Physician Assistant school interviews are extremely challenging.
Here is a comprehensive list of forty-six high-frequency pa school interview questions you will likely encounter.
This list of the "Top 46 Physician Assistant Applicant Interview Questions" is adapted from Andrew Rodican's excellent book "The Ultimate Guide to Getting Into Physician Assistant School," Christina's helpful video post from PrePARC (which is no longer available), actual physician assistant applicants, and my PA school interview. Have an answer ready for each of these questions, and you will ace your PA school interview!
Looking for answers to these questions? Check out our latest post, ChatGPT Answers the Top 46 PA School Applicant Interview Questions.
The Interview Process:
Most programs have several volunteers who sit on the admissions committee, evaluate applications, and conduct applicant interviews. The committee comprises program faculty, program PA students, graduate PAs who work in the community, and various other medical professionals. Each committee member is issued a stack of applications to review and score. That same stack of applications is then passed on to two other committee members for review and scoring. Once all the applicants receive a score, the committee meets to select a group of candidates to interview. The number of applicants invited to interview varies from program to program. Many schools interview approximately 100 applicants per year. The committee usually unanimously agrees on seventy-five or so candidates who are clearly and objectively the cream of the crop. The final twenty-five applicants are selected through a process of individual and group selection. The interview often consists of three parts: 1. The student interview, 2. The group interview and 3. The individual interview.
A Look Inside Two PA School Interviews
The PA school interview is daunting. You must be prepared, but not to the point that you sound like a robot. You must be relaxed, but not too relaxed as that might give the impression you did not do your research. Inside Two PA School Interviews, I interviewed at two PA schools in California in [read more…]
46 Physician Assistant Applicant Interview Questions
- Question: What is a PA?
- Question: Why do you want to be a PA?
- Question: Why have you chosen PA over NP?
- Question: Are you familiar with any national or state-level regulations for PAs?
- Question: How many hours a week do you plan on studying?
- Question: Tell me what your typical day looks like.
- Question: How many tests and quizzes do you expect to take a week, and what can you handle
- Question: Do you have a car? Where do you live, what is your social support, and are they close?
- Question: How do you plan to pay for your education?
- Question: What kind of stress do you see associated with the PA profession?
- Question: Have you applied to other programs?
- Question: What have you done to prepare yourself for this profession?
- Question: Have you done anything to increase your chances of being accepted to the PA program?
- Question: What makes you stand out from the person sitting next to you this morning?
- Question: What is your understanding of what PAs do?
- Question: Tell us about the role you see the PA playing in the health care system.
- Question: How do you feel about taking call or working 60 or more hours per week as a second-year student?
- Question: Describe an interaction you have had with a patient that made an impact on you.
- Question: What do you think is the most difficult situation described in the interview scenarios that you completed earlier today? Why?
- Question: Describe the most stressful work or academic situation you have been in and tell us how you dealt with it.
- Question: How do you usually deal with stress?
- Question: What kind of personal stress do you see associated with our PA program?
- Question: Describe the history of the PA profession.
- Question: What do you do outside of work or academic studies?
- Question: Please discuss your answer to question #__ on the interview questionnaire. Or, what did you mean by __ in your essay?
- Question: Your file indicates that you have had difficulty with __ (e.g., time management or science coursework). Would you like to explain this?
- Question: What accommodations, if any, do you need to successfully complete this program?
- Question: So, tell us a little about yourself. In other words: Why are you here?
- Question: You have had several jobs in the past; how do we know you will finish the program if we accept you?
- Question: Why do you think Duke turned you down?
- Question: What are your strengths as an applicant?
- Question: What are your biggest weaknesses as an applicant, and what do you plan to do to correct them?
- Question: Do you manage your time well?
- Question: Do you prefer to work with others or by yourself?
- Question: Your supervising MD tells you to do something that you know is dead wrong; what do you do?
- Question: What interests you most about our school?
- Question: What would be your ideal job as a PA?
- Question: What did you learn from your overseas internship/experience?
- Question: What do you want to be doing five years from now?
