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You are here: Home / Physician Assistant Stories / The #1 Trait that Determines Long Term Success as a Physician Assistant

The #1 Trait that Determines Long Term Success as a Physician Assistant

BY Stephen Pasquini PA-C 46 Comments

Do You Have What it Takes To Become a Physician Assistant

"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm." - Sir Winston Churchill

I've come to realize that it's not the best genetics, the highest GPA, or the most relevant healthcare experience that produces the most success, especially when it comes to being a PA or trying to become one.

It comes down to one word: 

Grit

What the Hell is "Grit"?

Kid tennis

No, not grits like in My Cousin Vinny.

Grit is defined as: "perseverance and passion for long-term goals."

There we go.

More and more research is coming out that shows in school, work, and in life, intelligence is no longer the most significant predictor of success. It's grit and character – the ability to push through adversity, challenges, and setbacks to find a new solution or path to success.

Angela Duckworth, a Psychology Professor at the University of Pennsylvania, has found through her research that:

"Smarter students actually had less grit than their peers who scored lower on an intelligence test. This finding suggests that among the study participants — all students at an Ivy League school — people who are not as bright as their peers' compensate by working harder and with more determination.' And their effort pays off: The grittiest students — not the smartest ones — had the highest GPAs."

She also discovered that:

"At the elite United States Military Academy, West Point, a cadet's grit score was the best predictor of success in the rigorous summer training program known as "Beast Barracks." Grit mattered more than intelligence, leadership ability, or physical fitness.

At the Scripps National Spelling Bee, the grittiest contestants were the most likely to advance to the finals — at least in part because they studied longer, not because they were smarter or were better spellers."

These findings suggest that the achievement of difficult goals entails not only talent but also the sustained and focused application of talent over time.

Last week in the New York Times, Thomas Friedman published an article that I couldn't agree with more: "Need a job? Invent one!" In this article, he references Harvard Education Specialist Tony Wagner, "Today, because knowledge is available on every Internet-connected device, what you know matters far less than what you can do with what you know."

So what does all this science and job talk have to do with a physician assistant life, getting into PA school, or becoming a physician assistant by design?  After all, it's simple, right?  Get good grades, make sure you have the prerequisite healthcare experience, and work hard, right?

As we all know too well, there is so much more to having the long-term success that goes beyond getting good marks and finding healthcare experience that looks good on an application. It's not how much information we know, but what we DO with that information that will determine our success.

Or, in wanna be PA terms, success is going from a blog reader to an action taker. 

Instead of knowing all of the answers, instead of chasing the perfect healthcare job to pass the time, or waiting to write that perfect essay, people who succeed get started. And then they stick with it.

My Tale of Grit

stephen

I am proud to say that I am on a better road to being proud, confident, and strong. 

But it wasn't always that way . . .

  • I was cut from my high school basketball team for my size and lack of an outside shot.
  • My grandmother told me as I left for college in Seattle that I was "selfish and not thinking of the family."
  • I was told by my college guidance counselor that I would never have the grades to make it as a medical professional.
  • I have struggled from time to time with depression and low self-esteem.

It wasn't until I adjusted my goals, changed my major, and started to believe in myself that I finally started to have success. From that point on, it was another six years of incremental improvements, setbacks, adjustments, and research that led to small changes and new tactics.  I imagine I'll spend the rest of my life learning more, failing more, and trying to discover new ways to improve myself.

To some, this might sound boring or daunting.  

However, I discovered that it is fascinating and encouraging to see improvement from week to week, no matter how small they are, to make a difference in peoples lives, to adjust my focus from one of self to "what can I do today to make somebody else's life better."

"Boring" became exciting, instead of blaming the world for what I didn't have, I became thankful for all the beautiful blessings I did have. 

I fell in love with small changes and small wins, adding up to significant transformations.

Instead of saying, "ugh, I have to study, or ugh I have to work out (another passion of mine)," it's become "I wonder what I'm capable of today? 

Somewhere early in the second half of my journey to a PA life, I decided I wanted to help others feel that same excitement without having to make all of the same rookie mistakes I made during my six years of discovery;  I wanted to help beginners see progress and build momentum and confidence from day one.

