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You are here: Home / Pre-Physician Assistant / Essay and Personal Statement / 101 PA School Applicants Answer: What’s Your Greatest Strength?

101 PA School Applicants Answer: What’s Your Greatest Strength?

BY Stephen Pasquini PA-C 2 Comments

100 PA School Applicants Answer The Question - What's Your Greatest Strength

What are your greatest strengths as a PA school applicant? What separates you from the pack?

It’s a common PA school interview question, and it’s also an important step in outlining your PA school personal statement. 

After all, if you don't tell the admissions team what makes you special, how will they ever know?

Being put on the spot and asked to brag about yourself makes a lot of people nervous, myself included. So you’re not alone if this question scares you.

We will cover how to answer this question in a later post. Today's post will give you some insight into how others approach this question so you can see what admissions teams frequently encounter. Use these commonalities to avoid repetitive themes and come up with some creative solutions that may give you a leg-up on your competition.

Pablo Picasso said it best: 

"You must learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist!" - Pablo Picasso 

Here is what 101 PA school applicants identify as their greatest strengths

1. "I believe my childhood and background has helped me grow, mature, and be the lifelong learner that I am today. I have the experience as a medical scribe, shadowing experience, and exposure to what it is like in the field. And I love it! I am committed and dedicated to becoming a physician assistant. I do not know how else to write this without sounding cliche, but I am a "people person," and I genuinely love bringing positivity to others. I love understanding and helping others. I love science and medicine. And most of all I love learning! I am so grateful for all the little things in my life and for coming this far. No matter how many times I have to re-apply (let's hope not), I will do whatever it takes because I see no other profession that suits me more than this! (Hopefully, this answered the question)."

2. "My academic achievement and the volunteer opportunities I've chosen are definite strengths. I believe that my experience as a research coordinator makes me stand out as being a little different from other applicants."

3. "I have been fortunate enough to work as a PCT in an OR for over two years where I scrub in and hold retractors or laparoscopic cameras on procedures ranging from axillary dissection, to a mastectomy, or total hip replacements and the list goes on. My major was pathobiology (uncommon as far as I can tell) and I got a double minor in Molecular and Cell Biology and Human Development and Family Studies. Each elective on my transcript is there because I hand selected it to either supplement my knowledge or teach me something new - including a class which taught me the components of and how to conduct a medical interview. I've shadowed two surgical PAs, an Emergency Medicine PA, and a hospitalist PA and work with or scrub in with PAs almost every day. I worked in two labs during undergrad - one looking at core-shell microneedles for single vaccine injection use and another at bacterial gene adaptations. I also worked with a group of students to institute a student board at our Center for Mental Health Services, which is grossly underfunded and understaffed."

4. "I am a person with great resilience and determination. I have a wide variety of experience; from volunteering in a hospital in my younger years, to becoming a licensed EMT-B, to working alongside Pulmonologists as both a scribe and a medical assistant. I believe that this shows that I am ready to learn new skills and become proficient in them."

5. "I have shadowed a lot of healthcare careers in the past, including chiropractors, physical therapists, physicians, physician assistants, and athletic trainers."

6. "I think of my strengths is showing people that I care about what they are saying and that I try to understand their situation. I know that everyone in PA school can come out with an amazing amount of medical knowledge, but not everyone knows how to do the little things when treating a person. I have always told myself that my bedside manner and ability to relate with my patients would be what sets me apart. I think how you make the person feel is just as important as the medical advice you give them."

7. "My mom’s side of the family always made better life choices than my dad’s family when it came to personal health. Growing up, noticing this contrast made me interested in preventative medicine. I look at being healthy as a choice. Of course, there are genetic conditions and other diseases that you may not have control over, but for the most part, I believe health is a choice. I want to be a PA that will actively partner with their patient to take control of their health. I want them to become the best version of themselves. Your health is the most important part of your life. I want my patients to thrive, not just survive. I want to be a supporter, listener, and motivator for my patients."

8. "I recently started working at the Flaum Eye Institute in Rochester New York as an ophthalmic scribe/assistant."

9. "Communication, team oriented, and compassion."

10. "I have a diverse background, one-on-one teaching experience, licensed healthcare professional (pharmacy technician), alumni of the school I'm applying to, and volunteer experience."

11. "I’m highly productive and easily see 12-15 patients daily working full time. Cover desktop for other providers answering patient emails refill requests in addition to working my own schedule. Internal medicine x 4 years - present moonlighting in urgent care to help me develop more procedural skills and challenge myself in a new setting strong communication skills; background as licensed psychotherapist x 15 years. Flexible; I can easily adapt to changes in schedules, meeting needs of other providers and covering leave. I work in a medical home model practice."

12. "I've traveled to 30 countries (by saving money from working three jobs - one full time), which makes me more worldly and culturally sensitive, including a medical mission trip to Ecuador. I have a 3.82 GPA, BS in Cellular and Molecular Biology Major, and a minor in Psychology. I tutored seven different subjects, including Organic Chem and Genetics. I work as a PCT in the ER full time (phlebotomy, CPR, EKG, wound care skills and experience with patients of all ages and circumstances), as well as per diem as a Cardiac Monitor Technician and an MA at an urgent care. Strong recommendations from an ER PA, ER Doctor, Biochemistry Professor, and a supervisor."

13. "I believe what separates me are all my unique experiences, whether it's my time as a unit assistant on the pediatric oncology floor, doing a medical mission with a PA in Costa Rica or working on clinical research trials for pediatric cancer. Additionally, although I may have had a bumpy academic career in undergrad, I feel I've overcome it in grad school and in my GRE scores."

14. "A commitment and perseverance to pursue the profession despite multiple attempts and setbacks."

15. "My greatest strengths as an applicant include my devotion to providing patient care to individuals in underserved areas, as well as a commitment to continuing education. I grew up in a very small town and witness the lack of access to healthcare firsthand, specifically through my loved ones."

16. "I am very motivated and have been told that I have a rare drive to succeed in medicine."

17. "I have experience as a flight medic, which few Coast Guard corpsmen have. With over 200 flight hours and 36 cases, I have experience working with multiple flight surgeons and aviation physician assistants. I've learned to adapt to the different attitudes of these providers which I have carried throughout my career. I have also advanced relatively quickly and have supervised and mentored more junior corpsman than my peers."

18. "I volunteer by sending clothing, toiletries, and household supplies to the less fortunate in my home town of Union Island. I have been working as a Medical Assistant at the same job for 10+ years."

19. "I am very personable and a great listener. My patients often request to work with me. I also have a very strong work ethic and sense of responsibility. I ALWAYS attended my classes in college and had four years of perfect attendance in high school. I am a team player and value others input."

20. "My experience in the medical field sets me apart from other applicants. I worked as a scribe for a year and have now been working as a medical assistant for a year. I love preventive medicine and encouraging others to be active in their healthcare!"

21. "I believe my greatest strengths as an applicant include a strong work ethic that is rooted in attentiveness, the ability to connect well with others and empathize."

22. "My determination and constant pursuit to accomplish more in myself and my career. I have an amazing ability to talk with people and make them feel conformable and confident, allowing them to tell me more of what they may not be telling someone else who is blunt with them. I have a great bedside manner as an exercise physiologist currently and recently finished my masters in exercise science. I can work in a team setting and leadership roles as I did during my research in my masters and presenting that research at national conferences."

23. "I have over 12000 hours of direct patient contact as a paramedic. I have a proclivity for science, genetics, and medicine. I believe I understand the role and history of the physicians assistant thoroughly and have earned a spot in a PA program."

24. "I have a strong history of service of underserved populations through City Year and HOPE Christian High."

25. "I believe my greatest strengths include my motivation and willingness to learn."

26. "I think my strengths as a candidate would be that I spent a fair amount of time in the Army working in a medical capacity (including on deployment to a developing country). I grew up in very remote areas of Australia living with indigenous populations in medically underserved areas, have done volunteering in Africa in a medical capacity (although fairly minor responsibilities), have spent time in a leadership position in the Australian Army. I have attended a US university on exchange."

27. "I have eight years of experience as a medical assistant and x-ray tech."

28. "I am a Marine Corps Veteran that served in Iraq. I was also a paramedic and worked in an emergency room. I can handle the pressure that comes with taking care of patients in dire situations. I have worked both in an ambulance and in a hospital."

My Greatest Strength as a PA School Applicant - Gregory J. Pre-PA

29. "My GPA and experiences."

30. "I am still trying to figure this out. I was unsure of how to convey why I am a good PA school candidate."

31. "My hands-on patient care experience. I have been working as an EMT for four years and in a hyperbaric chamber for three years. The uniqueness of working in a hyperbaric chamber as well as my vast cultural exposure."

32. "I believe my leadership and desire to learn and become better separates me. My love and compassion for people allow me to make great connections and relationships with them. I also have the first-hand experience of knowing the difference medical personal can make on a patient, so that drives me to hopefully be given that same opportunity to change other peoples' lives for the better."

