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You are here: Home / Pre-Physician Assistant / CASPA Application / How to Become a Physician Assistant (PA) in 8 Easy Steps

How to Become a Physician Assistant (PA) in 8 Easy Steps

BY Stephen Pasquini PA-C 2 Comments

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 joy's, significant struggles and a lifetime of free pastries.

Becoming a PA is relatively straightforward:

  1. Complete the required prerequisites and healthcare experience
  2. Apply to and be accepted to any one of the of 265+ US physician assistant programs
  3. Pass your PANCE (Physician Assistant National Certification Exam)
  4. Find a job and complete the licensure paperwork in your state of practice

The timeline for becoming a PA can be as little as five years from the time you leave high school if you enter a direct entry PA program. But, for the clear majority, it's more like 8-9 years.

  • Undergraduate degree program: 4 - 6 years
  • Healthcare experience: 2-3 years
  • PA school 2-3 years

Of course, the process of getting there is much more nuanced.

Here are the eight steps you need to take to become a physician assistant:

Step 1: Identify Your PA Passion

Why do you want to be a physician assistant?

In the "old days," it may have been enough to want to be a PA "just because." You were looking for a job in the medical field that combined reasonable hours, good pay, and a lot of autonomy.

But nowadays you can't just be "a little bit in." You have to be full on PA fanatical. Meaning you need not only have a firm understanding of what PAs do and how they fit into the complex ecosystem of healthcare delivery, but you also must develop a proven track record that indicates without any reasonable doubt that this is the profession for you.

How do you do this? You must place yourself close to actual working PAs, you must be willing to roll up your sleeves and get your hands dirty, and you must become the definition of human compassion.

No matter where you are on this journey, whether you are a high school student dreaming of a bigger future, a college student completing your undergraduate degree, a married mother of two seeking a new career in medicine, or a recent college graduate, you MUST make this your number one priority.

When I was completing my undergraduate degree at the University of Washington, I came across a physician assistant while working in the student health center as a medical records clerk. I was premed at the time (something I have discussed before on this blog). Meeting a PA was a real game-changer for me.

The point here though is less about my meeting a PA and more about where I was at the time that I was able to work with one in the first place.

People ask me all the time "Stephen, how do I know if want to be a physician assistant?" "How do I find healthcare experience?" Or “how do I find PAs to shadow?" These are all reasonable questions, but the answer is quite simple:

You walk out your door with a smile on your face, and you get to work!

Which brings me to step number two:

Step 2: Get off your butt and start working in a healthcare field and in your community

You will never know if the PA profession is right for you unless you are working in healthcare.

There are many ways to do this, and yes, it may require some work on your behalf, but it's no skin off your back. You want to be a PA, you love patients, and you will do anything to make people's lives better. Right?

A lot of people have a lot of excuses as to why they "can't get healthcare experience." But the majority of this is just laziness.

Nobody cares that you have a full load of college courses, or if that CNA degree program conflicts with your spin class, or if you are working a full-time job, or if your car broke down last week, or any of the other five million excuses I hear as to why people can't get healthcare experience hours.

Personally, the day I knew I wanted to be a PA is the day I started working my ass off to become one.

And so should you.

Start working and serving in organizations within your community that help people: Food kitchens, youth summer programs, health support at local races, crisis lines, needle exchanges, churches, health fairs, senior service agencies, hospitals, daycares, homeless health centers, trash pickup, nursing homes, meals on wheels, etc. etc. etc.  You name it; you should be there bright eyed and bushy tailed ready to lend a helping hand.

If you are the type of person who likes to hold a medical certificate, take a 1-2-month night or summer program and obtain your certification (Step 6).

I started working immediately even before college. I remember grabbing a sheet of paper from my high school's student job board which led to a paid opportunity helping elderly home-bound families in my community. I worked at Burger King the summer before college and was part of a community organization that taught recycling to elementary schools across the county. When I went to college, I walked directly into the student health center and offered my services - paid or not. Sensing a good deal, they immediately gave me a job in medical records for a couple of hours a day. After one year they needed help in the laboratory, so they trained me to be a phlebotomist, which led to me making connections throughout the entire University healthcare system which led to a few reference letters and eventually to my PA school acceptance.

  • I took night classes and received my EMT certification and even sat for an interview for The Seattle Fire Department.
  • I worked for two years after college for the mobile unit of The Puget Sound Blood Center. After six months I was already working as a supervisor.
  • I got my CPR and BLS certifications.
  • I received my phlebotomy certification.

Do anything and everything you can to get healthcare experience. You need a no-excuses mindset. If you aren't getting health care experience, it's your fault. So get started now.

Step 3: Create a CASPA Account Today

Create a CASPA Account Today

I could probably move this up to step number one.

