Update

Hello Everyone!

I am starting to recover after completing my first semester of PA school. It was an incredible semester, and I can see why so many student blogs drop off after a few weeks.

I'll have some new interviews (including long overdue videos from the TAPA Fall Conference) posted soon, as well as some articles I've written elsewhere.

Is there a subject I need to cover? Do you have a question about PA school or the PA profession in general? Let me know - I'd love to hear from you!

Happy PA Week!

It's Physician Assistant Week! National PA Week is held October 6-12th of every year in order to celebrate and increase awareness of the PA profession. National PA Week also serves as an opportunity for PAs to reach out to the community about health and preventative care.

Interview with an Othropedic surgery PA

Here's an interview with a PA-C who happened to be married to one of my classmates. 

1)  Why did you choose to be a PA? 

I chose to become a PA based on the lifestyle. I wanted to practice medicine and becoming a PA provided me that option without going through medical school. I was constantly searching for a field in medicine that would fulfill my career aspirations and never felt right about other fields. Once I found out about PA, I never looked back. 

2) How did you pick UTMB? What was your interview process like? 

I chose UTMB based on the academics and the student run clinic. There is a clinic in Galveston where care is provided to the underserved community. The patients there are so appreciative of the care that they otherwise, would not have received. The pass rates are outstanding. My class had a 100% first time pass rate on the PANCE. I did get into 2 other programs, which were good as well, but I felt that UTMB was the best fit for me. 

3) What was your biggest surprise once you started working as a PA-C? 

What has surprised me is how much I still have to learn. I have been at my position for 5 months now, and I still see something new frequently. PA school is good at providing a background for primary care, but going into a sub-specialty requires its own education. There is so much information in medicine, that it is hard to know it all. 

4) What area of practice are you in now? What does a week look like for you? 

I work in orthopedic surgery with a foot and ankle surgeon. I split my time between the clinic, OR, and the hospital making rounds on patients. Every week is different so it is hard to even come out with a typical schedule. I would say that I work around 50 hours per week with call once during the work week and every couple of months for weekend call. 

5) What is it like with your husband in PA school now? Do you give him study tips? 

I love that he is in PA school now to be honest. We are able to spend more time together now than we did while he was working full time and going to school part time. I actually let him do his own thing during school. I have tried giving him study tips, but we study so differently that what worked for me does not work for him. 

6) Any advice for aspiring PAs? 

My advice for aspiring PAs is to shadow a PA. This is when I truly decided that becoming a PA was what I wanted to do with my life. Then I would focus on getting some sort of hands on experience. I didn't have that much hands on experience and I wish I had. Get involved in your community and organizations in school. Once you do get into PA school, take a break and relax. You will never have time like that again! I definitely miss my days of just being lazy around the house, so when I get those days, I cherish them. Last piece of advice is to have fun!

First weeks of school

Here's some thoughts about the first weeks of school from some of my classmates:

1) How did you prepare for the start of PA school?

A) I had many friends and even a few new PA-Cs tell me that I should relax and just enjoy my time away from books. I took this advice but a month into ‘relaxing’ I felt that I hadn’t been keeping my mind focused. So, a few weeks before school began I checked out lumosity and used those ‘brain games’ to keep my mind sharp.

B) As far as actual "prep", I had to go back to school after being out of school since '04. I had to resign from my job as a pharmaceutical sales professional, sell my house, and move my family from Houston to the DFW area. Other than that, I mentally prepared myself that I don't know everything and this is all a new experience so stay loose and roll with it.

C) Most of my preparation was through my scribing at an ER in College Station. However, I really did anything I could to improve my application, such as shadowing in surgeries and doctor's offices, I did some research in undergrad with a professor, and some volunteering.

D) I volunteered in the hospital, shadowed PAs, and worked as a traveling health technician for an employee wellness company. I had a year between attending PA school and the end of pre-PA classes, so I definitely took a lot of time for myself. I think it's important to enjoy yourself before PA school becomes your life. 


2) What has been the most interesting thing you have learned so far? What has been the hardest?
A) Thus far, I have had the easiest time identifying structures with our cadavers, so lab is fun and pretty easy for me. The hardest thing to learn so far has been arteries, nerves and innervations of the antebrachial region.

B) The most interesting thing I've learned so far is not necessarily anything to do with info covered in lecture, but more just getting to know my class and their individual backgrounds. So far, I don't feel like anything has been "hard", rather it's just another challenging task in front of me. I'm sure it will get more challenging as the program gets into full swing.

C) The most interesting thing for me, which is a little cheesy, but how incredible the human body is. I love learning information that I will use on a daily basis, rather than pointless information that I will forget later in life (see calculus). The hardest has been finding the best method for studying and keeping everything organized. It's  a ton of information at once, so keeping it straight can be quite difficult.

D) I think everything I've learned has been really interesting. It's only been three weeks since the start of the semester, so I can't comment on what has been the hardest. However, I'm just in sheer amazement of how complicated our bodies really are.


3) What study strategy has worked? What hasn't?

A) A good study habit I’ve started is to study by myself during the weekdays for about two to three hours. I try to set goals to have certain points down before concluding my study time. At the end of the week I try to group study and listen to how others approach topics and if I missed anything. I have found that studying alone sometimes causes me to ignore some things that shouldn’t be ignored.