33. "I believe my academics and determination to become a PA are what set me apart as an applicant. I have worked two jobs throughout my undergrad while maintaining a high GPA. I think my ability to work while being in school shows my time management skills as well as my commitment to learning and to becoming a PA."

34. "During my undergraduate studies, I graduated with two degrees in biology and sociology and a minor in psychology. I have volunteered abroad on medical service trips. I have worked as a scribe for more than two years. I have volunteered tutoring kids in STEM, cooking for families who have sick children but do not have time to prepare a meal."

35. "My diversity of experience; EMT for 991 calls in Southeast DC, Peace Corp, co-founding Felxadyne a concept company."

36. "I think that I am a well-rounded applicant with an above-average GPA and test scores as well as shadowing experience and interning abroad experience. I am a hard-working applicant and have spent much of my collegiate career working and pursuing a bachelors degree to put myself in a position to be ready to apply for PA programs at the age of 23."

37. "The amount of healthcare experience along with the different experiences I was able to have as an EMT (volunteer, private ambulance, retirement community)."

38. "A strength that I have would be my personality and people skills. I enjoy speaking with people of all ages and have no problem meeting new people. Also, I am someone who likes to get things done. I like to lead by example and am a big team player. I enjoy collaborating with others and seeing others succeed."

39. "I have over 2,000 patient contact hours and over 50 hours of PA shadowing."

40. "I have a unique patient care experience. I have been working for developmentally disabled patients for three years now administering medication. I also just received a job as an ambulatory technician in pediatric cardiology."

41. "I am not a quitter and do not like to give up. Medicine is something I am passionate about. Something that separates me: I worked as a morgue intern for six months recently and served as the medical director for its summer program. This was a very valuable experience for me and allowed for a lot of growth and leadership. However, I am afraid to talk about it because it did not end well as my supervisor was mentally abusive, and I had to resign for this reason."

42. "I think my greatest strength is my experience working in healthcare."

43." I am outgoing, a leader, everyone always reaches out to me for advice. I am good at connecting with patients and making them feel comfortable and loyal."

44. "My greatest strength is my compassion and drive to help anyone get better. I have been a patient as well as an observer of both doctors and physician assistants. This experience has provided me the knowledge of what it means to be a physician assistant as wells as what the patient needs to get better."

45. "I have grown to be able to function independently, yet I love working in a team-based model. Most of my life, I was required to function and support my self by myself. When I stepped into working for a non-profit and was a leader, everything I did involved a team, and I began to develop specific skills related to leadership (mostly communication). Because of deep challenges in my life, ones that stretch even into the present, like having a disabled mother, I have developed stable resiliency in my life, and have a strong mental will to push and press forward in the face of adversity. Also, I bring a strong perspective on empathy. Again my personal, volunteer and international life experiences have expanded my insight to focus on others, and step outside of myself. Some of these have come from the course of life, and I have not chosen them, but absorbed them and let these events positively shape me. I think these traits truly can separate me from the pack. I haven't chosen to step into the volunteering experiences I have accomplished, to get into PA school. I was doing them long before. It truly comes from a deep passion I have to serve and help others. I would continue to find avenues to do even this if I was never accepted into a PA program (but let's not see that happen). Becoming a PA is my ultimate goal, which I believe I am suited for holistically. I can meet the academic requirements and interpersonal aspects of the career. I am confident gaining the skills and knowledge of a PA would propel me to impact and help others at a greater level than the skills I possess now or in any other facet."

46. "One of my strengths is that I am a multinational student. I am a Palestinian American who is bilingual. Another strength is the fact that I have worked in various settings in healthcare: in the field bringing people to the ER, in the ER itself, and then in the hospital setting after ER patients are admitted to the various floors."

47. "Research experience and community service."

48. "My healthcare experience is varied, which can be both a positive and negative factor. However, I think it gives me a different perspective than some other applicants having been in several roles on the healthcare team. I have worked both in a private setting and in the hospital (medical assistant, phlebotomy, clinical technician, PT aide)."

49. "My work ethic and work experience as a BLS EMT, FTO, critical care EMT, and critical care FTO (field training officer that trains new EMTs in the field). My discipline and motivation from swimming Division 1 and ensuring I keep my grades up for a good GPA. I helped out with the Northern California fires to evacuate the veterans home, and within 5 minutes of talking to me, the incident commander made me a group leader of my six ambulances. I participate in Meals on Wheels to keep seniors independent and healthy longer. I participated in philanthropy events with my sorority throughout college."

50. "I am a nontraditional student. I have experienced life on a different level as I have been a mother and teacher."

My Greatest Strength as a PA School Applicant - Richell K PRE-PA

51. "I think the fact that I took time away from medicine to focus on finding what I would enjoy and what I was truly passionate about. I have seen the business aspect of medicine as well as the provider side of medicine, and I think that both perspectives truly affect how I will operate as a compassionate but successful physician assistant."

52. "My unique experience of taking care of my family when my mom was sick. I am super gregarious well-liked, and outspoken. I think my strength is in compassion, but sometimes I get too compassionate and care more about others than focusing on myself. People tell me I care too much; I do not like cold heath care professionals. I will make my patients feel comfortable and cared for."

53. "I solely moved from Texas to Washington State to attend MEDEX. I gave up my comfort to pursue my dream. Their mission statement mirrored my values."

54. "My greatest strengths as an applicant are 1. My compassion and volunteer work for the underserved community. I volunteer as a Medicare counselor, and I serve dinners at a homeless shelter. 2. My willingness to always learn. This has been shown in my academic, workplace, and volunteer settings."

55. "I have a Masters of Social Work. I feel as though that sets me apart from others and provides me with a skill set that a lot of people don't have."

56. "My perseverance and my emotional connection to the PA field. I come from an under-served community and put myself through college by working full time. In just four years, I was able to graduate with a degree and finish all the prerequisites necessary for a PA program. Although I may not have as many healthcare experience hours as other applicants, my work ethic and dedication towards this career path show that in the little amount of time I have had, I have accomplished quite a bit. This illustrates that I would not only excel in a PA program but would excel as a future PA."

57. "My leadership experience and experience working on a team. My improved academic success has been demonstrated through my leadership experience. Immersing myself into my college's campus culture helped me improve as a student and enhance my leadership skills. As someone who used to fear public speaking, conquering this fear was the catalyst for my transformation into someone who thrives within a growth mindset."

58. "I really want to highlight my dedication to serving and community work. I am applying to schools only in the Bay Area, and I chose to highlight my work in East Oakland the most."

59. "I’m passionate, energetic, with a strong work ethic. Compassion – I’ve learned the most effective means of engaging patients in their care is having empathy. Patients tend to respond better to providers that are active listeners and validate their concerns. Prior to becoming a PA and working with first generational college students, I’ve learned how counseling with empathy can be a form of healing. Adaptability - Worked with a spectrum of stable patients with chronic diseases in an outpatient setting to critically ill patients in the trauma/ acute care setting. It is important to understand acuity and the different roles/expectations of clinicians that is appropriate in such a context. Although change can be challenging, seeing different pathologies in medicine and working with different patient populations, has provided me with an array of experience, skill, and knowledge. Additionally, working with patients from different socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds has provided me with cultural competence, allowing me to be more effective in working and developing meaningful relationships with patients and their care. Lastly, this past residency has given me the opportunity to work with different physicians from various specialties in different settings/ contexts. This has taught me various skills, techniques, and philosophies of practicing medicine. Part of improving as a clinician is evolving with medicine and keeping up to date with the literature and practice guidelines when appropriate."

My Greatest Strength as a PA School Applicant - Manpreet S. PRE-PA

60. "I have a good GPA, and I have good interpersonal skills. I have been told on different occasions by my coworkers that I'm respectful and know how to handle people. In the nursing home or in the tax office where I work, I have been called several times to help in critical situations. I am a non-traditional student, mother to 3 young kids that I had while going to school. English is my second language; I am fluent in French."

61. "I believe my sense of humor is a great asset and sets me apart from others. Also, my charisma, and desire to search for an answer for my customers (and future patients) will make me a great PA."

62. "My greatest strength is my life experience both in medicine and as a leader/team member. I've worked in the military, government, business, sales, management, as well as healthcare. Overall I have 18-years of experience in the workforce."

63. "I believe my greatest strengths are my drive and ambition. I have worked very hard to achieve nearly a 4.0 with minors in music and psychology while working as a Resident Assistant and a CNA. I am passionate about being a PA and am an accomplished pianist."

64. "I have deep empathy and compassion for others that comes naturally. I care about people, and I want to help them. I have done very well in my prerequisite courses, and I am passionate about the study of the human body. I have experience working directly with patients, of all backgrounds. I want to make a difference in peoples' lives."

65. "I am a very young applicant, with a strong background in public health. I completed my degree at Johns Hopkins University while balancing the demands of a student-athlete. I have a lot of non-traditional experience for my age, including work as a home health care aid. I have managed to accrue a diverse range of experiences while maintaining a very strong GPA at a very good institution, competing in collegiate athletics, working part-time, and committing to extra-curricular activities."