There is no penalty for creating a CASPA account early. CASPA is the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants and creating an account is free and will provide you with an essential framework for your PA journey.

You can add/remove PA schools from across the country to get a sneak peek on prerequisite requirements, gain a valuable understanding of additional documents that may be required, see what questions PA schools are asking and create a structure for your application.

Simply put, the earlier you understand and familiarize yourself with CASPA the better!

So, don't wait, if you haven't already, create an account today.

Step 4: Work Your Ass Off and Crush your Prerequisites

Optimize Your PA School Prerequisites

OK, let me say one thing quickly here.

I am not a straight A student, and you certainly don't have to be. So, don't go saying to yourself "well I am just not smart enough," or "I have bad grades, and I will never get into PA school."

Trust me I get it, let's flashback to my sophomore year in college when my guidance counselor told me straight up that I had no future in medicine.

I won't lie, this led to a serious period of self-reflection, depression and eventually redirection. But I regrouped, dusted off my inner confidence, found a new guidance counselor, changed my major and hit go. Then I crushed it.

Take that evil guidance counselor!

The point is: anything worth doing in life is going to be hard. Maybe you are one of the lucky few, and you were born with a photographic memory, so test taking is a breeze. Perhaps you are gifted with social skills; maybe you are just a really hard worker, maybe you are radiating human kindness. Whatever your special skill is, identify it early and exploit the hell out of it.

My skill is that I can endure a tremendous amount of suffering, I care deeply about humanity, and I have a killer smile 😃. So I have had to align myself with people who value these traits. Some PA schools say to hell with community college and will only accept students with a 3.75 GPA and four-year university coursework. Not for me! But, maybe this works well for the student with the photographic memory. So, you must find schools and people who align with your core values. Seek them out, and your path to PA school will straighten.

Oh yes, I almost forgot, you MUST COMPLETE ALL OF THE REQUIRED PREREQUISITES to become a competitive applicant at the schools for which you wish to apply. Yep, all of them, not some of them, not just the ones you like, but ALL of them. And, you CAN NOT take the easy route. Which means if they require Biology 1 you take Biology 3, if they don't require a Spanish elective, you become bilingual and work in a healthcare center treating farmworkers in your community.

Aim high, even if it takes you out of your comfort zone, do your best, and you will be a better applicant because of it.

Step 5: Join Professional Organizations

Join The AAPA

If you are not, at a minimum, a member of the AAPA and your state PA society shame on you.

So, if you are not a member, stop what you are doing right now and join. The icing on the cake is that this is the only time in your life that these memberships will be affordable so take advantage of it while you can. Trust me, once you are a practicing PA the $300 plus membership fee will make you yearn for the days of old.

  1. AAPA affiliate memberships ($100/year)
  2. State PA Chapter (about $30)
  3. Physician Assistants for Global Health ($15)
  4. Physicians for a National Health Program
  5. Subscribe to the PAEA Journal

On the same note, you should attend the annual conferences offered by these institutions. They will be offered at a reduced price as part of your membership, and it is a wonderful way to network.

Step 6: Get a Certificate (or three)

I mentioned this briefly in step three because, for many, part of gaining healthcare experience is getting a certificate that will make you a productive member of a healthcare team.

Many of these training programs can be completed within a matter of months/days. Also, the tuition can be relatively inexpensive if you complete the training program at a community college, state-funded technical school, or adult education program. Beware of the for-profit entities that charge $15,000+ for the same CNA or MA training you would be able to obtain at a fraction of the cost elsewhere.

  • You should undoubtedly complete your BLS/CPR training
  • Consider stepping up your game and becoming ACLS and PALS certified
  • Become HIPPA certified ($29 online)

More advanced certificates:

  • Restorative Nurse Assistant Certificate of Competency ($100) 16 hours: Allows you to work as a physical and occupational therapist in the skilled nursing home
  • Pharmacy Technician Program ($1,000)
  • Emergency medical technician ($1,100). Here is the course I took at North Seattle Community College back in the day.
  • Take an EKG Technical certification program ($1,000)
  • Phlebotomy certification can often be obtained in 1-2 months
  • Take a Medical Terminology Course and receive a certificate of competency ($150)
  • Certified nursing assistant (CNA) or medical assistant (MA)
  • Become a certified medical scribe
  • Become Red Cross Licensed Training Provider

Here is an example of what is available in my area through the Pajaro adult education department in Santa Cruz County, CA. You can find similar opportunities in your region by performing a Google search for "EMT courses near me community college," or "Certified Nursing Assistant course near me adult school." Search and refine until you find affordable options that offer a timeframe and hours that will fit with your schedule.