- Question: Have you ever seen anyone die?
- Question: How are you today?
- Question: Did you have any trouble finding us?
- Question: What was the last movie you saw?
- Question: What was the most difficult question they asked you at Bowman Gray?
- Question: What will you do if you don’t get in this year?
- Question: Do you have any questions for us?
"My PA school interview went well! Thank you so much for getting me in such late notice and helping me out during the mock interview! I feel really good about the interview but all thanks to you! As you mentioned, I was asked questions that had nothing to do with PA! One of those questions was If I turned your car on right now, what type of music will be playing Again, thank you! - Suleeporn S. Terrell, Pre-PA
Bonus questions:
300 PA School Interview Questions You Should Be Ready to Answer
300 PA School Interview Questions You Should Be Ready to Answer300 actual PA school interview questions that have been asked of the generations of PA school applicants who walked before you.
Bonus Question 47: Why did you choose PA school over medical school?
JD says: "Although it may seem silly, many of my friends were asked this question and it can really trip people up. You don’t want someone answering with “I want to become a physician later” or “I didn't get in” or even “I have applied to medical schools as well.” None of these answers give people the impression you are passionate about becoming a PA!"
Bonus Question 48: If we have only one position left to fill why should we pick you?
Bonus questions collected from the blogosphere (some may be variations of the above, but it is helpful to see the differences)
- Tell us about yourself.
- What makes you sure you want to become a PA?
- Why should we pick you?
- Where do you see the future of medicine heading?
- If you could pass a law that would help PAs, what would it be?
- What experiences influenced you to pursue this career?
- What are the greatest problems facing the field of medicine in America?
- If you saw someone stealing medications in the hospital, what would you do?
- What animal would you be and why? (This is weird and may not be super common, but they just want to see how you respond to a question like this)
PA School Interview Day Tips
If you have volunteered, shadowed, or had direct-patient care, be sure to mention this during your interview questions.
Prior to your interview, have the school put you in touch with a student or alumnus to discuss the program. Not only can you gain valuable information about the program but describing this conversation during your interview will let the program know you are especially interested in their program and you’re willing to go above and beyond to find out this information.
Don't imitate and don't copy! Escape competition through authenticity. Nobody can compete with you on being you!Click To Tweet* Hint: Always be ready for the unexpected. On my application and during my interview I mentioned that my wife (she was my fiancé at the time as I was to be married in 2 weeks) was a registered nurse. At the end of my interview one of the staff members on the panel asked me "since I was married why was I not wearing a wedding ring"... Valid question! I told them the truth: that fiancé' just didn't seem to fit since we had been together for 6 years, we were to be married in 2 weeks and she would be traveling with me 3,000 miles in a U-Haul, changing jobs, and was the main reason I was sitting before them that day. One of the panel members gave me a look of disappointment. And I was worried. I remember having this quick thought at the time that I should just lie and tell them that I left my ring at home or in the hotel room. But I am a bad liar, and that would have been horribly obvious.
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What Our Clients Have to Say
I was interviewed and accepted into four of the programs I applied to (including my #1)! I am sharing because I want to say thank you so much for these questions! I went over them, and they helped me feel extremely prepared, and that confidence translated well during my interviews! I finally feel ecstatic when I think about my career path, and having the ability to finally work with patients, hopefully in a clinical trial setting where I can really be an asset, is more than I ever hoped for up until now. So, thank you, thank you, thank you! - Laurin, PA-S
Take-home lesson:
Always be honest, no matter how hard the question is . . . The road to PA interview success is lined with the building blocks of your life. Don't try to be somebody you are not or try to answer the questions with some memorized rote version of what you think the interviewer wants to hear. They have heard those answers a thousand times. Believe it or not, being yourself is a novelty at times. Wow them with your individuality, your passion, your compassion, your work ethic, and your knowledge of the PA profession.
Don't forget to leave your answers in the comments section!