66. "I have gone through a lot of experiences that have solidified my decision to become a PA. These experiences, such as my brother's disease and my brain surgery, have made me compassionate, caring, and understanding to each patient that I encounter. I am an EMT in the ER, and I see a number of patients who feel that they aren't heard or understood. One of my greatest strengths is making the patient feel comfortable and heard. I would say that my strong interpersonal skills separate me from the other applicants. I have a great GPA and patient care experiences that separate me from the pack as well."

67. "As an applicant, I believe I have a well-rounded background of different health care (and non-health care) related experiences. I spent a lot of time volunteering for a big organization in my undergrad. I have traveled out of the country to rural communities as part of a medical mission. I currently work as a CNA at a unique place called the center for medically fragile children where I have had the opportunity to work very closely with special and high needs kids. I feel like I have done the majority of my growing (both personal and academic growth) here. I am an incredibly hard worker, and my biggest strength would be communication. I work really well with others and am a natural leader."

68. "I think my greatest strengths as an applicant lie in the fact that I have substantial life experience outside the medical field. I lived abroad multiple times as a teenager, where I learned to navigate languages and cultures alone, and have since continued to push my own perceived boundaries in an attempt to relate to others. I also worked as an outdoor educator, where I had the ultimate autonomy and responsibility for others in a backcountry setting. I was (still am, I work part-time still at Outward Bound) responsible for the physical and emotional health of large groups for up to 50 days at a time. I know how to think critically, especially with limited resources, and how to connect with others in an authentic manner."

69. "I have been told that I am a genuine, empathetic, kindhearted, strong-willed, hard-working individual. I feel like this separates me because though mostly all PA applicants have one or the other (compassionate or strong grades), I demonstrate both. I have also shown great resiliency with various obstacles in my life, and I feel as if that characteristic would be useful in stressful/troubled situations (which I know PAs will encounter often). I am also able to set aside my biased opinions of someone/something to try to understand where they/it are coming from. I believe this would allow me to make sincere connections with my future patients and optimize my medical knowledge. I've also been told by patients that I have the ability to turn their negative attitude/experience into a positive one without seeming pushy."

70. "This might be what everyone says, but I feel like I have a very positive/bubbly personality that allows people or patients I've worked with over the past 5 years feel like they can trust and rely on me for help. Because of that, they are comfortable and open up to me more about their issues, which in turn makes me feel like I am actually able to help even with just an undergraduate degree. I understand that every issue is relative to an individual and should not be brushed off just because it might just sound minor. I am very curious and am always willing to learn more to better myself as a healthcare professional. Even though there are many other ways to "help people," I chose this field because I enjoy interactions with these people full of stories and want to see them grow and be part of their lives. Creating memories, interacting, and communicating with the same people on a daily basis is something I feel like is taken for granted. I feel like each person should connect and share their ups and downs; no one should be alone in this world."

71. "What I think separates me from the rest of the applicants is that I was born and raised in Bulgaria (which I have included in my personal section on my application) and I speak three languages (English, Bulgarian and Macedonian) - I witnessed a horrible accident which introduced me to medicine. I became Phlebotomist certified - I moved to AZ at age 21 and struggled with working fulltime and attending school full time. I worked as a server and hospital to ensure I was making enough to make ends meet. Because I had to work to support myself, I did not have the opportunity to work as a scribe. I am very comfortable with Cerner Electronical Medical records system as well as Epic. I have always volunteered to underserved communities when able to; such as feed my starving children and church. I did not continue to get my masters because of the money aspect and extra loans. Any chance I had, I have committed my time to shadowing and volunteering. It inspired me not to give up no matter how hard things got (I have included the following in the experiences section of my application)."

72. "I have been a Registered Dietitian for six years, and I have five years of patient care experience. As a child growing up in China, I adapted to a competitive academic environment and developed a strong commitment to education."

73. "I learn quickly and have a diverse set of physical skills. I have attained a vast medical knowledge by scribing for two years, and I communicate effectively. Teaching others is something I find easy to do, and my empathetic nature will help me explain confusing or difficult diagnoses to patients. I am also human, so I enjoy a variety of physical activities like rock climbing, mountain biking, kayaking, and snowboarding, as well as other hobbies like woodworking and playing/composing music."

74. "My stats are as follows: I just graduated from FSU with a bachelors in exercise physiology. I have a 3.7 cGPA and sGPA, 1500 PCE hours, 200 volunteer hours, and a 311 GRE score. I currently work as a CNA in the heart cath lab but have also worked in Oncology. I volunteered as a camp counselor at a sleep-away camp for kids with cancer."

75. "I am very outgoing and love to learn. I wanted to be a teacher for a while. I think my extracurriculars separate me. I tutor at a prison, led a research project, was on the executive board for a couple of clubs in college, worked at three different hospitals, etc."

76. "I would say my energy and that I am personable. I also have experience with patients and a good bedside manner from my EMT experience. What could set me apart is my experience working in Manhattan schools with children cultivating patience, a different type of critical thinking than I use as a first responder, and leadership. My personality, energy, and compassion are what set me apart, I am able to connect with patients and coworkers and have the ability to get along with, and thrive in every environment I've been it, I want to communicate my personality through my writing because I think that it is one of my biggest strengths."

My Greatest Strength as a PA School Applicant - Abigail F. PRE-PA

77. "I believe my patient care experience shows my dedication to the medical field. I began working as a laboratory assistant at the age of 18 and have continued to advance my career as a clinical laboratory technologist and, now, lead technologist. As a laboratory assistant, 90% of my job included direct patient care (blood draws and ECGs)."

78. "I have a relatively low CASPA cumulative and science GPA. I have calculated them to be 3.18 and 3.00, respectively. This is up from 3.12 (cumulative) and 2.80 (science) with the classes I have taken over the last year."

79. "I continue to pursue my passion for serving others by volunteering in my local community and going on global missions. It helps me gain perspective and stay in touch with humanity. I am good at connecting with people, and I enjoy it. I am a fast learner, and I know how to adapt/adjust to new jobs and situations. Many of my family members are involved in healthcare, and it is my dream to provide care in underserved communities together in the future."

80. "I really enjoy connecting with people and have been told I am very personable and mature for my age. I think my background in psychology is an advantage in terms of just knowing how to empathize with others. I also have been working at a children's hospital for 1.5 years, and not many people can work in pediatrics whether they do not have the patience, or because it is too emotionally taxing. I think that having worked in that kind of setting is a strength in that of itself. I also think I thrive in a collaborative setting and value teamwork (I played sports for several years), which I think is crucial when you as a PA."

81. "My greatest strength is my ability to adapt and remain flexible and handle change. I am often complimented on my calm demeanor. I remain focused even in stressful situations. I am self-motivated and highly dependable."

82. "I believe I have had enough shadowing and volunteer work. I volunteered with To Give Kids the World (I worked with kids with a terminal illness), volunteered at hospitals, helped raised money for St. Jude research hospital with my organization, and even when I visited family in Peru, I volunteered at a church. I have learned so much from being an M.A. I work in a small G.I practice its only one doctor, so he has taught me everything that I know about G.I. I believe communication is the key to becoming a great P.A, and so are academics. My grades weren't the best at the beginning of my college years, but I did retake classes, and I did mention it in my essay."

83. "I believe that my application is strengthened mostly by my high GPA (3.9) and a large amount of healthcare experience >3000 hrs. I became a CNA early in college and was able to gain many hours starting at a nursing home and currently at a prestigious hospital. I also took difficult biology courses while working and balancing a social life, which may prove that I am able to handle the academic rigors of PA school. I also have a fair amount of volunteer experience in many free clinics and humane societies. My weakness in the application is a lack of PA shadowing hours as all are with an NP/MD."

84. "I have some unique personal experiences, especially the birth and death of my daughter that motivate me to become a PA."

85. "My strongest traits as an applicant include: 7 years of direct clinical patient care experience as a PTA, a strong understanding and ability to work as part of a team in an assistant role, extensive experience with orthopedics and sports, the ability to think critically and autonomously from working as an independent contractor in a gym, and the maturity and self discipline learned from being raised in a household with two parents in the military."

86. "The ability to go beyond what I learned in the textbook or in classes and apply my personal experiences to every challenging situation I am met with. Being a successful PA is about more than just a knowledge of the field; it is about empathy, the desire to make a change, and the ability to be a leader."

87. "I have been surrounded by caregivers my whole life. My father, a veterinarian. My grandfather, a pediatric surgeon. My grandmother, a nurse, and my mother, a stay at home Mom for 3 kids. Aside from their work, I was taught from a young age about giving back. We volunteered my entire life, from monthly homeless shelter visits to mission trips to fundraisers, they have all taught me the importance of giving back to underprivileged. I knew I wanted to pursue a career helping others, but whether or not that was with animals or humans, was my biggest question growing up. After shadowing and numerous volunteering efforts, I decided to become a Medical assistant after graduating from college. My experience at a Pediatric gastroenterology office has given me immeasurable experience in the medical field, in both the hospital and clinical setting. I do more than take vitals and perform patient histories. I have assisted in the OR by placing a video capsule endoscopy, performed hydrogen breath tests, done diagnostic research on inflammatory bowel disease, and treated perianal abscesses. I never expected that GI would give me the opportunity to see diseases and conditions all across the board, from constipation and abdominal pain to severe developmental delays, gastrointestinal tube feedings, babies from the NICU, GERD, and so much more. My time there has proven more educational than ever was expected."

