Top 100 Interview Questions for PA School

Interview Questions for PA School:

Here are my top 100 interview questions that I have come up with from personal experience and research.  During Mock Interviews, we run through some of these questions and any others that may be specific to your application, and then discuss your answers to determine any flaws or weaknesses.  It's also important to identify any bad habits you may have.  Comment below with your answers to these questions and we can evaluate your answers!

For more questions and interview advice, check out the Physician Assistant School Interview Guide and the Physician Assistant School Interview Course.

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Traditional Questions

1. Tell me a little bit about yourself.

2. Why do you want to be a PA? (as opposed to a doctor or NP?)

3. What is the difference in the nursing model and medical model for teaching?

4. What does a PA do?

5. What makes you a good candidate for our program?

6. What qualities or skills do you have that you think would make you a valuable student and classmate?

7. What would you bring to the class?

8. How have you prepared to be an effective PA?

9. What do you think is the biggest challenge facing PAs?

10. Why do you think you would be successful in PA school?

11. How do you study best?

12. How do you deal with stress?

13. How are your time management skills?

14. What was your most challenging course of undergrad and why?

15. Why do you want to go to this specific school?

16. What is appealing about “location” of school?

17. What are you looking for in a PA program?

18. Have you applied elsewhere?

19. What is your biggest weakness?

20. What is your biggest strength?

21. Do you work better by yourself or with others?

22. Is there a specific specialty or ideal job that you see yourself in as a PA?

23. What qualities make a successful PA?

24. How do you feel Obamacare will influence PAs?

25. How do you see the role of PAs changing in the future?

26. What are some difficulties that you feel like PAs are facing?

27. Do you feel like you would be limited by any of the regulations on PAs either nationally or in the state you plan to work in?

28. Are there any laws that you feel like limit the PA profession unfairly?

29. Are there any laws that you feel should be passed to further the progression of the PA profession?

30. How would having a family/children affect your performance in PA school?  (This is a valid question if you mentioned anything about this in your personal statement, or if you bring it up.)

31. How do you think being a younger/older applicant may affect your performance in the program?

32. Tell me about your support system?

33. What are your plans if you are not accepted to a PA program this year.  

34. What are your thoughts on the newer online PA programs?

35. What are your thoughts on the new bridge programs from PA to MD?

36. What are your thoughts on the name “physician assistant,” and the push for a name change to "physician associate." 

37. Tell me about your support system

38. Reassure me that you are not going to fail out

39. What do you know about the history of the PA profession.

40. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

41. Can you explain your….lower grade/low GRE/lack of shadowing or HCE?

42. If you could do anything differently in undergrad, what would it be?

43. Who is the most important member on a healthcare team?

44. What are your goals in medicine?

45. Tell me about the last physician you worked for.  

46. What are some possible negative parts of being a PA?

47. When did you decide to pursue PA school?

48. Was there anything unique you observed while shadowing?

49. Define professionalism.  

Behavioral Questions

1. What is the most selfless thing you have done?

2. Describe a time when you have had to overcome adversity.

3. If a student fails a test, is it the student’s fault or the teacher’s fault?

4. Describe a situation you have had with a difficult patient.

5. Describe a situation with a patient that had a significant impact on you.  

6. How do you deal with high stress situations.  Give an example

7. Describe a time that you have struggled academically, and how you dealt with it.

8. Your supervising MD asks you to go administer a medication to a patient.  You do not agree with his decision and feel it could harm the patient.  What do you do?

9. You see a co-worker taking medication from the dispense cart and putting it in their bag.  What do you do?  

10. You are at a baseball game and the woman in front of you has a very suspicious mole that you suspect could be melanoma.  What do you do?

11. You are in a surgery and the anesthesiologist starts making inappropriate comments about the patient once they are asleep.  What do you do in this situation?

12. A patient you are seeing insists on seeing an MD.  How do you handle this?

13. Describe a situation you have had with a patient who made an impact on you.  

14. You have a patient who is not proficient in English, and you do not know their language.  What can you do to assist with their difficulties?

15. Describe a time you had to make an ethical decision.  

16. You’re in an OR and have suspicions that the surgeon may be intoxicated.  What do you do?

17. You are about to leave for the day and realize that you gave a patient medicine they are allergic to.  What do you do?

18. You are seeing a Jehovah’s Witness patient that does not accept blood transfusions due to religious reasons, but it would be life saving.  What do you do?

19. Your patient is diagnosed with HIV, but doesn’t want to tell their partner.  What do you do?

20. A classmate offers you an old exam they have before the test.  What do you do?

21. Tell me about a time you’ve had to use teamwork to solve a problem.  

22. Do you think it’s more important to get patients seen or spend time with patients?

23. You prescribed a 13 year old birth control, and the pt’s mother calls and is angry.  What do you say?

24. Sometimes you may disagree from others in instances that you think they may be making a mistake.  Talk about a time when you had to disagree with someone else to get a positive outcome.  

25. Give an example of a situation in which you did more than was expected of you.  

Multiple Mini Interviews (MMI)

1. If you were a tree, what kind would you be and why?

2. If you were a color, what color would you be and why?

3. If you were dressing up to go on a halloween party for kids, what would you dress up as and why?

4. Who, living or dead, would you invite to dinner and what would you serve them?

5. What kind of car would you be?

6. What would you do if you hit your neighbor’s dog?

7. Give directions to someone for how to put on gloves

8. Help this student complete the following task…

9. Interpret the graph shown in the room.

10. You discover that one of your classmates has become romantically involved and moved into a house with her community-based clinical preceptor in your health professions training program. What should be done, if anything? Enter the room and discuss your position with the interviewer. (Jones, et al., 2011)

11. A friend in your class tells you his mother was recently diagnosed with breast cancer.  He is overwhelmed by his studies and may drop out of the program to spend time with his mother.  How do you counsel your friend?

12. Joe is a pizza delivery worker. The pizza shop he works for has a 30 minutes or less delivery guarantee or else the customer does not have to pay. On Joe’s most recent delivery, he spots a woman bleeding on the street. There is no one else around and the woman seems to be unable to move by herself. However, Joe knows that if he returns empty handed again, he will be fired from this job which he most desperately needs. What do you think Joe should do? Justify your solution in terms of practical and ethical considerations.

13. “Liberation Therapy” (LT), a vascular operation developed to potentially cure multiple sclerosis (MS) in certain patients, has recently come under very serious criticism - delaying its widespread use. Among other experimental flaws, critics cite a small sample size in the original evidence used to support LT. As a healthcare policy maker, your job is to weigh the pros and cons in approving novel drugs and therapies. Please discuss the issues you would consider during an approval process for LT.

