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Single Edit One-on-one Service Supplemental Essays
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(Photo: Me circa 1987, just thinking about my future PA School Essay)
- Are you struggling to write your physician assistant personal statement?
- Are you out of ideas, or just need a second opinion?
- Do you want an essay that expresses who you truly are and grabs the reader's attention in the required 5,000-character limit?
We are here to help perfect your PA school essay
I have written countless times on this blog about the importance of your personal statement in the PA school application process. Beyond the well-established metrics (GPA, HCE/PCE hours, requisite coursework, etc.), the personal statement is the most crucial aspect of your application.
This is your time to express yourself, show your creativity, skills, and background, and make a memorable impression in seconds. This will be your only chance, so you must get it right the first time.
For some time, I had been dreaming about starting a physician assistant personal statement collaborative.
A place where PA school applicants like yourself can post their PA school essays and receive honest, constructive feedback followed by an acceptance letter to the PA school of your choice!
I have been reviewing a ton of essays recently, so many in fact that I can no longer do this on my own.
To solve this problem, I have assembled a team of professional writers, editors, and PA school admissions specialists who worked to revise and perfect my PA school application essay.
Beth Eakman has taught college writing and worked as a professional writer and editor since the late 1990s. Her projects have involved a wide range of disciplines and media, from editing technical reports to scriptwriting for the PBS Kids show Super Why! Her writing has appeared in publications including Brain, Child Magazine, New York Family Magazine, and Austin Family Magazine. Beth lives with her family just outside Austin, Texas. She is driven to help each client tell the best version of their story and achieve their dream of becoming a physician assistant.
Deanna Matzen is an author with articles featured in Earth Letter, Health Beats, Northwest Science & Technology, and the Transactions of the American Fisheries Society. With an early career in environmental science, she developed a solid foundation in technical writing. Her communication skills were further honed by producing and editing content for a non-profit website, blog, and quarterly journal. Inspired to extend her craft, she obtained a certificate in literary fiction, which she draws on to build vibrant scenes that bring stories to life. Deanna loves working with pre-PAs who are on the cusp of new beginnings to find their unique story and tell it confidently.
Carly Hallman is a professional writer and editor with a B.A. in English Writing and Rhetoric (summa cum laude) from St. Edward's University in Austin, Texas. She has worked as a curriculum developer, English teacher, and study abroad coordinator in Beijing, China, where she moved in 2011. In college, she was a Gilman Scholar and worked as a staff editor for her university's academic journal. Her first novel, Year of the Goose, was published in 2015, and her first memoir is forthcoming from Little A Books. Her essays and creative writing have appeared in The L.A. Review of Books, The Guardian, LitHub, and Identity Theory, among other publications.
Read more client testimonials or purchase a revision
We Work as a Team
Our team of professional editors is wonderful at cutting out the "fluff" that makes an essay lose focus and sets people over the 5,000-character limit. Their advice is always spot-on.
Sue, Sarah, and Carly are amazingly creative writers who will take your "ordinary" and turn it into entirely extraordinary.
I mean it when I say this service is one-of-a-kind! We have spent countless hours interviewing PA School admissions directors and faculty from across the country to find out exactly what it is they are looking for in your personal statement.
We even wrote a book about it.
To collaborate, we use Google Drive. Google Drive is free, has an intuitive interface with integrated live comments in the sidebar, the ability to have a real-time chat, to collaborate effortlessly, and to compare, revise, or restore revisions on the fly. Google Drive also has an excellent mobile app that will allow you to make edits on the go!
Our team has worked with hundreds of PA school applicants within the Google Drive environment, and we have had enormous success.
The Physician Assistant Essay and Personal Statement Collaborative
I have set up two options that I hope will offer everyone a chance to participate:
- One-of-a-kind, confidential, paid personal statement review service
- A collaborative, free one (in the comments section)
Private, One-On-One Personal Statement Review Service
If you are interested in the paid service, you may choose your plan below.
The Personal Statement Review Service is:
- Behind closed doors within a private, secure network using Google Drive.
- It is completely interactive, meaning we will be able to provide real-time comments and corrections using the Google Drive interface.
- Telephone consultations are included with all edits above the single edit level. It’s often hard to communicate exactly what you want hundreds of miles away; for this reason, we offer the option to edit right along with us over the telephone while sharing in real-time over Google Drive. This is an option available to all our paid clients who purchase above the single edit level.
- We provide both revision and editing of all essays. What’s the difference? See below
- We will provide feedback, advice, and help with brainstorming and topic creation if you would like.
- We will help with a “final touch-up” before the big day, just in case your essay needs a few minor changes.
Why Choose Our Service?
- It’s not our opinion that matters. We have gone the extra step and personally interviewed PA school administrators from across the US to find out exactly what they think makes a personal statement exceptional.
- We are a team of PAs and professional writers, having worked over ten years with PA school applicants like yourself, providing countless hours of one-on-one editing and revision.
- Our clients receive interviews, and many go on to receive acceptance into their PA School of choice.
Because we always give 100%, we will open the essay collaborative for a limited number of applicants each month and then close this depending on the amount of editing that needs to be done and the time that is available.
Our goal is not quantity but quality. We want only serious applicants who are serious about getting into PA school.
Writing is not a tool like a piece of software but more like how a photograph can capture your mood. It’s more like art. The process of developing a unique, memorable personal statement is time-intensive, and it takes hours to compose, edit, finalize, and personalize an essay.
As Antoinette Bosco once said:
And this is why I am charging for this service. We love helping people find stories that define their lives, and we love helping individuals who have the passion to achieve their dreams. It’s hard to describe the feeling I get when an applicant writes back to tell me they were accepted into PA school.
There is no price tag I can place on this; it’s the feeling we get when we help another human being. It’s just like providing health care. But this takes time.
Interested? Choose your plan below.
Read more client testimonials.
Free Personal Statement Review
Post your essay in the comments section for a free critique
We want to make this opportunity available to everyone who would like help with their essay, and that is why we are offering free, limited feedback on the blog.
You post your essay in the comments section, and you will get our critique. It is that easy. We will try to give feedback to every single person who posts their COMPLETE essay here on this blog post in the comments section.
Also, by posting your comment, we reserve the right to use your essay.
We will provide feedback on essays that are complete and fit the CASPA requirements (View CASPA requirements here). We will not provide feedback on partial essays or review opening or closing statements. Your essay will be on a public platform, which has both its benefits and some obvious drawbacks. The feedback is limited, but we will try to help in any way we can.
Note: Comment Rules: Remember what Fonzie was like? Cool. That’s how we’re gonna be — cool. Critical is fine, but if you’re rude, I will delete your stuff. Otherwise, have fun, and thanks for adding to the conversation! And this should go without saying: if you feel the need to plagiarize someone else’s content, you do not deserve to go to PA school.
* Also, depending on the time of year, it may take me several weeks to reply!
We love working with PA school applicants, but don't just take our word for it!
How to submit your essay for the paid service
If you are serious and would like to have real, focused, and personalized help writing your personal statement, please choose your level of service and submit your payment below.
After you have submitted your payment, you will be redirected to the submissions page, where you can send us your essay as well as any special instructions. We will contact you immediately upon receipt of your payment and essay so we may begin work right away.
Pricing is as follows:
Choose your plan, then click "Buy Now" to submit your essay, and we will get started right away!
Every purchase includes a FREE digital copy of our new 100-page eBook, How to Write Your Physician Assistant Personal Statement, Our 101 PA School Admission Essays e-book, the expert panel audiobook, and companion workbook. This is a $65 value included for free with your purchase.
All credit card payments are processed via PayPal over a secure HTTPS server. Once your payment is processed, you will be immediately redirected back to the essay submission page. There, you will submit your essay along with some biographical info and all suggestions or comments you choose to provide. You will receive immediate confirmation that your essay has been securely transmitted as well as your personal copy of "How to Write Your Physician Assistant Personal Statement." Contact [email protected] if you have any questions, comments, or problems - I am available 24/7.
The hourly service includes your original edit and one-on-one time over Google Drive. It is simple to add more time if necessary, but you may be surprised at what a difference just a single edit can make. We find our four-hour service to be the most effective in terms of time for follow-up and full collaboration. We are open to reduced-rate add-ons to suit your individual needs.
Writing and Revision
All writing benefits from rewriting when done well.
When you are in the process of writing a draft of an essay, you should be thinking first about revision, not editing.
What’s the difference?
Revision refers to the substantial changing of text. For example, it may include re-organizing ideas and paragraphs, providing additional examples or information, and rewriting a conclusion for clarity.
Editing, on the other hand, refers to correcting mistakes in spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
On all submissions, we perform both revision and editing.
How to submit your PA school essay for the FREE editing service
Follow the rules above and get to work below in the comments section. I look forward to reading all your essay submissions.
- Stephen Pasquini PA-C
View all posts in this series
- How to Write the Perfect Physician Assistant School Application Essay
- The Physician Assistant Essay and Personal Statement Collaborative
- Do You Recognize These 7 Common Mistakes in Your Personal Statement?
- 7 Essays in 7 Days: PA Personal Statement Workshop: Essay 1, “A PA Changed My Life”
- PA Personal Statement Workshop: Essay 2, “I Want to Move Towards the Forefront of Patient Care”
- PA Personal Statement Workshop: Essay 3, “She Smiled, Said “Gracias!” and Gave me a Big Hug”
- PA Personal Statement Workshop: Essay 4, “I Have Gained so Much Experience by Working With Patients”
- PA Personal Statement Workshop: Essay 5, “Then Reach, my Son, and Lift Your People up With You”
- PA Personal Statement Workshop: Essay 6, “That First Day in Surgery was the First Day of the Rest of my Life”
- PA Personal Statement Workshop: Essay 7, “I Want to Take People From Dying to Living, I Want to Get Them Down From the Cliff.”
- Physician Assistant Personal Statement Workshop: “To say I was an accident-prone child is an understatement”
- 9 Simple Steps to Avoid Silly Spelling and Grammar Goofs in Your PA School Personel Statement
- 5 Tips to Get you Started on Your Personal Essay (and why you should do it now)
- How to Write Your Physician Assistant Personal Statement The Book!
- How to Write “Physician Assistant” The Definitive PA Grammar Guide
- 101 PA School Admissions Essays: The Book!
- 5 Things I’ve Learned Going Into My Fourth Physician Assistant Application Cycle
- 7 Tips for Addressing Shortcomings in Your PA School Personal Statement
- The #1 Mistake PRE-PAs Make on Their Personal Statement
- The Ultimate PA School Personal Statement Starter Kit
- The Ultimate Guide to CASPA Character and Space Limits
- 10 Questions Every PA School Personal Statement Must Answer
- 5 PA School Essays That Got These Pre-PAs Accepted Into PA School
- 7 Questions to Ask Yourself While Writing Your PA School Personal Statement
- 101 PA School Applicants Answer: What’s Your Greatest Strength?
- 12 Secrets to Writing an Irresistible PA School Personal Statement
- 7 Rules You Must Follow While Writing Your PA School Essay
- You Have 625 Words and 2.5 Minutes to Get Into PA School: Use Them Wisely
- What’s Your #1 Personal Statement Struggle?
- 31 (NEW) CASPA PA School Personal Statement Examples
- How to Prepare for Your PA School Interview Day Essay
- Should You Write Physician Associate or Physician Assistant on Your PA School Essay?
- Meet the World’s Sexiest PA School Applicants
- PA School Reapplicants: How to Rewrite Your PA School Essay for Guaranteed Success
- How to Write a Personal Statement Intro that Readers Want to Read
- PA School Reapplicant Personal Statement Checklist
- How to Deal with Bad News in Your Personal Statement
- Inside Out: How to use Pixar’s Rules of Storytelling to Improve your PA Personal Statement
- Ratatouille: A Pixar Recipe for PA School Personal Statement Success
- Personal Statement Panel Review (Replay)
- Mind Mapping: A Tool for Personal Statements, Supplemental Essays, and Interviews
- Start at the End: Advice for your PA School Personal Statement
Taylor Hussey says
After high school graduation a true journey would begin making me into the person I had longed to be. Going into college with multiple career paths in mind only made the journey more uncertain than it had been in my dreams. After switching majors four times in two years I realized that the environment, living situation and university wasn’t the right fit for me. I decided I needed to move on as my education was being negatively affected by these factors. As I began working within a hospital setting I realized I would never want to leave this amazingly powerful but extremely sad place. Meeting doctors, nurse practitioners and physician assistants within my daily work helped to match a career with one I had always dreamt. I knew I wanted to be a provider but didn’t know which type. I transferred to a new university with a new major and a plan to excel in learning. The knowledge I learned while shadowing multiple types of providers and conversing with them about lifestyles, work life and their life goals made a light bulb click in my brain, PA could be the right path for me.