More PA School Interview Resources
- Recommended Book: How To "Ace" The Physician Assistant School Interview
- Recommended Book: The Physician Assistant School Interview: Essential Strategies to Blow 'Em Away and Claim Your Seat in Class
- Blog Post: A Look At Two PA School Interviews
View all posts in this series
- My PA School Interview: The Journey of a Lifetime
- The Top 46 Physician Assistant Applicant Interview Questions
- Use this Interview Hack to Get The Physician Assistant Job of Your Dreams!
- The Physician Assistant Job or PA School Interview – Email Etiquette
- The Physician Assistant Interview: Thank You and Follow-up (With Sample)
- A Look Inside Two PA School Interviews
- 5 Things I’ve Learned Going Into My Fourth Physician Assistant Application Cycle
- 300+ PA School Interview Questions You Should Be Ready to Answer
- PA School Mock Interviews: Prepare with a LIVE, Recorded Video Interview
- Mock Physician Assistant School Interview With Taylor Hill Pre-PA
- Mock PA School Interview With Pre-PA Lily Boyle
- The Interview That Got This Pre-PA Into 5 PA Schools
- 101 PA School Applicants Answer: What’s Your Greatest Strength?
- Mastering Your PA School Interview: Tone Matters
- The Worst PA School Interview Question Ever!
- Why Choose PA Over NP? Here’s the Perfect Answer
- Don’t Make This Critical PA School Interview Mistake!
- 5 Best Ways to Give a Memorable PA School Interview
- 3 Things to Do the Night Before Your PA School Interview
- How to Prepare for Your PA School Interview Day Essay
- How to Squash PA School Interview Day Stress (4 Simple Steps)
- Mind Mapping: A Tool for Personal Statements, Supplemental Essays, and Interviews
- Here’s What a REAL PA School Interview Looks Like
- My PA School Interview Preparation Strategy
- How to Bring Your Best on PA School Interview Day
- How to Cope with PA School Application Rejection
- ChatGPT Answers the Top 46 PA School Applicant Interview Questions
- Why Our Program? How to Answer This Common Supplemental Essay and Interview Question
- What is a PA? How to Nail This Not-So-Easy Interview Question
- How to Answer Behavioral Questions in Your PA School Interview
- Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) Strategies for PA School: A Comprehensive Guide
- Meet Maya: Practice Your PA School Interview Out Loud, 24/7
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Question 10 and question 23 are identical to each other, so this list should be the top 45 applicant interview questions. I am SO happy I was able to find this before my interview.
Question 45: What will you do if you don’t get in this year.
If I don’t get accepted into your PA program this year I will continue gaining medical experience in the hospital I currently work at, shadow PAs in specialties outside of my specific area of interest to gain a better knowledge of the profession as a whole, and take additional courses, like pharmacology, to better my educational background. Overall, I will make every attempt to strengthen my application and reapply during the next application cycle.
Hi JPD, I can’t believe I never caught that 🙂 I am going to have to think of a new question so I don’t have to change the title, I am going to work on that today.. will try to come up with a real “zinger”.
Thanks for the heads up!
Also, I like your approach to question 45, it’s honest, shows a growth mentality and indicates you know what you want and what it is going to take to get there! Sounds like you have an interview coming up… Where are you interviewing?
– Stephen
Hi Stephen! I was interviewed last week and this site was super helpful in decreasing anxiety. There was one question not mentioned “the history of the PA profession” (are you kidding me?…) I answered that I didn’t know.
But then I felt it went pretty well (I will never know for sure.) Wishful thinking. I will find out in a month if I have been accepted or not.
Thank you!
Erica
This question was not in the main core. I just saw the answer posted in one the responses, unfortunately too late.
Thanks again.
Hi Erica,
That is kind of sneaky! I am ashamed to admit that I couldn’t explain the answer to this one in detail myself beyond military medics and Duke University 🙂 I will include this in the list because it is one that will probably be asked quite often. I have received very similar questions in the past during job interviews so I always make a point of going onto the company website the night before and really researching the organization. This is good advice when it comes to preparing for your school interview as well. Maybe you can swing back later after you do the research and enlighten us all 🙂
I hope you get great news and will be keeping my fingers crossed for you Erica!