This project is part of this mission. 

I've learned that grit CAN be developed, and once you have it in one area of your life, it carries over to others.

Developing "True Grit"

When I moved past my initial goal of becoming an MD I didn't realize it at the time, what I was doing was identifying the new "normal" and the new "identity" I wanted for myself.

Then I proved that this new identity was actually a future possibility with teeny tiny small wins, building momentum, developing more grit, and perseverance.

Here's how you can develop grit yourself:

1) Identify the new "identity" you want to have. The more specific you can be with it, the easier it'll be to prove it to yourself. "I'm the type of person that never misses a lecture." "I'm somebody who hardly ever misses a workout." "I'm somebody who works on gaining healthcare experience and meeting my prerequisites every day." Remind yourself of this EVERY day by hanging up a post-it note on your bathroom window, or using your phone/calendar to keep this at the front of your mind.

2) Prove to yourself you can do it with small wins.  Create a teeny tiny benchmark for yourself to show that you are heading in the right direction.  Make it something you can do every day that takes less than 15 minutes. Five minutes is even better.  Build a habit.

3) Build momentum by completing the small win every day for at least 30 days.  Remember, we have limited willpower, so dump all of it into building this one habit.

4) Once you have established your new "normal," it's time to stretch again.  Constantly adjust your new normal, but make the adjustment small so it's not a drastic adjustment.  Slow and steady for the win!

5) If you fail at something, make sure you fail differently next time. Failing is not a reflection of your character. You're simply crossing something off your list that didn't work. Move onward and upward.

Physician Assistant Grits

tortis and hari

Rule #1: It doesn't matter where you came from, only where you're going.

This is why I love meeting people and receiving emails from prospective PAs or practicing PAs.  These are people like you and me: ordinary folks with normal lives and typical problems.  They may not have healthcare experience, and they may be deciding between various healthcare careers. They may not understand what a PA does.  Or maybe they are a PA student or a practicing PA who worked hard but didn't pass their PANCE or PANRE. Perhaps they have tried every tactic out there and struggled to find success for a long time.  Then, for whatever reason, that light bulb went off in their head, and they were encouraged to try something different:

  • Joe failed his PANCE: He reached out to those who had been successful, purchased a new review book, focused on completing PANCE practice questions every day, and then took a lot of practice tests. He is now working full time as an Orthopedic Physician Assistant.
  • Staci didn't get into PA school on her first three tries: Now she is a 2nd year PA student who is looking forward to graduating head of her class and starting a career in family practice medicine.
  • Ryan didn't know how he was going to pay for PA school.  He applied for the National Health Service Corps and was accepted after his second try. Now he gets a monthly stipend and will fulfill his dream of working with an underserved population.

These guys didn't set out to drastically change their life, but they knew it was a possibility.  They just focused on small wins, building momentum, and building a new normal for themselves.  As a result of that, these men and women are forever changed.

My goal with The PA Life is to help you build grit and momentum. I've seen it happen with hundreds of people, and it all starts with one thing: the first step.

This is a challenging journey, but one I hope you're willing to take. There's no doubt in my mind you have it in you to become the passionate and caring healthcare provider you see in yourself, and I look forward to the day when you start to believe it too. Prove it to yourself.

Don't ever let anybody tell you that you can't accomplish something.  

My dad always said this, and it is true: "excuses are like armpits, everyone has them, and they all stink. "

Tell me one small victory you've had recently and one small change you're going to make, or drop me a line and tell me what you need help with. 

- Stephen Pasquini PA-C

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About Stephen Pasquini PA-C

A PA since 2004 and creator of The PA Life and Smarty PANCE Board Review websites. A National Health Service Corps Scholar and a graduate of The University of Medicine and Dentistry of NJ (Rutgers) PA Program and the University of Washington in Seattle, WA. Stephen's goal is to provide one-of-a-kind online resources for those interested in or practicing in the PA profession, to promote better access to healthcare for all and foster universal recognition/awareness of the PA profession. Read more about Stephen.

