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You are here: Home / Pre-Physician Assistant / Letters of Recommendation / Secrets of Successful PA School Letters of Recommendation

Secrets of Successful PA School Letters of Recommendation

BY Stephen Pasquini PA-C 4 Comments

secrets-of-successful-pa-school-letters-of-reference-1

Whether we like it or not, other people's opinions matter.

A good letter of recommendation can make your day; a great letter of recommendation can change your life.

Whether it is a dating review on Tinder, a restaurant recommendation on Yelp, a movie review on Rotten Tomatoes, or an open request for holiday vacation recommendations on Facebook, we look to our friends, colleagues, and specialists in the field for advice on how to make better choices.

"A good letter of recommendation can make your day; a great letter of recommendation can change your life"

Now don't get me wrong, I am not saying you should let Meghan McCrory ditch you at your high school winter formal to establish your self-worth (that wasn't nice, Meghan!). But the opinions of those we admire and respect, the ones whom we look to for guidance, the ones who will give us the cold hard truth in all instances – that matters!

Studies show that we value the opinions of our close network of like-minded individuals above other sources. With the availability of social proof and crowdsourced rating systems, there has been a shift away from trusting the experts and more toward the opinions of the many.

Just look at the sales figures for the latest summer blockbuster action pic!

What types of recommendations are best for PA school?

Try to obtain one academic letter, one letter from a PA, and a second medical provider from another discipline, or supervisor in a medical setting (can be another PA). Make sure to request these early!

  • Before meeting with the recommender have these ready:
    • An updated resume
    • List of PA schools you’re interested in applying to
    • A paper stating what you may want specifically mentioned in the letter

Choice Overload

Whoever can best speak to your abilities are the best references. One has to be a healthcare provider. And they should not be family or family friends. But it's better to have the CNA who worked closely with you for years over the attending physician you only see for five minutes every week - Duke University PA ProgramClick To Tweet

Recommendations play a huge role when we are faced with choice overload. When required to decide among 100's or 1000's of related products with similar features and price points, where does one begin?

For example, when faced with the simple task of replacing my broken iPhone 13 case, I jumped on Amazon.com to make a "quick and easy" purchase. I love my current case and figure I would simply get a similar version.

Well, you can imagine how that went down.

Ninety minutes later, I was still browsing through the endless array of case options, features, colors, and Amazon recommended accessories. How about a new car charger? Dual USB adapter? Lightning cables? The list goes on and on! It has been two weeks, and I still don't have a replacement case. Maybe I will just keep my old one!

And what do we do when we get really stuck?

If you are like me, you read the reviews! And it is often here that we make our final purchase decision.

Nowhere is this truer than when PA school admission directors are searching among 1000's of PA school applicants.

CASPA - The Amazon Marketplace for PA School Applicants

CASPA is the Amazon marketplace for PA school applicants. Like trying to find that ideal iPhone case or a perfect pair of noise-canceling earbuds, PA schools need to fill.

They have vacant seats in their PA program. They want to find the best, brightest, financially responsible, capable, compassionate, forward-thinking, well-prepared, resilient, like-minded candidates, to fill their rosters.

The admissions directors place your application in their cart, click to preview, browse through a couple of pages, and then if there is any doubt, they scroll down to read reviews.

Or, in this case, your letters of reference.

Secrets of Successful PA School Letters of Recommendation

Admissions Director's Letters of Reference Tip:

What are you looking for in a letter?

It is likely that you will not see your letter. Your letter writer is submitting a digital letter of reference.

On the CASPA application, there is a page where you will submit the name, title, and email address of the 3-5 people you will be asking to include letters of recommendation.

CASPA will send an email to your letter writers indicating that they have been selected to submit a letter of reference on your behalf.

Four guidelines to Letters of Reference for PA School

secrets-of-successful-pa-school-letters-of-reference-3

When gathering your letters of recommendation focus on these 4 traits:

  1. Someone who has known you for some time
  2. Someone who practices in some field of medicine
  3. Someone who has seen how you interact with patients
  4. Someone who supports you as an applicant

Try to pick someone who has known you for some time

'Know the people from who you receive letters of reference well!' - Dr. Shafran, Case Western Reserve PA SchoolClick To Tweet

It is better to get a letter from someone you have known longer than someone you have known for a shorter period of time.

One of the questions asked of the letter writer is how long you have known the applicant? How well could they assess you if they have met you only once or had you in the office for just 2-3 hours of shadowing?

The most desirable is someone who has been witness to your patient care experience. This could be a physician, PA, NP, DO, etc., who has witnessed your work with patients.

You can use nurses and clinical managers, although these references may not be as strong as the former. Ideally, they want to see a letter from someone who knows what you are getting into and is enthusiastic about you.

