Leslie Mean is a 26-year-old single white female who presents to the PA school admissions committee on her first attempt to get into PA school. She has a 3.5 overall GPA and a 3.47 science GPA. She is holding a bachelor of science degree in biochemistry, had a SAT score in the 1000-1100 range and a GRE score of 300. She has two years of … [Read more...] about Who Gets Into PA School? Here’s What You Need to Know
The PA Life Blog
PA School Mock Interviews: Practice With a Live Video Interview
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. Our current PA school mock interview status: Accepting Appointments Just as schools are different, so are their interviews. You’re never going … [Read more...] about PA School Mock Interviews: Practice With a Live Video Interview
300 PA School Interview Questions You Should Be Ready to Answer
So, 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 … [Read more...] about 300 PA School Interview Questions You Should Be Ready to Answer
Welcome to Your Virtual PA School Clinical Rotation
What if you could take a virtual tour through the NCCPA Content Blueprint? Not just mindless memorization of key terms and test worthy pearls, but matching those facts with faces. What if you could go bedside and visit patients with real conditions, even rare conditions from the comfort of your home? What if each of these patients was hand … [Read more...] about Welcome to Your Virtual PA School Clinical Rotation
Applying to PA School with a Low GPA: Admissions Directors Answer Your Questions
How to Get Into PA School With a Low GPA PA school administrators from nine top ranking PA programs answer your questions on how to get into PA school with a low GPA. A low GPA is probably the hardest area to improve. This makes sense – it was years in the making, and can’t be undone without time. It can take about a year in advanced level … [Read more...] about Applying to PA School with a Low GPA: Admissions Directors Answer Your Questions
7 Tips for Addressing Shortcomings in Your PA School Personal Statement
What makes the perfect PA school candidate? Someone with stellar grades from a top university, loads of patient care experience, countless shadowing hours, and a long list of community service endeavors, right? Oh, and Ms. Perfect Candidate probably also speaks four languages fluently, has had her research findings published in peer-reviewed … [Read more...] about 7 Tips for Addressing Shortcomings in Your PA School Personal Statement
Episode 51: The Audio PANCE and PANRE Board Review Podcast – Comprehensive Audio Quiz
Welcome to episode 51 of the FREE Audio PANCE and PANRE Physician Assistant Board Review Podcast. Join me as I cover ten PANCE and PANRE Board review questions from the Academy course content following the NCCPA™ content blueprint (download the FREE cheat sheet). This week we will be covering ten general board review questions based on the … [Read more...] about Episode 51: The Audio PANCE and PANRE Board Review Podcast – Comprehensive Audio Quiz
Book Review: Atul Gawande The Checklist Manifesto
The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right in a World of Increasing Complexity e live in an era of gratuitous inventions and negative improvements. Consider the DaVinci Robo surgeon, for example, a drool-inducing twenty-second-century $1.7 million remote-controlled machine designed to help surgeons do laparoscopic surgery with more … [Read more...] about Book Review: Atul Gawande The Checklist Manifesto
Physician Assistant State Licensing: Everything you Need to Know
As a freshly minted new graduate PA there are four steps you have to complete to move successfully from program to practice: Become nationally certified (by the NCCPA via the PANCE) Obtain a state license in the state you wish to practice Obtain an NPI number Obtain a federal DEA number As a practicing PA, you must renew your … [Read more...] about Physician Assistant State Licensing: Everything you Need to Know
Episode 49: The Audio PANCE and PANRE Board Review Podcast – Comprehensive Audio Quiz
Welcome to episode 49 of the FREE Audio PANCE and PANRE Physician Assistant Board Review Podcast. Join me as I cover ten PANCE and PANRE board review questions from the Academy course content following the NCCPA™ content blueprint (download the FREE cheat sheet). This week we will be covering 10 general board review questions based on the NCCPA … [Read more...] about Episode 49: The Audio PANCE and PANRE Board Review Podcast – Comprehensive Audio Quiz
PANCE Failure and Pass Rate: Physician Assistant Certification Exam
The PANCE examination has been in existence since 1973, and as of 2017 over 115,547 people have taken the exam. In 2003 the number was just over 50,000 which represents a 43% increase in just 14 years! In most years the number of those taking the PANCE has risen. In 2016 there were 8,025 test takers (first time and repeat) with an overall … [Read more...] about PANCE Failure and Pass Rate: Physician Assistant Certification Exam