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Comments

  1. Kennedy says

    August 6, 2021 at 10:32 pm

    “…and I look forward to the day when you start to believe it too. Prove it to yourself.
    Don’t ever let anybody tell you that you can’t accomplish something.”

    WOW, that ending hit me! I didn’t realize how much I needed to hear that. Sometimes we need those types of reminders and I’m so glad I read this article. A bit bummed out that I got a C on my very first chemistry class in college, but you know what? After it’s all said and done, I still consider it one of those small victories. The especially big thing that I’ve done is make the switch from an Associates of Arts to Associates of Science. Something I NEVER felt I was capable of doing and didn’t bother entertaining the thought. But here I am now at 23, a bit over halfway through with my classes (mainly the science and math ones left). Chemistry seemed so intimidating, but I was lucky to have an awesome professor turn a scary mountain into a teeny anthill. That’s not to say that it’s an easy peasy course (it’s a whole subject all on it’s own!), but I’ve gained some confidence in the fact that yes, I AM capable of much more than I give myself credit for. And I think it’s safe to say that I’m no longer letting that C demotivate me from doing even better in chemistry 2 and in many others!! There are still a myriad of areas that I know that I can improve on and I’m going to keep moving forward–even if I have to go to the point of crawling instead of running. At least I’m still moving.

    And not only that, but there’s still so much more stops left in my metaphorical road map before I even get to the stage of applying for PA schools. After I complete my associates, I want to complete a certification at my local college so that I can gain some healthcare experience via a job. (It takes like 9 months to complete. Yes, I am that eager to get into healthcare. Which is why you won’t see me going the MD route because I don’t have that kind of patience, LOL. Big respect to the MD’s though!)

    Ramble aside, as yet another wannabe PA student, thank you for this article!

    Reply
    • Kennedy says

      August 6, 2021 at 10:43 pm

      Also another thing I forgot to include: Before I even made the switch, I took a Anatomy and Physiology class so see how I liked it. Evidently, I got a B and those classes are NOT easy either. But I loved it! There was never a boring moment. One thing I learned the hard way though: NEVER TAKE LAB SCIENCES DURING THE SUMMER–especially more than one. So much info in so little time. I nearly metaphorically died trying to pull that off taking biology along with another science. YIKES. I’m actually taking part 2 of Anatomy and Physiology this coming Fall and I’m so excited! You better believe I’ll be reading ahead before the start of the semester. 😉

      Reply
  2. Angela says

    June 18, 2019 at 12:42 pm

    Interesting, I am hoping to get int PA school, but not feeling super hopeful because of my subpar undergraduate academic record, and my age. I did graduate school to try and show that I do have what it takes.

    What I like about this, is the Finns have a word “sisu” that means “true grit” or “giving a little more when you think you have nothing left.”

    Reply
    • Stephen Pasquini PA-C says

      June 19, 2019 at 2:23 pm

      I guess this explains why the Finns have the heaviest coffee consumption in the world (along with the best education system)! 🙂 My son and I were on a run the other day and we made our way up into this small grotto that has pieces of paper with notes written on them that people leave. My son (who is 9) was complaining about our jog and saying he was tired. He grabbed a piece of paper and is said: “Don’t stop when you’re tired; stop when you’re done.” Couldn’t have been better timing! One of the hardest things to do in life is to differentiate between fatigue and misdirection. If we are running down the road waiting to be done but we are running down the wrong road we can essentially run forever and not find what we are looking for. But if we are on the right road, and we keep running through the fatigue, disappointment, setbacks, etc. etc. we will eventually get there. And you don’t want to stop early. So you will have to decide if you are on the right road. You will know if you have had a chance to spend a lot of time working with PAs and within the field of medicine. Does it allign with your passion and your purpose? If so, then go for it, and dig deep into your “sisu!”

      Stephen

      Reply
  3. Vela says

    June 6, 2019 at 9:32 am

    A small victory for me. My dad passed away in March after my first observation in an OR. I am still a bit depressed but trying to get motivated again. I’m now sitting at the coffee shop at Kaiser waiting to meet the PA I’m going to be shadowing today. It’s a small step in the right direction I think. Thanks for the good news on “grit.”