Practices in some field of medicine

If you don't have a lot of healthcare experience, this can be a hard one, and you may not be able to produce a letter from someone who has seen you working with patients in a clinic.

If this is the case, you are going to choose someone who knows you well and can speak to them about a domain that is relevant to the PA profession, such as your ability to communicate effectively or your science ability.

Where should your letters of recommendation come from?

Who should your PA School letters of reference come from?

There is ideal, and there is real. What most of us have to work with is something in-between.
If you have decided to apply even though you don't have a ton of experience, your options may be more limited, and that is fine.

You work with what you've got. There is ideal, and there is real. What most of us have to work with is something in-between.

One Academic Letter from an instructor or professor of a prerequisite science:

  • Someone who taught you one of the "big 5 sciences": anatomy, biology, microbiology, physiology, or chemistry. This is someone who can attest to your academic ability specific to the field of science and medicine.

"We require 3 LORs through CASPA. One MUST be from a MD/DO/PA/NP with whom you have worked or shadowed. Additionally, this is just me personally, professors write horrible reference letters. It's as if they hold themselves on a high pedestal to which no person can reach. Be leery of asking your professor for a letter." - Mickey King, the Admissions Director for South University Savannah PA

You definitely need a letter from a medical provider where you have volunteered or worked:

  • A provider is a universal term for an MD, PA, NP, DO, or anybody who cares for patients somewhat independently. Of course, the ideal letter is going to be from a PA but this is not always possible. When I applied to PA school, I did not have a letter from a PA, was this a big deal? I don't know I still got into PA school.

A letter from another provider from another discipline or supervisor in a medical setting:

  1. If you received a letter from a PA in #2 you can choose another provider such as an MD, DO, NP, or RN who knows you personally and has seen you work directly with patients.
  2. If you don't have another provider, you can choose a clinical director, charge nurse you worked under, volunteer coordinator, or direct supervisor.
    1. I received a letter from the supervisor of the medical records department where I worked. She ended up writing me a wonderful letter. You can see a couple of my letters here.
Pre PA-Q&A (Questions and Actions) - Is there any chance of getting into schools without a letter of recommendation from a PA? (Click here to see our answer)

Question:
I am Pre-PA and applying this cycle. I have almost everything I need except a few more shadowing hours and a PA to write my letter of reference. Unfortunately, with covid, I wasn’t able to start shadowing until just recently. There aren’t many PAs in the town that I live in, so shadowing is difficult. I have a letter of reference from a previous employer, a DO that I worked with, but I don’t feel like I have a PA that I have made a lasting relationship with quite yet. Is there any chance of me getting into schools without a letter from a PA? I have plenty of past employers and professors that would write a letter for me, but I have heard that I must get one from a PA. Did you have any suggestions for people in this position?

Answer:
While a letter of reference from a PA is highly recommended when applying to PA school, it is still possible to get into PA school without one, especially if other areas of your application are quite strong (GPA, direct patient care hours, personal statement, etc.). I’m a fitting example of this exact situation. Before applying to PA school, I worked very closely with an MD, and they wrote a strong LOR on my behalf. I did not have a PA letter of reference when I applied. I would also be sure to obtain a strong academic reference that can attest to your academic abilities (professor, chair of department, etc.). The better people know you. The more impactful their LOR will be.

Jennifer Crozier BA MS-PAC
Pre-PA Coach (thepalife.com/consulting)

Summary of Ideal situation

Summary of the ideal situation: 

  • Academic letter + 2 provider letters (ideally one from a PA)
  • Academic letter + provider letter + healthcare work supervisor

What should they demonstrate? Dependability, honesty, and intellectual curiosity!

How good do your letters of reference need to be?

secrets-of-successful-pa-school-letters-of-reference-2

You want the best letter you can get. You want a letter from someone who glows and raves about you. Why?

Anybody who reads letters of recommendation assumes that they will be writing for you because they believe in you, and letter writers who don't know you well will speak in "glowing" platitudes.

What is a glowing platitude?  A platitude is a remark or statement, especially one with a moral content, that has been used too often to be interesting or thoughtful.

Here are a couple of examples:

  • Platitude: Stephen has a positive attitude and works well with others
  • Glowing recommendation: I don't ever remember him saying an unkind or angry word. He is the most positive person I have worked with in my Laboratory Medicine career of 25 years.
  • Platitude: Stephen has a strong worth ethic and has experience working in the healthcare field
  • Glowing recommendation: He works hard, but has a balanced life with leisure activities.  I'm impressed with his career development as a student... working in Healthcare information (1.5 yrs), laboratory (1.5 Yrs), and a summer camp with special needs children.  he has since trained as an EMT, has a patent-pending for a physical therapy machine, and worked at a Blood Bank center. All of these experiences give him a broad base of knowledge for a healthcare career as a physician assistant.
  • Platitude: I think this person would be a good fit and would be capable of performing the relevant duties.
  • Glowing recommendation: I am really sad to see this person go, but you are so much the better for it because they need to be in this field and I am enthusiastic about them.

