It’s hard to have your life exactly put together when you’re enrolled as a full-time grad student. Whether you’re coming straight out of undergrad or are a few years post-undergrad, the transition to a rigorous grad program is always a hard one. As a PA student, the first few months of school were so chaotic - the only thing I could do was take it one step at a time! Here are some things I learned throughout the year that might help some of you, especially if you start doing them earlier!
- Create study playlists ahead of time for car rides or long commutes. I have different playlists for each module (e.g. Dermatology, EENT, etc.). Ones that I really like are: Cram the Pance, Physician Assistant Exam Review, and Physician Assistant in a Flash
- Keep snacks and necessities in your locker:
- Jacket: classroom and a few window study rooms in the library get cold!
- Floss: comes in so handy after lunch!
- Extra caffeine: Celsius, instant coffee packets, Keurig pods (we keep a Keurig in the classroom), etc.
- Utensils: we don’t have plastic utensils on campus, so I keep a stock
- Expo markers: if you use the whiteboard a lot and don’t want to rent them from the library
- Dry shampoo: for those bad hair days!
- Keep some frozen meals in the freezer (in HPB building): especially good if you know you’re not going to have time to cook during the week, forget to pack a lunch, or want to save time.
- Lay your clothes out & make sure your backpack is packed the night before to save time getting ready in the morning
- Always check your backpack before you head out of the house: make sure necessities for the day (laptop, iPad, and chargers) are in there!
- Keep your exam day necessities in your locker: privacy screen AND ear plugs!
- Do Amazon returns, UPS, and USPS returns on campus at the school’s mail center! Saves you a trip
- Keep your ID badge IN YOUR CAR! I’ve forgotten it so many times. You need it to access the parking garage and buildings.
- Consider getting Panera Sip Club for unlimited coffee and drinks! They have deals where you can get 3 months for $3/month. Saves time and money!! There’s 2 that are close to school and have a drive-thru
- Consider getting Too Good to Go if you don’t feel like cooking: $5-6 for a bag (I’ve gotten 3 meals for $6 before!)
- Keep a pair of workout clothes and/or shoes in your car or locker if you decide you want a quick workout at the gym on campus
- Crockpot lunch warmers are great! Trader Joe’s soups, canned soups, etc. Plug it in 1 hour before lunch and it’s ready to go! No cook/prep time :)
- Buy easy grab-and-go breakfast foods: Muffins, bananas, yogurt—perfect for rushed mornings when you want to get out the door fast.
- Note business casual dress days in your calendar as soon as the schedule is released (usually the weekend before a new module). It’ll help you avoid showing up underdressed!
- Create a to-do-list at the beginning of each module and check off your study tasks as you go throughout the module. It keeps you on track.
- Start a master document of high yield information: You can add to it throughout the year, listing what were your biggest challenges and topics you struggled with for each module (best if done after an exam so your memory is still fresh).
- Write down clinical year pearls: Anytime a professor says “this would be good to know for clinical rotations” - type it down on a separate document, for easy reference later when it’s relevant
- Consider the Atlas anatomy app on your iPad- it’s a $25 one time fee and it’s very handy when studying for Anatomy! I don’t have to spend as much time in the Anatomy lab on the Anatomage tables and I have access to it whenever, without having to share with anyone.
- Download practice question apps on your phone: McGraw Hill, Quizlet, etc. if you want to study on the go
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ALWAYS set aside daily or weekly time for what matters most to you: Family calls, cooking, TV time, or rest. Staying grounded and maintaining your mental health is key to surviving (and thriving in) PA school.
Grad school, especially PA school, is a marathon—not a sprint. These small life hacks may seem minor, but they make a big difference in preserving your time, sanity, and energy. Give yourself grace, start small, and remember that taking care of yourself is just as important as studying. You've got this!
Your Peer Advisor,
Krystal Le