Stephen
Hello Again!
I was accepted. Thanks for the info and the good vibes Stephen!!!
Why do you want to become a PA?
I originally was majoring in a completely different field than medicine. As silly as this sounds I intentionally avoided the health care field because I felt like everyone was going into that field and I wanted to be different. I had my oldest son during my senior year of high school and I wanted to find a career that would allow me to spend time with him and also provide for him financially. Even though I had him in high school I knew that going to college wasn’t a question. It wasn’t until my second semester of my freshman year of college that I decided that I needed to change career paths. I searched online for career options and the first thing on my screen was titled “Top careers people love” and PA was one of them. I looked into the career and fell in love with all the perks about it, from pretty much being a doctor without all of the schooling to being very flexible in terms of specialization. Half way through undergrad I questioned if I made the right decision. Classes were getting tougher and I wasn’t doing so well. I wondered if I should have went for something a little short term such as LPN or RN. It wasn’t until I took a class (I will have to look up the exact name of the class and professor) that made me realize my purpose as a PA. As a PA I would feel empowered to change people’s lives. I would have the knowledge to help save lives and educate patients on how to lead healthy lives. It’s a good feeling to know that you have the power to have such an impact on an individual’s lives. I also took a spanish class for medical students, which made me realize just how much a language barrier can affect one’s health. I am Mexican-American so I felt even more empowered to help hispanics in my community because I have family members who struggle with getting good quality care. Just knowing that you can connect with your patients and be culturally sensitive to their needs I think is a quality I possess. I am very much in touch with my culture and I think it’s very important to respect other cultures. Even though I decided to become PA for the wrong reasons ultimately I found my purpose in life with this career. When you have that kind of power-the power to give your patients high quality care-then you have the power to do so much good with it.
I think that was pretty long but it was my honest answer.
11. What makes you stand out from the person sitting next to you?
I certainly have a unique medical background. Having worked in your traditional family practice clinic, from my experience as a PT Aide, to my time in the Aeromedical Staging Facility treating wounded warriors, I’ve developed a strong affinity for the lifestyle of a medical provider. I know it’s something that I love, I understand the full spectrum of care, and I’m confident I’ll be good PA. On a personal level, I’m as outgoing and I am even-keel, two characteristics that have served me well in the clinical setting.
5. How many hours a week do you plan on studying?
I plan on studying for as long as it takes to digest, understand and recall the information I’m expected to know. It’s in my experience that your work is never done, but it you can teach the information your responsible for to someone else, you’ve done a good job preparing.
Wonderful Answers Dan! Practice these (not to commit to memory but for effect) and you will do great….
Stephen
14) What makes me different from the person sitting next to me is that I understand the limitations that many of the patients today might have that are preventing them from getting good healthcare. I have gone through many of those limitations first hand such as socioeconomic, language barrier, physiological, psychological, etc. I care deeply about the wellbeing of our patients and as a PA, I will make sure to reach out to these patients so that they can have a better quality of life. I also speak fluent Spanish, which is really beneficial to treat and care for the country’s largest racial minority.
How do you plan to pay for your education?
I plan to pay for school mostly through federal loans and financial aid provided by the state. I also plan to apply for scholarship and/or trainseeship.
Excellent Answer! On average, 90.5% of students received financial aid in 2012. Twenty-three responding programs (15.1%) reported all first-year students received financial aid.
– Stephen
Are you familiar with any national or state level regulations for PA’s?
I’m not to familiar with many regulations, but I am aware that with ObamaCare there will be an influx of patients and the need for PAs to help meet the demand for primary care. What else should I discuss? Any other laws/regulations I should be aware of?
I personally feel the “ObamaCare Rush” of patients is a myth. I work in an underserved community and most of the patients who would need a subsidised health plan already receive care through medicaid. Those that don’t meet the medicaid requirements, still live close to the poverty line, but would be able to qualify under Obamacare will have a descent well subsidized plan. Those that live in the middle without health insurance will find they have a high deductible (rather crappy) plan that costs quite a bit of money through Obamacare so I don’t think they will be coming in droves.