Moral of the story:

  • Pick someone who is enthusiastic about you!
  • You want someone who can write well and will take the time to write well about you!

How do you go about getting letters of recommendation?

This can be tough. One way is to scout out early who you may want to write your letter and then do your best to impress.

Are you taking a human anatomy course and have a wonderful professor who you feel could provide an excellent reference?

Then do your best to show up early, attend or lead extra study sessions, create study groups, and offer to assist the professor in a lab set up or clean up. You don't want to be a "kiss ass." You want to be helpful, show that you are a hard worker, a leader, a dedicated student, and make yourself stand out. Then, if all seems well at the end of the course, you can gently ask for a letter of recommendation.

Are you working or volunteering? Well, if you are not, you should be.

Then be the wonderful person you naturally are. Please show up on time, offer to help wherever you can, don't worry about pay, work for free, or pay them :-), always keep a positive attitude, grab every learning opportunity available... again, the goal is not to schmooze, it is to be yourself. I know you are a passionate, caring person who is highly motivated and goal-oriented. Don't be afraid to take the initiative... After 12 months or more of hard work and effort, the letters will be flowing!

Summary: 

  • You are not looking for good letters, you are looking for amazing letters! The letters should shout from the mountain tops that they would be stupid not to take you.
  • The quality of letters always trumps where they come from, in other words, don't get so caught up on the ideal letter writers that you choose a less enthusiastic writer in place of someone who adores you but sits outside the "ideal" category.
  • If you are applying a second time, ask for new letters or if you know it was a great letter, ask the same references to submit the same letter a second time.
  • Don't ever ask for letters from family!
  • Don't ask for letters based on credentials from people who don't know you well. I have had people ask me for letters after a couple of email exchanges through this website. This is not a quality letter and will not work in your favor. It also makes me extremely suspect as a letter writer.

Advanced CASPA Reference Form Tips (for the prepared PA school applicant)

  • Professors, physicians, and employers are busy people so ask at least 3 months in advance for a letter.
  • Set up a little interview with your recommender so they can ask questions to better help write the letter.
  • Before meeting with the recommender have these ready:
    • Updated resume.
    • List of schools you’re applying to.
    • A paper on what you may want specifically mentioned in the letter (One professor actually complimented me on how prepared I was compared to other students for requesting the letter).
  • The more personal a letter the better. Don’t ask for a letter from a professor who only knows you as a good grade in their class (that’s all they can really write truthfully).
  • This is something you can do starting your freshman year so professors can remember you personally and write a great recommendation for you.

Answers to common CASPA letters of reference questions (from the CASPA website)

  • Q: What is the difference between an evaluation, letter of reference, and letter of recommendation?
    • A: Nothing. They are all the same thing.
  • Q: How many evaluations must you enter?
    • A: CASPA requires three letters of reference to be listed on your application in order to submit to CASPA, however, you may list up to five. These must then be completed through the CASPA reference website. CASPA will verify your application as long as two of your evaluations are completed. Any additional references received by CASPA will be available to your schools immediately once they are completed.
  • Q: How long should the letters be?
    • A: The file uploaded by references may not exceed 5 MB (this is a pretty big file). The Evaluator Portal will not allow references to exceed this file size when uploading their assessment.
  • Q: Can I submit more than five references?
    • A: NO. You may not submit more than five references via CASPA, and CASPA cannot accept any additional or substitute letters. However, you may want to contact the schools to which you are applying in inquire as to whether they will accept an additional or substitute letter. If so, you would send this additional letter directly to them.
  • Q: Why can I only have five letters? Why are letters restricted to 5 MB in length?
    • A: Restrictions regarding the length and number of references have been determined by the Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA) and the CASPA Admissions Committee, which is made up of admissions officers from CASPA participating PA programs. These restrictions reflect the PA programs’ desire to receive concise assessments and allow a certain degree of standardization in the amount of consideration given to each applicant’s reference material.
  • Q: Can I have different evaluations sent to individual programs?
    • A: No. Each evaluation is sent to all programs that you applied to.
  • Q: Can I send letters of reference which are on file at Interfolio or a career center?
    • A: NO. All letters of reference must be completed via the CASPA reference website by the evaluators themselves.
  • Q: Does CASPA accept committee letters?
    • A: If you wish to submit a committee letter to CASPA, it must be a single composite letter written by ONE individual (usually an advisor) who will also complete the ratings section. This single evaluator must be listed on your application with the individual’s name. Do NOT label this letter as being from a group; i.e. “Thesis Committee.” The composite letter and ratings still must be submitted electronically through the CASPA Evaluator Portal and must consist of ONE composite letter which fits within the  5MB upload limit. Do NOT upload a file containing multiple letters. Please note that a committee letter only counts as ONE letter of reference. CASPA applicants using a committee letter must still submit additional individual references, completed by evaluators who were not involved with the committee letter.
  • Q: What do I do if I want to change the person who is sending the reference or edit the information I entered?
    • A: Even after you submit your application, you may edit, delete, or replace references whose status is still listed as “new” or “incomplete.” Once a reference is “completed,” you may not make changes to that reference, regardless as to whether or not you’ve submitted your application.
  • Q: Can I e-submit my application before my references are received by CASPA?
    • A: Yes. Once you have successfully filled out your application, you can e-submit it to CASPA at any time. However, your application will not be processed until CASPA has received all of your official transcripts, at least two letters of recommendation and your payment.
  • Q: How can I view my letters of reference?
    • A: Even if you have not waived your right to view the reference, you still cannot access the reference via CASPA. If you have not waived the right to view your reference, this means that you may ask your reference for a copy of their recommendation, or, once you matriculate into a PA program, you may view the reference in their offices.
  • Q: Can CASPA forward my references to me, my evaluators, or schools not affiliated with CASPA? (i.e can I see what the reference said about me?)
    • A: NO. As per the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), CASPA may not release letters of reference to anyone other than your designated schools, including other schools or the applicant themselves.