14. Because of federal and provincial subsidy policies and return-of-service agreements, international medical graduates (IMGs) now make up an increasingly large proportion of rural doctors. As a consequence, the shortage of doctors in rural areas has prompted many family medicine residencies to increase their quotas for IMGs in their programs. Effectively, this development is leading to a relative reduction in spots available for Canadian medical graduates. Please discuss the pros and cons of such a development.

15. Discuss one of your pastimes outside of school and how the skills you acquired from this activity will help you in your career.

16. You are a family physician seeing Jane, a 67 year old woman with a recent history of multiple fragility fractures. You diagnose her with osteoporosis and prescribe some bisphosphonate drugs and other pharmacological treatments. Jane tells you that she has heard some good things over the internet about alternative medicine treatments such as Chinese medicine, and she is adamant on trying these as well. You are concerned about the use of these alternative medicine treatments and the possible negative effects they could have on Jane’s health. How would you handle the situation and what would you recommend Jane do? Discuss any ethical considerations that are present.

17. You are on the committee for selecting a new Dean of Science. What characteristics and/or qualities would you look for when selecting an effective dean?

18. In June 2011, the infamous Vancouver riots took place after their hockey team lost in the Stanley Cup Finals. Stores were ransacked and cars were burned. Hundreds of people were injured and sent to overcrowded hospitals. As the police chief in Vancouver, what measures or policies would you put in place to make sure this does not happen again?

19. Clostridium Difficile (C. difficile) is a type of bacteria that increases its activity with most antibiotic use, and is therefore very difficult to treat. Research shows that the most effective way to prevent the spread of infection is frequent hand washing. However, many people have flat-out refused to wash their hands in hospitals. The government is contemplating passing a policy to make it mandatory for people entering hospitals to wash their hands or else risk not being seen by doctors and being escorted out of the building against their will. Do you think the government should go ahead with this plan? Consider and discuss the legal, ethical or practical problems that exist for each action option and conclude with a persuasive argument supporting your decision.

20. Discuss an experience that allowed you to learn something important about yourself. How will this lesson help you succeed in your career?

Random Questions

1. If you could have any other job, besides being a PA, what would you do.

2. If you were to win the lottery for 100 million dollars.  What would you do? Would you still want to be a PA?

3. What is the last book you read.

4. What is your life saying?

5. What are your hobbies outside of school?

6. Is there anything else I need to know about you?

Now that you have an idea of the questions your interview is going to ask, put yourself on the spot with a mock interview! These interviews are conducted by practicing PAs who have been right where you are now.

A One-on-One Mock Interview includes:

• 60 minutes total with a practicing PA

• Personalized interview experience based on your application

• Tips and techniques for your specific interview

• 20-30 minutes of questions

• Feedback following Q&A session

• Written report with questions, answers, and feedback

• Instructions to record session on Windows or Mac

Resources

• http://www.thepalife.com/the-top-46-physician-assistant-applicant-interview-questions/

• http://sciencepreps.iupui.edu/physician-assistant-program-interview-questions

• http://sciencepreps.iupui.edu/physician-assistant-program-interview-questions

• http://doseofpa.blogspot.com/2014/03/physician-assistant-school-interview.html

• https://www.aaspa.com/page.asp?tid=153&name=Preparing-for-an

• http://career.utk.edu/CS/wp-content/uploads/pdf/PA-School-Interview-Questions.pdf

• http://multipleminiinterview.com/mmi-questions/
  
  

What is CASPA?

The word "CASPA" gets thrown around a lot when the topic of applying to PA school comes up, so today we'll look at what it is exactly, and what that application entails.

CASPA stands for the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants.  So basically, it is an online application service that schools use to have students complete their applications.  The majority of programs use CASPA, but here is a list of who is currently participating.  It also shows all of the deadlines for particular programs.  In addition to the CASPA application, some programs will require a supplemental application as well, so it's important to check with the programs you're applying to.  The supplemental application is sometimes required with the CASPA application, or it can be done after submitting CASPA.  Occasionally, you will not have to do a supplemental until you are given an interview. The application opens during April, and stays open until the following March, but each program has a different deadline for submission that you need to pay attention to.

CASPA is solely a place to input information, so it does not provide the various requirements for each program, like prerequisites or healthcare experience requirements.  These are things you'll have to look at yourself for each program because you don't want to waste your money applying somewhere that you don't have the qualifications.   Most programs use "rolling admissions," which means that as soon as your application is complete it will be reviewed by the program, which means the sooner you get your application in the better!  It can take a few weeks for "processing," so don't wait until the last minute and communicate with your references the importance of getting their part in as soon as possible.

Information you will need for CASPA:

• References - Programs have different requirements as far as the number of references and who they need to be from. The choices typically include a supervisor from a healthcare setting, a PA you have shadowed, or a professor. Sometimes they don't really care, but make sure to check each separate program to see if they are particular about this. The references are done electronically, so you will need the e-mail address of your reference. It's a good idea to let them know to expect the e-mail so they can check their junk mail and it won't get lost in their inbox. You are able to have 3-5 references.

• Transcripts - You will need to have a transcript sent from anywhere that you have done undergraduate coursework. It's also helpful to have a copy of these for yourself to fill in that information on CASPA. If you are still working on prerequisites, you will have to send another copy when you have completed them to the actual program.

• Personal Statement- 5,000 character limit (about 650 words). This is your chance to tell the programs about yourself, so they can find out if they want to know more about you or put a face to those words. It needs to tell a story and paint a good picture of who you are and why you want to be a PA. If you need help with writing your personal statement or editing, please let me know!

• Experience - And the categories are Patient Care Experience, Health Care Experience, Shadowing, Employment, Research, Volunteer. This is why it's a good idea to keep very detailed records of where and when you did any of these, along with how many hours and any supervisors you may have had, as well as a description of what you actually did.

Although it was not working for the current 2015-2016 cycle, for the next cycle, if you were to have to reapply, CASPA will save all of your information so it will be a lot easier.  But we'll just stay positive about not having to reapply!

The fee for CASPA is $175 for the first program you apply to, and then $50 for each additional program during that cycle.  That can add up quickly, so make sure you have the qualifications for a program before you apply.  (**My only caveat for that is if there is a program you are extremely interested in, but don't quite have the requirements yet, it may be worth it to apply and then when you reapply the next year, you'll be a much more competitive candidate and a reapplicant.  Just my personal opinion though.)  There are some fee waivers available that are based on income, but they typically run out quickly.  This gives you a $175 credit for the first application.  If you are given a waiver, your application must be completed within 14 days of receiving it.

There's an extremely thorough site that goes through basically everything you need to know to set up a CASPA account and then all of the information you will need to fill out your application, so I would definitely recommend checking this site out at some point.  The earlier the better, because then you'll know a little better what to expect.