B) I find the best study method for me is to teach. If I can understand the principle and then turn and teach it to someone else, then I have it nailed down. I didn't like studying on the 4th floor (silent floor)... way too much stress and quite for me.

C) I enjoy studying alone at first, then meeting with classmates to hash out everything and bounce ideas off each other. Talking out loud to myself and utilizing the cadaver lab and models is what seems to help me understand/remember the most.

D) You can't study the night before an exam. You just can't. When you're going through 3 weeks of undergraduate material in a day in PA school, you really have to be diligent about keeping up with the material. This is your life for the next 2-3 years, so you have to just suck it up. The best study strategy is repetition and asking questions when you have your classmates or professors available to you. Don't be afraid to look stupid. 


4) What do you like about PA school vs. undergrad studies?
A) Strangely, I love that it is fast paced. It forces students to stay on top of their studies. I’ve always loved summer classes that resulted in tests each week, so PA school’s schedule feels more natural for me, versus learning a topic one week and waiting almost a month to test over it.

B) I LOVE how here, the goal is for you to succeed, NOT to weed you out. I especially love the PA program in that we are not in direct competition with each of your classmates. Rather, we are all in this to succeed and the things and skills we are learning now will be put into real practice.

C) I love that I'm not wasting my time. The faculty are preparing me for the real world, and my classmates are helping me learn and gain experience in interprofessional relationships. I also like that everyone wants others to succeed. We are all part of a team, which can be different than cutthroat settings of undergrad.

D) Everything you learn is relevant for your future career. There were times in undergrad where I was bored to tears and I was wondering why in  the world I needed to know something. Nothing in PA school is extraneous information. It's also great that everyone is experiencing the same things you're experiencing. Same classes, same stressors. It's a great bonding experience. 

New Blog!

Hello everyone. I've finished my time as a PrePA and am officially a week into PA school! Since I'm a PA-S now, I started a new blog. This one will be mostly videos about my experience. I'll still update this blog with PrePA thoughts and some interviews from time to time.

here's the URL: http://pastudentblog.blogspot.com/

How I got in

Here's feedback from some students who are just starting PA school this summer. 

1. What do you think set you apart on your CASPA?

A) I think that it is a difficult task to set yourself apart from the thousands upon thousands of CASPA applicants since the application is very standard.  If I had to choose one thing that set me apart, it would have to be my lengthy clinical experience (10 years) and my personal statement, since I didn't have an amazing number of shadowing or volunteer hours.

 B) I was well rounded; a lot of people focus on one or two categories (direct patient care, shadowing, etc) and load up on hours in those, but I had a decent amount of hours in every category. I also had leadership experience in undergraduate organizations - I founded the UNT Pre-PA Club and I was an officer for Alpha Epsilon Delta Pre-Health Professional Honor Society. Not many students can say that they started an organization at their school geared towards Pre-PA students.

C) I know that my GRE scores held the biggest influence on my application with a 85 percentile on the math and 86 on the verbal. During the first half of undergrad I goofed around too much, and consequently, my GPA reflected it. I knew that I had to nail the GRE to offset my mediocre GPA so I could prove to the admissions committee that I was worthy for their program.

D) I made sure to have something in every category. Leadership, volunteering, shadowing, health care experience, etc. Also I had 3000+ hours of health care experience in the ICU and several volunteer medical mission trips. I made sure to really elaborate on the experience that was most valuable: PrePA leadership, what I got to do and what kind of patients I got to work with during my HCE, etc. 

2. How did your Personal statement change during rewrites?

A) My personal statement changed at least 5 times before I decided it was acceptable and truly reflected me.  I had numerous folks from all disciplines read it and tell me what they get out of it or what they would like to see more of to get to know me on paper.  I ended up giving a couple of personal experiences that touched me and pushed me in the direction of physician assistant and gave grounds on why I would be successful in this role.  I think the personal statement is undoubtedly the most difficult part of the application since it is your one true shot to capture yourself on paper and grab someone's attention.

B) For starters, it got chopped in half. After I poured my heart out into my first few drafts I had almost twice the maximum character limit. I had to really focus on what mattered to be able to eliminate all of the "fluffy stuff" that made the statement so long. During the later rewrites I changed the some of the paragraphs to be more precise and more effectively written and polished the grammar and punctuation.

C) My personal statement didn't change a whole lot throughout the writing process. The central theme stayed the same, but the layout and rhetoric changed quite a bit. I made sure to have as many people read the statement as possible!

D) Drastically. I have about 3 completely different personal statements and the last version had more than 10 rewrites. I had 10 people look at it and 2 people really dig through it with me. I'd advise that you get lots of eyes on it and also make sure (if you can) someone who knows your top choice school looks at it and talks about what the school wants. 

3.  Tell me about your interviews experience(s).

A) I only applied to 2 places and received an interview offer from 1 of the 2 quickly after submitting my application.  I knew in my heart that this place (UNTHSC) was a great fit for me.  My interview experience was pretty casual compared to some of the horror stories I heard.  I was made to feel at ease by the staff and current 2nd year students before the interview.  I found out that I would be interviewed simultaneously by 2 faculty members.  When I went in to the interview both ladies greeted me and I began the conversation by thanking them for their time and letting them know that I was excited to be there.  As far as interview material went, they asked me about my clinical experience and questioned me on what I felt was the most pressing issue in healthcare today.  That was pretty much it.  I left feeling pretty good, but not truly knowing what they thought of me.  Exactly 4 weeks later I got an acceptance call!!  The rest is history.  Now the hard part begins.