For a complete list, please visit the CASPA website - letters of reference

Want to see my letters of recommendation for PA school? 

Physician assistant application letter of recommendation samplesPhysician Assistant Application Letter of Recommendation Samples: Applying to PA School

Here are two letters of recommendation I received when applying to PA school. I am not posting them here as a way to fluff my feathers but merely to serve as an example of what I included as part of my actual PA school application. A great letter of recommendation weighs heavily in your favor, I believe this (and a passion-filled essay) is the reason that I, an average student from a state university, was able to receive an acceptance letter over many Ivy league applicants with pedigree backgrounds and 4.0 GPA's. A great letter of recommendation must be earned. It comes when you provide a valuable service with the sole intent of doing your job or providing your service for the benefit of others...[Read More…]

 

Physician Assistant Letters of Recommendation: Downloadable Templates

This download includes nine physician assistant profession specific letters of recommendation to cover most situations:

  1. Letter of recommendation for PA School Applicant 1
  2. Letter of recommendation for PA School Applicant 2
  3. Letter of recommendation for PA School Applicant 3
  4. Letter of recommendation for PA School Applicant 4
  5. Physician assistant colleague letter of recommendation 1
  6. Physician assistant colleague letter of recommendation 2
  7. Letter of recommendation for staff (MA/Front Desk/Tech/ETC) pursuing healthcare career/graduate school 1
  8. Letter of recommendation for staff (MA/Front Desk/Tech/ETC) pursuing healthcare career/graduate school 2
  9. Letter of recommendation for PA Student who rotates in your clinic

These are pre-formatted MS Word document templates that you may modify and edit to your liking.

Writing a good letter of recommendation can be helpful, but writing a great letter of recommendation can change a person's life. If you care deeply about your coworker, colleague, employee, student, MA, staff member, or yourself (if you have been tasked with writing your own letter), taking the time to write a reference letter that will uniquely separate you from the pack is well worth your time.

Download Letter Templates

 
View all posts in this series
  • How to Write the Perfect Physician Assistant School Application Essay
  • Prerequisite Coursework: How to Design the Perfect Pre-PA School Curriculum
  • Healthcare Experience Required for PA School: The Ultimate Guide
  • Secrets of Successful PA School Letters of Recommendation
  • The GRE and PA School: The Pre-PA Advisor Series

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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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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Liz says

    December 15, 2019 at 7:48 am

    Hi Stephen,

    Thanks for your website and all the tips and tricks involved.
    I am working on who to ask to write me LORs for my application next year. I have worked in healthcare for the last 4 years but I haven’t worked directly under a MD or PA so I am not sure who to ask for LORs. I have a professor writing me one and I was going to ask the DPT I worked with. I currently am in the Peace Corps and work mainly alongside a RN, she isn’t the recommended MD or PA but she knows me well and has seen me work with patients everyday. Would she be a better option for a LOR rather than a PA I showed for only week? A DPT isn’t exactly a MD but they did work with me saw me work with patients? Help please!

