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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?

August 11, 2019 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
  • Start at the End: Advice for your PA School Personal Statement
  • What a REAL PA School Interview Looks Like (in 2022)
  • My PA School Interview Preparation Strategy
  • How to Bring Your Best on PA School Interview Day
  • How to Cope with PA School Application Rejection
  • ChatGPT Answers the Top 46 PA School Applicant Interview Questions

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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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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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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.”

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Your service was able to help me figure out exactly what I needed to include, what did not belong and helped me display my experiences the best way possible to form a great essay. Carly was able to help me create my best essay by just editing the order and grammar without changing much of any of my written work. I am very happy with how my essay turned out. Definitely worth the money, thank you for all your help!

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I love Deanna! She was incredibly helpful and encouraging. I liked the way she constructively gave me feedback and I liked her ability to really strengthen my own ideas instead of dismissing them like other services. She is amazing at seeing things from different angles and that way rearrange and enhance my narrative. I did get an interview from the top choice and an offer a week later. Thank you so much and I will definitely recommend ThePALife to future prePAs.

Klam, Pre-PA

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!

Amanda, 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

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

I read my personal statement again today and got the chills. I am so happy with it and just wanted to thank you for all your help with my PA school essay!

Mikaela, Pre-PA

The edits I received were extremely helpful and insightful. I think they really brought my essay to the next level, and I am thrilled with the outcome. Thank you!!

Kelsey, Pre-PA

I am so pleased with the review Carly provided me. Her responses were thoughtful and edits helped me in a lot of places where I felt totally stuck. So excited to be so close to a final draft with my personal statement. Thank you! TBD on the interview (fingers crossed)

Georgia Flynn, Pre-PA

I wanted you to know about my acceptance into Elizabethtown College’s PA program. I am incredibly excited – I loved the school, the program and thought the staff was incredible, especially the director. I know my personal statement was a key component of getting an interview with them, and I am so thankful for your help in getting my statement polished!

Steve, PA-S

Excellent service! The editor did a great job of working with me to write my personal statement as I wanted. They also provide some pointers and tips on how to write which is good for supplemental essays and writing prompts.

Ryan, Pre-PA

We worked on my essays back in summer and oh, how much work it was! But it all paid off because I just got accepted into the school of my first choice! Thank you so much for your time and dedication to my success. I will also be glad to recommend your services to other pre-PA students at my school!

Jennifer, H 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

Carly was excellent! She was very quick to provide edits and did a thorough job. She really helped me with the flow of my essay. I will be sure to let you know if I receive any interview invitations. Well worth the money! I feel confident in my essay.

Casey, Pre-PA

After receiving two edits from Carly I feel extremely confident in my personal statement. She not only fixed grammatical error and syntax, but helped me better organize my thoughts into a competitive essay. To other Pre-PAs looking to submit their essays: I know it’s a bit of an investment but the peace of mind, comfortability, and confidentiality is so worth it! Thank you The PA Life!

Elizabeth, Pre-PA

I am mind-blown by my editor Carly’s work. My original essay is like an ill-fitting suit. She hemmed and adjusted it in all the right places and now it looks perfect. I don’t think I’m a bad writer, but I don’t write often and I have spent the past 10 years of my life focused on health sciences. I may have never been able to do this on my own. Thank you thank you, I consider this essay service a bargain.

Rebecca, 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 wanted to reach out and thank you for your help with my personal statement. I received compliments about my essay at every interview I had. I also wanted to let you know that I will be attending Duke’s PA Program – my top choice. Your help was amazing! Thank you so much again!

Kelli Tseng, PA-S

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!

Elisa, PA-S

I am so happy to have gone through this editing process! I did not think you would take so much time to not only give me great feedback but also to edit and revise my paper like you did. I am so happy with my new revised paper and will definitely tell my friends!

