The Physician Assistant Essay and Personal Statement Collaborative

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1. Roman says

   March 26, 2025 at 9:38 am

   I so appreciate your time, comments, and dedication in assisting prospective PA students like myself work through this process. Being on the less competitive end of the GPA scale, I am focusing on other qualifiers. Thank You So Much Stephen

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2. Emma says

   March 24, 2025 at 7:34 pm

   I grew up 18 months apart from my older brother, Dylan, who was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at age of three. From a young age, diabetes was present in my life. I remember as a young kid playing with dolls and pretending to give them insulin after they “ate” and always being aware of carbohydrates in our packed lunches. Being this close in age, Dylan and I did everything together, and I often tagged along to his doctor’s appointments, where my interest in becoming a doctor began. Whenever asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, my answer was always “I am going to be a doctor when I am older.” For me, this dream was not for the money or the high title, but instead to help make a real difference in the lives of people suffering from Diabetes like my brother.
   Knowing a healthcare career was my passion, I worked hard in high school to earn good grades while being involved in extracurriculars and volunteering as an assistant soccer coach. My efforts got me accepted into the University of Delaware as an exercise science major on an academic scholarship. However I was torn on the path I wanted to pursue, whether to aim for medical school, PA school, or physical therapy. I strived to have academic success while exploring my options. It wasn’t until I took an introduction to healthcare course that I was introduced to the physician assistant profession and immediately felt drawn to it. The versatility of the role, the reliance on team collaboration, and the opportunity for direct patient centered care all resonated with me and something I wanted to pursue. After this, I fully committed to this career and switched my major to medical diagnostics with a pre-PA concentration to ensure I met all the prerequisites necessary.
   Having a clearer idea of my future, I started working as a nursing assistant at Amoroso Wellness at York, an assisted living facility, during my breaks from school to gain patient care experience. In this setting, I made an effort to develop meaningful relationships with each resident, ensuring they felt comfortable and valued. While I was dedicated to providing compassionate care, I realized this specific setting was not for me. Seeking another role that would give me a different insight, I became a Direct Support Professional/Patient Care Assistant. working with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs). This experience strengthened my patience and communication skills, as each individual has unique needs. These jobs confirmed my desire to have a career that emphasises patient-centered care and meaningful relationships with patients, which are main qualities of the PA profession.
   During breaks from college, I had the invaluable opportunity to shadow multiple healthcare professionals, including Daria Indeck, a PA at Lancaster General Hospital. While observing her in the emergency department, ICU, and surgery, I saw how she collaborated with other providers while still being hands-on with her patients. This reinforced my desire to be a part of a dynamic healthcare team that values their patients. Additionally, shadowing PA Noelle Dubbs in different orthopedic surgeries exposed me to another side of the PA profession in the operating room. She played a crucial role by assisting with the joint replacements, suturing, and ensuring efficient patient care working alongside Dr. Scott King. I also was introduced to the world beyond the OR role as a PA, as she conducted post-operative evaluations, educated patients on recovery, and prescribed medications. Seeing how PAs collaborate with others while making critical decisions to ensure high-quality patient care solidified my decision to pursue this career, and I strive to provide the care like the PAs I observed.
   Furthering my passion for patient care, I participated in a medical service learning trip to Costa Rica through MEDLIFE during my winter break. I worked alongside trained healthcare providers in resource-limited environments, assisting with patient education and basic medical care. Many patients traveled long distances, even one family from Nicaragua, to receive treatment, which reminded me how valuable the access to healthcare is. I was able to be hands-on, working a part of the team to provide meaningful care, a glimpse of my future as a PA: providing care across various healthcare settings to improve lives.
   From growing up alongside my brother with Type 1 Diabetes to working directly with different patient populations, every experience has reaffirmed my passion for medicine and my desire to become a physician assistant. Whether it was assisting individuals in the assisted living home or with IDDs, shadowing PAs in high-pressure settings, or providing care in Costa Rica, I have developed the skills, resilience, and dedication needed to succeed in this demanding profession. Not only did these experiences make me want to be a PA, but also to be a compassionate and successful provider that provides quality care.

