Science GPA Boosters I *actually* used in PA School
If you were on campus with me in Fall 2021, you would have heard me complain about an undisclosed science course that was difficult, online due to COVID, pre-recorded, and was about as dry as dirt. Needless, to say, I didn’t knock this one out of the park, mainly because I wasn’t interested in it. Don’t get me wrong, a lot of “hard” science courses are valuable in the sense that they get you thinking like a clinician, but sometimes the struggle is real with these courses. And, to be honest with you, I didn’t use a majority of the information that I learned in BCP courses once I got to PA school. I found myself needing a couple of grade boosting courses (I’m looking at you, COVID semester) and pivoted to these 5 courses that counted towards my science GPA. Once I got to PA school and clinical practice, I found myself using the knowledge that I gained from these subjects WAY more than my core sciences courses because they taught me how to interact with patients, problem solve in a broken system, and predict barriers that my future patients might experience. Keep reading for my 5 recommended Science GPA boosters!
Public Health. My major was Public Health, so most of my education fell into this category. You could say that this might make me biased! These courses were not only more paper and project based than the BCP courses, but they taught me a set of skills that were actually useful when I started interacting with patients in clinical rotations and later on as a PA-C. My personal favorites were courses centered around policy and ethics, as we discussed hot- button issues surrounding health inequities, health systems, and political climates. These courses will also dive into the social determinants of health, which are key factors in population and individual health outcomes. Understanding the SDOH is crucial to being a well informed, educated, and effective PA regardless of your specialty.
Non-biology A&P with practical anatomy lab through a physiology department such as Kinesiology or Athletic Training. I took the biology specific A&P before applying to PA school, but then I also took this one the fall of my senior year while I was waiting to hear back from schools in case I didn’t get in on my first round of applications. The intent was to use it to boost my science GPA, but it ended up being my #1 most used course in PA school. Taught from a kinesiology perspective, we spent the semester learning the origins, insertions, innervations, and actions of all the body’s muscles. It turned out to be a much more macro approach than the cellular- level A&P I took through the biology department. While I certainly didn't remember everything from this course, it made studying for anatomy and physiology much easier once I was in PA school (mostly because it helped me stomach the smell of formaldehyde in preparation for anatomy lab!)
Bioethics. I was particularly lucky, because I had the opportunity to take a Theological Bioethics course during undergrad which debated healthcare hot topics from the perspectives of the major world religions. Regardless of the “type” of bioethics course you take, you will review the core principles of bioethics and how they relate to you as a provider, the relationship you build with your patients, and the decisions you will need to make down the line. This course was helpful for interviews in particular, as I had a solid framework that I could lean on when answering the inevitable “ethical dilemma" question.
Nutrition. Straightforward, to the point, and overall a good building block for when I discuss nutrition with patients. I work in an outpatient setting and do a lot of counseling on dietary and lifestyle modifications. I find that many providers will make these recommendations to patients without fully explaining what they mean by a “healthy” lifestyle. Nutrition and wellness courses helped me streamline what would eventually become nutritional recommendations that I use on a daily basis. Bonus points if your nutrition classes focus on a certain pathology, such as Nutrition for Diabetes or Nutrition and Weight loss, as this knowledge is worth its weight in gold when you start practicing.
Medical Sociology/ Anthropology. AKA my favorite and most recommended humanities class for any pre-med or pre-PA student. The American healthcare system is built on countless injustices towards patients from all walks of life, but especially from minority groups. It is essential that you as a future provider learn from the dark history of the American healthcare system in order to create a brighter, more equitable future in medicine. Medical Anthropology and Sociology courses explore the history and roots of the American medical system, how it works (and doesn’t work), and how providers function as units within a broken system.
Bonus: Pharmacology. This is one course that I didn’t take, but I sure wish I had! At my school, we were allowed to take a certain number of credits outside of our designated program/major, and this was one that I wish I could have fit into my schedule. If your school has a nursing program, they likely allow non-nursing students to take pharmacology courses. I can’t stress enough how much I would recommend this to any student who is thinking about going to PA school. Pharmacology is one of the steepest learning curves when you begin studying medicine, so save yourself some time by getting a good foundation early!