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.
Showing posts with label To Do. Show all posts
Showing posts with label To Do. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Things I did - Choosing a PA school
When I decided I wanted to be a PA, I found out that there was a nearby program that was highly recognized. In the back of my mind I decided that was the school I would go to and focus my efforts on it. A year into the process, I began to meet people from several different programs. I started reading blogs from PA students in other parts of the country. I looked through schools rankings from US News and lists on the AAPA website. I stepped back and realized that I needed a better criteria for selecting a program. I also learned from an admissions committee leader that her program didn't take a candidate seriously if they only applied to one program.
Below are some of the things you will want to consider when deciding which programs to apply to and which to skip.
Cost: There are many ways to offset the expense of PA school, but the amount of debt you accumulate during school will impact you no matter how you address it. If you are choosing between two schools with a noticeable cost difference, ask yourself what does the more expensive school offer that will help me as a practicing PA. Is it worth the added expense?
Family/Support Structure/Commitments: I have a wife and a child, so I can't make a decision about PA school without considering how it will impact them. I talked with my wife (who has her own career) from the start and when application time came around, we selected cities that had programs I liked and opportunities she liked. Consider what commitments you have and what your support structure (friends, family, etc) will look like while in school.
Program Focus: Do you want to go into surgery? Do you want to work in a border town? Many of the programs have unique strengths that become apparent as you get to know them. Look for a program that will prepare you best for what you want to do.
Prerequisites: I have some academic blemishes that have taken work to address since starting back to school. Even with my efforts, there are several programs that will not look at my application. Be sure to carefully read the prerequisites of each program and make sure you meet/exceed each of them. If a program wants a 3.25 overall GPA and you have a 3.1, you may not want to waste the money applying there. You definitely shouldn't get your hopes up.
Culture: As I attended information sessions and heard different program leaders speak, I discovered that I really resonated with a few of the programs. Surprisingly, the ones I thought I would like ended up being the ones that I didn't click with as well. Get to know the programs as best you can. What are their attitudes about school? About students? About the profession? There's not a wrong answer, but make sure you answers match theirs.
PANCE Pass Rates: If a PA program can't prepare you to pass the PANCE then what are you paying them for? Check the pass rates, rates for first time takers and overall rates, look for trends over the last 5 years, look for reasons (good or bad) that the rates are what they are.
Below are some of the things you will want to consider when deciding which programs to apply to and which to skip.
Cost: There are many ways to offset the expense of PA school, but the amount of debt you accumulate during school will impact you no matter how you address it. If you are choosing between two schools with a noticeable cost difference, ask yourself what does the more expensive school offer that will help me as a practicing PA. Is it worth the added expense?
Family/Support Structure/Commitments: I have a wife and a child, so I can't make a decision about PA school without considering how it will impact them. I talked with my wife (who has her own career) from the start and when application time came around, we selected cities that had programs I liked and opportunities she liked. Consider what commitments you have and what your support structure (friends, family, etc) will look like while in school.
Program Focus: Do you want to go into surgery? Do you want to work in a border town? Many of the programs have unique strengths that become apparent as you get to know them. Look for a program that will prepare you best for what you want to do.
Prerequisites: I have some academic blemishes that have taken work to address since starting back to school. Even with my efforts, there are several programs that will not look at my application. Be sure to carefully read the prerequisites of each program and make sure you meet/exceed each of them. If a program wants a 3.25 overall GPA and you have a 3.1, you may not want to waste the money applying there. You definitely shouldn't get your hopes up.
Culture: As I attended information sessions and heard different program leaders speak, I discovered that I really resonated with a few of the programs. Surprisingly, the ones I thought I would like ended up being the ones that I didn't click with as well. Get to know the programs as best you can. What are their attitudes about school? About students? About the profession? There's not a wrong answer, but make sure you answers match theirs.
PANCE Pass Rates: If a PA program can't prepare you to pass the PANCE then what are you paying them for? Check the pass rates, rates for first time takers and overall rates, look for trends over the last 5 years, look for reasons (good or bad) that the rates are what they are.
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
How to conduct a Mock Interview
Mock interviews are very useful, especially if you know you have an interview coming up. The more comfortable you are in practice interviews, the more comfortable you will be in the actual interview. Before beginning my journey towards PA school, I was a recruiter for 5 years. In that time, I interviewed multiple people every week, coached them for interviews, and even ran a mock interview from time to time. Here are some suggestions on how to run a proper and helpful Mock Interview:
Setup
- Treat the Mock Interview as if it were real. Dress the part if you are not accustomed to wearing interview clothes. Be early. Have your questions ready. Be ready to take notes. Use a laptop only if you will use one in the interview. Recording the interview is a great way to learn, even if you won't record the real one.