Eric, Pre-PA

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

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 want to let you know that I got accepted into Misericordia University PA program starting the Summer of 2021. So far, I have had two interviews, one rejection and one acceptance. I have two more interviews coming up, and other schools are still reviewing applications. You have been a huge part of my application process, and I just want to appreciate your time and efforts you put in during my application. Thank you, and God bless

Jani, PA-S

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

Jasmine, Pre-PA

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

Sarah was amazing and so helpful with thoroughly explaining her edits! I was so impressed with the first edit. She really took my theme to the next level and really helped tighten the flow of my essay. During our first phone call, I was amazed by how quickly she incorporated my new ideas/suggestions. Sarah is extremely clever with re-wording and cutting down unnecessary words, allowing you to elaborate more on important things. I can’t say enough good things about Sarah! I am so thrilled with my result!

Khanhi, Pre-PA

Sarah was a tremendous help to me and provided me with thoughtful edits that really made my personal statement stand out from the crowd. She was very easy to work with and really seems to care about each of her clients. I really enjoyed working with her and highly recommend her as an editor. As of today, I have 3 interviews scheduled, including one at my top choice school! Thank you!

Andrew, Pre-PA

I absolutely loved working with Sarah! She provided the best feedback to my personal statement, while also being sensitive to the details regarding personal family trauma. At the end of our sessions, I always felt confident in the statement and knew that Sarah would help me best articulate into words what I wanted to say. My statement now is something I can be completely confident in, and know that Sarah has been able to help me achieve a statement that prospective schools will pay attention to. Thank you, Sarah (and The PA Life) for everything!

Elizabeth, Pre-PA

Sarah did such an excellent job editing my personal statement that I wanted her expertise for my supplemental essays. I’ve had multiple interview invites so far. I’m so glad I used this service, and I’m so glad I had Sarah’s help! She really took my essays to a whole new level and had good suggestions. I’m recommending her to my peers.

Emily Crenshaw, 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

I just wanted to update you that I got waitlisted for Drexel but accept to Dominican University of California. I still have other interviews coming up. Thank you for your help!

Karmen Wu, Pre-PA

I have been accepted to my first-choice program!! UC Denver, I don’t have to move! I have also received three other interviews so far. Thank you so much for your help with my personal statement. You eloquently helped me state my desires and strengths for the career. I am beyond thrilled and thankful.

Nika (Future PA)

I was accepted into PA last cycle and am currently in my second semester! I am a part of the inaugural class at Keck Graduate Institute. Your services really helped me during the application process. I enjoyed working with Sarah on my personal statement. She helped me view my experiences from a different perspective, making my personal statement more unique and stand out amongst other applicants. The mock interview was also very helpful and prepared me for my one and only interview. I was given great pointers and feedback on how to refine my answers. Thank you again for your services!

Michelle Chen, PA-S

I just wanted to let you know that I was accepted in the UW MEDEX program at my home campus in Anchorage, AK. After the long journey I’ve had, I finally was accepted to my top choice! It still seems surreal and I couldn’t be more excited! Thank you so much for the help and insight you gave me. I truly believe it helped prepare me and not be as nervous. I will definitely recommend you to anyone I know who is applying in the future.

Melanie, PA-S

I have recently been accepted to a program that was one of my top choices, and I also was waitlisted with two other schools. I wanted to thank you again for all your help Duke.  Not only am I grateful for your knowledge of writing and grammar (which were invaluable), but most importantly your kind word and motivation, which I needed so much at the time.  You’re a great person!

Alex Taylor, PA-S

I finally have amazing news. So first of all, in total, I was offered 13 interviews. I was just offered a seat at Nova Orlando! I am finally going to be a PA and a big part of that was from all of your help with my personal statement. So thank you very much for helping me succeed during this round.

Jennifer, PA-S

Loved this service and working with Sarah. She was super helpful and easy to talk with. Will definitely recommend this service to others.

