1 Year Out: Reflections After PA School

By: Savanna Perry, PA-C

TL;DR

One year after graduating and passing the PANCE, Savanna reflects on how fast PA school and the first year of work fly by. Her advice: pick the PA path for the right reasons, protect your relationships and well-being in school, and be wise with money as a new grad.

Last Updated: June 12, 2026

Your Pre-PA Bestie Blog - everything you need to know to become a PA in one place.

What advice do you have for pre-PA students?

Being a PA is a great job and I recommend it, but look closely at all your options and decide why it's the right fit for you personally. In many fields you do most of what the physician does, but PAs are not physicians, and some people will never be happy in that role. It takes real work to become a PA, so you have to decide it's worth it to you.

While you're grinding through prerequisites, have some fun too. Looking back, I had a great college experience but I was almost too goal-focused, and I wish I'd been a little more laid back at times. The stress and tears weren't really worth it. You can take this seriously and still enjoy the journey.

In this post:

What should current PA students keep in mind?

Eventually you'll be done with classes, rotations, and boards, and you'll be a PA too. It does end, so hold onto that during the weeks you think you won't make it. I still remember about two weeks that were just terrible, but we all got through.

Take care of yourself and your passions along the way. I didn't read a single book for fun in PA school, just study material until I fell asleep, and that wasn't necessary. Invest in friendships and family too. Early on I wouldn't even go to dinner with my family because I had to study, but that hour would have rested my brain and fed me. Become friends with your classmates and hang out outside of school. Some of my best friends are women I met in PA school, and our random, unplanned adventures are what got us through. One more thing: you will find a job, so don't cry over that like I did. Just maybe hold off on discussing specific jobs with close classmates until contracts are signed, because it can get awkward if you're after the same one.

In Our Experience

Looking back a year out, my biggest takeaway is that the things I stressed about most, jobs, perfect test scores, skipped dinners, mattered far less than the relationships and rest I gave up chasing them. If I could redo PA school, I'd hold the work loosely enough to still show up for the people I love. That balance is what makes the long game sustainable.

What should new grads know?

Congrats, you made it, welcome to the real world! Vacation is different now. If you're in a clinic with a set schedule, plan to ask off months in advance, because they don't love rescheduling 20 to 30 patients on short notice. Be wise with your money. My original plan was to buy whatever I wanted and put whatever was left toward loans, which is a terrible plan. Look into paying off loans early and investing as soon as you can. The White Coat Investor is a great resource for that. [VERIFY]

That said, don't be afraid to have some fun, you've earned it. Keep up with your classmates and use your new colleagues to make each other better PAs. If you're unhappy in a job, look for a new one, there are plenty out there. And give back to your program when you can, by lecturing or precepting students. Overall I'm extremely happy I became a PA and I love my job. There are still stressful, exhausting days, but far fewer than when I started.

Every Pre-PA Should Know...

Your first job almost certainly won't be your last, so don't put crushing pressure on the search. There are plenty of PA jobs to go around.

Free Application Timeline → https://www.thepaplatform.com/services/free-application-timeline/

Listen: The PA Blueprint: Career Resources for New PAs with Jordan and Shane

Graduating PA school is not the finish line. It's the start of a career nobody taught you how to run.

Episode show notes & key takeaways

Graduating PA school is not the finish line. It's the start of a career nobody taught you how to run.

Jordan and Shane wrote The PA Blueprint to cover the parts that fall through the cracks after graduation. Job negotiation, career moves, money, and not burning out before year three.

I keep putting episodes like this on the feed for pre-PAs on purpose. If you know what the job and the career look like on the other side, your reasons for wanting this get sharper, and sharper reasons make better applications and better interviews.

On the money parts, they're sharing their perspective and I'm not a financial advisor. Take it as a starting point for your own research.

What we cover

What The PA Blueprint covers and why they wrote it
The parts of a PA career nobody prepares you for
Advancing without leaving clinical work
Protecting your wellbeing early instead of after you crash
Why new grads should think about this before they sign a contract
What they'd tell someone still trying to get in

Resources

Follow The Pre-PA Club: Apple Podcasts · Spotify · All episodes

Need to Know:

Choose the PA path for reasons that fit you personally
PAs are not physicians, so be sure the role suits you
Protect friendships, family time, and rest during school
Your classmates can become lifelong friends and colleagues
Be wise with money and tackle loans early as a new grad
Your first job won't be your last, so don't over-stress the search

FAQ

Is becoming a PA worth it?

Savanna says yes, she's extremely happy with the decision and loves her job, while noting it takes hard work and should fit you personally.

What's the hardest part of PA school?

The relentless pace and the few truly terrible weeks, but they pass, and protecting your relationships and rest helps you through.

How hard is it to find a PA job?

There are plenty of PA jobs available, so while the search can feel stressful, it tends to work out, and your first job won't be your last.

Should I talk about job offers with classmates?

It's often best to hold off on specifics until contracts are signed, since it can get awkward if you're interviewing for the same position.

What financial advice helps new PA grads?

Be intentional with money, prioritize paying off loans early, and start investing. Resources like the White Coat Investor can help. [VERIFY]

How can new grads give back to their programs?

By lecturing or precepting students, which helps both the program and the students far beyond a financial donation.

CLOSING

A year out, I can say with confidence that the hard work pays off and the profession is worth it. If you're somewhere on this path, pre-PA, student, or brand-new grad, give yourself grace and keep the bigger picture in view. And whenever you want support navigating any stage of the journey, we're here to help.

Pre-PA Counseling → https://www.thepaplatform.com/services/pre-pa-counseling/

1 Year Out: Reflections After PA School