Near the end of my college career, my father was abruptly diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Throughout his treatments his demeanor and positivity remained at a remarkably high level, at this time my mother began to say to us “Everyone has their something and this is our something”. That quote hit me hard and each day as I went to see my patients I realized that this day, in their mind, while being in the hospital, was one of the scariest days of their lives. Treatment progressed and as that happened more medical providers would introduce themselves, express their insight and a plan moving forward. Everything progressed so quickly and he was soon entering surgery. Surgery was a success and soon after complications arose. During this time I had just decided to embark on a learning adventure during my gap year in the emergency department. Working alongside some of the most caring PA’s that were eager to teach and help me succeed. It wasn’t until here that I knew PA was my calling, seeing the team dynamic with their providers and the compassion they had when they walked in a patient’s room. Time after time my father would spike a high fever or be in excruciating pain and would visit the emergency department. Full work-ups and no answers, he would be sent home to endure the night. Seeing him like this in a weak and vulnerable state was very unusual. This went on for months until they found the source. An emergent and life threatening finding sent him into a two month stay at Massachusetts General Hospital with countless procedures. Rolling into this full-time job in the emergency department I would take on the trek to Boston on my days off. Sitting in his room each day, numerous doctors in teams would enter from different specialties. They would sit and converse, answering any questions, explaining or clarifying anything we did not understand as many things had been done to my father daily. The amount of attention, time and care these very busy medical professionals gave us was extraordinary. These complications had never been seen by anyone within the medical community putting my father into the less than one percentile category for these post whipple complications. This meant that communication, teamwork, trial, error and patience was a must. The amount of teamwork and respect these individuals gave to my father and eachother when brainstorming how to get my father home was inspirational. The highly regarded care they gave to him and how tentatively they listened to not only his physical concerns but his mental tribulations was taxing on them I imagine. Medicine is truly about the whole body, not just the organs. They all seemed invested as they had just saved this man’s life not once, twice, or three times but countless times as multiple of his surgeons stated to us. “You should not be sitting here currently speaking with us, your body is a strong machine.” Unfortunately his body succumbed to whatever had been going on within and he unexpectedly passed away. Even on his last day with us those very same providers sat beside him like they had known my dad for years, showing him the respect he had won over from them during his hospital stay. The bond we created with some of those amazing people is unbelievable and continues to this day.
After being a part of such an amazing and scary journey with these impeccable people was the final push that made me realize “Yes, this is the right career for me. If I have this impact on just one patient, giving back to them the same way these providers did for my family then I have completed what I have searched for in a career.”. I can now honestly say that there is no other profession that I could see myself going into. It would be hard to find one that gives me as much gratitude as I would gain after becoming a PA, being part of a team centered profession everyday such as the ones I see among all types of providers in the ED and at MGH. I will become a PA and make a difference for my patients when they are going through “there something”.
Whitney Prosperi says
Taylor,
I am sorry that your family experienced the loss of your father. He truly sounds like a strong and inspiring man who has left his legacy of resilience in you.
I know walking with him through this will make you a more empathetic and effective provider.
I would suggest opening with the story about your father. You will also need to condense it in places so you can add more details that will round out your essay.
I would add more details about what exactly draws you to the PA profession. Is it the opportunity for time/contact with patients? The balance between autonomous responsibility for patients and working with a physician and other members of a team? The ability to switch specialties?
I would also add some more details about shadowing PAs. What did you admire about how they interacted with other providers and patients? How did this confirm your desire to pursue the PA path?
I would also add a section that connects your strengths, your interest in caring for patients directly, and why you will excel at combining clinical expertise with a personal touch to support patients. You want to show more about how you are suited to a PA profession and what you have to offer as a future PA.
If you should need further help, remember we are taking essay submissions for our revision service.
Good luck to you!
Abdallah Massoud says
In pursuit of what my role should be in the medical field, I navigated several possibilities across the past few years.
After my senior year in high school, I enrolled in the Pharm-D program at St. Johns University and got to experience an idea of what could be my future. There I took a series of classes that would further introduce me to the field of pharmacy. Alongside my schooling, I worked as a pharmacist technician, which gave me a better understanding of the nature of the work and also widened my vocabulary on the various medications and their functions. There I determined that I enjoyed the patient interaction aspect of the profession the most and realized that pharmacists do not interact with the patients much. And so I decided to shift gears and determine, really what it is I wanted to do.
After that I began taking what I would call “experimental classes” such as business, political science, and even pottery, to see where I can best take my talents. Because everyone’s got talent. Everyone.
I eventually realized that I had a calling to medicine, What exactly , I would yet discover.
I figured I would shadow a physician, lets start from there, I thought. And so I became a medical scribe and was able to shadow a doctor in an emergency clinic while being in the company of a physician assistant and a nurse, while also getting paid. There I was able to learn the importance of a patient assessment as well as what roles different health care providers have on the field.
This experience also introduced me to the occupation of a physician assistant, as before I had no idea it existed. I then started to find out more about the profession and determined I can be a great asset to it.
I decided to then become an EMT as a means to get a different perspective on the health field and also apply the skills I’ve learned thus far, such as conducting a thorough patient assessment and the importance of a patient’s presentation.
At this point, I’m graduating from college with a bachelor of psychology and a minor in biology. I have also begun to work as an EMT both on the ambulance and at a children’s day camp. I was then introduced to the limitations of an EMT as far as interventions go, and also to the profession of paramedicine. And before the end of that summer, I enrolled to become a paramedic.
In paramedic school, I began to understand medicine a little better. I learned much about pathologies and treatments and took courses such as ACLS and PALS which helped widen my scope of medicine and all it entails.
This journey of search shed light on a few things for me. Firstly, I enjoy the practice of medicine with all of its imperfections. And secondly that I’d like to learn as much about medicine as possible. All this further solidified my choice of PA.
The prolongation of patient interaction, compared to that of a physician, as well as the flexibility to maneuver through the different specialties within medicine while still having the autonomy to treat and prescribe treatment are all very appealing to me.
It is fair to say that I had to arrive at this profession, the way that I did, and I am eternally grateful for those experiences, as they not only focused my efforts but also exposed me to a world I was unaware of. I should also say that this journey was not without tumult, as one can see in my earlier academic days. However, once determining the goal, I immediately lead my efforts into bolstering my academic and practical experiences, which I still do to this day.
I am curious, efficient, and hungry. And I do wish to broaden my perspective of the world through the lens of medicine while influencing change in others’ lives.
Jared B says
Thank you for taking the time to review my essay.
Standing outside the ICU in Jefferson-Torresdale Hospital, I peer into the room to check the monitor: the oxygen saturation of the patient is eighty-two percent, the heart rate is 140, and the blood pressure being monitored by an arterial line hovers at ninety systolic. Despite the ventilator, the patient is failing. He is dying of COVID-19. The patient, a man in his thirties with two young children, needs to be placed on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO): his lungs can simply no longer take the strain of the devastating virus.
As an EMT-B on a Critical Care Transport Team, it is our job to make sure that this patient survives the transport. We have brought a cardiothoracic surgeon and perfusionist to cannulate the patient prior to transport. This is his last chance for recovery. For over an hour, I look through the protective glass watching them perform the bedside surgery. I am hypnotized. I want to be one of the people in the room. Once they have completed the surgery and the patient has been transported to the receiving hospital, the doctor team has already left. I looked at the patient and I thought of his children. I hoped that someone would call his family, that someone would comfort him. It seemed as if the doctor team did their job and then moved on. It felt incomplete and I am reminded why I want to be a PA. The physician assistants that I have encountered, in my experience, seem to balance the medicine and the emotional connection between the patient and the provider.
My first introduction to medicine was through a course I took in my senior year of high school called Medical Careers. It was a year long, two hour a day program that took place in a local hospital. It consisted of three days in the classroom and two days shadowing various positions throughout the medical field. We shadowed surgeons, pharmacists, nurses, technicians, and physician assistants. I found it all fascinating, but my favorite rotations involved the tension and thrill of the emergency and operating rooms. I was captivated by human anatomy and physiology – how everything is so complex yet works together in a perfect homeostatic balance. I knew I wanted a career in medicine.
I began college at Franklin and Marshall on the Pre-Med track. However, the adjustment to college was challenging. I had struggled with balancing the golf team, being a college freshman, and adapting to the rigorous academics at F&M. Consequently, by the middle of my sophomore year, I dropped the Pre-Med program and decided to major in Psychology. I enjoyed the complexity of the mind and began to explore career options in that field. But by graduation, I recognized that I did not want a career in psychology. Feeling lost, I opted for something completely different. I shadowed an insurance broker for a summer. I learned that I definitely did not want a career in insurance.
After six months of introspection and various odd jobs, I returned to my original passion- medicine. But this time, I specifically wanted to begin the PA path. I was captivated by the balance between medicine and social work. I began an EMT-B course and quickly felt a sense of excitement and purpose. After finishing the course with top marks, I began my first healthcare related job at American Medical Response. I began working on an Advanced Life Support Unit in order to expose myself to a higher level of care. A few months later, I transferred to a Critical Care Unit to gain more experience. While I have greatly enjoyed the patient care and watching my partners administer medication and make tentative diagnoses in the field, I yearn to do more.
Concurrently working as an EMT, I have been taking the PA prerequisite courses. I have learned to balance a full time rigorous job and academics. Whether I have been at my job learning treatment protocols, or in the classroom learning how the body works and what makes us sick, I am grateful to take advantage of the second chance I have to become a physician assistant.
Whitney Prosperi says
Jared,
You are off to a good start.
I would suggest condensing where you can so you have room to add some more elements that will round out your essay.
I would add a paragraph that describes what aspects of the PA profession really speak to you. (the potential for more time/contact with patients? the balance of autonomous responsibility for patients and working with a physician and other members of a healthcare team?)
I would also add a paragraph that details your shadowing experiences. What did you learn from observing this PA? The physician? What did you admire about the interactions the PA had with patients? The physician? How did this experience affect your interest in the PA profession?
I would also revisit your language about physicians after treating the COVID patient. You want to avoid any appearance of appearing critical of another provider.
I would add a few lines that connect your strengths, your interest in caring for patients directly, and why you will excel at combining clinical expertise with a personal touch to support patients. If you have an example of this through your work as an EMT, I would share that briefly.
In your conclusion, I would add a line that ties back to your introduction in some way.
Good luck to you!
Kayla Forosisky says
As I stood in the operating room with the patient induced on the surgical table undergoing a total hip replacement, I observed the team of medical personnel and the procedures each performed. The surgeon hammers the metal femur replacement into the hip socket and without looking up orders “close him up” to the assisting PA. In this moment, I learned the roles set in each profession and the vast range of possibilities for a PA. Leading up to senior year of my undergraduate education, I strongly debated choosing between medical school or PA school. It wasn’t until that day in the operating room that I was decisive in my choice to pursue a future career as a physician assistant.
From this point forward, I carefully shadowed and observed the way the physician and the PA interacted with patients in the office. In my experience, the PA was more attentive to the patients; she listened carefully as they gave her the story regarding their chief complaint. She engaged with the patient in a compassionate, friendly way showing care for them as a person rather than a typical physician-patient relationship. I deeply respected these qualities demonstrated by the PA because although medicine is centered around diagnosing and treating, it is an experience as well. People can be deeply impacted and inspired by their experience with a doctor and it is important to develop intimate and personal relationships with patients in order to build trust and repertoire. I am drawn to the PA profession for several reasons, one being the flexibility to work in different specialties. Throughout life, interests change as people change. Having more than one hobby or passion in life is vital to one’s happiness and the freedom to exercise this within a career is extremely rare. The ability to change specialties, if one desires, not only adds a component of excitement, but also opens a door of opportunity. Being open-minded to other specialties creates for more job opportunities, for example, pursuing a traveling PA position. Secondly, prior to my internship with Peninsula Orthopedic Association (POA), I was unaware that PA’s are able to assist in surgery. Upon watching surgery unfold in front of my eyes, I immediately knew it was something I want to be a part of. I admire the tenacity, focus, and confidence that it requires to assist in surgery because although the PA is not the surgeon themself, the physician is expecting and trusting the PA to perform up to his/her level of performance. Therefore, I appreciate the responsibilities and challenges a PA faces within their profession.
Having been an athlete since I was a little girl, I felt a sense of loss and longing the first 2 years of college that I did not compete in a sport. Although fitness remained an important part of my life, I recognized my lack of fulfillment and reached out to the head coach of the Track and Field Team. To my surprise, he was willing to give me a shot to see how I fit in on the team in terms of athletic performance as well as socially. Fast forward to January of my senior year, in the midst of our heavy training season, I experienced a setback. During practice, my teammate and I were alternating between harnesses and 30 meter sprint runouts, when suddenly my left hamstring popped and I collapsed. This pain and lack of mobility – inability to carry out daily functions like walking or bending over were completely foreign to me as an adult. I had really grown to love the challenge of being a track and field athlete; the challenge to perfect form and technique in order to accelerate out of the blocks faster – was no easy feat. To no longer be able to participate in this during my senior year, not only was a physical struggle, but an emotional and mental struggle as well. This setback propelled my growth as I learned how to cope with the stressors of college and daily life without the outlet of exercise. At this same time, I was enrolled in anatomy and physiology, so I was very aware of the damage that had occurred within my muscle tissue. I decided I didn’t want to just rely on the knowledge and skills of my athletic trainer and physical therapist, so I did everything I could in my own time in order to accelerate my recovery. This experience allowed me to realize just how passionate I am about the wonders that the human body performs daily and how thrilling it is to know and understand the science of them inside and out.
