How to Write the Perfect Physician Assistant School Application Essay

Over at Inside PA Training Paul wrote a wonderful blog post about the common pitfalls that many PA school applicants fall victim to while preparing their PA school essay. CommonPhysician Assistant Essay Pitfalls Clichs Lack of Specificity Weak Conclusion No Theme Boring Introduction This is an excellent listbecause eight years ago while I was applying to PA school Iproved how adhering to each one of these elements was a guaranteed formula for failure. I wrote a blog post a while back about how to get into the PA school of your choice. Part of my recommendation was to throw caution to the wind and apply with your heart and not your mind. This as you know, is easier said than done. Every one of the above pitfalls is what happens when you think too much. The Six Hundred Words (or Less) that Changed my Life I applied to five PA schools in 2001 (prior to The Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA). First,I used an essay that I thought gave the review committee everything they would need to see that I was a stellar applicant. It showed my strengths, brown nosed a bit, and proved that I had the pedigree to be a wonderful healthcare provider. But, as you will see, it lacked heart, honesty, passion and most of all . . . grit. I received my fourthrejection letter as I was completing my application for the University of Medicine and Dentistry (UMDNJ). I was demoralized. That night I sat down at my computer and composed what would become the 600 words that changed my life forever. I had not read them for over 11 years until this morning. I had never taken the time to go back and see what made the difference. What had made the essay I sent to UMDNJ different from the previous four flops? I was thinking about this list of essay pitfalls this morning and decided to go back and see if I could find my original essays. I was delighted to find all of them, they brought back strong feelings and wonderful memories. I am going to share with you both essays. The one that worked, the one that didn't, and I want you to guess the winner. Avoid the urge to reveal the answer, reading through both essays will help you as you sit down to write your personal statement. When I applied to UMDNJ (Rutgers) I was 0.1 points below the minimum GPA requirement to even consider sending an application. The fact that they opened my application, and offered me an interview was a miracle. Yet, I was admitted just a week after my trip to New Jersey. Where were those other4.0 Ivy leaguers I met during my interview? They were placed on the waiting list. I am not trying to gloat, but I want to point out that the essay may be the single most important thing you do. I believe it is the reason I was accepted to PA school. Two PA School Applications Essays: Why Do You Want To Be a PA-C? PA School Essay # 1 Why Do You Want To Be a Physician Assistant? Every day is a gift to be embraced wholeheartedly. It is our job to fill that day with a hopeful and meaningful purpose. It has been said that the most important thing in life is to live your life for something more important than your life William James. It is deeply rooted in this philosophy that I desire to become a physician assistant (PA). I hope to provide quality healthcare to the underprivileged, an area of medicine, which I have noted to be dramatically underserved. I became involved in health care four years ago to help finance my college education. I worked as a medical records clerk in the University of Washington health clinic. In addition to delivering medical records, I assisted the hospital staff in a variety of activities. I loved working with the staff and admired how well they operated as a team. I desired more direct patient care and in January 1998, when a student position opened in the lab, I jumped at the opportunity. In a few weeks, I was drawing blood, interacting with patients, and helping with a variety of technical procedures. I loved what I was doing. The patients were often uneasy when facing a needle for the first time. I was able to comfort them, help them to smile, and ease their nervous tensions. My job required that I work throughout the various University hospitals. This provided an opportunity to work within a variety of settings, and with people of all ages. Whether it was doing morning rounds in labor and delivery o r working in the campus health clinic, one thing always remained the same; I found great satisfaction in caring for patients and learning of their needs. I felt a career in medicine was truly for me. While working at the clinic I discovered the PA profession. I have always enjoyed the complexities of science and have been fascinated by a career in medicine. In pursuit of this goal, I decided to speak with one of the resident doctors in the clinic. She introduced me to the role of Physician Assistant. After that, I immersed myself in research. I was surprised to learn that many people with whom I worked were Physician Assistants. I met with hospital staff, nurse practitioners, Physician Assistants, and physical therapists. I regularly visited the PA at the clinic and admired his significant level of patient interaction and his ability to work both autonomously and alongside other physicians and nurses. I admired the PA programs flexibility and versatility, which would allow a change of specialties if I desired. I began to focus my attention on becoming a PA. Being an independent thinker, as well as a people oriented individual; I feel that I am well suited, not just for a career i n the medical field, but for a lifetime career as a Physician Assistant. PA School Essay #2 Why Do You Want To Be a Physician Assistant? As a child, every day, I would swing on the swing set in the backyard of my house. I would sit there for hours, without a care in the world simply singing songs and swinging back and forth. On that swing, I felt untouchable. Like a bird in flight, my only cares were that of the sky and the beauty of each adjoining minute. In the swings gentle motion I was overcome with a sense of peace. We wake one day and find that the swing no longer exists. Our backyard has been rebuilt and the ground, which had once supported our youth, has been transcended. We search again for the swing, longing to find a resemblance of that peace. We hope to find it each day, as the product of our life and of our career. A woman smiled at me one day, her name was Margaret. The wrinkles on her face told a story and in her hands there played a motion picture. She