• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

The Physician Assistant Life

The Physician Assistant Life: The Ultimate Resource for All Things PA

INTERVIEW RESOURCESMock Interviews 46 Questions

  • Start
    • Services
      • Personal Statement Rewriting and Revision
        • Client testimonials
      • Pre-PA Consulting and Advising
      • Mock PA School Interviews
        • Client testimonials
      • Resume/Cover Letter Writing and Revision
      • LinkedIn Profile Writing and Editing Service for PAs
      • PANCE/PANRE Board Review
      • Perfect Program Picker
  • Interviews
    • The Top 46 PA School Applicant Interview Questions
  • Essay Help
    • Personal Statement Revision Service
      • Client Testimonials
    • Supplemental Essay Editing
    • 31 Sample Essays
      • Personal Statement Workshop
    • How to Write Your PA Personal Statement Book
    • 101 PA School Essays Book
    • Personal Statement Starter Kit
  • Resumes
    • PA Resume/CV Revision Service
    • Downloadable PA Resume Templates
    • Downloadable Recommendation Letter Templates
  • Consulting
  • PANCE/PANRE
    • Free Exams
      • FREE PANCE/ PANRE Podcast
      • FREE Daily PANCE Email Series
    • SMARTY PANCE
      • Genitourinary Blueprint Course
      • More Courses
      • Neurology Blueprint Course
      • Endocrinology Blueprint Course
      • Psychiatry Blueprint Course
      • Hematology Blueprint Course
      • Infectious Disease Blueprint Course
      • Cardiology Blueprint Course
      • Pulmonology Blueprint Course
      • GI and Nutrition Blueprint Course
      • Musculoskeletal Blueprint Course
      • EENT Blueprint Course
      • Dermatology Blueprint Course
      • Reproductive Blueprint Course
    • Sign Up
    • The Audio PANCE & PANRE Podcast
    • Topic Specific Exams
      • Endocrinology
      • More
      • Psychiatry
      • Neurology
      • Dermatology
      • Hematology
      • Cardiology
      • Pulmonology
      • Musculoskeletal
      • Reproductive
      • GI and Nutrition
      • EENT
    • 225 Question Exams
      • Exam 1
      • Exam 2
      • Exam 3
      • Exam 4
      • Exam 5
    • Academy Exams
      • Exam 1
      • Exam 2
      • Exam 3
      • Exam 4
    • The Virtual PANCE and PANRE Home
      • Virtual PANCE Testing Room
        • Virtual PANRE Testing Room
      • Virtual PANCE and PANRE: Block 1
      • Virtual PANCE and PANRE: Block 2
      • Virtual PANCE and PANRE: Block 3
      • Virtual PANCE and PANRE: Block 4
      • Virtual PANCE and PANRE: Block 5
    • Daily Email Series Exams
      • Exam 1
      • Exam 2
      • Exam 3
      • Exam 4
      • Final Exam
    • Legacy Exams
    • End of Rotation Exams
      • General Surgery End of Roatation Exam
      • Emergency Medicine End or Rotation Exam 1
      • Emergency Medicine End of Rotation Exam 2
      • Pediatrics End of Rotation Exam
      • Women’s Health End of Rotation Exam
      • Family Practice End of Rotation Exam
    • Your Exam Progress
  • Downloads
    • The Ultimate PA Job Application Bundle
      • Practicing PA Resume and CV Template
      • New Graduate PA Resume Template
      • PA School Applicant and Pre-PA Resume Template
      • PA Cover Letter and Thank You Follow Up Templates
    • PA Recommendation Letter Templates
    • Expert Panel Audiobook
    • The Expert Panel Workbook
  • Best Books
    • The Best Gear
    • The Best Apps
    • Gift Guide
  • Blog
    • Content archive
You are here: Home / Pre-Physician Assistant / PA School Interview / 300 PA School Interview Questions You Should Be Ready to Answer

300 PA School Interview Questions You Should Be Ready to Answer

September 13, 2017 By Stephen Pasquini PA-C 2 Comments

300 PA School Interview Questions The Physician Assistant LifeSo, you have an upcoming PA school interview.

Congratulations you're almost there. Now, of course, there is another hurdle to cross, and that is sounding as amazing as you appear to be on your CASPA application.

This isn’t hard because YOU ARE as amazing as you appear to be on your CASPA application, so the key is to just relax and prepare for the day.

Why must you prepare?

Because despite being totally awesome, which we know you are, relaying this to the admissions committee without sounding like a nitwit requires practice.

Today you are in luck because I am about to give you the other team's playbook.

Below are 300 actual interview questions that have been asked of the generations of PA school applicants who walked before you.

Some are fun, some are annoying, some will make your skin crawl and others are of the category “I knew they were going to ask me this but I still don’t have a good answer.” You MUST prepare a response to these questions.

Examples include:

  • "Tell us about a time when you had a conflict with someone who supervised you, and how you handled it."
  • And the classic “what are some of your weaknesses?”

Rehearsed answers are the kiss of death. Some schools actually score your interview in part on how scripted your answers sound!

So the goal is not to "prepare a memorized answer" but instead to have an outline of your life and a "grab bag" of experiences and important life milestones from which to draw from. The questions below are prompts, and your answers to these questions are not meant to be memorized but to prepare you for the road ahead.

Do You Laugh at Naughty Jokes?

Let’s begin with some “gotchas.” These are real-world PA school interview questions that may seem ridiculous but are beloved by the hordes of PA school interviewers that are bored and looking to “spice things up a bit.”

And in case you were wondering about the naughty joke question, yep it was asked! And I am curious, do you laugh at naughty jokes? I know I do, but should I tell the admission committee?