The conclusive knowledge and versatility of the PA profession, teamwork, communication, and open-mindedness to be continually educated in the medical field are the qualities that I yearn for my career to possess. As a PA, I look forward to knowing the ins and outs of medicine, continually learning from my peers, and treating and educating my patients so that they are capable of living the healthiest and most rewarding lives possible. As I soon put my education to test working as an EMT and future PA, I’m confident in my ability to translate my textbook knowledge into on-the-field skills and provide a memorable, life altering experience as a healthcare professional.
Whitney Prosperi says
Kayla,
I would suggest condensing where you can so you have available characters to include a patient care story. You want to show yourself in action connecting with a patient on a personal level while offering clinical care. (If you have a story from your work as an EMT, include one.) Show yourself interacting with a patient who motivated you to increase your scope of practice so you can do more for patients. You want to show how you perform your duties and what you have to offer patients as a future PA.
You also want to be careful to not appear critical of physicians so I would review your language in your discussions about shadowing.
I would mention your desire to collaborate with a healthcare team as this is such an integral part of the PA’s role.
Also, in your conclusion, I would tie back to your introduction in some way.
I’m not saying you need this, but should you need more help we are taking essay submissions for our revision service.
Good luck to you, Kayla.
Tiffany Lee says
A woman and her young daughter were sitting in the emergency room at 3 AM. This was the third hospital visit in a week. The girl presented with a high fever, chills, difficulty breathing, wheezes, and a cough. The mother had taken the daughter to her pediatrician, who wrote it off as a cold and prescribed acetaminophen. Two more ER doctors came to the same conclusion. But at a third hospital visit, a physician assistant listened to the mother’s complaint carefully, discussed her hypothesis with the rest of her team, and ordered a chest x-ray. The labs confirmed her suspicions: pneumonia. That PA helped save that little girl.
I was that little girl. This experience is what helped me realize I wanted to work in healthcare. For the past year, I have worked as a behavioral therapist, where I learned an incredible amount about what it’s like to have direct patient care. Every day, I make clinical decisions based on the principles of Applied Behavioral Analysis to teach the child adaptive skills to function in a society that seems foreign to them. Working with autistic patients has affirmed my desire to be more directly involved with the physical and mental wellbeing of my patients. Autism is often characterized by difficulty to communicate, so when an austic child gets sick, it can be difficult for them to express what they feel. Because of this, many children with autism are unable to get their medical needs met. While I found it extremely rewarding to see these children grow in terms of their social and functional needs, I wanted to do more.
I did some research and discovered that as a PA, I would not only have the knowledge and skills of a physician, but also extended time with patients like a nurse. The ability to connect with patients on a deeper level in order to find and explain diagnosis and treatment plans is something that I value in the role of a PA. Additionally, there is much more flexibility with specialization as a PA. Although I hope to work in neurology, I am open and optimistic about other specialities. Flexibility would allow me to learn and utilize a variety of skills from different departments to best help my patients. It would be the best of both worlds to be able to build meaningful relationships with patients and to have the flexibility to move between specialties and expand my expertise.
The skills I have accumulated as a volunteer and a behavioral therapist have taught me about what it means to be a healthcare professional. In both those roles, working in a team was the best way to bring out each individual’s skills and abilities. The communication between the team members and the supervisor is crucial to optimizing the treatment plan. As a behavioral therapist,
I implemented the treatment plan made by supervisors. Because I spend much more time with the patient, another aspect of my job was to collect data and make clinical decisions to improve the treatment of the patient. The supervisor trusts the therapist to run the appointment based on their expertise, but it is vital that the therapist report back to both the supervisor and the other members of the team about the parts of the plan that work best and the parts that need improvement. I believe that the role of a PA is extremely similar in this sense. The PA has the skills and expertise in order to make judgment calls, but it is important for them to discuss with a doctor and the rest of their team about any opinions they have regarding patient care.
As previously mentioned, many children with autism are unable to get their medical needs met due to difficulties in communication. Although autistic patients may not communicate fluently with spoken words, they can communicate in other ways. One of the roles I played as a behavioral therapist was to learn how patients communicate and teach them how to communicate more functionally. This often takes a lot of patience and flexibility. As someone who has worked with the population, I have learned how important it is to put the patient’s needs before one’s comfort. I believe that as a PA, I would possess the flexibility to adapt to any patient’s communicative needs. Diagnosis of a patient is a crucial part of the job of a PA and I believe these skills would allow me to best serve a large range of patients.
I am so incredibly humbled by my experience as a behavioral therapist because it taught me not only about clinical skills and decision making, but also about connecting with patients. I have learned the importance of building good rapport with patients through patience, understanding and empathy. It is through this relationship that I would be able to provide the best and most effective care. I believe that these skills I have accumulated would be a stepping stone towards my future education and career in the PA profession. I believe that my skills will continue to grow and flourish throughout my education as a PA, so that one day, I could be the one that helps to save a little girl.
Whitney Prosperi says
Tiffany,
Your work as a behavioral therapist sounds valuable and rewarding. I like how you highlighted your ability to connect with patients on a personal level.
I would suggest condensing where you can so you have more available characters to round out your essay.
I would add a paragraph that details any shadowing experience you have of PAs. (if not, what have you observed in working with PAs?) What did you learn from observing this PA? The physician? What did you admire about the interactions the PA had with patients and with the supervising physician? How did this experience affect your interest in the profession?
I would also add a few lines that connect your strengths, your interest in caring for patients directly, and why you will excel at combining clinical expertise with a personal touch to support patients. You want to show more details about why you are suited to the PA profession and what you have to offer as a future PA.
Good luck to you!
Ariel Bao says
Although I’ve experienced it countless times, I still winced as I felt my eyes watering from the biting sting of the smoke as I breathed in the familiar scent of herbs. “Stop squirming” my mom scolded me as she waved the ài tiáo (traditional Chinese medicinal moxa sticks) around my legs, focusing on my ankles. I’ve experienced chronic ankle pain for as long as I can remember. When most people experience pain, they visit their doctor, but I got a visit to the balcony where my mom, a former nurse, would administer traditional Chinese medicine home remedies.
Growing up, our socioeconomic status meant that a simple doctor’s visit was a luxury we couldn’t afford at the time. Uninsured in a country where medical bills can lead to bankruptcy, my family prayed that any injuries would not exacerbate into more serious problems that were outside of my mom’s scope of practice. But as an athlete, I experienced my fair share of sports-related trauma. Despite her limited resources, I always admired my mom’s relentless efforts to provide our family with the most effective treatments possible. My mom’s determination and tender care influenced my initial interests in medicine. However, there was not a single, defining moment that led me to the physician assistant profession, but rather my passion was forged by a combination of my volunteer, clinical, and personal experiences.
I began my role in healthcare as a hospice patient care volunteer. Mrs. B, a hospice patient who was hard of hearing, spent most of our time together silently engrossed in a romance novel while I wrote on a whiteboard in an attempt to communicate with her. At first, the silence felt deafening to me as I thought that in order to form a connection with her, I had to talk with her. But as I got to understand Mrs. B more, I realized that she is more comfortable with the silence. So the next time she opened her romance novel, I pulled up a chair and we bonded by sitting together, silently reading. Her smile at the end of the book made me realize there were more ways to provide care, support, and companionship than just through talking. I could provide that through my attitude, and actions as well. A medical provider who puts effort into understanding their patient’s story and adapting their approach will not only forge a relationship of trust but will also be better informed in the process of providing the best possible care.
My next experience, shadowing Mary, an orthopedic spine PA, was the catalyst in my decision to pursue the PA profession. I observed her working on many different cases, but with each case, there was a common theme in the way that Mary interacted with her patients. Mary was very adaptable as she had a positive attitude, medical professionalism, and was able to form personal connections. Mary taught me that being able to inform one’s patients of their conditions and thoughtfully address their concerns was just as important as being an active listener who was able to approach each patient with care and build a more personal relationship to make them feel at ease. So when I began working as a medical assistant at a neurological practice, I quickly learned to assess the patients’ needs. As many of the patients suffered from chronic pain, sometimes they needed an encouraging smile, supporting presence, or a nice conversation to keep their minds elsewhere before an upcoming procedure.
While observing Mary, her collaboration with her supervising physician reminded me of my interactions with my teammates during my time as a collegiate golfer. Mary’s relationship with her supervising physician was one of mutual respect and it was often enriching for both parties as they each had their own areas of expertise. This parallels my experience as a golfer because we would often exchange best practices or share strategies. I thrive in a team setting because I enjoy working with others as we’re all striving to continue to learn and improve our knowledge and skills. Being a golfer also helped hone my critical thinking skills as I had to be ready at a moment’s notice to consult with my coach to switch up my playing strategy. Just like how my coach and teammates work together to create the best strategy for each shot on the golf course, PA’s and their physicians collaborate as part of a medical team to provide the best overall care for their patients.
My journey of pursuing the PA profession hasn’t been easy. Being a student-athlete while balancing schoolwork was difficult, but I was committed to succeeding in both my academic and athletic performance. My determination and dedication to becoming a PA drove me to wake up earlier to train, and stay up later to study every day. But my passion to serve others never wavered. With each healthcare opportunity I experienced, it motivated me to work harder so I could bring myself closer to my goal of becoming a PA. Mrs. B’s smile showed me the importance of understanding your patient holistically. Mary’s drive to personally connect with her patients taught me the importance of empathy and compassion within medicine. My roles as a golfer and medical assistant helped me appreciate the importance of collaboration within a medical team. To me, becoming a PA will allow me the opportunity to provide a higher level of care, wholly understand the patients, and become an integral part of a medical team.
Whitney Prosperi says
Ariel,
You are off to a good start.
Your opening is strong and so is your paragraph about shadowing.
I would add more detail about why the PA profession is right for you. What aspects of it really speak to you? (the potential for more time/contact with patients? the balance between autonomous responsibility for patients and working with a physician and other members of a team?) Can you write up a paragraph that details why you chose the PA profession and why it’s a good fit for you?
Also, in your conclusion I would tie back to your introduction in some way.
Good luck to you!
Terilyn says
The air was thick with chalk from eager gymnasts preparing for a new season of competition. This air came with new obstacles and triumphs as these athletes attempted dangerous skills with courage. While correcting one athlete’s technique I heard a scream from across the gym, “Teri!” Little Sam, her arm awkwardly bent, was lying on the floor crying in pain. I rushed to her aid, giving calm direction to coaches standing by. “Sam, look at me. I’m here to help. Can you breathe with me? Good. Nice and slow.” I attempted to focus her attention anywhere but her arm. As a certified athletic trainer (ATC), I quickly recognized her injury and treated her accordingly.
A few months later, Sam was cleared to return to her sport by her physician, but could not straighten her arm. After a thorough assessment, I knew that something was still wrong, but my ability to care for her was limited. I referred her to an orthopedic specialist who later determined she would need surgery to correct her misaligned elbow. Sam was pulled from her sport for over a year, far longer than her injury would normally require. Frustrated with her situation, I felt that there was more for me to do, more for me to learn, and more that I could give.
For years I was the athlete whose injuries were often misdiagnosed, keeping me out of my sport. My injuries failed to present themselves as normally expected: no bruising or swelling for multiple fractures in my ankle, no limited mobility for bulging discs, no progressive healing after months on crutches. The puzzle pieces of my presentation never seemed to fit together until I saw my physician’s PA. She, like all PAs, received diverse training in a variety of fields throughout her educational career, which gave her the knowledge and experience needed to find that missing piece that would eventually lead to my recovery. Her empathetic nature, patient listening and dedication to my care was inspiring. It was that experience along with my desire to provide further assistance to my injured students that led me to pursue a career as a PA.
Throughout my undergraduate degree I had multiple opportunities to work with physicians, nurse practitioners, PTs and PAs. My desire to see the big picture regarding each patient’s health has led me to be disinclined to pursue a career as a physician or nurse because their training is often overspecialized, unlike PAs. Since continuing my career as an ATC beyond football fields and into an orthopedic clinic, I have had experience working one-on-one with PAs, watching them solve complex problems while partnered with their physicians and working autonomously. A stark difference in the effectiveness of a multidisciplinary medical team in contrast to physicians working alone was evident while shadowing in Portugal where PAs do not exist; I witnessed overworked physicians running from patient to patient attempting to fulfill all medical needs alone. Many patients would limp back to the hospital just weeks after surgery due to complications, often a result of rushed patient care due to hectic schedules. A PA’s efficiency is a crucial contribution to such care.