Diana, Pre-PA

I just wanted to email you and let you know that 3 weeks post-interview with Gannon, I was accepted into the class of 2023! I am so excited and thrilled and I know that your help, helped me. So, thank you!

Cailin, PA-S

The service provided was excellent. I really appreciate Duke taking the time and reviewing my essay multiple times and at that same time, making sure I am comfortable with the wording. Thank you for all your help!

Foram Patel, Pre-PA

I am pleased to tell you that I have been accepted to PA school, starting in 2-weeks.? I appreciate everything you have done for me, from helping with my personal statement to preparing me for interviews. You have been with me since the beginning of the application process and I really wanted to thank you.

Shane, Pre-PA

I truly appreciate the ideas and comments Deanna provided for my personal statement. Without her expertise in having an understanding of what PA programs are looking for in a personal statement, I would have gone in a completely different and possibly wrong direction. I highly recommend this service!

Victoria, 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

Sarah helped to condense my detailed thoughts into a powerful essay. Over the phone, she was careful to collaborate with me before making any changes so that the piece remained under my control and in my voice. She served as a guide and insured the essay brought out my strengths and reasons for pursuing the PA profession. Overall, I’m incredibly happy with the service!

Julie, Pre-PA

Carly did a great job helping my personal statement flow from paragraph to paragraph. She truly helped me show throughout the essay why I wanted to become a PA. What I really appreciated was she explained why each change was made; comments and reasons which not only helped with this one time essay but for all my future essays as well. Definitely was worth it!

Kathleen, 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

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

Sarah from The PA Life was an incredible resource for editing my personal statement. Her edits took into account the big picture of the message of the statement and helped guide me when writing additional content my statement was lacking. Her edits and responses were both prompt and thorough, and I truly feel that she made a huge positive impact on my personal statement.

Travis, 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

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

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

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 was so glad that I chose to have Duke look over my essay, he turned it from long, rambling, and scattered to a much more concise, well written essay. I really feel as though it represents me well! Duke always responded quickly and I felt as though I got a lot of value for the money. Thank you!

Jennifer B. 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

Deanna (my editor at The PA Life) is the GOAT. She went so far above and beyond all my expectations. My jaw was on the floor reading my personal statement after she worked on it.

Austin, Pre-PA

I am so happy with the service Sarah provided! My personal statement turned out exactly how I was hoping it would!

Jennifer, 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

Mr. Pasquini was very patient, accommodating and direct in his editing/advice. He was honest, in a way that I needed due to the importance of the letter. I even picked up a few tips to enhance my writing from our meetings. Great experience and will definitely recommend him to others!

Alana P. Pre-PA

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

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

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

My experience with the PA Life personal statement collaborative was simply remarkable. My editor did an outstanding job making sure that my personal statement reflected my BEST work and addressed all of my concerns regarding the essay and other questions I had about my application. I can’t thank you enough for all the help I received during this process. Thank you!

Erika, Pre-PA

I used the personal statement editing service through The PA Life, and I worked with Sarah. She was AMAZING and made such a difference in both the quality of my personal statement and in my confidence as an applicant. That said, I’m so grateful to say I’ve been accepted into two out of the three programs I applied to and have an interview with the third on Friday of this week. I couldn’t be more excited!

Nikki, PA-S

Sue is so incredibly kind! I needed so much help on cleaning up my personal statement and overall flow of the writing. She provided great insights and explanation.

Laila, Pre-PA

Duke helped me with my essay and he was great! He really helped me fine tune my essay so it’s ready for submission and answered all of the question I had about small details in my essay. He was also great about responding to emails in a timely manner. I definitely recommend this personal statement review service to anyone who’s applying to PA school…even if it’s just as a final read-through before submitting it on their application.

Tyler J. Pre-PA

I really appreciated Carly’s attentiveness to my writing style and working to keep my message and content but working it in a way that reads easier. I appreciate her turnaround time, as well as priority deadlines for programs, are quickly approaching!

