If I fail more often than you, I win!
If I fail more often than you, I win!I have written before about the importance of becoming anĀ epic failureĀ and how this is a fundamental part of becoming an epic success.
I was cleaning out some of my old file cabinets today and came across my PA school application documents from 2001.
I will be sharing three of them below.
If you are experiencing setbacks on your path to becoming a physician assistant, I want you to know that this is a normal part of the process.
Do not be discouraged: failure met with perseverance, is the key to long-term, sustainable success.
My PA School Rejection Letter #1 (Ouch!)
To help you reach your goals, it is important that you see my failures along with my successes.
Otherwise, you will be fooled into believing that success is a simple, pain-free process when in reality the path to each of my successes has been lined with the roadkill of my many epic failures.
Whether it is God or otherwise, how we perceive a setback matters! Ā (ListenĀ 25 minutes)
This week, I won two free tickets as part of my daughter's kindergarten raffle to see James Durbin, an American Idol "outcast," play here on our shared hometown stage in Santa Cruz, California.
Although I am not that familiar with all of James' music, last night as he stood on stage, I realized just how much I respected this 25-year-old rocker.
Knowing all the public criticism he had to endure during his time on the Idol stage, the sting of being "voted off" and rejected by his peers, not to mention the many obstacles he had to overcome in a lifelong battle with Tourette's and Asperger's syndrome.
Last night, he spoke to the sold-out crowd (many of whom were young, screaming teenage girls) and divulged his story of how his pediatrician told his parents to keep their expectations low. Just goes to show what you can do with a dream and a whole lot of grit.
Don't even get me started on the Olympics!
It may sound clichĆ©Ā to say that we learn more from our failures than from our successes, but nevertheless, this is true.
Because life is a process of trial and error, and error, and even more error until finally you succeed!
The key is to hang in there long enough, don't give up with the struggling masses, there is light at the end of the tunnel no matter how dim and distant it may seem.
PA Rejection Letter #2 (You're Killing Me)
So, success is simply the result of a long series of epic failures if you have done things right.
Reading the above rejection letter so many years later I am almost embarrassed to admit that I didn't have a 3.0 GPA, but there is a backstory not written on this rejection letter. This proves the point that an isolated number outside of any context is just a point along a curve that when seen alone is useless.
Don't become a point on a curve. The trend is what matters! In what direction are you trending?
And just when you thought the pain and suffering couldn't go on . . .
My Rejection Letter to the National Health Service Corps (The kick in my proverbial balls)
Yes, I was even rejected by the National Health Service Corps the first time I applied. Although not the second . . .
And yes, I received even another rejection letter from OHSU, but I must have thrown that one into the fire.
My Acceptance Letter to PA School
At first, it seemed odd to me that among this stack of failed attempts I could not find my acceptance letter into PA school.
I remember it so well, that simple single sheet of white paper with red and black ink letterhead, about four sentences long sporting an official UMDNJ seal.
I read it in the rain, on a cold Seattle evening by streetlight, heart beating, exhausted after a long day of work. The feeling of nausea rose to my chest as I held the two corners of that letter, and I said a short prayer before I tore it open.
I made a promise to God and myself that if this dream came true, I would use my training always to relieve the suffering of others and to make the world a better place.
Spoiler alert I was accepted, and I am still working hard to keep my promise.
Recommended reading:Ā
My Message to You
If you have received a rejection letter fear not my fellow epic failures, I to have stood demoralized in your shoes.
But do not let that define you, let it guide you, let it be the roadkill that you can look back upon with pride years later when you are writing a blog post hanging out your dirty underwear with pride for all the world to see.
Here are my rejection letters. I am posting them as a reminder of what should make you stronger. I saved them because they are a source of motivation, and I hope they can provide you with some peace of mind as well.
If you can learn to see adversity as a tool to help you reach your goals, you can turn a "setback" into a "set up" for something wonderful.
Thank you for reading, and I wish you the best wherever you may be on your journey to PA-C.
