Why our program? As you begin your PA school application process, one of the most common supplemental essay and interview questions you may encounter is, “Why our program?” This is an opportunity for you to explain why you are specifically interested in attending that particular college or university and why it is a good fit […]
Applying for PA School
Sticker Shock Alert! This is The Real Cost of Applying to PA School in 2024
PA students will encounter a number of costs along the way to enrolling in physician assistant/associate (PA) school. Here’s a look at what these costs are and some ways you can save money on your PA school application.
Does Attending Community College Hurt Your Chances of Getting into PA School?
If you’ve got your heart set on becoming a physician assistant, then you’re probably anxious to get started on the application process. The only problem is that you’ve heard rumors that attending a community college can hurt your chances of getting into PA school. Does that mean you shouldn’t even bother going to community college […]
How to Write the Perfect PA School Supplemental Essay
When you’re faced with a barrage of PA school supplemental essay prompts, it can feel overwhelming. Here are five essential tips to ensure your essays stand out and align with each program’s specific goals and values.
What are Three Things You Wish You Could Say to Your Pre-PA Self?
Life is full of regrets because life is full of choice. I have collected a few regrets over the years, and if I were a betting man, I would guess you have some as well? Regrets come in all shapes and sizes. Sometimes it’s insignificant like choosing the wrong entree at a restaurant. Sometimes it’s […]
How to Write the Perfect Physician Assistant Cover Letter
Whether you are applying to PA school, to your first PA job, or you are a seasoned PA interested in an exciting new career possibility, you are likely worried most about constructing an effective resume. But, one of the most overlooked and underrated components of the application is the cover letter. Like the PA school […]
You Have 625 Words and 2.5 Minutes to Get Into PA School: Use Them Wisely
The average person’s reading speed is about 250 words per minute. The CASPA personal statement allows a 5,000-character count (about 625 words). Therefore, a full-length statement would take an average of 2.5 minutes to read. If a PA program received 1,000 applications meeting or exceeding minimum screening qualifications, reading all of these personal statements would […]
12 Secrets to Writing an Irresistible PA School Personal Statement
In our book “How to write your PA School personal statement,” we interviewed twelve PA school administrators from twelve top-ranking PA programs across the country in search of answers to a simple question: What do PA school administrators want to see in your PA school essay? The results of this search, summarized in the first […]
A Look Inside Two PA School Interviews
 The PA school interview is daunting Be prepared, but not to the point that you sound like a robot. Be relaxed, but not too relaxed as that might give the impression you did not do your research. Inside Two PA School Interviews I interviewed at two PA schools in California in 2016, and they starkly […]
What are the Best PA Schools in 2024? Physician Assistant School Rankings
Does the PA school you attend really make a difference? When it comes to finding a job, not so much, but when it comes to obtaining superb clinical experience along with solid faculty, excellent academics, and a top-rate student body – then yes, the PA school you attend does matter. Below is a list of […]
Who is the Ideal PA School Candidate? Surprising Lessons From Olympic Ice Skating
I love Olympic figure skating. It is the ultimate test of human grit. Here are people who have spent four years and countless hours practicing for what comes down to a life-changing two-minute event. This is a lesson on life, it is a lot like preparing for your PA school interview, finally pressing submit and […]
My PA School Rejection Letters – How to Turn Your “Set Back” into a “Set Up”
If I fail more often than you, I win! I have written before about the importance of becoming an epic failure and how this is a fundamental part of becoming an epic success. I was cleaning out some of my old file cabinets today and came across my PA school application documents from 2001. I will be […]
Overcoming Obstacles on Your Path to Becoming a Physician Assistant
Life is full of obstacles. They can be as simple as getting out of bed in the morning or as arduous as writing the perfect PA school application essay. Most of the time, the biggest obstacle is ourselves (affiliate link). The excuses that we create to avoid doing the things that matter most. This is […]
My PA School Interview: The Journey of a Lifetime
It seems like just yesterday. Like Gene Kelly in the 1952 classic “Singing in the Rain,” there I stood, rain-drenched, under an iconic cast-iron streetlight, holding a soggy white letter in my hand. The letter that said: “You have been accepted for a PA School Interview.” I was living in Seattle at the time, two […]
How to (Really) Get Into the PA School of Your Choice!
verybody’s journey to becoming a PA is a bit different. We all have different lives, different upbringings, different barriers to overcome to reach our goals. We have different paths that have led us to want to become a physician assistant. No single formula will assure you a golden ticket to PA school (I am sorry to […]