B) I only applied to two schools: UNT Health Science Center and UT Southwestern. I got interviews to both but I only attended UNT Health Science Center's because the deadline to accept UNT's admission offer was one week before the UTSW interview. At my UNT HSC interview I felt like I was among friends. They split us into three groups and each group would do a tour of the school, a file review, and the interview in different orders. My group was chosen to interview last, which I liked because I could see the reactions of the people who interviewed before me. The interview turned out to be more laid back than I thought it would be. It was held by two of the PA Program Staff members in a personal office setting, a 2 on one interview. The only questions that I was asked in my interview were "why did you choose to become a PA?", "I see that you have a lot of shadowing experience in Cardiovascular Surgery, is this the field that you wish to go into?", and "is there anything that you would like to explain about your application?". The majority of my interview was spent talking about random things such as food (I was the last interview of the day for them and it was lunch time) and where we were from. It was a great experience and everyone there made me feel comfortable from the moment I arrived.

C) Interviews. Everything boils down to the interviews. Mess them up, and your stellar resume goes out the window.

My biggest piece of advice for interview preparation is to practice public speaking. During some of my interviews, I was in front of a panel of 6 or 7 people! Normally, I don't address large groups of people on a day to day basis, so I had to be very cognizant of proper eye contact with each and everyone of the interviewers.

Other interviews it was only me and one interviewer, such as at UTSW. However, this school had such a unconventional interview process. It was a series of 12 interview stations consisting of puzzles, chart interpretations, scenario questions, ethical questions, etc, that I rotated among. So by the end, I had met 12 (I think) different representatives from UTSW and they each got a chance to evaluate me.

Other than these two, most interviews were what you would expect - me and two or three people from the admissions committee. They gave me typical questions like why I want to be a PA and why their school.

D) I interviewed at 4 school around the country. They were surprisingly very similar. I think my application resonated with similar minded programs. I spoke with a couple of faculty or one faculty and one student, and they had 2 types questions for me: general questions (Why PA and not MD?) and questions based on my application. I had done several mock interviews and had worked through a lot of practice questions, so I was ready to talk about my application. I also did as much research on each school as I could. I made sure I had 4 or 5 questions for each program that couldn't be answered on the website. 

New Bill passed in Texas

This spring/summer there have been several states passing new PA laws. This week, Texas passed a bill that will free up PAs working in hospitals and hospice, among other things. Below are the highlights of the bill and a quick word from a few of the TAPA legislative affairs committee explaining its significance.



1) What does this bill mean for Texas PAs?

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1. The LAC formed a task force to lead the negotiations for TAPA with the TMA and the Nurses Coalition. This task force included: Lauren Dobbs, Karrie Crosby, Todd Pickard, Melinda Moore, Jaime Capelo and Lisa Jackson. This group worked tirelessly over several months to ensure that the bill contains victories for the PA profession and moves our practice forward. The following summarizes the changes to current law that are included in this bill that represent MAJOR VICTORIES for PAs in Texas:

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• Reduces site-based language from 5 settings to 2 (community and facility-based).
• Delegation of schedule II medications to PAs working in Hospitals or for patients in Hospice.
• Increases the number of PAs that a physician can delegate prescriptive practice from 4 to 7.
• Allows for unlimited delegated prescriptive practice in underserved and rural areas.
• Clarifies language that allows for unlimited delegated prescriptive practice at Hospitals.
• Removes the limitation for physicians to delegate prescriptive practice only at one Hospital.
• Removes distance limitations for physician supervision.
• Removes the percentage of charts that a physician must review and co-sign.
• Improves PA Board collaboration with the Medical Board and Nursing Board.
• Removes requirements for a percentage of hours of operation that a physician must be present at a practice.


It means that there will be some simplification on the rules that govern how we practice with physicians. As of now there are complicated and confusing site-based rules that have 5 different sites. Moving to two simplified sites (hospital and community settings) will make it easier to understand the rules. It also eliminates distance limitations, physician chart review, daily logs and many other cumbersome administrative tasks. It also allows for a physician to delegate up to 7 PA. This is an increase from the current limit of 4. Also for the first time PAs will be officially recognized as Primary Care Providers and be able to Order DME for our patients. It is a big step forward. TAPA will continue to seek improvements in our practice act and this is part of that ongoing effort. 


2) How did you engage the legislature?

We negotiated with the TMA and Nurses Coalition for several months, met with the Senate Health Committee Chair, met with the House Public Health Committee Chair, held a PA day at the Capitol where more than 40 PAs and Students did 60 visits, canvassed the capitol and held additional visits with the legislators, and reached out to our membership to call their representatives in support of our legislative agenda. It was a lot of hard work and took many months. We also worked with the TAPA PAC to make key donations for the primaries and general elections held this past fall.

TAPA’s Legislative Affairs Committee (LAC) works with our lobbyist, Jaime Capelo, who assists us in staying, engaged legislatively.  As a result, we have developed relationships with key stakeholders and legislative committees in regards issues relevant to PA practice.   We have also partnered with physician groups who have interests in seeing the physician-PA team practice model work.