We might see more patients in general, but I certainly haven’t seen much of a change where I work and this is where you would expect to see the big growth. I feel like this is because ObamaCare as it is set up now (at least in California) is more of a high priced catastrophic health plan that would be more of a last resort.
As far as State and other National regulations are concerned I would really recommend going to your State PA Chapter and see what is on the cooker. For example here is CAPA http://www.capanet.org/, The CA Academy of Physician Assistants and you will see they have a menu link specific for PA Laws and Regulations. This is a good place to start, make sure you join your local and national organization and stay up to date by joining the newsletter.
Once you are practicing unless you are involved in the political debate I find there is a general lack of interest in health care police among PAs. Which is too bad, because this is where most of the real change is made.
Best to you!
Stephen
Hi! I have an interview coming up this week and I was wondering if I could get any pointers, and I have my answer on why I want to become a PA but is there anything that I should touch on specifically? Also, if they ask ‘what can you offer us if we accept you’ what type of answer should be given?
So why do you want to be a PA?
And what can you offer us if we accept you?
I would love to hear what you have to say, and then I will give you some suggestions.
Stephen
Stephen,
I’m wondering if you could answer the third question for me: What is the difference between a PA and an NP?
I have a hard time with this one. I know NP’s are required to first have a bachelors degree in nursing or a related field where PA’s don’t but it is helpful. There are different teaching philosophies between the two types of providers. NP’s can’t write controlled prescriptions in some states. What am i missing?
I’m curious to see what your thought on this question is. My interview is January 31st if you are available to respond before then.
Thanks!
I don’t think most people really know how to answer this questions because it really varies from state to state and practice to practice, meaning that the scope of practice of an NP can be very similar to a PA or very different depending on where they work.
That being said, NP’s can often practice independently with their license without having to have the direct supervision of an MD. But, as I mentioned this is not always the case. PA’s are trained under a strictly medical model while NP’s are trained under a nursing model. This makes a big difference in philosophy in my experience. But, again so much depends on the background of the NP just as so much depends on the background of the PA. I work with an NP who is an 8 year military veteran and 23 year ICU nurse who went to NP school and looks and acts just like every PA I have ever worked with. I know PA’s who have gone to school with little experience prior to PA school and were a lot more green or vice-versa.
But the basic difference is training, the certification and recertification process, the ability to practice without MD supervision in some states and then specialty placement. NP’s are trained under a nursing model primarily with diagnosis and treatment as an “ad-on”, PA’s are trained as diagnostician’s from the get go, NPs have very little CME requirements and don’t have to take a recertification exam (as far as I know), NP’s may have a chance to practice independently while PA’s don’t, and PA’s are trained to work in any specialty really while NP’s usually are not. You will be hard pressed to find an NP working in cardiothoracic surgery or orthopedics. This is not the case for PA’s.
That is a long and confusing answer I know, I would focus on the latter 1/3’rd of it. I wish you the best on your interview, and also I would recommend reaching out to an NP, even cold-calling one if you have to and asking them why they like their job and what they think the difference is between a PA and an NP. You may be surprised by what you hear…
Best,
Stephen
Why do you want to be a PA?
Need help with this question. My am a doctor from outside U.S. and came to U.S. in 2009 and starting working in Sleep lab as Sleep lab Technician so I can get health care experience and for my survival. On my job, I found about the PA program which i found fascinating. I applied for couple of times but this time I received interview letter. but i am struck on this question. what should i include in my answer.
need help
Hi Aman,
The first thing to do is spend some quiet time thinking about why you want to become a PA. Do some brainstorming. What experiences or people have led you to this career path? Use examples and vignettes to illustrate your point and lend credibility to your decision.
Take out a fresh sheet of paper and write this question at the top: Why do I want to become a physician assistant? Start brainstorming and writing down everything that comes to mind; everything goes.
If you find that you are having a hard time coming up with the answers, then answer the questions below to try and focus your thoughts.
