Applying to PA School: Staying Organized

Staying organized while applying to PA school is really important. Well, it was to me at least. The advice I give to every Pre-PA I encounter is to make a spreadsheet. Whether its on paper or on Excel,  just do it. Trust me, the last you want to be doing is figuring out what schools you want to apply to. That is how applicants miss deadlines.

Over a year ago I began researching different schools and made a potential school spreadsheet. As application time came closer, I began narrowing down my schools to 8 and then eventually to the 6 that I actually ended up applying to. This method can save you time and money. You can prevent applying to a school that you actually don't meet the minimum requirements for.

From personal experience, I had my excel sheet filled out with my preliminary school choices. When it came closer to application time I found that one of my prerequisite courses had to be completed before my application was sent in. I saved myself time and money by not applying to this school. I could only assume that the school would've taken one look at my application and then throw it into the fiery pit where rejected applications go to die.

Below is a sample of my spreadsheet, I have sectioned it off because the spreadsheet was just too long. So this is purely a sample. If you are still exploring and researching schools you can make the preliminary schools spreadsheet. As you begin submitting applications, you can then begin filling out the final choice schools spreadsheet. These will be the schools you are applying to and this will help you keep track of how each app is going. These categories can vary and you can add as you see fit.

The Preliminary Schools Spreadsheet

• School name
• Location of school
• Prerequisite courses still pending (if any)
• No. of letters of recommendation needed
• Minimum patient-care hours
• Application deadline
• GRE? and code
• Minimum shadowing hours required
• Minimum GPA required
• Minimum Science GPA required

The Final Choice Schools Spreadsheet

• School name
• CASPA submitted 
• How much money spent on CASPA
• GRE required?
• How much money spent sending GRE scores
• Supplemental Application?
• How much for supplemental application
• Under review - school will usually send an email stating the application is under review
• Email for the main contact for program
• Phone no. (totally optional)
• Total $ spent per school
• Interview (Y/N)
• Acceptance Offer 
• Deposit for seat
• Attending? 
• Cost of PA program

You can add or subtract any of these categories according to your specifications. That's it for now!

Applying to PA School: The Interview

The selfie featured at the bottom of this post was taken 2 hours after my second interview on the plane ride home. Fun story, the day of my interview I woke up with really really red irritated eyes. I'm talking true blood red. I was already so stressed out and feeling rushed that I took all of that anger out on my poor husband. I apologized after my interview, he was very understanding.

At first, the red eyes really got to me. As I sat there with the other interviewees, I felt like everyone could just see my big red eyes. One of my fellow interviewees suggested that I talk about it in my interview... this is terrible advice. At my first interview, I took some last minute advice and I just didn't feel like myself. Which is where my first piece of advice comes from.

1. Do not get intimidated by tho other interviewees - I mean, yes, make polite conversation but keep it light. Don't start comparing your number of interviews and acceptance offers to theirs. There will always be that one person that seems to take over the conversation and brag about their stats. Good for them! But you have to keep your head in the game and remember that they chose you for a reason!

2. Be honest, be yourself, and smile! - Three simple truths that can apply to your everyday life. Don't get caught up in the hype of trying to be someone your not. There's nothing wrong with being a little excited and showing it through a nice smile. And talk yourself up. After all, that is what you are there for. To tell them about your accomplishments and to remind them of why they chose you to interview!

3. Be early, don't be on time - My advice would be to go to the school/location of your interview the day before and find a good parking spot, hunt down the room where you will interview, and most importantly find the nearest restroom.

4. The portfolio, yes or no? - On my first interview, I came read with a crisp white button-up shirt, and a snappy gray suit. In my hand, I carried a bright blue folder. Inside of it, 3 copies of my CV and a few lined pieces of paper. My bright blue flimsy $1.29 Walmart folder stood out among the leather bound portfolio binders and ball point pens. As I sat there with my little folder, I couldn't help but feel intimidated. I had thought of everything, and I mean everything. Or so I thought. Some interview emails may tell you to "just bring yourself," but you don't want to be the one person that is unprepared when they ask you for a copy of your CV. On an impromptu whim, they might give you a tour or an information session about the program and those college-ruled papers and that ball point pen would sure come in handy. Here is a cute one that bought for my interviews from Target.

5. Thank you notes - Write them. Another good reason to have a portfolio with extra lined pages, to write down and remember your interviewees names. Be sure to include specifics from your interview. What you talked about and discussed. If they suggested a restaurant to check out, thank them for the suggestion. As I always say, "It's all in the details". One of my favorite set of thank you cards come from Rifle Paper Co.

Despite what I thought was the worst thing that could have ever happened that day after the interview was over and I was headed home, the world did not end. My family was in good health. My husband had traveled with me and we had the opportunity to visit a new place.

The very next day I received a phone call notifying me of my acceptance, 12/3/15 @ 2:04PM :)

My Favorite Physician Assistant Blogs

One of the things I like spending my time doing lately is looking up information on how I should be preparing for PA School. I did the same thing when I initially began my research into the PA profession and went at it quite vigorously during the application process. I love doing my research before getting into anything. Over the course of two years, I have followed a few blogs and have learned great information.

These are a few of the blogs that I have become very fond of. 

1. The PA Platform
2. The White Coat Treatment
3. Medicine and Manicures
4. Trust me, I’m a PA Student
5. PA Student Essentials
6. The Physician Assistant Life
7. PA Boards

As I continue to scour the internet for quality PA blogs, I will add them here.