- Have one person interview the other with 5-6 questions. Again, act as if you are in a real interview. Address one another professionally. Sit up tall. Make eye contact. Speak clearly. The questions should include "Tell me about yourself." "Why do you want to be a PA?"
- At the end, go over it with each other. Share notes. What did you like about their response? What did their body language tell you? Any difficult questions that should be practiced? Go over each response and note what you liked and didn't like. Don't neglect the positive aspects.
- Treat the Mock Interview as if it were real. Dress the part if you are not accustomed to wearing interview clothes. Be early. Have your questions ready. Be ready to take notes. Use a laptop only if you will use one in the interview. Recording the interview is a great way to learn, even if you won't record the real one.
- Have one person interview the other with 5-6 questions. Again, act as if you are in a real interview. Address one another professionally. Sit up tall. Make eye contact. Speak clearly. The questions should include "Tell me about yourself." "Why do you want to be a PA?"
- At the end, go over it with each other. Share notes. What did you like about their response? What did their body language tell you? Any difficult questions that should be practiced? Go over each response and note what you liked and didn't like. Don't neglect the positive aspects.
- Trade seats and trade roles. If you have several people, you can set up a rotation. I would suggest getting faculty involved, or at least someone who regularly conducts interviews. They will have valuable feedback.
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Website Resources
I don't know how people made it through college without the internet. Here are some websites that I like to utilize.
University of Michigan Medical School Gross Anatomy Videos - great videos of dissection of actual cadavers
Khan Academy - great tutoring videos, covers subjects like statistics, organic chemistry, and A&P
University of Kansas Histology Slides - good set of slides for familiarizing yourself with histology
WebMD - large medical reference website
Mayo Clinic - another large medical reference website
Practical Clinical Skills - Not sure what rales sounds like? want a quick breakdown of the QRS complex. This site is a quick way to get comfortable with some basics
Anatomy Zone - More videos. I thrive on videos. Good 3D visualization of anatomy.
Which ones do you use the most?
University of Michigan Medical School Gross Anatomy Videos - great videos of dissection of actual cadavers
Khan Academy - great tutoring videos, covers subjects like statistics, organic chemistry, and A&P
University of Kansas Histology Slides - good set of slides for familiarizing yourself with histology
WebMD - large medical reference website
Mayo Clinic - another large medical reference website
Practical Clinical Skills - Not sure what rales sounds like? want a quick breakdown of the QRS complex. This site is a quick way to get comfortable with some basics
Anatomy Zone - More videos. I thrive on videos. Good 3D visualization of anatomy.
Which ones do you use the most?
Monday, July 9, 2012
Personal Statement
Right now I'm in Personal Statement land. Though I started many months ago, I have not been able to escape constant rewrites and revisions. Fortunately, I am surrounded by many gracious people who are helping me through this process. Unfortunately, they rarely agree on what makes a strong personal statement.
If you don't know, CASPA (and therefore PA programs) requires a personal statement no longer than 5000 characters. This will tell the program(s) of your choice why you want to be a PA and why they should interview you.
There are several resources available to help you write and proof your personal statement. There are professionals you can hire to coach you, forums that will review and recommend changes, and countless opinions of friends, colleagues, and schools. Here are a few thoughts I've accumulated:
The Don'ts
- Don't be too weird - don't write a poem or some other unique, creative interpretation of the essay format. Its not professional and this is for professional school.
- Don't be too bland - when I read through my statement from last year it sounded horribly plain. Whoever is reading this reads a LOT of these and plain will get overlooked quickly.
- Don't repeat your CASPA - this is the one consistent message I get from people. They know who many shadowing hours you have and what classes you've taken. You're wasting precious characters repeating yourself.
The Do's
- Write about yourself - this is a PERSONAL statement, make it personal. Speak in your voice, not in the rhetorically appropriate voice.
- Write about what you've done - Experiences count for more than intentions. People reading this want to see evidence of who you are, not just thoughts.
- Get lots of advice - ask questions at info sessions, talk to PAs about their thoughts, read school FAQs and email if they don't talk about what they look for in a personal statement. Sort through all those internet opinions. Some of them are worthwhile.
If you don't know, CASPA (and therefore PA programs) requires a personal statement no longer than 5000 characters. This will tell the program(s) of your choice why you want to be a PA and why they should interview you.