    Reply
    • Stephen Pasquini PA-C says

      December 17, 2019 at 8:13 am

      Hi Liz, great questions. I would recommend asking those who know you best to write your LOR. The RN you work alongside would be a much better choice than a PA you shadowed for a week. I didn’t have a letter of recommendation for a PA, but instead, I asked those who had worked alongside me for years while in the University of Washington Campus lab. They wrote glowing LOR’s and were able to highlight my best traits and understood my passion for healthcare. So, although there are “standards” school always recommend they are not set in stone. Think about the kind of letter you would like to read when reviewing a PA school application. You will know when you have the right person to aks by using this as your filter.

      Stephen

      Reply
  2. Jordan says

    April 24, 2019 at 12:01 pm

    Good day Stephen,

    Reaching out as I was looking for more information on who would serve as the best reference when applying to PA school. In particular, I was caught up on this paragraph you wrote:

    “The most desirable is someone who has been witness to your patient care experience. This could be a physician, PA, NP, DO, etc. who have witnessed your work with patients.

    You can use nurses and clinical managers although these references may not be as strong as the former. Ideally, they want to see a letter from someone who knows what you are getting into and is enthusiastic about you.”

    In my experience as a patient care technician, the nurses and clinical managers are the only individuals I interact with at length on a daily basis. I can count on one hand the times that MDs, NPs, and even PAs come on the unit and stay for longer than 7 minutes with a patient – and in that time they are not looking to speak with me while I empty urinals and take vitals.

    In this case, would it not be more suitable to ask a nurse or manager to stand as a reference? Have you come across this before?

    Appreciate your feedback.

    Thanks,
    Jordan

    Reply
  3. Amanda A says

    April 12, 2018 at 3:45 pm

    Hi Stephen!
    First I would like to say thank you for creating such a useful resource for students like me! I have spent countless hours absorbing all your information over the past few weeks, and it has helped me better understand the process behind becoming a PA.

    Second, I was wondering if you have any tips on the best ways to ask someone for a Letter of Recommendations. I’ve read the article about figuring out who to choose, but I want to be sure to ask correctly.

    Thanks again!

    Amanda

    Reply

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How Much Money does a Physician Assistant make

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Testimonials

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

The edits I received were extremely helpful and insightful. I think they really brought my essay to the next level, and I am thrilled with the outcome. Thank you!!

Kelsey, Pre-PA

I wanted to update you and say I’ve been accepted into two programs (waiting for two more responses) with Jefferson University (my program of choice) being one of them. Thank you for all your help and your tips and for making this a genuinely joyful 2022!

Yejin (Future PA)

This experience was great. They took my essay and gave great constructive comments that made it an even better essay. Very fast and efficient process.

Gabby, 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 have used The PA Life services throughout my application process this year and I am 100% satisfied! Sarah helped me with my personal statement and mock interviewing. As a second time applicant, she really helped me strengthen my statement to convey my story of why I wanted to be a PA. I felt very confident in submitting my statement thanks to her review and was later invited for my first interview! The mock interview service was EXTREMELY helpful. Sarah provided excellent feedback during our session on how I could better rephrase my responses to make them stronger, but still, sound natural and true to myself. The session eased a lot of the interview nerves I had that come interview day I felt pretty confident. I’m proud to say that after my first interview, I was accepted! Thank you, Sarah, for all of your help throughout my PA journey!

Amanda B, Pre-PA

Thank you for taking the time to edit my paper! The feedback was constructive and very helpful. I liked how you highlighted all the strong points in my essay. It made me feel reassured that my essay was heading in the right direction. I also liked how you told me exactly what I needed to add to make it stronger.

Juliana, Pre-PA

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

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

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

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 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

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

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

I just wanted to reach out an let you that I actually got into PA school this year! Out of the 10 programs I applied to, 4 offered me interviews. The first interview wound up being my top choice and they offered me a spot. I accept and declined all my other interviews. So I am absolutely overjoyed!! I wanted to let you know though. Your editing and help, no doubt, helped me get through the initial phase. Thank you so much! I am truly grateful.

Deanna, Pre-PA

Sue was a huge help with my essay. Her edits made my essay sound much better grammatically and she pointed out some content problems I completely missed. She prompted me to write a few more paragraphs before her edit and added the information into my essay. That made a big difference. She was very knowledgable about what PA programs were looking for. I am really happy with your service. Worth every penny, THANKS!

Megan Stephenson, Pre-PA

I loved this service!!

Madeleine Zeichner, Pre-PA

The edit that I received from Sue was exactly what I was hoping for. She was able to tighten up my draft beyond my personal skill level and made edits that I was would have never thought to make. She has definitely made my personal statement stronger. Thank you, Sue!

Ethan, Pre-PA

My editor was Beth, and she blew my expectations out of the water. She got back to me within 24 hours of submitting my request for edits and helped me so much with the edits she made. If I receive an interview, I am excited to use PA Life to help me with mock interviews.