As part of a multidisciplinary medical team for athletes, I have had the privilege to work in a variety of settings and gain experience with multiple different team members. From implementing injury prevention programs to volunteering at marathons, my contribution has been substantial; however, additional training will facilitate my ability to reduce suffering and maximize performance for my beloved athletes. In my career thus far I have seen numerous injuries that I could diagnose and treat myself, but I have also seen many injuries or illnesses, just like Sam’s, where I wished I could do more. These experiences increased my desire for more knowledge, experience, and training to provide better care for my patients. I am grateful for every experience along my career path, especially the frustrating cases because they led me to reflect on my limitations as an ATC and confirmed my desire to pursue a career in Physician Assistant Studies. As a PA, I would receive the education necessary to find obscured answers and assist my patients in achieving a healthy, fulfilling life.
I will forever cherish the lessons I have learned from each patient, as well as my experience working with a variety of physicians and PAs. There have been many more “Sams” walking into the clinic who do not always fit the mold of their diagnosis–individuals who have seen every specialist they could imagine, patients who simply needed someone to listen to their entire story rather than just the injury. I have personally felt their frustrations, prolonged pain, and desperation to find answers. They are the patients I long to find solutions for, complete their puzzle, and alleviate their suffering. With my current experiences and passionate desire to expand my knowledge, I am determined to become the PA that another was for me.
Whitney Prosperi says
Terilyn,
You are off to a good start.
I would suggest adding a paragraph that details your shadowing experience. What did you learn from observing this PA? The supervising physician? What did you admire about the interactions the PA had with patients? Physician? How did this experience affect your interest in the PA profession?
I would focus more on what draws you to the PA profession as opposed to discussing why you don’t want to become an MD or nurse. You want to be careful to not appear critical of other providers.
I would also add a few lines that connect your strengths, your interest in caring for patients directly, and why you will excel at combining clinical expertise with a personal touch to support patients. You want to show how you are suited to the profession and what you have to offer as a future PA.
Good luck to you, Terilyn.
Greta says
I know I am over the character limit. I need some help deciding where to cut. I would also like some advice on the organization. I know it could use some work, especially at the end.
Whenever someone asks me why I want to be a PA, my gut response is simple: I want to enjoy what I do and I want to help people. But then comes the follow up question: Why did you choose this path, when there are so many other ways to help people. Well, there are various components that led me to this path.
First, I am fascinated by the human body. The human body is an incredibly complex system. I love knowing how each individual part works and even more how they all work in conjunction with one another to keep all of us alive. There is something so invigorating about knowing and learning about the human body. We are constantly learning new things; it is an ever-changing discussion. It is exciting that I will never stop learning throughout my entire life. Additionally, I am intrigued as to how and why things go wrong in the human body. Even more than knowing how the body functions and fails, I love knowing how to fix the body. Knowing how to treat or fix things when they go wrong in the body gives me a sense of confidence and power that I have yet to feel from anything else I have experienced in my life.
I have a passion for helping others. I want to help those in this world who are most vulnerable. Although there are many vulnerable groups to choose from, my dream is to be a neonatal PA. Arguably, no group is more vulnerable than compromised infants. They are helpless and defenseless, and in need of protectors. While this can and should be their parents, sometimes they need more support. I have known for years that this was the specialty I wanted to get into, however, my motivation was recently intensified. I have an older brother who I never got to meet. He died when he was just under 6 months old, 4 years before I was born. He was born with a chromosome disorder. He spent the nearly 6 months he was alive in and out of hospitals, and hooked up to ventilators and various other machines. All the time, I think how I wish I was alive then to help care for him. Although I would have been a child, I still feel as though I could have made a difference. He has been my main motivator in deciding my future profession.
However, I recently came across journals that my mother kept in the months following my brother’s death. While reading the entries, I was touched by how she spoke about the nurses and medical professionals who cared for him. Not only did they provide him with the best medical care possible throughout his short-lived life, but they mourned with my parents following his death. My mother was so grateful to them for their care and dedication to doing whatever they could to ease his pain and theirs. I want to be that person for other people. I want to be the person that watches over a sick child while their parents are asleep, or at work, or just trying to catch their breath. I want to be the person that mourns with them on the hard nights and celebrates with them on the good days.
To me, being a PA brings together the two things that I like most in the world: knowledge and understanding of the human body and being a vein of support, care, and love for those in need. If I can have those things for the rest of my life, I can confidently say that I will be happy and fulfilled.
In order to prepare myself for being the best PA I can be, I ensured that I have had a plethora of experiences. I have made sure that my patient care hours were spent in various aspects of the spectrum of patient care. My first experience was as a junior volunteer at Crouse Hospital when I was in high school. I spent 3 summers on various floors of the hospital including surgical recovery floors, labor and delivery, and the PACU. My first summer, I was a sophomore in high school with no experience in a clinical setting. I was on a surgical recovery floor answering call bells, doing clerical duties, and assisting nurses. On one of my shifts, I answered a call bell for an elderly man. When I got to the room, the patient’s son was very upset. He frustratingly told me that his father has been waiting for a pillow for 20 minutes and that his nurse never returned. I was a bit thrown as I had never been in a confrontation before and I did not know how to react. I apologized to the man and quickly went to find his nurse and get the patient a pillow. Later on in my shift, the same man came up to me again, this time he was apologizing. He apologized for getting so angry and he did not realize that I was just a volunteer. It was such a small thing. A 10 minute interaction in one of many four hour shifts, but it has stuck with me. That interaction taught me many things including how to handle upset family members, patient needs, and working with other medical professionals such as nurses to provide top tier medical care.
That was just the first of many experiences that taught me how to be an excellent PA. Through working as a pharmacy cashier at Walgreens, I learned even more about how to handle upset patients as we got many at the counter throughout the just over one year I spent there. Additionally, working as a patient care technician at Syracuse Podiatry, where I currently work has taught me so much. Besides being able to practice actual patient care by triaging patients and assisting the doctors, this was the first experience where I have gained actual medical knowledge. I have learned about conditions and disorders such as arthritis, plantar fasciitis, and gout. I have learned ways to identify and treat such conditions. All of my experiences throughout the years have given me different perspectives of life in healthcare, and they are all invaluable.
After years of learning and searching for the perfect thing to do for the rest of my life, I cannot wait to take the next step in becoming a physician assistant and start PA school. I have the passion, now I need the knowledge, and PA school will provide me with the knowledge I need to begin my journey as an exceptional physician assistant.
Whitney Prosperi says
Greta,
I think the moving story about your baby brother would make a strong introduction. It is obvious that this sad event has shaped who you are and how you want to help others throughout your life.
I would also highlight more of the specific aspects of the PA profession that speak to you. (more time/connection with patients? ability to switch specialties? autonomy while also collaborating with a healthcare team?)
Also, I would include a section about your shadowing experience. What did you admire about the PA’s interactions with patients and the supervising physician? How did this affirm your decision to pursue the PA profession?
I would also describe your strengths, interest in caring for patients directly, and why you will excel at combining clinical expertise with a personal touch to support patients.
For your conclusion, tie back to your introduction and reiterate your desire to have increased time with patients, advanced responsibility, and clinical knowledge to intervene in their care. I would also tie back to your introduction in some way.
Should you need further help, remember that we are taking essay submissions for our revision service.
Good luck to you!
Barbara Bell says
I truly love the excitement and challenges of being a street paramedic, but the physical stresses of working in the field, on a 24-hour shift, are becoming evident. My desire to care for patients, to educate them on health issues and promote longevity, still remains. As retirement from the fire service nears, I believe this is the ideal time to further my education and follow a new career path. My time as a firefighter/paramedic has enabled me to care for a large variety of injuries and illnesses. During the 29 years that I have been a paramedic, I have grown as a person and as a primary care provider. I am continually learning from my peers as well as from our monthly paramedic continuing education. I have been in the healthcare field in some form or another for over 35 years. I started in a Health Occupation class during my high school senior year. I did not know much about healthcare prior to this course. I worked as a phlebotomist throughout the program and continued the job after I graduated. My patient contact was limited, but my experience increased the desire to serve and care for people. I will always remember a young wife who had cancer. She required blood draws every morning. I remember going into her room, day after day, seeing her husband sleeping on the couch. I don’t remember how long or how many times I saw her, but I recall watching her condition deteriorate. I remember feeling cruel that I had to stick her every day, watching her veins grow fragile and causing her pain. I know now that those blood draws helped her healthcare team make decisions about her treatments. I had always wished that I could have helped her more.
As life went on, I worked with mentally and physically handicapped children, in doctor’s offices (office work and patient care), emergency rooms and as a Paramedic for a transfer and a rural 911 service. During my time at the rural 911 service, my mother-in-law got severely ill. She was taken to a small hospital with an altered level of consciousness. While she was in the emergency room, they needed to do a cat scan. She became combative and they were unable to run the scan. They sedated her. As we waited for the on-call Neurologist, she was sent to the intensive care unit. We waited hours before the doctor arrived. When he did, his manner was unprofessional and rude. He stated that he would not see or treat her until the next day. He acted like we were wasting his time. Being in healthcare, we knew that her condition warranted immediate care. I contacted a physician that I had worked for, and she was transferred to a larger Dallas hospital. She was diagnosed with melanoma of the brain. She underwent testing, chemo, and radiation but her condition was terminal. We brought her home under Hospice care. From the time of her admittance to the first hospital and until the time of her death, we were appalled at the way that we were treated by the neurologist at the initial facility. Had we not had any healthcare knowledge, my mother-in-law would have surely died that night or soon after due to the swelling in her brain caused by the cancer. Granted, she still passed away, but we had an additional 5 weeks with her that we would have otherwise not gotten. I have continuously looked back and remembered how we felt when the doctor spoke with us, small and unsubstantial. It saddened me that others may have taken this doctor’s word and not sought out additional care. From that day forward, I have not wanted anyone else to experience substandard medical care.
While I have not shadowed any physician assistants, I have interacted with them in the emergency room, at my orthopedic doctor’s office and at my parent’s doctor’s office. While they are able to function as individuals, they work on a healthcare team, meeting with patients, diagnosing and creating a treatment plan. Working as a firefighter/paramedic has given me the ability to be able to work well in a team environment. Even though I have been in emergency medicine for 25 years, there is so much more to learn, but I am also excited to be exposed to non-emergency medicine and the preventative side of medicine. Helping those in underserved communities and being a part of community medicine to enhance the well-being of all citizens and promoting longevity is appealing to me.
I would be honored to be given the opportunity to practice patient care in a new capacity. Paramedicine is a small piece of the healthcare equation; however, it has been a good base in learning patient assessment, general diseases and disorders and treatment modalities. This has made me a worthy candidate for PA school.
Whitney Prosperi says
Barbara,
Your desire to help others is evident throughout your essay.
You may consider opening your essay with a patient care story. This will spotlight your clinical skill and ability to connect with patients on a personal level. The story about the young wife would work. You want to make sure you reveal your desire to do more for patients and how you perform your duties.
Although you don’t have formal shadowing experience, I would still share observations about the PAs you have encountered. You want to show what confirmed your decision to pursue this career. Describe an interaction between PA and patient or PA and supervising physician and how this inspired you.
Also, I’m so sorry to hear about your experience with the unprofessional doctor. You’ll want to be careful here to not appear critical yet still tell the story in a way that feels authentic.
Lastly, in your conclusion, I would tie back to your introduction in some way.
I wish you good luck!
Patrick Powers says
Thank you for looking over my statement!
One of my earliest memories is at summer camp when I was in first grade. I vividly remember a counselor running out of the pool area screaming “help he drowned”, and watching my older cousin sprint to the pool and dive in without hesitation. I was then whisked away by my counselor to the gym where our group watched the ambulance arrive to the scene. The paramedics quickly unloaded a stretcher, ran into the pool area, loaded an unconscious man into the ambulance, and drove away sirens blazing. That day marked the beginning of my dad’s fight against brain cancer, and was the catalyst that sparked my interest in the medical field. My desire to become a physician assistant stems from my father’s battle with cancer, my love for patient interaction, and the flexibility to work in different medical specialties.
Shortly after drowning due to a seizure, my father was diagnosed with grade 3 anaplastic astrocytoma and was given 2-3 years to live. My dad is still alive to this day, and is now fighting a second brain tumor after beating the first one during my high school years. He accomplished this amazing feat of survival through a holistic approach to his health, including a combination of drastic diets, exercise, and medicine. Growing up I watched the cancer take an immense toll on him, physically, mentally, and emotionally; and that process ignited my desire to find a career that centers on helping others. I wanted to learn all I could about diseases so I could help my dad, and others like him, to beat these illnesses that hinder them from achieving their highest quality of life. This decision was further supported through my immensely competitive nature, which is something I got from my dad. He had countless doctors tell him it was hopeless, and that he should start saying his goodbyes. He never gave up. He kept persevering and defied all the odds and statistics that many accepted as fact. This competitive drive and desire to fight through adversity is apparent in my own life through my love of sports. When I realized that being a professional basketball player at 5’9” was probably not a reasonable goal, I shifted my competitive drive and keen interest in the human body to the medical field.