88. "I think having maturity is my greatest strength: eight years as a home health aide with experience with both regular assisted living and on-site memory care unit at my place of employment."

89. "I am the first generation in my family to graduate high school, let alone advance to college and graduate school. My father is from El Salvador. He moved here in his early twenties, so his English is not the strongest. I believe having an immigrant father has given me greater cultural awareness as an applicant. The struggle of having to learn from my courses and teach myself how to apply to colleges without help from home has taught me how to be independent and ask for help when I need it. I had the unique opportunity to participate in a medical internship in Sri Lanka, where I gained experience working in underserved communities and communicating through language barriers. I have a masters in medical science with a 3.8 GPA, which allowed me to have a taste of what the workload as a PA student will be like. In addition, I have strong time management skills I obtained throughout college and graduate school that will further assist me as both a student and future PA."

90. "My greatest strengths include my clinical work experience, which has taught me commitment, communication skills, empathy, and maturity."

91. "I have nearly 10,000 hours of direct patient care experience through various volunteer, leadership and shadowing roles (EMT, neuro ICU patient care tech, ED medical scribe, chief scribe in plastic & reconstructive surgery, and now senior medical assistant and chief medical scribe in that same practice) which have contributed to my exceptional bedside manner/clinical skills, the development of my medical decision making skills, adaptability, physician-patient/physician-family member/physician-healthcare provider communication, patient education skills, and technical skills such as suture removal, wound care/dressing changes, non-sterile and sterile procedures (biopsy, excision, tissue expansion for breast cancer patients, various surgeries), pre-operative and post-operative consulting, etc."

92. "My desire to put my heart into everything that I do is my greatest strength. I really believe that love is what it boils down to at the end of the day, and I just want to showcase my personal story in hopes that it inspires someone else to live their truth."

93. "I am 27 years old and have more life experience than many of the applicants applying straight out of undergrad. I have a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and recently fulfilled all of my science prerequisites. I have a few years of hotel management experience at an upscale boutique hotel on Kiawah Island in SC. I lived in Charleston for several years after attaining my Bachelor's degree in 2013 and have traveled around the world to places like Italy, Costa Rica, France, Hawaii, the British Virgin Islands, the Bahamas, and the Netherlands. I am able to communicate conversationally in Spanish and American Sign Language, but I am not fluent in either yet. I am a licensed phlebotomist and former veterinary technician. I have years of experience volunteering at animal shelters, and I was the Veterinary Technician Laboratory Coordinator at Bergen Community College. I have worked in restaurants and hospitality since I have been 14 years old and I believe that has helped me to have an outgoing personality with good conversational skills. After years of being unsure of my career path, I finally feel that I have found my passion."

94. "I am very academically driven and a lifelong learner. I feel like the more I know, the more I realize how much I do not know and how much more there is to learn, constantly. The possibilities are endless, and I'm excited to be both a lifelong student and a PA! My undergraduate GPA was something I never thought I could accomplish, but all those hours spent studying paid off. I know I can do anything I set my mind to, as long as my heart is in it. 😉 I'm very in tune with my emotions and can sense when something is wrong when I sit in front of someone. The main things I value in my relationships with my friends, family, and patients are trust, support, and comfort."

95. "I think one of the greatest strengths as an applicant is that I am well rounded in a lot of aspects of my application. I have many experiences that I am able to draw on. I am a division one student-athlete, so my leadership and time management skills are a strong attribute of mine. I also have healthcare experience as a medical assistant, physical therapy aide, and emergency medical technician training. I also have experience volunteering and a fairly decent GPA. I think this well-roundedness of my application and the experiences that I have would separate me from the pack."

96. "The amount of volunteering I've done both in local communities and abroad. Diverse PCE (Float CNA > ICU CNA > ERT in the ED > Exercise Physiologist in Cardiac Rehab) showing a natural progression of professional development. Job shadowing twelve different PAs in eleven different areas of healthcare. My experiences speak to a commitment to underserved populations and a desire to plant myself within any community. I've traveled to 15 countries. Numerous leadership/teaching positions."

97. "While teaching at Unitek College, a nursing school in San Jose, CA, I’ve had the opportunity to teach and work with a diverse group of individuals. I’ve strived to cultivate an environment of compassion, openness, and honesty with the desire for mutual growth for both students and myself. I’ve had the opportunity to live in many parts of India, now in the Bay Area, I think my greatest takeaway from the travel and teaching is my ability and enjoyment of meeting new people, understanding new traditions & relating to people who have a completely different background then I do. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area, and I love the Bay Area for its diversity and composite cultural backdrop. I had the opportunity to shadow PA-Cs, volunteer, and intern at primary care facilities in the Bay Area and in India in both rural and urban areas. With the experiences I have had, I would like to help the underserved communities who do not have access to healthcare at the right time."

98. "This is my second time applying, and I feel I have a strong understanding of what schools look for in an applicant. I have held three different patient care jobs since graduating (clinical researcher, rehabilitation technician, and now a medical assistant in orthopedics). I believe I am at an advantage of working closely with PAs every day at my job because I truly do understand how they interact with patients and what their job requires. I was a student-athlete and team captain in undergrad. I understand firsthand the importance of teamwork, and I enjoy that the PA profession encompasses this concept. Being on a team in undergrad had its drawbacks, however, as it was initially difficult for me to balance team demands and my academics at a rigorous school such as the University of Michigan. To make up for a weak start to my college career, I graduated a semester early to really get my nose to the grinding stone on this whole journey to become a PA student. I have taken 38 credits post-grad, have not received anything lower than an A, all while working full time and part-time job and volunteering. I also have a breadth of shadowing experience - OR, ER, dermatology, sports med, and an upcoming experience with urology at the local VA hospital."

99. "I have more research than most applicants I know. I have done clinical, laboratory, and field research and have been included in one publication. I have community service and volunteer hours working with underserved communities and a passion for behavior and mental health."

100. "I believe my greatest strengths are 1. Receiving an 'Outstanding Leadership in Health Education Award" 2. Earning a GPA of 3.56 3. Being personally involved in healthcare as a patient for so long after a car accident 4. Having patient care experience in two different fields. 5. Being from a rural area and going to school/working in a rural area where I have experience seeing the need for mid-levels."

101. "I have a master's degree in biology with 2 years of research experience in cancer genetics and molecular biology. I did my undergraduate degree in system's physiology and took many tough classes including immunology, toxicology, comparative physiology, etc. I have experience teaching at the college level. I taught a introductory biology lab at San Jose State University. I have over 1000 hours of volunteer work in the emergency room as well as many other hours of volunteering and shadowing in different departments and clinics."

What's Your Greatest Strength?

Now that you have seen what others have to say, it's time to answer this question for yourself?

What are your greatest strengths? What do you bring to the table? What differentiates you? What separates you from the pack?

In a later blog post we will discuss tools you can use to come up with the best answer to this all important question. In the meantime, if you have a moment give it your best shot in the comments section and I will crique your answer. 

