The Physician Assistant Essay and Personal Statement Collaborative

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1. Jennifer says

   May 21, 2023 at 9:23 pm

   Hi! I’m a bit over the character limit and have gotten a little stuck during this process so I’ll really appreciate it if you could provide some feedback. Thank you!

   What is the value of life? It’s a question that’s often asked but rarely answered. As someone who has experienced the monotony of the daily grind, I know what it’s like to feel like a small cog in a big machine. I’ve spent countless hours staring at a screen, wondering if my work is making a difference in the world. Then, one day, my manager’s words hit me like a ton of bricks: “We’re not saving lives here. It’s just business.” That moment was a turning point for me. I knew then that I needed to make a real impact on the world.

   I initially chose to major in Business Administration in college because I believed it was a financially prudent decision. Reflecting, I constantly found myself unfulfilled and uninspired by my business courses. This lack of personal and academic growth led me to seriously consider a change in my career path.

   As I explored my options, I discovered that pursuing a career as a physician assistant (PA) would allow me to integrate my passion for healthcare with my desire to make a positive impact on people’s lives. I want to work alongside physicians and other healthcare team members to be able to communicate effectively with patients and their families, provide clear and concise explanations of their conditions and treatments, and offer compassionate care that took into account their unique needs and circumstances.

   A visit to my physician, Dr. Lee, led to an opening to volunteer at her office on the weekends, which later turned into employment. During one of my first few days as a medical assistant, I witnessed a patient faint during a blood draw after denying any history of fainting. In a moment of panic, I called the closest healthcare provider to assist me, and Aubrey Li, a PA, quickly arrived on the scene. I was amazed by her composure and swift action in attending to the patient. Aubrey calmly assessed the situation, took the necessary steps to ensure the patient’s safety, and communicated effectively with both the patient and me. Her ability to stay calm and handle the situation with such grace and professionalism impressed me deeply. It made me realize how fortunate I would be if I could become a healthcare provider like Aubrey and have the skills to provide the best possible care to my patients.

   Another experience, in particular, taught me that empathy is an essential component of providing quality care and serves as a reminder that small acts of kindness and advocacy can make a large difference in a patient’s experience.

   One busy Saturday morning, I arrived at Dr. Lee’s office at 8:30 AM to find a room full of patients waiting to be seen. The office had just opened and the waiting room was packed. I attended to my first patient of the day, “Ken”, a middle-aged man who seemed nervous and restless. As I went about my duties, I noticed that Ken was fidgeting in his seat still waiting for his blood draw hours after arriving, while others who had checked in after him had already been seen.

   Feeling frustrated on behalf of Ken, I decided to investigate the issue and discovered that his chart had been mistakenly placed last on the list. By taking the time to connect with him and understand his concerns, I was able to communicate effectively with the staff and ensure that Ken received the care he needed. Seeing the relief on Ken’s face when he was finally attended to made me realize the profound impact that healthcare professionals can have on patients’ lives, no matter how seemingly small.

   Through shadowing and conversations with various healthcare providers, I confirmed my desire to become a PA due to the profession’s versatility and ability to work in multiple specialties. To accomplish this, I sought opportunities to better gauge what it was like to work in these settings. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, I worked at an urgent care. Although it taught me to multitask in an extremely fast-paced environment effectively, it lacked the emotional bond with the patients I was seeking. I later left the urgent care and came back to Dr. Li’s as an employee. While working there, I took prerequisite classes and earned a post-baccalaureate GPA of 3.8. I also actively sought out additional opportunities to further my understanding of the healthcare field. This included shadowing and interning with a cardiologist, as well as participating in a virtual pre-health shadowing program.

   The phrase “We’re not saving lives here. It’s just business” may be a common sentiment in the corporate world, but for me, it became a catalyst for change. As a future PA, I aspire to partner with organizations that offer healthcare services to underserved communities, remain knowledgeable about the latest medical advancements, and continuously enhance my communication skills to ensure patients feel at ease. The profession’s versatility and ability to work in various specialties, combined with my empathy and desire to establish genuine connections with patients, make me confident that I can make a difference in their lives. I am committed to pursuing this path and using my skills and experiences to become a compassionate and knowledgeable healthcare provider, because for me, it’s not just business, it’s personal.

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2. Lauren says

   May 18, 2023 at 7:09 am

   Each decision in life feels like a single puzzle piece connecting to a larger picture of life’s journey. Not all of my decisions have made sense and the resulting pieces along the way could be described as odd-shaped, but the result is a unique picture built by experiences that have solidified my decision to become a physician assistant.
   As a young girl in grade school, if you were to ask where I was headed after school, it would be either “dad’s clinic or mom’s pharmacy”. What seemed like a magical world that I yearned to discover, I saw my parents as superheroes. I watched from over the counter as my father greeted patients each week. I studied the meticulous and individual attention he gave to every patient, employee, and problem that walked through his door. When spotted exploring the office, I recall how patients would comment on how my father changed their lives through treatment. While my father taught me about patient care and the importance of building long-term patient relationships, my mother’s pharmacy offered me a slightly different side in the world of medicine. I admired her compassion and willingness to go above and beyond for any customer as she took the time to ease patient’s concerns and dutifully explain medications. For the first time, I saw the picture of what I wanted my future to be, knowing it was my path to enter the healthcare industry. I longed to be a part of this world and change people’s lives as I watched my parents do at work every day. I realized the love I shared with my parents for the healthcare industry was more than just a job. It was a life mission, stemming from household beliefs, that also happened to be a day time profession.
   As I headed into college, there are certain moments I can pinpoint that shifted me into this direction. The first moment I became interested in the profession was from becoming a PA’s patient. I recall entering an urgent care clinic, almost frantic, since I woke up to a sudden face rash on the day of a chemistry exam. Many thoughts ran through my head as I was being treated in the exam room and I can remember the only question I asked the PA was “Can I still take my exam?”. Even though I could sense how busy the clinic was, he sat back down and offered not only advice but insight into how stress was playing a part into my condition. Having this experience gave me an insight into how PAs demonstrate what it means to be both competent and compassionate for their patients and what I strive to offer as a PA.
   My finance internships at MD Anderson and Retina Consultants of America gave me a new perspective into why I wanted to enter the healthcare industry. I dove deeper into my interest of what it took to run a clinic on the ground floor while ensuring the commitment for providers to focus on patients. My thirst for research and problem solving was fulfilled through optimizing clinics on the business side of the industry. I was passionate about finding ideas to expand the accessibility of healthcare to patients within the industry because patients are our priority in the field. However I felt something was missing. My strengths and passion lie not only in academia. I am at heart, a caregiver and needed to see the impact of patient care at the forefront.
   For the past year, I have been able to focus my efforts solely on forging a path to becoming a PA. The growth of my passion for being on the front lines in healthcare has shined through in my performance in core science classes in school and active clinical experience. With a renewed focus to pursue PA school, I have gained experience as a chiropractic assistant and understood the expectation that once you enter the patient’s room, they have implicit trust in your capabilities and care. I strived to learn the inner workings of the office while understanding treatment plans because I wanted to uphold the responsibility of having the patients’ trust in my capabilities. Building long term relationships with patients and being a part of their recovery is what makes healthcare so rewarding. I valued the opportunity to be a part of a patient’s rehabilitation journey since the chiropractic field was a single member of the patient’s entire treatment team. Becoming a PA will allow me to be at the forefront of a patient’s treatment while simultaneously working with other healthcare professionals, because I believe every patient requires a team approach. My time working as a chiropractic office and treating patients evokes the same feelings as if I were back in my father’s clinic or mom’s pharmacy, watching relationships grow and witnessing real change in people’s lives. But for the first time, I was on the front lines instead of sitting at a desk. Becoming a PA will allow me to continuously learn as a provider and build meaningful patient relationships.
   The world is unfortunately not a perfect magical place, where a young explorer can discover superheroes that save the day. While I may no longer be a young girl believing in magic and the superheroes, I still have a heart of passion that believes it is an honor to be a part of a healthcare team. As a PA, I will be there for the next young explorer in need of a superhero to believe in when in their time of need. A person’s life journey can be filled with their own odd shaped pieces of pain and challenges that are in need of their own unique care. I look to be the missing puzzle piece in a person’s life to create a picture of a better future.

   *490 characters over limit so hoping to cut

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   • Lauren says

     May 18, 2023 at 7:10 am

     *There is supposed to be a separation in paragraphs starting with “As a young”

     Reply

   • Whitney Prosperi says

     May 22, 2023 at 10:00 am

     Lauren,
     Your parents sound like wonderful inspirations for your journey. With that said, I suggest starting with the comments about them instead of the language about the puzzle pieces as this is commonly used in essays.
     Also, I would include more details about what exactly appeals to you about the PA profession over another type of provider. (the ability to spend more time with patients, working autonomously and also with a supervising physician, focus on collaboration, etc.)
     Also, if you have any shadowing experience, describe that.
     Additionally, describe any patient care experience you have gained. Also, include a patient care story that shows you in action while connecting with a patient on a personal level.
     Should you want more help, remember that we are taking submissions for our essay revision service. I wish you good luck, Lauren.

     Reply

3. Hannah says

   May 17, 2023 at 2:24 pm

   “Again, I’d like to thank everyone who helped us put together this beautiful show,” I said, reading from my speech. I paused to catch my breath. It wasn’t until the microphone was already in my hands that I felt the nerves. There was no turning back at that point, but as I steadied myself, the audience broke out into applause. I laughed in relief, finally realizing the payoff. Everything we had done for the past year had led up to that night. Fundraising, recruiting models, and executing our annual fashion show without any major hiccups were just a few of our accomplishments as a student organization that night. I felt proud of myself and my other executive board members for everything we had worked towards. I knew we wouldn’t have been able to accomplish such a feat without each other. More importantly, I knew we would’ve been nothing without good communication.