    Reply
    • Stephen Pasquini PA-C says

      June 19, 2019 at 2:15 pm

      Hi Vela, thanks so much for sharing your story. It’s hard to pick yourself back up after the death of a loved one, especially a parent. I am so proud of you for still digging deep and moving forward… and hanging in there. If this is no the definition of grit than I don’t know what is. Keep up the great work and let us know how the shadowing goes.

      Stephen

      Reply
  4. Lauren says

    May 7, 2019 at 12:47 pm

    Hi Stephen,

    I recently got accepted into PA school and will be starting this upcoming fall. I am very excited but also anxious. Any tips for me as I enter into my first year?

    Thank you for the great article. I have always been one that has to study very hard to do well.

    Reply
    • Stephen Pasquini PA-C says

      May 16, 2019 at 11:40 pm

      Congratulations Lauren! This is a good question. Probably one of the best pieces of advice I can give you is to try to make it a goal to read about the topic being discussed in lecture prior to the actual lecture. My best friend in PA school was the master at this and I didn’t really appreciate the true power of this tactic until after we had completed the didactic year. When you have done some research on a topic before it is being discussed you come prepared with the right questions so as it is being discussed in class you will have a much better understanding of the materials. My friend graduated top of our class and he always seemed calm, prepared and relaxed. I know his strategy for preparation had a lot to do with this. Also, if you haven’t had a lot of anatomy I would suggest taking an online anatomy course or a CC course if it’s available. There are probably a lot of free options online these days if you do some research. You can start memorizing all those body parts now which will give you a huge leg up! I absolutely love OSMOSIS (www.osmosis.org) something that was not available to me while I was in PA school. But I use it a lot now in my board review course and they cover so many topics in a fun and interesting way. I would purchase a subscription and start watching these videos. They have tons of lectures and quizes on anatomy, biochemistry, microbiology, pharmacolgy and even some great tidbits on test taking skills and how to used spaced repetition. This woudl be a great place to spend some of your pre-PA school time. Also I love the essential anatomy 5 app to augment any anatomy course you may be taking. And search the iTunes or Google Play store for podcasts. This is a wonderful way to learn medicine topis while on the go.

      Hope that helps some. Also, make sure to take a vacation! 🙂 What ideas have you come up with for preparation?

      Stephen

      Reply
  5. Laura says

    February 15, 2019 at 2:17 pm

    Hi Stephen!
    Thank you for this. This embodies my time as a struggling pre-PA student!
    One small win recently has been that I started packing a lunch for full days of classes. It’s small, but I am absolutely proud because I used to spend money every day on Starbucks coffee and breakfast sandwiches, which aren’t too nutritious anyway. Or I would just snack all day. I feel awesome and well-nourished lately, and I’ve been saving some cash. Woo-hoo brain food!

    Reply
  6. Richard William Crum says

    August 30, 2017 at 6:30 pm

    Hello, my name is Richard Crum and i am a sophomore at Western Washington University, i am considering a PA career and am not sure if i want to pursue it but after examining other medical professions such as nursing and PT i have figured out that there is no other Profession i can see myself in in the current medical field. My father is a Pediatrician so i grew up surrounded by his work and his fulfillment through that and that helped me decide what to go to school for. I would love to hear back on any advice for what i can expect in the following years and if i should continue pursuing this career. thank you for writing this article as well!

    Reply
  7. günstige kfz haftpflichtversicherungen says

    November 4, 2016 at 10:35 pm

    our post, Developing Brand Awareness through Outlook and NetSuite, we needed a way to synchronize our Outlook Contacts to NetSuite using Outlook Categories while

    Reply
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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

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

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

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

Gabby, Pre-PA

My editor did an amazing job of quickly getting my rough draft back to me. I paid for your service very late in the game, yet The PA Life worked with my timeline and was very thorough in the editing process. I am very impressed with how eloquent I sound in the personal statement. I can not recommend your service enough!!

Katie, Pre-PA

Sarah was amazing from beginning to end. Her listening skills are just superb. She edits in a manner that captures your story in a raw format and complete format. I loved my experience.