Why don’t I want to become a physician?
Why don’t I want to become a nurse?
Why don’t I want to become a nurse practitioner?
Why don’t I want to become a teacher?
Why don’t I want to become a physical therapist?
Hopefully, you will now have a better understanding of why you want to become a PA. If you are still having difficulty coming up with answers, perhaps you should think hard about choosing this career path.
Also do you know the basics about the profession?
1. How did the PA profession begin?
2. What is a Physician Assistant?
3. How old is the average PA?
4. How are PA’s Trained?
5. Where is the PA profession headed?
You need to know the past, the present and the future, not just of the profession you intend to be a part of but of yourself. Take time to write this out, if you are a doctor you already know how wonderful it feels to be able to help people in their time of need. Use this as your base, if you are doing it just because you can’t or don’t want to be a doctor in the US have a good reason why, the interviewers will be making sure to rule this one out!
Best of luck,
Stephen
12. Question: What have you done to prepare yourself for this profession?
After doing my research on this profession, I became a medical office assistant, shadowed PA’s, and volunteered at my local hospital. Becoming a medical office assistant and shadowing PA’s, I developed a better understanding of the role of a PA. I knew I had limitations, but was able to offer a helping hand when needed. I observed the relationship between the PA and their supervising physician, which I think is important.
Volunteering at my local hospital, I gained a great experience in direct patient care. I understood the importance of Patients Bill of Rights and HIPAA. Building a rapport with the patients and asking them general questions, I felt I made a difference in their day. I am learning about different diseases, medical terminologies, and much more.
21. Question: How do you usually deal with stress?
I am deeply involved in my faith in God; therefore, I pray when I am under a great deal of stress. Talking to Him calms my nerves and I am able to open my eyes and mind when I do not understand something.
If an individual is causing me stress, I have learned that communication is the best way to deal with the problem. If communication doesn’t work, then asking to remove myself from the group will be ideal.
Wonderful answers Lucy! It is so true about communication, and listening and then taking the time to step away for a moment and re-evaluate a situation…. and yes there is power in faith and prayer!
Stephen
Stephen,
Thanks for putting up these questions. It helps to have an idea of what sorts of things will be asked during a PA interview. Would you have any advice for a person like myself that was “just” told 3 days ago that I have an interview tomorrow? Yikes! Very short notice, so I feel as if I have been short-handed in not having the time to prep for the interview process. The original date was conflicting with a bunch of things on my schedule, so this was the best they could do. I mean, heck, even the suit I just picked out is not even that great ;/
Thanks!
Hi Robert,
Sorry I couldn’t reply sooner… We would all love to hear how your interview went!
There is a saying that the time it takes to achieve a certain task, or even prepare for one as in this case, swells to the time allotted. Sometimes less time is not a problem, especially when it comes to an interview. My advice would have been to simply listen… Listen to what the interviewers are asking you, and instead of trying to dig into a “grab-bag” of predetermined answers, try to answer from your heart. Honesty, integrity, and a genuine sense of purposeful intention… These traits shine.
Often we become so wrapped up in trying to figure out just what it is the interviewers are going to “want” to hear, we lose ourselves along the way. The traits that make us unique, interesting and different we try to cover either out of shame or a feeling of inadequacy. If we take a deep breath and understand that life itself is what prepares us, we should have little fear. Everyone’s life is unique, and filled with the kinds of experiences that prepared you for your interview. Most of the problems arise, when we forget this and try to be the candidate we think is better than ourselves. And it never is.
Stephen
Could someone explain question to me, number 44:
Question: What was the most difficult question they asked you at Bowman Gray?
Thanks for all the help!
Bowman Gray School of Medicine – PA Program in Winston Salem, NC – The question is an example of what would be asked of an applicant who had applied to Bowman Gray as well and had an interview prior to this one.