- Stephen Pasqini PA-C

View all posts in this series
  • My PA School Interview: The Journey of a Lifetime
  • How to Write the Perfect Physician Assistant School Application Essay
  • The Top 46 Physician Assistant Applicant Interview Questions
  • Use this Interview Hack to Get The Physician Assistant Job of Your Dreams!
  • The Physician Assistant Job or PA School Interview – Email Etiquette
  • The Physician Assistant Interview: Thank You and Follow-up (With Sample)
  • The Physician Assistant Essay and Personal Statement Collaborative
  • Do You Recognize These 7 Common Mistakes in Your Personal Statement?
  • 7 Essays in 7 Days: PA Personal Statement Workshop: Essay 1, “A PA Changed My Life”
  • PA Personal Statement Workshop: Essay 2, “I Want to Move Towards the Forefront of Patient Care”
  • PA Personal Statement Workshop: Essay 3, “She Smiled, Said “Gracias!” and Gave me a Big Hug”
  • PA Personal Statement Workshop: Essay 4, “I Have Gained so Much Experience by Working With Patients”
  • PA Personal Statement Workshop: Essay 5, “Then Reach, my Son, and Lift Your People up With You”
  • PA Personal Statement Workshop: Essay 6, “That First Day in Surgery was the First Day of the Rest of my Life”
  • PA Personal Statement Workshop: Essay 7, “I Want to Take People From Dying to Living, I Want to Get Them Down From the Cliff.”
  • Physician Assistant Personal Statement Workshop: “To say I was an accident-prone child is an understatement”
  • 9 Simple Steps to Avoid Silly Spelling and Grammar Goofs in Your PA School Personel Statement
  • 5 Tips to Get you Started on Your Personal Essay (and why you should do it now)
  • How to Write Your Physician Assistant Personal Statement The Book!
  • How to Write “Physician Assistant” The Definitive PA Grammar Guide
  • A Look Inside Two PA School Interviews
  • 101 PA School Admissions Essays: The Book!
  • 5 Things I’ve Learned Going Into My Fourth Physician Assistant Application Cycle
  • 7 Tips for Addressing Shortcomings in Your PA School Personal Statement
  • 300 PA School Interview Questions You Should Be Ready to Answer
  • PA School Mock Interviews: Prepare with a Live, Recorded Video Interview
  • The #1 Mistake PRE-PAs Make on Their Personal Statement
  • The Ultimate PA School Personal Statement Starter Kit
  • The Ultimate Guide to CASPA Character and Space Limits
  • Mock Physician Assistant School Interview With Taylor Hill Pre-PA
  • Mock PA School Interview With Pre-PA Lily Boyle
  • 10 Questions Every PA School Personal Statement Must Answer
  • 5 PA School Essays That Got These Pre-PAs Accepted Into PA School
  • 7 Questions to Ask Yourself While Writing Your PA School Personal Statement
  • The Interview That Got This Pre-PA Into 5 PA Schools
  • 101 PA School Applicants Answer: What’s Your Greatest Strength?
  • Mastering Your PA School Interview: Tone Matters
  • The Worst PA School Interview Question Ever!
  • 12 Secrets to Writing an Irresistible PA School Personal Statement
  • 7 Rules You Must Follow While Writing Your PA School Essay
  • You Have 625 Words and 2.5 Minutes to Get Into PA School: Use Them Wisely
  • What’s Your #1 Personal Statement Struggle?
  • 31 (NEW) CASPA PA School Personal Statement Examples
  • Why Choose PA Over NP? Here’s the Perfect Answer
  • Don’t Make This Critical PA School Interview Mistake!
  • 5 Best Ways to Give a Memorable PA School Interview
  • 3 Things to Do the Night Before Your PA School Interview
  • How to Prepare for Your PA School Interview Day Essay
  • Should You Write Physician Associate or Physician Assistant on Your PA School Essay?
  • Meet the World’s Sexiest PA School Applicants
  • How to Squash PA School Interview Day Stress (4 Simple Steps)
  • PA School Reapplicants: How to Rewrite Your PA School Essay for Guaranteed Success
  • How to Write a Personal Statement Intro that Readers Want to Read
  • PA School Reapplicant Personal Statement Checklist
  • How to Deal with Bad News in Your Personal Statement
  • Inside Out: How to use Pixar’s Rules of Storytelling to Improve your PA Personal Statement
  • Ratatouille: A Pixar Recipe for PA School Personal Statement Success
  • Personal Statement Panel Review (Replay)
  • Mind Mapping: A Tool for Personal Statements, Supplemental Essays, and Interviews

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  • Do You Recognize These 7 Common Mistakes in Your Personal Statement?Do You Recognize These 7 Common Mistakes in Your Personal Statement? You've written your essay. You know what you want to say. But will the admissions committee get your message? You've read through countless PA school essay samples. You've chopped and changed the order of the […]
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A PA since 2004 and creator of The PA Life and Smarty PANCE Board Review websites. A National Health Service Corps Scholar and a graduate of The University of Medicine and Dentistry of NJ (Rutgers) PA Program and the University of Washington in Seattle, WA. Stephen's goal is to provide one-of-a-kind online resources for those interested in or practicing in the PA profession, to promote better access to healthcare for all and foster universal recognition/awareness of the PA profession. Read more about Stephen.

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Comments

  1. celma Gomes says

    April 15, 2020 at 3:45 am

    Any feedback will be much appretiated please

    He was diagnosed with severe autism. At the time I was an ODP student. It was hard to cope with the demands of his health and course placements, so I gave up from the course after 2 years of training, but during the training I was exposed to a range of surgical procedures on all surgical theatres trust wide, my placement on the children theatres, standing in theatre for several hours during a triple bypass surgery and assisting anaesthetic doctors during a liver transplant made me appreciate the resilience and tenancy required to be a physician associate. Having the opportunity to work alongside and learn from excellent professionals, I could see the focus and adrenaline flowing through the room, it was contagious as the surgical team worked calmly through every complication that arose during the procedure. These was a learning path on the important of teamwork and effective communication and how these can affect patient delivery of care. This display of determination deeply inspired me. I also had the opportunity to work as a phlebotomy for the pre-surgical and antenatal department’s, I was always pushing myself, extending the boundaries of my profession. As a student I would put myself forward to every learning opportunity that arose, as a phlebotomist I was always pushing myself, extending the boundaries of my profession through finding ways of cannulating difficulty patients.
    After 5 years he passed away, and loosing a child was by far the hardest pain I ever had to endure. After learning how to deal with the pain of losinga child, I decided to go back to education changing my career path. I did a degree in human biology and infectious diseases, after graduation I had various jobs within medical field, from working as a laboratory technician, to clinical trials and medical scientist, I have developed strong experience in research, patient focused quality of service, I have experience working with GMP/GLP approved sectors currently working as a Qc Scientist testing of raw materials to ensure that each formulation component meets the quality requirements, In-process assays to establish that the manufacturing processes are meeting the standards set out in advance and in accordance with MHRA and FDA standards. Carrying out of 1nal product assays to verify that product meets its specification, stability testing to evaluate the useful shelf life of the product, however never had the fulfilment as this was not the career path I longed for.
    The motivation behind me to become a physician associate is the generalised knowledge a PA develops during their career and the ability to work within a speciality, gaining specialist knowledge but the ability to maintain a general approach to medicine. With all my experience in medical field and my desire to continue as a healthcare professional, I believe that physician associate will be a perfect match. Through my healthcare and personal experience, I have grown not only as a professional, but also as an individual. I am a great listener, with a positive can-doattitude and good team player, which are attributes for a physician associate. My determination and perseverance and hard work have taught me how to succeed throughout life. My passion for the medical field and my life experiences have shaped my values and beliefs into the person I am today which has motivated me to be an influential and successful Physician Assistant in future.

    Reply
  2. satyadeva says

    August 26, 2019 at 8:32 am

    Thank you so much for share your knowledge

    Reply

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My editor knew exactly what kind of edits I was looking for and addressed all of my questions/concerns I had about my essay. I will definitely be recommending this service to my club members and friends.

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Hi, I am beyond words to express how I feel, I got accepted, contingent on background check which I think is a formality. I want to say boldly that I am going to be a PA, thanks to you. You will be always blessed for the wonderful service you provide.  You were very kind and worked beyond what I thought could be offered. Thanks again!

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I used the personal statement editing service with Deanna Matzen (April/May 2021) and the mock interview service with Mary Jones (June 2021). Both were exceptional to work with and helped me to achieve my goal. I applied to three schools and received interview invites from all three (I’m a first-time applicant). I was waitlisted at one in June and later accepted in November, received early acceptance to my top choice in November (UTSW), and I chose to decline my third interview scheduled in December. Thank you for your services!

Rachelle, Pre-PA

Sarah was absolutely wonderful. She not only helped take my personal statement to the best level, but she also made it easy to understand why certain changes were better. In the end, she went through and used a highlighting method to show how we connected things to PA and skills that were good. This made it easier to visualize everything. I’d recommend Sarah to anyone applying to PA school that needs that extra push on their personal statements.

Taylor, Pre-PA

I just want to thank you again so much for being so awesome and helping me perfect my statement. I promised you that I would let you know if I got into any programs, and I was offered interviews at all the five universities I applied to. And I got offered positions at my top two school choices shortly after I interviewed. I am so ecstatic to say that I will be going to my number one school choice. I know multiple factors contributed to this opportunity being offered to me and the personal statement was surely a big one. Thank you so much for all that you do. It was really a great investment to have you edit my paper. I hope you have a fantastic rest of your day!

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I am happy to provide an update. I received 5 acceptances for this cycle and will be attending Rush University PA Program starting in May 2022. Of course, I definitely have Sarah Schultz and Deanna Matzen from The PA Life to thank for their incredible help with my personal statement, instilling confidence in my ability to interview, and providing me with a lot of advice in this very difficult cycle.

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Duke was so kind and helpful in helping me understand what admissions committees look for in a strong essay. Our phone conversations were so thorough, as we read through and discussed every word in my essay. Sue’s guidance helped me cut out the fluff to reach the character limit.

Melissa T. Pre-PA

Duke helped me write a great personal statement. I won’t know if I’ve been accepted to the program until Christmas/New Year’s, but I feel that it was worth every penny!

Alicia C. Pre-PA

During our first one-on-one session, my editor Sarah had the chance to understand who I am as a person before even editing. This was remarkably helpful in terms of making my voice stand out in my personal statement. I especially appreciated how thorough her comments were regarding the aspects of my essay that needed fine-tuning.

Austin, Pre-PA

Carly is absolutely amazing, and I would recommend her to everyone. She was very helpful and supportive with her edits and why she recommended certain changes. She is amazing, and she helped me tell my story.

Peter, Pre-PA

I am not sure if you remembered me, but you helped me exactly a year ago with my PA essay. Well, I got accepted into Barry’s PA program! I start this Monday. You were part of my journey and I wanted to say THANK YOU!