As I progressed through college, my fascination with the body and my desire to help others led me to become a personal trainer. This allowed me to study how the body adapts to a variety of stimuli, and to develop a personal connection with my clients. My favorite aspect of personal training was becoming friends with my clients; watching their confidence grow as they achieved their goals was the most rewarding thing I’ve ever accomplished. From these experiences as a personal trainer, I knew I wanted a career that centers on direct patient interaction. Talking to someone and taking the time to learn their history, their fears regarding their illness and goals in life, is how you really get to know them. This level of understanding allows for a more personalized and successful treatment plan that is optimal for that specific patient. With this career goal in mind, I began working for BCS Heart, a premier cardiology clinic in College Station, TX. My first real exposure to the daily life of a physician assistant was at this clinic, and I very quickly knew that physician assistant was the career I had been searching for.
After a few discussions with the physician assistants who worked at BCS Heart, I could tell they genuinely loved their job. They primarily spent their time in clinic with patients, while the doctor split his time between the clinic, the cath lab, and various board meetings. The physician assistants worked as a team with several nurses to evaluate and treat their patients. This team aspect is enticing as I have played sports my entire life, and thoroughly enjoy working with a team to achieve a common goal. Another enticing aspect of a physician assistant is their wide scope of practice, and their training in all specialties of medicine. As a personal trainer, my greatest joy was helping my client, who had been fighting knee pain for years, to regain full mobility and enjoy playing sports again. As a stress test technician, I love connecting with the patients and guiding them through the test that might catch a life threatening issue. From these experiences, I have an immense desire to further expand my scope of practice which would enable me to diagnose and treat a much wider variety of patients
My desire to work in healthcare stems from my family history, my passion for helping others achieve a higher quality of life, and my keen interest in the intricacies of the human body. A career as a physician assistant stuck out to me due to the emphasis on patient care, medical school style education, and training in general medicine. Since everything in our body is connected, I believe practicing medicine requires a holistic approach. A medical professional must be educated on all aspects of the body to properly diagnose and treat their patient. I have personally witnessed the success of this approach through watching my father battle brain cancer. As a physician assistant, trained in general medicine with a medical school style education, I would be able to live out my belief in the holistic approach and help my patients live healthier and happier lives.
Whitney Prosperi says
Patrick,
I’m sorry to hear about this difficult road your family has walked, and it is obvious that your desire to help others has developed as a result.
I think you are off to a good start.
I would elaborate some more in the paragraph about shadowing. Explain what you admired about the PAs’ clinical knowledge and skill. Also, describe the interactions you witnessed between PA and patient or PA and supervising physician that confirmed your desire to pursue this career.
I would also elaborate on the story where you helped your client with knee pain. You want to show your ability to connect with patients and what you have to offer as a future PA.
Good luck to you!
Anthony says
My interest in the medical field started while taking a medical terminology course during my senior year of high school. The instructor of this course was a nurse and engaged the class by applying the terms to real life medical scenarios. She also showed us episodes of House, M.D. allowing us to see the medical terms being applied in various medical situations. At that time, I had no idea how inaccurate the portrayals were of the field of medicine, but I was captivated by the complexity of the human body and the various disease processes. Since taking that course over 12 years ago, my medical knowledge, skills and patient care experience have increased as I have continued to pursue higher medical education and certification. I started my healthcare career as a hospital corpsman in the Naval Reserve. I then followed in my mother’s footsteps and became a firefighter/EMT. After being an EMT for several years, I chose to further my education and attend paramedic school. My passion for medicine became apparent during my time in paramedic school as I was able to see and understand how the body worked and how the treatments of health care providers could really impact somebody’s life. Being a firefighter/paramedic is a very rewarding and exciting career, but shortly after becoming a paramedic there was something inside of me that told me I needed to do more in the field of medicine. As a paramedic on an ambulance, our calls can range from helping someone up who fell to performing CPR on someone who has experienced a cardiac arrest. The variety of calls we encounter coupled with our limited medical knowledge, training, resources and diagnostic tools sometimes leaves us without a formal diagnosis and no clear direction on how to adequately treat the patient. This can be discouraging to me as a provider as I desire to help the patient understand their medical complaint more thoroughly and assist them in treating their injury or illness. My desire to be a physician assistant is rooted in the fact that I desire to possess the knowledge, skills, experience and resources to diagnose my patient’s chief complaint or connect them with the appropriate resources to get the treatment that is most appropriate for their medical issue. Being a PA would also allow me to have the knowledge and time to educate and empower my patients to be an active participant in their health and well being. As a PA I would assist them in being proactive concerning the health of their body and mind instead of being reactive to disease and sickness.
After I had been a paramedic for a few years I started looking into what I could do to further my education and career. After extensive research into various programs I decided that pursuing the path to becoming a PA was the best option for me. There are several reasons why PA appealed to me rather than NP or physician. The first reason is that a speciality does not have to be decided while in school. The PA profession allows someone to choose different specialties throughout their career. Being a paramedic naturally draws me towards emergency medicine but due to my own sports injuries I have developed an interest in orthopedics/sports medicine. Also,I would also like to have my own community clinic one day. Being a PA would allow me to explore all these interests if that is what I decided to do. Changing specialties can be a positive attribute as it can help develop someone into a more well rounded provider. Another aspect which excites me about the PA profession is the ability to diagnose and treat independently in addition to having guidance from a physician if needed. Possessing the knowledge and skills to treat, educate and visit with my patients independently is attractive but it is also comforting to know if I have a particularly unique or difficult case that I can reach out to someone for further guidance. I will be the first to admit that I do not know everything or have all of the answers so this is appealing to me. Another aspect that draws me to the PA profession is the amount of experience and knowledge gained from on the job training. I learn best by observing, performing and getting my hands “dirty.” Didactic and classroom learning is essential to build the foundation of knowledge, but the best learning experience is applying that knowledge in real scenarios. The PA profession affords the opportunity to gain the essential medical knowledge and skills needed to be a successful provider while minimizing the time in the classroom in order to get the provider into the field to learn how to effectively practice medicine.
My academic journey and my experience as a paramedic for the past 6 years have prepared me to embark on the path to becoming a PA. My academic records show that I have excelled in every educational program that I have participated in. The general medical knowledge I obtained during paramedic school will be a solid foundation as I transition into PA school. Although a paramedic’s bread and butter is emergency medicine, people do not call 911 for just life threatening emergencies. We are expected to know a little bit about every body system and the possible diseases associated with those body systems. I have experienced a small taste of what a general medical education in PA school might be like. Paramedic school is short, sweet and to the point. They give us just enough skills and knowledge to get us out onto the ambulance to start practicing. Once you graduate paramedic school you have the head knowledge but the real learning starts once you get on the ambulance and apply that knowledge to real patients. I am already accustomed to the emphasis of on the job training experienced during and after PA school as I have had to and continue to do this every time I make a 911 call. Another important aspect of being a PA is being able to work as a member of a team. Being a firefighter/paramedic is centered around a team concept. We always ride with a partner and are always dispatched with another group of paramedics. It is essential that I am able to work with others effectively and not let my ego get in the way. While on a call, my partner might bring something to my attention that I did not notice or have an idea for treatment that I did not think of. We also are expected to work with the nurses and doctors at the hospital when we transfer patient care. Oftentimes, if the patient is in critical condition, we will assist the hospital staff in stabilizing the patient before we leave the ER. I could not be a successful paramedic unless I was willing to be a part of a team. The final reason that I am a great candidate for the PA profession is my desire for medicine and continual education. These desires can be seen in my career throughout the fire/EMS service. I have continuously attended additional training, conferences and classes to improve my knowledge and skills. The most recent example of my desire to continuously improve myself was my decision to become a Field Training Officer for new paramedics. In this position, I am held to a higher standard and expected to participate in advanced practice courses because it is my responsibility to help the new paramedics coming out of school transfer their head knowledge to street knowledge.
Whitney Prosperi says
Anthony,
I commented on the earlier essay you posted. I hope this helps!
Brittany says
This is a first draft. I tried to make over my essay from last year with new life experiences and still keep some of the same ideas and thoughts. I know I am over the character limit and will need to try to condense it down more.
It will never happen to me. We all have those thoughts, right? I had those same thoughts until May 27th, 2019. That was the day it happened, a day that sticks out in my memories like it was yesterday. As I laid in bed the ground beneath me started shaking and the walls trembling. I grabbed my dog and ran to the bathroom to hide. My husband ran to get the other dog but it was too late. I squeezed my eyes shut and held on to my dog for dear life. I could feel the dust filling my lungs as I inhaled. And then it was over, not lasting more than 10 seconds. But it felt like forever in my head. We frantically started searching the house for our other dog and then finally he poked his scared eyes out from under the bed, I felt an instant moment of relief. But that didn’t last long as I realized we were trapped in the rubble of our house. We searched for a way out but the only way was a tiny window we could barely fit through. My husband helped lift me out of the window and then handed me the dogs. Once we were out of the rubble, that’s when I realized. It wasn’t just us, our entire neighborhood was in shambles.
I hurried my family to safety but I knew that I needed to go back. I knew that others would need help. As I was searching the neighborhood for someone to help, I came across Becky. She was sick and used a portable oxygen machine to get the 4L of oxygen she needed to breathe but it only had a few minutes of battery life left. I used an ATV to get Becky to safety. As we were riding away, I could see her breath becoming labored. I knew that she needed an ambulance quick. I could see the flashing lights in the distance and I knew Becky was fading quickly. As I approached the ambulance, I screamed for help. Becky passed out from a lack of oxygen just before we got there. The medics instantly started working on her in the back of the rig. Before I knew it, Becky was whisked away to the hospital. I already knew I wanted to be a PA before that day but getting Becky to help solidified my motivation to make it happen. I want to amplify my knowledge and skills to provide quality compassionate care in any situation.
I lived in tornado alley for years while I was on active duty for the Air Force (AF) but this was the closest encounter I had with a tornado. While I was in the AF, I worked as a security forces member leading a patrol team that often dealt with the aftermath of such a tragic event. This experience helped me to develop necessary skills to become a great leader. These skills included resilience, communication skills, quick decision-making capabilities, and time management. I know that the leadership skills I developed in the AF have provided me with the necessary tools to be a successful PA.
The AF has many opportunities to offer but one that sticks out to me is when I got to shadow PA Smith, an AF PA. On my first day with PA Smith, I had the opportunity to accompany him with an appointment for an airman who came in complaining of pain and swelling in his right hip. Something that we thought would be a minor encounter turned out to be this airman’s “it’ll never happen to me moment.” PA Smith ordered some blood work and discussed the results with the airman. It was cancer. I witnessed the heart wrenching conversation that PA Smith had with that airman. This experience gave me the opportunity to learn how to speak with compassion to my patients. PA Smith stayed in touch with that airman, although, he had handed his treatment over to an oncologist that would further manage his care. Following this airman’s treatment with PA Smith magnified my desire to become a PA. I aspire to be the kind of PA that cares so much about my patients that I am willing to go above and beyond to help them in any way possible, even if that just means supporting them in their health care journey.
Prior to joining the AF, I worked as a nursing assistant (NA) for several years. I truly enjoyed it and when I finished my military contract, I decided to return to work as a NA again. I have been able to learn compassion and patience for the people that I have taken care of. Health care can be such a difficult career field but the connections made with patients can be so rewarding. I am fueled by the pride that my patients feel when they realize the progress they have made. I know that I will make a great PA due to my ability to connect with my patients and help them through their recovery. However, I find myself wanting to help my patients further and I know that a career as a PA would give me that opportunity.
We all have those “it will never happen to me” thoughts. But someday it might and I want to be there to get my patients through those moments. With my experience in the AF and as a NA, I believe that I have been able to develop the skills necessary to work on a healthcare team. I know that my abilities to work with others will give me the opportunity to develop a network of colleagues to grow and learn from in the medical field. I believe that my determination and passion for healthcare will drive me to be a successful PA. I am dedicated to becoming a PA and will provide the same level of care as PA Smith did with his patient. Once a PA, I will be able to pave my own legacy and continue to promote a positive outlook on the PA profession.
Whitney Prosperi says
Brittany,
Your opening is strong, showing your calm in a crisis and your desire to help others. It spotlights your training and leadership.
I think you are smart to highlight your training in the AF.
When discussing your time as a NA, I would elaborate on your clinical skills and knowledge gained in that role. You may want to mention your ability to and desire for collaboration since this is such an integral part of the PA’s role.