Stephen
12. Question: What have you done to prepare yourself for this profession?
After doing my research on this profession, I became a medical office assistant, shadowed PA’s, and volunteered at my local hospital. Becoming a medical office assistant and shadowing PA’s, I developed a better understanding of the role of a PA. I knew I had limitations, but was able to offer a helping hand when needed. I observed the relationship between the PA and their supervising physician, which I think is important.
Volunteering at my local hospital, I gained a great experience in direct patient care. I understood the importance of Patients Bill of Rights and HIPAA. Building a rapport with the patients and asking them general questions, I felt I made a difference in their day. I am learning about different diseases, medical terminologies, and much more.
21. Question: How do you usually deal with stress?
I am deeply involved in my faith in God; therefore, I pray when I am under a great deal of stress. Talking to Him calms my nerves and I am able to open my eyes and mind when I do not understand something.
If an individual is causing me stress, I have learned that communication is the best way to deal with the problem. If communication doesn’t work, then asking to remove myself from the group will be ideal.
I’m interested in Stephen’s response to John’s attempt at #35. I was intrigued by the notion that I would be certain the MD’s instruction was dead wrong – not that MDs don’t make mistakes but my inclination would be to confess my confusion and ask my supervising MD to walk me through how that was going to work, step by step. This might be a real learning opportunity for me or, in explaining it to me (and answering the myriad questions I would pose), the MD might get the chance to evaluate his plan and change course in the event that we weren’t able navigate our way to success following the path he originally chose. This presumes my supervising MD is confident enough to reconsider a directive but it also puts the MD in a teaching role and offers them the chance to reconsider without having to defend the decision. I imagine preserving the relationship one has with one’s supervising MD is critical for the PA.
Here is Johns Response to Question 35:
“If my supervising MD told me something that was dead wrong, I would ask him if he was sure about the statement or decision he was making. I would state my opinion on the matter and pull any evidence I could to support my point.
If I knew it would endanger the patient or another employee, I would bring it to the attention of a supervisor or another MD so we could all come to a reasonable conclusion on the matter.”
My Response:
In real life it usually isn’t this clear cut and rarely does an MD ask you to do something that is “dead wrong”, usually it is medically reasonable but a difference of opinion or technique. I have been in a few “heated” debates with my supervisor but it is usually over technicalities. I have the same kind of debates with my wife 🙂
That being said, if my supervising physician asked me to do something that was dead wrong and could cause harm I would tell her that I am not comfortable with that treatment plan and would not execute it. If I was sure that it would be harmful I would have no qualm’s about telling both the patient and the appropriate third party.
The most important point of question 35: It is our job to always place the patient first!
– Stephen
31. Question: What are your strengths as an applicant?’
My strengths as an applicant are that I am highly motivated and passionate about what I love doing. Taking care of patients has always been what drives me to become a physician assistant and has always been my favorite part of my journey. I am very studious, as my studies have always come first because I know that I must be well educated in order to serve my patients to the best of my abilities. I am a compassionate person and listen to all my patient’s concerns because though I may not see it, they could be in a lot of pain and I must do my best to treat them to improve their health.
38. Question: What did you learn from your overseas internship/experience?
A few months ago, I volunteered in a week long clinic in Lima, Peru with a group called MEDLIFE. Our purpose was to provide medical and dental care , pharmacy, and education to individuals living in poverty in the mountains outside of the city. In addition, we built a staircase for the community as they told us countless stories of miscarriages occurring because the mothers slipped on the steep terrain heading to their homes. This experience opened my eyes to true poverty and suffering. It was normal to see children and adults with parasites and numerous cavities and rotting teeth. I learned from this experience the importance of having accessibility to healthcare resources and not to take them for granted. This trip taught me that there are those less fortunate out there and that I should do my best to help them in anyway possible. From this experience, I want to do my best to lessen the suffering of the patients that I see and to provide the best quality care that I am capable of as just little can go such a long way.
Wonderful. What an experience in Peru!
Question 35:
If my supervising MD told me something that was dead wrong, I would ask him if he was sure about the statement or decision he was making. I would state my opinion on the matter and pull any evidence I could to support my point. If I knew it would endanger the patient or another employee, I would bring it to the attention of a supervisor or another MD so we could all come to a reasonable conclusion on the matter.