A blog post with some tips on completing CASPA.  

There's even a Twitter account and Facebook page you can follow if you want updates on CASPA.  I would love to hear about your experiences with CASPA and any tips you have for making it a smooth process!

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PA School vs Medical School

So if you know you want to do something in the medical field, you've probably looked at many different options.  There's medical school, dental school, physician assistant, occupational therapy, physical therapy, nursing or nurse practitioner, anesthesiologist assistant, pathology assistant, and probably tons more of options.  So when it comes down to it, you have to decide what you want your role in medicine to be.  I'm mainly going to compare PA school and medical school because that's what I'm the most familiar with.  And if you decide to become a PA, you will quickly become tired of hearing "So when are you going to medical school?" or "When will you be a real doctor?"

I have an interesting perspective because I graduated from PA school a year ago, and my husband is currently a 4th year medical student.  So I've personally been involved in both sides and seen the differences and the advantages and disadvantages to both.  I've seen the preparation, application process, didactic and clinical years, as well as the steps that follow.  Both programs are incredibly competitive, but it comes down to deciding where you fit in the best and what you would be happy doing as a career. I did a post for Doximity about why I specifically chose PA over MD.

Preparation (prerequisites, experience, etc.):  For the most part, the prerequisite classes are the same for both PA school medical school.  In some cases, PA programs will have more requirements based on the fact that the program is accelerated and so there isn't time to review a lot of the information that is reviewed in medical school.  PA programs expect you to come in well-prepared by your undergraduate coursework.   Volunteer work is necessary for both PA school and medical school, but when it comes to direct patient care experience, PA programs typically require this while medical school does not.

Application process:   So for medical school, you have to take the MCAT.  For PA school, you will most likely need to take the GRE, but some programs do not have a required test or will accept the MCAT.  Most medical schools have an early application process, whereas PA programs tend to have different application time cycles due to starting at different times throughout the year.  Most medical schools start in the fall.

Education:  Medical school is much more extensive than PA school.  A lot of the same material is covered, but there are certain subjects that are not addressed in PA school. In PA school, you jump right into clinical subjects usually after reviewing anatomy, physiology, and statistics.  In general, medical school is much more competitive than PA school.

• Medical school: This consists of 4 years, including 2 didactic years and then 2 clinical years. Typically didactic years are classes from 8-12 daily with some small groups for learning physical exam throughout. Most medical schools record the lectures and do not require attendance at lecture. The first summer there are no classes, which allows for different experiences, including research or working in the hospital. The 2nd summer there is a required test called Step 1, which is a major determinant of where you can do residency and what specialty you are able to pursue. The 3rd year is full of clinicals with tests at the end of each one. Step 2 is another test that must be taken either between 3rd and 4th year or sometime during 4th year. The 4th year is a little more relaxed as far as required rotations, but this is when students are applying for residencies and attending interviews. In March of the 4th year, there is a Match Day, where students find out where they will be doing residency. Following graduation, you are required to complete a residency in the area you choose/can get into for a certain number of years. Residencies are paid and you are at that point an MD, but still a student. This is where you really learn the tools of the trade and how to operate independently.

• PA school: Most PA programs are 24-36 months long. They are non-stop with no semesters or quarters off. The first part is didactic, and classes are typically 8-5 most days, with small groups mixed in throughout the week. This portion is very intense with at least one test a week. As far as I know, the majority of PA programs have required attendance to all lectures. There are often policies in place that do not allow students to work while in PA school due to the rigorous nature of the program. The second year/half consists of clinical rotations in different fields very similar to medical school and likely with medical students. There are no required tests during PA school, just boards at the end. There is no required residency following PA school, so there is no requirement to pick a specific specialty. There are some residencies available if that is something you are interested in.

The Actual Job: Although PAs do have many of the responsibilities and roles that physicians have, there are also a good amount of differences, and this is where it comes down to choosing which one would fit you better.  With both, you have the option of choosing what setting you want to work in, whether hospital or clinic.  Both are able to prescribe medications, although some states do limit privileges for certain classes, including narcotics.   One major difference is that physicians must pick a certain specialty and train for that before starting, and there is not much room to move around between specialties without going back to school.  As a physician, you are able to own a practice no matter what state you are in.  There are some states that PAs are able to run their own clinics, but they are more limited.  If you are someone who needs the final say and wants to have more extensive knowledge about one subject and know what you want to do, then medical school may be better for you.  There are certainly times that I regret not having the residency experience and wish that I had that extensive knowledge, but I am getting that on the job instead.  If you are more of a team player and like the idea of having someone available to answer questions, then you would do fine as a PA.   Personally, the thought of 7+ more years of school and having to choose one thing to do stressed me out and made me want to avoid medicine, so the benefits of PA school really appealed to me.  The level of independence a PA has really depends on the supervising physician and specialty, but there are definitely PAs who function mostly on their own and do surgery as well.

If you need more direction, listen to this podcast episode featuring an interview with Dr. Ryan Gray from MedicalSchoolHQ where we discuss PA vs MD. 

I hope this sheds some light on the differences between PA school and medical school and helps to push you in one direction if you are on the fence.  Let me know if you have any specific questions about either type of program!

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Prerequisites for PA School

When it comes to the classes required to get into PA school, most programs are pretty similar across the board.  Occasionally one program will be more picky than another or have more required courses, but the basics tend to be the same.

If you already have a Bachelor's degree and are going back to take classes, it will be easier to pick and choose what you need.  Some schools require that courses be done within a certain time frame (like the last 5 or 10 years), while others will accept coursework no matter when it was done.  This is definitely something to look when deciding where to apply if your undergraduate work was done some time ago.

If you are working on your degree and know you want to go to PA school (or do something medical), you have a choice of what major to choose.  There are many majors that will also require the majority of prerequisites needed for PA school, and although it would be wise and most time efficient to choose one of these, you may have other interests that you would like to pursue as well.  I majored in Biology, but in my graduating class there were all kinds of degrees, including Math and Accounting.  Some other majors to consider would be Chemistry, Health Promotion, Biological Science, or Kinesiology.  Your school may have some other specific majors that would get you what you need as well.  So it's not really what your major is that matters, it's what classes you take.

So the basic classes you will need for PA school are typically as follows:

• Biology w/ lab - usually 2 semesters
• General chemistry w/ lab - usually 2 semesters
• Anatomy and Physiology w/ lab - usually 2 semesters of a combined course or one of each if they are separate
• Statistics or Biostatistics - Some schools will only accept one of these so be sure to check the program's website and if you still are not clear, call the program and ask specifically

Classes you might need, and should consider taking if possible:

• Psychology
• Organic chemistry and/or biochemistry w/ lab - (Organic chemistry II was my only C+ in college, and it was miserable, so unless you have a deep love for chemistry, avoid this if possible.   Mine was part of my Biology major so it was not an option.)
• Microbiology w/ lab
• Other science electives

It is a good idea to check the website of any program you are interested in and the prerequisites should be clearly listed, and then crosscheck this with courses you have already taken or what is required for your major.  My biology major only counted Anatomy as a general elective, so I ended up taking over the summer since it was basically just extra.  I was concerned about taking it at a different school than UGA, so I called ask the programs I was interested in if that was ok, and the consensus was that as long as I had the prerequisites, it didn't matter where it was at.