Catalina Bulla, PA-S

I used your service for my personal statement and my top school secondary. I feel this is an amazing service and have recommended it to many of my friends who are currently applying to PA school.

Jeff, Pre-PA

I have never used a service like this before. All I can say is that I wish I had discovered it sooner 😀

Rebecca G. PA-S

It’s very clear that Deanna, my editor, put a good amount of time and thought into this. She FAR exceeded my expectations, even providing me with two different possible drafts (my original copy was 1500 characters too long). After paying for two separate editing services, I was initially disappointed to find that the first had not provided anywhere close to the level of feedback/review/editing that I had hoped for. I thought I was on my own again with my personal statement and did not have high hopes for any additional edits at the time that I’d received the review from Deanna, of thePAlife. The first service I’d used provided reviews that were neither thoughtful, in-depth, nor helpful, but Deanna’s edits were each of those! My hopes had been shot down by the first service but were immediately uplifted after I received Deanna’s edits. Her feedback was timely, thorough, thoughtful, critical, and even supportive! She provided an exceptional service, and I would highly recommend her to anyone

Cierra, Pre-PA

Sue was extremely prompt and thoughtful in providing her comments, edits, and revisions. My essay had a good start but she helped me write it with admissions committees in mind. I will keep you updated on if I get interview invitations.

Kirsten, Pre-PA

Having my essay edited proved extremely helpful. I was having trouble connecting my thoughts, and the edit helped so much. I haven’t found out about acceptance yet. I’m just now about to submit my application!

Amber, Pre-PA

Thank you once again for your help in reviewing and editing my personal statement for PA school. Yesterday morning, I had the pleasure of accepting a position in the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston Physician Assistant Program. The class begins in July 2022, and I am excited to begin this next chapter of entering the PA profession. I have no doubt that your invaluable assistance helped me produce a personal statement that promoted my application and paved the way for my successful interview, and I am sincerely grateful.

Angela, PA-S

I received an acceptance call from USC! I’m going to be a PA! 👩🏽‍⚕️ I’m so overfilled with joy and gratitude!! All of my experiences led to this, and I can’t help but feel immense gratitude for every single person that was part of this journey. You were a huge component of this journey, and I am so appreciative of all of your help. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

Cintia Chávez, PA-S

Carly took the time to listen to my concerns about my personal statement and apply them to what I had already written. I was so appreciative as I wasn’t sure where my personal statement stood before submitting it. I now feel more confident in my statement!

Chelsea, Pre-PA

Really great service, definitely worth the money! I am very pleased with the amount of work that went into editing my paper and giving reasons as to why sentences or paragraphs were changed around. Carly did an amazing job!

Christina, Pre-PA

This review is long overdue, but my gratitude for how much The PA Life has helped me will never fade. Ms. Schultz went above and beyond to help me tailor my personal statement to my unique stories and qualities. She was open to my suggestions and often thought from my perspective instead of imposing her thoughts on my essay. I appreciate the time she took to help me create a personal statement that expressed my thoughts clearly and concisely. I am happy to report that I have been invited to interviews, and I’m on the waitlist for one of my top schools. If I don’t get in this cycle, I will be using the editing services again. Big shout out to Ms. Schultz!! Thank you for all your encouragement, patience, and support! I am honored to have the chance to work with you. 🙂

Amy, Pre-PA

I came into this with a half written personal statement and not a lot of time left. I am beyond pleased with the work Sarah and I were able to accomplish together, and I’m so grateful to have gotten the chance to work with her. She has helped me so much with getting my writing to where I wanted it to be, and has instilled in me a great sense of confidence in myself and my abilities. I highly recommend this service to anyone going through the stress of applying! Keeping my fingers crossed as I submit my applications!

Celine, PRE-PA

This experience was great. They took my essay and gave great constructive comments that made it an even better essay. Very fast and efficient process.

Gabby, Pre-PA

Deanna was professional, prompt, and easy to talk to. I truly enjoyed working with her one-on-one for my personal statement. Her suggestions elevated my writing, and I appreciate all the work she put in my essay.

Jamie, Pre-PA

I am very happy with your service and would highly recommend it to any PA applicant. Duke helped me to put my thoughts in order and to make significant changes. My personal statement sounds great and seems easy and interesting to read now.  He took a lot of time to explain his way of thinking and to understand what I am trying to say. Thank you so much for your help. I really appreciate what you are doing for others.

Olga N. Pre-PA

This service was very helpful. My essay was edited and returned to me within a few days of me submitting it. The feedback was thorough and detailed. I am already planning on sending my essay for a second edit!

Sabrina, Pre-PA

My editor with The PA Life was amazing! I will definitely suggest these services to anyone else applying to PA school. Thank you for everything!

Margarita, Pre-PA

I wanted to reach out and thank you for your help in editing my personal statement this application cycle. I have been accepted to the University of Utah and I was lucky enough to get a number of interviews! I know that your help with my statement definitely made a difference and I am so thankful! Thank you so much!

Nicole, Pre-PA

I’m not sure if you remember me but you helped me a couple of months ago on my PA personal statement. Just wanted to let you know — I got accepted into University of Pacific’s PA program! I’m overjoyed!

Thank you so much for all your help and encouragement! I really appreciate it.

Jennifer MurphyPRE-PA

Deanna was very opening to helping me with my essay. Although I had the material, the way she edited gave it a very nice and easy flow for the reader. She gave me her critical suggestions and comments that I would have otherwise missed. I am so glad I chose The PA Life revision services for my personal statement for PA school.

Yana, Pre-PA

Sue was awesome and ensured I received my edited version of the essay in a timely manner. The editing was above exceptional and exceeded my expectations. Thanks so much!! You guys are awesome!

HK, Pre-PA

I’m so happy with the amount of time and attention that Duke and Sue put into helping perfect my essay. I’m extremely fortunate to have come across Stephen’s page and this opportunity- I would have sent in an essay that unknown to me at the time, had issues and needed many improvements. I’m almost to the point where I’m going to submit my application, and will definitely update the team on prospective interviews. I cannot thank you guys enough for having this essay review service available, you definitely make it worth every dollar and more.

Tiffany Ly, Pre-PA

I am amazed by what Deanna was able to do in helping me get my supplemental essays in shape. I had hit a serious roadblock and she was able, and in an incredibly quick manner, help me remove those blocks. I am very grateful!

Lily, Pre-PA

Sue Edmonson has been a great help in ensuring my personal statement made sense and fit what information I was trying to convey. Her ability to find the pertinent parts in an essay and gain more information about me to make the essay seem relative to my pursuits was truly a Godsend. Would recommend her and your company to others. Thanks!

Christopher Ohsie, Pre-PA

Sue was great! She edited my essay in a short time frame and the comments and feedback were very informative. She helped link all of my main ideas and gave great advice regarding appropriate information for the essay. I highly recommend this service.

Michelle, Pre-PA

I wanted to send you a quick life update and another BIG thank you! I received my acceptance at the University of Utah’s PA Program on Monday and couldn’t be happier. Thank you for all your help with my essay and interview prep. Both of these services that you provided were so helpful in my success. I will highly recommend you to any future PA student.

Lily, Pre-PA

Carly was excellent! Not only did she make my essay much more compelling, but she understood the deadlines I wanted to reach and helped me do that! 10/10!!

Jesse Cordova, Pre-PA

This is my second time using this editing service and I am highly satisfied with the results! Sarah Schultz worked with me on both my personal statement and a supplemental essay, both times providing excellent advice and editing on my papers. It was a pleasure working with her, and I look forward to hearing back from programs soon to see if I receive an invitation for an interview.

Sarah, Pre-PA

Duke went above and beyond to help me. I so appreciate his help and would recommend this service to anyone!

Jessica H. Pre-PA

The comments and edits made by Sue are exceptional! They’ve helped a lot in terms of helping me express my thoughts more clearly and effectively. It felt as if she was there with me, reading my thoughts and helping me with the entire process in person!

Amy, Pre-PA

I got into my first choice program University of Southern California (USC)!!!!  Thank you so much for your help this cycle. I’m forever grateful.

Lanisha Cole, PA-S

An amazing experience. Glad to have worked with Duke. He did his best, and it was very enjoyable.

Anand T. Pre-PA

The feedback that I received through The PA Life editing service was more detailed than I expected! It gave me a clear idea of what direction I need to take in regard to my personal statement. I absolutely loved the edits!

Crystal, Pre-PA

Carly from The PA Life was amazing as I knew she would be based on her bio! She touched base with me when she received my personal statement and gave me a turnaround timeframe that she stuck to. In fact, she completed it earlier than expected. I am beyond satisfied!!!! Thank you, Carly, and The PA Life!

Pamela, Pre-PA

I just want to let you know I got into the pa program! I want to give you a huge thank you for helping me nail the interview and make a great essay. Thank you, x 100,000!

Rachel J, Pre-PA

Just wanted to drop you a quick line to let you know that I got accepted to UC Davis, and have accepted their offer. I can’t thank you enough for your help through this process. I owe much credit to you and your amazing editing skills in helping me get in. With endless appreciation!

