Editor’s Note: This is a guest post from T.J Matsumoto of PA Cents. How to Get The Most Book for Your Buck! There are a lot of expenses when starting PA school and typically not a lot of income. According to the data, the cost of PA school textbooks (including some supplies) is in the […]
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Trials and Tribulations of the Liberian Physician Assistant
This is part five of a nine-part series by documentary filmmaker Adam Halbur on the PA model around the world. As God Would Have It When I visited in 2017, Liberia was celebrating 150 years since its founding by Christian American slaves in 1867. It is the only country in the world that has had […]
Sticker Shock Alert! This is The Real Cost of Applying to PA School in 2024
PA students will encounter a number of costs along the way to enrolling in physician assistant/associate (PA) school. Here’s a look at what these costs are and some ways you can save money on your PA school application.
The 5 Steps to PA School
Learn the 5 essential steps to get into PA school, from prerequisite coursework and healthcare experience to crafting the perfect personal statement and securing strong letters of recommendation. Discover insider tips and strategies from a successful PA school applicant and admissions directors from top-ranking programs. Â
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 […]
Why Our Program? How to Answer This Common Supplemental Essay and Interview Question
Why our program? As you begin your PA school application process, one of the most common supplemental essay and interview questions you may encounter is, “Why our program?” This is an opportunity for you to explain why you are specifically interested in attending that particular college or university and why it is a good fit […]
Physician Assistant Postgraduate Residency and Fellowship Programs: The Ultimate Guide
Postgraduate PA School Residency and Fellowship Programs As a new or even experienced PA, it is normal to feel uncomfortable with the thought of jumping into a medical specialty. Often, we have had little more than 30 days of training in a particular field, and we join a team of specialists who may expect us […]
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 […]
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 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 […]
How to Bring Your Best on PA School Interview Day
The interview is the last milestone you reach before acceptance. It’s the final opportunity to showcase your best qualities and leave a strong impression on faculty members. With so much hard work leading up to the interview, we all want to be able to put our best face forward and be well-equipped with the tools […]
Answered: How do I Choose the Right Elective PA School Rotation?
Didactic year (as we know) can be grueling, and everyone looks forward to the next step: clinical rotations. Programs usually have a few elective rotations for you to choose from. This may be an easy decision for some, but not for all. There are a lot of things to take into consideration when making this […]
3 Things Everyone Should Do Before Starting PA School
If you have three, four, or even five months until you start PA school, here are three things you can do right now to make sure you are prepared for when you walk in the door.
Thanks for contacting me!
Your input and questions are extremely valuable to me. I will usually respond to all queries within 24-48 hours. In the meantime here are some resources to get you started Browse The PA Life archives Sample our newest book – How to Write Your PA School Personal Statement Take a free PANCE and PANRE Board Exam […]
How to Get Shadowing Hours During a Global Pandemic
Let me guess; you are struggling to find shadowing hours during the COVID-19 pandemic. Trust me, you are not alone. Many Pre-PA students looking to apply in the next 1-2 years have an extra challenge than those in past years, COVID-19! The global pandemic has changed the way applicants can volunteer, finish prerequisites, shadow, etc. […]
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 […]
How to Pay for Medical Mission Trips as a Broke Pre-PA
I have always found the dichotomy of time and money interesting. Either you have all the time in the world to do things like when you’re a student and have summer break, or you’re working and have a paycheck but no longer have the time to take off. If you’re the former and are interested in […]
5 Reasons Every PA School Applicant Needs a LinkedIn Profile
Whether you’re just starting out in your pre-PA school journey or are in the thick of things, having a LinkedIn profile is essential. Here are the top 5 reasons every PA school applicant needs a LinkedIn profile and why you should update yours today.
Going Midlevel Midlife: Michelle’s Story of Becoming a Physician Assistant in her 40’s
After 16 years of teaching high school wellness, Michelle Roush felt ready for a greater challenge to leverage her interest in health. After much planning and preparation, she is now studying to become a physician assistant, and loving the journey. Tell us a little about your background… I am a married, 41-year-old mother of two […]
Don’t Make This Mistake with Your PA Resumé
Why your physician assistant resumé needs a summary section and how to write one Resumé writing is hard, but a good SUMMARY section can do a lot of your work for you. This often overlooked, yet simple-to-add section of your physician assistant/associate resumé can be the difference between getting an interview or never making it […]
Why We Really Need PAs in the UK: The British Physician Associate
Welcome to part three of this nine-part miniseries by documentary filmmaker Adam Halbur on the PA model around the world. Growing the Physician Associate in the UK In the United Kingdom, PA stands for physician associate. “This is a moniker with a more exacting ring,” according to Jeannie Watkins, then clinical placement lead in the […]
How to Find The Direct Patient Care Experience You Need to Become a Physician Assistant
Read on: But you may also be interested in my newest post Healthcare Experience Required for PA School: The Ultimate Guide I could probably summarize this entire blog post with the following sentence: “THE MORE HANDS-ON PATIENT CAREÂ EXPERIENCE YOU HAVE, THE STRONGER YOU WILL BE AS A PA SCHOOL CANDIDATE.” How many healthcare experience hours […]
How Clay Aiken and Reality TV Helped Me Ace My PA School Interview
 am embarrassed to admit: I am a big fan of reality TV. I don’t watch much TV but when it comes time for a new season of Survivor, So You Think You Can Dance, or dare I say The Bachelor (I can’t believe I just admitted that) I can’t stop myself. I justify this to […]
The Physician Assistant Interview: Thank You and Follow-up (With Sample)
Many people forget the post-interview work that needs to be done during the PA job search. They assume the interview happens, they either get the job or don’t get it, and it’s over. But in many cases, the interview is not the end and specific and strategic follow-up can make the difference in getting hired. […]
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 […]
The Ultimate PA School Applicant Cheat Sheet With 7 Quick Tips for Getting into PA School
Here is my ultimate PA school applicant cheat sheet with 7 quick tips for getting into PA school. Do these seven things for the best chance of getting into PA school and becoming a physician assistant! 1. Shadowing: Get one hundred hours of shadowing experience across various specialties. 2. GRE: Aim for a score of 300 + (150 + […]
187 US PA Programs That Accept International Students
🌎 Click here for information on where PAs can work internationally. The good news is that if you are a foreign student interested in attending a US PA school, you have a range of options. Currently, 187 of the 303 active PA programs in the United States open their doors to international applicants. Ninety-nine of […]
The PA Life Mock Interview Reviews, Testimonials, and Successes
A Message from Stephen Pasquini PA-C The best way to prepare for your PA school interview is to practice, practice, practice…with a PA school admissions expert who understands the system and who will give you honest feedback and guidance throughout the process. You also want to know that your practice is paying off. We have […]
My PA School Interview Preparation Strategy
Do these 4 things to set yourself up for PA school interview day success! As summer comes to a screeching halt and application deadlines are looming, we are shifting into full-swing interview season. Since many programs adhere to a rolling admissions format, interviews are conducted as early as June and as late as April, right […]
The Ultimate PA School Applicant Logbook – Track HCE, PCE, Volunteer Hours, Schools, Costs (and more!)
As applicants to PA school, we have a lot on our plate. Between prerequisite coursework, health care experience requirements, shadowing, volunteering, and more – it’s a lot to keep track of! This is where The Ultimate PA School Applicant Logbook comes in. This logbook was designed by PA school applicants (who know the process intimately!) […]