87 Weird, Wacky and Woefully Annoying PA School Interview Questions

  1. "Who is your favorite superhero?"
  2. "If you were a villain which would you be?"
  3. "What type of cookie would you like to be?"
  4. "What was your favorite Star Wars episode?"
  5. "What is your spirit animal?"
  6. "What would you do if a bear was chasing you?"
  7. "As a PA school instructor. Should I recommend my students offer abortions."
  8. "You're trapped in a car during a blizzard. Stranded. What do you do?"
  9. "If you had a pencil, tell me three things you would do with the pencil beside write or erase."
  10. "If you were to write an autobiography, what would it be titled?"
  11. "What would you do if you were drafted tomorrow in the army?"
  12. "Would you rather be a catcher or the pitcher?"
  13. "Why do applicants frequently tend to say they want to work in rural areas, but we still have a lack of providers in these areas?"
  14. "What three books would you bring to an island?"
  15. "Do you laugh at naughty jokes?"
  16. "If you are a physician assistant and you post a status on Facebook that offends one of your patients, how do you handle the situation?"
  17. "When was the last time you cried?"
  18. "What was the last movie you saw?"
  19. “What would you do if you won the power ball?”
  20. “How did you like the ending of Harry Potter?"
  21. "Where would you go if you could travel anywhere in the world and why?
  22. "What would you do if one of your patients came up to you on the street before a long weekend and asked for their prescription? Their only other option they have is a $300+ emergency visit."
  23. "What was your favorite gift you've ever given?"
  24. "Is the oil boom good for Alberta?” (in other words, be ready to address local current events)
  25. "What do you believe will be your legacy?"
  26. "If you could sound like any bass player who would it be?" (or whatever instrument you said you play)
  27. “You have discovered your patient has non-treatable cancer, and his wife and son request you not tell the patient the truth about his diagnosis - what would you do?"
  28. "If you can agree with me that a transaction takes place when you go to a physician assistant (your insurance or your cash pays the doc for his service), then what is the product that a physician assistant provides in one word?"
  29. "How would you consult with a family who has a son that needs a leg amputated?"
  30. "You have said you are in a relationship. Would your boyfriend move out to Bridgeport with you for PA school?"
  31. "Who is your favorite musical artist?"
  32. "If a patient was brain dead and on life support, how would you make the decision on whether to discontinue life support?"
  33. "What attracted you most to your husband?”
  34. "Was there a time that science tested your faith?"
  35. "If you were an MLB player, what would be your up-to-bat song?"
  36. "If you were an element, which would you be and why?"
  37. "How would you solve the obesity epidemic we see in America?"
  38. "Thirty-percent of PA students report symptoms of depression during PA school. How do you feel your experiences will aid you if you experience similar symptoms during school?"
  39. "How do you feel about not being close to a mall?“
  40. "Is your GPA an accurate representation of your knowledge base? It is very high. Did you actually retain all of that information?"
  41. "How do you feel about abortion; follow-up: how do you feel about contraceptives?“
  42. “My 90-year-old mother with dementia needs a hip replacement surgery. If you are her PA would you try to convince me to allow the surgery? Why or Why not?"
  43. "I'm a father of four, and you found out I have stage IV pancreatic cancer how are you going to tell me?"
  44. "Explain what you would do if a classmate came to you feeling overwhelmed and is considering dropping out after their first year."
  45. "If you could invite anyone alive or dead to supper, who would it be?"
  46. "If I was a genie and you could grant you one of two wishes, which would you choose: Never make a mistake in your medical career or that every patient you have fully comprehended what problem they're having and how to take care of it?"
  47. "My son is joining a fraternity! What are they like?"
  48. "What was a time that you were a minority?"
  49. "What percent of remission should there be to override a patient's parents on the treatment of cancer?"
  50. "Who would you choose to interview if you had the chance?"
  51. “What are the differences between Britain's health care delivery system and ours?”
  52. "Can you tell me about a book that changed your perspective on life?"
  53. “What would you tell your patient who doesn’t believe in vaccinations for their newborn?”
  54. “What is your solution to terrorism?”
  55. "What's the biggest misconception Americans have about your culture?”
  56. "Complete the sentence: My friends love me so dearly that they put up with my ______."
  57. "How would you handle a patient with strict eastern medicine beliefs?"
  58. "What is a question you prepared to answer in this interview?"
  59. "What was the size of the compound that you spent time researching in undergrad?"
  60. "When did you go from being a boy (girl) to a man (woman)?"
  61. "Do you recognize this picture from your undergrad." (they actually showed me the picture)
  62. "If you could choose to have one superpower, what would it be and why?"
  63. "If you caught a fellow student cheating on an exam, what would you do?"
  64. “What are your feelings on illegal immigration?”
  65. "If you could have lunch with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be and why?"
  66. "Who do you believe is responsible for a patient's healthcare?"
  67. "Discuss a time when you had to see something from someone else's perspective."
  68. "How would you handle a mistake made by your supervising physician in a private practice? What would you say to the patient and to your supervisor?"
  69. "How do you help a patient who has the means to be healthy but has no interest in doing so?"
  70. Question specific to your major for example: "What is your favorite part of the brain?" (this was for a neuroscience major)
  71. "What is cultural competency to you?"
  72. "Student interviewer asks a probing philosophical question about your senior thesis on mechanistic determinism in the philosophy of science."
  73. "Who is Chester Arthur?" (really? Who is Chester Arthur?)
  74. "Describe the differences between Medicare and Medicaid."
  75. "What is a moral dilemma that you have had to overcome?"
  76. "Name one bad thing about XYZ university (you may draw a blank on this one but be creative and entertaining smile and laugh through it and so will your interviewer)"
  77. "If you wanted to plan a vacation with your friends, how would you plan it?”
  78. "How would you respond to a patient who was coming on to you?”
  79. "Do you think a democracy can coexist with a theocracy?"
  80. "What activities and honor societies were you involved in during high school?" (Yes, interviewers have asked me about high school experience- including class rank and GPA)
  81. "What do you think will happen to the Affordable Care Act now?”
  82. "What is your favorite fairy tale? And why?"
  83. “You will be given examples of types of reimbursements doctors get from insurance companies. You will then be asked to give the pros and cons of each situation."
  84. "What will you do if you get into PA school and you find yourself failing the first year."
  85. "What is your favorite movie and if you could be any character from the movie, who would it be and why?"
  86. "Do you like it in New Orleans?" (insert the school where your interview is located)
  87. "At the end of the day, how would you like us to remember you?"

Download Your Free Workbook

Download Your FREE 300 PA School Interview Questions and Answers Workbook

Enter your email below to get your FREE 65 page 300 PA school interview questions and answers workbook.

You have Successfully Subscribed!

214 More Traditional PA School Interview Questions

A while back I created a comprehensive list of the top 46 physician assistant applicant interview questions. Here are an additional 200 + that are commonly asked during an interview. You may be asking "do I have to go through them all?" The answer is, yes!