- Ā Stephen Pasquini PA-C
photo credit: venspired
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Hey Stephen,
I am in the process of apply to PA school and I am currently on the same boat as you once were trying to stay positive with this whole process. I am terrified about my personal statement because it’s a story which I hold close to my heart. I was wondering with your experience with the process if you would have the time to read my essay.
Sincerely,
Terrified PA applicant that just wants a chance
Of course Alexis, have you taken a look at our review service? We are currently working with lots of PA school applicants in your same situation, we can definitely help!
Here is a link to the review service, let me know if you have any more questions along the way.
– Stephen
Hi Stephen,
This article has helped me soooo much just by looking at it. For starters, we are both WA natives, which I think is a good sign, and I have been struggling with my GPA post military. I was an English major back in the day, so Science classes after a long absence from school have been killing me. I have another year left before application time so I’m hoping to get my grades up a bit, but I feel better knowing that you had struggles with gpa as well, and that maybe some schools will look at me as a whole person and not just my gpa. Cheers and thanks for doing what you do!
Thanks for what you do! And hang in there, if it came easily it wouldn’t be worth it. I am sure as a veteran of the US military you understand this more than just about anyone! I wish you best of luck, feel free to drop me a line anytime if you have questions along the way.
p.s I wish I had majored in English back in the day, I would probably be a much better writer š
Cheers,
Stephen
Thank you. I really needed to read this. I am in the process of applying to a few PA schools but need help with my essay. Do you mind giving me a few pointers?
This is so motivating.. It really is.. I have read so many blogs with people who really have a genuine passion to become a successful PA-C and have low GPA scores or GRE scores. I have a low GPA (but have not applied to any programs yet) and I am scared to death of failure and rejection because I want this so bad. I really want a career that is rewarding and I want to help others. All I can say is THANK YOU because after reading this I feel better equipped to handle potential rejection. It is not the end of the road. Best of luck to you and congrats!
Hi Stephen,
I would like to thank you in advance. My GPA is okay at best, my GRE could be better, and I just quit my job to start working in the medical field to build my direct patient care experience. I have not applied to any programs yet as I just started taking my prerequisites in January. I will be ready to submit my applications by summer of 2016. Your experiences gave me motivation.
Thank you,
Scott
Awesome Scott,
You sound like you have a good plan in place moving forward. Consider taking classes in Spanish/Medical Spanish as well. Foreign language can be a nice thing to mention on your application. Make sure to attend open houses, and try to go to your state or national PA conference. These can be great talking points and will be a valuable experience. They are also very cheap as a non PA/affiliate.
I wish you the best of luck and will be rooting for you!!
Cheers,
Stephen
Hi Stephen,
Thank you for posting your letters of rejection. I have just received my 4th rejection letter and am right about to give up. I have a 3.2 overall GPA and a 2.99 math and science GPA. I didn’t do so well on my GRE but have a LOT of service hours. Any tips for me? I am to the point where I think I should stop throwing hundreds of dollars into a program I probably will never get into.
-Tash
If you haven’t already widen your net, if you are applying to only one program it may be time to consider a broader search. Do you have to stay in a certain geographical area? Or do you have some options?
Stephen
Thanks for writing this website. I was recently rejected from every school I applied to and have been feeling worthless so I appreciate the reminder that failure is never really a failure.
Yes, failure as we know it, doesn’t really exist. When we confront what looks like failure, instead of bowing to it, we need to see it as it really is: a valuable learning experience. Because after all, if you want to accomplish great things, you have to find a way to transform your setbacks into motivation. In other words, you have to continually strive for more in order to achieve more. At this point the question is not why? But how am I going to come back stronger next year? And once you have an answer to this question it is important to get started right away.
Stephen
Hi Stephen,
Finding your site has been quite a blessing. Ive read a few of your posts as well as all the comments and you are just outstanding. Its great knowing that those of us with rejection letters aren’t alone! I was really interested in speaking with you and Duke about the services you provide, as mentioned above in Peters post. How do we proceed forward?
Please let me know.
PA is the only career I truly see myself happy doing and I intend on reapplying next month.
Thank you in advance!
Hi Ilina you are far to kind! You can read a bit more about our editing service here https://www.thepalife.com/the-free-physician-assistant-essay-and-personal-statement-collaborative/.