I received most of my training on the job, so you don't have to wait to complete a certification program to begin working. At my current office, only a few of my non-PA/MD/NP colleagues have medical certificates. Those that don't have been trained on the spot. This is the case for our two medical scribes and surgery room assistants, both who intend to apply to PA school.

Step 7: Apply to PA School

Apply to PA School

Everything you have likely read online makes the CASPA application seem like an insurmountable beast of an opponent. But completing your CASPA application won't be hard if you have taken the steps outlined in this blog post. Surprise, you have everything you need to apply to PA school!

You made it here because you found your PA passion. And because of this burning desire obtaining healthcare experience hours and completing the necessary prerequisite coursework was just a natural byproduct of your innate drive. In other words, you got to do what you love, and you succeeded because of it.

You have been working in the medical profession, so you have made invaluable connections. People trust you, and they are eager to say how much they love you by providing three exceptional letters of recommendation.

If it was required you prepared for and took the GRE.

You have shadowed several PAs because you work with a couple of them in your current clinical setting. You bought them each a cup of coffee and took them out for lunch while you picked their brain. You sought PAs out in every capacity.

Now, let's look at the CASPA application. It is divided into four sections (but you already knew that right?).

1. Personal information (7 sections)

  1. Biographic information
  2. Contact information
  3. Citizenship Information
  4. Race and Ethnicity
  5. Other information
  6. Family Information
  7. Environmental Factors

2. Academic history (4 sections)

  1. High School Attended
  2. Colleges Attended
  3. Transcript Entry
  4. Standardized Tests: GRE, MCAT, TOEFL (if necessary)

3. Supporting information (7 sections)

  1. Evaluations: You must have a minimum of 3 requested evaluations to submit your application. You may enter a maximum of 5.
  2. Experiences: List employment, internships and volunteer experiences.
  3. Achievements: List of awards, honors, and scholarships.
  4. Licenses and Certifications
  5. Essay
  6. Release Statement
  7. Memberships

4. Program Materials (will be dependent on the schools and how many you applied to)

  1. University 1:
    1. Documents: CV/Resume, Catalog Course Description, License, Military papers, Other, Publication, shadowing/healthcare hours
    2. Prerequisites
    3. Questions (2000 characters each)
      1. How has your approach to your academic coursework prepared you to be a successful PA student?
      2. Describe your greatest strength and your greatest weakness as it pertains to becoming a PA student and a graduate PA.
      3. Describe your exposure to PAs in clinical practice.
      4. Do you speak fluently another language in addition to English? If yes, please list.
      5. Why did you choose to apply to the RBHS - SHP PA Program?
      6. If you are reapplying to Rutgers PA Program, what is different about your candidacy since the last time you applied?
  2. University 2:
    1. Documents
    2. Prerequisites
    3. Questions (yes or no)
      1. Have you completed a minimum of 50 hours directly shadowing a Physician Assistant?
      2. Have you completed a minimum of 250 hours observing or participating in the delivery of healthcare in a clinical environment?
      3. Have you applied to Lake Erie College's Physician Assistant Program in previous application cycles?
  3. University 3:
    1. Documents: CV/Resume, Military Papers, Catalog Course Description
    2. Prerequisites
    3. Questions:
      1. Have you ever applied to the Drexel University PA program in a previous application cycle?
      2. If you answered Yes to the above question, in which previous application cycle(s) did you apply? Select all that apply.

Many schools require supplemental materials. If you have followed the steps above answering any additional question and providing extra information will be easy peasy lemon squeezy.

And if you are wondering about your PA school essay, it will only be as good as the experiences that got you to this point. These experiences are meaningful and profound. Your life is no less impressive than the person sitting next to you. Writing an essay is as simple as being mindfully aware of what has gotten you to this point: your achievements, struggles, background, and experiences. Most importantly how all of this answers your "why" of becoming a physician assistant.

And if you still need some help with your PA school essay consider hiring my team of experienced professionals to tie it all together for you.

Step 8: Be Yourself and Nail Your Interview

The day before my PA school interview I made a journey from Albany to New York Pennsylvania Station and then to NJ on a southbound transit train in zero degree weather in the heart of a rough East Coast winter.

It was my second time to NY City, and when I stepped out of Penn station into the heart of Manhattan and into Times Square, I was offered a seat to attend the Late Show with David Letterman. How's that for a friendly welcome to the City! I took the free seat without hesitation.

These were the days before Uber and cell phones, so after the show, I stumbled my way back to the transit center and boarded a bus to Piscataway NJ where I was scheduled to have an early morning interview at Rutgers. I found my hotel room and tried to get some sleep, which of course I didn't.