As daunting as the coursework may seem, it is really to your benefit when you start PA school.  It's so fast paced that there isn't time to review everything from undergrad, and they need you ready to go and familiar with science basics.  Most medical schools don't even require anatomy or some of these other courses, but it's because they study anatomy for an entire year, while PA students typically do it in 1 semester!  These are tough classes, so if you are able to spread them out, that may be in your favor if you are able to get better grades.  In some cases schools want at least a C or B, no matter what your overall GPA is.  So start planning as soon as possible to get all of your classes done to be ready to apply!

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What is a PA?

I assume that everyone who visits this site knows what a PA is, but that may not necessarily be true.  The public is still somewhat uneducated about PAs and their capabilities, and as anyone interested in the profession it is our job to educate people.  I often get asked, "So when are you going to be a real doctor?" or "Are you going back to medical school?" so there is a true misconception of the education and role of PAs.

PA stands for physician assistant.  Although some people don't like the term "mid-level," I think it is a pretty good description for the role of PAs.  PAs have more education and are taught differently than nurses, but do not go through the rigorous training of residency that physicians have.  Nurses are educated in a holistic way so they can provide the best care possible to the patient, but they are not able to diagnose or treat patients.  They basically receive orders for a specific patient, and ensure that the patient is cared for according to the doctor's plan.  Physicians go through 4 years of medical school, then choose a specific specialty, and then complete a residency that can range from 3-12 years, and sometimes more.

The majority of PA programs require an undergraduate degree, and then offer a Masters.  PA programs are typically 2-3 years of very intense school, and then you are able to choose whether to do a residency or get a job.  The idea of PA residencies is fairly new, so the majority of new grads go straight into a position.  To become a certified PA, there is a national test that students must pass, and then they must be certified by the state they work for.  This must be maintained with recertification exams and keeping up with continuing education and state standards.

PAs have a supervising physician (SP) who oversees them to some degree and a lot of that depends on the state they are in.  For example, in Georgia the supervising physician must review 80% of notes written by PAs, but in South Carolina the supervising physician just has to review the notes occasionally with no specific requirement.  This website has a great graphic that shows the scope of practice for each state specifically.  The level of independence of PAs will vary based on the trust of the SP, specialty, experience, and state.  Personally, I have my own clinic schedule and I see all of my patients by myself.  If something difficult comes up, my SP is always available to discuss the case or pop in if necessary.  If I have any down time, I try to help her out as well.

PAs are similar to physicians in many ways.  They are able to see patients independently, take a history, make a diagnosis, decide on treatment, and prescribe medications.  There are also PAs who perform procedures and surgeries after adequate training.  In some states, there are restrictions on what medications PAs can prescribe, specifically pain medications.

Sources:

https://aapa.org/what-is-a-pa/

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Book Review: Still Alice

I finished Still Alice by Lisa Genova yesterday, and it surprisingly didn't turn out to be quite as sad as I had expected!

The premise of this book is a psychology professor at Harvard is diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's and it goes through her journey from pre-diagnosis, diagnosis, and progression of the disease, as well as her family's reactions.  As an intelligent woman, Alice has a very difficult time with coming to terms with her disease.  This book paints a very accurate picture of how Alzheimer's may affect both a patient and the patient's family.

Alice starts by normally living her life and will just occasionally have some lapses in memory, but it's not until she gets lost on a route she runs daily that she realizes something is wrong.  Alzheimer's starts with the small things and slowly progresses to be a debilitating disease.  This book gave me much more empathy and understanding as to why Alzheimer's patients experience some of the symptoms they do.  Distrust was a big one, and I love the way this book showed how that can happen.  The brain is so powerful that it's almost scary.

Still Alice

By Lisa Genova

Buy on Amazon

When first finding out about the possible diagnosis, Alice's husband says, "I think you jumped the going to see a neurologist.  He looks at your set of symptoms and sees Alzheimer's, but that's what he's trained to see, it doesn't mean he's right."  This stood out to me because I think this is how a lot of patients feel when they go to the doctor, so it's our job to instill trust in our patients so they feel that we are treating them as individuals, and not just a disease.

As a PA student,  Still Alice gives a great view of patient-doctor relations and multiple Mini Mental Status Exams (MMSE).  These are simple tests that can be done to judge a patient's cognitive function, and the decline is seen very clearly in this book.  It also discussed treatments that are being used currently for Alzheimer's. Alice describes it this way - "Alzheimer's disease was an entirely different kind of beast.  There were no weapons that could slay it.  Taking Aricept and Namenda felt like aiming a couple of leaky squirt guns in the face of a blazing fire."

This book gave me hope that the research being done presently will result in a cure and better medications for Alzheimer's, and hopefully sooner rather than later.  This article shows that they have found changes of Alzheimer's occur much sooner than symptoms show up, so treatment could be starting much sooner as well.  In Alice's case, if treatment had begun earlier, it could have potentially slowed down the disease process.

I definitely recommend this book for anyone in the medical field or interested in medicine, or anyone who wants a better understanding of what exactly Alzheimer's entails.  A movie was recently made from this book as well!

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International Healthcare Experience

Who doesn't love to travel??  International healthcare trips can give you the opportunity to both travel and get the HCE that you need for PA school.  I think if you have the opportunity (aka - time and financial means) to get some experience abroad you should go for it!  These trips give you a cultural outlook on healthcare and the chance to see conditions that you might not encounter frequently in the United States.  Many times the medications and treatment options are more limited when you are in the field, which means you learn more about specific treatments and what they are useful for.  These trips can be a way to get a lot of hours as well.  If you're doing clinic for 10 hours a day for 5 days, that's going to get you 50 hours in 1 week!  It also gives you awesome subject matter for your interviews.  And amazing views like below (La Romana, Dominican Republic).

There are some cautions you should take before deciding to go on an international healthcare trip.  You do want to choose an area where you will be safe, and you want to travel with a group that is well-established.  These trips can be quite expensive, and you don't want to waste your time or money.  While on a trip, you also want to be cautious to only practice to a level you feel comfortable.  Sometimes countries have standards that are slightly different, and although you are learning, I would recommend not doing anything that you shouldn't be doing as a student or have no training to do, basically anything you wouldn't do in the States.  I've heard of people actually getting turned away from medical programs because they mentioned doing procedures during interviews that they probably should not have been doing (circumcisions, tooth extractions, etc.) and that was considered unethical.

