Finding a good fit

As a recruiter, I would often talk to people about what makes a good fit. Even people who had been working for years would have trouble answering this question. Knowing yourself and how you fit into the positions out will help you stand out whether interviewing for another job or trying to explain why you should get into PA school. As you consider different avenues available to you, here's some things to keep in mind:


1) What do you like to do - What kind of things excite you about a job? Working at the bedside with a patient, working in a close knot team towards goal, solving a financial puzzle, research, supporting the team by digging into details. Skip past cliches like "I want to make a difference" and think about what kind of tasks make you feel engaged. Do you like working in big teams? Seeing new people every day? Do you like routine? Knowing these things about you will help you find roles that will keep you interested and satisfied long term.

2) What do you NOT like - What things would make you walk away from a good job? Repetitive tasks, smells, meticulous work, unsolved mysteries. Every job has aspects that are unpleasant, that's why they pay us to keep showing up. The fun parts of a job, those exciting things that first attracted you to that role, will become normal and boring over time. Finding a job with tolerable frustrations while avoiding unbearable issues will keep you satisfied long after the newness wears off.

3) Where are you starting from - still in undergrad, already have a career, working and haven't started college yet? When I decided to become a PA, I already had a bachelor's degree, family, and a mortgage. That shaped how I needed to pursue my dream. Taking an honest look at how long you have to prepare, what steps you need to accomplish, and what resource and support you have will clarify some of the option in front of you.

4) Know your financial wants and needs - No one works with patients just to make tons of money and not care about the patient. None of us do this for free either. Be aware of your obligations, plans, and expectations for compensation because the position you love may not pay as much as one you could force yourself to do.

5) Test your theories - The best way to truly see what kind of role fits you best is to gather evidence. Go shadow someone dong these jobs. Talk to them, read up on the positions on a blog like this, and try to find some opportunities to work or volunteer.

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. 

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. 

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.

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.

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.

- 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.

Interview with a PA-S from UTSW

Here's another PA student I met on rotation in the ICU.

1) Why do you want to be a PA?

I initially planned on applying to medical school until senior year of college. I shadowed a PA in the ER and saw that the PAs did similar things the MDs do. That's when I decided to pursue a career as a PA. I also liked the flexibility PAs have to switch from one specialty to another and that I would be able to practice medicine and providing for those in need in 2.5 years.

2) What did you do to prepare to apply (undergrad degree, any HCE, volunteering, etc)?

I did a lot of volunteering at two different hospitals during my summer semesters in college. I also shadowed family physicians and ER PAs for many hours. I had leadership positions with a couple of organizations. I worked as a student worker my senior year and then full time as a lab technician for a year and a half at a GI lab before going to PA school. My degree was in Biomedical Science

3) How did you pick UTSW? What was the interview process like?

What made me really attracted to UTSW was the interview  process. The interview was 10 scenario stations that would help the faculty determine your character, communication skills, critical thinking and dedication accurately in my opinion. That is 10 different chances that you could make a good impression so if somehow you don't feel confident in one station, there are many others along the way. In addition, they gave us a tour and the interactions with the current students really knocked it out the park. I really liked that they had medical spanish because I know Spanish would be very beneficial knowledge to have when practicing in Texas. It is unfortunate that medical spanish was taken out of the curriculum this year. The small class size of 36 was also a plus because it shows a closer faculty to student interaction. Last but not least, the fact that UTSW had a very good first pass PANCE rate showed me that the students were well trained. Now that I've gone through most of rotations, I have to say that they rotation sites are a big factor with deciding which school to choose because it is where you will learn and develop your skills and knowledge as a clinician. Parkland and the many hospitals around the Dallas area are great training sites and that the faculty finds the sites, so that the student wont have the responsibility to do so unless they are interested in doing an elective/selective out of town/state/country. Most of the sites are around Dallas area so no long commute needed. Furthest site is Temple, TX for internal medicine if you volunteer to go but they provide room and board.

4) What strategies worked for you during the didactic phase?

Best strategy for me was find ONE study buddy where you can review, discuss and quiz each other before tests. I had much success with the same study buddy since the second semester of didactic to the last clinical rotation test. In addition, don't procrastinate, have good time management and make sure you understand concepts.

5) What has been your favorite part of PA school? What challenged you the most?

Favorite part of PA school would be the rotations, you see improvement as you move further into your rotation but still have much to learn. The most challenging would be at the start of rotations, going from a specific block of organ system during didactic to clinical rotation when you have to start to broaden your DDX.

6) What have you liked about clinical rotations so far? What has surprised you?

My favorite rotation would be ER and my current critical care rotation, I love a mix of medicine and procedures. I loved the variety of illnesses seen during my ER rotation, from the common simple URI to orthopedics and ob/gyn to the more serious ACS, GI bleeds and COPD exacerbations. The procedures such as I&D, suturing and splinting added a nice combination too. My current CCU rotation so far has been a great learning experience because there were many serious illnesses that I was not able to see during internal medicine. I also wanted the exposure of how mechanical ventilation works and the many different pressors that are used along with procedures done in the CCU.


7) What advice would you give (beyond getting good grades and shadowing) to a future applicant?

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.

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?

Interview with UTSW PA-S and new TAPA Student Director

1) Why did you choose to be a PA? 
I like interacting with and helping people. I knew my future career needed at least those two elements. I also love that clinical work can be like detective work. You are given a few clues to solve a mystery. It’s also interesting to see how the body’s systems interact with each other and the environment. I also love the patient education aspect of it because you can give people tools to help themselves.  