There are several resources available to help you write and proof your personal statement. There are professionals you can hire to coach you, forums that will review and recommend changes, and countless opinions of friends, colleagues, and schools. Here are a few thoughts I've accumulated:
The Don'ts
- Don't be too weird - don't write a poem or some other unique, creative interpretation of the essay format. Its not professional and this is for professional school.
- Don't be too bland - when I read through my statement from last year it sounded horribly plain. Whoever is reading this reads a LOT of these and plain will get overlooked quickly.
- Don't repeat your CASPA - this is the one consistent message I get from people. They know who many shadowing hours you have and what classes you've taken. You're wasting precious characters repeating yourself.
The Do's
- Write about yourself - this is a PERSONAL statement, make it personal. Speak in your voice, not in the rhetorically appropriate voice.
- Write about what you've done - Experiences count for more than intentions. People reading this want to see evidence of who you are, not just thoughts.
- Get lots of advice - ask questions at info sessions, talk to PAs about their thoughts, read school FAQs and email if they don't talk about what they look for in a personal statement. Sort through all those internet opinions. Some of them are worthwhile.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Start Here
As I have discovered more and more about the PA profession, I have learned better ways to prepare myself to apply to a program and one day become a PA. I have changed plans countless times and looking back, have a few thought on how I wish I had started. So, if you are new to this, if you have only been considering becoming a PA for a short wile, if you are new to this journey, I have some advise in those first few steps. If you've been at this a while, make sure you have some basics covered and please, let me know what I've missed. I'm still learning, so maybe we can help each other out.
First steps, which can be done in any order, but should be done soon:
- Get CPR Certified. If you are training to be in a health care position, you've got this covered. Otherwise, you might be thinking of putting this off until later. Don't. CPR has been the bedrock of first response/emergency care for several decades now. It's the first thing you do in any program (EMT, CNA, RT, etc). It pushes you across the line, making you someone who is responsible to respond if something happens. you might want to go one step further and be a first responder.
- Do some basic Research. Usually this is a montage in a movie or TV show, because it isn't interesting to watch. Sit down, put on some good music, and read up. Find out what a PA does, where the profession came from, and how it compares to other health care roles. The AAPA website is a great place to start. The next step is to find a PA to shadow to get some real context, but I would suggest reading up first.
- Get good grades. I didn't focus on school the first time around, so I've had to dig myself out of a GPA pit. It isn't easy, it takes a lot of time and money. Get good grades right now. Even if its a class that doesn't mater. Even if your professor is terrible and doesn't grade fairly. Even if you only think you might be interested in this or any profession. Good grades will not hold you back later in life, but bad grades might.
- Get advise from people who have been there. I started these interviews a year before I thought to blog them. Hearing first hand from people what they experienced and what they recommend is incredibly valuable. Find blogs. Find people who work in health care and ask them about it. You'll be better equipped to interpret what you read.
- Serve someone beyond yourself. Find a leadership role, a service group, or some way to give to back to one of your communities. If you are enrolled at a college, this should be a painless step. Any health care profession is about serving, and the PA profession embodies that more than most. Make it a practice, make it part of your weekly routine, make it part of your identity. It doesn't have to be grand or impressive or long hours, but it does need to benefit someone other than you. If you haven't read it, I have a post of advise from Dr. Scott Wright. That's a great place to start reading.
First steps, which can be done in any order, but should be done soon:
- Get CPR Certified. If you are training to be in a health care position, you've got this covered. Otherwise, you might be thinking of putting this off until later. Don't. CPR has been the bedrock of first response/emergency care for several decades now. It's the first thing you do in any program (EMT, CNA, RT, etc). It pushes you across the line, making you someone who is responsible to respond if something happens. you might want to go one step further and be a first responder.
- Do some basic Research. Usually this is a montage in a movie or TV show, because it isn't interesting to watch. Sit down, put on some good music, and read up. Find out what a PA does, where the profession came from, and how it compares to other health care roles. The AAPA website is a great place to start. The next step is to find a PA to shadow to get some real context, but I would suggest reading up first.
- Get good grades. I didn't focus on school the first time around, so I've had to dig myself out of a GPA pit. It isn't easy, it takes a lot of time and money. Get good grades right now. Even if its a class that doesn't mater. Even if your professor is terrible and doesn't grade fairly. Even if you only think you might be interested in this or any profession. Good grades will not hold you back later in life, but bad grades might.