  1. "What was a mistake you made and what did you learn from it?"
  2. "What was the hardest class you had and how did you overcome it?"
  3. "If we had one seat left, why should we give it to you?"
  4. "Why X University?"
  5. "What do you think makes a good leader?"
  6. "What is your opinion on the US and Canadian health care systems? Which is better and why?"
  7. "Do you like to read?"
  8. "What is the worst book you have read?"
  9. "What is the biggest problem in health care right now?"
  10. "Your undergraduate degree work was in psychology. What made you decide to pursue medicine?"
  11. "Why do you think you were a good fit for our program?"
  12. "What have you learned in your current job?"
  13. "How did you like your undergraduate institution?"
  14. "Did your parent's death affect your decision to go into medicine?"
  15. "Who is someone that embodies professionalism in your eyes, and why?"
  16. "What non-medical related books have you read in the past three years?"
  17. "What do you like to do in your free time not related to academics, medicine, research?"
  18. "Is there a time where you witnessed a physician assistant interacting with a patient in a manner you believed to be unprofessional?"
  19. "Why did you choose to write about XYZ in your personal statement, and why did you say XYZ?"
  20. "What is a time you experienced failure and what did you do?"
  21. "Where else have you applied? Interviewed? Accepted? If you are accepted into both X and Y schools and here, where would you go?"
  22. "How do you think physician assistants learn to be compassionate?"
  23. "What else have you done in college that is not on your application?"
  24. "Out of all the items listed on your application, which would you say is your greatest accomplishment?"
  25. "Talk about some of the characteristics you'd hope to see in a successful physician assistant? Talk about some of the negative characteristics of a bad PA."
  26. "What is one issue in health care you care about and why?"
  27. "Where do you see yourself in 10 years (career wise)?"
  28. "What do you like to do for fun?"
  29. "How do you approach academic challenges?"
  30. "Describe a stressful situation and what was the outcome and what did you learn from it."
  31. "What person has most influenced your decision to go PA school?"
  32. "What personal accomplishment is memorable/valuable?“
  33. "Tell me about the role of a physician assistant."
  34. "What interests you about XYZ school?"
  35. "Have you shadowed a PA?"
  36. "Would you like to work in a private practice or a hospital?"
  37. "What specialty are you interested in pursuing and why?"
  38. "What makes you want to become a physician assistant?"
  39. "How would you work in a group environment?"
  40. "Tell me about XYZ activities on your application."
  41. "Sometimes PAs have to make tough choices for their patients. Can you think of a moral problem that might come up?"
  42. "Are you really ready for PA school?"
  43. "Explain an extracurricular activity."
  44. "Describe where you grew up."
  45. "What do you think of the Affordable Care Act?"
  46. "Did anyone discourage you from pursuing PA school?"
  47. "Tell me about a time you were challenged."
  48. "Tell me something interesting about yourself that can't be found in your essays.”
  49. "What pushes your buttons - what kinds of things make you angry?"
  50. "Any interesting classes outside of your major?"
  51. "Tell me what led you to become a physician assistant." (variation on why do you want to be a PA)
  52. "How would you cope with having to give bad news to kids/parents/anyone?"
  53. "Tell me about a time where you didn't reach a goal you wanted to achieve."
  54. "Would you be interested in practicing rural medicine here in Georgia, or would you want to go back home?"
  55. "Who are you?"
  56. "What drives you?"
  57. "Tell me about X experience." (could be a global health you trip, an experience you mentioned in your personal statement, or anything else)
  58. "Tell me about your university and why you decided to pick that school.”
  59. "What sort of relationship, long-term or short-term, would you like with your patients?"
  60. "What do you think will be the worst part about going through PA school and becoming a physician assistant?"
  61. "Which discovery do you think has had the greatest impact on medicine?"
  62. "What would you like me to tell the admissions committee?"
  63. "What is an aspect of the world or culture you would like to change?"
  64. “What are the pros and cons of EMRs and integrating more technology into healthcare."
  65. "What would you do if a patient refused a blood transfusion due to their beliefs?"
  66. "What was the hardest class you've taken?"
  67. "What change would you like to see in medicine and how are you going to contribute to that change?"
  68. "What would your family think if you didn't enter medicine?"
  69. "How have your previous experiences prepared you for PA school?"
  70. "Tell me about a time that you cared for someone else."
  71. "What if you discovered a fellow student had a drug problem? What would you do?"
  72. "What's the most difficult decision you have ever made?"
  73. "Name a time you have shown resiliency in your life."
  74. "What was your most meaningful volunteer or community service experience and why?"
  75. "If not medicine, what would you do?"
  76. "Tell me about your family."
  77. "Define "resilience" and rate yourself on a scale of 1-10."
  78. "How have you explored cultural diversity?"
  79. "What do you think about diversity?"
  80. "What in your file are you most proud of?"
  81. "Why aren't there more opportunities to mentor underserved youth in XYZ? Obviously, the need is there."
  82. "What offends you?”
  83. "What do you think will be a personal challenge for you as a physician assistant in the future?"
  84. "Tell me about yourself - why PA?"
  85. "Name a quality you saw in one of the physician assistants/doctors/etc. you shadowed that you DO NOT want to embody as a physician assistant."
  86. "In your experience working with doctors, nurses, etc., what characteristics did you see that you liked the most and liked the least?"
  87. "Should you always follow the law?"
  88. "How do you handle stress?"
  89. "How do you define perseverance?"
  90. "What do you know about the current events going on in healthcare?"
  91. "Who are your three biggest heroes/role models? What was the most impactful experience in your life? And how do those two answers contribute to your career choice?
  92. "What are your hobbies?"
  93. "Tell me about a time when you made a mistake and what you did to fix it."
  94. "What questions do you have for me?"
  95. "I see your stats are kind of low, what's your biggest weakness going to be going into PA school?"
  96. "How have you changed since freshman year of college?"
  97. "To what extent do you understand the life of a physician assistant?"
  98. “Do you see any potential ethical problems with medical mission’s trips?”
  99. "How do you approach and talk to a transgender patient?"
  100. "What are you doing to better yourself?" (especially important for reapplicants)
  101. "Would you consider yourself mature?"
  102. "What makes you so special?" (a variation on the “why you” question)
  103. "A patient in your clinical trial feels like they are being used as a guinea pig. What do you do?"
  104. "How would you deal with an ungrateful patient?"
  105. “How would you describe parenting to a new mother?”
  106. "Are any of your friends applying to PA school? If not, what do they do for a living?"
  107. "What motivates you to get up in the morning?"
  108. "Tell me about a leadership experience."
  109. "I see you play guitar, what style do you like?"
  110. "How would your friends describe you?"
  111. "Who is your best friend?"
  112. "How do you define integrity?"
  113. "What is altruism? give an example of a time you were altruistic."
  114. "What is one trait you wish you could change about yourself?"
  115. "Two part question: What do you think makes a good PA, and in what ways are you unique?"
  116. "If I were to look at your transcript, what would be the lowest grade on it? And why?"
  117. "Tell me about an ethical issue you've thought about, and argue both sides of the issue."
  118. "How should I sell you at the Admissions Committee meeting?"
  119. "What do you think is wrong with healthcare today?"
  120. "What is one thing happening in the medical field today that you want to discuss about?"
  121. "Why is there so much inequality in health care delivery, even in X?"
  122. "Healthcare costs are rising rapidly. What are your thoughts? What possible solutions are there?“
  123. "What do you think is the number one problem facing PAs today?"
  124. "What do you think will be most rewarding about being a physician assistant? Most challenging?"
  125. "How would you adjust to life in X?
  126. "If you have been successful in your career so far, why not stay in that field instead of going to PA school?"
  127. "Why didn't you stay in the military?"
  128. "Tell me about the timeline and motivations behind the activities that you have taken part in." (basically, asking you to give context to the choices that you made in terms of which experiences you have sought)
  129. "As I haven't really looked at your file yet, please take about five minutes to tell me about yourself and why you are applying here?"
  130. "What did you gain the most from your undergrad institution?"
  131. "What do you do when you are stressed out?"
  132. "What do you think of evidence-based medicine?"
  133. "How do you handle conflict?"
  134. "How would you balance school and social life?"
  135. "What made you the person you are today?"
  136. "Define professionalism?"
  137. "Define success."
  138. "Do you have any fears about going into medicine?"
  139. "What is one thing you would change about yourself? Why?"
  140. "What do you think about socialized medicine?"
  141. "What do people who don't care about you think of you?"
  142. "What is the meaning you attribute to life?"
  143. "What makes a good team member?"
  144. "As a reapplicant, how have you improved your application?"
  145. "Have you ever harmed anyone?"
  146. "Do you have any regrets?"
  147. "What is the bravest decision you've had to make?"
  148. "If you could sum yourself and application up in a short pitch what would you say?"
  149. "Tell me about a time when you disagreed with someone or something. How did you work that out?"
  150. "How are your time management skills?"
  151. "How did you go about learning your second language?"
  152. "What would your high school friends think of you today?"
  153. "What one experience have you had that made you say that's how I want to treat my patients?"
  154. "If you could have your ideal practice, where would you practice medicine?"
  155. "What is the most negative aspect of your current job in healthcare?"
  156. "Do you enjoy teaching others? Why?"
  157. "Tell us about the physician assistants role in patient care."
  158. "Is there one thing in your life you're especially proud of?"
  159. "With so much available knowledge on how to live healthily and lose weight, why do you think so many people still don't take care of themselves or are still obese?"
  160. "What makes you laugh, and what makes you angry?"
  161. "What was the pivotal event that made you decide to become a physician assistant?"
  162. "Who is your role model and why?"
  163.  "If you could change one aspect of your personality with a snap of your fingers, what would you change?"
  164. “Describe your personality.”
  165. “Who would you say has been the most influential person in the last one-hundred years?”
  166. “Do you think a physician should tell a patient he/she has eight months to live?”
  167. "How do you make a patient feel cared for?"
  168. “What will you do if you don’t get into PA school?”
  169. "Tell me about two of your favorite memories from studying abroad."
  170. “Describe any travels that you have undertaken and exposure to other cultures than your own, if any.”
  171. “How do you plan to finance your PA school education?”
  172. “Would you practice in the inner city? What do you think happens to people who practice medicine there (attitude changes, etc.)?”
  173. "Why do you think so many people want to become a physician assistant?"
  174. "Tell me about a time when you were criticized unfairly."
  175. "What do you think about the ongoing conflict in Iraq/Syria/Korea (etc.).”
  176. "What is the difference between HMOs and PPOs?"
  177. "Based on your teaching of young children tell us how you would gauge a child/adolescent’s maturity level in a clinical setting."
  178. "What type of health care system do you think is the best?"
  179. "Do you see yourself working in a community or academic setting?"
  180. "What have been some of your life experiences with diversity?"
  181. "What did you think of the students who gave the presentation, they were dressed so informally while you weren't? What does empathy mean to you?"
  182. "What is one reason you think that causes qualified candidates like yourself to drop out of PA school?"
  183. “If you have the choice of giving a transplant to a successful elderly member of the community or a 20-year old drug addict, how do you choose?”
  184. “How do you go about making important decisions?”
  185. “What newspapers, journals, etc., do you read on a regular basis?”
  186. “Where do we stand in your list of PA school preferences?”
  187. “If you could start your college career all over again, what would you do differently?”
  188. "Give me a situation where a patient's rights interfere with their well-being."
  189. "What did you learn from your struggles your first year in college?"
  190. "What are your feelings about euthanasia?"
  191. “If you want to help people, why not social work?”
  192. “What is your relationship with your family?”
  193. “Describe your childhood and present living conditions.”
  194. “Have you an alternative career plan?”
  195. “When you need counseling for personal problems, who do you talk with?”
  196. “How do you think your personal background will affect your practice of medicine?”
  197. “What experiences have you had in community involvement that demonstrate your commitment to medicine?”
  198. "If you see a patient fall and cut an artery and you remember that this is an AIDS patient would you have any reservations in your actions?"
  199. "What was the worst day of your life?"
  200. "Describe a situation in which you were dependable or demonstrated initiative. One in which you were not as dependable as you would have liked."
  201. "So you tell me you write songs ... tell me about any politic themes you've touched upon in your music?"
  202. "Choose a close friend or family relative that you will want him to be sitting here now. What good things and bad things will that person say about you.”
  203. "If you had to create a project that involved the entire class, and everyone had to participate in the project, how would you get your fellow students to participate?"
  204. "What excites you about medicine in general?"
  205. "As a woman how has your gender impacted your decision to pursue a medical career?"
  206. "If you have the choice of giving a transplant to a successful elderly member of the community and a 20-year-old drug addict – how do you choose?"
  207. "A member of your family decides to depend solely on alternative medicine for treatment of his or her significant illness. What would you do?"
  208. "An eighteen-year-old female arrives in the emergency room with a profound nosebleed. You are the physician assistant, and you have stopped the bleeding. She is now in a coma from blood loss and will die without a transfusion. A nurse finds a recently signed card from Jehovah's Witnesses Church in the patient's purse refusing blood transfusions under any circumstance. What would you do?"
  209. "A 14-year-old patient requests birth control pills from you and asks that you not tell her parents. What would you do?"
  210. "A patient with Downs Syndrome became pregnant. The patient does not want an abortion. Her mother and husband want the patient to have an abortion. What should a physician assistant do in this situation?"
  211. "There is a push currently to change the title from physician assistant to physician associate. Do you agree with this?"
  212. "If we contacted your references now, what do you think they would say about you?"
  213. "What is your opinion about stem cell research using fetal tissue?"
  214. "Have you ever seen somebody die?"
  215. “What is the difference between a PA and a nurse practitioner?”

