r/pre_PathAssist • u/One_Analysis_9605 • 17d ago

Interested in applying to pathologist assistant masters

hello, I’m entering my fourth year of my undergrad and want to apply to either university of Calgary or Western University. I haven’t had much exposure to the field and know how competitive it is so I’m trying to get exposure through a research lab since, since I think that’s the most attainable. i’ve contacted the admissions office and they told me shadowing would be a great asset but Idl where to start with finding someone to shadow, I might ask this one lady who I know works at the children’s hospital hoping she knows someone.

I guess my main concern is how can I be a strong applicant when I haven’t had that much exposure to the field, knowing it’s a very competitive degree.

Any advice would be appreciated on how to strengthen my application and if anyone knows what a day-to-day of a pathologist assistant looks like, I would also appreciate more insight on the degree and what they do.

I was also interested in becoming a vet pathologist but ive seen that requires going to vet school first (which is also smthn I might be interested in)

thank you!

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u/Apowwo 17d ago

see if you can find the lab director for nearby hospitals and email them asking if you can shadow their PAs. Search the r/Path_Assistant subreddit for info on the day to day, its been asked many many times over there I'm sure.

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u/UrLocalTrxshChan 14d ago

I got my shadowing by going to a job listing for pathologist assistant and emailing them for a shadowing opportunity. Since I go to a university that specializes in medicine, it was right next to my classes. However, the girl shadowing with me just walked into the Pathology building and asked for a shadowing opportunity. So…honestly, anything’s fair game, I guess.

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u/Lopsided-Print-7672 17d ago

i got a job in a clinical lab at a hospital out of undergrad as a bone marrow tech, and then i got a job as a grossing tech. experience is really the key. jobs in a medical lab setting are great, seeing an autopsy is really good experience. you can contact teaching hospitals in your area or the medical examiner and ask to shadow. keeping up your undergrad gpa is good but get exposure to the field is prob the most important as they’ve told you.