Sometimes your bus might get stuck in a ditch on the way to clinic ^^^, and then all you can see for miles are fields (see below).
 

Financially, international trips can be expensive between the trip cost, flights, and spending money.  You could always work to raise this money, ask for funds as Christmas or birthday presents from family and friends, or even try a Kickstarter or FundMe.  Many people questions why you would spend thousands of dollars when there are plenty of people to help here in America.  Well, after one trip you'll be hooked.  It's so worth it to see how appreciative the patients are and how much it means to them that you would travel so far to help them.  It also opens your eyes to the needs of others in a whole new way when you are seeing people who don't have all of the material items and distractions that we have daily.  My biggest take home point was that no matter where you live or what you have, we all have the same healthcare issues.  It's very unifying.

The biggest thing to know and prepare for before you go on a trip is to BE FLEXIBLE!  After being on a few different mission trips, I have learned that it is rare for everything to go perfectly, and it's a lot easier if you accept that before you go.  As part of my internal medicine rotation, I was able to go for a week to the Dominican Republic on a trip with a few of the medical students at MCG (including my husband).  We had sent money ahead of time so they would have supplies and medications for us to use during clinic, but when we got there, we had nothing!  How were we supposed to hold clinics with no medications?  By the grace of God, another team at our base had miraculously ended up with over twice as many supplies as they needed and they were so kind to share with us.  Everything worked out!  But it was a little dicey for a little while there.

So the majority of these trips operate in similar ways.  You have a home base in whatever country you are going to, and from there you go to different areas to set up clinics each day. At these clinics, patients show up and wait to see a provider.  Sometimes there may be stations for vaccines or de-worming of children.  There can be hundreds of patients in a clinic during one day, but other days may be much slower.  At one of our sites, all of the men were out in the fields, so we only saw women, children, and the elderly.  There's usually a "free day" as well where you get to explore or do something fun.

This picture is of the first time I ever tried lobster, which was amazingly fresh and delicious, and on the beach seen in the title pic.    This was on our day off in the DR and we took a boat trip all around different islands and had a surf and turf BBQ on the beach.  Lots of sunburns, but totally worth it.

Here are some of the reputable organizations I'm aware of, but there are tons out there!

Rahab's Rope - This is a group out of Athens, GA that focuses on getting women out of sex trafficking in India.  They do 1-2 medically based trips a year.  The founder of this organization spoke to a group I was in while I was in college at UGA and I was just so impressed by their mission and the work they have done so far.  It's one of my goals to go on a trip with them at some point.

Flying Doctors of America - This is an organization that takes trips all over the world!  One of the leader's daughters was in my PA class so he came to speak to us and explain a little about what they do.  The trips seem to be very well organized, and they work hard to make sure the accommodations are safe and comfortable.

Rivers of the World - This is the group that my trip to the Dominican Republic was organized through, and even though we had some bumps in the road, I would still recommend it!  The leaders know what they're doing and the sites are very well established.

And if you aren't able to go on a trip before you start school, there's the chance you can go during rotations!  If this is something you might be interested, be sure to ask the schools you are looking at.  People from my class went to Peru, and the most recent classes have been going to Uganda!  You also want to ask and make sure that these hours will be accepted as direct patient-care experience.

Where have you been on mission trips and what are your tips?

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Healthcare Experience for PA School

  
Healthcare experience (HCE) has become one of the biggest factors that PA schools look at, and some of the requirements are pretty high. For most programs, you're going to need "direct patient-care experience."  This usually does not include shadowing or volunteering, although some require these types of hours as well. It is not uncommon for programs to want at least 1,000 HCE hours.  About 1 year of full-time work will be about 2,000 hours just as a reference.

Before you decide to spend some money and time on any kind of training to get HCE, check with the programs you are interested in to be sure it will count.  There will occasionally be occlusions of certain jobs that you think would possibly count, or the opposite can be true as well.  The program I attended (Georgia Regents) actually accepted hospice volunteering hours as direct patient care, which was nice because it was free.

To become more competitive, I recommend doing some kind of formal training, unless you are able to find a position where they are willing to train you on the job. Occasionally, you can be trained as a medical assistant, scribe, or patient care assistant, but more often than not, you will have a better chance at getting a job if you are certified.  My high school offered an awesome program where you could become a CNA (Certified Nurse Assistant), and unfortunately I did not take advantage of this.  If you are starting out early, good for you! And take advantages of any training you can get as soon as possible.

Being that I still needed some experience, I decided to enroll in a CNA program.  These typically will be either condensed over a few weeks during the day or at night or spread out to accommodate different schedules.   I attended the program every Saturday for 3 months during my sophomore year of college, and did the clinical week during my Spring Break.  Not my favorite Spring Break, but totally worth it in the long run. It was a few hundred dollars unfortunately, but I made it back working full-time during the next summer.  I got a job as a CNA in a rehabilitation hospital and it was a great experience.

Looking back on that experience, it's made me question why PA programs would want you to have any healthcare experience, let alone thousands of hours.  My husband is a 4th year medical student and he didn't have to do anything like that at all!  I think by doing tasks that are sometimes not the most fun, it reinforces the teamwork aspect of being a physician assistant.  Once you are practicing, you will have such a greater appreciation and respect for the CNAs, medical assistants, EMTs and nurses because you have been in that position yourself and you realize how important they are.  I remember working as a CNA and the physician coming to find me to ask if I had noticed any changes in a certain patient because I spent so much more time with the patients than the actual providers.  And that's ok because they have a lot of people to take care of, but it really opened my eyes to just how much better healthcare can be if you approach it as a team effort.

Here are some of the fields that are typically accepted by most programs:

• EMT or paramedic
• Registered nurse (RN), BSN, LPN
• CNA (sometimes called a patient care assistant)
• Medical assistant
• Respiratory therapist
• Dietician
• Phlebotomist
• International healthcare based mission trips

Here is a great blog post with examples of what actual students did for healthcare experience before starting PA school.  

What are you doing to get your healthcare experience and how many hours are you applying with?

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Books for Medical People

Better / Complications

Better: A Surgeon's Notes on Performance

By Atul Gawande

Buy on Amazon

If you're looking for some recreational reading with a medical twist, here are some options that I highly recommend.  These are 2 books that I read before starting PA school, and I think anyone interested or involved in the medical field should read these books.  They are written by Dr. Atul Gawande.  Gawande is a surgeon so he can definitely relate, and on top of that, he's an incredibly skilled writer.  Easy to read, and makes you think.  Both Better and Complications address issues facing the medical field and Dr. Gawande's opinion on them.  I don't necessarily agree with all of his opinions, but they have helped me to form my own.

