Talk about a time when a professor or co-worker criticized your work.
Feedback will not always come gently. When that happens, we can feel criticized. Then, it's easy for human nature to take over and for us to become defensive. Pace University's PA Program Admissions Committee wants to know that you can accept feedback or criticism with maturity and poise.
Think of a time when you received feedback or criticism that was a bit hurtful or surprising. Discuss how you reacted productively. It's important to highlight that you were able to take the criticism and learn from the situation. You can achieve this by speaking in detail about how you implemented change after becoming aware of the criticism.
Consider forming your story-based answer using the STAR framework. STAR is an acronym for Situation, Task, Action, Result.
"I welcome constructive criticism and feedback because it allows me to tailor my approach and become better at my work. (Situation & Task) One day I was criticized by a nurse after she saw me place an IV in the patient's accessory cephalic vein near the elbow. She explained that it isn't convenient for patients in labor because they tend to tense and stop the flow of the IV. (Action) I asked her which areas she felt were best for the IV, and she taught me. Since then, I have avoided the AC veins when placing IVs in labor and delivery patients. (Result) Had I become defensive, I would not have learned a better way. I am committed to receiving critical feedback, which is important to improving and growing as a Physician Assistant."