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   • Stephen Pasquini PA-C says

     March 26, 2025 at 7:46 am

     Hi Emma!

     Thanks for sharing your personal statement. Your journey, from growing up with your brother’s diabetes to exploring healthcare roles, really lays out a clear and personal reason for pursuing a PA career. You’ve got a strong foundation here, but there’s some room to refine it and make it stand out even more.

     Here are some suggestions to strengthen your essay:

     Opening:

     Your childhood with Dylan and his Type 1 Diabetes sets a great tone—it’s relatable and shows why healthcare matters to you. Consider making this opening even more vivid with a specific memory of a doctor’s visit or a moment when you realized the impact that healthcare providers had on your brother’s life.

     Body paragraphs:

     -Your academic journey shows determination and thoughtful exploration of healthcare paths. However, you could more explicitly connect how your coursework in medical diagnostics prepared you for a PA career.
     -Your experiences as a nursing assistant and Direct Support Professional demonstrate your commitment to patient care. To make these sections more impactful, consider sharing a brief, specific patient interaction that illustrates the skills you developed or lessons you learned.
     -The shadowing experiences with PAs Daria Indeck and Noelle Dubbs are valuable inclusions. To strengthen this section, focus on one particularly memorable patient interaction you observed that exemplifies why the PA role appeals to you.
     -The Costa Rica medical service trip adds international perspective. Consider connecting this experience more directly to your desire to become a PA – how did this reinforce your career choice over other healthcare paths?

     Conclusion:

     -Your conclusion effectively ties your experiences together, but it could be more specific about your vision for your future PA practice. What patient populations do you hope to serve? How will your unique background benefit your future patients?

     Other suggestions:

     -Review for conciseness – some sentences could be tightened to create room for more specific examples or reflections.
     -Look for opportunities to more explicitly connect your experiences to the key attributes of successful PAs (clinical reasoning, communication, adaptability, etc.).
     -Consider addressing what you’ve learned about the challenges of the PA profession and how your experiences have prepared you to meet them.

     Overall, this is a solid personal statement. With a few specific examples and stronger ties to the PA profession, it’ll really shine. You’re clearly on the right track for PA school—best of luck!

     Reply

3. Roman says

   March 22, 2025 at 6:12 am

   As I am making my way to the next twelve hours of my day, the crisp night air is quickly replaced by the distinctive stench of alcohol, sweat, and antiseptics. My heart rate picks up, my senses ignite, and I am firing on all cylinders. As a clinical care technician (CCT), my contribution to the mosaic of kinetic energy in the ER is supportive yet vital. Along with the adrenaline rush I experience is the essential trust, committed teamwork, and readiness for anything that rolls through the doors that genuinely keeps me going. Working alongside the PAs in the ER where we treat a high volume of patients quickly, is exhilarating. One moment I am assisting with conscious sedation, and with a blink of an eye, I could be preparing for an incoming cardiac arrest. Having worked long hours with many PAs, one in particular, Josh became my mentor. He naturally exhibited confidence in his ability to think critically and act on his clinical impression while being a comforting and pleasant person. Josh trusted me implicitly, and I appreciated the autonomy he allowed but there were times when prudence and extensive self-awareness guided my decisions and actions. I have performed CPR in the ER, assisted with bedside procedures, shadowed in the operating room, and taught medical students phlebotomy techniques; all have reinforced my drive to shadow PAs in other specialties. My experiences working alongside the PAs showcased many qualities integral to who I am: empathy, collaboration, intelligence, and flexibility. Each demonstrates how PAs conduct themselves throughout the vast scope of work they are responsible for. What stands out to me is that medicine is never about any one individual but rather a coordinated team approach in which the PA plays a pivotal role.