Good luck to you.
Judy Garcia says
Cries, lights flashing, car screeching, blood, chaos, people were collapsing in front of my eyes. I walked out of the front door of my house to see my father being run over by a car and dragged away. I was confused; I was in shock, I panicked and froze. It was my sister’s quinceañera, and my family was walking out family members when a car sped up and started running over everyone on the street. Seeing my father pinned on top of a car, and my mother crying, it broke me. At thirteen years old, as my injured family lay on the floor in pain, I was paralyzed, and the only thing I could do was call 911. From that day on, I vowed to acquire the training to treat individuals in underserved communities who need medical services without hesitation and confidence.
On the first day of my emergency medical technician class, the partner I was working with noticed my self-confidence and passion when we practiced cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). He said,” If I am ever in an emergency scenario, I want you to be the one that provides the CPR.” From that day forward, it impacted my passion for medicine; it validated my determination and confirmed I had the skills needed to work in this field. Having worked as an emergency room technician, I have heard parent’s loud cries when I am performing CPR on adults, especially children, and there were too many complications, or it was too late, and the patient died. As a phlebotomist, I have done tons of blood draws on the elderly. The elderly have bruises on their arms from excessive blood draws, and many refuse because of the pain. I listen and comfort them and explain that we cannot proceed in the next step of their care without this procedure. It is incredible to see how strong they are when they smile and hold out their arm. However, I want to investigate; I want to problem solve; I want to create treatment plans, I want to diagnose, I want to interpret results. I want to be the medical provider to make essential decisions for the patient’s life.
I live in East Los Angeles, and there are many hospital admissions due to hypertension, diabetes, and other preventable, treatable illnesses. The elderly refuse to take medications and refuse to seek medical attention. I realize it is not just stubbornness. It is a lack of understanding of the benefits of taking prescribed medication. Being bilingual has allowed me to be more relatable to the Latino community. In turn, I have developed strong communication skills that have prepared me well. My experiences have taught me that positive patient outcomes depend on patient understanding and faith in their necessary care. As a physician assistant, I will have a significant opportunity to educate my patients, break down healthcare barriers, and guide them toward better decisions about their health and well-being.
I shadowed a physician assistant at the Los Angeles Mission at the heart of skid row, where the homeless community lives, it has made me a compassionate and humble spirit. Providing medical services to the homeless community with limited resources, and limited staffing is medicine at its core. The physician assistant I shadowed was part of a team that excelled at providing the highest quality care to these vulnerable individuals. The skill and training he provided to this population varied from treating diabetes and hypertension to diagnosing a heart attack and a stroke. The level that he was performing is what I aspire to be. In this growing profession, it is impressive to know that I can be skilled in nearly any specialty and still have a sense of autonomy.
The world today has changed; it has impacted and challenged my life. During this pandemic, the isolation from family and friends tested my mental health. But driven by my own healthcare experience and those I witnessed at work, I have undertaken this pandemic as a challenge. My desire to be a physician assistant has continued to grow during this pandemic because I want to put into practice the skills and training I have accumulated all these years. Having gone back to school to polish up on knowledge that I previously learned has taught me that being a life-learner allows me to keep up with the demands of medicine. I am a unique candidate due to my multi-cultural perspective, years of experience in bilingual patient care, and commitment to the profession. Working with the underserved communities, I know they deserve a compassionate and committed medical provider willing to make life-saving decisions without doubt and certainty.
Whitney Prosperi says
Judy,
I am so sorry that this horrific event happened to your family all those years ago, and I trust that you will be an empathetic provider to many others experiencing crises.
I would recommend elaborating some more on your shadowing experience. Further describe the PA’s interaction with patients and tell how this affirmed your decision to become a PA.
You may also want to mention your desire to collaborate with a healthcare team since this is such an integral part of a PA’s role.
I would also avoid using blanket statements regarding the elderly population’s resistance to seeking treatment. Instead, I would tell a story where this happened and then describe how you connected with the patient, calmed fears and encouraged him/her to receive treatment. You could also show your bilingual skills in this patient care story. You want to spotlight how you perform your duties and connect with patients and what attributes you have to offer patients as a future PA.
For your conclusion, I would add a sentence or phrase that ties back directly to your introduction.
Good luck to you!
Tony says
My interest in the medical field started while taking a medical terminology course during my senior year of high school. The instructor of this course was a nurse and engaged the class by applying the terms to real life medical scenarios. She also showed us episodes of House, M.D. allowing us to see the medical terms being applied in various medical situations. At that time, I had no idea how inaccurate the portrayals were of the field of medicine, but I was captivated by the complexity of the human body and the various disease processes. Since taking that course over 12 years ago, my medical knowledge, skills and patient care experience have increased as I have continued to pursue higher medical education and certification. I started my healthcare career as a hospital corpsman in the Naval Reserve. I then followed in my mother’s footsteps and became a firefighter/EMT. After being an EMT for several years, I chose to further my education and attend paramedic school. My passion for medicine became apparent during my time in paramedic school as I was able to see and understand how the body worked and how the treatments of health care providers could really impact somebody’s life. Being a firefighter/paramedic is a very rewarding and exciting career, but shortly after becoming a paramedic there was something inside of me that told me I needed to do more in the field of medicine. As a paramedic on an ambulance, our calls can range from helping someone up who fell to performing CPR on someone who has experienced a cardiac arrest. The variety of calls we encounter coupled with our limited medical knowledge, training, resources and diagnostic tools sometimes leaves us without a formal diagnosis and no clear direction on how to adequately treat the patient. This can be discouraging to me as a provider as I desire to help the patient understand their medical complaint more thoroughly and assist them in treating their injury or illness. My desire to be a physician assistant is rooted in the fact that I desire to possess the knowledge, skills, experience and resources to diagnose my patient’s chief complaint or connect them with the appropriate resources to get the treatment that is most appropriate for their medical issue. Being a PA would also allow me to have the knowledge and time to educate and empower my patients to be an active participant in their health and well being. As a PA I would assist them in being proactive concerning the health of their body and mind instead of being reactive to disease and sickness.
After I had been a paramedic for a few years I started looking into what I could do to further my education and career. After extensive research into various programs I decided that pursuing the path to becoming a PA was the best option for me. There are several reasons why PA appealed to me rather than NP or physician. The first reason is that a speciality does not have to be decided while in school. The PA profession allows someone to choose different specialties throughout their career. Being a paramedic naturally draws me towards emergency medicine but due to my own sports injuries I have developed an interest in orthopedics/sports medicine. Also,I would also like to have my own community clinic one day. Being a PA would allow me to explore all these interests if that is what I decided to do. Changing specialties can be a positive attribute as it can help develop someone into a more well rounded provider. Another aspect which excites me about the PA profession is the ability to diagnose and treat independently in addition to having guidance from a physician if needed. Possessing the knowledge and skills to treat, educate and visit with my patients independently is attractive but it is also comforting to know if I have a particularly unique or difficult case that I can reach out to someone for further guidance. I will be the first to admit that I do not know everything or have all of the answers so this is appealing to me. Another aspect that draws me to the PA profession is the amount of experience and knowledge gained from on the job training. I learn best by observing, performing and getting my hands “dirty.” Didactic and classroom learning is essential to build the foundation of knowledge, but the best learning experience is applying that knowledge in real scenarios. The PA profession affords the opportunity to gain the essential medical knowledge and skills needed to be a successful provider while minimizing the time in the classroom in order to get the provider into the field to learn how to effectively practice medicine.
My academic journey and my experience as a paramedic for the past 6 years have prepared me to embark on the path to becoming a PA. My academic records show that I have excelled in every educational program that I have participated in. The general medical knowledge I obtained during paramedic school will be a solid foundation as I transition into PA school. Although a paramedic’s bread and butter is emergency medicine, people do not call 911 for just life threatening emergencies. We are expected to know a little bit about every body system and the possible diseases associated with those body systems. I have experienced a small taste of what a general medical education in PA school might be like. Paramedic school is short, sweet and to the point. They give us just enough skills and knowledge to get us out onto the ambulance to start practicing. Once you graduate paramedic school you have the head knowledge but the real learning starts once you get on the ambulance and apply that knowledge to real patients. I am already accustomed to the emphasis of on the job training experienced during and after PA school as I have had to and continue to do this every time I make a 911 call. Another important aspect of being a PA is being able to work as a member of a team. Being a firefighter/paramedic is centered around a team concept. We always ride with a partner and are always dispatched with another group of paramedics. It is essential that I am able to work with others effectively and not let my ego get in the way. While on a call, my partner might bring something to my attention that I did not notice or have an idea for treatment that I did not think of. We also are expected to work with the nurses and doctors at the hospital when we transfer patient care. Oftentimes, if the patient is in critical condition, we will assist the hospital staff in stabilizing the patient before we leave the ER. I could not be a successful paramedic unless I was willing to be a part of a team. The final reason that I am a great candidate for the PA profession is my desire for medicine and continual education. These desires can be seen in my career throughout the fire/EMS service. I have continuously attended additional training, conferences and classes to improve my knowledge and skills. The most recent example of my desire to continuously improve myself was my decision to become a Field Training Officer for new paramedics. In this position, I am held to a higher standard and expected to participate in advanced practice courses because it is my responsibility to help the new paramedics coming out of school transfer their head knowledge to street knowledge.
Whitney Prosperi says
Tony,
Your experience and passion shines throughout your essay.
I recommend condensing where you can so that you can add in a few more elements that will strengthen your essay.
First, add a paragraph that details your shadowing experiences. What did you learn from observing the PA? The supervising physician? What did you admire about the interactions the PA had with patients? How did this experience affect your interest in the profession?
Next, I think it would be helpful to see you interacting with a patient who motivated you to increase your scope of practice. (someone from your EMT work?) Show yourself connecting (calming an anxious patient) while performing clinical care of some kind. You want to show how you perform your duties and support your patients and what you have to offer patients as a future PA.
For your conclusion, I would tie back to your introduction in some way.
Remember that should you need more help, we are taking essay submissions for our revision service.
Good luck to you!
Courtney says
Hello, I would like some feedback on my essay. This is my second time applying and I can’t decide whether to keep the first 2 paragraphs the same or delete them. I changed the other paragraphs though. I am also over the limit and I am not sure what I should cut out. Thank you!
From 14 years old, my drive to work in the medical field began. It was 12am on a school night when I heard my mom screaming in agony. I came in the room and my parents told me “everything is fine don’t worry, its time”. I quickly ran to wake up my sister “Kate wake up, get ready, its time”. Everyone quickly ran into the car and my dad rushed my mom to the Emergency Department. My mom was in labor and though these were one of the most exciting moments of my life, they were also the scariest. My brother was coming to this world …. weeks earlier than we all expected. As I held my mom’s hand in the delivery room I could see signs of distress on her face. 6 hours later and Tommy was finally here, unfortunately not in the state we all expected him to be. 10 seconds after birth a baby takes there first breath, well this was not the case with Tommy. After Tommy arrived in this world the obstetrician yelled “He’s not breathing” and at that moment all I could see was a group of medical professions rush my brother to the other side of the delivery room to a drawing board. As they began to resuscitate him all I could think about was the possibility of him not making it. A short moment passed and I finally heard a faint cry, we all took a breath of relief. After a series of assessments the OBGYN carried my brother to us in a blanket, “his breathing is under control so far but his temperature is not. We will have to take him into the incubator after where he will stay for a few days possibly weeks until he can manage his body temperature on his own”. No one was prepared for the countless hours we were all going to spend at the NICU for the upcoming two weeks.
Though this overall experience was certainly distressing and nonetheless challenging, it was also very rewarding. The care my brother and mother received truly made me understand the importance of skilled medical professionals. Through the effective and team-based care they provide, we get to see another day with the people we love. Since that time, I have always known I wanted to work in family medicine and my time shadowing and working in healthcare helped to breakdown the career I sought after all these years.
Though I always knew I wanted to work in the medical field, my future was never so clear. Being a first-generation immigrant, I never received help or guidance from my parents. I had to figure out a lot of things related to my education and the journey of life myself. Last spring, a year after graduating, I was never so excited to start my journey to becoming a PA. I sat in the same position I am now and filled out applications to start my future. When I did not get into any PA school I had applied to, I was confused, frustrated, and heartbroken. I questioned myself why I did not get accepted and whether I was not good enough. My life and the dreams I had set for myself were never easy to achieve. Thus, I told myself that this was the way things were supposed to happen it was a sign, a sign to do better and become better. I felt a greater sense of determination and confidence in achieving my long but well worth the goal of becoming a PA.