Haley, Pre-PA

Your services have eased the stress and anxiety that results from guessing whether or not your essay contains the content that many PA programs are looking for. Your services were prompt and genuine. It is clear that you have the applicant’s success at heart. Thank you!

Madison Pre-PA

My editor with The PA Life was amazing! I will definitely suggest these services to anyone else applying to PA school. Thank you for everything!

Margarita, Pre-PA

Deanna gave me excellent feedback on my personal statement, and I couldn’t be more grateful. She was very articulate and gave examples for me to work with on the rewrite. What I struggled with most was the organization of my writing, and Deanna helped me structure my paper so that it was easy to read. I would 100% recommend this service to a friend applying to PA school. Thank you so much!

Daniela, Pre-PA

I am amazed by what Deanna was able to do in helping me get my supplemental essays in shape. I had hit a serious roadblock and she was able, and in an incredibly quick manner, help me remove those blocks. I am very grateful!

Lily, Pre-PA

This was a very quick service and the attention to detail and response time was amazing. I thank you for having a service like this and am so happy I decided to go with the PA Life!!

Rachel, Pre-PA

Duke and I worked really well together. Seeing my first draft in comparison to my final draft was like night and day. I really appreciate all the help!

Kenzi H. 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

I just wanted to share that I got into USC! Woohoo!!! They just called me to share the good news. I’m feeling pretty shocked since that interview did not go as well in my head. I can’t believe I got into school during my first round of applications. This would not have been possible without you, and I really appreciate all the support you gave me throughout this process. 😊

Tiffany, PA-S

So far, I’ve received 3 interview invites from Chapman, Drexel, and Tufts!!! I just wanted to say a big THANK YOU to Sarah for polishing my PS, supplemental essays and giving me lots of awesome tips for my upcoming interviews!!!

Audrey, Pre-PA

Sarah was a joy to work with! She was extremely helpful and patient with any questions I had for her! 10/10 recommend using this service!

Lori, Pre-PA

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

My editor did an excellent job with my essays. I struggle with writing emotionally and she took my material and really personalized it. I feel very confident sending in my essays after having her look at them. She promptly returned my essays and did a stellar job. Thank you!

Danielle, 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 that the majority of my interviews have gone really well! So far, I’ve received six interview invites and have interviewed for five schools. Midwestern (AZ) just got back to me a bit ago, and they sent me an acceptance email! I am beyond thrilled! I just wanted to thank you so much for your help! Your mock interview gave me a lot of confidence that I was able to carry into my interviews! I appreciated having the opportunity to practice my interview skills with you. I wanted to let you know just how much you’ve helped me with my application process (with my interviews, personal statement, and just my confidence in general)! Thank you so much for all of the advice over the past few months!

Sneh, PA-S

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

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!

Amanda, Pre-PA

I wanted to let you know I got accepted into the PA program at Mercy College and have another interview at Pace University PA program next week. Thank you so much for guiding me through this process. I just want you to know I really appreciate the time you put into working with me.

Alex (Future 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

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

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 am happy to provide an update. I received 5 acceptances for this cycle and will be attending Rush University PA Program starting in May 2022. Of course, I definitely have Sarah Schultz and Deanna Matzen from The PA Life to thank for their incredible help with my personal statement, instilling confidence in my ability to interview, and providing me with a lot of advice in this very difficult cycle.

Bristi (Future PA)

Deanna was an amazing editor and provided wonderful feedback to my personal statement. I was very hesitant and nervous prior to approaching an editing service, but I do not have any regrets. Deanna not only critiqued my personal statement, but also gave guidance and reasoning behind her critiques. I now feel confident and excited to fully present my self on paper to admissions. I highly recommend her and the services provided for any future applicant. I hope to receive an interview and acceptance this year for next fall. Thank you!

Alexis, 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

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

I just wanted to share some amazing news with you! I have been accepted into the MEDEX PA program in Seattle!!! I can’t thank you enough for all your help!! I am beyond excited and still can’t believe it is actually happening! Thank you again from the bottom of my heart!!!!! 😀

Pavitra, PA-S

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 have never used a service like this before. All I can say is that I wish I had discovered it sooner 😀

Rebecca G. PA-S

I was very pleased with this service. Writing has never been my strongest area. While I had the ideas that I wanted to convey I wasn’t able to articulate them as well as I’d hoped. Carly provided comments and suggestions without altering my central thesis. Any questions that I had were answered quickly and thoroughly. Any grammatical mistakes were also addressed which put my mind at ease. I would recommend The PA Life personal statement essay revision service to anyone applying.

Keith G, Pre-PA

I worked closely with Duke and Sue for the revisions on my personal statement. They must have edited my original version half a dozen times before they felt it was good enough to send off and never made it seem like an inconvenience. They always responded to my e-mails within a 24-hour time frame but usually got back to me within a few hours. I am very pleased with how my personal statement turned out thanks to all of their time, ideas and direction. The service the PA Life provides is well worth the money spent!