   I joined student organizations as soon as I could in college. I didn’t know what I was looking for or wanted to do with my future, but I knew I wanted to be involved. With my major and concentration, I was advised to join psychology or pre-medical groups, but instead I found something unique: an organization called Dress Up For Downs, or DUFD for short. It was unique because it prioritized diversity and inclusion in the fashion industry with individuals that had Down Syndrome. I knew it wasn’t healthcare or psychology oriented, but there was nothing else like it. I knew nothing about fashion when I joined in the fall of 2020, but the following year, I served as treasurer. One year after that, I served as vice president.

   My time with DUFD was challenging. As a leader, I gained more experience with fashion and Down Syndrome, and I saw how easily things in student organizations could fall apart. Communication was what saved us. It was a necessity for us to grow and be an engaging community for student involvement. Not only that, but we needed to use respectful, and positive language to advertise ourselves as an organization that individuals with Down Syndrome wanted to be a part of.

   The annual fashion show was what drew our members in. While there were other student organizations that focused on individuals with disabilities, no others focused on Down Syndrome and fashion disparities the way we did. We had models as young as four or as old as fifty. Each model wore a custom outfit designed by Kent State students, which was where the models let their personalities shine through. During the fittings with models and their families, we stressed the importance of person-centered language, which was a communication skill I carried with me to my healthcare experiences.

   I started in healthcare working as a nurse assistant at an assisted living facility. It was challenging in ways much different than DUFD. I worked with elderly residents, some of them in terminal conditions and some of them not. I was nervous of my ability to tend to the unique needs of the patients until my supervisors stressed the importance of communication. I was told that I wouldn’t come close to being a perfect caregiver until I treated my patients as people first. The sentiment stuck with me as a reminder of what I learned in DUFD. To accomplish my goals in DUFD and as a caregiver, I needed effective communication. By learning and using the communication skills I acquired, I grew more confident each day in my abilities as a care provider.

   What solidified my desire to become a PA, however, were the skills I observed while shadowing. The first time I shadowed a PA, I observed an open heart surgery. I had never seen anything like it. I remember feeling nervous, but I couldn’t even begin to imagine how scary it must’ve been to actively participate in the procedure. Yet the PA I shadowed was so calm and stable. She spoke so respectfully and calmly to the patient and his family, using words that would’ve comforted me if I had been in their place. Not just that, but she was confident in her actions.

   After the procedure, she admitted that she had been incredibly nervous about the surgery, but I would’ve never known otherwise. That day, I was inspired by the way she found the silver lining of every cloud. Observing how positive she was in reassuring the patient that he was in good hands made it clear to me that I wanted nothing more than to become a PA like her.

   Similar to my experiences as a student leader and as a nurse assistant, I know the importance of communication both in medicine and the real world. As a PA, I know my voice would be heard and valued, and even as I feel nervous thinking about my future journey to PA school, there is nothing I look forward to more than the opportunities I will encounter. My experiences in college have prepared me to be a better communicator, and as I continue on my journey into medicine, I strive to be a PA that not only cares for medicine, but also sees patients as people first.

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   • Whitney Prosperi says

     May 22, 2023 at 9:49 am

     Hannah,
     I trust that your communication and people skills will serve you well.
     I suggest tightening up your essay so you can include some more elements of your journey. Add a paragraph that describes what appeals to you about the PA profession specifically. (ability to switch specialties, more time/contact with patients, working autonomously yet also with a supervising physician) You want to make sure you answer the question, “Why PA?”
     Also, include more of the clinical skills and medical knowledge you’ve gained. If you have a patient care story, include that. You want to show yourself in action providing clinical care while connecting with a patient on a personal level. Good luck to you. Should you want more help, remember that we are taking submissions for our essay revision service.

     Reply

4. KC says

   May 16, 2023 at 8:56 pm

   Peanut butter has been my favorite food since second grade. My mom packed my school lunch and included a variety of Asian foods. I got mad at her because my lunch didn’t look like my classmates. Her solution was to allow me to make my own lunch from now on. A peanut butter sandwich was the extent of my culinary skills which became my daily go-to meal.

   I arrived on campus at the xxxx too petite to be an elite swimmer. I was recruited based on my swim times and tenacity to attack races but I was short and weak. What I lacked in size, my coaches thought I could make up in strength, so we increased my weight program and protein intake in the form of my favorite food, peanut butter. As I got stronger, I felt heavier in the water and restricted my eating, allowing myself one peanut butter sandwich for breakfast and dinner. With the unbalanced strength and stress, I set myself up for injury and ended up with an ACL tear in my knee.

   Going through the process of surgery was the first time I was introduced to a physician’s assistant (PA). I was extremely nervous about ACL surgery but the PA educated me about the high chances of returning to sport with good rehab. He also mentioned ACL rehab was intensive and I would enjoy the strength benefits which changed my outlook. After the surgery, the PA checked in to see if rehab was providing a constant challenge. He had an interest in both my physical health and long-term goals. I returned to my previous level, gained strength in my legs and felt stronger in the water. I often think back to that PA who guided me through surgery because of the quality of care he provided. He inspired me to shadow PAs to learn about this career as my possible profession.

   After my swimming career wrapped up, I became an EMT and started shadowing PAs. I noticed the PAs provided both the diagnosis and treatment for patients directly. While they practiced autonomously, they also collaborated with physicians. I admired this team environment and felt similarities to my experiences as an EMT. I provided rapid patient assessments to determine the chief complaint while also collaborating with paramedics. I enjoyed being by the patient’s side and providing hands on care. However, each patient started to look the same with uncontrolled ambulatory care sensitive conditions. They were over-utilizing the ED and lacked access or education about preventative medical care. I thought about pursuing PA school at this time, but I also wanted to address these systemic barriers to care as a healthcare systems engineer.
   I started a career at the Veterans Affairs (VA) working on projects to improve the care of high-risk veterans. Our end goal is to reduce VA hospitalizations and ED visits starting in primary care. Each project addresses a care gap in the healthcare system to have a larger impact on the Veteran population. I’ve greatly enjoyed my time working at the VA but I always felt something was missing in my life.
   The VA taught me the unique role each provider plays in the healthcare system and gave me firsthand experience on how primary care teams manage their patients. I worked with the entire patient care team including: MDs, PAs, pharmacists, RNs, and social workers to implement two evidence-based practices, a medication adherence assessment and a comprehensive care planning assessment. These assessments help manage patients who are at the highest risk of poor health outcomes based on their hospitalizations and care needs. I walked providers through the utilization of these assessments starting with identifying the high-risk patients, finding a suitable time for assessments, and determining the appropriate follow up plan. While working on the follow up plans, these assessments uncovered high-risk patients’ vulnerability to health disparities because of their greater social needs and medical complexity. They suffered from the digital divide and access based on their income, age, and geographic location. We noticed this opportunity for improvement and worked with providers to revise their care processes to accommodate these specific needs to improve outcomes, efficiency and inequities.
   The VA broadened my perspective on healthcare and how much the providers affected patients. Even if the assessments did not improve the patients’ health, each provider agreed their care improved by building trust with the patient. The patients expressed similar sentiments on their quality of care. As much as these remarks made me feel successful on our projects, I wanted to be in their role providing the assessments on the patients. I’ve been working with the VA full time and still find myself picking up EMT shifts during my free time. It took me a few years to discover the missing piece in my life—the patient interactions. Being a PA would allow me to work directly with patients while also addressing their health goals and barriers to care.

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   • Whitney Prosperi says

     May 18, 2023 at 6:21 pm

     KC,
     Your essay shows your desire to help patients and improve the medical system. I suggest including a story that shows you engaging with a patient while connecting on a personal level. You want to reveal some of the qualities that will make you an effective PA.
     I would also include more details about what specifically draws you to the profession. (ability to switch specialties, more time/contact with patients, work autonomously yet also with a supervising physician) Also, it is physician assistant and not physician’s assistant. 🙂
     If you have any shadowing of PAs, include a paragraph about that. You want to describe an encounter that solidified your decision.
     In your conclusion, I would reiterate what will make you an effective PA while tying back to your introduction in some way.
     I wish you good luck, KC.
     Should you want more help, remember that we are taking submissions for our essay revision service.

     Reply

5. Chikere says

   May 11, 2023 at 1:30 pm

   Before the words come out of his mouth, I know what the doctor is going to say. I’m sitting in the doctor’s office on my birthday when I hear the sentence that would set me on the trajectory to becoming a PA. My doctor tells me that I have indeed torn my ACL requiring surgery and will have to be out from playing soccer for 8 months. This happened at the worst time possible. It is currently prime time recruiting for college soccer, but I won’t be able to play.

   After months of physical therapy, my knee was healed and I was cleared to return to play soccer but things were not the same. I wanted to play professionally before everything happened. I was able to play in college but the love for the game was gone. The sense of joy and contentment that was only achieved through playing the sport I loved was no longer there.

   John stood at 6’3, on the lanky side, and with a wide grin that was ever present on his face. Since working as a medical scribe for over a year, he is the one patient that stands out the most to me. John is a 57-year-old male with poorly controlled Diabetes along with hypertension, hypothyroidism, and hyperlipidemia. He has several missing toes, broken teeth, several partially amputated fingers, and a broken hand. Even with all of these issues to easily be sad about, John is one of the happiest patients that we have. I quickly grew a soft spot for him. He always came bearing gifts for our team even though with every visit his condition seemed to be declining slowly. His well-being became very important to me since I could tell he was the type of person that cared more for others than he did for himself. As I was talking to him one day he told me how he puts all of his checks under his daughter’s name because he doesn’t know how long he’ll be here and he wants to make sure she gets everything from him. Working with John taught me the importance of looking past what is right in front of your face. It could have been easy to write John off as someone who doesn’t care about his health or the time and effort his doctors are putting in to get him better. But taking the time to talk to him and understand his why was a vital part of altering his treatment plan to give him the best possible care for his chronic conditions.

