Why Are You Applying to Pa School Again

May 15, 2022 Post a Comment

I will exist honest; this is non an article I ever thought I'd be writing.

I submitted my first dr. assistant awarding after finishing my undergrad in 2014, and here I am three years later preparing to submit my fourth PA awarding when the cycle starts at the end of the calendar month.

The PA application process has been grueling and defeating at times; a truth that isn't mentioned plenty on Pre-PA forums or educational websites.

They say experience is the all-time instructor and with three years of PA applications under my chugalug, I'd say I'm seasoned enough to provide some insight.

Below are 5 things I've learned about the PA awarding procedure.

one. Take the Application Seriously

If you're a Pre-PA, you've definitely heard of CASPA (Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants). Stephen compares CASPA to Amazon because it gives admission directors a friendly platform for assessing and reviewing PA applicants.

CASPA isn't only the platform PA programs apply to compare candidates; it's also the same i y'all'll apply to submit your PA application.

You should definitely spend time inside of CASPA well before the application wheel starts. Learn how to maneuver the arrangement and particularly sympathise the instructions before submitting an awarding because once you submit your application, there are some things that cannot exist changed.

Taking the application seriously volition profoundly increase your chances of landing an interview. I was a flake naïve when I starting time practical through CASPA in 2014. Ane of the mistakes I fabricated during my first application was not submitting it as early every bit possible.

Many PA programs look at applications on a rolling footing, meaning they review applications as soon as they are received. The longer you delay submitting your PA awarding, the fewer open up seats there are.

In 2014, CASPA opened in April, and I didn't submit my application until August. To put this into some perspective, past August last twelvemonth I already completed two personal interviews with interested PA programs. Thus, by not taking the awarding more seriously my first year, I set myself up to neglect.

2. Enquiry Schools Earlier Applying

Doing my PA School Research at www.paschoolfinder.com — Finding the perfect PA School at www.paschoolfinder.com

Some other tip for PA applicants is to research schools well before the application cycle begins. In fact, I'd recommend looking at schools at to the lowest degree a year in accelerate.

Why?

Well, many PA programs accept unique requirements for candidates.

For example, ane programme might accept online science lab pre-requisites while another might non. Other variations between programs could include:

Minimum GPA requirements: some require 3.2 (11 schools), others 3.0 (80 schools) or ii.8 (iv schools)
Minimum GRE scores
Timeframe for pre-requisites to exist completed (Fall earlier awarding bicycle)
Expiring prerequisite credits (some programs require credits earned for prerequisite courses to be inside the concluding 5, vii, or ten years)

Because the PA programme is then competitive, it'southward important that you have as many viable options as possible when you apply for programs. If you inquiry programs and empathize the minimum requirements for the schools you are nearly interested in, you have a year to fulfill any requirement that y'all have outstanding.

I learned this lesson the hard fashion later on realizing during my first application that I needed to increase my GPA and take additional science courses so that I could go a more competitive applicant and see the requirements for more PA programs.

3. Get Patient Care Hours

Non only does directly contact patient care experience improve your chances of getting into an interview, just it also helps yous validate your conclusion to become a physician assistant.

I cannot emphasize enough how of import patient care hours are.

Stephen does a great job breaking down the importance of healthcare experience, but in a nutshell, very few programs in the country require no healthcare experience whatsoever.

I worked as a pharmacy tech for many years, and nonetheless practise, which can count as "other healthcare experience" depending on the program. However, to better my awarding, I decided to get directly patient care feel which is substantially more than valuable to PA programs.

I spent two weeks studying on my own for the CNA exam. Once I passed the exam, I found a chore at a local hospital equally a nurse technician. Not only does direct contact patient intendance experience amend your chances of getting into an interview, but it as well helps you validate your decision to become a medico assistant.

While schools do accept minimum thresholds for healthcare experience, in that location is no ceiling. In fact, there is evidence that supports a direct relationship betwixt more healthcare experience and acceptance into PA school. If you desire to increase your chances of getting accepted, become a CNA, EMT, or other position where y'all are direct responsible for a patient's care.

4. Stand up Out

This sounds cliché just typing it, merely the reality is that PA applicants who detect a mode to stand out will better their chances of landing an interview and ultimately, getting a seat in a program.