Vivian, Pre-PA

I am writing this because I wanted to share with you that I have been accepted to the University of Iowa PA program.  I would like to once again thank you for your insight and guidance while writing my personal statement, it came at just the right time.

Eugene V.PA-S

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

Stephanie, Pre-PA

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

Norah, PA-S

I finally have amazing news. So first of all, in total, I was offered 13 interviews. I was just offered a seat at Nova Orlando! I am finally going to be a PA and a big part of that was from all of your help with my personal statement. So thank you very much for helping me succeed during this round.

Jennifer, PA-S

I want to say thank you, first off for providing such a service. It was difficult having to write a personal statement and then have others critique it, when there is not a clear rubric to follow. I think having to write a personal statement is such an emotional process, and then having others edit it, can be a very harsh pill to swallow. Thank you for your edits, I have no doubt that this process will make my personal statement more compelling and hopefully a more competitive applicant.

Stephanie, Pre-PA

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

Amanda Pre-PA

I’ve had several people look at my essay in an effort to gauge whether the content was strong and to help clean it up and cut characters – none were as helpful as Carly. Carly’s editing truly helped make a difference in the quality of the essay, and while there’s still quite a bit of character cutting I have to do, I am more prepared now than I was before. I am so happy I chose to work with The PA Life.

Kristen, Pre-PA

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

Winnie, Pre-PA

Sarah did such a great job editing my personal statement! She was receptive to my concerns and had awesome ideas to make my essay stand out. I am very happy with how it turned out and I am excited to submit it. Thank you!!

Hannah, Pre-PA

Just found your site today while trying to update my resume. Also, I have to recertify next year so your tests are great for a refresher course. I was in a specialty area of medicine so I now realize how much I forgot in the past 5 years. Thank you very much and I will pass on to other PAs.

Pattie Solomon PA-CNorTh Miami Florida

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 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

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 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

I had such a great time working with Carly. She is very prompt, understanding, and reliable. She made my personal statement very easy to read and helped me convey my words the way I intended it. I’m couldn’t be happier with my final essay and I really appreciated Carly’s effort to edit and re-edit until we were pleased with the result. I’m so glad that I worked with Carly and I thank her for what she did with my PS!!!

Zulhumar, Pre-PA

AMAZING EDITS. Really opened my eyes to a new perspective of what a personal statement should really be like!

Jasmine, 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

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

My editor thoroughly went through my essay and provided exactly what I was looking for to bring my essay to the next level.

Matthew, 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

I just want to let you know I got into the pa program! I want to give you a huge thank you for helping me nail the interview and make a great essay. Thank you, x 100,000!

Rachel J, Pre-PA

I felt our mock interview was an absolute necessity to prepare for the Academic and Personal interviews from Yale School of Medicine PA Program Online. I felt the calibre of questions you had asked me, in addition to the coaching and post-question feedback, really helped me understand what an ideal response looks like and gave me time to reflect and prepare my responses for the formal interview just two days later.

During my interviews I was asked plenty of questions I didn’t have a prepared response to (and I had combed through tons especially in the days following our mock interview!) I can say that I answered each question genuinely, authentically, and showed both interviewers the best version of myself. I didn’t stammer or lose my place, and I felt confident in my words and expressions. I don’t think I would have been as comfortable, calm, or confident without having accepted your guidance and feedback and learned from our time together.

Gratitude for your words, encouragement, and support is an understatement. Thank you, Sarah!

Best Regards,
Jacob

Jacob, PRE-PA

This is just a great service overall, because not only is it an editing service, it is specific to the PA personal statement. Sue did a wonderful job editing my essay, and pointed out important flaws in it that I otherwise might not have noticed. Her edits highlighted the main points that I was trying to get across in a much better way than I had originally written. Overall, very satisfied with the results, and will have to keep you updated about the interviews. Thanks so much!

Sabrina L. 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

My editor was quick and responsive with her emails. Her explanations on how to improve my personal statement were detailed and organized. I’m very glad I chose The PA Life to help me with my personal statement and point me in the right direction. Thank you very much!