   Way too often, patients are not fully listened to or are written off as “being crazy”. I have worked with a couple of doctors who spend a total of 5 minutes in the room with the patient, asking 2-3 questions, then leaving for the rest of the staff to do the work. I see the disappointment on the patient’s faces because they did not feel fully seen. Through my experience, I know I will want to give my patients an adequate amount of time with me so they know I truly care about their health and want to do my best to help them. As a PA, I know I will be able to provide the patience that anyone coming to see me deserves and be able to because I’ve seen firsthand the vast benefits of taking your time versus rushing when seeing a patient.

   Getting to help people like John brought me a feeling that I didn’t think I would be able to find again. I have been able to regain the joy and contentment that I once thought would only be achieved through soccer. Being able to see the difference you are making in people’s lives cannot be beaten. Unlike the momentary happiness an athletic career would have brought, enhancing the lives of others has left me with an endless feeling of joy and contentment

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   • Whitney Prosperi says

     May 12, 2023 at 12:03 pm

     Chikere,
     I suggest condensing where you can so you can include some more elements of your journey.
     Add a paragraph that describes what appeals to you specifically about the PA profession. (working autonomously and also with a team, ability to switch specialties, more time/contact with patients.)
     Also, if you have any shadowing experience, describe that. Was there an interaction between PA/patient or PA/supervising physician that solidified your decision?
     I would also include some of the clinical skills and medical experience you have gained.
     You may want to soften the language about the physicians spending less than five minutes with a patient. It is always best to avoid language that appears like you are being critical of another provider.
     Should you want more help, remember that we are taking submissions for our essay revision service. I wish you good luck!

     Reply

6. Jenn Dedo says

   May 9, 2023 at 10:31 pm

   It had been a long week of senior fall finals and an even longer day of anxiously waiting in a cold surgery waiting room. My friend was having knee surgery and her parents were not able to come into town until the day after, so I was relaying updates to them and spending the night post operation. When the surgery was nearly over, the doctor came out to let me know it had gone well and talk with her parents over the phone. However, he used so much medical jargon and technical explanation that much of what he said went over their heads. An hour later, the physician associate came out. He was warm and able to explain more clearly how the procedure had gone from anchoring the tendon to the last stitch he himself put in. I could hear how it put my friend’s parents at ease. It was yet another experience confirming the conclusion I had made long before to become a PA.
   It has always seemed natural for me to go into any form of healthcare since I was raised by a family of healthcare workers. My mother is a nurse, father an anesthesiologist, maternal grandmother a nurse, and both grandfathers well-known and respected surgeons. I remember asking my dad endless questions about definitions of unfamiliar medical terms; I was very proud that I could say big words such as “anesthesiologist” as a small child. I was eager to learn all I could about how and why things worked while combining it with a passion for helping others. Once I reached college, I was excited to choose kinesiology as my major so I could explore many professions allowing me to do both. I do not know when I became aware of PAs, but I began to notice them more as I worked and volunteered in a variety of settings. I realized it was exactly what I was looking for.
   I made sure to speak with or observe any PAs I met. Sometimes it was difficult to tell who the PA was in the hospital settings. Many of them worked seamlessly with their doctors while also having a great deal of autonomy. I saw this more clearly when I shadowed an ENT PA as he visited with patients in the ENT clinic. He could diagnose and prescribe on his own but would discuss cases with the lead doctor from time to time. A similar dynamic was evident with a surgical thoracic PA I shadowed. She showed me how the thoracoscopic tools worked to cut and seal the lung as she carefully removed a tumor from a COPD patient. I even got to hold the tumor while she installed the chest tubes and stitched the incisions.
   Shadowing and interning were great for gathering information on being a PA, but I wanted to do more to build my experience. I was able to earn my EMT certification while still in college and was thrilled at how it was a practical parallel to my kinesiology studies. Additionally, it lead to the post undergraduate job I am in now working in an ER. After nearly a year in my position, I have seen many difficult cases from PECs to domestic violence to poor basic health education. It has made me more determined than ever to step up as a PA.
   Despite my surety before and after all these experiences, I have struggled to answer the outwardly simple question of “Why do you want to be a PA?”. It seems like so many others can answer this question easily with specific moments or touching stories when I cannot pin down when exactly I decided to be a PA. The combination of my upbringing and variety of experiences brought it to my attention and I have not been able to let it go. It is a simple question to which I have only a simple answer: because it feels right for me.

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   • Whitney Prosperi says

     May 12, 2023 at 11:55 am

     Jenn,
     You are off to a good start.
     I would add a patient care story from your time as an EMT. Show yourself in action providing care while connecting with a patient on a personal level.
     Also, you may want to soften the language about the physician in your introduction. You never want to appear critical of another provider.
     In your conclusion, instead of discussing how it is hard for you to describe why you want to be a PA, I would tie back to the story in your introduction. You could describe how you want to meet patients and their families in their times of need.
     Should you need more help, remember that we are taking submissions for our essay revision service.
     I wish you good luck!

     Reply

7. Diana says

   May 6, 2023 at 8:06 am

   The only reason I was even born in America is that my parents felt like moving to another country across the world was the only solution to pay my grandma’s medical bills after finally finding a provider that could treat her. Growing up my entire life in a low-income immigrant household, both parents having thick accents, have seen firsthand how people will blatantly treat them differently immediately. My parents were & still are reliant on me to translate or speak on their behalf of them to mediate issues with utility bills and other similar issues i.e., for doctor’s visits, making their appointments, and completing patient forms for the whole household.

   Growing up, constantly intrigued with new hobbies; learning to crochet, knit, and play the violin, flute, & piccolo. In high school was section leader in the band, a committee leader of the National Honors Society Club, dual enrolled at community college, & in the engineering magnet program where then selected to work on a project to design funded by Lockheed Martin a 3D-printed prosthetic arm for children. While those experiences don’t exactly intertwine with the profession I wish to pursue, all those experiences have still shaped my thought process in developing solutions, being that all my interests & hobbies required attention to detail, ability to problem solve, commitment to deliver high performance or results, & taking initiative in displaying adequate leadership skills.

   Being a first-generation college student meant there was a barrier of understanding from my parents of what it meant to apply for & attend college. After attending an out-of-state university that I soon realized provided a subpar education from inadequate professors whom some had openly admitted wasn’t even meant to be instructing our class, the school couldn’t find anyone else to fill the role having me make the decision to attend college back in Florida. Despite many attempts to communicate, I need to know how much time and dedication are necessary to be successful. There are some discrepancies in my grades which I can provide an explanation for, all of them being due to family and personal issues. Although being back home caused new problems, still manage to flourish academically here for the majority, becoming an organic chemistry 1 teaching assistant for 2 semesters, with improvement in my grades.

   Having spoken to some healthcare professionals helped me come to the conclusion that I wanted to pursue a career as a PA (physician assistant) allowing me to work autonomously and with other providers to give the best possible patient care, it also provides lateral mobility in other specialties which wouldn’t leave me feeling stagnant in my career, also able to pursue a less time demanding role as a PA as life will inevitably present obstacles to adjust more easily. The whole reason this profession was created was to fill the gap of medical necessity, this is what I want to accomplish once becoming a PA, to serve in rural and medically underserved areas. The lateral mobility of this profession also further allows me to fill in the gaps to help with medical help shortages in other specialties as well if needed.

   My introduction to the healthcare field was volunteering at a primary care clinic as a medical scribe. Then shadowed a primary care PA, running me through what a day working at the primary care clinic entailed, allowing me to enter examination rooms, with patients’ permission to observe consultations & collaborating with the nurse practitioner & physician to best care for each patient. At the same clinic, was offered a job as a medical scribe, then had an internship training to be a medical assistant, allowing me to more closely work alongside the PA including PA students that completed their clinical rotations there. Observing the dynamic of their collaborative efforts with the M.D., & N.P., to better diagnose and treat the patient to the best of their ability. Quickly started assisting in veteran medical exams, obtaining pertinent medical records, statements made by claimants, & orders as well as performing necessary diagnostics to validate the claims. This opened my eyes to how medically neglected most of our veterans felt, grown adults break down crying about how difficult it has been and how they felt that the VA truly did not care about them. Leaving me feeling accomplished, knowing my assisting in finding the pertinent medical records & medical literature to help build their case for their claims of medical conditions were in fact service-connected helped their chances of it being approved by the VA to receive a disability rating percentage of compensation.

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   • Diana Thi says

     May 6, 2023 at 8:52 am

     I have just rewritten it and it will be below

     The only reason I was born and raised in America due to my parents felt like moving to another country across the world was the only solution to pay my grandma’s medical bills after finally finding a provider that could treat her. Growing up my entire life in a low-income immigrant household, both parents had to sacrifice their education to take care of their family, have seen firsthand how people will blatantly treat them differently. Although I loved being able to help them, having been their translator and proxy my entire life has also taken a toll on accomplishing as much as I would have liked.