   As I end another night shift in the ED, I begin my morning not on my way home but to my second job as a per diem medical assistant (MA) at Boston Healthcare for the Homeless Program (BHCHP). As a busy primary care clinic with offshoots of psychiatry and substance use disorder services, I have become acquainted with the patients through their management of varying chronic health issues such as HIV, hepatitis, addiction, and mental health disorders. After two years, I consider BHCHP a home and value the tight-knit provider-patient bonds I witness as part of my work as a medical assistant. My work at BHCHP has helped me become a more compassionate, non-judgmental, and engaging healthcare individual who can connect with patients from any background and have a clearer view of the stigma and struggles this population faces in the medical arena and on the streets. I find the simplest gestures, such as a handshake, remembering a name, and a reassuring smile invite the patient’s trust. My position as an MA allows me to spend time with each patient and encourage them to describe their symptoms as well as their stories. I ensure that these people’s misfortunes do not alter their access or how they receive healthcare.

   While taking Molly’s vital signs, her struggles are revealed through her hollowed eyes, weather-worn face, and rutted hands. “Hello, Molly.” the warmth of my touch quickly siphoned into her cold and discolored fingertips. Although she was uneasy, through my eyes, holding her hands, and a reassuring smile, I connected to Molly to help her feel welcomed, and that she genuinely matters. After completing her vitals, “Here take these,” I gave Molly my wool gloves. Is this all I can do? I felt incredibly frustrated and had a lingering sense of futility, which fuels my passion for becoming a PA. My altruistic impulses drive me to offer a more comprehensive level of care. Though not always tangible, every human connection I have made along my journey proves how strong I am and compassionate enough to relate to other people’s suffering. My commitment to working with the disenfranchised galvanizes my belief that even at the junction of homelessness and addiction, there is so much recovery, healing, and smiles going around.

   I choose medicine because I know it will embody all of me, and I hope one day I can make a difference in someone else’s life. After countless hours with MDs, PAs, and RNs observing and revering their contributions, the PA role has consistently resonated with me. If compassion, collaboration, and versatility make a successful PA, then these traits define my work ethic. Every day is all there is, so everyday matters, and I define my success by the fulfillment I experience during this process. I remind myself to never give up on this goal that I can’t go a day without thinking about.

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   • Stephen Pasquini PA-C says

     March 26, 2025 at 7:57 am

     Hi Roman,

     Your personal statement powerfully conveys your dedication to patient care and your thoughtful approach to healthcare.

     Here are some suggestions to strengthen your essay further:

     Opening:
     – Your opening paragraph effectively establishes the fast-paced environment of the ER and your role within it. The description of working with Josh is excellent and highlights your understanding of the PA profession.
     – Consider tightening the introduction slightly to get to your key points more quickly. Some of the descriptive language, while vivid, could be streamlined.

     Body paragraphs:
     – Your experience at BHCHP adds important depth to your clinical background and demonstrates your commitment to underserved populations. This is a strong section that shows your compassion and patient-centered approach.
     – The story about Molly is powerful and illustrates your empathy. To make it even more effective, consider connecting this experience more explicitly to how it has prepared you for a PA career or shaped your understanding of the PA role.
     – While you mention shadowing PAs in other specialties, you don’t elaborate on these experiences. If space allows, briefly describing one additional shadowing experience could strengthen your understanding of the profession.

     Conclusion:
     – Your conclusion effectively communicates your commitment to the PA profession and the qualities you’ll bring to it.
     – The final line about not being able to go a day without thinking about your goal is heartfelt, but consider ending with a more forward-looking statement about your vision for your future as a PA.

     Other suggestions:
     – Throughout your essay, look for opportunities to be more specific about how your experiences align with the PA profession specifically. What aspects of the PA role, beyond those you’ve mentioned, draw you to this career path?
     – Consider briefly addressing your academic preparation for PA school to round out your qualifications.
     – Review for some minor grammatical issues, such as “having worked long hours with many PAs, one in particular, Josh became my mentor” which would be clearer as “After working long hours with many PAs, one in particular, Josh, became my mentor.”

     Overall, your essay demonstrates your deep commitment to patient care and your firsthand understanding of the PA role.

     With some refinement to highlight the specific connections between your experiences and your PA aspirations, your personal statement will be even more compelling.

     Best wishes on your PA journey,
     Stephen

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