kcvpa

Hello! I'm Kathy and I'm a 1st year PA student at the University of South Florida 🤓

[kcvpa]

Hi kathy, what makes a really good personal statement? Do you mind sharing what made yours stand out?

I can’t necessarily say that one thing in particular that makes a really good PS. However, some important things to keep in mind: 1. make sure each body paragraph is able to answer the question “why PA?” and 2. that your PS is something that is meaningful to you. For me, stories have always played an important role in my life, which was why I chose it to be the center/theme of my PS.

In my PS, I started off by talking about my parents’ stories of coming to the US for the American Dream—and how that laid down the foundation for my own. I talked about my patient’s stories, and how their very own stories in patient encounters became a part of mine. In the end, I brought it full circle by talking about the unturned pages and future chapters I had ahead of me. Personally, I put a lot of feelings into my PS because I’m an emotional person so I think that’s what made me stand out :-)

The theme sounds cliche, but cliche or not it all comes down to how you write it. I felt like having a theme kept me focused, and choosing something meaningful made it more fun to write. Even my friends have chosen to write about cooking (because it was his/her passion) or using the toilet (because it was one of the most meaningful encounters they had with a patient).

I hope this helps! If you have any more questions, feel free to message me again or even e-mail me! I’m also happy to share my PS as well (privately) :-)

[kcvpa]

Hi kathy! I wanted to know is there people in your class married and have children. Also how did you find volunteer opportunities?

Hello! I do have classmates that are married. In fact, my co-president is married! However, most are in relationships like myself.

In terms of volunteer opportunities, I just did a lot of searching online around my college community. I also was part of various organizations and took part in small volunteer activities such as 5Ks, road clean ups, etc. that counted toward my service hours as well!

[kcvpa]

Update

It’s crazy to think that second semester is almost over! I know I don’t post on here very often (too busy with exams and quizzes, haha), but time sure does fly! Thanksgiving is upon us and just three more weeks until winter break! After that, it’s one more semester of didactic year before starting clinicals. Right now, I’m studying infectious disease. We just finished nephro and uro (thank goodness). After that, it’s endocrine and it’ll be set up as a flipped classroom—definitely something to ask programs if you’re interviewing.

[kcvpa]

This is what my typical week looks like during didactic year of PA school. Honestly, it is very difficult—but it’s not because the material is hard; rather, it’s the amount of it. Sometimes, we finish a whole body system in one to two weeks. Isn’t that crazy?

[kcvpa]

Grades & GPA

When applying to PA school, I was not confident in my grades or GPA. Although I had a 3.5 cumulative GPA, I definitely had a lot of C’s and W’s on my transcript (one for every year of college, actually). However, I learned that grades were not the only thing that defined me as an applicant. I was naive and didn’t really think too much about what I needed to do to be a competitive applicant, so I didn’t start doing anything pre-PA or pre-health related until the end of my junior year.

I remembered looking at other people’s stats on the PA forums and feeling discouraged. Whenever a school asked about any weak aspects of my application, I always talked about my grades. However, each school always told me that my grades were not actually bad at all. What I found it really came down to was my personal statement. In addition, the C’s and W’s were not indicative of how I would perform in PA school as I have just finished my first semester with a 4.0 GPA.

I am writing this because I hope that others don’t have to feel the same way I did when I was first applying/interviewing. Me feeling discouraged was what really hurt me as I was interviewing; it was what led me to being rejected. Be confident in yourself. If you were offered an interview, it definitely means something! Most importantly, be yourself 🤓

[kcvpa]

About Me

My name is Kathy and I am an aspiring PA-C from Tampa Bay, FL. I decided to create a website to help others who are on the pre-physician assistant track. I currently attend PA school at the University of South Florida and will be graduating with the class of 2020. Here’s a little bit more about me:

CASPA 2017-2018 Application Cycle

UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION: University of Florida, B.S. in Biology

CUMULATIVE GPA: 3.5

SCIENCE GPA: 3.2

GRE: 310, 4.0 Writing

AGE AT TIME OF APPLICATION: 22

ATTEMPT: 1st

DIRECT PATIENT CARE HOURS: 1,900 as Patient Care Assistant (CNA) at a Trauma & Pulmonary Unit and 500 as a Medical Scribe at a Cardiac Clinic (about 700 total hours at time of application)