Upon arrival at Rutgers PA Program HQ, I was greeted by an enthusiastic group of PA students and 20 or so applicants. We assembled into a room and mingled for about an hour until my name was called. I was then escorted into another room with three friendly PA school faculty eager to ask me questions.

Remember, the purpose of every step of your journey up to this point has been to prepare you for the day of your interview. Interviews are only as hard as whatever weakness you are trying to cover up.

Over the years, I have found that my ability to interview successfully has very little to do with the interview itself and a lot more to do with how much I understand and believe in the topic I am being interviewed about.

How much do you believe you want to be a PA?

This should be an easy question to answer. It is reflected 100% in how many HCE hours you have accumulated, how many PAs you have shadowed, what kind of letters of recommendation you have, your GPA, GRE scores and volunteer experiences. It is reflected in your smile, your handshake, and your enthusiasm to be there.

When they ask you "what kind of stress do you see associated with the PA profession?" Well, you have worked alongside PAs for years, you have shadowed PAs, you understand what they do and what their day looks like. The answer is an easy one.

When they ask you "what have you done to increase your chances of being accepted into our PA program?" You can't wait to tell them about your experiences working in the homeless health service center; the nights spent taking extra classes to make up for a couple of bad undergraduate grades, and the work you do as a volunteer with the Crisis Text Line.

When you are asked to "describe an interaction you had with a patient that made an impact on you," Maria Gutierrez immediately comes to mind. You remember how this 90-year-old mother of 10 would come to your office every month for her INR check. You remember how she would take your hand and wish that God would bless you. You remember how much you loved her smile and the generations of family that would come with her to each visit. You illustrate how through her grace she has taught you about what is important in life.

Books on interviews remind us that "the admissions committee selects candidates on the basis of emotion (likability, credibility, and trust) and justifies that decision with the facts (GPA, GRE scores, and medical experience)."

You see, you can sit and read for hours about how to be likable, credible, and trustworthy. How to dress for impact, and how you should smile at your PA school interview. But you will not need to worry about any of this if you have a real passion and desire to serve.

You can't fake a service mindset, even when covered by layers of nervousness and baggy eyes from a lack of sleep and jitters from way too much coffee and that brown spot from the coffee you spilled on your tie accidentally on your way to the interview. You can't fake years of hard work and determination. The good news is: you don't have too.

Celebrate Your Success

Whether you’re a first-time applicant or a reapplicant, these eight steps are a blueprint for mastering the application process.

The reason becoming a PA is now more competitive than ever is because the word got out. PAs holds a sacred place in healthcare. And very similar to becoming a doctor, as a PA, you will be one of the most integral parts of a patient's care and recovery. But just remember, the nurses will still get more flowers and pastries and don't touch their pastries unless you have been told to do so.

I have never regretted my decision to become a PA, and I know you won't either.

If you need help any step of the way, drop me a line. We offer many services to help you wherever you may find yourself on the journey.

With your passion, commitment, motivation, and patience, you will soon rise to the top of the applicant pool much faster than if you go it alone. You’ll become a much more confident applicant, you’ll get more interviews, and you’ll be a Physician Assistant Student (PA-S) before you know it.

- Stephen

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About Stephen Pasquini PA-C

A PA since 2004 and 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.

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Comments

  1. Vanessa H Wintersteiger says

    April 21, 2021 at 5:22 pm

    A lot of your advice is good but I think you need to correct the part that says with a 16 hour restorative nursing program certification for CNAs; you can work as an Occupational Therapist or Physical Therapist. PT schools are all a doctorate programs at this point and OT is a Masters or Doctorate with all having to be Doctorate degrees in 2027. It is a lot more than a 16 hours certification program, lol. Restorative nursing aids are usually CNAs that work under the supervision of a nurse overseeing a restorative nursing program. Therapist often refer patients to RNP when they have completed therapy.

    Reply
  2. Certified Nursing Assistant says

    January 22, 2020 at 8:12 am

    CNA degree has a very bright scope, especially for women. The CNA graduate gets many benefits. Biggoals has an amazing article on why you should pursue such a degree. Give it a read.

    Reply

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Testimonials

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

Thank you so much for making the personal statement process less stressful! Although I had been planning and brainstorming for months, the process of writing my journey in 5,000 characters was just daunting and overwhelming. Thank you so much for your kindness, flexibility, and your patience that helped me through this process. I appreciate how you listened and incorporated my feedback to make my personal statement a work of art that is truly representative of ME! I would highly recommend your services to any aspiring PA students who feel lost or overwhelmed by the process. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Cintia, Pre-PA

This is my second time using this editing service and I am highly satisfied with the results! Sarah Schultz worked with me on both my personal statement and a supplemental essay, both times providing excellent advice and editing on my papers. It was a pleasure working with her, and I look forward to hearing back from programs soon to see if I receive an invitation for an interview.