     Being a first-generation college student meant there was a barrier to understanding from my parents of what it meant to attend college. After attending an out-of-state university that I soon realized provided a subpar education from inadequate professors whom some had openly admitted was not adequate to instruct the course, the school at the time had much difficulty finding enough professors to teach the courses that they already had students registered for, leading to the decision to attend college back home. Despite many attempts to communicate the amount of dedication necessary to be successful, my father would accuse me of lying and would try to kick me out of the house on multiple occasions. This worsened during my last semester when switching back to on-campus courses with me also totaling my car. Although there were many obstacles I had to face, I would like to say I still managed to flourish academically here for the majority, becoming an Organic Chemistry 1 teaching assistant for 2 semesters, with improvement in my grades.

     Growing up, constantly intrigued with new hobbies; learning to crochet, knit, and play the violin, flute, & piccolo. In high school was section leader in the band, a committee leader of the National Honors Society Club, dual enrolled at community college, & in the engineering magnet program where then selected to work on a project to design funded by Lockheed Martin a 3D-printed prosthetic arm for children. While those experiences don’t exactly intertwine with the profession I wish to pursue, all those experiences have still shaped my thought process in developing solutions, being that all my interests & hobbies required attention to detail, ability to problem solve, commitment to deliver high performance or results, and learning to take initiative in displaying adequate leadership skills.

     My introduction to the healthcare field was volunteering at a primary care clinic as a medical scribe. Then shadowed a primary care PA, running me through what a day working at the primary care clinic entailed, allowing me to enter examination rooms, with patients’ permission to observe consultations & collaborating with the nurse practitioner & physician to best care for each patient. At the same clinic, was offered a job as a medical scribe, then had an internship training to be a medical assistant, allowing me to more closely work alongside the PA including PA students that completed their clinical rotations there. Observing the dynamic of their collaborative efforts with the M.D., & N.P., to better diagnose and treat the patient to the best of their ability. Quickly started assisting in veteran medical exams, obtaining pertinent medical records, statements made by claimants, & orders as well as performing necessary diagnostics to validate the claims. This opened my eyes to how medically neglected most of our veterans felt, grown adults break down crying about how difficult it has been and how they felt that the VA truly did not care about them. Leaving me feeling accomplished, knowing my assisting in finding the pertinent medical records & medical literature to help build their case for their claims of medical conditions were in fact service-connected helped their chances of it being approved by the VA to receive a disability rating percentage of compensation.

     At first, starting off college thinking I would like to pursue a career in becoming a pharmacist but soon realized I much rather have a much more hands-on approach after haven spoken to many other healthcare workers. That is when the realized that I wanted to become a PA (physician assistant), appealing to the profession’s ability in allowing to work autonomously and with other providers to produce the best possible patient care, provides lateral mobility to note, and can be a lifetime learning career that also allows my career to conform to life’s inevitable obstacles without requiring to put a huge pause to go complete a new residency. This profession was created to fill the gap of medical necessity and is exactly what I intend to do after becoming a PA, to serve in rural and medically underserved areas in the most needed specialties.

     Reply

     • Whitney Prosperi says

       May 8, 2023 at 6:26 pm

       Diana,
       I can sense your passion to elevate others.
       I would condense where you can throughout your essay, so you have room to add in some more elements. Also, I would soften the language about your professors somewhat. I am sorry this happened to you, but I also don’t want your essay to appear critical of others.
       Also, elaborate some on your shadowing experience, describing an interaction that solidified your decision to become a PA.
       In addition, I would include a patient care story that shows you in action providing care while connecting on a personal level. You want to spotlight some of your qualities that will make you a compassionate and effective PA.
       I wish you good luck. Should you want more help, remember that we are taking submissions for our essay revision service.

       Reply

8. Logan H says

   May 3, 2023 at 8:15 pm

   I was eleven years old on a chilly, fall night at Wilson Field when my world flipped upside down. I was playing “Jackpot” with my friends at the high school football game when I went up for a catch and came down wrong. With my arm pinned under me as I fell on the track, I heard a crack and knew my arm had just broken. I immediately got up and ran to my uncle to tell him what happened and he took me straight to the ambulance on site. At eleven years old I was frantic and remember saying to the EMT, “I don’t want to die yet.” The EMT calmed me down, splinted my arm, and off I went with my parents to the emergency room. Upon arrival, I was rushed to X-ray where the results indicated I had a spiral fracture in my humerus. Initially the ER physician had said surgery would be the only option for recovery, but after speaking with the Orthopedic PA, they sent me home for a week in a temporary cast to see if further imaging would indicate the prevention of surgery. This experience sparked my interest in medicine and showed me that teamwork, communication, and compassion are necessary to be a great healthcare provider.

   Fast forward seven years to when I began college as a Division I athlete in cross country and track. I still knew I wanted to work in medicine, but I felt lost in deciding what field I wanted to pursue. To my dismay, much of my time as an athlete in college was spent injured. Although this was difficult, it led me to ask myself tough questions such as, “Who am I apart from running?” I had come to the realization that my passion was more than athletic, competitive performance; it was a passion for fitness and health as a whole. That was when I knew I wanted to dive deeper into what being a PA meant. Given that I did not decide PA was the route I wanted to pursue until the fall of my senior year, a gap year has allowed me to really explore the medical field and learn as much about a PA as I could have hoped for, ensuring it was the path I wanted to take. Experiences shadowing physician assistants, working directly with patients, and being able to see the hierarchy of positions in a hospital firsthand has allowed me to witness the teamwork, proper communication, attention to detail, and compassion needed for essential healthcare.

   During my time as a healthcare technician (HCT) at —– Hospital I have had numerous experiences that have allowed my medical education to grow; whether that be monitoring patient vital signs and noting any changes to the nurse, or building a feeling of trust by connecting with my patients. As a HCT, I quickly realized that I am working with patients on some of the worst days of their life. Being in the hospital can be an uncomfortable environment and establishing a sense of trust allows a patient to be more comfortable and confident in the care they are receiving. I recall a specific patient who had just had a hip replacement. This patient had surgery earlier in the day and was wanting to ambulate in the hall. However it was the end of my shift and I knew this task would cause me to stay a little late, but I knew how important ambulation was after this type of surgery. After assisting the patient with ambulation and having a conversation with their visitor it was brought to my attention that this visitor was in fact a PA. They were very pleased with the initiative I had to help their loved one and said, “With a mindset that you just demonstrated, you’ll be successful wherever you go in medicine!” This compliment heightened my confidence and reinforced the idea that I wanted to pursue a career as a physician assistant.

   A particular reason that being a PA appeals to me is the ability to change specialties. Working as a HCT I often find myself in the patient’s room the same time as the PAs, allowing me to see what they do on a daily basis. Shadowing provided more insight on what goes on “behind the scenes.” A memorable shadowing experience I had was with ———-, a PA in interventional radiology. I watched as —— patients came into the operating room nervous and worried as to what was about to happen. He showed compassion through explanation and description of what exactly was going to happen washed those worries right away. I had never seen anything like it before and realized that going to the “doctor’s office” does not have to be a scary thing.

   The path that has ultimately led me to this decision to become a PA does not fit the perfect “cookie cutter” example, but the challenges and windows of opportunity I’ve experienced make my story one of its own. Would eleven-year-old me have had surgery if it were not for that orthopedic PA? That is something I will never know. What I do know is I am ready to take the next step in my journey in positively impacting people as a piece of a large healthcare team.

   Reply

   • Whitney Prosperi says

     May 4, 2023 at 6:47 pm

     Logan,
     You do a good job telling how you arrived at the decision to pursue the PA path.
     I suggest elaborating on your medical experience and the clinical skills you have gained through your different roles.
     Should you want more help, remember that we are taking submissions for our essay revision service.
     I wish you good luck, Logan.

     Reply

9. Grace Harris says

   May 3, 2023 at 9:51 am

   As the operating room music began to quiet and the sound of the surgical drill began to fade, I realized no one had dimmed the lights. Rather, I was starting to faint. With the dwindling consciousness I had, I mumbled that I was going to get some water. As I regained my composure in the breakroom, I was puzzled by the disconnect between my fascination and feeling sick when watching the profession I hoped to be in. Deciding to give it another try, I headed back to the OR. The surgeon told a nurse to bring a chair over for me and sarcastically joked that he didn’t want more than one patient in the OR. Someone working next to him looked up and told me not to worry; fainting is common to many people the first time they witness someone’s insides exposed under bright lights. Her simple words made me feel less ashamed and attracted my attention to her. I hadn’t come to shadow her, but I was intrigued by her role. Figuring she may be a resident I decided to talk to her after the surgery. It turns out she was a physician’s assistant. I hadn’t heard of that title before. She invited me to attend outpatient visits after the surgeries were complete. Her simple acts of kindness, personability, and education opened me up to a new career option to which I am so grateful for.

   After the first day of freshman orientation, my leader and group sat in pajamas in the shared dorm area to write down the classes we would sign up for with our advisors. I flipped through a yellow pages-sized catalog, with tears hitting the page after my peers had finished their homework and gone to bed. Coming from a homeschool background I didn’t have peers or advisors to prepare me for this. My parent’s weren’t even pursing high school accreditation until the summer I started college. I had no idea what I wanted to do. I was scared I wouldn’t graduate in four years if I picked the wrong classes. What is a major? What are electives? When I came across the nursing degree, a wave of peace came over me. I liked caring for my cerebral palsy twin; my favorite class had been anatomy. I enjoyed taking care of my farm animals when they were sick. This seemed just right. I wiped the naïve born tears off my face, stuck a sticky note on the nursing page and went to sleep.