Examples of Answers to 7 Common Questions:

The following are answers from The Physician Assistant School Interview: Essential Strategies to Blow 'Em Away and Claim Your Seat in Class by Paul Kubin. This is a fabulous book with excellent sample answers such as these in response to seven "must know" questions:

1 . What is a PA?

A PA is a licensed healthcare provider who works under the supervision of a physician. Some work closely with their supervising physician, and some with a lot of autonomy. PAs work with patients diagnosing illnesses and injuries, ordering diagnostics, and planning treatment. Besides these particulars, I think PAs fill a need in our healthcare system. They are trained first as primary care providers but have some freedom to specialize, educate, and coordinate care.

2. Why do you want to be a PA?

I was volunteering at UCLA’s Student Health Center because I was a senior in Women’s Studies and I wanted to participate in care for women that took into account their identity as women, not just sick people. I did basic medical assisting in the women’s health wing and one day did a urine dip test that determined that one of my student patients was pregnant. The doctor there referred her to an OB/ GYN off campus, but she would still check in with us regularly. Since I worked with her from the start, I got to know her really well. One day she said to me, “When you go to medical school, don’t lose your great attitude.” I was a little stunned. I never envisioned myself as a doctor because it seemed a little removed from working directly with women. I mean I’ve never had a doctor spend more than about ten minutes with me solid. But I was intrigued by the idea and chatted with the doctors there about my future. They suggested that I look into a career as a PA, because as a PA I could continue to be a part of women’s health care, and still have time to advocate for women’s issues. I just sent that student a baby shower gift and told her that thanks to her, I’ve had found my calling. All thanks to a cup of urine — funny where life takes you, you know?