Infographic: PA VS MD Understanding the Differences
Physician Assistant vs Medical Doctor A comparison of what it takes to get in (GPA, MCAT, GRE scores, prerequisite coursework, and clinical experience), years of training and time in school, job duties, cost of education, average salary, job satisfaction, divorce and burnout rates all compiled into this (very shareable) image. Share this … [Read more...] about Infographic: PA VS MD Understanding the Differences
Use VisualCV to Create a Stunning Physician Assistant Resume
I have a confession to make. For many years I have had a copy of my physician assistant resume posted here on the website, available for download as a guide to help you structure and organize your own physician assistant CV. It has helped 100's (if not 1000's) of practicing and new graduate PAs like yourself hit the ground running. But the … [Read more...] about Use VisualCV to Create a Stunning Physician Assistant Resume
5 Things I’ve Learned Going Into My Fourth Physician Assistant Application Cycle
I will be honest; this is not an article I ever thought I’d be writing. I submitted my first physician assistant application after finishing my undergrad in 2014, and here I am three years later preparing to submit my fourth PA application when the cycle starts at the end of the month. The PA application process has been grueling and … [Read more...] about 5 Things I’ve Learned Going Into My Fourth Physician Assistant Application Cycle
101 PA School Admissions Essays: The Book!
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 it? A Great Personal Statement Does Matter It’s what makes you different from the millions of other applicants hoping for attention from the Admissions Committee. After all, everyone is cranking out … [Read more...] about 101 PA School Admissions Essays: The Book!
Finding a Physician Assistant Mentor: The Foolproof PA Shadowing Guide
hen I first contemplated a career as a physician assistant I was hard pressed to find a PA to shadow. I was dying to find a PA and pick their brain, learn about what they do, possibly shadow for a day or two. But, the question is where do you start? Every single PA I know would love to be approached by a potential PA school applicant. I … [Read more...] about Finding a Physician Assistant Mentor: The Foolproof PA Shadowing Guide
PA School Ranking by PANCE Pass Rates
ince 1998 US News has been publishing the only known ranking of PA programs. Their rankings are based on subjective peer assessment surveys of PA program faculty. These peer assessment surveys are sent to deans, other administrators, and faculty at accredited physician assistant programs. Respondents rate the academic quality of physician … [Read more...] about PA School Ranking by PANCE Pass Rates
Episode 47: The Audio PANCE and PANRE Board Review Podcast – Comprehensive Audio Quiz
Welcome to episode 47 of the FREE Audio PANCE and PANRE Physician Assistant Board Review Podcast. Join me as I cover 10 PANCE and PANRE board review questions from the Academy course content following the NCCPA™ content blueprint (download the FREE cheat sheet). This week we will be covering 10 general board review questions based on the NCCPA … [Read more...] about Episode 47: The Audio PANCE and PANRE Board Review Podcast – Comprehensive Audio Quiz
Secrets of Successful PA School Letters of Recommendation
Whether we like it or not, other people's opinions matter. A good letter of recommendation can make your day; a great letter of recommendation can change your life. Whether it is a dating review on Tinder, a restaurant recommendation on Yelp, a movie review on Rotten Tomatoes or an open request for holiday vacation recommendations on … [Read more...] about Secrets of Successful PA School Letters of Recommendation
Physician Assistant Postgraduate Residency and Fellowship Programs: The Ultimate Guide
Postgraduate PA School Residency and Fellowship Programs As a new, or even experienced PA, it is normal to feel uncomfortable with the thought of jumping into a medical specialty. Often we have had little more than 30 days of training in a particular field, and we are joining a team of specialists who expect us to perform at the level of … [Read more...] about Physician Assistant Postgraduate Residency and Fellowship Programs: The Ultimate Guide
Murmur Madness: The Audio PANCE and PANRE Episode 45
Welcome to episode 45 of the FREE Audio PANCE and PANRE Physician Assistant Board Review Podcast. Today we are going to take a brief detour away from 10 daily questions and instead cover the murmurs you need to know for your PANCE and PANRE exam. I have still included an 11 question exam at the end of this post so make sure you scroll … [Read more...] about Murmur Madness: The Audio PANCE and PANRE Episode 45
