Comprehensive Guide to Applying to Physician Assistant Schools
This comprehensive guide covers essential aspects of the PA school application process, including CASPA information, crafting a personal statement, securing strong letters of recommendation, and organizing experiences effectively. Get insights on what to include and avoid in your personal statement, along with tips on selecting recommenders and gathering diverse experiences.
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SCAPA ASPIRE: GETTING INTO PA SCHOOL
TABLE OF CONTENTS 01 02 02 03 03 LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION CASPA PERSONAL STATEMENT 04 05 ORGANIZATION EXPERIENCES
01 CASPA
CASPA INFORMATION Opens in April of every year Contains most PA programs Keep due dates in mind! Make sure to enter what you can ASAP, even if you are not submitting for a few months! TRANSCRIPT ACCURACY IS IMPORTANT Send an official one to yourself and to CASPA Service where CASPA enters information for you worth it in time savings & not having to redo it! PAEA Fee Waiver Program limited # every year Only covers $179 (one program) https://paeaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Fee-Waiver-Infographic-student_KS-1.pdf
02 PERSONAL STATEMENT
WHAT TO INCLUDE? What experiences lead you to where you are today? Who are you? Why PA? Are you a parent? An EMT or a nurse? What are you passionate about? What makes you stand out? Studied abroad? Worked as a paramedic for 15 years? Became a yoga instructor? Why PA specifically? Why not MD/DO? NP? PT? OT?
WHAT TO AVOID? Talking exclusively about work experience Slang and getting too personal Don t just relist your resume to them in prose form!
03 LORs
Are All LORs Created Equal? Ideally, ask mentors, bosses, preceptors, professors who have known you for 1+ years Gather them from a diverse list of experiences! You need 3 and can have 5 max (some schools accept only 3!) Required to have ONE from an MD, DO, NP, or PA (check school specific requirements) Ask for them well in advance (i.e., months) Personalized packet for each LOR writer Personal statement, resume, list of places you are applying Thank you cards Waiving the right to read them in CASPA
04 Experiences
Which Experiences Can you Submit? Patient care experience EMT, MA, paramedic, CNA Healthcare experience any experience in a healthcare setting where you are not directly laying hands on a patient Shadowing Volunteer experience Employment (that doesn t fit with HCE and PCE) Research Extracurricular activities Leadership experience Teaching experience
Tips for success - PCE/HCE some schools have hour requirements! Make sure you fulfill these requirements before submitting applications so you don t waste your money and time! Any experience that makes you more well rounded When describing them, make sure to simply state facts this is not the place for an impact statement (that is your personal statement!) However, make sure these are still well-written, that you include more than 1-2 sentences, and consider having them proofread Make sure to include all experiences, but especially experience that you discuss in your personal statement! I.e., if you discuss volunteering at an animal shelter, ensure those volunteer hours are logged!
Example EMT-B As an EMT-B crew chief for the College of Charleston fire/EMS squad, I was responsible for running a BLS call from beginning to end. I was in charge of the emergency scene, delegated responsibilities, worked as a team with the other EMTs to evaluate and treat patients, made transport/transfer/refusal of care decisions, and wrote medical narratives. I worked closely with Charleston EMS, fire, and PD as well as CofC Campus Safety to ensure good interprofessional relationships for the benefit of the patients and the safety of the community. 563 characters, 89 words, multiple skills and personality attributes described!
05 Organization
Making Your Life Easier Spreadsheet template Keep a running list of schools you have heard back from, interview dates, etc. Don t schedule interviews too close together Budget for travel! Keep all important documents in one folder Resources: Spreadsheet template on ASPIRE website Spreadsheet of SC schools on ASPIRE website
THE PROCESS OF APPLYING SUPPLEMENTALS 01 03 03 ACCEPTANCE! Check websites, check spam in email CASPA APPS INTERVIEWS 02 02 04 The earlier the better! The topic of an upcoming presentation!
SCAPA Contacts: scapa@sc.rr.com byron2007@aol.com ceroche@presby.edu dgjuarez97@gmail.com Slidesgo CREDITS: This presentation template was created by Slidesgo, and it includes icons by Flaticon, infographics & images by Freepik Flaticon Freepik