Sarah, Pre-PA

My editor with The PA Life was a grammar goddess! She provided amazing feedback and was quick with responding back to any emails, questions, and concerns!

Saniha, Pre-PA

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

Well worth the money. I consider myself a decent writer but found I was stuck on a few key points of my personal statement. After a few edits on my own and with a few people I trust, I decided to submit my essay for editing through ThePALife to make sure I was really on the right track. I am supremely satisfied. The essay I wrote turned out to be a solid base, but Sarah went to work, and every change and suggestion had a logical place. She polished it up and made it shine. Thank you so much!

Conor 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

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

Maddie, Pre-PA

Sue’s comments were very helpful. Her quick turnaround time is very impressive. She responded to my concerns and questions promptly. She clearly knows what to present to the PA school admissions team. I am very happy with her work.

Kitti, Pre-PA

I just want to let you know I received multiple interview invitations and got my first acceptance a few weeks ago! I am still preparing for more interviews, but at this point, I am pretty certain I will be going to Midwestern University, and I think so much of my success with applications is because of your help with my personal statement. Because of this, I wanted to reach out and say THANK YOU! I really appreciate your support and I would definitely recommend this service to anyone applying to PA school 🙂

Alli Cowan, Pre-PA

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

This was an AMAZING edit and I am highly satisfied with the level of service. 100% made it a worthwhile investment. I also used myPAresource and, although they were helpful, I found the PA Life to be a much higher quality evaluation of my personal statement. I will highly recommend it to my peers!

Jeremy, 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

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

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

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 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

This company is THE BEST! Carly did such an awesome job of not only revising my personal statement but also explaining every step she made. It helped me understand why certain things fit better in different places and helped improve my writing. I am able to submit my applications confidently, knowing that I have a strong personal statement. I HIGHLY recommend this service!

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

Nika, PA-S

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

The feedback that I received through The PA Life editing service was more detailed than I expected! It gave me a clear idea of what direction I need to take in regard to my personal statement. I absolutely loved the edits!

Crystal, Pre-PA

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

Austin, Pre-PA

I am very pleased with the services provided! I received an email almost immediately upon submitting my essay for review, and within 24 hours my essay review was completed. I would definitely recommend this service to any PA school applicant before they submit their essay to CASPA! Thank you for your help!

Hannah Watson, Pre-PA

Sue Edmonson has been a great help in ensuring my personal statement made sense and fit what information I was trying to convey. Her ability to find the pertinent parts in an essay and gain more information about me to make the essay seem relative to my pursuits was truly a Godsend. Would recommend her and your company to others. Thanks!

Christopher Ohsie, Pre-PA

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

Travis, Pre-PA

I am so glad I chose The PA Life to edit my personal essay. They polished my personal statement that was lacking in some areas into an essay I am confident with now. Everything was straightforward and prompt. Thank you, The PA Life! 🙂

Winnie, Pre-PA

I used the personal statement editing service with Deanna Matzen (April/May 2021) and the mock interview service with Mary Jones (June 2021). Both were exceptional to work with and helped me to achieve my goal. I applied to three schools and received interview invites from all three (I’m a first-time applicant). I was waitlisted at one in June and later accepted in November, received early acceptance to my top choice in November (UTSW), and I chose to decline my third interview scheduled in December. Thank you for your services!

Rachelle, 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

Working with Sarah was a wonderful experience. She was prompt, attentive, and incredibly supportive throughout the process. Sarah never deviated from the authenticity of my essay. Even after she made vast changes, the essay still felt true to what I wanted to express. Thank you, Sarah! I would recommend this service to anyone applying to PA school.

Ashley, 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

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

Deanna was so amazing! She was really thorough and strengthened my essay in one edit! I feel so confident submitting my essay and I have high hopes for interviews! Thank you for providing these services to those of us with stories that need help being told. I would definitely recommend this service to everyone who wants to apply to PA school!

Valeria, Pre-PA

I owe you a lot! Thank you so much for helping me in this important process. God bless you.

Catalina, Pre-PA

Duke is great! I had such a great time with him editing my personal statement. So glad I found this site!

Melissa Nicole Aguilera, Pre-PA

I really felt the person who edited my essay, Sue Edmondson, took the time to get to know me as a person because she wanted my essay to reflect exactly who I am. I couldn’t have been more impressed with the edits and revisions she has given me along with the reasoning behind each revision.

Nicala, 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 thought that the service was very helpful in helping me with my personal statement. Duke was always prompt with responding to emails and made himself very available throughout the process. He was also good and helping, but also making sure that I was the one doing the writing. I think that the structure of the service helped me put in enough time to come out with a very good finished product.