Jolene Duthie

I was extremely stressed out about writing my personal statement, and finally decided to search the internet for advice and assistance. I came across the personal statement editing service on the PA Life, and decided to give it a try. I received a response within a day, and my stress was instantly relieved. I worked personally with Duke to edit my statement, and he is a phenomenal writer. He didn’t change the content of my statement, but rather helped me tell my story in a way that is much more desirable! I cannot recommend this service enough to others seeking help on their personal statement. Duke was friendly, sincere, and definitely experienced! I felt 100% confident in his editing abilities, and we worked together the entire time so that we were both pleased with the results! Thanks again, Duke, for all of your help!

Chelsie W. Pre-PA

Sue was very attentive to details and her comments and edits made a perfect sense. Thank you for your help!

Margaryta, Pre-PA

About a year ago you helped edit my personal statement to get into PA school! I just wanted to let you know that I got interviews and was accepted to all the schools I applied to! I have decided to attend UAB in the fall! Thank you again for all your help!

Lauren Smith, PA-S

Susan did a fantastic job of editing my essay! She guided me and gave me suggestions for strengthening certain sections and equally took out weak parts. After I followed her recommendations, I really felt like I had an essay where every sentence mattered and reflected who I was. Thank you so much Susan for your help. I feel that I have a stronger essay because of your honest feedback and your help!

Patrick, Pre-PA

Very helpful. I needed help figuring out what to cut and Sue was great at showing me what could go without sacrificing what I was trying to convey.

Dave, Pre-PA

I am so thankful that this editing service exists. The personal statement is incredibly important which is why I was so nervous about it. It took me two weeks to even get started because I was so nervous about writing the wrong thing. After Carly helped me with my essay, I am now so much more confident in it. Her edits were very thorough and showed that she had a really good understanding of what is important for a PA personal statement. Her email detailing her overall impression of my essay also showed she understood every single point I was trying to make and what kind of feeling I was trying to give to people reading my essay. This has been the most reassuring thing.

Angela, Pre-PA

AMAZING EDITS. Really opened my eyes to a new perspective of what a personal statement should really be like!

Jasmine, Pre-PA

Thank you so much for helping me with my physician assistant program application essays and interview! I am so excited to let you know that I received multiple PA school acceptances and have decided that I will be attending Cornell University’s PA Program in New York City. The program begins in February 2019 and I cannot wait to begin!  I truly appreciate all your help and encouragement throughout my PA application process.

Christine Chen, PA-S

Oh my gosh thank you SOO much!!! I have been so busy with school so I haven’t been able to edit my personal statement, but I want to thank you soo much for making my statement look a heck of a lot better!!! I will be editing it over my spring break since that is the only free time I have, and I most likely will do a re-edit if I can (its $35 ish right?). Anyways thank you so much again!! Sorry for the late reply but I will get back to you again during my spring break if I need a second edit, thank you so much again for all your help!! I can already see how much of a difference you’ve made! Totally worth my money!

Melat Ashagre, Pre-PA

This is just a great service overall, because not only is it an editing service, it is specific to the PA personal statement. Sue did a wonderful job editing my essay, and pointed out important flaws in it that I otherwise might not have noticed. Her edits highlighted the main points that I was trying to get across in a much better way than I had originally written. Overall, very satisfied with the results, and will have to keep you updated about the interviews. Thanks so much!

Sabrina L. Pre-PA

I just want to let you know I received multiple interview invitations and got my first acceptance a few weeks ago! I am still preparing for more interviews, but at this point, I am pretty certain I will be going to Midwestern University, and I think so much of my success with applications is because of your help with my personal statement. Because of this, I wanted to reach out and say THANK YOU! I really appreciate your support and I would definitely recommend this service to anyone applying to PA school 🙂

Alli Cowan, Pre-PA

I am very pleased with the services provided! I received an email almost immediately upon submitting my essay for review, and within 24 hours my essay review was completed. I would definitely recommend this service to any PA school applicant before they submit their essay to CASPA! Thank you for your help!

Hannah Watson, Pre-PA

Sarah is the best! She gets me and puts all her efforts for my message to come across in a clear and concise way. Obviously, her editing skills are superb! But she also has a very sweet and pleasant way of being. I highly recommend Sarah and the PA Life Personal Statement Collaborative. I have not yet received an interview, but keeping my fingers crossed!

Raquel Poliwoda Pre-PA

I loved this service!!

Madeleine Zeichner, Pre-PA

I just wanted to share some amazing news with you! I have been accepted into the MEDEX PA program in Seattle!!! I can’t thank you enough for all your help!! I am beyond excited and still can’t believe it is actually happening! Thank you again from the bottom of my heart!!!!! 😀

Pavitra, PA-S

I just wanted to share that I got into USC! Woohoo!!! They just called me to share the good news. I’m feeling pretty shocked since that interview did not go as well in my head. I can’t believe I got into school during my first round of applications. This would not have been possible without you, and I really appreciate all the support you gave me throughout this process. 😊

Tiffany, PA-S

Having my essay edited proved extremely helpful. I was having trouble connecting my thoughts, and the edit helped so much. I haven’t found out about acceptance yet. I’m just now about to submit my application!

Amber, Pre-PA

This was my third time applying to PA school and I wanted it to be my last so I figured getting help with the essay would make a difference in my application. Paying for the one on one service was the best idea I’ve had to date. Sarah was great in that she literally combined three different essays I had written into one phenomenal essay! I literally have no idea how she did it. Sarah helped me focus all of my thoughts and experience down into one concise, yet personal essay. I truly think this will help me get into PA school!

Anna M. PRE-PA

I am very thankful for all of the work and time invested in me.  I learned incredible amounts from Duke about writing. Though some of it didn’t make sense to me, I knew he was right and I learned to trust him. He helped me more than any of the other dozen people I had trusted with my essay. This is such a big part of my future and my dreams and I honestly appreciate all of his work to help me get in. Thank you, Duke.

Andrew N. Pre-PA

My editor thoroughly went through my essay and provided exactly what I was looking for to bring my essay to the next level.

Matthew, Pre-PA

The suggestions are great! My essay sounds better already and I’ve just started editing it. The edits are nicely explained and make sense, and I like that there are also comments about what sounds particularly good in my original draft, too. I like that, although you said I already had a very good start, there were still significant changes you suggested that, as I’ve heard others who used this service say, “elevated my work to a whole other level.”

Phong, Pre-PA

Sarah Morris Schultz was my PA statement editor and she was absolutely fabulous! She helped to shave my original 4-page long, winding PA statement down to a 2 page impactful, poignant, moving statement that lead me to get accepted to a Doctor of Medical Science program in Physician Assistant Studies. She has such a gift for writing and knowing how to say things in just the right way and use the right words! One of the DMS PA program committee members started off my video conference online interview by stating that my PA statement was the best he ever read, not “one of the best” but THE BEST statement. My heart leapt. My PA statement years ago had caused me NOT to get accepted to the school that I had hoped. I did get accepted to a good PA school, got my degree, and started practicing in this field that I love. However, this time I decided to humble myself and get help writing a good statement. Praise God, it paid off. I am so grateful for the PA Life service and fee for the one-on-one service is worth every penny! I recommend everyone get Sarah Morris Schultz. She’s the bomb.com! I love you, Sarah 🙂

Sonja D. PA-S

A couple of months ago you worked with me on improving my personal statement. I wanted to reach out and let you know that it worked out! I got 5 interviews and so far have been accepted to 2. I am so so thankful for all your help as I don’t think it would have worked out without your amazing editing skills. Thank you for all you do! Not just me but for all the applicants you helped get accepted this year!

Matthew B. PA-S

Working with Sarah was a wonderful experience. She was prompt, attentive, and incredibly supportive throughout the process. Sarah never deviated from the authenticity of my essay. Even after she made vast changes, the essay still felt true to what I wanted to express. Thank you, Sarah! I would recommend this service to anyone applying to PA school.

Ashley, Pre-PA

Carly was helpful and gave insightful comments while helping me to create more impact within my sentences. I feel confident and at ease knowing that my supplemental application has been reviewed in a thorough manner. Thank you for all your help!

Mina, Pre-PA

Deanna was amazing! She really went above and beyond the single-edit that I could afford. I consider myself a pretty good writer, but she helped me focus and ground my story without sacrificing the overall creativity of the original piece. All I can say is wow! If there ever was something worth the money, this service is it!

John S. Pre-PA

I got in!! I got into PA school and I can’t thank you enough for your hand in helping me with this process. I received 7 interviews out of 12 applications, I was waitlisted at Jefferson, Salus, and Chatham. And I was accepted at Drexel and Stony Brook. I will be starting PA school in June! Thank you so very much!!

Natalie, Pre-PA

Sue did a wonderful job. I know this is an extremely busy time of year as CASPA is accepting applications and Sue was great about responding to my initial submission and getting back to me. She provided thoughtful feedback and quality editing. Fingers crossed for an acceptance to PA school!