- Get advise from people who have been there. I started these interviews a year before I thought to blog them. Hearing first hand from people what they experienced and what they recommend is incredibly valuable. Find blogs. Find people who work in health care and ask them about it. You'll be better equipped to interpret what you read.
- Serve someone beyond yourself. Find a leadership role, a service group, or some way to give to back to one of your communities. If you are enrolled at a college, this should be a painless step. Any health care profession is about serving, and the PA profession embodies that more than most. Make it a practice, make it part of your weekly routine, make it part of your identity. It doesn't have to be grand or impressive or long hours, but it does need to benefit someone other than you. If you haven't read it, I have a post of advise from Dr. Scott Wright. That's a great place to start reading.
Friday, April 6, 2012
Prep Advice from Dr. Wright
I recently heard Dr. Scott Wright (former Dean of PreHealth Advising UT Dallas, now Director of Texas Medical and Dental School Application Service) talk about applying to professional programs. I've been privileged to meet him and work with him in my Post Bacc studies and now I want to share some of his insight with you. Whether you are applying to PA school, Dental school, PT, Med School, etc, these basic ideas are important to remember.
1) The things we do now will effect the rest of our lives - Our choices now are effecting the choices we will have and the people we will be in 10 years and longer. Grades you get as a freshman linger, decisions on how you present yourself in public last and will come back up years later when you're applying.
2) Take time to Wander - Wander through investigating different professions, different communities, different cultures. Take some time to explore life and find out what is out there. This will not only make you a better, well rounded applicant, but it will help you grow as a person, have more perspective, and be more sure of who you are.
3) Discovery means new perspective, not new places - New perspective is part of growing. This point reinforced the previous one. You have to be ready to think about things differently. A sign of maturity is being able to understand things from someone else's perspective
4) "Non nobis tantum nati" Not for us alone are we born. The professions we are seeking are serving people. We are looking to dedicate our lives to helping those who are hurting. Make sure that fits you, make sure you connect with that idea, make sure you enjoy service. Serve people, find a way to be around sick people, practice serving others right now.
5) Read, read, read - All of the professional schools include a massive amount of reading. The careers they prepare you for will involve a massive amount of reading to keep up with practice. You have to love reading, and if you don't then start reading now and get to like it. Read for fun, read fiction, read journals from the field you want to be in, read what you can.
6) Clear communication - A large part of these jobs is communicating with patients and if you have a language barrier, it will interfere with your ability to do your job. Make sure you can clearly communicate and if you are dealing with an unfamiliar language on a regular basis, get familiar with it. Get fluent in it.
7) Choices more than ability - Entrance to these programs is determined somewhat by skill and aptitude but more so by choices you have made in preparation. Be careful with how you choose things. Be intentional about how you make your choices. Also, if you have some blight from before (bad grades, etc) then be able to demonstrate how you've made better choices now. By the time you are sitting in an interview, they will had screened you on your ability. They want to see how you process information, how you make decisions, and how you relate to other people. That is what makes us who we are.
1) The things we do now will effect the rest of our lives - Our choices now are effecting the choices we will have and the people we will be in 10 years and longer. Grades you get as a freshman linger, decisions on how you present yourself in public last and will come back up years later when you're applying.
2) Take time to Wander - Wander through investigating different professions, different communities, different cultures. Take some time to explore life and find out what is out there. This will not only make you a better, well rounded applicant, but it will help you grow as a person, have more perspective, and be more sure of who you are.
3) Discovery means new perspective, not new places - New perspective is part of growing. This point reinforced the previous one. You have to be ready to think about things differently. A sign of maturity is being able to understand things from someone else's perspective
4) "Non nobis tantum nati" Not for us alone are we born. The professions we are seeking are serving people. We are looking to dedicate our lives to helping those who are hurting. Make sure that fits you, make sure you connect with that idea, make sure you enjoy service. Serve people, find a way to be around sick people, practice serving others right now.
5) Read, read, read - All of the professional schools include a massive amount of reading. The careers they prepare you for will involve a massive amount of reading to keep up with practice. You have to love reading, and if you don't then start reading now and get to like it. Read for fun, read fiction, read journals from the field you want to be in, read what you can.
6) Clear communication - A large part of these jobs is communicating with patients and if you have a language barrier, it will interfere with your ability to do your job. Make sure you can clearly communicate and if you are dealing with an unfamiliar language on a regular basis, get familiar with it. Get fluent in it.