Still Alice / Being Mortal / The House of God

And if you have some extra time on your hands, here are some other books that I'm reading or are on my list!  I'm going to do some more detailed book reviews in the future, but comment below with any books that you recommend!

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Gap Year vs Starting PA School Immediately?

Due to the highly competitive nature of PA school, many of the programs have set requirements for how much healthcare experience they want you to have (along with volunteering and shadowing).  Some of these minimums are in the thousands of hours range (1,000-2,000), which can seem extremely daunting to an undergraduate student or someone changing fields.  Just as a reference, 2,000 hours is basically working full-time for a year.  On top of the seemingly crazy minimums, the actual averages of accepted student's hours is often much higher than the minimums!  This just confirms how competitive the field is, and how much work it takes to get in.

I was at a dinner tonight with PAs in my area and the question came up about whether it was a good idea to take a "gap year" to get experience and hours before applying to PA school, specifically between undergraduate graduation and starting a PA program.  While taking a year off to work does make you a more competitive candidate, I personally think that if you have the minimum requirements, or are close to the minimum amount of hours, it is worth applying to the schools you really want to go to.  Most people wanting to become PAs are very aware that many applicants end up having to apply more than once.  I believe by applying initially, even if you don't get in, if you were to have to reapply it makes you a stronger candidate.  This gives you a chance to show that you have taken the time to improve your qualifications and that you are still interested in the program.

If you are able to start PA school somewhat soon after finishing your prerequisite classes, which in some cases can even be within a week, you will have an advantage of already being in "school mode," which can be difficult to get back into if you've been out for a while.  Coming out of school will help you adjust to the rigorous academic schedule a bit better.  Personally, I was able to graduate in December from my undergrad (Go Dawgs!), and then my PA program started in May.  That gave me a few months to relax without the stress of classes and prepare for PA school.

This is all my own opinion, but what are your thoughts on taking a year off?  I would love to hear whether you agree or disagree!

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Shadowing Etiquette

Shadowing is something that is recommended for most programs, and required by some.  If you are possibly considering PA school, I recommend shadowing at least some to see if it's really what you want to do.  It's easy to read about what a Physician Assistant is and see all of the awesome articles about how it's ranked as one of the best jobs, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's for you.  Shadowing will also help you when it comes to interviewing and answering questions that address what a PA does and how a PA is different than a physician.

So once you've found some places that will let you come spend some time with them, you definitely want to be a good guest!  That will help you to get a good letter of recommendation (LOR), get more hours at that location, or possibly get them to connect you to some colleagues that may be able to help you out.

Don't be afraid to ask questions before you go in!  If you're shadowing in a hospital there may be some clearance stuff with HR that you need to do to even be allowed to be there.  It's perfectly fine to ask general questions, like when and where they want you to report and what you should wear.  (When in doubt, go with business casual.)  It may sound harsh, but a PA is unlikely to wait around for you when they have a schedule of patients to see, so do your best to be where you need to be on time.  As a PA, we know that this is for your good, so don't feel like you have to impress the PA you're shadowing.  You want to make a good impression (for possible future LOR), but we want you to learn and see if this job would be a good fit for you.

Know the basics of HIPAA.  This is basically the healthcare rules that are in place to protect patient's privacy.  It's kind of common sense, but if you've never been in a clinical setting you may not know how serious these are.  Basically all of the patient's personal information and anything you may see is private and you should not talk about it with anyone other than the person you're shadowing or other related healthcare staff.  And if you recognize a patient's name as someone you know, it's perfectly fine for you to say you don't feel comfortable seeing them in a medical setting.  And then make sure not to share the details of that encounter with anyone who may also know the person.  It can be really easy to slip up and go "Oh, I saw so-and-so's dad the other day," or something like that, but the patient may be seen for something that is not public knowledge and it's their right to maintain that privacy.

When you show up to shadow, it's a good idea to bring something to take notes, something to do if there's some downtime, and any questions you may have.  Sometimes there are some slow days (like the one I had yesterday), and it stinks that you may not get to see many patients, but that gives you a great opportunity to ask questions about PA stuff.

When you're seeing patients, feel free to ask your preceptor questions when you've left the room.  This will show that you were paying attention and that you are actually interested in being there.  If there's something you don't understand or didn't catch what the diagnosis was, just ask!  And again, don't feel like you have to impress the PA, obviously you are there to shadow because you want to become a PA, so we want you to learn.

Before you leave, make sure to get some contact info (phone number, e-mail) in case you have any questions or need a letter of recommendation in the future.  Also keep a very good log of your hours including where you shadowed, what specialty you were in, how many hours, and anything cool you saw.  This will come in handy for the CASPA application or other applications.

Last, but not least, whenever you are a PA and students call looking to shadow, don't forget that you were in their shoes at one point trying to find shadowing sites too.

Share any tips you have for shadowing below!

Listen to the accompanying podcast episode now! 

Choosing the Right PA Program

  
According to the PAEA Program Directory, there are 217 PA programs (including provisional and probation).  That's a lot of different programs!  While the outcome at the end of a program is the same (you're a PA!), the experience to get there can vary greatly.  This is my list of specific factors to look for and ask questions about when you are trying to decide where to apply.

For more information on choosing a PA program, check out this guest post from one of our coaches, Jourdyn. 

To make your process easier, check out the Applicant’s Manual of PA Programs for a list of every program, including their mission statement, prerequisites, requirements, accepted stats, contact info, and tons of other information. Get it on Amazon now (affiliate link).

• Location - This is pretty obvious. You have to decide how important it is for you to be where you want to be. If it's not that important, you can apply more widely. You also need to decide if setting is a factor, such as city vs rural.

• Length of Program - These are all pretty comparable, but still something to consider. Most programs I've seen are around 25-27 months (6-7 semesters), but there are some programs that are shorter or longer. I don't think this should be the biggest factor in your decision.

• Private vs Public/Cost - Cost is a huge factor in choosing a program. A public program is usually going to be more affordable than a private program, but this is not the rule. When estimating total cost, you need to take into account tuition, fees, books and supplies, testing, and living expenses. Those numbers can add up quickly! Most people have to take out loans, and that massive number at the end of two years can be a little daunting.

• Cadaver lab vs models - This is where you have a say in your education. Some schools have cadaver labs, and even these can vary. The difference is that you actually dissect the cadaver versus studying from an already dissected cadaver. And then there's learning from books and models. This may not be a huge factor for your decision, but learning from a cadaver can be very valuable, and I would strongly recommend it if you are at all interested in a surgical field. There's a great advantage to getting to feel the difference in nerves and veins and seeing how the tissues look in real life before you get into an OR.

