How do setbacks emotionally affect you and your work?
Every Physician Assistant student handles the stress and disappointment of setbacks differently. Your interview team at Western University of Health Sciences knows that grades and performance in their program can determine career success, and they need to know that you will handle the inevitable setbacks in their program with style and grace.
"Experiencing a setback is always disappointing and can be very disheartening, especially when involving a project that I have put a lot of time and effort into. I understand that setbacks happen often during Physician Assistant school. If I experience a major setback, I will take a few moments to debrief, get some fresh air if possible, or discuss what I could have done differently with a faculty member. Then, I move on. Rather than dwell on my mistakes, I choose to learn from them and grow moving forward."
Discuss with the interviewers how you typically cope with setbacks. No matter what examples you use from your undergraduate training or other experiences, make sure to highlight your ability to remain positive, focused on the task at hand, and able to learn and grow from the setback.