7) Choices more than ability - Entrance to these programs is determined somewhat by skill and aptitude but more so by choices you have made in preparation. Be careful with how you choose things. Be intentional about how you make your choices. Also, if you have some blight from before (bad grades, etc) then be able to demonstrate how you've made better choices now. By the time you are sitting in an interview, they will had screened you on your ability. They want to see how you process information, how you make decisions, and how you relate to other people. That is what makes us who we are.
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Things I did to Prepare: Info Sessions
Many PA programs will host one or several information sessions on campus with members of the program. Usually they are a few hours long and give a brief overview of the program, explain the PA profession, and any some questions. These are highly valuable for several reasons. You get to find out about the program: professors, facilities, and some of its culture (what does it take pride in? what is its history?). They are a chance to ask questions about the application and interview process before hand. They are also a great opportunity to interact with some of the leaders in the program directly.
I have attended three different info sessions at three different schools. The first had just a brief overview and ended with a Q&A time. The second added onto that format a campus tour, meeting current students, and a chance to talk to the director of the program. The final had the same format as the first, but was led by the program director and the head of admissions who were available for questions. Being able to talk with and ask questions of those two helped me understand the school and application process immensely. I found out a different approach they preferred for the personal statement, and what changes they were hoping to make in teh school in the next few years.
Some schools location or schedule make it impossble to attend their sessions, but if you have a chance I would higly recommend going to any and all info sessions.
I have attended three different info sessions at three different schools. The first had just a brief overview and ended with a Q&A time. The second added onto that format a campus tour, meeting current students, and a chance to talk to the director of the program. The final had the same format as the first, but was led by the program director and the head of admissions who were available for questions. Being able to talk with and ask questions of those two helped me understand the school and application process immensely. I found out a different approach they preferred for the personal statement, and what changes they were hoping to make in teh school in the next few years.
Some schools location or schedule make it impossble to attend their sessions, but if you have a chance I would higly recommend going to any and all info sessions.
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Things I did to Prepare: Research other roles in medicine
When I started out on this journey, I knew I wanted to help people in the context of health care, but I didn't have a specific role targeted. I started by talking with people I knew in health care about what they do and what they like about their role. Talking with mostly doctors and nurses I was able to connect with the desire for bedside/clinical/direct patient contact in my role. As I discovered more about PAs, I felt certain that I had found my direction. I didn't stop investigating though. As I started working in health care, I learned about a myriad of roles available in health care, what types of personalities fit those roles, and what parts of them I like and dislike. This has not only helped me understand the team I work with, but also understand why I want to be a PA instead of anything else. When talking to anyone in health care (PA or otherwise), I always try to ask 1) what got you into health care? 2) why did you choose the role you are in? 3) do you like your job? 4) what do you like/not like about it? From those 4 questions I have had a more realistic view of what everyone does day to day.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Things I did to Prepare: Join TAPA
The Texas Academy of Physician Assistants (TAPA) is the professional organization for PAs at the state level. It organizes conventions, promotes the profession through legislative efforts, and connects PAs to one another. For the PrePA, TAPA (like the AAPA) is a great way to network and research current events that you would otherwise miss. Joining TAPA as a PrePA was very reasonable so I joined as soon as I heard about it. Tim Loerke's blog has a few posts here and here that talk more about TAPA.
What benefits did I get from joining?
- Membership listed on my CASPA - a nice way to show your serious about being a PA is to invest in an association
- Newsletter - These not only have articles from PAs around Texas but also current events and legistlative initiatives
- Connections - Being a TAPA member has let me meet and connect with in person and online. Also, I get a huge discount to the convention where I can meet reps from different specialties and schools.
- Help profession - I am glad to be able to help the efforts of TAPA even before I'm a PA. I feel more vested in the profession and in the path I am pursuing.
I'd recommend joining your state organization and possibly AAPA as well. If you haven't, check them out at www.TAPA.org and www.AAPA.org
What benefits did I get from joining?
- Membership listed on my CASPA - a nice way to show your serious about being a PA is to invest in an association
- Newsletter - These not only have articles from PAs around Texas but also current events and legistlative initiatives
- Connections - Being a TAPA member has let me meet and connect with in person and online. Also, I get a huge discount to the convention where I can meet reps from different specialties and schools.
- Help profession - I am glad to be able to help the efforts of TAPA even before I'm a PA. I feel more vested in the profession and in the path I am pursuing.
I'd recommend joining your state organization and possibly AAPA as well. If you haven't, check them out at www.TAPA.org and www.AAPA.org
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