For the past two years, my time working as a patient care technician has been gratifying. As a PCT on an orthopedic surgical unit, I have the pleasure to witness how my patients grow and regain the strength to walk again. Many of these patients come in to have a scheduled knee or hip replacement while others are on our unit after suffering a deadly motorcycle accident. I will never forget the day when the transporters brought Alex onto our unit, he had suffered a terrible fall off of a 50-foot building. He had multiple rib and spinal fractures, a broken pelvis, a fractured skull, two broken femurs, and ankles. His bladder was ruptured and his kidneys were nonfunctioning causing him to have two nephrostomy tubes and a colostomy. The medical staff told me he was lucky to be alive with the damage he had undergone to his body. My time with Alex was an unforgettable experience. Every day we tried to set a goal, whether it was to be able to drink a sip of water to be able to hold a spoon. His dedication to getting better never stopped though his journey to recovery was a long one. Patients like Alex, have taught me the true meaning of determination and have shown me that my purpose in life is to help others. I would never be able to experience this type of feeling working outside the medical field.
This experience has solidified that becoming a physician assistant is the career profession I want to pursue. On a daily, I have the pleasure to work aside some of the most generous and skilled PAs. It is through these encounters that I get to see how independent and involved a PA is with their patient. Though witnessing Sara and Ashley, the orthopedic PAs removing and reapplying a wound vac on a patient whose limb was about to fall off was the highlight of my day. It was not until the COVID-19 pandemic where I truly felt connected to them. During the unprecedented times, working as a team was a pivotal aspect of making it through the day. We had to limit our contact with these patients for a long period but also help them as well. As we entered a room we made sure that we had everything we needed to prevent the waste of PPE when gowning on and off again. It would be me and the orthopedic PA in a room together working together to remove the patient’s stitches and explaining to the patient there discharge instructions and the future care plans they had to follow. I truly felt connected to the role of a physician assistant at that moment. I felt needed and useful because without me she would not have been able to help this patient in the way we did. With every unit changing and moving to different areas of the hospitals to accommodate the COVID-19 positive patients, I had the opportunity to float throughout the hospital. I was able to witness a doctor along with his surgical PA and staff perform a central line and pacemaker placement which was an unforgettable experience. Working on these different units and with COVID positive patients did not bother me at all but instead helped me realize the I wanted to do more, I always have. My scope of practice is limited, I would like to be able to assist in surgery or build a discharge plan for my patient and be the cause of there recovery due to the treatment I have prescribed.
For this reason, more than any other I would love nothing more than to be a physician assistant in Family medicine. This is what I am passionate about, changing someone’s life due to a diagnosis and treatment I have provided them with. I want to be a role model and mentor to those that need my help the most because health is the most important and pivotal aspect of one’s life. This is the next step in my journey that will make my life rewarding every day.
Courtney says
Hello! This is my second time applying to PA school and I am having a hard time deciding whether to keep the first and second paragraphs which I used in my personal statement last year. Everything else I have re-written however, I am still over the 5,000-word count maximum. Thank you in advance for your help.
From 14 years old, my drive to work in the medical field began. It was 12am on a school night when I heard my mom screaming in agony. I came in the room and my parents told me “everything is fine don’t worry, its time”. I quickly ran to wake up my sister “Kate wake up, get ready, its time”. Everyone quickly ran into the car and my dad rushed my mom to the Emergency Department. My mom was in labor and though these were one of the most exciting moments of my life, they were also the scariest. My brother was coming to this world …. weeks earlier than we all expected. As I held my mom’s hand in the delivery room I could see signs of distress on her face. 6 hours later and Tommy was finally here, unfortunately not in the state we all expected him to be. 10 seconds after birth a baby takes there first breath, well this was not the case with Tommy. After Tommy arrived in this world the obstetrician yelled “He’s not breathing” and at that moment all I could see was a group of medical professions rush my brother to the other side of the delivery room to a drawing board. As they began to resuscitate him all I could think about was the possibility of him not making it. A short moment passed and I finally heard a faint cry, we all took a breath of relief. After a series of assessments the OBGYN carried my brother to us in a blanket, “his breathing is under control so far but his temperature is not. We will have to take him into the incubator after where he will stay for a few days possibly weeks until he can manage his body temperature on his own”. No one was prepared for the countless hours we were all going to spend at the NICU for the upcoming two weeks.
Though this overall experience was certainly distressing and nonetheless challenging, it was also very rewarding. The care my brother and mother received truly made me understand the importance of skilled medical professionals. Through the effective and team-based care they provide, we get to see another day with the people we love. Since that time, I have always known I wanted to work in family medicine and my time shadowing and working in healthcare helped to breakdown the career I sought after all these years.
Though I always knew I wanted to work in the medical field, my future was never so clear. Being a first-generation immigrant, I never received help or guidance from my parents. I had to figure out a lot of things related to my education and the journey of life myself. Last spring, a year after graduating, I was never so excited to start my journey to becoming a PA. I sat in the same position I am now and filled out applications to start my future. When I did not get into any PA school I had applied to, I was confused, frustrated, and heartbroken. I questioned myself why I did not get accepted and whether I was not good enough. My life and the dreams I had set for myself were never easy to achieve. Thus, I told myself that this was the way things were supposed to happen it was a sign, a sign to do better and become better. I felt a greater sense of determination and confidence in achieving my long but well worth the goal of becoming a PA.
For the past two years, my time working as a patient care technician has been gratifying. As a PCT on an orthopedic surgical unit, I have the pleasure to witness how my patients grow and regain the strength to walk again. Many of these patients come in to have a scheduled knee or hip replacement while others are on our unit after suffering a deadly motorcycle accident. I will never forget the day when the transporters brought Alex onto our unit, he had suffered a terrible fall off of a 50-foot building. He had multiple rib and spinal fractures, a broken pelvis, a fractured skull, two broken femurs, and ankles. His bladder was ruptured and his kidneys were nonfunctioning causing him to have two nephrostomy tubes and a colostomy. The medical staff told me he was lucky to be alive with the damage he had undergone to his body. My time with Alex was an unforgettable experience. Every day we tried to set a goal, whether it was to be able to drink a sip of water to be able to hold a spoon. His dedication to getting better never stopped though his journey to recovery was a long one. Patients like Alex, have taught me the true meaning of determination and have shown me that my purpose in life is to help others. I would never be able to experience this type of feeling working outside the medical field.
This experience has solidified that becoming a physician assistant is the career profession I want to pursue. On a daily, I have the pleasure to work aside some of the most generous and skilled PAs. It is through these encounters that I get to see how independent and involved a PA is with their patient. Though witnessing Sara and Ashley, the orthopedic PAs removing and reapplying a wound vac on a patient whose limb was about to fall off was the highlight of my day. It was not until the COVID-19 pandemic where I truly felt connected to them. During the unprecedented times, working as a team was a pivotal aspect of making it through the day. We had to limit our contact with these patients for a long period but also help them as well. As we entered a room we made sure that we had everything we needed to prevent the waste of PPE when gowning on and off again. It would be me and the orthopedic PA in a room together working together to remove the patient’s stitches and explaining to the patient there discharge instructions and the future care plans they had to follow. I truly felt connected to the role of a physician assistant at that moment. I felt needed and useful because without me she would not have been able to help this patient in the way we did. With every unit changing and moving to different areas of the hospitals to accommodate the COVID-19 positive patients, I had the opportunity to float throughout the hospital. I was able to witness a doctor along with his surgical PA and staff perform a central line and pacemaker placement which was an unforgettable experience. Working on these different units and with COVID positive patients did not bother me at all but instead helped me realize the I wanted to do more, I always have. My scope of practice is limited, I would like to be able to assist in surgery or build a discharge plan for my patient and be the cause of there recovery due to the treatment I have prescribed.
For this reason, more than any other I would love nothing more than to be a physician assistant in Family medicine. This is what I am passionate about, changing someone’s life due to a diagnosis and treatment I have provided them with. I want to be a role model and mentor to those that need my help the most because health is the most important and pivotal aspect of one’s life. This is the next step in my journey that will make my life rewarding every day.
Whitney Prosperi says
Courtney,
I can sense your passion to help patients and families in crisis throughout your essay. I would suggest condensing where you can and proofing your essay carefully for typos and grammar mistakes.
Your story about Alex is strong and shows your ability to connect with patients as well as your desire to do more for them clinically.
In your conclusion, I would tie back to your introduction in some way.
If you need further help, remember that we are taking submissions for our essay revision service.
Good luck to you!
Kylie says
Thanks for taking a look at my essay! I’m just a bit over the character count still.
It was 2AM on a cold night in late March when a man walked into the Henry Ford Emergency Department (ED) entrance visibly out of breath. I could tell he was very sick and needed attention fast, so I quickly took his vitals. He had an SpO2 of 81%, heart rate of 135, blood pressure of 176/101, and respiration rate of 34. I rushed to get him oxygen and alerted the Covid-19 triage nurse of his condition. I rattled off his vitals to the nurse while setting up his O2. Despite the added oxygen, the patient was still breathing fast and his SpO2 only increased to 87%. The nurse decided to take the patient to our resuscitation room, where I set him up to the monitor and performed an EKG, all while multiple resus nurses, PAs, and MDs tried to stabilize the patient. He was eventually intubated and tested positive for Covid-19, but the collaboration and teamwork of the entire team likely saved his life. As I started to make my transition into healthcare two years earlier, I never would have imagined myself as a frontline healthcare worker during a worldwide pandemic.
Two years earlier I was working at Nielsen Catalina Solutions (NCS), an advertising consulting firm, where I was part of a team that conducted studies to determine the effectiveness of ad campaigns. I learned a lot about teamwork and training at NCS, but the work itself left me feeling unfulfilled. I previously had a job in healthcare consulting that I enjoyed, which influenced me to volunteer in the ED at local hospital to get back involved in healthcare. And so began my journey into medicine.
One of my favorite parts of volunteering was connecting with the patients. One day an elderly patient came in with a dislocated shoulder. I entered her room to restock supplies and she asked me, “Do you play piano?” I replied, “No, but I love listening to classical music.” We spent the next five minutes talking about our favorite classical pieces, both liking Mozart’s whimsical style. When the doctor came in to re-set the patient’s shoulder, she thanked me for calming her nerves and asked me to stay for the procedure. It was meaningful experiences like these that inspired my transition towards a career in medicine and ultimately becoming a physician assistant (PA).
My involvement in healthcare increased from there, as I enrolled in an EMT course while still working at NCS and eventually joined a full-time Post-Bac Pre-Med (PBPM) program at the University of Virginia (UVA). During my EMT course, I enjoyed learning about all the potential situations that require emergency assistance and how to recognize them. I also applied the content I learned in class to real-life situations during our clinical rotations in EDs and ambulances. I was hooked. Becoming an EMT motivated me to go back to school full-time and fully commit myself to a career in medicine, so I left NCS and enrolled in the PBPM program at UVA. The intention of the program was for career changers to complete courses needed to apply to medical school. However, after shadowing providers during the program I realized becoming a PA was a better fit for me.
Shadowing Evan, a PA in a spinal surgery clinic, was an influential experience. Evan’s day to day work included seeing new patients, assessing their chief complaints, suggesting non-invasive interventions or surgery with input from his supervising physician, and pre and post-surgery education and follow ups. Shadowing Evan helped me realize that PAs can be both autonomous, but also contribute to a larger collaborative team, which really appealed to me. Ultimately, I decided that becoming a PA is a better path for me. I moved back home to Detroit for an ED technician position at Henry Ford Hospital to obtain more clinical experience, while also taking some PA-specific prerequisites.
Working at Henry Ford has allowed me to gain valuable clinical experience working directly with PAs, MDs, and nurses and see a variety of different cases including chronic conditions, gun shots, stroke, Covid-19, and OB/GYN emergencies. One month into my job, a pregnant patient came in with heavy bleeding. One of our PAs asked if I could help chaperon the pelvic exam. After the exam, the PA had to deliver awful news. The patient was having a miscarriage. She delivered the prognosis with compassion and understanding, even confiding in the patient that she once had a miscarriage. This was just one of the many experiences I have had working with the amazing PAs in the Henry Ford ED that has confirmed my decision to pursue a career as a PA.
Changing career paths into healthcare has been a challenging journey; however, every step of the way has confirmed my commitment to pursuing medicine. As a PA, I would be both autonomous and contribute to patient care as part of a larger team. I would also have the opportunity to be involved in every part of the patient process, including assessment, treatment, and education. These are the reasons that I want to become a PA. In the meantime, I’ll continue to fight Covid-19 on the frontlines, thinking quickly when presented with distressed patients, providing support and compassion to patients going through unprecedented times, and by doing my part to contribute to their care.
Whitney Prosperi says
Kylie,
I think you are off to a great start! I can sense your passion to connect with and treat patients.
Your section on shadowing is strong. Here, you could even add one more sentence describing more of the interaction you witnessed between PA and patient or PA and supervising physician.
Your writing is clear and flows nicely.
Good luck to you in the process.
Melissa Marting says
Hello, this is a draft that will likely change a great amount before the next cycle, but it is very personal to me and I feel like I was taking a risk in presenting myself this way. I would really appreciate some feedback. Thank you.