   Although I wasn’t able to do pursue nursing due to conflict with the demanding college athletic schedule I did know that healthcare is fitting for me. I felt confirmed in pursuing a medical career after receiving physical and emotional support from health practitioners while struggling with injuries and an eating disorder. I desired to have the education and position to do the same for others. When I worked in the pediatric clinic I exercised my natural propensity towards empathy and care as I used deep touch pressure by firmly holding autistic children to calm them during immunizations. Providing home health aid for two immigrants’ increased my desire to equip myself for reaching underserved patient populations. As a scribe, I had the opportunity to work alongside and witness many different positions in healthcare which ultimately helped me to decide to pursue physician assistant because the profession fits me best.

   Competing as a collegiate athlete in an individual sport helped me understand how I operate. I learned I perform better in my individual races when focused on the team result. Practicing as a physician’s assistant will allow me to be accountable for patient care while also collaborating with a physician’s supervision. This profession also fits my vision of practicing medicine globally in an African country. Through my research project on the healthcare disparities of Somolia, I learned that many of the providers have extensive experience but need more training. With my experience as a scribe trainer and teaching assistant, I know I would enjoy educating providers with my skillset as a physician’s assistant. I’ve learned to adopt different expressions of soft skills exemplified by health providers that got me through a difficult season of post concussive syndrome which will help me to uphold the empathetic nature of the profession.

   When that season of life brought me low academically, athletically, physically and emotionally it was my team of providers that encouraged me to push through despite difficulties so that I could become a resilient individual. Having this sort of relationship with others who entrust their health and well-being to you is something special that I want to be part of.

   The realization of “why physician’s assistant” came slowly, but I am excited to pursue a career that will help me achieve my vision of bringing healthcare access to the underserved, working individually while collaborating on a team, educating those around me, and supporting the emotional and physical needs of others. As I have taken the seat of the patient this past year I have continued to be inspired and motivated to become a physicians assistant.

   Reply

   • Whitney Prosperi says

     May 4, 2023 at 5:28 pm

     Grace,
     Your compassion and empathy shines through every paragraph of your essay.
     I suggest condensing throughout your essay, so you have some room to add in more details.
     Include more details explaining what specifically draws you to the PA profession.
     Also, include more of your clinical skills and medical experience gained throughout your roles. You may want to include a patient care story that shows you in action providing care of some kind while connecting with a patient on a personal level.
     Also, you mention a downturn with academics. If there is something with your GPA that you need to address, the paragraph before your conclusion is a good place to put that. You can briefly discuss what happened to bring the lower grades and how you brought them up and continued an upward trend.
     Also, it’s physician assistant. 🙂
     I also saw one place that needs to be changed to the word “pursuing.”
     If you need more help, feel free to reach out as we are taking submissions for our essay revision service.
     I wish you good luck.

     Reply

10. Grace says

    May 1, 2023 at 11:06 am

    Most of my Thursdays are what I consider to be average days. This Thursday, I woke up eager to take the train ride into Manhattan. I was going to be shadowing a physician assistant, Sam, on the Hematology/Oncology Unit at Columbia NYP. I’d interacted with physician assistants before in different healthcare settings, but I’d never had the opportunity to see all the intricate details of their day. As the train rolled into Pennsylvania Station, my heart leaped thinking about what excitement and learning opportunities shadowing might bring.
    We spent the morning looking through patient charts, rounding with the doctor, putting in orders, updating family members, and collaborating with the doctor in regard to care plans going forward. As we visited patients, memories of sitting in similar rooms with my grandmother years prior were thrust upon me. I was the family member that listened as the PA shared the list of medications she needed to take home, the next treatment, and the possible side effects. I remembered how I desperately wanted to better understand her cancer and how they were treating it. Her course of treatment altered my perception of healthcare as solely medicine. I began to see each patient as someone’s loved one and made it my mission to become a provider whose patients feel comforted and respected during their most vulnerable moments.
    Shortly after my grandmother’s death, I began working in a post-operative unit (PACU) at a local hospital, which provided a fast-paced environment full of opportunities to learn more about medicine and connect with patients. The PACU gave me my first experience working in healthcare that laid a foundation of compassion and hunger for knowledge. I wanted to challenge myself to grow by working in different areas of medicine to expand my knowledge and skills. A year later during Covid-19, I returned as a PCA on a Med/Surg unit. Med/Surg forced me to test the foundation of skills, knowledge, and patient care that I had built. It was the first time I’d drawn blood, interpreted an EKG, done CPR on a patient, and had to call a rapid response. Successfully navigating these challenges bolstered my foundation and strengthened my desire to continue my journey to becoming a compassionate, well-informed provider. After working at the hospital, I was interested in seeing how outpatient offices functioned in comparison and what I could learn while working more closely with members of the healthcare team. I became a PT aide at an orthopedics office and this acted as the impetus for my interest in orthopedics. I was captivated by the process of diagnosing and treating orthopedic issues. This led me to seek out my current role as an orthopedic medical assistant, where after a short amount of time I’ve been able to apply casts and splints, fit patients for braces, change dressings and remove sutures.
    Before I began working in healthcare, I had transferred universities for a curriculum that emphasized patient-centered, holistic care. This passion led to being selected for a research assistant role with my capstone professor. Throughout my research on the effects of empowerment in patients with chronic illness, I came to understand how living out my mission of practicing medicine that’s compassionate, culturally competent, and well-informed means staying up to date with current research. I reflected on my invaluable research experience as each PA discussed the medications their patient was taking and a pharmacist pulled up research papers regarding the medications to ensure patient safety. There were conversations about past and current research and how their patients’ care plans would be impacted by the information available and I was amazed to see how the physician assistants were able to bridge the gap between research and medical practices.
    Observing as Sam completed all of her daily tasks, my passion for the PA role was solidified. To her, it was an average Thursday filled with typical responsibilities and expectations. However, the lens I was looking through was a glimpse into my future. From where I was standing, each task was an accomplishment because each patient’s unique case required the utmost attention to detail, timeliness, competence and compassion. This Thursday was anything but average because the exhilaration and joy I felt while shadowing and reflecting on my own personal experiences in healthcare was a reminder of the incredible journey I’ve been on while working toward my goal. It was a revelation that I was right where I was supposed to be.
    I went into my first year of college not knowing what I wanted. Through the loss of my grandmother, transferring universities, job experiences that changed my life, research that sparked a desire to commit to lifelong learning, and shadowing a physician assistant, I have been able to continuously validate my decision to become a physician assistant. I know every Thursday going forward will be an extraordinary opportunity to learn, be a member of a team, build relationships, and give back to my community.

    Reply

    • Whitney Prosperi says

      May 2, 2023 at 8:46 pm

      Grace,
      You do a good job showing how your passion for the PA profession was sparked. In addition, you effectively describe your skills gained through your different roles. I would include a patient care story that shows you in action making a human connection while providing care of some kind. In this story, you want to reveal some of your qualities that will make you a great PA.
      Should you want more help, remember that we are taking submissions for our essay revision service. Good luck to you, Grace.

      Reply

11. Bella says

    April 29, 2023 at 12:20 pm

    As I sat reading for a world literature class during my junior year at Ouachita Baptist University, I came upon a quote by Frederick Douglass that finally put into words how I feel about my relationships with others: “I love the pure peaceable, and impartial Christianity of Christ: I therefore hate the corrupt, slaveholding, women-whipping, cradle-plundering, partial and hypocritical Christianity of this land.”
    While Frederick Douglass is speaking specifically about his perspective on Christianity in regard to slavery, this quote reverberated within me as a calling of how I need to live every aspect of my life- not as one identified for a religion, career, or achievement, but as one who treats others according to the love and grace due to all of humanity.
    Until my senior year of high school, I had contemplated a variety of future professions ranging from meteorologist to historian to high school teacher and coach before finally settling on “something medical.” I was full of passion and enjoyed many things, but nothing seemed to stick out. It is not until college that the “something medical” would become “physician assistant.”
    As a university student, I remember becoming embittered and later depressed by the changes that the Covid-19 pandemic caused in my life. That, along with the loss of my grandfather my junior year has caused a difficult college experience for me, and this has disappointingly reflected in my grades. But what continues to motivate me is my confidence in my calling to be a PA.
    As a freshman at OBU, I had to have a fasciotomy on both of my legs due to Chronic Exertional Compartment Syndrome, which had caused me a lot of pain throughout my athletic career. It was at this point that I came into contact with a PA for the first time, and as she told me about her job, I was hooked. I began to look into the PA profession, as well as healthcare jobs to get experience, and at this point my coach told me that I would have to choose my college swimming career or a job. I chose a job.
    I could tell a million stories about what I have learned from working as a patient care tech, but I can honestly say that the most important lesson I learned wasn’t from working five twelve hour days in a row, or being the only tech on the floor, or even witnessing death, but it came from helping a woman get ready for therapy one morning. As I helped an older woman prepare to get up for therapy one morning, my mind was filled with my list of things to do-patients to get up, beds to make, charting to be done- and all I could think was how long she was taking to get ready. But in one moment, she changed how I view humanity with a few simple words: “This is my favorite shirt, thank you for helping me put it on.”
    How did such a simple thing help change how I view humanity? At this moment, I was able to look at her shirt (bright pink and covered in little animals) and see her as more than a patient or diagnosis or someone to help, but a human being with a personality and stories and insecurities and fears and dreams. At this moment I saw past everything that was myself and looked into the face of another human and saw a person deserving of the best of what I can give. In this moment I realized that I wanted to spend the rest of my life looking into the eyes of humanity- maybe on their best day or maybe on their worst- and providing them with something that they cannot necessarily provide themselves-healthcare.
    As I have shadowed with PA’s, done research at my university, worked at the hospital, and even just gone to class, I have been filled with a desire to learn not just academically, but as a person. As someone who loves to think, play, and create, who struggles to be still or find a single passion to cling to, I know that being a PA is exactly what I need to do. With the versatility I need to keep me creative, the wide range of specialties that I can work in to keep me evolving, the competition to keep me working, and the daily interactions with people to keep me seeking to love humanity, becoming a PA is more to me than just a future career, but it is a way for me to grow.