David H. Pre-PA

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

It was wonderful to work with The PA Life once again. I appreciated all of my editors’ feedback and creative writing style which was needed to keep the essay within the allowable character limit. I also appreciated how my editor, Sarah, took the time to discover more about me and worked to show those parts which I was unable to reflect myself. With Sarah’s help, the essay really came to life and was a true reflection of my work, personality, and aspiring goals. I’m grateful for all the work she put into helping me with this project!

Jacob, Pre-PA

Sarah was a pleasure to work with the entire time. I felt very overwhelmed when I was working on my personal statement on my own, but once I started working with Sarah, she made me feel at ease while getting my personal statement to look its best. Sarah is very knowledgeable, understanding, and professional. One of the things I loved the most about working with her is that no matter the time of the day she was always available and got back to you in a timely manner. The whole time we worked on my personal statement she made sure I felt comfortable with changes that had to be made and I appreciated this as well. Sarah is excellent at what she does and I would recommend her and this one on one service to anyone that needs it.

Odilia, Pre-PA

I’m emailing you to let you know that I received an acceptance call yesterday! It’s my first cycle applying so I’m still in shock. This may sound weird to say, but you have been a part of my journey since the beginning when I was trying to figure out how to write my personal statement, to practicing for the interview that led to my acceptance. I genuinely believe that I would not have been accepted into the program if it weren’t for you.

Anthony, PA-S

Hope everything is going well! I just wanted to let you know I’m 2/2 so far with receiving interviews. I know your help with my essays has played a huge part. I just wanted to update you and tell you how grateful I am for all of your help!

John, Pre-PA

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

Cailin, PA-S

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

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

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 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

Carly was extremely prompt and helpful! She helped edit my personal statement into something that I am extremely confident applying with!

Danielle, Pre-PA

Sue was extremely prompt and thoughtful in providing her comments, edits, and revisions. My essay had a good start but she helped me write it with admissions committees in mind. I will keep you updated on if I get interview invitations.

Kirsten, Pre-PA

I 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

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

Klam, Pre-PA

Susan did a fantastic job of editing my essay! She guided me and gave me suggestions for strengthening certain sections and equally took out weak parts. After I followed her recommendations, I really felt like I had an essay where every sentence mattered and reflected who I was. Thank you so much Susan for your help. I feel that I have a stronger essay because of your honest feedback and your help!

Patrick, Pre-PA

I rarely give all “Excellent” ratings, but this was exceptional work. Beth was quick, personable, and transformed my essay beyond expectations. I banged my head against a wall for months and was still unhappy with the final product, but reading her edit, I felt like PA school was within reach. I’d absolutely recommend this service to anyone who wants a glow-up for their personal statement.

Adam Johnson, 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

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

Elizabeth, Pre-PA

Sue was great! She edited my essay in a short time frame and the comments and feedback were very informative. She helped link all of my main ideas and gave great advice regarding appropriate information for the essay. I highly recommend this service.

Michelle, 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

Thank you so much for your help with my personal statement. The process was everything I could have wanted and more. You were wonderful to work with and I appreciate very much how you were able to connect to my personal experiences and combine that with the traits that you know make a statement successful. I have applied to my first two PA schools and I owe a big part of that to you! Once again, Thank you very much!

Louis T. Pre-PA

I really needed help with my personal statement. I wrote many copies and finally sent my favorite to the PA life to get some assistance editing. I thought I would have a hard time with the constructive criticism because I spent so much time already on my writing, but the editors were great in suggesting edits and why as well as complimenting appropriately. I’m very proud of my end product and am excited to send it to PA schools. I haven’t finalized my application yet but will definitely let the PA life know if and when I get an interview (or hopefully 2)! 🙂

Bailey B. Pre-PA

It’s very clear that Deanna, my editor, put a good amount of time and thought into this. She FAR exceeded my expectations, even providing me with two different possible drafts (my original copy was 1500 characters too long). After paying for two separate editing services, I was initially disappointed to find that the first had not provided anywhere close to the level of feedback/review/editing that I had hoped for. I thought I was on my own again with my personal statement and did not have high hopes for any additional edits at the time that I’d received the review from Deanna, of thePAlife. The first service I’d used provided reviews that were neither thoughtful, in-depth, nor helpful, but Deanna’s edits were each of those! My hopes had been shot down by the first service but were immediately uplifted after I received Deanna’s edits. Her feedback was timely, thorough, thoughtful, critical, and even supportive! She provided an exceptional service, and I would highly recommend her to anyone

Cierra, Pre-PA

I submitted my application this morning so I am not able to answer if I received an interview yet but I am THRILLED that I found this service. Sarah has been such a blessing working on my personal statement with me. She took my ideas and mediocre paper and turned it into a beautifully written story about my life. She helped me write exactly what I wanted to say and guided me with how to say it. I would recommend, without reservation, this service to anyone who is applying to PA school. I am one hundred times more confident about applying knowing my personal statement is exactly where it needs to be. Instead of feeling stressed and overwhelmed when I submitted my application this morning, I had complete peace. Thank you, for being a shining light full of kindness to applicants like myself.