• GRE requirements - The majority of programs require the GRE. The minimum requirements are typically just a baseline and this doesn't hold a ton of weight in the decision process, so I would recommend taking it regardless, but there are a few programs that do not have specific requirements.

• GPA/Science GPA - GPA is a huge factor, and most programs also calculate a separate science GPA. The alternative to GPA is a requirement for minimum grades in coursework, like a "C" minimum. There are some programs that do not have minimum GPA requirements, but these programs still usually have a pretty high average GPA of the students they accept. From the experience I have with admissions, I would say if the school has a specific minimum GPA and you don't have that number then it probably isn't worth it to apply. This is used to weed out applicants quickly, and often if your GPA doesn't meet the minimum you won't make it to the department. **The only exception to this is if it is a school you really want to go to and you have plans on taking classes to raise your GPA and reapply, then go ahead and submit because it will show improvement as a reapplicant.

• Health Care Experience (HCE) - The amount of direct patient care required varies greatly between programs. Like GPA, some schools have no specific requirement, but can have high averages of the accepted students. Other programs have requirements ranging from hundreds to thousands of hours. What counts as "direct patient care" experience can vary between the programs, so if you have any questions at all it would be worth calling your top programs to ask before investing your time and possibly money. For example, my program accepts hospice volunteering as HCE, while at other programs it's strictly volunteering

• Shadowing requirements - Pretty much the same as HCE, some schools have no requirements while others have certain hour requirements. Some programs also require you to shadow multiple fields, so definitely worth checking on.

• Bachelor's degree vs no degree requirement - At this point, the majority of programs do require a Bachelor's degree to be accepted. There are still a few out there that will accept you solely if you have the correct prerequisites.

• Prerequisites - All programs will have specific classes they require for applying. The can influence what major you decide on if in undergrad and also where you apply. If you have a question about these requirements, definitely get clarification from specific programs. This will prevent you from wasting your time or money on classes you don't need. It can even be subtle things like statistics versus biostatistics. The other big one is organic chemistry. Look for if they specifically require this or just general chemistry courses.

• Clinical flexibility - Clinical rotations make up a whole year of your program, and it's important to know where you will be. Do they send you wherever they need a student? Can you decide where you want to be for the most part? Are there international options for rotations? The most information on this will come from the program itself or former students. If you are able to do a tour or meet with the department, this would be ideal, but asking at the interview is fine as well. This is especially important for students with spouses/children/family because you don't want to get separated if you don't have to be.

• PANCE pass rates - This information should be readily available on the program's website or by calling the program. It makes sense that you would want to go somewhere with a good pass rate because that means the students are well prepared for boards.

• Small group opportunities - What is the teacher to student ratio? Is there any type of small group learning? When learning clinical skills and physical exam, many people do better in a smaller setting, so at least worth asking about.

• Job opportunities - Does the program help you to find a job when you graduate? It's likely that the faculty may have some resources when it comes to job searching so it's a good thing to ask about. My program sends out e-mails when someone contacts them with a job opportunity and has a job board as well.

• Amenities - It's important to look into what resources will be available to you while you are in school (that you are paying for of course). Is there a gym to use? Is there food on campus? Is there a good library? Some programs even provide a computer for you to use while in school!

• Extracurriculars - If it's a large program there may be more extracurricular opportunities available to you. This could include intramurals, religious groups or meetings, clubs, or volunteer opportunities. My program had an awesome student-run health clinic that our whole class participated in and student officers as well.

• Employment during the program - Although it is strongly discouraged in most programs, there are some places that will allow you to work if you desire for a few hours during the didactic phase. PA school is no joke, so I'm not sure how someone could actually do well working and going to school, but that may be something you want to look for.

Here is a blog post from a PA-S about how he chose what program to attend.  

What are some things you are looking for when you're deciding where to apply?  Or if you're already in a program, why did you choose the one you did?

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Preparing for Interviews for PA School

  
So once your application is complete, the waiting begins!  And it's pretty terrible.  It's always difficult waiting on the call or e-mail that could have a big impact on your future, but while you're waiting there are some things you can do to prepare.  Then when you do get that exciting invite, you'll feel like you're ready to own the interview that you just prepared for!

1. Interview attire:

A SUIT!  For PA school interviews, I'm a firm believer in wearing a suit.  Once you're done and it's a job interview that may be a little more laid back and business casual is okay, but for this all-important interview I recommend a suit.  For guys and girls.  This is going to sound a little sexist, but some advice I was given before my interview was that females should wear a pants suit (as opposed to a skirt) because it is one less thing that differentiates you from males.  I don't know if there is truth in that, but I wore a pants suit and all of the females who were accepted from my interview group were wearing pants.  I think they were saying it is less of a distraction and makes them judge you a little less on appearance.

I don't think a suit has to be boring either.  Most people think all suits are black and that's not true today (mine was light gray).  The most important things are that it fits well and looks professional.  For girls, you can always show a personality with a little color or jewelry choices.  So once you're done applying, if you do not already own an appropriate outfit, I suggest looking for a good professional suit that you will be comfortable in.

2. Do your research.

You probably have already spent a good deal of time looking into the schools you're applying to, but dig a little deeper.  Figure out what is unique about each school you are interested in and what you have questions about.  Write this stuff down and take it to the interviews if you have to.  The program's specific website will obviously be a good resource.  Check out my "Program Spotlight" series, and if there's a school you would like covered send me an e-mail or leave a comment!

Another website that is extremely helpful is The Physician Assistant Forum.  This is the most active forum I've found of pre-PA, PA-S, and PA-Cs on the internet.  They have specific sections for each school where people post their status of the application and often the interview layout and tips on the interview.  They will also start posting when they get accepted, so you can know what to expect and hopefully find some of your classmates when you are also accepted!

3. Figure out what you want them to know about you.

This is one of my favorite tips, and one that I think possibly helped me the most!  An interview coach at UGA told me to write down everything I wanted my interviewer to know about me so those topics were my focus, and then when they asked me questions I could bring it back to these topics and try to incorporate them.  This was great for me. A lot of times when we get into high pressure situations, like a PA school interview, our thoughts just fly away!  By preparing ahead of time and knowing what you want them to know about you, it's easier to stay focused.  This could include anything from specific personal experiences, struggles you've experienced, or specific qualities about your character.

4. Mock Interviews

This is another thing that I think helped me the most.  I had a mentor who I casually met with and she asked me questions similar to the ones she was asked.  I don't think I answered many of those questions well, but it helped me to think about what I did want to say when I was asked again at my real interview!  It also helps nerves to be answering a question that you have practiced answering.  *Shameless plug alert*  I would love to help you prepare and offer that as part of my PA Coaching Services, but if you have a mentor or teacher they may be able to help too.  Sometimes undergraduate schools will have a Career Services division as well that may offer some resources.

