Steps to Become a PA:
Step 1: Complete Pre-Requistites and get healthcare experience
PA school is highly competitive, you should look into PA programs you want to apply to as early as your freshman year of college. In order to apply to PA school, you must finish all the prerequisites that the PA school desires, and this typically requires at least 2 years of college coursework. Majority of PA programs require the following prerequisites:
Step 2: Prepare for PA Application
GRE Information and Preparation:
The GRE is a computer based test with sections over writing, reading, and math. As with any test, make sure you begin studying early!
Personal Statement:
Begin this process early! PA schools want to know, why do you want to be a PA? It takes months to perfect your statement and to have others look over your work. The Write Site is available on campus to help you through this process and check grammar. Career Connections can look over your statement as well!
https://www.thepalife.com/wp-content/uploads/edd/2017/04/101-PA-School-Admissions-Essays.pdf
This link has 101 personal statements that are critiqued by actual PAs, their feedback is very helpful. It is also super important to spell the name of the profession correctly. This happens so often and is such an application killer that it is worth mentioning here. The correct name is “physician assistant,” not “physician’s assistant.” If plural, it is “physician assistants,” or if using the acronym, it is “PAs.” If used in the possessive it is “physician assistant’s.” or if using the acronym, “PA’s.” Examples of correct usage: “The physician assistant’s demeanor was warm and welcoming.” (possessive) “The PA’s demeanor was warm and welcoming.” (possessive) “The physician assistants I shadowed were warm and welcoming.” (plural) “The PAs I shadowed were warm and welcoming.” (plural) Don’t capitalize physician assistant unless it’s part of a formal name such as Physician Assistant Greg Jones. Also, anytime you’re citing a specific program name or degree title, you’ll capitalize the words. For example, it’s “Rutgers University Physician Assistant Program,” and “Master of Physician Assistant Studies.” Most professions are not capitalized. That includes physician, doctor, nurse, nurse practitioner and dietitian to name a few. Look it up before you use it. Whatever you do, double-check all your application info to make sure you have it correct everywhere
Overall Application:
To stand out from different applicants, you have to make sure that your application displays your determination and passion in entering the healthcare field. Make sure you have experience in the healthcare field and show that you want to give back to the community. This can be done by volunteering and getting involved in your campus. Awards and the display of leadership is also very important in your application! Recommendation letters are also important, make sure you build a relationship with your professors and with individuals who are in the healthcare field.
Get Involved & Gain Experience:
There are several ways you can get involved. Get involved in what you are interested in, this is key! There are many things you can do to build your application these can include but are not limited to: Volunteering, Shadowing, and/or participating in a summer program. Get Involved on campus, Tutor, Mentor, Teach, participate in Rec Sports, the list goes on and on. You can even join our Pre-PA club with opportunities to become an officer and gain leadership experience.
Volunteering:
Any experience giving back to the community will be looked upon favorably by professional school admissions committees. A community service activity in which you are directly helping people face-to-face is of the most value, and making an ongoing commitment to that community service gives you time to grow and gain real value from the experience. Track your volunteer hours, as most professional school applications will ask for details of the time you spent volunteering. You can also contact local hospitals about internships, this is great experience in the healthcare field and counts as volunteering!
Awards, Honors, Professional Membership & Leadership:
Relevant awards or honors earned as a college student or post-college. High school honors should not be included. Professional Memberships and Leadership refers to your membership in a professional organization, such as the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA), or leadership roles you performed in a professional position or organization. If you can join Honors, do it! If you have the opportunity to be an officer for a club you should highly consider it.
Letters of Recommendation:
It is essential to determine what requirements, if any, your PA programs have regarding references’ roles or relationship to you BEFORE listing ANY references on your CASPA application. Many programs have strict guidelines for this, and once a reference is completed on the CASPA application, it can NOT be removed or replaced. You should also investigate the types of letters each school you are interested in requires. Some programs require letters from professors, health care professions, employers, or supervisors, will other only recommend of prefer it. Get to know PAs and your professors early and build relationships, schools can tell when letters are genuine or not. Do NOT ask for letters a month before you plan to apply! When you request a letter of recommendation, try to do it in person. Give them your resume and transcript so they know what they are working with along with any requests you have. This could include talking about your work ethic and maturity level. Make sure they know what a PA is and that that is what you’re applying for. Make sure you get a good email from them, you will enter their email into CASPA and CASPA will send a link for them to upload the recommendation letter.