3) What can someone do to help out next time there is an important bill?

The best way to get involved and be a part of the bill making process and affect the next legislative session is to get involved with the Legislative Affairs Committee (LAC).  Students and practicing PAs are encouraged to sign up every June via the TAPA website to participate in committees. The state legislative sessions are every 2 years but planning and work for the legislative session begins the year prior.  TAPA also hosts a Legislative Day for PAs to discuss bills with legislators every legislative session and is an additional way to get involved.  TAPA also hosts a Legislative PA Day every session where PAs can learn about the legislative process and lobbying.  Then teams conduct visits to Legislative offices.

Donate to the TAPA PAC and come to the PA Day at the Capitol. Calling your representative’s and senator’s office to voice support for the TAPA legislative agenda and bills is also crucial. It takes time and money to get the message out and get support for the PA Profession.

Things I did - Shadowing

Whenever a PrePA gets through the prelimanary questions, the conversation turns to shadowing and usually grinds to a halt.  It's required or advised by many program and difficult to obtain. The sad news is that there is no easy answer. HIPAA and its increasingly restrictive interpretations have made shadowing at large entities (hospitals) almost impossible.

I was fortunate enough to work with several PAs and use some of our time together as shadowing. If I had a spare minute or a lunch break I would sit with a Pa and talk about current patients, the profession, how inpatient practice worked, etc. In CASPA, I listed that time as shadowing. One of those PAs worked in an Urgent Care/Family practice and I was able to also shadow there. The only reason I have shadowing hours on my application is because I was around enough PAs for it to happen.

Here's a few thoughts on shadowing:

- Do your homework. If you meet a PA and talk to them about shadowing, be sure to have learned some things about the profession first. Shadowing is at best a first hand look at what you already know about PAs.

- Look everywhere and ask everyone. Go in person (dressed professionally) to ask about shadowing. Bring a resume. Even better, don't ask about shadowing, just ask to talk to or email the PA. Have some questions ready. Offer to meet them on their schedule. At the end of a conversation, ask about shadowing. If its not an option, you've still been able to learn from a PA and network. Ask who they know that would allow shadowing.

- Join state organization and AAPA. Go to the conferences. Attend a meeting. There are tons of people to connect with through these organizations. After attending TAPA a conference, I had 4 shadowing offers.

- Don't expect everyone to be available for you. I was a little surprised at how often I encountered this perception. Remember that a PA is at work when you are shadowing, and the decision to allow shadowing isn't always just up to them. There could be an office manager, group policy, supervising physicians, and the patients who don;t allow shadowing. You are asking them a big favor, so be grateful for their time.

- Be careful not to get discouraged when people tell you no. You'll have a LOT of people tell you know if you're looking for shadowing. One of the key things PA admissions committees look for is persistence. Keep track of who you talked to while shadowing. Make notes of the conversation and share them with your PrePA group at school or on a blog.

- Hopefully more schools will have programs like this. Let your advisers know about this program and push to see it happen more and more. Internships are extremely valuable, and one that lets you shadow a PA would be ideal.

Advice

There are over 50 interviews on this site, and many people have some advise for future applicants. As we approach CASPA's opening, I wanted to gathering all those together for one post. Here are the responses form PA-Cs and PA-Ss when asked for advice to give a future applicant. 

I think my advice would be to remain open to career changing opportunities, but don't be a afraid to take that first job in primary care, for those who are so inclined. I believe it has been a really valuable experience, and I think that physician assistant scope of practice can really be utilized to its full extend in that setting.  Second, I would say to make sure to try and maintain a work/life balance that will help you stay grounded and prevent burnout, especially during the first few years of practice. 

Study hard.  Ask lots of questions.  Listen to the nurses.  They can teach you a LOT.  Don't take things personally if people look at you like you're "just a PA" and "not a doctor."  I'm amazed daily how few people know what PAs are and what we do.  Don't stop learning.  Most patients just want someone who actually listens to them.  Try to really listen to people rather than just waiting for your time to talk.  Do what you enjoy and enjoy what you do.

My advice to future PA students is to stay committed during the didactic year. It gets really tough trying to keep up with everything, but it will be worth it in the end. When students would complain about exams, my program director would always say "Every patient is a test." This statement could not be more true. The information learned in school will be vital later as your future patient looks at you and asks what is wrong with them. In preparing for a program I would suggest refreshing on your anatomy and physiology, which are the basis for what you will learn. Beyond that you will find out what you need to know in school. In preparing for the "real world," just remember that you should never stop learning. Medicine is a constantly evolving field and will pass you by if you don't keep up. Read journals and take the time to read a few of the emails with which your account will be flooded after graduation regarding new medications and treatments. Most importantly, keep in mind the reason you chose to go into PA school in the first place.

Remember PA school is a great experience but is just the beginning.  Being a PA is a commitment, and very fulfilling.  Getting good grades is important, but once out of school, thinking quickly about how to solve problems is extremely important, and the ability to do so under stress. 

The programs take every aspect of the application as a whole so they want a well rounded applicant. So take the opportunity in the personal letter to show how you set yourself apart from others, many programs want to broaden their student profiles. Be sure you get STRONG letter of recommendations. Many times letter of recommendations are "B" strength and some even harmful.

