If you’ve spent any time talking to current PA students, you’ve probably heard some version of this:

“PA school is like drinking from a firehose.”

And honestly? They’re not exaggerating. The amount of information you’ll cover in a short amount of time is intense.

But here’s the good news: you don’t have to wait until day one of PA school to start building good study habits. In fact, prepping your brain now can make the transition way less overwhelming and help you feel confident walking in the door.

So let’s break down the best strategies to set yourself up for success before you start PA school.

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🎯 Know Your Learning Style (and Actually Use It)

First things first: every student learns differently.

Some of us are visual learners who need charts, colors, and diagrams. Others are auditory learners who remember things better when they hear them. And some thrive with hands-on practice (hello, kinesthetic learners).

👉 Why this matters:
If you spend all of PA school trying to force yourself into study methods that don’t align with your learning style, you’re going to waste a ton of time and energy.

How to figure it out now:

• Take a free learning style quiz online (there are tons).
• Reflect on classes you’ve done well in—what worked best for you?
• Experiment with a few different methods before school starts.

Once you know what works for you, lean in. Don’t be afraid to use colors, flashcards, videos, or group discussions if that’s what helps you retain information.

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📱 Anki: Your New Best Friend

If you haven’t heard of Anki yet, get ready. It’s a flashcard app that uses spaced repetition, which is just a fancy way of saying it shows you cards right before you’re about to forget them.

Why it’s a game-changer:

• You won’t waste time reviewing things you already know.
• It helps move information from short-term to long-term memory.
• It’s perfect for the massive amount of memorization in PA school (think pharmacology, anatomy, medical terminology).

How to prep now:

• Download Anki and start practicing with some decks (there are plenty of pre-made med/PA decks out there).
• Use it for your current classes, prereqs, or even random facts to get comfortable with the system.
• The goal isn’t to master PA-level material yet—it’s to train your brain to learn efficiently.

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👯 Study Groups: Practice Collaboration Early

Here’s the thing: PA school is collaborative. You’ll learn with your classmates, study with them, and depend on each other to get through.

If you’re someone who has always studied solo, now’s a great time to practice working with others.

Benefits of study groups:

• You’ll learn faster by teaching concepts to each other.
• You’ll see different perspectives and ways of explaining things.
• You’ll build accountability to stay on track.

How to prep now:

• Form a small study group in your current classes.
• Set rules (e.g., no social media scrolling, stay on topic).
• Take turns teaching a concept to the group—if you can explain it, you know it.

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🫀 Pre-Study Anatomy and Medical Terminology

Do you need to study before PA school? Technically, no. PA programs will teach you what you need to know.

But if you want to lighten your load and feel less overwhelmed in those first few months, brushing up on a few subjects now can make a big difference.

Top areas to focus on:

• Anatomy: Know the basics of body systems, major muscles, and organs. Don’t aim for perfection—just familiarity.
• Medical Terminology: Learn prefixes, suffixes, and root words. This makes decoding medical terms so much easier.
• Pathophysiology basics: A general sense of how the body responds to disease is helpful but not required.

How to prep now:

• Pick up a med term workbook or use free Quizlet decks.
• Use YouTube for quick anatomy refreshers.
• Make flashcards of common root words and test yourself daily.

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🧘 Don’t Forget the Other Kind of Prep

Yes, the academic prep matters. But don’t forget about the lifestyle prep:

• Practice time management now—use planners or apps to schedule your day.
• Build healthy habits like exercise, meal prepping, and good sleep.
• Protect your mental health—burnout is real, even before PA school starts.

PA school isn’t just about studying hard—it’s about having the systems in place to study smart and take care of yourself along the way.

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💡 Final Thoughts

You don’t need to spend months cramming before PA school starts. But if you want to walk in feeling confident and ready, here’s the formula:

✔️ Learn how you learn best.
✔️ Get comfortable with tools like Anki.
✔️ Practice studying in groups.
✔️ Brush up on anatomy and med term.
✔️ Build solid routines for time management and self-care.

Do these things, and you’ll hit the ground running once classes begin.

You’ve got this, friend—and remember, PA school is hard, but you are absolutely capable. 💛