    Reply

    • Whitney Prosperi says

      April 30, 2023 at 3:50 pm

      Bella,
      I suggest condensing your first few paragraphs where you can so you can add in some necessary elements to your essay.
      Include some of the clinical skills and medical knowledge you have gained in your different roles.
      Also, I suggest moving your paragraph about what appeals to you about the PA profession closer to the beginning of your essay and include the comments about your grades in the paragraph before your conclusion. Also, include some of the changes you made and how you saw an upward trajectory in your grades after that.
      I suggest including a whole paragraph that describes your shadowing experience. Describe an interaction that solidified your decision, whether that was between PA/patient or PA/supervising physician.
      For your conclusion, I would tie back to your introduction in some way.
      I wish you good luck, Bella.

      Reply

12. Elizabeth Staid says

    April 27, 2023 at 7:33 am

    – I believe I have a unique experience that has motivated me to pursue a career as a physician’s assistant. My twin sister Catherine is special needs with multiple physical and mental handicaps. Doctors diagnosed her with Hydrocephalus prior to our birth which caused many physical and mental issues resulting in frequent testing, multiple surgeries, and daily medications. We visited Boston Children’s Hospital all the time for her various appointments. During these visits I was exposed to medical professionals from many different specialties as well as scores of children and their parents. I loved how connected and personal the hospital providers were with their patients. During these encounters, watching these people provide care for so many unfortunate children has left a deep imprint in my heart and mind.
    –
    – I believe honesty is a great trait to have when working with others. People want to know they can trust you and honesty is a foundation of trustworthy relationships.
    – Being honest can help in being a good communicator. I know that my ability to communicate with patients will make me stand apart. A big part of being an effective medical provider is communicating to patients about their condition, proposed procedures and expected results.
    – I am pursuing a minor in Spanish and taking an American Sign Language certification class which will allow me to better communicate with a larger group of patients.
    My healthcare experience is working with Northeast ARC as an Adult Family Caregiver. Northeast ARC helps people with disabilities become full participants in the community; choosing for themselves how to live, learn, work, socialize and play. My responsibilities are assisting with Activities of Daily Living (ADL’s) including: Dressing, Eating, Bathing, Personal Hygiene, Toileting, Meal Preparation, Ordinary Housework, Medicine Management and Transportation.
    – I believe a strength that will allow me to be a good PA is my ability to identify with patients. The experiences between my sister and her medical providers, who were so compassionate to her, revealed to me how much they really cared about her and all their patients. I cannot think of a nobler profession than caring for the less fortunate and cannot wait to begin PA classes next Spring Semester.

    Reply

    • Whitney Prosperi says

      April 30, 2023 at 3:38 pm

      Elizabeth,
      You do a good job of showing your compassion and empathy.
      You will want to include a paragraph that explains some of the reasons the PA profession, as opposed to another type of provider, appeals to you.
      I would also elaborate on any clinical skills and medical knowledge you have gained. Include a story that shows you in action providing care of some kind. This will reveal some of the qualities that will make you an effective PA. Also, if you have any shadowing experience, describe that.
      I wish you good luck in the process. Should you want more help, remember that we are taking submissions for our essay revision service.

      Reply

13. Karen says

    April 25, 2023 at 7:53 pm

    Sorry if this is the wrong place to ask but how long does it take for feedback on a one-time edit service? Thank you so much.

    Reply

    • Stephen Pasquini PA-C says

      April 26, 2023 at 7:12 am

      Hello Karen, We do not post our turnaround times since they can fluctuate greatly throughout the year. CASPA opens this week, and our busy season has begun. I’ve reached out to you via email (please look for an email from [email protected]) with more in-depth and details times we are currently (this week) working with. If you need to contact us again, we can be reached at [email protected].
      Thanks,
      Wendy Pasquini (Lead customer care of the editorial staff)

      Reply

14. Tyler says

    April 25, 2023 at 9:32 am

    Music has been a lifelong passion; even as a young child, I would hum and fiddle with instruments. In elementary school, I discovered my ability to play songs on the violin and recorder by ear, while my classmates struggled with sheet music. Therefore, I joined several bands and music clubs during my school years. Evolving as a musician, I witnessed the therapeutic impact I had on audiences, but this was merely a glimpse of my life’s true calling.

    It was high school biology class that sparked a connection in me between music and medicine. Most students were squeamish over the smell when cutting into a formaldehyde-soaked frog, as I stood in confidence, tearing through the fascia while examining each of its organs. I meticulously sutured the frog in resemblance to stringing my guitar, as it reminded me of an art form I was familiar with. From that day forward, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in medicine that aligned these shared interests.

    It wasn’t until my volunteer experience in Gainesville at an assisted-living facility that allowed me to witness firsthand the supernatural power behind music. Playing the guitar in front of senior citizens who were visually impaired, suffering from dementia and under hospice care, created an atmosphere that brought everyone together in harmony. Performing “What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong for these patients brought tears of joy to my eyes, as it temporarily alleviated their pain, suffering, memory and mental acuity. Since that day, I became aware that I possessed the power to heal people through music, but my aspirations were to one day heal individuals through medicine.

    This ambition continued while attending Santa Fe College where I was inspired to become a physician assistant. I struggled with implementing healthy study habits, as a first-generation college student, and my grades suffered. However, as I matured and upon being accepted into the University of South Florida, my aspirations and grades began to soar. Partaking in upper-level classes prompted me to push my boundaries and seek alternative learning strategies. I used music disciplines to develop mnemonics and draw organic molecules like sheet music, which I shared with study groups to boost their courage and inspire them to approach apathetic subjects differently. My range of talents for problem-solving, adaptability, teamwork and being solution-oriented is parallel to the responsibilities and role of a PA.

    Working alongside Rachel, a PA in the ophthalmology clinic, solidified my decision to pursue a career as a PA. Her ability to create a warm and welcoming environment for patients is exceptional. While most patients struggle with remembering to take their prescription eye drops, she creates medication management bubble sheets to better assist with instructions. She has a unique talent for simplifying complex diagnoses while speaking intelligently and clearly, in lay terms, for patients to understand. By observing her approach to clinical procedures, I have learned techniques that help put patients at ease and reduce their apprehension. I am integrating these qualities into my own interactions with patients, with the goal of taking on a more significant role in their care.

    In the past year, I have made significant progress, gained valuable experiences and matured as an individual. I was promoted to Chief Ophthalmic Technician of the ophthalmology clinic, achieved an A upon retaking Anatomy and Physiology II, and continue to shadow a PA to further my education. Volunteering with underprivileged communities has been a key area of my focus. My experiences have taught me to approach each patient with the same level of care and attention, recognizing that I may not always be aware of their background or circumstances. This personal growth and experience at the clinic have laid the foundation for becoming an experienced PA.

    In my life, I have come across priceless teachings and acquired insights that have directed me towards my purpose. It is truly inspiring to have discovered a profession that not only reflects one of my passions, but also resonates with my past experiences of sharing my musical talents with others. This profound love for medicine has been an essential element of my identity since I was a young child tinkering with instruments. While my present position as Chief Ophthalmic Technician enables me to establish a rapport with patients, I want to play a larger role in their care and recovery. Aspiring to become a PA stems from my lifelong fulfillment in caring for others, and each day I enter my workplace with intense passion, fully aware of my power to make a beneficial difference in someone’s life. I believe that similar to how my musical talent can evoke a therapeutic response, my skills can also make a positive impact on the lives of those under my care.

    Reply

    • Whitney Prosperi says

      April 26, 2023 at 4:01 pm

      Tyler,
      Your description of music and medicine for healing and human connection is powerful. I suggest adding more detail about what appeals to you about the PA role specifically. Also, include some of the clinical skills and medical knowledge you have gained in previous roles as well as your current role. You may want to include a patient care story where you show yourself in action providing care while connecting with a patient. Lastly, remember that we are taking submissions for our essay revision service should you want more help. I wish you good luck, Tyler.