Step 3: Apply to PA School
Be cautious of when CASPA opens and closes and make sure to finish all your prerequisites before that year ends or you will not be able to apply. Please look into the specific requirements for each program before the CASPA opens to ensure you have fulfilled all the needed requirements in order to apply.
If you have been selected for an interview, make sure to prepare because it will determine whether or not you will be accepted into the PA program.
Remember, if you are not accepted the first time that is okay!!! There is always next year. but make sure in that time to focus on making your application better. Volunteer more, get more experience in the medical field, etc. Anything that will make your application stronger than before!
Applying to PA School Application Services:
Possible interview questions:
PA school is highly competitive, you should look into PA programs you want to apply to as early as your freshman year of college. In order to apply to PA school, you must finish all the prerequisites that the PA school desires, and this typically requires at least 2 years of college coursework. Majority of PA programs require the following prerequisites:
- Chemistry
- Anatomy and Physiology
- Microbiology
- Biology
- Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA)
- Certified Medical Assistant (CMA)
- EMT
- Scribe **check if it counts for patient care**
- Phlebotomist
- Physical Therapy Aide
- Pharmacy Technician (PT) **check if it counts for patient care**
Step 2: Prepare for PA Application
GRE Information and Preparation:
The GRE is a computer based test with sections over writing, reading, and math. As with any test, make sure you begin studying early!
- About the GRE: http://www.ets.org/gre
- GRE Prep Materials: http://www.kaptest.com/ and http://www.princetonreview.com/
Personal Statement:
Begin this process early! PA schools want to know, why do you want to be a PA? It takes months to perfect your statement and to have others look over your work. The Write Site is available on campus to help you through this process and check grammar. Career Connections can look over your statement as well!
https://www.thepalife.com/wp-content/uploads/edd/2017/04/101-PA-School-Admissions-Essays.pdf
This link has 101 personal statements that are critiqued by actual PAs, their feedback is very helpful. It is also super important to spell the name of the profession correctly. This happens so often and is such an application killer that it is worth mentioning here. The correct name is “physician assistant,” not “physician’s assistant.” If plural, it is “physician assistants,” or if using the acronym, it is “PAs.” If used in the possessive it is “physician assistant’s.” or if using the acronym, “PA’s.” Examples of correct usage: “The physician assistant’s demeanor was warm and welcoming.” (possessive) “The PA’s demeanor was warm and welcoming.” (possessive) “The physician assistants I shadowed were warm and welcoming.” (plural) “The PAs I shadowed were warm and welcoming.” (plural) Don’t capitalize physician assistant unless it’s part of a formal name such as Physician Assistant Greg Jones. Also, anytime you’re citing a specific program name or degree title, you’ll capitalize the words. For example, it’s “Rutgers University Physician Assistant Program,” and “Master of Physician Assistant Studies.” Most professions are not capitalized. That includes physician, doctor, nurse, nurse practitioner and dietitian to name a few. Look it up before you use it. Whatever you do, double-check all your application info to make sure you have it correct everywhere
Overall Application:
To stand out from different applicants, you have to make sure that your application displays your determination and passion in entering the healthcare field. Make sure you have experience in the healthcare field and show that you want to give back to the community. This can be done by volunteering and getting involved in your campus. Awards and the display of leadership is also very important in your application! Recommendation letters are also important, make sure you build a relationship with your professors and with individuals who are in the healthcare field.
Get Involved & Gain Experience:
There are several ways you can get involved. Get involved in what you are interested in, this is key! There are many things you can do to build your application these can include but are not limited to: Volunteering, Shadowing, and/or participating in a summer program. Get Involved on campus, Tutor, Mentor, Teach, participate in Rec Sports, the list goes on and on. You can even join our Pre-PA club with opportunities to become an officer and gain leadership experience.
