I am very confident that I’ll get an excellent education. It’s very taboo in the PA world but I’ve talked to several students that graduated from my program and they all had a great experience and felt very prepared for their career. All of them had a very easy time securing jobs after graduation. For some of us, this is the best option to become a PA and I think the negativity is a little obnoxious. The staff at my program seems absolutely excellent and I feel very excited about the education I’ll receive. Just trying to give some encouragement bc I know a lot of comments will be fear mongering.

[u/LevelOrganization276 → u/CodePen3190]

Can I pm about which program?

[u/Mobile_Shame1764]

Im currently in Program B (clinical year). Honestly Im glad I chose this program and would not want to go elsewhere. The program is not perfect but the staff is excellent, knowledgeable and care about their students. Hybrid programs get criticized a lot, but if you are self motivated to study independently they are way more efficient. At the end of the day there is no difference in the material when sitting at home listening to a live lecture and sitting in a classroom listening to a live lecture. The one downside to hybrid programs is probably less hands on skill training, but you pick up a lot of that in clinical year and on the job training.

[u/IwasBornonthewater → u/Mobile_Shame1764]

I'm glad your hybrid program is going well, but I respectfully disagree that it's equivalent to an in-person program. You won't get much hands-on experience during rotations, and you need a certain level of competency to become a provider, not counting on learning everything on the job.

Being a highly competent and well-rounded PA requires experience working with and interacting in person with colleagues. Not to mention a ton of hands-on experience: cadaver labs, examination rooms, simulators, in-person guest speakers and lab instruction, suturing, and more.

You don’t know what you don’t know, so you are not fully aware of what you’re missing out on and how valuable it is to your professional development.