I specifically chose PA school because I appreciate that PAs can work in a variety of medical specialties throughout their career. This allows a clinician to build up a diverse skill set, which I consider essential to helping patients.

2) What did you do to prepare to apply? 
I tried to learn as much as I could about PAs. I shadowed 4 different PAs. It was difficult finding shadowing opportunities because of HIPPA concerns. I finally got through at 2 different clinics by cold calling multiple clinics I found through a PA google search.

I worked as an EMT-Basic for a transport service (taking patients to the ER and doctor and dialysis appointments) and through this experience I gained hands-on health care experience, as well as observed other health care providers in different settings- doctors and nurses in the ER and clinics.

I also volunteered at a homeless shelter clinic. I checked patients in for their visits and I learned about the role of the nurse practitioners in that clinic.

These experiences allowed me to see what I liked and didn’t like about the different roles in the health care team and it helped guide my decision to become a PA.

3) How many schools did you apply to and interview with? What were the interviews like? How did you choose UT South Western? 
I applied to 5 programs and interviewed at Texas Tech and UTSW. The Texas Tech interview was very laid back. It was a series of one-on-one interviews about who I am and why I want to be a PA.

The UTSW interview was interesting and fun (when you take the stress out of it). It consisted of 10 timed stations that placed you in various situations. I think it shows the interviewers an applicant’s real personality because you are put in situations that will bring that out. You can’t prepare for an interview like that and the best advice to any applicant is to “just be yourself and stay positive” (it sounds cliché and incredibly simple, but it’s the best thing to do).

To be honest, I really wasn’t sure how I felt about UTSW as I was traveling to Dallas for my interview. I didn’t seriously look into the program because I didn’t think I was competitive enough for one of their interview spots. The night before my interview, at the Meet and Greet, was when I really fell in love with the program and decided that it was #1 on my list. Through talking with the faculty and students, I discovered the heavily student-centered aspect of UTSW’s program and was able to see the care the faculty took with its students.

4) What has surprised you about UTSW's PA program so far? 
The faculty listens to our feedback and implements changes. For example, we were able to try out different test times one semester because of feedback from a previous semester. Also, the faculty will find time to meet with students if they request a meeting with them. Additionally, every student meets with their assigned faculty mentor at least once a semester to discuss their progress and/or concerns. If a student is struggling with any aspect of the program, then the faculty will intervene and spend more time with that student to improve their learning. They invest a lot of time into their students.

5) Have you found any successful strategies for surviving the didactic portion of your program?

I had to learn how to take breaks and allow myself some “recharge” time. You could study 24/7 outside of the classroom and still feel like you haven’t fully grasped everything.  What helped me the most is realizing that becoming a clinician is a lifelong process. I had to accept that I won’t get all of the information into my head for the exams, but that I should try to do as much as I can and I’ll pick up the rest as I progress in my training and career. I studied for didactic exams by thinking about what information will help me help patients, and I stopped focusing on grades.

6) What's the coolest things you've done so far?

Anatomy lab was pretty cool. Frustrating at times, but the dissections helped round out my understanding of certain disease processes.

We learned how to apply casts by casting each other and we’ve also learned suturing.

7) Any advice for future applicants other than good grades and shadowing?
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.

Interview with a PA-C working in Neuro

Brooke is a PA who blogged about her experiences as a student and has launched a new website about the PA profession. Be sure to check out her sites!

1) Why did you choose to be a PA?

1- diversity of positions. you can start your career in surgery and end in endocrinology if you want!
2-less student debt
3-faster track into the work field (no residency, less school)
4-I get to take care of patients and perform surgery
5-patient-first mentality of the profession

2) You've had some interesting experience in health care before you started PA school. What took you from Orthotics and Prosthetics to Public Health to PA?

While in orthotics and prosthetics I had the opportunity to work with lots of great surgeons and decided early in my O&P career that my scope of practice was too small. I wanted to operate and be part of the preplanning for my patients, not just part of the rehab. I then applied to medical school- got in- then decided that becoming a PA was a better fit. I wanted to practice medicine soon, not in 10 years - so I withdrew my med school applications and applied to PA schools. I had a year to kill during the application process and was interested in population health and quality improvement so I got my MPH from Dartmouth in the interim.

3) How many schools did you apply to and interview with? What were the interviews like? How did you choose Northeastern?

I applied to 2 schools. UNE and Northeastern. I had moved all over the place for my previous schooling and had decided that I was going to apply to 2 schools and let the chips fall where they may. I luckily got into both schools on the first try and choose Northeastern for a few reasons: 1) great school, great reputation 2) it is in Boston (the healthcare mecca of the US) 3) less expensive

4) What has surprised you about Northeastern's PA program so far?

I think this applies to all PA schools ---- but IT IS HARD WORK! You will study more and sleep less than you could have imagined. But it is all worth it in the end.

5) Have you found any successful strategies for surviving the didactic portion of your program?

Find 2-3 sources to study from and stick to them... it is easy to get bogged down with too many resources. One of my favorite and most used books was Step Up To Medicine.

6) What's the coolest things you've done so far?

-Sewn a finger back on
-1st assisted on a C1-C3 spinal fusion

7) What got you into blogging? What future intersections of social media and health care do you hope to see?

I started blogging because I was finding and sharing resources with other PA students - and what I found was that it was becoming too time consuming to share information one by one... so I started a blog so that I could just post stuff once and people could visit it when they wanted. It has worked out well so far!

8) Any advice for future applicants other than good grades and shadowing?

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

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.