      Reply

15. Maritza says

    April 23, 2023 at 3:37 pm

    Piercing screams and crying were the noises echoing through the exam room as the medical assistant attempted to give the six-year-old her influenza vaccine. As the needle moved closer, she would shriek and hug her stuffed bear tighter. The child’s panic increased as the pediatrician entered the room. Yet, the physician was calm. With a warm smile, she approached the child. She pulled out a lollipop, explained the importance of the vaccine, and promised a quick escape. A few seconds later, there was no more crying, the needle was in the sharps container, and a smiling child was leaving the exam room.
    As that scared six-year-old, I was awed by the provider’s confidence and ability to calm me down. From that experience grew an interest in medicine that increased as my visits continued. I further explored that interest as a hospital “candy striper” in high school, which allowed me to observe different providers and ultimately led me to the pre-health route in college.
    My first time working alongside a physician assistant was at an Urgent Care during my Medical Assistant training. A panicked mother with her 9-year-old son rushed into the urgent care. He was experiencing a high-grade fever and congestion that made breathing difficult. The PA quickly ordered COVID, Influenza A + B, and strep exams. She followed this with instructions to give the patient Children’s Motrin, a nebulizer treatment, and a temperature check every 10 minutes. As she assigned me tasks, she calmed down the mother, who was worried she’d waited too long for medical attention, and entertained the child while I swabbed his nose. I was amazed by the physician assistant’s ability to multitask and create a treatment plan on the spot; while also providing comfort to the patient and his mother. Her capabilities as a physician assistant showed me the value of the profession within a care team and their benefit to patients.
    Having worked alongside PAs during my medical assistant training, I wanted to gain a greater understanding of the profession through shadowing. I obtained the opportunity by shadowing an internal medicine PA. During this rotation, I saw her foster and maintain relationships with her patients, whether they were new or returning. With her returning patients, there was enough trust in her abilities and judgment that they’d not seen the physician for years. Similarly, the office physician had confidence in her knowledge and would run ideas by her, just as she would do to him. Thus illustrating the mutualistic benefits of PAs and physicians working together. Ultimately, her capacity to create trusting relationships with her patients and work congruently with other providers to provide quality care motivated me to enter the profession.
    My current role as a podiatric scribe / medical assistant has allowed me to gain a greater understanding of the medical field and put into practice creating relationships with patients. Within my role, my daily tasks include taking patient vitals, updating medical information, transcribing visits, assisting with in-office procedures, and helping patients find recommended podiatric gear online. On a day to day, I may interact with patients ranging from ages 3 to 102. Many manage chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease, dementia, or mobility impediments. One such patient is “Magda,” a 59-year-old type 2 diabetic with peripheral neuropathy. Magda suffers from painful ingrown toenails, for which she’d previously sought treatment. At her initial visit, I noted she appeared nervous and had difficulty explaining her condition in English to the podiatrist, as she was a Spanish speaker. Madga was relieved when I offered to translate her Spanish into English. She explained that her previous podiatrist spoke little Spanish, and she’d had difficulty understanding his treatment plan, which included removing her toenail permanently. She did not understand how it would work and believed it to be a painful procedure. The doctor asked me to explain the difference between nail avulsions and matricetomies and the benefits of both procedures. I assured the patient that she would be numbed for the procedure and wound care would be carefully instructed to minimize discomfort. By the end of the visit, Magda was less distressed and promised she’d call us back to schedule a partial matricectomy. She thanked me for translating and explained the difficulty of seeing a doctor without having the ability to explain your pain in your language.
    As a PA, I’ll work in team-based care, have the independence to diagnose, and gain experience within different specialties. I’ve chosen this career because I want to provide quality care for those afraid of seeking medical attention and for underserved communities, especially those looking for treatment in their native languages. Ultimately, my experiences with patients like Magda will guide me as I continue to build trust and connections in my journey through the medical field.

    Reply

    • Whitney Prosperi says

      April 26, 2023 at 3:49 pm

      Maritza,
      You do a great job of describing how your interest in medicine developed and what specifically appeals to you about the profession. I trust that you will be a compassionate and effective provider. Your story about Magda is strong, showing your ability to connect with patients on a personal level. In your conclusion, you may want to tie back to the story in your introduction in some way. Best to you.

      Reply

16. Angela says

    April 23, 2023 at 3:21 pm

    Doctors’ appointments with my grandma, or as I like to call her, Mumma, were my favorite day trips to go on. After her appointments, we’d grab lunch, shop at her favorite Macy’s, visit family, and then finally come home to get in an evening nap together before dinnertime. Although she was a retired nurse, I grew up being her personal advocate at all her appointments. I held her hand with each brave step she took, answered for her when she couldn’t remember, and took initiative in her health. The last thing I got to do for her was walk her into the ambulance and tell the EMTs about her. I was her advocate for one last time and I didnt even know it.

    To be someone’s advocate during weak points of their life is to be someone’s strength and voice. I realized I wanted to be a Physician Assistant when I saw PAs doing just that. In all of my experiences, I began understanding how effortlessly I started acting as all of my patients advocates. In each patient, I see my grandmother sitting on the table. Each one holds a story behind his/her name, just like my grandmother.

    The story behind me begins as a curious toddler who’d open my Mother’s medical books and start asking questions to anyone who’d have an answer. My family and culture basically bred and raised nurses, so as someone who lived with and also worked alongside nurses, I knew I wanted to do something different. I had always thought that medical school was the way to go until I accidentally shadowed a PA. Ezra, an experienced PA, was training Ian, a brand new PA in the MICU. Being that this was my first exposure to PAs, I did not understand their capabilities, their job description, nor their training. However, the way in which Ezra taught both Ian and I, while caring for very ill patients, sparked my interest in what being a PA meant. Ezra showed me how versatile a PA is as he rounded on patients, performed bedside procedures, ran codes, all so gently, boldly and humbly. I saw the beauty of both hands on care and critical decision making all in one career.

    To further my medical knowledge, I closely worked with and shadowed the PAs and NPs through every patient encounter in an urgent care setting. I also firsthand understood the downfalls of our healthcare system and where/how our public needed to be educated/advocated for the most. A majority of our patients lacked primary care establishment and did not understand the importance of it either. A noncompliant diabetic patient came to urgent care seeking refill on his metformin for the third time after constantly being told he must find established care for his uncontrolled sugars. While the patient was adamant and did not seem to understand, I decided I could talk to the patient as to his reasoning. In doing this, I found he had no support system and found it useless to get further care. To make the patient feel heard and understood, as well as helping find the appropriate support for those in need, goes beyond brains and reflects what quality medical care means.

    As I came to be a voice for my patients, I learned to be the same for myself. With this being my second application cycle, I have been able to enrich my personal growth through furthering my education in a CPH/MPH program. As a minority woman in medicine and seeing the injustices/disparities of our healthcare system in my experiences made me want to understand and address the gap. Working with children, the elderly, the disabled, underprivileged, and women has opened my mind to the different personalized care each group needs. With my diverse experiences and continuing education, I believe it will enrich my career as a PA and my goal to help bring more accessible medical care. This past year has given me time to dive into my purpose in life and allow myself some time to do more of what I love. Working on my faith journey by joining other Christian women in their same journeys, taking up purposeful charity work in the Church and also mentoring a few youth have all added to my personal growth.

    In my gap year, I learned my story does not end, it only grows toward my purpose. In honor of Mumma and all my patients I’ve been priviledged to touch, my desire in being an advocate, a warm smile, a reassuring voice, and most of all, a Physician Assistant is fueled.

    Reply

    • Whitney Prosperi says

      April 26, 2023 at 3:41 pm

      Angela,
      I trust that your grandmother would be proud of your journey and commitment to service.
      You are off to a good start. Your paragraph describing your shadowing experience does a good job of showing how your decision was confirmed.
      I would include more details about your clinical skills and medical knowledge gained throughout your different roles.
      Should you need more help, remember that we are taking submissions for our essay revision service.
      I wish you good luck, Angela.

      Reply

      • angela says

        April 26, 2023 at 8:33 pm

        Thank you so much for your time and advice, Whitney!

        Reply

17. John says

    April 22, 2023 at 10:18 am

    Waking up in the middle of the night with excruciating lower abdomen pain will be a time I will never forget. With no experience of this pain before, thoughts were racing through my mind that I might not make it. It turns out I had appendicitis and needed emergency surgery. I had successful surgery; however, I caught an infection that disrupted my digestive system for months. Doubts and feelings that I would never recover left me in one of the hardest times of my life. Looking back, however, it may be one of the best things that ever happened. I am grateful for the medical staff who treated me. I will never forget the attending physicians and physician assistants who changed my feeling state and kept my spirits high in times of uncertainty. Noticing how big of an impact the medical profession can have on an individual’s physical and emotional state sparked my interest in pursuing the healthcare field.
    With an established 12-year career in Law enforcement and the Army National Guard, I found myself dissatisfied with work and lost on what my future might hold. During this time, I had visions and what felt like a calling to serve in health care. At the age of 34 and with a high-wage job, it was difficult to leave my profession and start over. I continued to persist in extensive research and exploration of the healthcare field, it was during this time I knew I had to make a change and pursue my new passion of assisting others in the health care field. In 2019, I finally decided to leave Law Enforcement and pursue a career field in occupational therapy, where I enrolled in the community college occupational therapy assistant program. For the last 14 months, I have been working as an occupational therapy assistant to help patients progress in their rehabilitation process. The extensive amount of experience I have obtained has allowed me to understand the importance of compassion, teamwork, leadership, communication, and listening skills to be successful working in patient care. Being a part of the collaborative medical team has allowed me to work with physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, and therapy staff to gain a better understanding of the medical profession. By building a rapport with my patients, I have been able to accurately observe and note patient issues and concerns. I have also been able to verbally communicate these issues and concerns to the practitioners, thus ensuring patients receive the best care possible.
    There is no better feeling than knowing you made a positive difference in a patient’s life. Unfortunately, there are times in healthcare when patients may not receive the proper care that they anticipated. Sometimes all it takes is actively listening to a patient’s concerns. Active listening and showing empathy are exactly what I did for a patient of mine who was recovering from a fractured femur. The patient was upset no one was listening to his concerns of pain. The patient was continuously refusing therapy and was persistent on leaving the hospital. I was able to develop a rapport with the patient by listening to his concerns and getting to know his background. The patient revealed to me that he was married with 3 children and was a member of a bowling team. I was able to have the patient reflect on the importance of his recovery so he could get back to his family and back into bowling. I was finally able to convince the patient to participate in therapy, where he excelled and had a successful recovery.
    Working with the practitioners has only made me more passionate about pursuing a career as a physician assistant. My passion for making a positive difference in the lives of others will set me up for a successful career as a PA. My experience in law enforcement and the military has provided me with the necessary skills to be a successful PA. Working with diverse individuals from various backgrounds and cultures will allow me to adapt well in a PA environment. I will be able to demonstrate the skills I have been able to acquire throughout my prior work experiences, such as effective communication, active listening, compassion, and the importance of leadership to succeed as a PA. Knowing the importance of giving compassion, kindness, and care of all the individuals I work with will give me an opportunity to become a successful PA.
    As to why I would rather become a PA than any other medical professional, it appears to align with the talents and gifts of mine that I can share. The self-discipline and determination that is required to learn and progress as a PA are what attracts me. I am a life-long learner and love to continuously strive to become the best version of myself in my career field. The PA field offers things that I enjoy in a workplace, such as working in a fast-paced environment and the option to specialize in different areas of patient care. I look forward to having an opportunity to pursue my dream of becoming a physician assistant.