3. What are your weaknesses?

Knowing that I’m a person who is very driven, I need to be careful not to be a bull in a china shop. I can’t let my enthusiasm and drive alienate my coworkers, and I can’t blindly charge through every obstacle; I need to ‘negotiate’ them. Like when I came up with the new system of tracking lab specimens at Dr. Sharp’s office. There were some “old hands” there who my plan could have rubbed the wrong way. So I was careful to include them and to ask for their feedback. It got me their buy-in. Driven is good, but I’ve learned that if it isn’t tempered with flexibility and teamwork, it just comes across as overbearing.

4. Why should we choose you?

Many of my experiences have been about helping those who are not as fortunate as have been, and my experiences say a lot about what matters to me. I’m not just claiming I want to help others— I’m showing that I have. I also think my personality is an asset. My friends say that I’m hopelessly positive and energetic, and some of my extracurricular interests show that too. My work in ______ and _______ as a leader speaks to that as well.

5. Why do you want to go to our school?

There are several reasons I want to go to University of Lexington’s PA program, and they all have to do with the structure of the learning that takes place here. I’ve read about many programs and yours seems progressive in its curriculum. The online resources for learning physical examination, for example, show me how hard this program has worked to keep current and to evolve with medical technology. I want to attend a school where what and how I am taught really matter to the faculty. The fact that many of the courses are taught in small group seminars tells me that student interaction and relationship with faculty is a priority. With that, I know that I won’t be just a number. I love that as a student I will have the opportunity to put my new knowledge to use right away by working in student-run programs like Clinica Esperanza in downtown Lexington. I’ve worked at community clinics in Kentucky already, and that emphasis on helping the Latino community is refreshing to me!”

6. Do you have any questions for us?

Here are two examples of good questions to ask:

  • “Are there any major changes that you anticipate in the program in the next two years?”
  • “Can you tell me about the relationships you have with clinical rotation sites?”

7. Tell us about a time when you had a conflict with someone who supervised you, and how you handled it.

“One time when I was working at Smashburger as a cashier, my boss, Mary, really laid into me one day because, she said, ‘When I came in this morning, the alarm wasn’t on, and it was the third time this month. Every time you forget, we risk getting robbed!’ I was embarrassed and upset, because it was my first-night closing, and I remembered locking the door very clearly. So at the end of the day, I asked her if I could speak with her privately. We sat in the office and I said, ‘Mary, I’m really sorry that the store didn’t get locked last night. I’m not sure exactly what happened, but I would definitely admit it if I had forgotten.’ I told her ‘I really want to be on good terms with you because we work together. Next time you think I’ve done something wrong, do you think you could ask me about it so that we could go over what happened?’ She apologized for snapping at me and suggested that we close together when we were finished talking. So when she locked the door that night I realized that there was a step to setting the alarm that I was never taught in training. Sensing an opportunity, I told her that I would be glad to go over that step with the other employees as a way to make sure that I wouldn’t forget it and to assure that the other employees wouldn’t either. She agreed, and things turned out so well that I ended up being promoted a month later. ‘I liked how you handled the situation with the alarm,’ she told me, ‘and I realized that you deserved a little more responsibility.’”

Interested in our PA school mock interview service?

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!
Click here to schedule an interview

View all posts in this series
  • My PA School Interview: The Journey of a Lifetime
  • 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)
  • A Look Inside Two PA School Interviews
  • 5 Things I’ve Learned Going Into My Fourth Physician Assistant Application Cycle
  • 300 PA School Interview Questions You Should Be Ready to Answer
  • PA School Mock Interviews: Prepare with a Live, Recorded Video Interview
  • Mock Physician Assistant School Interview With Taylor Hill Pre-PA
  • Mock PA School Interview With Pre-PA Lily Boyle
  • 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!
  • 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
  • How to Squash PA School Interview Day Stress (4 Simple Steps)
  • Mind Mapping: A Tool for Personal Statements, Supplemental Essays, and Interviews
  • 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

You may also like -

  • Mock PA School Interview With Pre-PA Kassidy AnthonyMock PA School Interview With Pre-PA Kassidy Anthony Welcome to the second video in our Mock PA School Interview Series: Ten blog posts featuring ten amazing Pre-PAs who have graciously shared their recorded mock PA school interviews with one singular intention: To help you achieve […]
  • Mock PA School Interview With Pre-PA Lily BoyleMock PA School Interview With Pre-PA Lily Boyle Welcome to the second video in our Mock PA School Interview Series: Ten blog posts featuring ten amazing Pre-PAs who have graciously shared their recorded mock PA school interviews with one singular intention: To help you achieve […]
  • 7 Rules You Must Follow While Writing Your PA School Essay7 Rules You Must Follow While Writing Your PA School Essay You know you’re in a war, right? PA school, once a bastion for rebels looking to buck the normal medical school model is now more competitive than ever. The CASPA application is full of standard metrics like GPA, GRE scores, […]
Pin1K
Share52
Reddit12
Tweet2
Share
Email
1K Shares

Download Your FREE 300 PA School Interview Questions and Answers Workbook

Sign up below to receive your free 65 page 300 PA school interview questions and answers workbook.

You have Successfully Subscribed!

CASPA Personal Statement Help

We offer comprehensive, start-to-finish personal statement assistance or help to perfect a draft you already have. We have services to fit every budget.

Personal Statement Editing

Schedule a Live Recorded PA School Video Interview

We offer 60-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!

Schedule an Interview

Pre-PA Consulting and Advising

Jennifer Crozier PA-COur pre-PA coaching service consists of a 1-hour phone consultation focused on addressing your specific questions or concerns about becoming a PA and applying to PA school.

PPre-PA Consulting and Advising

Download Your Free Copy of the How to Write Your PA School Essay Workbook

We created a free workbook to help you craft a personal statement that the admissions directors will be dying to read. Tell us where to send your free copy.

About Stephen Pasquini PA-C

Stephen has been a family practice PA since 2004 and is the 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.

Previous Post: « Welcome to Your Virtual PA School Clinical Rotation
Next Post: PA School Mock Interviews: Prepare with a Live, Recorded Video Interview »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Cindy says

    July 31, 2020 at 9:06 am

    Would a PA school really ask a question about your faith (question 34)? I do not feel comfortable with that question as I am an agnostic.

