Three main topics:
We will have a Q&A session at the end as well. No question is too big or too small for us to answer.
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My name is Madison. I graduated PA school in 2022, and I'm currently working in my first job as an orthopedic trauma surgery PA at Yale. I’m really excited to speak with you. I’ve been very passionate about mentoring ever since I was in undergrad, and I think mentoring is a great tool we have for a really competitive process. I’m excited to talk to you about it tonight.
If you haven’t already, I strongly recommend opening up the CASPA website and getting familiar with the application. It can be pretty daunting because there are so many different sections, and every section really does matter. You’re trying to show why you’re a competitive applicant through every single one of those sections.
Planning for your admission to PA school isn’t something that typically happens in a matter of months because there are aspects you might overlook—things schools are looking for—that require more time to develop. This is why you want to look at the CASPA application well in advance, so you can prepare about a year ahead to get experience in areas you may be lacking.
Writing an unforgettable personal statement is extremely important. It’s not just about your story; it’s also about who you are and why a program should take a chance on you over another applicant. You want to showcase your experiences, explaining why they make you a good provider. Instead of just saying you have good teamwork or time management, give examples. Show why you’d be a compassionate healthcare provider, then tie it all together at the end.
I encourage you to open up CASPA and look at the drop-down categories under experiences: non-healthcare employment, extracurriculars, healthcare experience, leadership experience, patient care experience, research, shadowing, teaching experience, and volunteering. I advise all of my students to try to have something in each of these categories. They exist on the application for a reason—to see that you’re well-rounded. It doesn’t mean everyone must have research experience, but if you do have the opportunity to join a research lab, that’s fantastic. Or if you can do some teaching or tutoring, that’s also great.
Quality over quantity is crucial. Don’t list experiences just to fill up your application. Think about roles that will truly showcase why you’d be a great applicant. And it doesn’t have to be exclusively medical. If you played on an intramural soccer team and served as the captain, talk about the teamwork and leadership skills you displayed there. It all translates well into healthcare.
Many of us have to work while in college—list that, too. It shows other strengths. You can talk about quick math skills, interpersonal communication, adaptability—anything that translates to being a strong provider.
Volunteer work is also important. I encourage every student to help out in underserved communities. It increases your cultural competence and DEI skills, which is crucial in healthcare. Volunteering at local hospitals, homeless shelters, or underserved clinics is a great way to expand these skills.
To strengthen your CASPA application, look at the average number of shadowing hours other applicants have. Many programs require a minimum of 100 hours shadowing a PA. If you don’t list any shadowing hours, they may question whether you truly understand the profession. So aim for that minimum 100 hours if possible, because it’s one of the most vital aspects of your application.
Leadership roles matter a lot, too. This could be leading a peer-led study group, mentoring students, or being a captain of a sports team. Leadership is a section they’re looking for—good providers need leadership skills—so try to fill that in meaningfully.
The first is rushing your application. Don’t stress if you’re applying this round and haven’t prepared a year in advance, but know that the earlier you start planning, the better. If you discover some areas you’re lacking—like clinical hours—you’ll need time to gain those experiences. For instance, many PA schools require thousands of hours of direct patient care, and you can’t rack that up in a few months.
Overlooking a program’s requirements is another big mistake. It costs money to apply to each school. If you miss a prerequisite or a specific course requirement and apply anyway, you’re disqualified right off the bat. That’s a waste of time and money. Be sure to check each program carefully beyond just CASPA—visit their individual websites and confirm your stats align with the school’s stats.
Don’t undervalue the personal statement. Don’t rush it. Use your writing skills, show rather than tell, and ensure it has a strong flow. Provide impactful stories about how you interact with patients or why you want to be a PA. And wrap it all up in a neat bow at the end. It’s a big piece of the application because it’s your only “voice” before they invite you for an interview.
Lastly, fill out every comment box in CASPA. Each category—volunteering, shadowing, non-healthcare experience—allows you to write a description. Use those character counts.
Most of you will have top-choice programs. That’s great—apply to them. But also balance your list with schools that match your statistics and meet any specific criteria you have (e.g., no GRE requirement). Don’t overlook whether you meet a school’s minimum GPAs. You can find a lot of this info through tools that help you compare various PA programs. (There’s one I used personally—I can’t name it here—but it’s helpful.)
Look at accreditation status. Ideally, avoid programs on probation or without accreditation—any issues there can affect your ability to practice if the program’s status changes. Also check the school’s mission. If you’re all about primary care in underserved areas, apply to schools emphasizing that. It could make you more competitive because your goals align with theirs.
