Exploring the Impact of PA Program Duration on PANCE Success and PA Competence In a time long, long ago, just before the release of the first iPhone, I graduated from the UMDNJ (now Rutgers) PA program. It was a three-year PA program with a nearly 100% PANCE pass rate. At the time, Rutgers was one […]
Pre-Physician Assistant
No Experience Required! 84 PA Schools That Don’t Require Healthcare Experience
Are you looking to get into PA School fast? Then skip the healthcare experience! Below is a list of 84 PA programs in the United States that do not require patient care experience for PA school admissions. I use “require” lightly because many of these schools which claim no healthcare experience requirement do “strongly recommend” or “prefer” PA school […]
A Look Inside Two PA School Interviews
The PA school interview is daunting Be prepared, but not to the point that you sound like a robot. Be relaxed, but not too relaxed as that might give the impression you did not do your research. Inside Two PA School Interviews I interviewed at two PA schools in California in 2016, and they starkly […]
An Open Letter to all Graduates of Foreign Medical Schools and Others Interested in PA Programs in the United States
After reading a number of questions about acceptance into PA programs a prevailing theme has emerged. Many international physicians stated that their interest in becoming PAs stems from dissatisfaction with the hours or volume of patients they are seeing in their own practices in their native countries. So, what is my advice? That you make […]
80 PA Schools That Don’t Require the GRE
Are you like me and looking to dodge the GRE? Does the thought of studying for the GRE exam make your palms sweat and your heart flutter? Wouldn’t it be great if you could find PA schools that don’t require the GRE and simply avoid the GRE exam altogether? Well, you are in luck! Out of 260 […]
13 Provocative PA School Personal Statement Expressions
Highlight Your PA Shadowing Experience in your CASPA Personal Statement How do you know you’ll be a good PA unless you’ve seen one in action? By shadowing – taking the time to follow a physician assistant through her day to observe what her work is really like. When we interviewed admissions directors for our book “How to Write Your Physician […]
2017 Physician Assistant Program Tuition and Cost Comparison Table
2017 Physician Assistant Program Tuition and Cost Comparison Tuition and cost data of resident and nonresident tuition including length and duration of all US PA programs. Average Cost of PA School in 2017 Physician assistant program budgets have increased modestly over the past five years. Average cost of resident tuition for a 27-month physician assistant program is: $71,369 […]
How to Write “Physician Assistant” The Definitive PA Grammar Guide
Do you know the correct answer to these important questions? Do you capitalize the word physician assistant? How do you write the plural of physician assistant? What is the proper name of the PA profession? Should I write physician assistant or physician associate on my personal statement? All these questions are real — We know […]
How to Write Your Physician Assistant Personal Statement The Book!
Admissions Directors and faculty share their expectations for your PA school personal statement and we teach you how to write it! 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 top ranking PA […]
What are the Best PA Schools in 2024? Physician Assistant School Rankings
Does the PA school you attend really make a difference? When it comes to finding a job, not so much, but when it comes to obtaining superb clinical experience along with solid faculty, excellent academics, and a top-rate student body – then yes, the PA school you attend does matter. Below is a list of […]
Your Main Goal on Your Path to PA Shouldn’t be Immediate Success or Money, But to Learn as Much as Possible
Your primary goal as a new physician assistant or as someone hoping to become one should not be immediate success or money, but to learn as much as possible. When people look for a “way in” to a particular field – an internship or first job – they often search for positions that promise the […]
Direct Entry and Dual Degree BS/MS Pre-Physician Assistant/Associate Programs
Direct Entry PA Programs There are 44 direct-entry, dual-degree BS/MS Physician Assistant/Associate (PA) programs in the United States. These programs offer early provisional acceptance to exceptional high school students who wish to accelerate their academic and career paths to becoming physician assistants. Application for the program is usually made during the senior year of high […]
How to Survive PA School as a Dad: Advice from a PA School Parent
The Life of a PA School Father My name is William Seibt, and I was a PA student and a dad. We moved out to Miami from Phoenix to attend PA school when my son was nine months old. We arrived in Miami in a Penske truck the evening before classes started and stayed with my sister-in-law […]
Married with Children in PA School: How This Mom Makes it Work
The Life of a PA School Mother My name is Anna, and I am a mother of two boys, two and six years old. I am also a PA student. For me, it was a long and arduous journey to get into PA school. I applied three consecutive years before finally getting accepted to a […]
The PA History Quiz: I Scored a 3 Out of 25, How About You?