    Reply
    • Stephen Pasquini PA-C says

      August 1, 2020 at 10:11 pm

      Probably not Cindy, since in most cases this is illegal, but at religiously affiliated colleges, these kinds of questions are legally permitted, although inquiries about spouses, marital status, and children are off-limits. If religious faith is deemed an essential part of an institution’s mission, a right to raise questions of personal faith and practice is recognized in law, by accrediting agencies, and even by the American Association of University Professors. It’s controversial but true; religious institutions are allowed to discriminate on the basis of religious faith. When I last updated paschoolfinder.com there were 10 PA programs that were considered faith-based: https://www.paschoolfinder.com/cat/faith-based/

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

BOARD REVIEW THAT WILL BLOW YOUR MIND NOT YOUR BUDGET

Smarty PANCE Board ReviewJoin Now

Hi, I’m Stephen

I'm Stephen (about) (contact), a proud family practice PA of 14 years. My passion is helping PAs, PRE-PAs or students like yourself attain (or maintain) your dream of becoming a PA. Join our community of compassionate PAs who want to make a positive difference in the world!

  • Amazon
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Personal Statement Editing

We offer comprehensive, start-to-finish personal statement assistance or help perfecting a draft you already have. We have services to fit every budget.

Purchase a Revision

Pre-PA and CASPA Consulting

Our pre-PA coaching service consists of a one-hour phone consultation focused on addressing your specific questions or concerns about becoming a PA and applying to PA school. Learn More

Mock PA School Interviews

Why do you want to be a PA? We have helped 100's of PA school applicants just like you answer this question. We offer affordable, recorded online interviews with an unprecedented chance for self-critique, with feedback and advice from our team of top PA school admissions experts.

Schedule a Mock Interview

Resume, CV and Cover Letter Editing

Don't send your Resume, CV or Cover Letter without a proper edit. We offer CV, Resume and Cover Letter revision specific to PAs, Pre-PAs and PA students. Make your CASPA resume shine!

Resume Revision

Featured Post

How Much Money does a Physician Assistant make

How Much Money do Physician Assistants (PAs) Make?

Physician Assistant Salary and Compensation "We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give." - Winston Churchill How Much do PAs Make? According to the … [Read More...] about How Much Money do Physician Assistants (PAs) Make?

Search, Organize, and Apply

Your search for the perfect PA program starts and ends here! Search, organize, apply, and always 100% FREE!

FREE PA Program Match

Popular Posts

A Surgeon Speaks: 7 Reasons Why You Should Choose PA Over MDA Surgeon Speaks: 7 Reasons Why You Should Choose PA Over MD4K Total Shares
Physician Assistant vs. Nurse Practitioner vs. Medical DoctorPhysician Assistant vs. Nurse Practitioner vs. Medical Doctor3K Total Shares
Why my Wife is Happy I am a Physician Assistant and not an MDWhy my Wife is Happy I am a Physician Assistant and not an MD3K Total Shares
Infographic: PA VS MD Understanding the DifferencesInfographic: PA VS MD Understanding the Differences3K Total Shares
How to Write the Perfect Physician Assistant School Application EssayHow to Write the Perfect Physician Assistant School Application Essay3K Total Shares
The Top 46 Physician Assistant Applicant Interview QuestionsThe Top 46 Physician Assistant Applicant Interview Questions3K Total Shares
Scholarships, Grants and Loan Repayment Programs for Physician AssistantsScholarships, Grants and Loan Repayment Programs for Physician Assistants2K Total Shares
20 Answers to The Question: Why Do You Want to be a Physician Assistant?20 Answers to The Question: Why Do You Want to be a Physician Assistant?2K Total Shares
Where PAs and Physician Associates Can Work InternationallyWhere PAs and Physician Associates Can Work Internationally2K Total Shares
Who Gets Into PA School? Here’s What You Need to KnowWho Gets Into PA School? Here’s What You Need to Know2K Total Shares
PA School Ranking by PANCE Pass RatesPA School Ranking by PANCE Pass Rates2K Total Shares
Do You Recognize These 7 Common Mistakes in Your Personal Statement?Do You Recognize These 7 Common Mistakes in Your Personal Statement?2K Total Shares
What are the Best PA Schools? Physician Assistant School RankingsWhat are the Best PA Schools? Physician Assistant School Rankings1K Total Shares
300 PA School Interview Questions You Should Be Ready to Answer300 PA School Interview Questions You Should Be Ready to Answer1K Total Shares
The #1 Mistake PRE-PAs Make on Their Personal StatementThe #1 Mistake PRE-PAs Make on Their Personal Statement1K Total Shares

Recent Posts

  • ChatGPT Answers the Top 46 PA School Applicant Interview Questions
  • How to Add Virtual Shadowing to Your CASPA Application
  • How to Cope with PA School Application Rejection
  • CASPA Video Tutorial Section Four: Program Materials
  • CASPA Video Tutorial Section Three: Supporting Information

Buy on Amazon

The Daily PANCE and PANRE

Sign Up, It's FREE!

Get 60 days of PANCE and PANRE Board Certified Review Questions and Answers delivered directly to your inbox. A new question is delivered daily with full explanations and answers. Sign up below and get started today.

You have Successfully Subscribed!

The Audio PANCE and PANRE

The Audio PANCE and PANRE Physician Assistant Boards Podcast

Subscribe on iTunes

Testimonials

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 helped me eloquently state my desires and strengths for the career. I am beyond thrilled and thankful.

Nika, PA-S

Just wanted to let you know I got into UC Davis! I can not thank you enough for all your help!

Rachael Thomas, PA-S

Sue did an excellent job. Despite my sending a request just in time for a holiday, not only did she meet my deadline-she was early. She asked questions beyond the provided text, in an effort to gain deeper insight into me as a person. Her positive attitude and professional review help to ease my stressful anticipation. I am happy I sought her service! (Thanks, Sue)

Angela, 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 past June, you helped me formulate my personal statement for my PA school applications. After our video chat and countless hours editing my CASPA information, I submitted my application and was then given the opportunity to interview at five PA programs. To prepare for my interviews, I would read my personal statement over and over again to remind myself of why I wanted to be a PA. This helped me succeed in my interviews. I was accepted to a few schools, but have I have made my final decision to matriculate into the University of Texas Medical Branch PA program in July! I wanted to follow up after I made my final decision to thank you for helping me with an important step to achieve this amazing life goal. Several of my friends are applying this upcoming cycle, and I will definitely be passing along your information. Again, thank you so much!

Kylie, 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 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

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

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

Sarah was fantastic to work with. She is excellent at her crafted skill and can help any thought or sentence come to life, fast!

Jessica D. 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

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

Deanna gave me excellent feedback on my personal statement, and I couldn’t be more grateful. She was very articulate and gave examples for me to work with on the rewrite. What I struggled with most was the organization of my writing, and Deanna helped me structure my paper so that it was easy to read. I would 100% recommend this service to a friend applying to PA school. Thank you so much!

Daniela, Pre-PA

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

I was at a point where I kept reading my essay over and over again and not knowing what to change. After Sue looked over and thoroughly edited the essay, I had a completely new focus! I knew exactly what to tweak and her service really cleared up any uncertainty I had with my essay. I’m now much more confident as I finish up my CASPA applications!