SHADOWING HOURS: 70 with an ENT PA 

VOLUNTEER HOURS: 30 on a mission trip to Guatemala, 50 from a Urology Clinic, 15 from a pre-PA organization, 40 from a pre-health organization, and 100 from my sorority

UNDERGRADUATE INVOLVEMENT: Vietnamese Student Organization (Public Relations Director), alpha Kappa Delta Phi International Sorority (Historian/Webmaster, Public Relations Chair, Recruitment Chair), Asian Kaleidoscope Month (Creative Director), Health Educated Asian Leaders (Health Panel Director), UF Pre-Physician Assistant Association (Member)

OTHER: 1 semester as a Microbiology Undergraduate Teaching Assistant

LOR: 2 RNs, 1 PA, 1 Senior Lecturer from the UF Microbiology Department

APPLIED: University of Florida, South University in Tampa, Florida State University, University of South Florida, Nova Southeastern University in Orlando, Nova Southeastern University in Jacksonville, Nova Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale, Nova Southeastern University in Ft. Myers, University of Southern California, Pennsylvania State University

INTERVIEW INVITES: University of Florida, South University in Tampa, Florida State University, University of South Florida, Nova Southeastern University in Orlando, University of Southern California

WAITLISTED: Florida State University, Nova Southeastern University in Orlando, University of South Florida, University of Southern California

REJECTED: University of Florida (Interviewed), Nova Southeastern University in Jacksonville, Nova Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale, Nova Southeastern University in Ft. Myers, Pennsylvania State University

ACCEPTANCES: South University in Tampa, Florida State University, Nova Southeastern University in Orlando, University of South Florida, University of Southern California

ATTENDING: University of South Florida (one of my top choices 🤗!!)

CLICK HERE TO VIEW MY TIMELINE

[kcvpa]

Officially done with my first semester of PA school and ready to potato for fall break!

PA school has definitely been challenging me in new ways—and it isn’t the information that is difficult but rather the sheer amount of it. In these past few months, I’ve learned all about dermatology, HEENT, musculoskeletal, rheumatic diseases, cardiology, and pulmonology. I still can’t believe it! And in the end, all that lack of sleep will be worth it 😅😴

Honestly NOT ready for next semester to start, but soon enough I will be. Just going to make sure these next few days last as long as possible!

Also, so grateful for all the friends who have made the journey a little bit easier.

[kcvpa]

30 Physician Assistant Applicant Interview Questions

Question: What is a PA?

Question: Why PA?

Question: What is the difference between a PA and an NP?

Question: How many hours a week do you plan on studying?

Question: What kind of challenges do you see associated with the PA profession?

Question: Have you applied to other programs?

Question: What have you done to prepare yourself for this profession?

Question: Have you done anything to increase your chances of being accepted to the PA program?

Question: What makes you stand out from other applicants that we interview?

Question: What is your understanding of what PAs do?

Question: Tell us about the role you see the PA playing in the health care system.

Question: Describe an interaction you have had with a patient that made an impact on you.

Question: Describe the most stressful work or academic situation you have been in, and tell us how you dealt with it.

Question: How do you usually deal with stress?

Question: Describe the history of the PA profession.

Question: What do you do outside of work or academic studies? (What do you do for fun?)

Question: What did you mean by __ on your essay?

Question: Your file indicates that you have had difficulty with __(e.g., time management or science coursework). Would you like to explain this?

Question: Tell us about yourself.

Question: What are your three greatest strengths?

Question: What is your biggest weakness?

Question: Do you manage your time well?

Question: Do you prefer to work with others or by yourself?

Question: Your supervising MD tells you to do something that you know is dead wrong; what do you do?

Question: What interests you most about our school?

Question: What do you want to be doing five years from now?

Question: What was the last book you read?

Question: What was the last movie you saw?

Question: What will you do if you aren’t accepted this year?

Question: Do you have any questions for us?