Personal Statement Collaborative

Michelle Murphy, Pre-PA

Deanna was very opening to helping me with my essay. Although I had the material, the way she edited gave it a very nice and easy flow for the reader. She gave me her critical suggestions and comments that I would have otherwise missed. I am so glad I chose The PA Life revision services for my personal statement for PA school.

Yana, 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

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 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

I am very happy with your service and would highly recommend it to any PA applicant. Duke helped me to put my thoughts in order and to make significant changes. My personal statement sounds great and seems easy and interesting to read now.  He took a lot of time to explain his way of thinking and to understand what I am trying to say. Thank you so much for your help. I really appreciate what you are doing for others.

Olga N. 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

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

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

I can not speak highly enough of Sarah. She was extremely helpful and easy to work with. I think she did an especially admirable job packaging the message I was trying to get across in my essay in a concise format that flows smoothly. Thank you again!

Ian, Pre-PA

It was an absolute pleasure working with Sarah. She was prompt to respond, professional, and kind. Sarah is an excellent writer. I was consistently impressed with her edits and suggestions for my personal statement. After working with Sarah I feel confident that my final essay will be well-received schools and help me stand out as a candidate.

Leah, 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

A couple of months ago you worked with me on improving my personal statement. I wanted to reach out and let you know that it worked out! I got 5 interviews and so far have been accepted to 2. I am so so thankful for all your help as I don’t think it would have worked out without your amazing editing skills. Thank you for all you do! Not just me but for all the applicants you helped get accepted this year!

Matthew B. PA-S

SUPER friendly and so helpful! I would recommend this service to everyone if I could 🙂

Gabby, Pre-PA

Sue was awesome and ensured I received my edited version of the essay in a timely manner. The editing was above exceptional and exceeded my expectations. Thanks so much!! You guys are awesome!

HK, Pre-PA

Carly did an absolutely amazing job editing my essays. From my personal statement to my supplementals, she was thorough and methodically made them into stronger essays. I am glad I was able to work with her. With her edits, I am more confident about the essays I am submitting. I would gladly recommend her to anyone!

Jacob, PRE-PA

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

Catalina, 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 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

Deanna was professional, prompt, and easy to talk to. I truly enjoyed working with her one-on-one for my personal statement. Her suggestions elevated my writing, and I appreciate all the work she put in my essay.

Jamie, 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

The comments and edits made by Sue are exceptional! They’ve helped a lot in terms of helping me express my thoughts more clearly and effectively. It felt as if she was there with me, reading my thoughts and helping me with the entire process in person!

Amy, Pre-PA

I am very thankful for all of the work and time invested in me.  I learned incredible amounts from Duke about writing. Though some of it didn’t make sense to me, I knew he was right and I learned to trust him. He helped me more than any of the other dozen people I had trusted with my essay. This is such a big part of my future and my dreams and I honestly appreciate all of his work to help me get in. Thank you, Duke.

Andrew N. 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

Sarah was absolutely wonderful. She not only helped take my personal statement to the best level, but she also made it easy to understand why certain changes were better. In the end, she went through and used a highlighting method to show how we connected things to PA and skills that were good. This made it easier to visualize everything. I’d recommend Sarah to anyone applying to PA school that needs that extra push on their personal statements.

Taylor, 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 just want to thank you again so much for being so awesome and helping me perfect my statement. I promised you that I would let you know if I got into any programs, and I was offered interviews at all the five universities I applied to. And I got offered positions at my top two school choices shortly after I interviewed. I am so ecstatic to say that I will be going to my number one school choice. I know multiple factors contributed to this opportunity being offered to me and the personal statement was surely a big one. Thank you so much for all that you do. It was really a great investment to have you edit my paper. I hope you have a fantastic rest of your day!

Elisa, PA-S

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

Sarah was beyond amazing, she was always on time with my essay edits, took the time needed to really listen to what I had to say. Sarah pretty much transformed my essay form caveman style to an easy, awesome flow good content easy and fun to read essay. I am very thankful for her collaboration, I could not have done anything that resembles her quality of work. Thanks a million!!!!

Jerry C, 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

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

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

Danielle, Pre-PA

Sarah is the best! She gets me and puts all her efforts for my message to come across in a clear and concise way. Obviously, her editing skills are superb! But she also has a very sweet and pleasant way of being. I highly recommend Sarah and the PA Life Personal Statement Collaborative. I have not yet received an interview, but keeping my fingers crossed!