Julia Spalding, Pre-PA

It was an absolute pleasure working with Sarah. She was prompt to respond, professional, and kind. Sarah is an excellent writer. I was consistently impressed with her edits and suggestions for my personal statement. After working with Sarah I feel confident that my final essay will be well-received schools and help me stand out as a candidate.

Leah, 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

My editor was Beth, and she blew my expectations out of the water. She got back to me within 24 hours of submitting my request for edits and helped me so much with the edits she made. If I receive an interview, I am excited to use PA Life to help me with mock interviews.

Haley, Pre-PA

My editor with The PA Life was amazing! I am so thankful for her attention to detail and wonderful editing skills. I am thrilled with how my personal statement turned out and can’t thank you enough for all of your help.

Olivia, 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

Carly did more than help revise my grammatical errors and flow. She was able to show me the strengths and weaknesses of the concepts of my essay. She was able to tell me what it was missing as well as praise me for what I did correctly. It gave me confidence in my writing, and I truly believe it will make an impact on the way PA programs view me.

Sherry, Pre-PA

Great feedback and turn around time. Utilizing this feature gave me even more confidence that I was trying my best to be the top candidate.

Kristopher, Pre-PA

I worked closely with Duke and Sue for the revisions on my personal statement. They must have edited my original version half a dozen times before they felt it was good enough to send off and never made it seem like an inconvenience. They always responded to my e-mails within a 24-hour time frame but usually got back to me within a few hours. I am very pleased with how my personal statement turned out thanks to all of their time, ideas and direction. The service the PA Life provides is well worth the money spent!

Michelle Murphy, PA-S

The edit that I received from Sue was exactly what I was hoping for. She was able to tighten up my draft beyond my personal skill level and made edits that I was would have never thought to make. She has definitely made my personal statement stronger. Thank you, Sue!

Ethan, Pre-PA

This was even more helpful than I anticipated! I am someone who finds it very hard to let others read my writing because it feels too personal. This made it much easier to let someone edit for me and all the suggestions provided really helped me pull together the parts I was struggling with. I would highly recommend this editing service to anybody who is having trouble strengthening their essay!

Lindsey C, Pre-PA

I received an early acceptance! I just wanted to thank you so much for all your help. You are a pro and I’m so thankful for you! You helped me more than you’ll ever know! I’m so excited! You saved me!!!!

Shelly K. Pre-PA

Sarah was beyond excellent. Her timelines and efficiency provided me with enough time to revise and meet with her again before our final draft. Her comments and edits were extremely effective. I hope to be receiving an interview and will be using this service (requesting Sarah) for a mock interview if that happens!

Kaitlyn, Pre-PA

I really appreciated Duke and his way of cutting out the unnecessary fluff in my essay. He was extremely helpful and helped steer me in the right direction to better my writing and make me a more competitive applicant. I am currently still applying to programs and will notify you guys once I get an invitation!

Ani S. Pre-PA

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

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

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

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

Sarah Schultz was a great editor and was easy to communicate with. She answered my emails very promptly and made great suggestions while also helping me cut down and condense my essay to be in the character limit. She made me feel more confident in my work and helped me develop an essay that I am proud of. I would definitely use this service again!

Katie, Pre-PA

My editor was quick and responsive with her emails. Her explanations on how to improve my personal statement were detailed and organized. I’m very glad I chose The PA Life to help me with my personal statement and point me in the right direction. Thank you very much!

Phillip, Pre-PA

I want to say thank you, first off for providing such a service. It was difficult having to write a personal statement and then have others critique it, when there is not a clear rubric to follow. I think having to write a personal statement is such an emotional process, and then having others edit it, can be a very harsh pill to swallow. Thank you for your edits, I have no doubt that this process will make my personal statement more compelling and hopefully a more competitive applicant.

Stephanie, 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

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

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

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

This is my third time applying to PA programs. With my first two attempts, I only had close friends, family, and peers help me with my personal statement. I never even thought about going through a professional personal statement review service until after I had failed to get into PA programs my second time around. My prerequisites are expiring soon and the thought of going through the entire process of applying a fourth time terrifies me. I was hesitant to purchase the one-on-one service but after going through it, I am so glad that I did. Sarah was my editor and she is incredible. She genuinely understands how frustrating yet exciting this process is. I submitted my initial personal statement to her and within a day, she had already gotten back to me with detailed feedback. She even goes as far as telling you how many characters she wants you to add in different parts of your essay – this was extremely helpful for me because I tend to be a little wordy sometimes rather than succinct. Sarah helped me to highlight my strengths, experiences, and reasons for why I have spent so many years pursuing the PA career. This is an incredible service and I highly recommend that you take advantage of it! I am still in the process of completing my supplemental applications but I am more confident now than I have been with my first two attempts!

Christian S. 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 wanted to update you and say I’ve been accepted into two programs (waiting for two more responses) with Jefferson University (my program of choice) being one of them. Thank you for all your help and your tips and for making this a genuinely joyful 2022!

Yejin (Future PA)

Sue was great to work with. Very prompt in responding to my submission. Asked good questions and incorporated my responses into my essay nicely. I appreciate the work.

Mary Peterson, Pre-PA

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

I hope this email finds you well. I would like to thank you for your help with my PA school personal statement. I’m glad to share that I did get into my top choice – Drexel!

Ashley, 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

Sarah was absolutely incredible to work with! My initial draft conveyed all the ideas that I wanted it to, but I wasn’t sure that it flowed well or was memorable. Sarah did a great job with helping me make my introduction stand out and also helped me immensely with the overall structure of my essay. My personal statement had initially been a source of stress but I am so happy with my final draft and extremely grateful to Sarah for her thoughtful insights!

Tina, Pre-PA

Really helpful! Makes me feel confident.

Qui T. 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

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 loved this service! Not only did my editor transform my essay, she helped me feel more confident in my application moving forward. She was extremely personable and efficient. I love my essay and now I’m even more excited about applying for school because of the help I received from The PA Life! Highly recommend!!

Aubrey, Pre-PA

I wanted to let you know that after 4 interviews and 4 waitlists, I was informed a seat opened up at my number one school Drexel in Philadelphia!! So I have officially enrolled in a PA program. This feeling is the lightest I have ever felt and it is incredible. Aside from myself and my mom who has emotionally supported me through this all, you were a huge part of making this happen. I cannot thank you enough for helping tell my story. If you ever want a review to be written somewhere, I would be glad to write one. I have nothing but respect for your talent in listening and translating someone’s intention and experiences into a rounded and full story. Thank you again.

Sarah, R PA-S

Just found your site today while trying to update my resume. Also, I have to recertify next year so your tests are great for a refresher course. I was in a specialty area of medicine so I now realize how much I forgot in the past 5 years. Thank you very much and I will pass on to other PAs.

Pattie Solomon PA-CNorTh Miami Florida

Carly was so helpful and encouraging! I truly felt like I was in good hands, and I know my personal statement is much stronger now because of her!