Have diverse life experiences outside of medicine and science. Become a mentor or if you are taking time off between undergrad and PA school and are looking for work- try teaching with Teach for America. If you haven’t picked a major yet, then try something outside of the realm of science and medicine- I have a Bachelor’s in Journalism.

Health care experience is great because it shows that you can take care of patients. It takes a semester to become certified as an EMT-Basic, and depending on your location, you can work in the 911 service, an ER, or for an ambulance transport service

1-Get to know healthcare, its delivery system and how it works. As a PA (esp as a PA in the future) it is very important to know they system in which you work... if you don't ... you are a less effective provider. 
2-Know the history of the profession
3-Become a member of your state PA chapter or the AAPA to gain professional information about the profession

I highly suggest that pre-PA students become involved with TAPA, the Texas Academy of Physician Assistants. The benefit is great for students because it allows you to stay informed about the profession (which is more important now more than ever because of health care reform) and along with your membership, you get a seriously reduced registration price for the TAPA Conferences. Going to at least one TAPA Conference would be a really good idea because there are student tracks that are focused on enriching lives of students before entering PA school, during school, and in the transition from school to practice. Additionally, there are a ton of faculty members from all the schools there. In fact, I was asked during one of my interviews if I ever attended one of the conferences.

Volunteer at a hospital. Be an orderly or unit clerk or nursing assistant. Hands-on patient care is much more meaningful than shadowing. Reply Forward

Brag confidently but also humbly in your essay about the reasons why you will make an excellent PA. Say things other than I want to help people. Mention your medical/clinical experience but don't focus on listing your resume. Talk about how they have changed and shaped your mind and attitude towards being a PA. Be well rounded. Do something other than just shadow. It could be something completely unrelated to medicine. Be yourself and confident in your interviews. Ask as many questions as you can. Be enthusiastic.

I have seen people in my profession who have a really hard time having to work under someone and the ultimate decision being up to the physician.  I always wonder why these people just didn’t go to med school.  I would just recommend that you realize at the end of the day that we work under a physician and although we normally get a lot of autonomy that is not always the case.  
     I think PA schools are looking for those well rounded people (grades are decent, medical experience, passion for healthcare, volunteering, shadowing a PA to show you are familiar with the profession and know what you are getting into!) – having just one of these things is not going to cut it.  
     Don’t give up.  Reapply!  Our profession is worth it!  Good luck!

 I didn’t realize it was as intense until in hindsight. College seemed difficult but in reality it was not as rigorous as PA school. I also realized that time does fly quickly once you’re in so school was over before I knew it! 

 If you don't get in, call the schools and see where you can improve your application.  Be yourself, they know you are nervous in interviews and will be making mistakes, but if you stay positive and show you can handle tough situations then they will strongly consider you.  Don't write the typical "I've wanted to work in medicine since I was a kid". It gets boring.  Share an experience that made you who you are today and why that has made you want to do medicine. 

When I started PA school, I assumed that I would fail out or be struggling to keep up. That attitude actually served me well. It jump-started me to begin PA school studying harder that I ever had before. Also, you need to assume (and let nearby family and friends know) that you are generally not available. Of course, you need time away from school, but it needs to be sparing. I would advise making friends with your classmates. They are some of the only people who will know what you are going through. Also, you will be speaking "medicine" for 2-3 years. Non-medical friends and family grow very tired of that. Study in groups and individually. Group-studying was actually the most efficient studying I did, even when we were off-track. We came up with silly songs or sayings to help us remember things. Have a non-school book, or some non-school hobby, going at all times. The people that struggled the hardest where those who didn't study enough or those who studied non-stop. Do not worry about what other people's grades are. At the end of the day, yours is the only one that matters.

My advice is definitely to mentally prepare yourself and never give up.  I knew going into my first round of applications that there was a definite possibility that I would not get into a program on my first shot.  I knew I had little HCE compared to others but I knew I had a great GPA...just like all the other applicants applying this cycle.  Just go into the CASPA cycle knowing that you will get into a program, either this cycle or maybe the next, you will do it.  Have that dedication knowing that this is what you want to do and you will accomplish it one way or another.  Also, prepare yourself for the fastest yet slowest two years of your life.  It will be hard, trying, and amazing all rolled into one.  Just roll with the punches and know that it is all worth it.

Take your personal essay and letters of recommendation seriously. Have several different people read your essay and provide feedback. As for the letters of recommendation, choose people that you are confident will write a strong and meaningful letter. If you are planning to ask one or more of your professors to write one for you, make certain you stand out in class as a contributor to class discussions. Do not expect to get a stellar personalized letter based on top grades alone. 

Also, if you get rejected, contact the program as soon as possible and ask to meet with someone, ideally a faculty member, regarding your application. When you do meet, go in with an idea of what you think were your weaknesses and a plan to address each of them. Review that plan and confirm that it would make you a stronger candidate for next year. Who know's? Maybe they'll reconsider you for this year.

*PRACTICE INTERVIEWING! It will truly make you more relaxed when you're in that one-on-one situation come crunch time.

Other than that, there is a vast wealth of information at the PA Forum to help future applicants. It's helped me and countless other PA's get to where we are today.