The PA program is growing more competitive every year -- Glassdoor ranking it the #1 Job in America in 2015 didn't assistance, either.

Even though thousands of applicants are vying for a handful of seats, there are nonetheless opportunities to stand up out. You just have to be willing to put in the extra piece of work or become outside your comfort zone.

Standing out starts with the awarding.

Because time machines don't exist, many students cannot immediately increase their GPA or easily piece of work a thousand extra hours at their healthcare job. Thus, they end up hitting minimum requirements simply not much more.

Fortunately, CASPA allows students to diversify themselves with letters of reference and a personal statement. In fact, the personal statement may be the single almost important role of your application.

Don't take my discussion for information technology though, Stephen believes that his 600-word Physician Assistant essay was the reason he was accustomed into PA school.

I have fabricated endless tweaks and updates to my statement. I shared it with friends, other PA students, and complete strangers then that I can get every bit much feedback and constructive criticism as possible. Don't be afraid to open up and be vulnerable in your statement. It'southward your chance to stand up out from the crowd – don't underestimate the value of a stiff personal argument.

I too take to mention that standing out doesn't begin and cease with the essay. If you land an interview, be fix to make a potent impression. My previous interviews have involved a grouping of 10-xxx other students and me. There is a combination of one-on-one interviews and group interviews, depending on the programme. Regardless of the structure or amount of competition at your interview, you lot accept to leave a lasting memory.

The best way I've found to stand up out is to practice a lot before the interview. The more than comfortable you are with the potential questions, the more than relaxed and confident you'll be in the interview. Just be conscientious not to audio rehearsed, practice doesn't hateful memorizing!

5. It'southward Not Going to Be Like shooting fish in a barrel

Easy is For Wimps | The Physician Assistant Life — Like shooting fish in a barrel is for wimps

Finally, the last tip I accept for those of you considering PA school is to prepare for a tough road. Granted, some students will become in with ease on their start application (I hate yous!), but for every 1 of those, there are a dozen others that don't receive an interview or are put on a waiting list or rejected. I don't say this to discourage yous, I say this to assist you realize that if you truly want to exist a PA, then you will take the hurdles and struggles forth the fashion as motivation and lessons, I know I sure have.

I'm going to tell yous a really honest and vulnerable story about my terminal application bike. I was invited to an interview for a plan that was pending accreditation. Now, if you're not familiar with the 'pending achieving accreditation' status, don't worry, neither was I at kickoff. Basically, this program was awaiting last accreditation from ARC-PA, which is the governing torso that oversees the standards and regulations of PA programs in the U.South.

At the time, I was merely ecstatic to receive an invitation and didn't recall twice. About a calendar month later the interview I received a telephone call that would change my life forever, at to the lowest degree that is what I thought. I was accepted into the plan.

The plan was to start January '17 following earning provisional accreditation condition at the end of 2016. However, several months later we received give-and-take that the accreditation status was on agree and that we wouldn't start in January, as nosotros had hoped.

The condition was deferred which meant that nosotros'd hear something in March, with a realistic chance of starting the program one-time in the middle of the twelvemonth. March came, and the news was non adept.

The programme's accreditation was withdrawn. Afterward spending the ameliorate part of 8 months in limbo, the other accustomed students and I were dorsum to square one. My label as an active PA student, gone in one fell dive.

This story is but one of the many obstacles I've faced on my road to becoming a PA. At that place are countless other stories of challenges and hurdles that other students have faced far worse than mine. If you lot glean anything from my experience, it should be that becoming a PA can be a long and challenging road; mentally, emotionally, and financially.

If y'all're passionate and driven to be a PA, so you won't allow anything go far your mode. The road volition not be the same for everyone, and hopefully, y'all tin can plow your obstacles into a learning experience.

So, here I am – a seasoned PA applicant with three years nether my chugalug ready to take on the application process once once more. While I'm guaranteed to make mistakes again this time around, I've certainly come a long manner from 2014. If you're considering PA school, I promise yous'll accept heed of the advice in a higher place when applying.

Written past:

Vanessa Alvarez – Vanessa is an aspiring PA student with a groundwork as a Chemist's shop Technician and Certified Nursing Assistant. She hopes to commencement PA school in 2018.

Do y'all have something you would similar to publish on thepalife.com website? If so, but drib me a line at [email protected]

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