Pre-PA Club Curriculum

Discussion Exercise: Discuss the process of waitlists for PA school and some ways you can improve your application if found in a situation where you end up waitlisted. Think about your PA school application and determine what the weakest area is. Brainstorm ways to improve this area.

Discussion Exercise: If you haven’t started tracking your experience, download the Experience Log from The PA Platform and save it somewhere safe like Google Drive or Dropbox. Record the experiences you have and look at your list to determine where you need to focus your efforts to gain more hours. Look at the PA programs to determine what their requirements for experience are to make sure you’re on track.

Discussion Exercise: Since reapplying has become a common part of the PA school application process, is this something you are okay with? What will be your plan if you have to reapply to PA school? Look at the strengths and weaknesses of your application to determine areas that could come up during your cycle.

Discussion Exercise: Set a deadline for when you want to submit your application and write it down. Make a list of materials you need to gather to prepare for filling out your CASPA application – transcripts, experience logs, resume, headshot, etc.

Discussion Exercise: Set a deadline for when you want to submit your application and write it down. Make a list of materials you need to gather to prepare for filling out your CASPA application – transcripts, experience logs, resume, headshot, etc.

Discussion Exercise: Set a deadline for when you want to submit your application and write it down. Make a list of materials you need to gather to prepare for filling out your CASPA application – transcripts, experience logs, resume, headshot, etc.

Discussion Exercise: Look up the top PA schools on your list to see if they require the GRE. check your local libraries to see if they provide GRE prep materials. Look at your schedule to find an optimal time to plan your studying for the GRE and pick a timeframe you want to have it completed, keeping in mind it takes 2-3 weeks to receive a test score.

Discussion Exercise: Have you heard of the PA-CAT. Facilitate a discussion about how this test contributes to the PA school application process and the pros and cons. Look at the subject list for the PA-CAT – which subjects do you feel most comfortable with? Which subjects do you feel less prepared for?

Discussion Exercise: Do you have a resume? If not, use Canva or the resume template on The PA Platform to start your resume. Think about the categories you want to include and identify any areas where you need to focus on experience. Save your resume in multiple places just in case!

Discussion Exercise: What are 3 things you learned about the PA profession from this session? What are 3 specialties or settings you would be interested in shadowing to learn more about PAs? How did your knowledge of the PA profession change after watching this session? Make an actionable plan to find more local PAs to shadow in person by thinking of anyone you can ask for opportunities.

Discussion Exercise: What makes a good letter? What type of person should you look for to write your letters? Brainstorm a list of people you could potentially ask for a letter – professors, supervisors, PAs, etc. Take some time to draft an email asking a potential letter writer for a letter of recommendation.

Discussion Exercise: Discuss positions and certification programs that other students have found in your area. Spend some time showing how to look up job opportunities in the area. Discuss pros/cons of completing a certification program. Look up your state medical board to see requirements for certifications.

Discussion Exercise: Look at your school’s course catalog and major options. Determine if there are any specific courses that your current path requires and how those translate into required courses for PA school. Look for courses that fulfill both the science and non-science options. Look for unique courses that may be great for electives or information helpful prior to PA school.

Discussion Exercise: Make a list of your top 3 non-negotiables for PA school. List the factors that would be nice to have and things you would like to avoid. Make a pros/cons list for all of these factors and then readjust your list if needed. Choose 3-5 programs you think you are interested in and visit their websites to see how these programs fit with your list. Use these factors to research other programs further.