    Reply

    • Whitney Prosperi says

      April 26, 2023 at 3:34 pm

      John,
      First of all, thank you for your service. You do a good job of revealing some of the skills that you bring to the table. I would elaborate on any clinical skills and medical knowledge gained on your journey. Also, if you have any shadowing experience, describe how that solidified your decision. Remember that should you need more help, we are taking submissions for our essay revision service. I wish you good luck, John.

      Reply

18. erika says

    April 21, 2023 at 6:08 pm

    Anxiety has always been a prevalent force in my life. As a child, the lack of understanding I had about the physical manifestations of my anxiety filled me with dread. As a result, every shallow breath reinforced in my mind that I had lung cancer. Tightness in my chest proved to me that I was having a heart attack. As nonsensical it may seem now, these fears fueled my desire to learn more about medicine. Although many influences now drive me to be a healthcare provider, it began with wanting to understand my own mental health.

    I had heard of physician assistants (PAs) before, but making the decision to pursue PA was thanks to a friend I made while working in an internal medicine office. She explained that pursuing a PA career would allow her to participate in direct patient care, work collaboratively with others, and be able to adapt to work in a diverse range of fields. After years of debating various careers, she helped me realize PA checked all of my boxes. Working alongside various providers ranging from medicine to nursing and dentistry, I cultivated my passion for patient care and learned that working in a wide variety of environments provided me the opportunity to further my own intellectual growth. However, I consolidated my path following my experience shadowing a PA.

    At Sunny Pediatrics, I had the chance to work with and shadow Avery Adams, PA-C. Having the opportunity to shadow him helped fill gaps in my knowledge. I asked him why he chose PA, his journey through school, and what being a PA entails. Throughout my time shadowing him, I observed the process of seeing patients, writing notes, working with other providers, and prescribing medications. Watching Avery collaborate with other providers through reviewing notes and offering second opinions was a unique aspect of being a healthcare provider that I had not witnessed before. I enjoy being able to work autonomously, but having the ability to collaborate is equally important to me.

    While shadowing, a teenager presented with a lack of motivation and energy. This patient stuck with me because many of his feelings resonated with what I felt at his age. He had difficulty finding the words to describe what he felt, but Avery helped him identify his feelings and identify his stressors. Mental health is a difficult topic, so watching how Avery approached the situation was intriguing to me. Struggling with mental health without help, it was meaningful for me to see it discussed openly. I also appreciated seeing how the mom was only told what the patient felt comfortable with.

    Throughout my 3,000 hours of direct patient care experience, I realized my love for working with patients. When thinking about why I want to be a PA, the smaller interactions I have with patients are what stand out to me. One interaction I think back on was when I took vitals for an anxious five year old girl. I made sure she felt comfortable. I explained to her that the blood pressure cuff would squeeze “like a hug just for her arm,” and that the earbuds would play funny noises to test her hearing. After her visit, she came over to me and gave me a small drawing with “for my doctor” sprawled at the bottom. I keep this note with me, and it reminds me of how showing patience and compassion can make all the difference for patients.

    In spite of challenges I faced during undergrad, I was able to finish with a cumulative GPA of 3.648 and a science GPA of 3.35. I struggled with organic chemistry, but this failure helped me reassess and improve myself. Mental health has always been a taboo subject in many Asian families, so keeping your problems to yourself was normalized. Unfortunately, my performance in school worsened any time my mental health suffered. Finally gaining the courage to ask for help and go to therapy changed the ways I coped with stress. And in turn, I was able to improve my time management by starting to study earlier and taking notes more efficiently. My grades improved once I was able to address these issues and my self-efficacy, and I was able to get an A in organic chemistry the second time I took the class.

    PA school requires hard work and dedication, and I am prepared to invest the time and resources I need to be successful in PA school and become a PA. I have built up support systems with people who can give me advice and encouragement, which will help me succeed. Choosing PA has been a long journey, and I cannot wait to continue on this path. I believe that my strong work ethic, love of patient care, plethora of diverse experiences, and my determination are what make me the perfect candidate for PA school. I have overcome obstacles along my journey, and my determination will help me persevere as a PA student and eventual PA.

    Reply

    • Whitney Prosperi says

      April 26, 2023 at 3:21 pm

      Erika,
      You are off to a good start. Your explanation of what aspects of the PA profession appeal to you is strong. Also, you do a good job of explaining how your shadowing experience confirmed your decision. I would elaborate on those 3000 hours of patient care experience. Explain clinical skills and medical knowledge you have gained in those different roles. Remember that if you need more help, we are taking submissions for our essay revision service. I wish you the best, Erika.

      Reply

19. Morgan Jeffries says

    April 19, 2023 at 9:21 pm

    A three-year-old girl holds the hand of a social worker who leads her to a house she doesn’t know filled with people she doesn’t recognize. She has nothing in this world except the ill-fitting clothes on her back and a comfort kit that was given to her by DHR. In the weeks prior to this moment, she has been taken out of her mother’s care to be temporarily placed with her grandmother, and watched as one by one, each of her 4 other siblings has been placed in a new home with a new family. The social worker knocks on the door, and they are greeted by a family. After introductions are made, the social worker leaves and the little girl is left with a brand new world to navigate, without anyone from her family by her side.

    This is the true story of Zaniriya, a three-year-old girl that my family had the privilege to foster. She lived with us for 11 months, from January to December 2019 – during my junior and senior year of high school. She was strong-willed and independent, funny and loud, cuddly and sweet (when she wanted to be). After seeing her story, plus the similar stories of the three other children my family has fostered, there is no doubt in my mind that I want to work with underprivileged children.

    Throughout college, you can see that I spent the majority of my time volunteering with organizations that benefit children in foster care or children with health issues/disabilities. These children truly have my heart, and every time I get the opportunity to work with them, this solidifies my passion even more.

    However, there are a lot of ways I could work with these children, so why would I choose being a physician assistant? It starts with an unexplained love for medicine – everybody else in my family either works in finance or education, and my parents thought I was crazy when I told them I wanted to go into medicine. With a love for kids like mine, why wouldn’t I want to be a teacher like my mom or both my grandmothers? To be honest, I wish I had a clear-cut reason. I just know I’ve never wanted to do anything else: nothing else excites me or motivates me to work hard like learning more about our body. I want to know everything: how it moves, why it succumbs to illness, and how to treat it. My mom blames it on my love for Grey’s Anatomy, but it goes much deeper than that. I want to keep learning about how to diagnose and treat patients, and serve each patient better than the last.

    As far as why I want to become a PA versus another medical profession, it just seems to be the perfect fit for me. I know that in the future I want to be a mom, and trying to have a child in the middle of residency sounds brutal. It obviously can be done, but after thinking long and hard about being a doctor, the cons of it outweigh the pros. When I was shadowing a doctor that I know and trust and discussing being a PA instead of a nurse practitioner, the doctor told me that she thought PAs were better trained than NPs because they are on the medical model rather than the nursing model. I also love the flexibility that comes with being a physician assistant: the ability to change specialties appeals to me, because I don’t ever want to stop learning. I love the idea that I could go into pediatrics for 10 years and then switch to dermatology if I wanted to, and that is a luxury that not many other professions offer.

    After working as a medical assistant in both primary care and OB/GYN offices, I have had the chance to work closely with doctors, PAs, NPs, and nurses. These jobs have solidified three things for me: 1) I do not want to work a 9-5 job in an office. 2) I need to be in a fast-paced and constantly changing environment. And 3) there is no other job in the world I would rather do than be a physician assistant. I am confident in my ability to succeed in a PA program, and beyond that as a practicing physician assistant. Thank you.

    Reply

    • Whitney Prosperi says

      April 21, 2023 at 4:43 pm

      Morgan,
      Your passion to elevate children shines throughout your essay.
      I suggest condensing your introduction and throughout your essay, so you have room to add in some other important elements.
      Include some of your patient care experience and medical knowledge gained.
      Also, if you have shadowed PAs, elaborate on that experience. I would describe an interaction between PA/supervising physician or PA/patient that solidified your decision.
      Also, in your section describing what appeals to you about the PA profession, I would steer clear of any language that talks about work/life balance, etc. as that can come across as self-serving. Likewise, I would eliminate your comments about NPS and instead focus on the reasons why you want to be a PA. You never want to appear like you are being critical of another type of provider.
      If you have a patient care story, include that. You want to show yourself in action providing care of some kind while connecting with a patient on a personal level. In this story, you want to show some of those great qualities that will make you an exceptional PA.
      Lastly, in your conclusion, I would tie back to your introduction in some way.
      Should you want more help, remember that we are taking submissions for our essay revision service. I wish you good luck, Morgan.

      Reply

20. Whitney Prosperi says

    April 17, 2023 at 8:04 pm

    Jacie,
    You are off to a good start. Your description of Chip shows the versatility and connection possible for PAs.
    I suggest elaborating on any medical knowledge and clinical skills you have gained in your work experience. You may also want to include a story that shows you in action connecting with a patient on a personal level.
    Should you want more help, remember we are taking submissions for our essay revision service.
    I wish you good luck.

    Reply