Volunteering:
Any experience giving back to the community will be looked upon favorably by professional school admissions committees. A community service activity in which you are directly helping people face-to-face is of the most value, and making an ongoing commitment to that community service gives you time to grow and gain real value from the experience. Track your volunteer hours, as most professional school applications will ask for details of the time you spent volunteering. You can also contact local hospitals about internships, this is great experience in the healthcare field and counts as volunteering!
Awards, Honors, Professional Membership & Leadership:
Relevant awards or honors earned as a college student or post-college. High school honors should not be included. Professional Memberships and Leadership refers to your membership in a professional organization, such as the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA), or leadership roles you performed in a professional position or organization. If you can join Honors, do it! If you have the opportunity to be an officer for a club you should highly consider it.
Letters of Recommendation:
It is essential to determine what requirements, if any, your PA programs have regarding references’ roles or relationship to you BEFORE listing ANY references on your CASPA application. Many programs have strict guidelines for this, and once a reference is completed on the CASPA application, it can NOT be removed or replaced. You should also investigate the types of letters each school you are interested in requires. Some programs require letters from professors, health care professions, employers, or supervisors, will other only recommend of prefer it. Get to know PAs and your professors early and build relationships, schools can tell when letters are genuine or not. Do NOT ask for letters a month before you plan to apply! When you request a letter of recommendation, try to do it in person. Give them your resume and transcript so they know what they are working with along with any requests you have. This could include talking about your work ethic and maturity level. Make sure they know what a PA is and that that is what you’re applying for. Make sure you get a good email from them, you will enter their email into CASPA and CASPA will send a link for them to upload the recommendation letter.
Step 3: Apply to PA School
Be cautious of when CASPA opens and closes and make sure to finish all your prerequisites before that year ends or you will not be able to apply. Please look into the specific requirements for each program before the CASPA opens to ensure you have fulfilled all the needed requirements in order to apply.
If you have been selected for an interview, make sure to prepare because it will determine whether or not you will be accepted into the PA program.
Remember, if you are not accepted the first time that is okay!!! There is always next year. but make sure in that time to focus on making your application better. Volunteer more, get more experience in the medical field, etc. Anything that will make your application stronger than before!
Applying to PA School Application Services:
- Central Application Service of Physician Assistants (CASPA): https://caspa.liaisoncas.com/applicant-ux/#/login
- To further explore the PA profession, visit the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) website at www.aapa.org
Possible interview questions:
- Tell me about yourself?
- What kind of community/volunteer work have you done?
- What is the most rewarding experience of your life?
- Who is your favorite author?
- Have you worked while you have been in school?
- Have you had the opportunity to travel abroad?
- What accomplishment are you most proud of?
- Tell me about the most difficult period of your life. How did you deal with this?
- What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses?
- What is the most difficult decision that you’ve had to make?
- How do you plan to finance your education?
- How are you going to decide which Physician Assistant school to attend?
- How do you handle adversity?
- Why should we pick you instead of someone else?
- Why do you want to be a Physician Assistant?
- What will you do if you are not accepted to PA school?
- When did you first decide that you wanted to pursue a career as a Physician Assistant? Was there a specific cause for your decision? Has anything happened since that time to strengthen or weaken your decision?
- Can you see other careers in which you could achieve the same goals or meet the same needs?
- What steps have you taken to find out more about a career as a Physician Assistant?
- Where would you like to start practicing?
- How do you study? How do you manage your time?
- What courses do you find most enjoyable, most difficult? Why?
- Describe your hobbies and interests.
- Describe your best/least favorite course at TWU and why it falls into that category.
- Why did you choose ______________ as your major?
- Are there any questions you would like to ask me?
- Describe a situation where you've worked with people from different backgrounds.
- What type of person do you enjoy being with? What type of person irritates you most and how have you dealt with these types of people?
- What about yourself would you most like the interviewer to know?
- Do you have any particular populations you would like to work with? Have you worked with this type of population in the past?
- How do you handle stress?
- How would you keep health care costs down?
- What is an HMO? / What do you know about managed care?
- What characteristics does a good doctor/dentist possess?
- What current physician Assistant news/events have you heard about or been following?
- What are the advantages and limitations that you see going into a career as a PA? (Be specific)
- What problems do you predict Physician Assistants will face in the next decade?