Raquel Poliwoda Pre-PA

Sarah helped to condense my detailed thoughts into a powerful essay. Over the phone, she was careful to collaborate with me before making any changes so that the piece remained under my control and in my voice. She served as a guide and insured the essay brought out my strengths and reasons for pursuing the PA profession. Overall, I’m incredibly happy with the service!

Julie, Pre-PA

Sarah is amaaaaaaaaaaazing!! She is super kind and helpful. My original essay was very long at about 9,000 characters and I had no idea how to trim it down. Sarah helped me decide what to include and eliminate from my personal statement while correcting many of my grammatical errors. She was a complete professional and very easy to work with. I would recommend Sarah and The PA Life personal statement revision service to everyone, they are absolutely wonderful!

Fariha, 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

Carly took the time to listen to my concerns about my personal statement and apply them to what I had already written. I was so appreciative as I wasn’t sure where my personal statement stood before submitting it. I now feel more confident in my statement!

Chelsea, Pre-PA

Carly did a fantastic job helping my personal statement create fluid and concise writing to help convey my experience! I highly recommend using this service even if you think your statement is solid because they will help make it better than you could have imagined! Thank you for everything.

Kelsey, 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

Carly was excellent! She was very quick to provide edits and did a thorough job. She really helped me with the flow of my essay. I will be sure to let you know if I receive any interview invitations. Well worth the money! I feel confident in my essay.

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

Nika (Future 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 had an excellent experience with this service. Deanna was thorough, attentive to my essay, and very easy to contact. She did a great job and I would highly recommend this service to anyone.

Grant, Pre-PA

This service was invaluable – I felt decent about my essay, but it’s remarkably better. I appreciate the level of detail and courtesy even with my discounted rate. You guys are too great!

Taylor Hamstra, Pre-PA

Sarah was a tremendous help to me and provided me with thoughtful edits that really made my personal statement stand out from the crowd. She was very easy to work with and really seems to care about each of her clients. I really enjoyed working with her and highly recommend her as an editor. As of today, I have 3 interviews scheduled, including one at my top choice school! Thank you!

Andrew, Pre-PA

Thank you so much for your assistance with perfecting my personal statement. This service is truly helpful. They were able to easily edit and help to convey exactly what was in my heart onto paper. I was accepted to my first choice PA program this week!!

Vincent, PA-S

Deanna’s edits and feedback were stunningly thorough and exact, and her revision was more than I could have hoped for! I am very grateful for her patience and encouragement. I cannot recommend her service highly enough in return for her help and support.

Angela, Pre-PA

Sue was very attentive to details and her comments and edits made a perfect sense. Thank you for your help!

Margaryta, Pre-PA

Your service was able to help me figure out exactly what I needed to include, what did not belong and helped me display my experiences the best way possible to form a great essay. Carly was able to help me create my best essay by just editing the order and grammar without changing much of any of my written work. I am very happy with how my essay turned out. Definitely worth the money, thank you for all your help!

Nicolas, Pre-PA

Really great service, definitely worth the money! I am very pleased with the amount of work that went into editing my paper and giving reasons as to why sentences or paragraphs were changed around. Carly did an amazing job!

Christina, 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

Really helpful! Makes me feel confident.

Qui T. Pre-PA

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

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 love your site and think that it is the most enjoyable studying resource that I have use so far.
David PA-S
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
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
Thank you for helping me prepare for my interviews. Your feedback was really helpful. I got accepted to 2 programs. Once again, Thank You!
Abiel, Pre-PA
About a year ago you helped edit my personal statement to get into PA school! I just wanted to let you know that I got interviews and was accepted to all the schools I applied to! I have decided to attend UAB in the fall! Thank you again for all your help!
Lauren Smith, PA-S
I am so excited that I must share the amazing news I’ve got- I got accepted to physician assistant program at USC! I couldn’t be happier after this long journey of 6 years of hard work until this moment. I wanted to thank you so much for your help and advice. I appreciate your help so much.
Ravit Zargar Azizi, PA-S
I read my personal statement again today and got the chills. I am so happy with it and just wanted to thank you for all your help with my PA school essay!
Mikaela, Pre-PA
I am pleased to tell you that I have been accepted to PA school, starting in 2-weeks.😀 I appreciate everything you have done for me, from helping with my personal statement to preparing me for interviews. You have been with me since the beginning of the application process and I really wanted to thank you.
Shane, Pre-PA
I just wanted to update you. I have had two interviews so far (the third got rescheduled for later) and got into both schools (Midwestern and Nashville)! Thank you again for all of your help. This mock interview prompted me to prepare more specific and relevant answers, which I think made a difference in my interviews.
Leah, PA-S

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101 PA School Admission Essays

Admissions Directors Know What They Want. Shouldn't You? You’re slaving away at your personal statement, but can’t help wondering if anyone will read past the first line. A troubling thought, isn’t…

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