If you have any other questions whatsoever I can answer them here in the comments section or just send me an email through the “contact” section and we will help you in any way we can.
Cheers,
Stephen
Hi Stephen!
My boyfriend is just now looking into an EMT program so that he can get experience in the medical industry before applying. His overall GPA is a 2.83 and his science gpa is probably just under that or right there. Do you have any advice on what he can do to increase his chances of getting in when he finally does apply, besides volunteer work? I know in one of your rejection letters above they mentioned your grades not being good enough, how do you overcome that? Or do you just keep applying and eventually someone will accept below average grades? Do you think it is still possible for him to get in even though his grades are below average?
I overcame this with my essay, my letters of rec, and several years of prior healthcare experience. Although, I really think my essay had a lot to do with it.
Also, I had a strong upward trajectory towards the end of my college years with good marks on my important prerequisite coursework. Since I was on a pre-med track many of my classes were upper division and this is also important. What classes was he taking? Were they upper level courses? Were there any problem areas that he can correct by repeating a course and showing improvement at a community college? How are his GRE scores? Plans for PA shadowing?
As you can see there are a lot of factors to take into consideration, and many opportunities for improvement that go far beyond GPA as well.
– Stephen
Hello Stephen!
Your website is just what I needed. This is my first cycle applying and I only had two interview invites, one which I was rejected from, and my second interview in a couple of days. I was using your interview questions as a guideline to help prepare for this upcoming interview. Although I am blessed with this opportunity coming up, I have felt really discouraged receiving all the rejection letters as it has been a very difficult emotional roller coaster for myself. I have even looked into finding a backup plan after this cycle. Your post are truly inspirational and and have showed me that I shouldn’t give up on my dreams due to a few minor bumps and that I know it is all apart of the learning process. Just want to thank you once again for your words of wisdom!
Christine N
Hi Christine,
Don’t get discouraged, J.K. Rowling author of the Harry Potter series received 12 rejection letters and was told kindly by one top publisher ānot to quit her day job.ā Stephen Spielberg, One of the most prolific filmmakers of all time, the man who brought us “Shindler’s List,” “Jaws,” “E.T.” and “Jurassic Park” was rejected by USC twice….
It turns out that when you look at how some of humanityās greatest minds think of failure, they donāt think of it as an event to be overcome. They see it as a necessary part of the journey towards mastery.
Failure, as we know it, doesn’t really exist. When we confront what looks like failure, instead of bowing to it, we need to see it as it really is: a valuable learning experience. Because after all, if you want to accomplish great things, you have to find a way to transform your setbacks into motivation. In other words, you have to continually strive for more in order to achieve more.
It seems you are well on your way!
Cheers,
Stephen
Hi Stephen,
I think this article was just what I was looking for. I just received my last letter from my dream school and was rejected. I have felt down and confused because I thought I met the requirements. I have been questioning whether to give up on my dream to become a PA, select a different program to study, or just get a job. However, after reading this, it gave me hope. I am not going to let a few rejection letters hold me back from what I want to do. Ever since I was little, I have wanted to help people in need. This has given me all the motivation I need. Thank you very much for posting this. You have truly inspired me.
Hi Dillon, don’t give up! This is just part of the journey, hang in there, keep improving, learning, and working towards your goal. It is not just a cliche’ to say that all good things in life come to those who wait. But it is not about simply “waiting” as you know, it is about moving forward in pursuit of something you know is right. I can’t wait to hear your success story, I can tell from your response that you have that burning desire that is required to make it in life and to make it through the rigors of PA School!
I wish you the very best, you will be in my thoughts and prayers!