Chloe, Pre-PA

Sarah was amazing from beginning to end. Her listening skills are just superb. She edits in a manner that captures your story in a raw format and complete format. I loved my experience.

Vivian, Pre-PA

This service was invaluable – I felt decent about my essay, but it’s remarkably better. I appreciate the level of detail and courtesy even with my discounted rate. You guys are too great!

Taylor Hamstra, Pre-PA

SUPER friendly and so helpful! I would recommend this service to everyone if I could 🙂

Gabby, Pre-PA

I’ve been telling everybody that I come into contact with about the incredible value of your service and that I directly attribute your editing as a reason I got into two schools this academic cycle and received 8 invitations to interview. All the best! Read more at http://www.thepaessay.com

Jeremy Cohen 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

This was just what my essay needed. I am confident that I have answered all the questions without sounding too “braggy”.

Kelsey, 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 was a joy to work with! She was extremely helpful and patient with any questions I had for her! 10/10 recommend using this service!

Lori, Pre-PA

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!

Pavithra, 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

Susan did a fantastic job 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

I wanted to give you an update and thank you. I just received my first acceptance and at the interview, they commented on how well written my personal statement was. I appreciate your hard work and working with me to create such an awesome piece! Hopefully, this won’t be the last time we talk- maybe our paths will cross again one day!

Janne Kim, Pre-PA

I just wanted to let you know that I was accepted into PA school.  I start at Albany Medical College in January!  Thank you again for doing such an amazing job helping me with my essay…I think in the end it really carried my application.

Lindsey Porubcan PA-S

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

My editor did an amazing job of quickly getting my rough draft back to me. I paid for your service very late in the game, yet The PA Life worked with my timeline and was very thorough in the editing process. I am very impressed with how eloquent I sound in the personal statement. I can not recommend your service enough!!

Katie, Pre-PA

Duke and I worked really well together. Seeing my first draft in comparison to my final draft was like night and day. I really appreciate all the help!

Kenzi H. Pre-PA

I loved this service!!

Madeleine Zeichner, Pre-PA

Kelly M. provided an exceptional experience with detailed recommendations. I am upset that I did not find The PA Life editing service sooner! I will be referring anyone I know applying to pa school to this platform!

Manny, Pre-PA

I received an admission offer from Kansas State University PA program. Your input was essential in getting this offer. Thank you so much for your help and all you do!

Sibiya Sabu PA-S

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

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 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

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

Thank you for all of your help with my essay. You used my content, but refined it and made it more relatable. I believe due to your help I gained three interviews this cycle! I was accepted to two of the three schools and I will be going to the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston this May. Again, thank you for all of your help, it has definitely changed my life.

Lauren Clewley, 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

Duke really pushed me to write from the heart and explore my true reasons for applying to PA school.  I was very pleased with the outcome.  I haven’t yet received an interview, but my fingers are crossed!

Emily P. 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

I wanted to let you know I got accepted into the PA program at Mercy College and have another interview at Pace University PA program next week. Thank you so much for guiding me through this process. I just want you to know I really appreciate the time you put into working with me.

Alex (Future 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

My reviewer was Deanna Matzen who was incredible. I reached out to The PA Life’s editing service after being disappointed by myparesource, whom I was referred to initially. Deanna composed two alternate ways to structure my journey and allowed me to find a novel way to present my personal statement. After revision, I was able to flip my lens, utilize my introduction as my conclusion, and the rest of the paper began to fall into place. Very satisfied with the quality of her work, thank you so much, Deanna!

Steven, Pre-PA

I worked with Duke to edit and complete my essay. It was a terrific experience that I would recommend to everyone! Duke has an amazing ability to help you move things around and change it a little, while still making it feel like 100% your own work. We talked out every change we made, and we both conceded to each other in different places. He made extra time for me when I got stressed out about the deadline, and worked with me for a while each time we sat down. I paid $199 for this service, and I think that was the best bargain I ever got! I have been invited back to submit supplemental applications to some schools, and I will keep the team updated about my interviews. Thanks Duke!!!

Carly Bransky, 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

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

Carly did a tremendous job of helping edit my personal statement. Her suggestions and hints have taken my personal statement to the next level!

Austin, Pre-PA

I am extremely pleased with this service. It is exactly the kind of constructive criticism I was hoping to receive. I had my essay reviewed by “myparesources” and was not very satisfied with their general comments. Sue put a lot of time and effort and gave me concrete examples of how to change my essay for the better. I WILL recommend this service over all others. Thank you so much!

Joe, Pre-PA

Sarah did such a great job editing my personal statement! She was receptive to my concerns and had awesome ideas to make my essay stand out. I am very happy with how it turned out and I am excited to submit it. Thank you!!

Hannah, 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 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)

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 absolutely loved working with Sarah! I could not be any happier with how my personal statement turned out. She was incredibly encouraging, sensitive to my needs, and insightful. There is not enough praise that I could give her for the amazing work she did for me.

Vanessa, Pre-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 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 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

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

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 applicants success at heart. Thank you!

Madison Holtz

I just wanted to let you know I accepted a spot at the University of Dubuque’s PA program! I want to thank you for all your help and support in this process and for all the positivity you brought my way. Thanks for all you do and I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with you! I would recommend you highly to anyone.

Meghna, PA-S

Amazing Resources

  • Best Medical Apps
  • Best Review Books
  • Essay Collaborative
  • FREE Daily PANCE and PANRE Email Series
  • FREE Exams
  • Free Patient Handouts (English and Spanish)
  • PANCE and PANRE Academy
  • Recommended Reading
  • Save Big on Books
  • State Chapters Map
  • Virtual PANCE and PANRE

Favorites

  • A Physician Assistant’s Guide to Becoming an Epic Failure
  • How to Write The Perfect Essay
  • My PA School Rejection Letters
  • Personal Statement Workshop
  • The #1 Trait to Determine Long Term Success as a PA
  • The Top 46 Physician Assistant Applicant Interview Questions
  • Who Gets Into PA School?

The PA Life Resources

  • PA Schoolfinder PA Program Directory
  • The Daily Eponym – email series
  • The FREE Daily PANCE and PANRE Email Series
  • Smarty PANCE Board Review
  • How to Write Your PA School Essay Book

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…

View Book

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…

View Book

Are you struggling to write your PA School Personal Statement?

We have options to fit every budget

Click Here To Get Started

Essay Review Service

  • PA School Essay Collaborative
  • 31 Sample PA School Essays

Useful Links

  • Recommended Reading
  • Support The PA Life
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Pre-PA Consulting
  • LinkedIn Profile Editing
  • Essay Revision
  • Resume/CV Revision
  • Mock Interviews
  • Testimonials
  • Program Picker
  • Archive
  • About
  • Contact
  • Affiliate Portal

Copyright © 2022 The PA Life, INC • Terms & Conditions • Privacy Policy • Disclaimer • Refund Policy · Log in