One night during first grade, I sat in the bath tub staring at my belly and I wondered why I was larger than all my friends. When I would visit the doctor, she always told my mom that my weight was above average but my height would correct the issue as I grew. She instructed me to “eat healthier and exercise,” before sending me on my way. I went on my first restrictive diet when I was 7. In the fourth grade and continuing through adolescence, I would binge food secretly and later purge through emesis and vigorous exercise. I had developed an eating disorder (ED).
Although I struggled, my ED shaped me to be very interested in nutrition, health, and wellness. Early on, I spent countless hours browsing WebMD to learn about hundreds of different medical conditions. I pretended to do surgery on stuffed animals and even made them casts out of duct tape. When I found out the nursing assistant (CNA) course would be offered in high school, I told myself I would take it the moment I was eligible. In 2016, I received my certification and I was excited to finally have the opportunity to work hands-on with patients.
It was as a CNA that I met May, a previously healthy patient who had a stroke and lost the ability to stand, swallow, and speak. She became extremely depressed and lost her will to live. For months, every time I was with her, I encouraged her to get up and take a walk with me. When the petting zoo came to visit, she was hesitant, but she finally said yes. I helped May dress and assisted her outside. Initially, she was afraid of hurting the animals, but she got to hold rabbits and ducklings and feel sunshine. When she passed away, her obituary mentioned her lifelong tie to humane societies. I realized that even though she couldn’t speak, my continuous encouragement may have helped her enjoy one last beautiful day. May taught me invaluable knowledge about being attentive to patients’ needs, and she inspired me to pursue a career in medicine.
While continuing to work as a CNA, I entered college and was first introduced to the physician assistant profession. Upon exploring the PA’s essential part on a team and the ability to work with patients on all levels of care, I knew that becoming a PA would be the most fulfilling career that aligns with my skills and goals. I declared a biology major, sought out volunteer opportunities, and began completing prerequisites for programs.
Eventually, my poor self-esteem and lack of time-management skills caused me to begin to fall behind on my studies. I was unmotivated, my health was substandard, and I felt overwhelmed by the pressure to succeed. If becoming a PA was what I really wanted, I knew I had to make a meaningful change. Following sophomore year, I took a break from school to complete a full-time service year with Americorps. I served at (clinic name removed for privacy) (HCN), a clinic in my area that provides free services to the uninsured low-income population.
Americorps reignited my love of medicine and my drive to learn. I was shocked to discover the realities of underserved communities and the immense need for safety-net services right where I grew up. Learning about topics such as food deserts, healthcare disparities, and diabetic education connected my own experiences to this population. I wanted to make a difference in the care that overweight, obese, and diabetic patients were receiving; so, I helped implement nutrition education into HCN’s programming. This change improved the support that patients were receiving and enriched patient-provider discussions involving weight. Through Americorps, I was able to turn my own hardships into something that will help thousands of patients for years to come. The knowledge and experience I was given at HCN made me passionate about caring for low-income populations and motivated me to become a PA that will fight to eliminate disparities in healthcare and advocate for continuous improvement in care.
When I returned to school, I was more determined than ever to succeed. I developed a healthy eating and exercise routine, refined my time management skills, and studied harder in my classes. I took an EMT course and later became employed as an EMT to explore working in high-stress situations and expand my scope of practice. I continued to volunteer with HCN, where I completed projects in all aspects of clinic operations. Most importantly, I continued to grow into a committed, philanthropic individual.
From my first patient to my most recent and every experience in between, I have valued the ability to reflect on my ED as a blessing rather than a curse. It has allowed me to connect with people of all ages, backgrounds, and cultures. In addition, the adversities I have overcome have challenged me both professionally and personally while providing me with a drive to inspire others. I am confident that I have the dedication, drive, and work ethic to be an amazing PA, and I am ready to do what it takes to forever serve those in need through medicine.
Whitney Prosperi says
Melissa,
I can sense your resilience and strength throughout your essay.
You do a good job showing your early interest in medicine. I would add some more information about what speaks to you about the profession? (balance of autonomy and working with a healthcare team/more time with patients/ability to switch specialties?)
I would also add a paragraph that details any shadowing experiences you may have had. Describe what interactions you witnessed between the PA and patient or PA and supervising physician that confirmed your decision.
You do a good job of addressing the dip in your grades. If you picked up any specific time management or study skills that will help you in a rigorous PA program mention those in that paragraph.
I like how you tie your conclusion back to your intro.
You are off to a good start.
I’m not saying you need this but remember that we are taking submissions for our essay revision service should you need more help.
Good luck to you, Melissa.
Rachel says
There are two sides to healing: physical and emotional. Healthcare workers are some of the few individuals who have the ability to do both. We are the ones on the front lines fighting to save lives and constantly seeing so much pain but are the ones who choose to take responsibility to heal. While they are healing others’ wounds, they are simultaneously healing themselves. I wanted to be part of that healing. Over time, my experiences helped me strive towards my passion of providing the highest quality of healthcare experience for my patients.
Everyone seeks warmth. My dad’s selfless nature taught me that sometimes offering empathy, sympathy, and a listening ear was more than enough. I remember the moment when the silent five-year-old girl I spent weeks with in Ensenada finally opened up enough to sit on my lap and smile. She was broken by the very people who were supposed to keep her safe and I was determined to piece her back by offering her something she never received, warmth. The once cold and distant girl I sat on the beach and talked with shocked me as she sat and hugged me in my lap whispering “gracias.” We were separated by an entire language and culture, but healing a person whether inside or out proved it had no boundaries. I realized the warmth I offered acted as an emotional band-aid to heal.
Although at first, I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do in healthcare, after years of studying and my own life journey, I knew I wanted to provide physical and emotional healing. SHPEP, Summer Health Professions Education Program, at UCLA, is a summer medical program focused on providing healthcare to medically disadvantaged communities. During a conversation with my program mentor, Dennis, I expressed my interest in providing holistic care because I wanted to help patients heal both in mind and body. I wanted to collaborate with professionals across all specialties to develop treatment plans for patients. I hoped to form relationships with patients, give the autonomy to diagnose, and be directly part of the team responsible for a patient’s care plan. Dennis responded with just two words, “physician assistant.” After listening to Dennis explain, I knew this was it. Dennis was finally able to put a name on what I wanted to do.
Shadowing Arnold, an orthopedic physician assistant, during his surgeries was an unforgettable experience. I was taken back to when my arm was sutured after being bitten by a dog and reminded of the fascination I had as my skin was reunited by a single piece of string. The recollection of images of my blood streaming down my arm, my parents frantically trying to communicate with what little knowledge of the English language they had, and me dumbfounded at the situation. I was in shock of what happened, unable to get even a little bit of reassurance that everything would be alright. The event, so deeply rooted within me, sparked my curiosity of how I, not as a patient but as a medical profession, would act to alleviate the pain of a family so desperate for help. The passion to be in surgery, the ability to help and comfort those in medical need. The memory was gone in a flash, and all I wanted was to stand where Arnold was and take part in the harmonious teamwork that was being performed before me.
Working as a medical assistant at an internal medicine clinic allowed me to develop my collaboration and communication skills and maturity. At the clinic, the team focused on providing the best care for our patients by arranging treatment with other doctors to alleviate their uneasiness. Although our jobs are to physically heal the patients, we are also responsible for providing emotional care and support during some of their most vulnerable moments. I serve as a link between my doctor and patients to relay their concerns while also building trust with them. I am able to bridge the language gap between our patients and their families. I received valuable insight into how a physician assistant can serve as a bridge between the patient and the doctor as a mid-level practitioner and witnessed how this produced a range of emotions in our patients. For some, it was heartbreak and sorrow; for others, it was happiness and joy.
Being a physician assistant provides the opportunity to continuously learn and experience new specialties. To have the ability to constantly expand my knowledge and work seamlessly within a medical team, and have the ability to diagnose and plan for treatment. I am confident that my experiences have brought me to where my passions, capabilities, and purpose intersect, as a future physician assistant
Whitney Prosperi says
Rachel,
Your desire to help people is evident throughout your essay.
You also do a good job of showing your progression to deciding on the PA path.
In your paragraph about shadowing I would add more detail about what you admired about Arnold’s interaction with the patient/family. Let the reader see a little bit more of what you saw and what confirmed that this was the right profession for you.
If you can share a story about you connecting with a patient while providing clinical care do that. You want to show why you will excel at combining clinical expertise with a personal touch to support patients.
For your conclusion, I would tie back to your introduction in some way.
You are off to a good start. Should you need more help, remember we are taking submissions for our essay revision service.
Good luck to you, Rachel.
Hannah says
I first felt the call to medicine in the fourth grade. Fascinated by the human body, I devoured books about how it works. I grew up thinking and hearing from others that I’ll be a doctor someday; it became a part of my identity. My security in that identity was unexpectedly challenged when I entered high school. I began to realize just how many opportunities there are in healthcare and maybe there was another path for me. My junior year, I was required to read “It’s Not About the Bike,” Lance Armstrong’s autobiography. I had no interest in the book, Lance Armstrong, or biking, but the story of his journey with testicular cancer caught my attention. He vividly illustrated the fear, doubt, and uncertainty of numerous hospital stays, surgeries, and gruelling rounds of chemotherapy. As he described his struggle at the darkest time of his life, laying in a hospital bed and contemplating death, my heart was moved. Although uncertain of his faith in God, he had absolute faith in his doctors, nurses, and technicians. He called them angels, a light in his darkest days. That simple statement, from Lance Armstrong of all people, lit the fire within me. I wanted to be a light in the darkness, an angel, for people and to make things easier for them as they navigate the most difficult times of their life. Specifically, to provide direct care for oncology patients. Armed with that realization and a renewed sense of motivation to follow my calling into the medical field, I researched and explored my options. The role of a physician assistant intrigued me, but I focused on four-year degrees that would allow me to work in oncology right out of college. I decided that radiation therapy was a good path for me, as it combined my desire for direct patient care in oncology with my interest in technology. I worked hard to prepare myself for a future in healthcare; I started working as a CNA my senior year and graduated valedictorian of my class. I earned numerous scholarships and attended Lewis University, where I made the Dean’s List every semester and graduated with high honors. After extensive application and interviews, I was accepted into the Northwestern Medicine Clinical School of Radiation Therapy. I earned a championship trophy for my school in a national academic competition, graduated valedictorian, and was named “Student of the Year.” I feel my experience at Northwestern, in an intense and rigorous clinical program that included hospital rotations, has prepared me well and demonstrates that I have what it takes to be successful in future programs. I now have almost three years of experience as a radiation therapist and have loved every minute of it. My job is exactly what I was looking for seven years ago. What I did not realize in high school, though, was that I would want MORE. The role of a radiation therapist is very specific and confined to treatment delivery, limiting my ability to care for my patients comprehensively. The question of what new path I could take was never really a question; shadowing physician assistants at work and my own personal healthcare experience has inspired me to pursue the profession. I want to perform examinations, order and interpret labs and imaging studies, prescribe medications, educate patients, and even perform surgical procedures. I know that becoming a PA will enable me to do all of this and more, working as part of a team with and under the supervision of a physician. As a PA, I can truly care for a patient as a whole person, beyond what goes on within the treatment vault. I have thoughtfully and strategically planned for this career change over the past year and after serving on a medical mission trip to Lagos, Nigeria this summer, I have no doubt that this is my calling and the right path for me. Traveling with a physician, nurse, and Nigerian nursing students, I helped provide free health care to an average of 100 patients a day. Due to lack of resources and access to medical care, I was able to perform basic examinations, educate patients, and dispense medications under the supervision of the physician. We saw cases of malaria, typhoid fever, measles, and children with parasites so bad we could see the worms through the skin of their abdomen. This experience has further reinforced that I want to provide more complete care. My education as a PA will be a valuable asset in caring for people in diverse circumstances and environments. I fully expect that the process to becoming a PA will be intense, rigorous, and challenging. However, my past medical education and experience, dedication to lifelong learning, and personal attributes make me an excellent candidate for a PA program. I am disciplined, responsible, dependable, and academically strong. These characteristics combined with compassion and my genuine desire to provide excellent medical care to people in underserved areas of the US and the world, will allow me to succeed and thrive as a PA.
Whitney Prosperi says
Hannah,
I can sense your desire to help patients woven throughout your essay.
You do a good job showing your motivation for pursuing the PA profession. I would add some detail about how you first discovered the PA role.
Also, elaborate on your shadowing experiences. What did you learn from observing the PA? The supervising physician? You may want to describe an interaction between a PA and patient.
I would also include a patient care story- possibly from your work as a radiation therapist. Show yourself in action performing clinical care while connecting with a patient who inspired you to have more responsibility for care of patients. Describe how you provided reassurance or comfort to this patient.
I would take some time to condense where you can word by word.
I’m not saying you need this, but remember we are taking submissions for our essay revision service should you need more help.
I wish you good luck on your journey!