Stephen
Stephen; I stumbled on your website after perusing an out of reach dream I have had for many years after entering the health care field as a Registered Respiratory Therapist. I live in Oswego, NY and without a program that allows part time study, my dream of becoming a compassionate decision maker with title of Physician Assistant-Certified is just that. An unattainable dream. I have not stagnated with my love for learning since graduating from the 2 year associate degree program and obtaining a license to practice in Respiratory Care. I obtained a BA in Public Justice and Forensic Science/ certificate as an AEMT-CC and recently obtained certification as a Sleep Diagnostic Specialist through the NBRC newly instituted certification program. I’m sorry to bore you with my credentials but I wondered if an opportunity were to arise to obtain my training on a part time basis in my geographic location, perhaps you could share that info with me. You seemed plugged into the pulse of the profession and as with any healthcare discipline it is always expanding and evolving. I pray nightly for the opportunity. Just an unlocked door is all I ask for. I will do whatever it takes to be successful. Thanks for listening.
Hi Michael,
I am sorry I missed your comment a while back. Yes, I would be happy to share with you any part-time programs should I come across them. Have you made any headway?
Stephen
God Bless you. What a blessing story. Continue to pray to God, he will guide you in all your ways. Your acceptance into your career should show you that God has everything in his hands. Let him be the Director of your life, every single aspect of your life, let him be the one you look to for guidance in all things, whether it be in your career, relationship, or with family members and close friends. If he can open this door for you to this opportunity , just wonder how much more he has in store for you! May God bless you and keep you! Such a beautiful heart you have. God bless, in Jesus name. š
Thank you, and my God bless you in your life and all that you do!
– Stephen
Hey Stephen,
Thank you for the website! It is a great tool and I am learning a whole lot. It is helping me make decisions about my future, which is never easy to do. Even though I have been greatly interested in this field I’ve always felt discouraged due to my lack of experience and especially due to my GPA, which sits at a 3.0 overall and about 2.5 for science. What would you recommend me to do? I do have the passion, I feel as if I am not improving the lives of others directly I will not be happy in my career, but the thought of failure scares me beyond belief. Any suggestions?
Thank you,
Shafiqul Bhuiya
HI Shafiqul,
Instead of letting resistance stop you, use it to your advantage. It’s okay to feel fear and self-doubt ā these emotions mean that you truly care about your dream. You wouldn’t be afraid of failing at something if you weren’t deeply passionate about it. Fear can be a good indication that your dream is meaningful enough to pursue.
– Stephen
Wow Stephen, you are very inspiring and it goes to show with hard work and dedication, anyone can accomplish their dreams.
Now did you reapply the following year and the only thing that changed was your essay?
Hi Peter!
Nope, I actually reapplied the same year and the only thing I changed was my essay, and maybe, somewhere along the way, my attitude :-). How do you feel about your personal statement? P.S Your blog looks amazing, I really love what you have done with it. Maybe you can come over and spruce up mine!
– Stephen
I guess that explains why you and Duke emphasized how important the PA essay is to me :).
Thank you, I’m not a computer programmer but I know some basic stuff so just email me and I’ll try my best to help you.
P.S. – For anyone who needs help with their PA essay, I strongly recommend Stephen and Duke. They went above and beyond to take time to help me with my essay. Now I’m just praying and waiting to apply this coming June!
Thanks Peter… It was a real pleasure working with you, I know Duke was very impressed at your ability to take his advice, make it your own, and come up with something wonderful – as well as your grit! If I had a PA school you would be my first choice :-). We are praying for you and really hope the schools can see in you what we do!
– Stephen
Great post, Stephen! I’ve put a little twist on your quote –
“Failure is just roadkill on the highway to success. Don’t let it stop you from getting to your destination. ” I revisit your posts often because I tend to want to get out of the car and sit with the roadkill… not helpful at all! We all have to learn the way somehow, and despite mentoring and counsel, we still pioneer our very own distinct paths towards PA school. I am so very excited (and nervous, and scared) to see this journey unfold for me!
Lina
Lina, I like your quote much better. I may just have to go back and add this into the sub-headline. (with credit given to you of course š )
āFailure is just roadkill on the highway to success. Donāt let it stop you from getting to your destination.”
I love it!
Stephen
You are an inspiration, Stephen. I just stumbled on your website and have enjoyed many of your articles because they’re incredibly informative and motivational. I especially love this article because it takes great courage to share. Anyways, thank you for writing–it means a lot to this person!
Thank you Emily, that means the world to me.
– Stephen