Savannah, Pre-PA

Lisa Tepper reviewed my personal statement and her edits were incredibly helpful. By asking me many specific questions and responding to my answers, she helped me add much-needed context to my personal stories that I didn’t even realize was missing. And she made a few subtle suggestions in my conclusion that really tied the essay altogether. I am very pleased with how my essay turned out and it is such a relief to turn in a statement that I am proud of.Thank you so much.

Kaitlin Emmerling, Pre-PA

I had a great experience with The PA Life essay revision service. They were very professional and made revisions in a timely manner. My editor was very understanding about my schedule and when it would take me longer to reply to emails. I would recommend this service to any new grad PAs!

Sandy, Pre-PA

An amazing experience. Glad to have worked with Duke. He did his best, and it was very enjoyable.

Anand T. Pre-PA

Carly is absolutely amazing, and I would recommend her to everyone. She was very helpful and supportive with her edits and why she recommended certain changes. She is amazing, and she helped me tell my story.

Peter, Pre-PA

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

Carly was helpful and gave insightful comments while helping me to create more impact within my sentences. I feel confident and at ease knowing that my supplemental application has been reviewed in a thorough manner. Thank you for all your help!

Mina, Pre-PA

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

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

Foram Patel, Pre-PA

I 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

Carly blew away all my expectations. She not only suggested edits to refine the content, but she also made grammatical and structural changes that fine-tuned my essay and allowed it to flow. I came into the editing process feeling hopeless about my personal statement, but with her edits, I feel confident that it will stand out. On top of all that, Carly was very timely in editing and returning my essay – I got it back within a few days! I’m very pleased with her service and recommend it to anyone out there who needs a fresh, professional set of eyes on their personal statement.

Stephanie, Pre-PA

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

John R. Pre-PA

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

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

Ashanna, Pre-PA

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

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

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

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

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 wanted to reach out and thank you for all of your help throughout my entire application process — your words, advice, and support made a world of a difference to me, and I’m sure everyone who has had the pleasure of working with you feels the exact same way. I thought I’d let you know that after my Stanford and Duke interviews over the past couple of weeks, I received acceptance to both programs! I’m still on cloud 9 and I don’t believe I’ll be coming down anytime soon. And as of early this week, I officially committed to Stanford University’s PA program and I begin in August!!! Thank you again for everything you’ve done to help!

Celine, PRE-PA

During our first one-on-one session, my editor Sarah had the chance to understand who I am as a person before even editing. This was remarkably helpful in terms of making my voice stand out in my personal statement. I especially appreciated how thorough her comments were regarding the aspects of my essay that needed fine-tuning.

Austin, Pre-PA

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

Alex Taylor, PA-S

I wanted to tell you that I interviewed with MEDEX on Friday, got the call yesterday that I’m accepted! I also interviewed with Pacific University on and I felt that went VERY well too. I should hear from them any day now. I will keep you in the loop. I appreciate all your help and support!

Norah, PA-S

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

Eric, Pre-PA

This service was very helpful. My essay was edited and returned to me within a few days of me submitting it. The feedback was thorough and detailed. I am already planning on sending my essay for a second edit!

Sabrina, Pre-PA

Thank you so much for editing my essay and for your kind words. Your edits have definitely made it a stronger PS and I am proud to have it as a part of my application. Thank you for alleviating my stress on arguably the most nerve-wracking part of the CASPA app. You are incredibly talented and well-spoken, and any person that has you edit their essays is incredibly lucky! I will let you know if I have any questions, but I think each one of your edits are meaningful and super clear. I appreciate you shortening it and making it flow better. Thank you again!!!

Karina Kapani, Pre-PA

Sarah was super helpful and flexible in my schedule. Her editing really turned my essay around, and made me a much more confident applicant! I am so glad I utilized this service. I will keep you updated on my results for this round 🙂

Mollie, 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 was my third time applying to PA school and I wanted it to be my last so I figured getting help with the essay would make a difference in my application. Paying for the one on one service was the best idea I’ve had to date. Sarah was great in that she literally combined three different essays I had written into one phenomenal essay! I literally have no idea how she did it. Sarah helped me focus all of my thoughts and experience down into one concise, yet personal essay. I truly think this will help me get into PA school!