Question 40: Have you ever seen anyone die?
As an EMT, I remember a specific occasion where I responded to a shooting not far from my campus. The person was just recently shot and lying on the ground (I don’t know if I should go into too much detail describing the scene to the interviewers). After performing CPR and maintaining an open airway, we could not bring the patient back. The next day, I found out that many of my friends knew the kid and it hit me a little more personally. I assured them and myself that I did all that I could to bring the student back, but his wound was too severe to survive. This experienced shaped me in that I realized in how fast and young a life can be taken away. This experience taught me that as a PA, I should do my best to eliminate suffering and do my best to prolong the life of every patient as something so sudden as a gunshot could take it all away.
Should I add more details about my feelings or actions during this scenario to the committee? It definitely had a major impact on me as a healthcare provider.
I would also add that as a PA we must accept that death is part of life, and that our goal is not necessary to prolong life but to help people live the best life they can with the small amount of time we have been given. A big part of this of course is helping people to achieve their health potential. In the case of trauma it is our job to do all that we can do to save our patient and give them the best care possible. But in the end it is not always about life, it can be just as much about helping people through the process of dying, and helping their friends and relatives through this tough time as well.
Your experience as an EMT sounds profound and life changing, just be honest and don’t second guess your feelings, if you do this there is no wrong or right answer (at least in my humble opinion).
Great answers by the way!
Stephen
Hi!
Just wanted to say your site is amazing! I wish I had found it prior to interviewing but it is just as helpful as someone who starts PA school in the fall 🙂
I would say I heard about 80% of those questions in my three interviews whether it was the written or oral section.
Keep up the awesome entries! It reminds me of why I’m doing what I’m doing!
Thanks so much Emily, I really appreciate your kind words! Best of luck on your journey through PA school, it is truly an adventure of a lifetime!!
Stephen
5. How many hours a week do you plan on studying?
I consider attending physician assistant school a full time job that requires mandatory overtime. This meaning that I will be in class approximately 40 hours a week, and expect to spend an average of three to four hours studying on a week night, and five to seven hours on Saturdays and Sundays. I am also prepared that some weeks may require more studying than this depending on the number of exams and quizzes scheduled. My main objective it to study as much as needed to be prepared for all examinations.
Tell me what your typical day looks like?
On a typical day I wake up at 6:30 to get ready and be at work by 7:45. Usually around 8:15 I begin to prepare for my first patient of the day. A typical day in the office is spent conducting allergy testing, administering allergy injections, educating patients on their at home immunotherapy treatment, speaking with insurance companies to verify insurance benefits, and conferring with my office’s physician about patient concerns and treatment plans. After work I go home, eat dinner, and then unwind by doing some sort of physical activity. I enjoy doing different workout videos, trying new fitness classes, walking at the local track with a group of friends, or going to the gym. This time allows me to relax, clear my head, and puts me in a great mood. Then I try to be home at 9:30 so I can get everything together for the next day, and get eight hours of rest.
I would only suggest that you simplify your response to question #5. How many hours a week do you plan on studying?
Time is not as important as comprehension in this case. “I am willing to spend as man hours as it takes to master the material”
How many hours a week do you plan on doing anything that is of #1 importance in your life… and the answer is pretty much always: “As long as it takes”!
I like your typical day response… Very good!!!
Sephen
1. What is a PA
A physician assistant is a mid-level provider that works as a member of the health care team in collaboration with a physician. A PA’s career has a balance of autonomy and dependence.
2. Why do you want to be a PA
Through my experiences as a home care aide, and a clinical allergy specialist I have enjoyed interacting with patients, working closely physicians and other healthcare professionals, and gaining knowledge about medical conditions and treatment. Pursuing a career as a physician assistant will allow me to continue these activities more in-depth. As a PA I want to give patients more than just a prescription and a diagnosis code. I want to encourage my patients to take action and invest themselves in their own health that will yield much more significant results than any pill.
Wonderful answers Sarah!