5.  Get Up to Date with Current Events

If you're not someone who follows the news very closely, do some research and familiarize yourself with some current events in the nation and the world.  Specifically, pay attention to events that have to do with healthcare or Obamacare.  Schools love to specifically ask about these things, and it can really throw you off your game in an interview if you aren't prepared for it.  Sometimes they will ask how current insurance changes may specifically affect PAs, so knowing what's going on and how it could affect YOU (as a hopeful PA-C) in the future is very important to know.

6. Be Prepared to GO!

A lot of these programs do not give much notice for interviews, and if you are possibly taking someone's spot who cancelled it could be even shorter.  I think a month prior is about the longest I've heard of, but sometimes the call will come on a Friday for an interview the following Monday.  So be on your toes!  And check your spam folder often!  One of my best friends missed her interview because it went to her spam folder, and luckily they let her come to a later date.  This short notice can be tough with jobs and childcare, but try to let them know at work that you may be needing some time off and have your friends and family on standby if possible.

7. Prepare financially.

For the majority of PA school interviews, you are expected to pay for travel expenses, meals, and hotels.  If you've applied to multiple programs and are hoping for multiple interviews, go ahead and get your finances in order to be able to cover these.  Put a little extra into savings or skip eating out during interview season if you are concerned about being able to afford going to interviews.

8.  And the most difficult one, be patient.

Waiting is so tough, and patients is a virtue right?  It can be very tempting to call the programs you applied to multiple times to make sure they have your application and see why they haven't sent you an interview invite yet, but this can backfire as well.  As good as it is to make sure they know you are very excited about their program, use a little self restraint.  It's fine to call or e-mail if you have a legitimate question, and if you know you have submitted everything and haven't heard back I would say give it about a month before contacting them.  And if they tell you to just wait, then do it.  On the other hand, if it's getting towards the end of interview season, and you've been waiting, and been patient, and STILL not heard anything, I think it's fine to check in on your status at that point.

That's all I've got for today, but what are your biggest tips for preparing for interviews, and the waiting period?

Other Resources to Check Out: 

• A blog post on interview tips

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How to Get Shadowing Hours

It's become a huge requirement for most programs to have a good amount of shadowing hours.  The number I see thrown around the most is 100, but some programs do not have a specific number while others want even more than that.  I think shadowing is important because it lets you get a good idea of a what a PA does in a typical day, because while we talk about all of the fun stuff a lot, there's more involved (paperwork, late patients, no shows).  It can be very difficult and frustrating trying to find people that will let you come follow them around for a little while.  Most of the schools want you to directly shadow PAs (not physicians) and want a few different areas as well, so keep this in mind when looking for places to shadow.

As a provider now, I do understand that with a busy schedule it can be difficult to think about having someone that could potentially slow you down.  After having someone with me that my SP knew for a whole week, it was actually a lot of fun having someone to teach and asking questions.  It made me think a little and also made me feel more confident about what I know.  So that's my little aside to encourage current PAs to let students shadow, and to give students a little insight to why everyone doesn't say yes right away.

1. Use your connections.

Think about people you know and who might be able to help you get in touch with people.  This could be your parent's friends that work at doctor's offices or hospitals or doctors you have gone to for a long time.  Don't be scared to reach out to people you haven't been in contact with in a while because this is important for your future and the worst thing that happens is they say no!  Personally, while in undergrad I remembered that one of the teachers at my high school had a daughter who went to PA school, so I awkwardly sent her a Facebook message, but she was willing to talk to me and gave me some very valuable information!

2.  Use your resources - internet and the phone book

This is another example of the worst thing that can happen is someone saying no.  Get the phone book out or search your area and call places and ask if they have a PA and if they have students shadow.  I did this while I was in Athens at UGA, and out of everywhere I called one place said yes and 2 asked for my resume (which I thought was weird).  I ended up shadowing in dermatology under an awesome PA once a week and it was totally worth all the cold calls and awkward conversations.

Also check hospital websites and see if they have a shadowing program.  Another option is calling PA programs in the area you are interested and seeing if they have anyone or e-mailing faculty members to see if they know of any opportunities.

3. Join organizations.

Many of the PA organizations have either a forum or part of their website that provides names of people that are willing to have students shadow.  Look into joining a few of these to see if you can make some connections.  I definitely recommend joining AAPA and your state organization at least.  Also consider any specific fields you are interested in.  Our local GAPA chapter will occasionally send out e-mails from students looking to shadow.

Listen to the accompanying podcast episode now!

It can be tough and discouraging to be told no over and over, but if you are able to get even a few hours it will be worth it!  What are some of your tips for getting shadowing hours?

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My Journey to PA School

So a lot of hopeful PAs I meet ask how I got to where I am today.  I was accepted the first year I applied and am now in Dermatology, which is a very desirable field.  Well I'll let you know what worked for me!

I first learned what a Physician Assistant was when I was in high school.  My dad went to his primary care and saw a PA for the first time.  Knowing that I was possibly interested in the medical field, he mentioned to me that it may be something I should look into.  I was a junior at the time, and not too concerned with my future, but when senior year started it was time to make some decisions.

I ended up at the University of Georgia, and declared Biology as my major.  I made this decision really just because it left my options pretty open.  I knew I wouldn't be able to do much with that alone, so I would be forced to make some kind of decision.  The idea of a PA was still in the back of my mind, but I wasn't completely sold yet.  I think during my first year of college, I researched and considered all types of things, including research, medical school, teaching high school, nursing school, PT school, dental school, and who knows what else.  But ultimately, I decided PA was the way I wanted to go.

So I started shadowing, got my CNA license and struggled through O-Chem, while wondering if all of this was going to be worth it.  PA school has become so dang competitive!! I'm a very detail-oriented person and spent a ton of time researching what it takes to catch the eye of these PA programs, so I felt pretty prepared when it came time to apply, but still terrified.

I applied as soon as possible (July 1st!) and I applied to all of the programs in Georgia, even though I clearly didn't have all of the requirements for some of the programs.  (I'll explain more about how I chose the programs I did in a future post.)  Fall of 2011 came, and I ended up getting interviews at the 2 programs I was actually qualified for, MCG and South University.  I prepared by doing a mock interview with a PA I had shadowed, and it was SO helpful!  Interviews came and went, and I actually ended up getting the call that I was accepted into MCG about 15 minutes after my interview ended at South!  That was an amazing feeling!

I graduated from UGA in December of 2011 to give myself a few months to prepare and relax before starting PA school (which I would definitely recommend) and started the program at MCG/GRU in May of 2012!  The rest is history, and by the grace of God, I am now helping patients at a job I love going to everyday (well, most days)!