View Poll And the answer is . . . You will have to take the quiz below to find out! “Whoever wishes to foresee the future must consult the past.” I wish the title of this blog post were an attention grabbing exaggeration, but sadly it is true, I scored a 3 out of 25 […]
5 Tips to Get you Started on Your Personal Essay (and why you should do it now)
Hey, You PA School Procrastinators You know who you are — squeaking under deadlines by a nanosecond, feeling compelled to vacuum, or worse (when truly in the grips of avoidance), deciding to clean the toilet rather than tackle that pesky research paper. Believe me, as a recovering procrastinator, I can relate. Join the club When […]
238 Free Online Science, Math and Pre-Medical Courses
Below is a comprehensive list of over 238 free online science, math and premedical courses. Many of these are geared to the pre-pa student, but there are several courses covering more advanced medical topics, such as the free Stanford Mini Med School, topics in endocrinology, brain and behavior, physiology, global health and genomics. Whether you are […]
31 Physician Assistant Personal Statement Examples
Below, are 31 PA school application essays and personal statements pulled from our FREE personal statement and essay collaborative comments section. This is an unedited sample of PA school essay submissions, meant to provide you with some insight into how other applicants are approaching their CASPA personal statements. Real World PA School Personal Statements These […]
9 Simple Steps to Avoid Silly Spelling and Grammar Goofs in Your PA School Personel Statement
Did you spot my grammar goof? If not take a second look at the title. You have spent days, weeks, and months writing and perfecting your personal (not personel) statement. You have slaved countless hours in front of the computer screen trying to shed a creative light on your background and highlight your experiences. Don’t […]
Scholarships, Grants, and Loan Repayment Programs for Physician Assistants (2026 Update)
PA School Is Expensive — But So Is Not Going It goes without saying that PA school is expensive. It is also demanding, which means you will have limited (if any) time to work while attending. With the average undergraduate education debt prior to PA school hovering around $36,300 and the average PA school debt […]
Physician Assistant Personal Statement Workshop: “To say I was an accident-prone child is an understatement”
In this latest installment of the personal statement workshop, we continue to pull essays submitted from the comments section through our free essay submission process and provide you, and our users, with a more detailed analysis of their essays. This submission is by Katie, whose life experiences combined with a traumatic injury at the age of 13, […]
Physician Assistant Recruiting Video: Spoiler Alert, There’s a Dolphin!
Physician Assistant Recruiting Video Why become a physician assistant? Find out from a guy with a beard and cool posters. Spoiler alert: there’s a dolphin! Key Points in their order of appearance: First and foremost it is important to understand that physician assistant is the greatest profession known to humankind! What do you do? Follow […]
A Surgeon Speaks: 7 Reasons Why You Should Choose PA Over MD
I am a fellowship-trained surgeon. Besides the financial aspect, the following 7 points will make your decision of PA vs. MD easy: 1. It takes on an average at least 15 years (after high school) of head in the sand (books) to complete fellowship and reach the $200,000 debt figure that you are quoting. 2. […]
PA Personal Statement Workshop: Essay 7, “I Want to Take People From Dying to Living, I Want to Get Them Down From the Cliff.”
In this seventh (and final) installment of our special week-long personal statement workshop, we continue to pull essays submitted from the comments section through our free essay submission process and provide you, and our users, with a more detailed analysis of their essays. This seventh submission is by Jordan and is a real cliffhanger. Jordan, a […]
PA Personal Statement Workshop: Essay 6, “That First Day in Surgery was the First Day of the Rest of my Life”
In this sixth installment of our special week-long personal statement workshop, we continue to pull essays submitted from the comments section through our free essay submission process and provide you, and our users, with a more detailed analysis of their essays. This sixth submission is by Lindsay. It starts with a story of her time spent […]
PA Personal Statement Workshop: Essay 5, “Then Reach, my Son, and Lift Your People up With You”
In this fifth installment of our special week-long personal statement workshop, we continue to pull essays submitted from the comments section through our free essay submission process and provide you, and our users, with a more thorough analysis of their essays. This fifth submission is by Jacob. It is a wonderful personal statement detailing his life […]
PA Personal Statement Workshop: Essay 4, “I Have Gained so Much Experience by Working With Patients”
In this fourth installment of our special week-long personal statement workshop, we continue to pull essays submitted from the comments section through our free essay submission process and provide you, and our users, with a more detailed analysis of their essays. This fourth submission is by Parn, who immigrated to the United States from Iran at […]
PA Personal Statement Workshop: Essay 3, “She Smiled, Said “Gracias!” and Gave me a Big Hug”
In this third installment of my special week-long introductory session of the personal statement workshop, we are pulling essays submitted from the comments section through our free essay submission process and providing you, and our users, with a more detailed analysis of their essays. This third submission is by Gabe. It details his life growing up in a […]
PA Personal Statement Workshop: Essay 2, “I Want to Move Towards the Forefront of Patient Care”
In this second installment of my special week-long introductory session of the personal statement workshop, we are pulling essays submitted from the comments section through our free essay submission process and providing you, and our users, with a more thorough analysis of their essays. This second submission is by Justine. It details her progression from an adolescent overcoming a […]
7 Essays in 7 Days: PA Personal Statement Workshop: Essay 1, “A PA Changed My Life”
In this special week-long introductory session of the personal statement workshop, we are pulling essays submitted from the comments section through our free essay submission process and providing you, and our users, with a more thorough analysis of their essays. Since examples often make better teachers than words, pay close attention. You may find just the advice […]
