Whether you are applying to PA school, to your first PA job, or you are a seasoned PA interested in an exciting new career possibility, you are likely worried most about constructing an effective resume. But, one of the most overlooked and underrated components of the application is the cover letter. Like the PA school […]
Pre-Physician Assistant
You Have 625 Words and 2.5 Minutes to Get Into PA School: Use Them Wisely
The average person’s reading speed is about 250 words per minute. The CASPA personal statement allows a 5,000-character count (about 625 words). Therefore, a full-length statement would take an average of 2.5 minutes to read. If a PA program received 1,000 applications meeting or exceeding minimum screening qualifications, reading all of these personal statements would […]
7 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, prerequisite requirements, and college transcripts which make it hard to differentiate yourself from the pack. […]
12 Secrets to Writing an Irresistible PA School Personal Statement
In our book “How to write your PA School personal statement,” we interviewed twelve PA school administrators from twelve top-ranking PA programs across the country in search of answers to a simple question: What do PA school administrators want to see in your PA school essay? The results of this search, summarized in the first […]
Can the PA-CAT® Exam Predict PA School Success?
With over 1115,000 PAs actively working in the US and a projected increase of 37% through 2025, it is fair to say that the PA profession is growing. Along with a burgeoning clinician demand for PAs, there is an even more significant burden placed on PA academic programs to recognize those individuals best prepared for […]
The Worst PA School Interview Question Ever!
Picture yourself rocking through your PA school interview when one of the interviewers asks… The. Worst. Question. Ever. It’s been jokingly referred to as a buzzkill, but it can have serious adverse effects on an interview, undermining confidence and scattering coherent thoughts. What is it? Take a listen to Pre-PA Taylor Hill answer the question in a […]
Pre-PA Consulting and Advising
The PA Life Pre-PA Coaching and Consulting Services Our pre-PA coaching service consists of a one-hour Zoom consultation with a practicing PA who is a vetted Pre-PA coach. We will address your specific questions or concerns about becoming a PA and applying to PA school. Common themes addressed during these coaching sessions include: Here are […]
The 5 Best Books for Aspiring Physician Assistants
Are you looking for the best books on how to get into PA school? The sheer number of books and resources for those interested in PA school or wishing to learn more about the PA Profession has grown in lockstep with the PA profession. While the timeless classic The Ultimate Guide to Getting Into Physician […]
Mastering Your PA School Interview: Tone Matters
In your PA school interview, there will inevitably be answers that tempt you to go negative. Don’t do it! Resist the urge to throw someone under the bus – no matter how much they may deserve it. There will be several questions where you’ll be inclined to be pessimistic. Describe a situation where your work […]
101 PA School Applicants Answer: What’s Your Greatest Strength?
Stop being normal! Being average is where all the competition, pain, and disaster lie. Normal people become lost or even forgotten about. What are your greatest strengths as a PA school applicant? What separates you from the pack? It’s a common PA school interview question, and it’s also an important step in outlining your PA school […]
The Interview That Got This Pre-PA Into 5 PA Schools
The Mock PA School Interview That Got This Pre-Physician Assistant Into 5 PA Schools Have you been asking yourself the same question as Tolu? How do you prepare answers for your PA school interview without sounding rehearsed? How do you effectively talk about your weaknesses or discuss your strengths without sounding like a braggart? Just […]
7 Questions to Ask Yourself While Writing Your PA School Personal Statement
Here are seven questions that you should ask yourself (and answer) while writing your PA school personal essay + FREE worksheet 1. What are you passionate about? You should be able to answer this question and if you’re not sure what you’re passionate about start thinking about it and make a list right now. Start […]
Top 5 Reasons NOT to Become a Physician Assistant
Here are the Top 5 Reasons NOT to Become a Physician Assistant (PA) 1. You are becoming a PA because it’s (enter your reason here) than becoming a doctor Examples include: It’s easier than becoming a doctor It’s more convenient than becoming a doctor It’s more practical than becoming a doctor It’s my backup plan […]
5 PA School Essays That Got These Pre-PAs Accepted Into PA School
Ever wonder what PA school admissions directors are really looking for in a winning PA school essay? Have you been searching the internet and physician assistant forums for samples of PA school applicant essays for reference? Have you ever thought that your personal statement might be a bit, well, boring? We’ve got your back. In […]
4 Skills Pre-PAs Must Develop Before PA School
It’s no secret that getting into PA school requires a lot of hard work and planning. It’s easy to become so overwhelmed by what you need to do to get into PA school that you lose sight of what you can be doing right now to prepare in advance for the rigors of being a physician […]