Phillip, Pre-PA

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

Tiffany M, Pre-PA

I just wanted to send you a quick email, letting you know that I finally got accepted into PA school! I will be attending Sacred Heart University in Connecticut and will be starting this fall. I could not have made it this far without your help! This was my third time applying and during my first two cycles, I didn’t think that I needed outside help. But this time around, I decided that I needed to change my tactic and I am so freaking happy that I did. Your guidance and advice on my personal statement absolutely made a difference. I had 6 interviews and got accepted into 4! You have helped changed my life and I am forever grateful. I have several friends who will be applying this cycle so I will be referring them to you!

Christian, Pre-PA

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

Stephanie, Pre-PA

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 wanted you to know about my acceptance into Elizabethtown College’s PA program. I am incredibly excited – I loved the school, the program and thought the staff was incredible, especially the director. I know my personal statement was a key component of getting an interview with them, and I am so thankful for your help in getting my statement polished!

Steve, PA-S

Duke helped me write a great personal statement. I won’t know if I’ve been accepted to the program until Christmas/New Year’s, but I feel that it was worth every penny!

Alicia C. Pre-PA

I got in!! I got into PA school and I can’t thank you enough for your hand in helping me with this process. I received 7 interviews out of 12 applications, I was waitlisted at Jefferson, Salus, and Chatham. And I was accepted at Drexel and Stony Brook. I will be starting PA school in June! Thank you so very much!!

Natalie, 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

Sue did an exemplary job at editing my personal statement. Her service was particularly useful once my essay was ready for fine polishing and trimming down – she really pulled the fat off leaving the meat of my personal statement remaining. I would recommend this service to others.

Sarah, Pre-PA

Very detail-oriented and took the time to explain the process, so our expectations were on the same page. Excellent editing and feedback on the content. Helpful comments on how I could maximize limited character count to make the most impact on the reader. I very much would recommend this service!

Esmeralda, Pre-PA

The ease, frequency, and promptness of communication were some of the best aspects of this service. I found the review and revisions to be very thoughtful and explained in a way where I knew exactly how to apply them to my essay. I would 100% recommend the PA Life PS review to any applicant, and especially enjoyed working with Carly. I am hopeful my personal statement will gain the attention of PA programs I am applying to.

Charlie, Pre-PA

Sue Edmondson was VERY thorough in her editing of my essay, as well as the promptness of her responses to me. She not only took the time to edit the grammar of my essay but helped me remove a large portion of it to focus on the important aspects of it and draw in more details. Overall, a fantastic service!

Megan Hunstad, Pre-PA

I’m not sure if you remember me but you helped me a couple of months ago on my PA personal statement. Just wanted to let you know — I got accepted into University of Pacific’s PA program! I’m overjoyed!

Thank you so much for all your help and encouragement! I really appreciate it.

Jennifer MurphyPRE-PA

Awesome service. Duke did a great job editing my personal statement – his feedback was top-notch. For the 2014-2015 cycle, I applied to one school. I was selected for an interview and yesterday I received an offer of admission … which I quickly accepted. I know my Personal Statement played a huge role in my success. I highly recommend this service.

Nikki, 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

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

Carly did more than help revise my grammatical errors and flow. She was able to show me the strengths and weaknesses of the concepts of my essay. She was able to tell me what it was missing as well as praise me for what I did correctly. It gave me confidence in my writing, and I truly believe it will make an impact on the way PA programs view me.

Sherry, 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

Thank you once again for your help in reviewing and editing my personal statement for PA school. Yesterday morning, I had the pleasure of accepting a position in the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston Physician Assistant Program. The class begins in July 2022, and I am excited to begin this next chapter of entering the PA profession. I have no doubt that your invaluable assistance helped me produce a personal statement that promoted my application and paved the way for my successful interview, and I am sincerely grateful.

Angela, PA-S

Sue was amazing! She was very quick at replying to my emails and looking over my paper and application. She was so helpful and has a way with words. I know I will continue to use her services throughout my application process!

Miranda, Pre-PA

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

I was at a point where I kept reading my essay over and over again and not knowing what to change. After Sue looked over and thoroughly edited the essay, I had a completely new focus! I knew exactly what to tweak and her service really cleared up any uncertainty I had with my essay. I’m now much more confident as I finish up my CASPA applications!