Gosh, I don't know what advice I would give a future PA since I'm not there yet. I'm guessing there is a lot PAs could tell me. As far as future PA students, I would say not to give up on the application process or the PA school dream. If you are worried you don't have the right qualifications to apply review the program websites, talk to their admissions coordinators and go to their information sessions. One of my big concerns before applying was financial aid since I have loans from undergrad and my masters. I contacted the financial aid office and health professions welcome center months before I decided to apply. They were incredibly helpful! If you don't get in the first time you apply don't get discouraged. Learn from the interview process, figure out what it is you need to make yourself more competitive and try again. Volunteer with a cause that means something to you.

Make sure you have all of your prerequisites in order.
Volunteer or work in health care.
Take the GRE and fill out your CASPA application as early as possible.
Shadow somebody.
Be yourself at interviews.

I would say to never give up! We all have our own challenges and struggles in our journey to acceptance into PA school and while we are there completing the journey to becoming a PA. It will be difficult at times but nothing worth having ever comes easy. So, stay focused and determined and you will achieve one of the greatest accomplishments of your life!

For the pre-PA students I think you are preparing well for a future in PA school. I never had a pre-PA society to join so I had to do my research on my own. Research as much as you can about the PA profession, different specialties, PA programs, and the curriculum. You are already a step ahead of the game by being a member of a pre-PA society! I would also say to be aware of the way healthcare works and how you feel PAs play a role in the delivery of healthcare, especially underserved areas. If
you are looking for loan repayment options, the National Health Service Corps is a great place to apply for a scholarship or loan repayment after graduation. PAs are one branch of the NHSC. The NHSC serves medically underserved areas throughout the nation. Finally, if you can go on a medical mission trip, this is another great opportunity to expand your medical and cultural knowledge and improve your resume
Plus they are super fun!

Wise advice would be to always consider the big picture. When you are in school do not just study to prepare for exams, but attain an understanding of a disease from primary manifestations to final treatment. Be organized. Be methodical. Be thoughtful. Learn from your patients. Students have the luxury of time to spend with a patient to really understand how this disease has evolved for them and how it is affecting them. Practicing MDs and PAs rarely have the time to really understand some of these things about one particular patients, but an understanding of those little details really helps you to provide care for the patient and understand the disease to help your future patients once you are licensed and practicing.

You have to REALLY REALLY want it, badly. I still feel like I got lucky because there were people smarter than me who didn't get in. But I stuck with it, applied again, kept after it. Second round applicants can have a better shot because it shows how much you want it to apply again. Its so competetive that you really have to stand out somehow and be passionate about it.

Concentrate on grades in school. It is pretty competitive, so don't slack on studying. Also, I think now they are wanting some type of experience/exposure, so volunteer, work or shadow when you can.

Advise: You will never know it all. Keep learning every day. If you don't, you will never know enough.

Besides the obvious (study hard, good GPA, average GRE score) keep a well-rounded life. PA programs want to see that you get along with people in any scenario (family, work, volunteerism) because, after all, PAs serve as a midlevel provider and come into contact with everyone. Schools also want to see you have extracurricular activities that help you balance the stressors of school and our demanding career. 
Shadow shadow shadow. You need to know what a PA does, how we function in the field, and it is a “requirement” on CASPA. If you don’t have shadow hours, you have less likelihood of getting an interview. Know why you want to be a PA and not a nurse or physician. 
Use people who know you well for your letters of recommendation. I used a physician from my past with whom I worked, an old research mentor, and my boss at the time of application. All of them could truly speak of my personality, nature, and work ethic. I would not advise getting all college professors. We have all been to college, and we all know that one does not really experience a lot of one-on-one and close-knit relationships with professors. 

I can think of tons of advice, but I'll try to limit it. Foremost, maintain your life outside of school. It can be tempting to feel as if you have to study all the time, but don't neglect your significant other, pets, family, or friends. Many of you will be living in a new place, so you should build some relationships. You will not do well emotionally or academically if you push yourself to the breaking point; set aside some time for fun. Also, always ask if you need help: Your classmates and faculty want you to succeed, but they may not know if you're falling behind until it's too late. On a similar note, when you're on rotations, ask as many questions as come to mind - This is your chance! Soon enough you'll be in the same scary situation as me, on the verge of being the PA!

-If you are young and just finishing undergrad, make sure that you do not want to go to medical school instead. I think it’s easy to think that PA might be a shorter route, but if you love the practice of medicine, then becoming a physician might be the way to go. Not saying this is true for everyone, but just take a hard look at why you are going to PA school and not medical school. I’ve seen time and time again people working as PAs for a while and realizing they had wished they had gone to medical school to begin with

-Apply to as many schools as possible, but only apply to the schools you see yourself going to. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket 

-The path to becoming a PA can be tough at times, but it will be a blast…enjoy the ride!!

Hmm. Probably to have some volunteer hours. I know a lot of people who came straight out of college, and they got in because of being "well-rounded", with volunteer hours, and other interesting backgrounds. Just emphasize your "whole package" thing. Yes, a good GPA is great, but can you interact with people, do you have a good bedside manner? Can you talk to all sorts of people? Also, reference letters can make or break you. Meet the right people, and their letter can do wonders.

The PA profession is very challenging and competitive. Don't give up if you encounter set backs.

TAPA 2013 Video Interview #4

Here's an interview I did with a PA-C working in Hormone Replacement Therapy. 