sat crouched in a wheelchair; I sat on a stool beside her. I had been working as a phlebotomist in the University Clinic for two years. I was a friend of Margarets because every Wednesday at six she would arrive at the clinic for her routine blood work. Everybody liked Margaret; she used to tell us stories of her childhood and her husband who had given his life to the war. She had grown especially fond of me because I had freckles like her grandson. She used to come alone, but had grown weaker; this was the first time her daughter had accompanied her. Her daughter looked tired and spoke softly, The best vein is in her hand she explained, it doesnt hurt her there. I gently placed my hand on hers, and it was cold. She looked to me and through the cold touch of her hand poured the warmth of her heart. Its about time for dinner dont you think mom, said her daughter. The clock rang six and I agreed. The medicines have been making her sick; she sometimes has troubles keeping her food down. I looked closely at her face; it was thin and drooped to her chest. I realized that Margaret was unable to speak. Margaret, can you make a fist for me? Just like last time. She clenched tightly. I withdrew the needle and collected a small sample of blood. She raised her head and with her frail hand, gently placed it on mine. I looked again to her eyes while placing a bandage on her hand. It was warm now. Time for dinner mom, replied her daughter. I smiled and waved goodbye Margaret I will see you again next week. She raised her head and smiled. Without a word, she made perfect sense. I never saw Margaret again. In the memory of Margaret and every patient who has individually touched my every day, I have regained a piece of the backyard swing that I loved so much as a child. I have been directly involved in health care for four years. Every day has brought great joy. To be a part of a persons day is a wonderful blessing. Certainly, there are many pleasures in life. But, for me, none is greater than that which we find in the healing touch of another. As the eternal motion of the swing, it is in this that I find great peace. Which essay is the one that got me an acceptance letter? (window["TotalPollAsync"] = window["TotalPollAsync"] || []).push({id:"19989", container:"totalpoll-async-5e09b01dcfd57"}); Click here to see the answerEssay #2 of course! The difference: One is written from the heart, the other is full of clichs, lacks specificity, has no theme, has a boring introduction and a weak conclusion! Final Thoughts As you sit down to write your PA school application essayremember this example. In life, almost nothing ever goes to those who try to blend into the crowd. Your PA School application essay should be different, reflect who you really are and not pander to what you think other people want to hear. This is a rule of thumb not just for your essay and for applying to PA school but for life in general. As you write dig deep, don't hold back, believe in your words. Set your mind aside and try to find that place inside your head where your heart resides. This is where you will separate yourself from the crowd, this is where your journey to PA both begins and ends! Are you struggling to write your physician assistant personal statement? Are you dreading a second, third or fourth application cycle? If so, we are here to help! Save time, money and frustration. Write an essay that gets you an interview on the first try. Sign up for thePhysician Assistant Essay Collaborative View all posts in this seriesHow to Write the Perfect Physician Assistant School Application EssayThe Physician Assistant Essay and Personal Statement CollaborativeDo You Recognize These 7 Common Mistakes in Your Personal Statement?Prerequisite Coursework: How to Design the Perfect Pre-PA School CurriculumHealthcare Experience Required for PA School: The Ultimate Guide7 Essays in 7 Days: PA Personal Statement Workshop: Essay 1, A PA Changed My LifePA Personal Statement Workshop: Essay 2, I Want to Move Towards the Forefront of Patient CarePA Personal Statement Workshop: Essay 3, She Smiled, Said Gracias! and Gave me a Big HugPA Personal Statement Workshop: Essay 4, I Have Gained so Much Experience by Working With PatientsPA Personal Statement Workshop: Essay 5, Then Reach, my Son, and Lift Your People up With YouPA Personal Statement Workshop: Essay 6, That First Day in Surgery was the First Day of the Rest of my LifePA Personal Statement Workshop: Essay 7, I Want to Take People From Dying to Living, I Want to Get Them Down From the Cliff.Physician Assistant Personal Statement Workshop: To say I was an accident-prone child is an understatement9 Simple Steps to Avoid Silly Spelling and Grammar Goofs in Your PA School Personel Statement5 Tips to Get you Started on Your Personal Essay (and why you should do it now)How to Write Your Physician Assistant Personal Statement The Book!How to Write Physician Assistant The PA Grammar GuideSecrets of Successful PA School Letters of Recommendation101 PA School Admissions Essays: The Book!5 Things Ive Learned Going Into My Fourth Physician Assistant Application Cycle7 Tips for Addressing Shortcomings in Your PA School Personal StatementThe #1 Mistake PRE-PAs Make on Their Personal StatementThe Ultimate PA School Personal Statement Starter KitThe Ultimate Guide to CASPA Character and Space Limits10 Questions Every PA School Personal Statement Must Answer5 PA School Essays That Got These Pre-PAs Accepted Into PA School7 Questi ons to Ask Yourself While Writing Your PA School Personal Statement101 PA School Applicants Answer: Whats Your Greatest Strength? You may also like -The Physician Assistant Essay and Personal Statement CollaborativeAre you ready to get started? Choose your package, and we will begin today! Single EditOne-on-one serviceSupplemental Essays Your success is our passion. (see just some of our 100's of testimonials and comments below). We are ready to []PA Personal Statement Workshop: Essay 6, That First Day in Surgery was the First Day of the Rest of my Life In this sixth installment of our special week-long personal statement workshop, we continue to pull essays submitted from the comments section through our free essay submission processand provide you, and our users, with a more []Mock PA School Interview With Pre-PA Kassidy Anthony Welcome to the second video in our Mock PA School Interview Series: Ten blog posts featuring ten amazing Pre-PAs who have graciously shared theirrecorded mock PA school interviewswith one singular intention: To help you achieve []