Julia Spalding, Pre-PA

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

Anand T. Pre-PA

I wanted to share exciting news with you – I got accepted to UT Health San Antonio’s Physician Assistant program!!! I am so thankful for ALL of your work and talent that was put into my personal statement and supplemental essays. I could not have gotten through this process without you. I extend a thank you from my mother, Tammy, as well. We were so blessed to be paired with you. Your hard work and dedication to helping me as a Pre-PA student-led to success during the application process. I hope 2021 is treating you well and you have a blessed year!

Aubrey, PA-S

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

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

John, Pre-PA

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

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

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 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

The suggestions are great! My essay sounds better already and I’ve just started editing it. The edits are nicely explained and make sense, and I like that there are also comments about what sounds particularly good in my original draft, too. I like that, although you said I already had a very good start, there were still significant changes you suggested that, as I’ve heard others who used this service say, “elevated my work to a whole other level.”

Phong, Pre-PA

I just wanted to update you that I got waitlisted for Drexel but accept to Dominican University of California. I still have other interviews coming up. Thank you for your help!

Karmen Wu, Pre-PA

This past June, you helped me formulate my personal statement for my PA school applications. After our video chat and countless hours editing my CASPA information, I submitted my application and was then given the opportunity to interview at five PA programs. To prepare for my interviews, I would read my personal statement over and over again to remind myself of why I wanted to be a PA. This helped me succeed in my interviews. I was accepted to a few schools, but have I have made my final decision to matriculate into the University of Texas Medical Branch PA program in July! I wanted to follow up after I made my final decision to thank you for helping me with an important step to achieve this amazing life goal. Several of my friends are applying this upcoming cycle, and I will definitely be passing along your information. Again, thank you so much!

Kylie, Pre-PA

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

Melanie, PA-S

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 can’t begin to explain how thrilled I am to have stumbled on this service. Like many other PA applicants, I was unsure of whether I was on the right track with my personal narrative. Reading Stephen’s two different PA school application essays showed me how to come up with something unique and creative, but the private personal statement review really made my essay shine.

Duke was so kind and helpful in helping me understand what admissions committees look for in a strong essay. Our phone conversations were so thorough, as we read through and discussed every word in my essay. Sue’s guidance helped me cut out the fluff to reach the character limit.

Melissa T. Pre-PA

Sarah was fantastic to work with. She is excellent at her crafted skill and can help any thought or sentence come to life, fast!

Jessica D. PRE-PA

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 am so happy with the service Sarah provided! My personal statement turned out exactly how I was hoping it would!

Jennifer, Pre-PA

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

Alex Taylor, PA-S

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

Rachelle, Pre-PA

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

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

Having my essay edited proved extremely helpful. I was having trouble connecting my thoughts, and the edit helped so much. I haven’t found out about acceptance yet. I’m just now about to submit my application!

Amber, 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

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

Kitti, Pre-PA

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

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

Sandy, Pre-PA

Sarah was beyond excellent. Her timelines and efficiency provided me with enough time to revise and meet with her again before our final draft. Her comments and edits were extremely effective. I hope to be receiving an interview and will be using this service (requesting Sarah) for a mock interview if that happens!

Kaitlyn, Pre-PA

Deanna 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 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

This review is long overdue, but my gratitude for how much The PA Life has helped me will never fade. Ms. Schultz went above and beyond to help me tailor my personal statement to my unique stories and qualities. She was open to my suggestions and often thought from my perspective instead of imposing her thoughts on my essay. I appreciate the time she took to help me create a personal statement that expressed my thoughts clearly and concisely. I am happy to report that I have been invited to interviews, and I’m on the waitlist for one of my top schools. If I don’t get in this cycle, I will be using the editing services again. Big shout out to Ms. Schultz!! Thank you for all your encouragement, patience, and support! I am honored to have the chance to work with you. 🙂

Amy, Pre-PA

I absolutely love the way my essay sounds! I truly appreciate all of your help. I will definitely recommend prospective PA students your way! It’s been a pleasure.