TAPA 2013 Video Interview #3

Here's an interview with Jack Runyan PA-C, PhD. He is faculty at UT Pan America, a Physician Assistant since 1977, and founder of Mercy Trips non profit healthcare outreach organization.

TAPA 2013 Video Interview #2

Here's an interview with a PA-S from UTMB

TAPA 2013 Video Interview #1

Here's the first of several video interviews I did at this year's TAPA conference. Eric Martinez is working with TAPA and recently completed his EM residency at BCM.

End of Didactic Interview

Here are some quick thoughts from a PA student who is wrapping up the didactic portion of her program and moving into clinical rotations!

1) Tell me about your PA school experience thus far. (ups and downs, was it overwhelming, what surprised you, etc)

Overwhelming is an understatement, but there have definitely been more ups than downs. There's more work and studying in PA school than I would have ever imagined, but the entire experience of PA school is what you make of it. I've enjoyed my experience in school so much because despite having to work so hard, I've always allowed myself to have time set aside for fun, friends, and family - this is something that I highly suggest. If you are always studying and never give yourself a break, the stresses of school will really get to you. Also, no matter how hard it gets or how badly you wish you weren't studying at the moment, always be thankful that you're in the program because there's a lot of people who would rather be in your place!

2) What was your favorite unit/section/class?

My favorite section is clinical skills. Its the class where you learn all of the basic clinical procedures like sutures, IV placement, and foley catheters. This was my favorite because it's hands-on learning and is a sign that you're almost at the end of your didactic portion. Also, learning the procedures is just fun.

3) How did your study techniques evolve during your time in the didactic phase? What worked best and what didn't work?

Group studying helps out a lot, especially when you're teaching others. It's great because in order to teach someone, you really have to know the material well. However, everyone in the group must study individually before the group study session in order to be efficient. This has worked out well for me throughout the entire didactic phase, and worked for a lot of other people as well.

4) Which clinical are you looking forward to the most? What about that one excites you?

The rotation that I am most excited for is orthopedic surgery! The orthopedics block was really interesting and I really enjoyed surgery when I was shadowing, so naturally this would be the one I'm most excited about. Plus surgery is nothing like the other clinical rotations - the process of manually fixing the body is fascinating!

First Month of PA School

Here's an interview with a PA-S 

1) How did you prepare for the start of PA school?

Honestly, I didn't really prepare. I had 2-3 weeks between undergraduate graduation and the beginning of PA school so I milked out those 2-3 weeks. I crammed in as many movies as I could while I packed for New Mexico! I just tried relax and enjoy as much time as I could with friends and family.

2) What has been the most interesting thing you have learned so far? What has been the hardest?

We have a class called Clinical Assessment and right away we're learning how to take a history and do a physical exam. We also do case studies every week where we learn about different conditions write a full SOAP note and we have to figure out what to prescribe to them. I feel like we've been pushed into the deep end of the pool, but it's really interesting and useful information! 

The hardest thing so far for me is just accepting that I'm not going to know everything. We are taking 22 credit hours of graduate level work and between anatomy, physiology, clinical assessment, a research course, and a professionalism course, there is an overwhelming amount of information we are learning about. No matter how much you study, there is no possible way to retain all of that information without losing sleep (and I definitely need my sleep!). I've recently learned to focus my studies on the material that's emphasized during lecture, then if I have extra time go back and study the rest of the chapter. It's really easy to get behind in other classes if you devote too much time to another class, so it's also a huge juggling act. 

Also, my anatomy teacher "pimps" students during lab so it's kind of terrifying, especially when you don't know the answer. Getting used to this method of teaching was an adjustment, but I really appreciate the one-on-one attention we get. It makes sure you stay on top of the material.

3) What study strategy has worked? What hasn't?

I kind of mentioned it in the previous question. Accept the fact that you're not going to know and retain ALL of the information. Just really focus on what the instructor emphasizes in lecture (so make sure you're paying attention in all your classes!). If you have extra time, go back and look at the rest of the info. Also, don't be afraid to ask for help!! One thing I love about my program is that we have such a small class size so everyone has become really close. There is absolutely no "competitive" mindset so everybody helps each other out. Don't be afraid to ask classmates or your professors for help. 

 

4) What do you like about PA school vs. undergrad studies?

Most of my classes in undergrad had huge class sizes. We have such a small class size in my program so you get a lot more attention. Also, it's really nice learning anatomy on a human cadaver rather than just pictures from a book or various animal cadavers as we did in undergrad. 

PA school is a lot more work, but most of the material is stuff that I thoroughly enjoy studying so it makes it fun in a way. 

Interview with a Rural Medicine PA-C

Here's an interview with a PA who practices Rural Medicine in North Texas.

1) Why did you become a PA?

 I spent quite a bit of time in my undergraduate career trying to decide between medical school and physician assistant school.  I had the opportunity to work as a medical assistant at a Christian family practice office where I feel like I was introduced to excellent medicine and a great example of a physician/PA team. One of the physician assistants I met there had trained at Duke during the first few years of that start up PA program in the 1960's, so coming to know him and hear his stories of training was truly a dose of PA history! The other physician assistant at the practice was a new graduate and offered a fresh perspective on the process of applying to PA school, and the up and coming advances in the PA profession. It was through coming to know these excellent physician assistants that I realized the value of the profession and began to learn more and more about PA's and their patient centered focus.

