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 was criticized.
Recount a time when you were given critical feedback with which you disagreed.
What is the most frustrating aspect of your job?

What you say doesn't matter as much as how you say it

What you say doesn't matter as much as how you say it. Do you come across as resentful and angry? Defensive?

When answering questions like this, remember these tips:

Do:

Show your ability to accept and learn from criticism.
Take responsibility for your actions.
Demonstrate your commitment to teamwork and collaboration.

Don’t:

Make negative comments about a coworker or supervisor.
Shift blame for a problem.
Use this opportunity to defend yourself.

Learning by example

Here is a great example that demonstrates this point in our mock interview with Pre-PA Lily Boyle. She is asked the common interview question "What is your least favorite class in college?"

Although you can watch the entire interview, I want you to focus on the time from about 8:50 minutes - 10:11 minutes. When you click play, the video should start here automatically.

Notice how Lily takes a negative and turns it into a positive.

She shows her ability to accept and learn from the difficulty.
She takes responsibility for her actions.
She demonstrates a positive attitude in the face of difficult circumstances.

Take-home point: Always be Positive in Your PA School Interview

Stay Positive!

Practice these questions before the interview day and resist the natural human instinct to go negative. Instead, demonstrate your commitment to collaboration and growth while ensuring your answers reflect those values.

Practice Makes Perfect

If you would like to schedule a mock interview with one of our team members, visit us here.

"I am so happy to tell you that I got into my choice of PA school here in MI! As a matter of fact, since our mock interview, I have gotten into 3 programs! I must say the prep I had with you adequately prepared me for these interviews. I want to say another BIG THANK YOU." - Oluseyi Sotade, Pre-PA

Here are even more inspiring testimonials

View all posts in this series

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Stephen Pasquini PA-C Physician Assistant

Stephen has been a family practice PA since 2004 and is the creator of The PA Life, Smarty PANCE Board Review, and PASchoolfinder 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 to foster universal recognition/awareness of the PA profession. Read more about Stephen.

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Physician Assistant Physician Associate CASPA Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE) Physician Assistant National Recertifying Examination (PANRE) PA School Interviews PA School Admissions PA School Personal Statements

Webinar: Crafting Your Best PA School Personal Statement

Hosted by Stephen Pasquini PA-C, Deanna Matzen

About this webinar Are you applying to PA school but worried about writing a compelling personal statement that will grab the admissions committee’s attention? Do you want to learn the secrets of crafting a PA school essay that stands out from the crowd and showcases your personality, motivation, and fit for PA school? If so, then you don’t want to miss our webinar on Crafting Your Best PA School Personal Statement. In this webinar, you will learn the following: What a personal statement is and how schools use them. You will understand the purpose and expectations of writing a personal statement and how schools use this information during the admission process. What to do before you start writing. You will learn how to prepare and organize your thoughts, research, and brainstorm your strengths and achievements. A successful structure for your personal statement. You will learn how to craft a clear, coherent, and compelling narrative that showcases your personality, motivation, and fit for their program. Common mistakes to avoid. You will learn how to polish your personal statement and avoid errors that could undermine your credibility or impact. By joining this webinar, you will gain valuable insights and tips on how to write a personal statement that increases your chances of admission to your desired PA school. You will also have the opportunity to ask questions and get feedback from our experienced PA school coaches. Don’t miss this chance to learn how to write your best PA school personal statement. Register now and secure your spot for this webinar. You won’t regret it!