Jo Lynn, Pre-PA

I greatly appreciate the help because it answered questions and doubts I had about my personal statement. I feel much more confident in submitting to CASPA. Thank you very much, Sue!

Sarah, Pre-PA

This was an extremely helpful process! I still have work to do on my essay but Sue was very helpful by giving me criticism I needed to hear from an unbiased source as well as being very fast responding! I think this will help me moving forward and having a strong application!

Morgan Rial, Pre-PA

I absolutely love the way my essay sounds! I truly appreciate all of your help. I will definitely recommend prospective PA students your way! It’s been a pleasure.

Natalie, Pre-PA

I wanted to let you know how this application season was going for me so far.

I’ve had two interviews, still have at least three more scheduled, and I received my first acceptance last week.

Thank you again for your help!

Nancy Peterson, Pre-PA

Carly edited my essay, providing a generous amount of comments on why she believes that her changes make for a stronger essay. She gave amazing advice and I know that my personal statement is much more well written than before the edits were made. Definitely worth the money!

Alexa, Pre-PA

I was very pleased with this service. Writing has never been my strongest area. While I had the ideas that I wanted to convey I wasn’t able to articulate them as well as I’d hoped. Carly provided comments and suggestions without altering my central thesis. Any questions that I had were answered quickly and thoroughly. Any grammatical mistakes were also addressed which put my mind at ease. I would recommend The PA Life personal statement essay revision service to anyone applying.

Keith G, Pre-PA

Sarah was a pleasure to work with the entire time. I felt very overwhelmed when I was working on my personal statement on my own, but once I started working with Sarah, she made me feel at ease while getting my personal statement to look its best. Sarah is very knowledgeable, understanding, and professional. One of the things I loved the most about working with her is that no matter the time of the day she was always available and got back to you in a timely manner. The whole time we worked on my personal statement she made sure I felt comfortable with changes that had to be made and I appreciated this as well. Sarah is excellent at what she does and I would recommend her and this one on one service to anyone that needs it.

Odilia, Pre-PA

Working with Sarah felt like working with an old friend. Her thoughtful insight made the revision process easy. She had great advice for improvements to make while remaining within that difficult 5,000 character limit. Thanks, Sarah, you helped a ton!

Ryan, Pre-PA

I’ve had several people look at my essay in an effort to gauge whether the content was strong and to help clean it up and cut characters – none were as helpful as Carly. Carly’s editing truly helped make a difference in the quality of the essay, and while there’s still quite a bit of character cutting I have to do, I am more prepared now than I was before. I am so happy I chose to work with The PA Life.

Kristen, Pre-PA

Sarah is absolutely amazing and really helped transform my essay into the best version it could have possibly been!

Shannon B. Pre-PA

This was the most amazing experience! I felt so confident about my topic and essay after our meeting. Duke got back to me quickly and worked around my crazy schedule. The editing of the essay was professional and gave me insight I could not have received any other way. I only applied to one school because it is really the one I would like to go to the most and I got an interview!!! Thank you so much for all of your help!

Kathryn R, PA-S

Carly Hallman did an amazing job helping me with my personal statement! I was feeling conflicted and uncertain about my own personal statement, but she helped set my mind at ease! I now have peace of mind regarding my personal statement. She was so helpful in correcting any grammar errors and also informed me of what I could add to my essay. I knew I was missing something in my essay, but could not quite put my finger on it. Carly identified what was missing so I could make those changes to my essay. I’m so thankful for her help because I do not think I could have figured out that “missing piece” had it not been for her. I now feel confident about my essay and I am extremely happy with it! 🙂 Thank you so much!!!

Ramsha, Pre-PA

I must say, I originally thought I had a fairly strong statement. But after reading Sue’s comments/revision. The quality, structure, and overall flow of my statement was in fact leaps and bounds better than my original.

George, Pre-PA

Sue was amazing! She was very quick at replying to my emails and looking over my paper and application. She was so helpful and has a way with words. I know I will continue to use her services throughout my application process!

Miranda, Pre-PA

I LOVED the suggestions Carly made for my essay. Not only was she thorough with her edits, but she also provided a lot of quality feedback that really made my essay shine. Carly took my unedited, messy essay and helped me better convey what I was trying to say. I have nothing but positive things to say about this experience and feel this service was worth every penny.

Rachel, Pre-PA

I just wanted to reach out to you and let you know that I got accepted into PA School and wanted to thank you so much for all of your help throughout this journey. I truly could not have done it without your help! Thank you again so much.

Emily Sharpe, Pre-PA

Testimonials

Sarah is truly amazing! She gave me so many helpful tips and advice for my future interviews. She has a beautiful way with words. I am so grateful for her and look forward to working with her again.
Kiara, Pre-PA
This is my 4th PANRE, I graduated 25 yrs. ago as a surgeon assistant and physician assistant.  I have spent the last 20 years on a H+P service and I started my medical career as a USMC corpsman.  The USMC uses the accolade OUTSTANDING, your entire program is such , the attention to details to the answers, the 230 plus pages on PDF, the flash cards, your program built my confidence BIG TIME, Jesus has richly blessed my life BECAUSE of you , I never have to take this brutal exam again and can retire at 66 yrs old you played a prodigious part in me passing amen!!!
David Gavin PA-C
My editor knew exactly what kind of edits I was looking for and addressed all of my questions/concerns I had about my essay. I will definitely be recommending this service to my club members and friends.
Stephanie, Pre-PA
Thanks for your expertise and passion for developing this website.  It was valuable to me for studying for the PANRE.  Plus, love that it’s free, as opposed to the NCCPA who charges $35 per practice exam.
Keith RemoPA-C
I was very pleased with this service. Writing has never been my strongest area. While I had the ideas that I wanted to convey I wasn’t able to articulate them as well as I’d hoped. Carly provided comments and suggestions without altering my central thesis. Any questions that I had were answered quickly and thoroughly. Any grammatical mistakes were also addressed which put my mind at ease. I would recommend The PA Life personal statement essay revision service to anyone applying.
Keith G, Pre-PA
Awesome service. Duke did a great job editing my personal statement – his feedback was top-notch. For the 2014-2015 cycle, I applied to one school. I was selected for an interview and yesterday I received an offer of admission … which I quickly accepted. I know my Personal Statement played a huge role in my success. I highly recommend this service.
Nikki, Pre-PA
This was an extremely helpful process! I still have work to do on my essay but Sue was very helpful by giving me criticism I needed to hear from an unbiased source as well as being very fast responding! I think this will help me moving forward and having a strong application!
Morgan Rial, Pre-PA
Holy cow! I wanted to let you know I have been accepted to PA school.  I will be attending the Franklin Pierce Physician Assistant Program, Class of 2019 in West Lebanon, NH. I cannot thank you enough for being part of my journey. If you are reading this you might have been like me skeptical and trying to find a way to write a stellar essay for your PA application.  I want to share with you my exceptional experience using this service.  First, do yourself a favor and BUY the eBook, “How to Write Your Physician Assistant Personal Statement.”  I read it twice. Once before I started my essay draft and then again during.  I cannot stress how helpful the book was in clearly stating what the Admissions Directors are looking for in an application essay.  Next, the book reviews how to formulate a proper essay with clear instructions, easy reminders of the writing process, and excellent examples of good and bad writing choices.  After several drafts of my essay, I made an appointment to work with Duke Pasquini, one of the authors of the guide, through the internet and via phone to help with editing and my length issue.  Duke’s professional experience and kind and straight forward demeanor allowed me to create a winning essay that was an authentic representation of me.  Not only did I receive an interview from my top choice of PA school I was accepted a week later into their Physician Assistant Program, Class of 2019.  Thank you, “PA Life” for being a part of my journey.
Michele Williams, PA-S
Thank you so much for all your time and help again Ms. Schultz–not to mention your insightful tidbits on everything ranging from how past experience translates into applicability in the program and how it sets my application apart to set the stage about how weakness affected patient experience. It truly means a great deal–your constructive criticism and positive feedback are very much appreciated. Please let me know who I can forward and recommend your service to (aside from the feedback link) as you are not only professional, and an asset to the PA life, but also an expert as evident in your questions, feedback, and tips developed through years of well-honed experience.
May, Pre-PA
I wanted to send you a quick life update and another BIG thank you! I received my acceptance at the University of Utah’s PA Program on Monday and couldn’t be happier. Thank you for all your help with my essay and interview prep. Both of these services that you provided were so helpful in my success. I will highly recommend you to any future PA student.
Lily, Pre-PA

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We offer 45-minute mock PA school interviews with post-interview feedback and advice. Includes a recorded video of your interview that you can watch, download or share with family and friends. There is no better way to prepare!
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101 PA School Admission Essays

Admissions Directors Know What They Want. Shouldn't You? You’re slaving away at your personal statement, but can’t help wondering if anyone will read past the first line. A troubling thought, isn’t…

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How to Write Your Physician Assistant Personal Statement

What Makes This Book Unique? We have worked with 1000’s of applicants through our Personal Statement and Essay Collaborative and have interviewed PA school faculty and Admissions Directors from 12…

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  • 31 Sample PA School Essays

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