2) How did you pick UNT HSC? What was your time like there? What strategies helped you?

I picked UNTHSC because of the warm welcome I received during my interview period.  I had taken a few days to talk candidly with students at several of the Texas PA schools, and the UNT students were honest about the difficulty of PA school but spoke highly of their program, and felt like they had the support of their faculty and student peers.  I also knew I wanted a longer PA program, so the length of UNT's program was very attractive to me.

I had an excellent time at UNTHSC.  Looking back, it was very challenging, but also a time of great personal and academic growth.  Our class of PA students operated like a family, we all worked together to take complete notes, and shared study materials; the fact that competition between classmates was not a hindrance was something that helped all of us navigate the three years of PA school.  Taking one day or part of a day off from studying, a "day of rest" if you will, was another vital part of maintaining a balance in school.  There is a "buddy system" in place where you will be assigned an upper class PA student to help you with tips and strategies during the first few weeks of school, and I would recommend taking full advantage of their experience and knowledge.  

3) How did you get into Rural Medicine? Did you do a rural rotation in school?

I did not complete a rural medicine rotation, and would not have initially seen myself practicing in a rural setting.  I knew I wanted to gain experience in primary care with my first job after graduation. To be quite honest, when I interviewed for my current position, I didn't fully realize how rural a setting it was until I arrived at the job interview!  Once I met my supervising physician, and saw the practice setting, I was intrigued  and impressed; I decided I was up for a challenge and an adventure in rural medicine, and I have not regretted that decision.

4) How has your perception changed about Rural medicine since you started practicing?

My perception has changed in several ways.  My perception of the PA/physician team started off as something fairly standardized, but now I realize that that relationship is unique to the individual physician and physician assistant, as well as variable by practice setting.  The scope of practice of rural family physicians and by extension, that of rural physician assistants, is still fairly extensive.  

My perception of work/life balance has changed quite a bit; in the rural setting, your job and involvement in the community doesn't end at 5:00 pm.  You become an integral part of the community, and people come to know you as a leader, and will ask you to commit to various voluntary or appointed positions.   I've had patients call me in the middle of the night, with a health emergency or question.  You see people at the local meat market or grocery store and they will ask you their medical questions with bold (and sometimes amusing) honesty; they will often introduce you to family and friends and say "This is my PA, they take care of me".  

Finally, my perception of the medical community overall has changed since I began working in a more rural area.  We do have limited specialist coverage, and all of the family physicians rotate call for any patients that are admitted to the hospital.  There is a spirit of teamwork between the family doctors, their physician assistants, and the specialists we have covering our local hospital which I have not witnessed anywhere else in my training, and this is something I will always remember about rural medicine.  The medical staff here truly do rely on each other for personal and professional support, and everyone collaborates very well to help patients receive the treatment they need, even if it means staying late or taking on an patient consult. For example, I frequently contact our orthopedic surgeon and cardiologist on call for our area hospital on their personal cell phones when I need advice on a patient I have in the office.  

5)  What kind of patients do you see?

I see a range of patients in the family clinic, infants to geriatrics, for anything from preventive exams to chronic disease management, to walk in visits for sick patients and minor injuries.  My supervising physician and I also see patients at the local nursing home, so I round on those patients at least one per month. I am the provider on call for the nursing home, so take 24 hour telephone call for any situation that may come up with our patients there.  After building my skills in the clinic and nursing home my first year in practice, I have had the opportunity to gain some experience with inpatient medicine; I essentially pre-round on any patients my physician or I admit to the local community hospital, and work closely with my supervising physician to coordinate hospital orders and discharge planning.

What does a typical week look like for you?

My days start at around 06:30 when I call up to the local hospital to check on any admitted patients.  If we have patients in the hospital (usually anywhere from 1-5) I head up to the hospital around 07:00 and start rounds and progress notes.  My supervising physician usually meets me on the inpatient side and we wrap up discharge planning or further hospital orders together.  Clinic starts at 8:00, so I head to the office after hospital rounds, and see patients from 8-5.  If anything comes up for our nursing home patients during the day, or if I received an overnight call for any problem, I will drive by the local nursing home during lunch of after office hours to make a nursing home visit for any sick patients. I don't typically take call at the hospital or round on patients over the weekend, although I am still on call by telephone for the nursing home;  If our nursing home patients get sick over the weekend and I am in town I usually will pay a weekend visit to them.  The providers at our office number seven (three physicians and four physician assistants) and we alternate shorter weekend clinic hours, so we each work one out of every seven weekends.

6) What is your favorite part of your practice?

My favorite part of my practice is the long term relationships I have had the opportunity to form with patients.  It is common to build relationships and take care of several generations of a family.  It is rewarding to see patients back for follow-up over an extended period of time and mark their progress.

7) Any advice for future PAs?

I think my advice would be to remain open to career changing opportunities, but don't be a afraid to take that first job in primary care, for those who are so inclined. I believe it has been a really valuable experience, and I think that physician assistant scope of practice can really be utilized to its full extend in that setting.  Second, I would say to make sure to try and maintain a work/life balance that will help you stay grounded and prevent burnout, especially during the first few years of practice.