Natalie, Pre-PA

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

Jeremy, Pre-PA

Duke made some important modifications to my essay and offered several helpful suggestions. I appreciated his insight and a keen eye.

Ilina K. Pre-PA

I wanted to reach out and thank you for your help with my personal statement. I received compliments about my essay at every interview I had. I also wanted to let you know that I will be attending Duke’s PA Program – my top choice. Your help was amazing! Thank you so much again!

Kelli Tseng, PA-S

Working with Sarah felt like working with an old friend. Her thoughtful insight made the revision process easy. She had great advice for improvements to make while remaining within that difficult 5,000 character limit. Thanks, Sarah, you helped a ton!

Ryan, Pre-PA

I am so pleased with the review Carly provided me. Her responses were thoughtful and edits helped me in a lot of places where I felt totally stuck. So excited to be so close to a final draft with my personal statement. Thank you! TBD on the interview (fingers crossed)

Georgia Flynn, 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

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 am so happy I used your service. It really took all of my frustrations and anxiety about my personal statement away. I am really happy with the final product. While Maura did a great job with editing my grammar and making my essay sound better overall in my first edit, Sue did an amazing job turning my essay into a story that flows in my final edit.

Marissa Pre-PA

Mr. Pasquini was very patient, accommodating and direct in his editing/advice. He was honest, in a way that I needed due to the importance of the letter. I even picked up a few tips to enhance my writing from our meetings. Great experience and will definitely recommend him to others!

Alana P. Pre-PA

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

Bailey B. Pre-PA

Testimonials

I just wanted to say thank you for all of your encouraging posts. I cannot tell you how many times I have had a rough day, or something happened to discourage me, and then I read one of your posts & it reminds me of why I am where I am, and doing what I am doing. I appreciate you giving of yourself to help others, after all, it is why we are all here!
Amber Wood BarnardPA-S
I finally have amazing news. So first of all, in total, I was offered 13 interviews. I was just offered a seat at Nova Orlando! I am finally going to be a PA and a big part of that was from all of your help with my personal statement. So thank you very much for helping me succeed during this round.
Jennifer, PA-S
I have my first interview today and one next week. I couldn’t be more grateful for this program and how I feel much more confident and prepared now than prior to the mock interview. I received a lot of great feedback and tips throughout the process that I will be sure to use during my future interviews!
Connor H. Pre-PA
I want to say that my first-round interview went phenomenal and I am beyond thankful that I scheduled this mock interview with Sarah. She really helped me feel less nervous and confident in my answers. Her advice was very helpful and I will take the lessons that I learned with me for future interviews. I would definitely recommend this service to anyone with even the slightest bit of nervousness and doubt. It is worth the time and money
Kristyn, Pre-PA
This company is THE BEST! Carly did such an awesome job of not only revising my personal statement but also explaining every step she made. It helped me understand why certain things fit better in different places and helped improve my writing. I am able to submit my applications confidently, knowing that I have a strong personal statement. I HIGHLY recommend this service!
Tiffany M, Pre-PA
The mock interview was excellent! Sarah was wonderful & extremely helpful. I received great tips and felt confident going into my actual interview. I highly recommend this amazing option to help ace your interview!
Lori, Pre-PA
I took my PANRE and I passed! I really liked your review website. It was very helpful. I only wish I would have discovered it months ago, while preparing for the PANRE. This is my 4th time passing in my career, and I now qualify for not having to recert until 10 years from now. Thank God! but will remember your site and recommend it to others. Thanks again, Maureen
Maureen Kilrain PA-C
Sarah was incredible! She told me pointers that could really help bring my answers together and effectively summarize my points at the end of every question. I was so appreciative of her help!
Meghan Dunn, PA-S

I am taking my PANRE in 2 months so I was delighted to find this podcast and take it with me on my 30-minute commute to work. Having 10 Questions per episode breaks the material down to manageable “chunks” and learning with test questions seems appropriate given that is what we will be facing come test day. So happy to have this podcast, can’t thank you enough!

Sharon Trudel, PA-C
I really respect your advice and the good example that you set as a PA and as a husband and father. You’re great!
SamPre 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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