Jacob, 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

Awesome editing service! Everything was detailed, and I could tell that my editor really cared about helping me produce a great personal statement.

Ashanna, Pre-PA

Sue Edmondson was VERY thorough in her editing of my essay, as well as the promptness of her responses to me. She not only took the time to edit the grammar of my essay but helped me remove a large portion of it to focus on the important aspects of it and draw in more details. Overall, a fantastic service!

Megan Hunstad, Pre-PA

Sarah Schultz is such a gifted and talented writer. She is super sweet and is a joy to work with. I could not have asked for a better editor. She was able to articulate all of my ideas and thoughts seamlessly and effortlessly. Although challenging at times, her suggestions and edits were very insightful and necessary into creating a spectacular essay. I am extremely pleased with the outcome. It is now a true work of art. I am so grateful to Sarah for offering her time to helping individuals like myself to write the best possible personal statement. I would not have been able to write such a cohesive and smooth flowing essay without her help. Thank you so much!! I would unhesitatingly recommend The PA Life Essay Collaborative and Sarah Schultz.

Patrick, PRE-PA

I just wanted to give you an update! So far I have had two interviews and been accepted to both! I have three more interviews scheduled as of right now, and still waiting to hear from a handful of schools. Thank you so much for all of your help with my essay!

Jennifer Bidwell, PA-S

I just want to follow up and let you know that I have been so fortunate enough to have conducted 3 interviews and received 3 acceptances, and I have decided to continue my educational journey at the OHSU PA program. I can’t thank you enough for all the help you’ve provided me, from helping me with my personal statement to mock interviews. I couldn’t have done this without your help, thank you.

Yomiyu Gafesu, PA-S

My editor was amazing! She took everything I asked and did editing that was above and beyond. She was also great at communicating and taking my comments/opinions into consideration. 10/10 would recommend!

Ravee, Pre-PA

I was very pleased working with Duke on my personal statement. I’m currently in the middle of applying to PA school, so I haven’t heard back from the programs. I’m looking forward to the experience though.

John R. 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

Your services have eased the stress and anxiety that results from guessing whether or not your essay contains the content that many PA programs are looking for. Your services were prompt and genuine. It is clear that you have the applicant’s success at heart. Thank you!

Madison Pre-PA

I just wanted to let you know that the majority of my interviews have gone really well! So far, I’ve received six interview invites and have interviewed for five schools. Midwestern (AZ) just got back to me a bit ago, and they sent me an acceptance email! I am beyond thrilled! I just wanted to thank you so much for your help! Your mock interview gave me a lot of confidence that I was able to carry into my interviews! I appreciated having the opportunity to practice my interview skills with you. I wanted to let you know just how much you’ve helped me with my application process (with my interviews, personal statement, and just my confidence in general)! Thank you so much for all of the advice over the past few months!

Sneh, PA-S

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 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

Deanna was an absolute joy to work with. Not only was she a wonderful writer and editor, but she helped me develop my thoughts and produce a personal statement I was proud to submit. She helped me refine my ideas, and concise my writing to illustrate my reasons for wanting this career. She was also very prompt in responding to my emails and questions. I am very happy with my personal statement and would recommend this service to anyone who is considering this service or feels stuck in their writing process.

Maddie, Pre-PA

Sarah is an amazing writer. She helped clarify my thoughts and encouraged me on this journey. When/ if I get an interview, it will be because of her amazing writing skills.

Araceli, Pre-PA

I just wanted to let you know that I got accepted into the RFU PA program! Thank you for all your help and support during the application process. Couldn’t have done it without you!

Zakira, PA-S

Ms. Edmondson was incredible! She provided great feedback and answered all of my follow up questions. I will keep in touch as to my interview offers.

Ashley, 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 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

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

Very prompt response and turnaround time. While I did not speak with Duke over the phone, his team’s edits were thorough, clear and very helpful. Highly recommended.

Dave H. Pre-PA

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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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