Check their PANCE pass rates. That’s an important metric. Also, find out how many clinical rotation sites they have, what specialties are available, whether they let you do rotations out of state, etc. Some schools require you to find your own clinical sites, which can be very challenging. Others might have fewer limitations. Know your preferences and do your homework. You’ll rely on those rotations to network for jobs, so it’s critical to know what opportunities you’ll have.
Another thing: attend the information sessions schools offer (virtual or in-person). Faculty members often remember applicants who show interest early. These are sometimes the same people who will read your application or interview you. It’s a small world in PA faculty circles, so putting a face to a name can help.
Preparation is key. I recommend making flashcards or note cards with narratives—personal stories you want to highlight. That way, you can adapt them to almost any question. This helps you remain calm and confident. You also want to practice out loud, maybe recording yourself, or asking family members for feedback. You’ll catch nervous habits you didn’t even know you had.
Professional appearance is important. If you’re on campus, remember that from the moment you arrive until the moment you leave, you’re being observed. Be polite to everyone, including fellow interviewees. Don’t talk about the interview questions in the waiting area. Don’t have your phone out. Faculty or staff notice these things.
Build rapport and leave a lasting impression. Handle tough questions gracefully. They’ll often throw in curveballs. If you’ve practiced, especially with mock interviews, you’ll be prepared. If you stumble on one question, don’t let it destroy your confidence. You’ll have other opportunities to shine.
Show off leadership, volunteer experience, and your commitment to the profession. Also, do your research. Understand each program’s mission and be able to articulate why you’re a good fit for that specific school. They want to see that you did your homework. For me, I mentioned that I’d worked with UT Southwestern PAs before, saw the type of providers they turned out, and wanted to emulate that. That made my interest personal and memorable. Avoid generic responses.
Expect questions about your strengths and weaknesses. Be ready for that. Have a “weakness” that you’ve positively addressed. For instance, in my case, I mentioned being prone to over-committing because I’m passionate about many things. I explained how I learned to manage that better. Show growth and self-awareness.
In your CASPA experiences, fill out every comment box. But in the personal statement, you can go further. Highlight unique stories that demonstrate your advocacy or compassion. For example, if you witnessed a PA going above and beyond for a Jehovah’s Witness patient by respecting their beliefs in the treatment plan, that’s a personal example that shows you understand the profession.
If you’re a reapplicant, don’t be afraid to own it. State in your personal statement how you’ve grown since last time—what you did to improve. Admissions committees notice determination.
Q: I had a patient who became a sort of friend. I ended up going to her funeral, which was a huge loss for me, but it reiterated my love for healthcare. Is it inappropriate to discuss an intimate patient connection or could it be seen as crossing a boundary?
A: No, I don’t think it’s inappropriate. Just ensure you maintain HIPAA compliance and don’t use identifying information. Showcasing genuine empathy and the impact of patient relationships can be very powerful. Schools want to see that you can connect with patients.
Q: Which healthcare experiences are recommended for direct patient care (PCE)?
A: There’s direct patient care experience (PCE) and healthcare experience (HCE). CASPA has guidelines on which roles count as PCE vs. HCE. Generally, any role where you have hands-on responsibilities—EMT, phlebotomy, medical assistant (if you’re taking vitals and doing clinical tasks)—counts as PCE. If you need PCE hours and don’t have them, look into certification as a CNA or something that ensures you’re meeting that requirement. Make sure you’re hitting what the schools want.
Q: If a person lists an experience as PCE but some schools categorize it as HCE, how does that work?
A: It depends on the school, but generally, I suggest following CASPA’s definitions. Some schools will explicitly say on their website which experiences they do not consider direct patient care. Always do your research so you don’t accidentally disqualify yourself if a school won’t count certain hours.
Q: How should I approach letters of recommendation if I’m planning to take a gap year?
A: The moment you know you’ll apply to PA school, identify the professors, PAs, or supervisors you might ask. Stay in touch with them during your gap year. Send periodic emails—once every six to nine months—just to maintain that relationship. That way, when you need your letters, they clearly remember you.
Q: How many PA schools should I apply to?
A: Statistics often say applying to around 12 programs hits a good baseline. I personally applied to 20 because I didn’t want another gap year. Everyone’s situation is different, but 12 is often cited as a strong number without diminishing returns.
Q: Is a CNA license a good idea for direct patient care?
A: Absolutely, especially if you need more hands-on hours. Any role that’s truly direct patient care is valuable. Don’t feel like you need every certification under the sun, but make sure you can meet the PCE requirements.
Q: Opinions on provisional accreditation or programs on probation?
A: Personally, I wouldn’t advise applying to programs on probation. If the program can’t fix their status and loses accreditation, you wouldn’t be able to practice after graduation. Always check a program’s standing—ARCPA is the accrediting body. That said, “provisional” accreditation is different (it can be normal for newer programs), but “probation” is riskier.