Anna M. PRE-PA

Sue did an amazing job editing my personal statement. She included all the aspects that I wanted in the statement and made it flow so much better. Thank You! Thank You!

Kendra Perkey, Pre-PA

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

Diana, Pre-PA

Deanna was amazing! She was able to help me put into professional language my desire to help people. I deeply appreciate and value all of her feedback, edits to my essay, and guidance. She was very attentive, capable, and helpful. She explained things I didn’t understand in a way that allowed me to comprehend. She’s a wonderful writer! I am so grateful for her help! I was stressed out about my essay, and her guidance really helped me stay on track (and calm me down) and portray my interest in becoming a PA clearly and precisely in my essay.

Valerie Charlton, Pre-PA

Sue did a wonderful job. I know this is an extremely busy time of year as CASPA is accepting applications and Sue was great about responding to my initial submission and getting back to me. She provided thoughtful feedback and quality editing. Fingers crossed for an acceptance to PA school!

Jo Lynn, Pre-PA

I just wanted to let you know I got accepted to Yale!!!! I’m so pumped. I can’t wait to talk more in-depth with you about my experience. For now I just wanted to say thank you!!!! You really were SO helpful.

James Hennessy, PA-S

I wanted to send you a quick life update and another BIG thank you! I received my acceptance at the University of Utah’s PA Program on Monday and couldn’t be happier. Thank you for all your help with my essay and interview prep. Both of these services that you provided were so helpful in my success. I will highly recommend you to any future PA student.

Lily, Pre-PA

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

Melanie, PA-S

Carly Hallman did an amazing job helping me with my personal statement! I was feeling conflicted and uncertain about my own personal statement, but she helped set my mind at ease! I now have peace of mind regarding my personal statement. She was so helpful in correcting any grammar errors and also informed me of what I could add to my essay. I knew I was missing something in my essay, but could not quite put my finger on it. Carly identified what was missing so I could make those changes to my essay. I’m so thankful for her help because I do not think I could have figured out that “missing piece” had it not been for her. I now feel confident about my essay and I am extremely happy with it! 🙂 Thank you so much!!!

Ramsha, Pre-PA

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

Jennifer Bidwell, PA-S

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 knew exactly what kind of edits I was looking for and addressed all of my questions/concerns I had about my essay. I will definitely be recommending this service to my club members and friends.

Stephanie, Pre-PA

Testimonials

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
I graduated from PA school in May and failed my first attempt at the PANCE in July. I was not nearly as prepared as I should have been and in the following 90 days, I developed into a completely different PA. I listened to all of your podcasts, took every practice test (at least once), and got both the daily question emails and the daily eponym emails. My second attempt at the PANCE was earlier in October and I went into it with so much more confidence than I had after receiving the news that I failed the first time. I really appreciate all the work you do to make studying for the PANCE fun… well at least tolerable… and I will definitely recommend your program to next years graduating class.
Thank you! thank you! thank you!
Christopher M., PA-C
I had been through 3 interviews prior to your mock interview service. I really wanted to know what I was doing wrong/what I could do better since I was either denied or waitlisted previous to the mock interview. After a great hour with Sarah, I was able to learn so many great tips and figured out what I needed to rework. My interview skills vastly improved and I was soon accepted into multiple highly ranked PA programs. I know it was because of this I was able to stand out that much more! So grateful I was able to have this opportunity.
Mariah, 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 really appreciated Carly’s attentiveness to my writing style and working to keep my message and content but working it in a way that reads easier. I appreciate her turnaround time, as well as priority deadlines for programs, are quickly approaching!
Jacob, Pre-PA
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
My interviewer Deanna was terrific! She provided precious insights and tangible strategies I could start using immediately in my interview with her. I’m feeling more confident about my upcoming interview, and I definitely recommend this service.
Christina, Pre-PA
Stephen, Just wanted to let you know that I am enjoying your site very much and believe it is helping more than any other site I’ve used thus-far (I have done HippoPA, not bad, and Brian Wallace’s site). Will study some more, don’t feel ready yet! I’m an older PA, practiced for 18 years, have done the at home board tests the last two. I am nervous about taking the test center exam! Thanks again for your site, and the best to you!
Rebecca Lynch, PA-C
First of all, thank you so much for all of the resources you have made available for those of us studying for the PANRE! This is fabulous and wish I’d known about it sooner. 
Kristin F. PA-C
Stephen, Thank you for your help and the resources you linked me to, I will keep studying and keep you informed on my progress, I hope one day to help a student like myself pass and enter a great profession.
Anthony MaharajPT, PA, MPAS.

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101 PA School Admission Essays

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