10 Questions Every PA School Personal Statement Must Answer
There’s no one right way to craft your PA personal statement. In fact, it should be as individual as you are. However, there are basic things to include, that together, answer the question: “Why do you want to be a PA?” Here are 10 questions every PA personal statement needs to answer What brings you […]
The GRE and PA School: The Pre-PA Advisor Series
The Pre-PA Advisor Series Welcome to the PA Advisors Series – a special series of posts where PA school applicants like yourself ask the tough questions and admissions directors from top-ranking PA schools provide the answers. This post is also included as part five of our five-part series “The 5 steps to PA school.” Today We […]
Infographic: Countries Where Physician Assistants Work
International Physician Assistants (PAs), Physician Associates, and Advanced Care Providers Infographic demonstrating the international development of the physician assistant profession. A graphical comparison of the countries where PAs can work, train, and practice around the globe. Including country-specific title, United States PA practice authority in that country, PA salary, number of physician assistants or physician […]
10 Reasons Why Physician Assistant is the #2 Healthcare Job in 2023
Have you seen the big news? With a score of 8.3 out of ten, physician assistants sit at the top of the list as the number two healthcare job in America in 2023 and #4 of 100 top US jobs overall. Who’s number one? Hint: it’s a close relative to the PA profession. Click the […]
Why Are So Many Women Becoming PAs? Here’s One Man’s Answer
Although the physician assistant profession began as a male-dominated workforce, women now comprise over 72 percent of physician assistants (PAs) in the United States. In fact, in the 51 short years since our careers’ inception, it was only the first 20 that saw a male-led majority. In 1972, five years after the inaugural class of PAs […]
The Top 5 Reasons People Choose to Become a PA: Put To The Test
What are the most important considerations for a career path after PA school for PA students and future PAs? Here are the top 5 reasons PA students give for choosing PA school Work-life balance Availability of jobs Stable, secure future Ability to pay off debt Relationship with supervising physician For those answering the most recent Physician […]
Mock 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 success on your path to PA school and be more confident on the day of your PA school interview. Today’s […]
Mock 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 success on your path to PA school and be more confident on the day of your PA school interview. Today’s […]
Mock Physician Assistant School Interview With Taylor Hill Pre-PA
Ever wanted to know what a mock PA school interview looks like? Thanks to Taylor Hill and ten other remarkable Pre-PAs just like him you are about to find out. Welcome to the first video of our Mock PA school Interview Series. Ten blog posts featuring ten amazing Pre-PAs who have graciously shared their recorded […]
Life as a Single Mom in Physician Assistant (PA) School
Editor’s Note: This is a guest post from Jennifer of The PA Cafe. My name is Jennifer, a United States Army Veteran, single mom and currently enrolled in both the Master’s of Public Health and Master’s of Medical Science (PA program) in Davie, FL. The journey through PA school has been both challenging and humbling […]
How to Become a Physician Assistant (PA) in 8 Easy Steps
So, you want to become a physician assistant? Congratulations, you have taken the first step on a lifelong journey filled with many joys, significant struggles, and a lifetime of free pastries. Becoming a PA is relatively straightforward: Complete the required prerequisites and healthcare experience Apply to and be accepted to any one of the of […]
The Ultimate Guide to CASPA Character and Space Limits
Does this sound familiar? That essay you’ve spent countless hours revising, run through grammar check over and over, asked your readers to proof it so many times they stopped answering your calls, and had your computer read it back to you aloud for a final check, is done. You upload it into your CASPA application […]
The Ultimate PA School Personal Statement Starter Kit
If you are struggling to write your PA school personal narrative, then this message is for you. Here’s why . . . PA school admissions teams have an uncanny ability (honed on the job) to detect when an applicant’s essay rings false. And you need to realize that there is a cost to writing a […]
The #1 Mistake PRE-PAs Make on Their Personal Statement
What’s the #1 mistake that potential PAs and pre-physician assistant students make while drafting their PA school personal statement? A failure to outline and plan! Outlining your personal statement is like following a proven recipe. Although strong personal statements do not all follow the same format (nor should they), there is a certain formula for success that will […]
The Pre-PA Advisor Series: Patient Contact Hours and Healthcare Experience
The Pre-PA Advisor Series Welcome to the PA Advisors Series – a special series of posts where PA school applicants like yourself ask the tough questions and admissions directors from top-ranking PA schools provide the answers. Today We Will Discuss: Patient Contact Hours and Healthcare Experience Requirements for PA School Here are some of the questions […]
