Western University Of Health Sciences PA Mock Interview

Prepare for 35 WesternU PA interview questions covering clinical scenarios, patient care philosophy, and program fit.

Question 4 of 35

Why should we accept you into our Physician Assistant program over another student with the same qualifications?

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Rachelle Enns is an interview coach and job search expert. She works with candidates to perform their best in employment, medical, and post-secondary admission interviews.

Every year, Western University of Health Sciences receives a large number of applicants for their Physician Assistant program, and your interviewing team is tasked with narrowing down a large pool of the students they will admit. With this question, your interviewers are looking for unique qualities and statements that make you stand out from the other students wishing to attend their program.

Rachelle Enns

Rachelle Enns is an interview coach and job search expert. She works with candidates to perform their best in employment, medical, and post-secondary admission interviews.

"I believe I am the strongest student for your Physician Assistant program because I am incredibly dedicated to my professional and personal development. Since beginning my Bachelor's degree program, I have committed to taking a personal development workshop twice per year. The topics have included communication, interpersonal effectiveness, multi-tasking, organization, and even persuasive writing. I plan to apply these skills to my graduate studies."

Ryan Brunner

Ryan Brunner has over ten years of experience recruiting, interviewing, and hiring candidates in the healthcare, public service, and private manufacturing/distribution industries.

To best answer this question, put yourself in the position of your interviewing team. You are looking at multiple talented candidates - all have stellar grades, drive, and the potential to be renowned Western University Of Health Sciences alumni. Highlight the primary reason to choose YOU over everyone else. If you are struggling to think of some differentiating qualities about yourself, consider your recent volunteer work, an existing connection to the faculty or facility, a memorable and personal story of struggle and triumph, or an unusual skill such as speaking multiple languages or knowing sign language.

Interview Coach

Jaymie

A real coach, not AI. I read every answer myself and write back with personalized feedback.

Typically responds within 24 hours.

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35Western University of Health Sciences Interview Questions & Answers

Discovery

1.At Western University Of Health Sciences, we want PA students with a true passion for medicine. What appeals to you most about working in the medical field?

Competency

2.In your opinion, what is the most concerning issue facing the medical industry today?

Education

3.Tell us about your academic performance during your undergraduate program. Where do you feel you excelled, and where do you feel you could have improved?

Discovery

4.Why should we accept you into our Physician Assistant program over another student with the same qualifications?

Discovery

5.What do you feel is the single most important quality a PA should possess?

Discovery

6.At Western University Of Health Sciences, we believe in the continual development of our students, both professionally and personally. What is your self-development plan?

Education

7.Talk to us about your current GPA in your undergraduate program.

Compatibility

8.What is your favorite area of medicine so far? Which is your least favorite? Why?

Compatibility

9.If you could meet anyone in the history of medicine, who would you choose and why?

Ask The Interviewer

10.What questions do you have for us about Western University Of Health Sciences?

Discovery

11.What do you know about Western University Of Health Sciences, and what appeals to you about our program?

Competency

12.Tell us about an area of weakness you would like to improve while attending Western University Of Health Sciences.

Direct

13.What research did you conduct before applying to Western University Of Health Sciences?

Discovery

14.Tell us something that we would not know about you from reading your CV.

Behavioral

15.What achievement are you most proud of so far on your path to becoming a PA?

Compatibility

16.What are you reading right now?

Experience

17.Talk to us about your experience with and thoughts on handling blood and other bodily fluids. You will be subject to difficult scenarios in your role as a PA. How do you feel about this?

Direct

18.What other schools have you applied to, and where does Western University Of Health Sciences rank?

Diligence

19.Which medical-related newspapers, journals, or publications do you read to stay in touch with new medical discoveries and current events?

Scenario Based

20.How will you express your opinions on controversial topics such as abortion, euthanasia, physician assisted suicide, and cloning as a Physician Assistant?

Compatibility

21.What is your opinion on socialized health care versus privatized health care?

Scenario Based

22.How would you react if you discovered a classmate cheating during PA school?

Behavioral

23.How do you respond to feedback and criticism? Describe a situation where your work was criticized. What was your immediate reaction to the situation?

Discovery

24.Who in your life has mentored or inspired you in this career path as a Physician Assistant?

Direct

25.How well do you think you performed in this interview today?

Behavioral

26.How do setbacks emotionally affect you and your work?

Competency

27.How would you like to see the delivery of healthcare evolve during your career as a Physician Assistant?

Direct

28.As a PA, you need to gain certification from the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA). Have you started preparing for the PA-C exam?

Education

29.In order to keep your PA-C certification, you need to perform 100 hours of continued education every 24 months. What is your continued education plan?

Diversity

30.How does your family feel about you becoming a PA? Do you have a strong support system?

Adaptability

31.What challenges do you foresee in working as a Physician Assistant?

Scenario Based

32.Have you put any thought into how you will handle a patient who refuses to take care of their health?

Organizational

33.PA school can be very stressful for a lot of students. How do you successfully manage your stress levels in the classroom?

Management

34.How do you plan to gain the trust and respect of the physician you will be rotating with as a PA student?

Leadership

Western University Of Health Sciences PA Mock Interview

Why should we accept you into our Physician Assistant program over another student with the same qualifications?

35Western University of Health Sciences Interview Questions & Answers

1.At Western University Of Health Sciences, we want PA students with a true passion for medicine. What appeals to you most about working in the medical field?

2.In your opinion, what is the most concerning issue facing the medical industry today?

3.Tell us about your academic performance during your undergraduate program. Where do you feel you excelled, and where do you feel you could have improved?

4.Why should we accept you into our Physician Assistant program over another student with the same qualifications?

5.What do you feel is the single most important quality a PA should possess?

6.At Western University Of Health Sciences, we believe in the continual development of our students, both professionally and personally. What is your self-development plan?

7.Talk to us about your current GPA in your undergraduate program.

8.What is your favorite area of medicine so far? Which is your least favorite? Why?

9.If you could meet anyone in the history of medicine, who would you choose and why?

10.What questions do you have for us about Western University Of Health Sciences?

11.What do you know about Western University Of Health Sciences, and what appeals to you about our program?

12.Tell us about an area of weakness you would like to improve while attending Western University Of Health Sciences.

13.What research did you conduct before applying to Western University Of Health Sciences?

14.Tell us something that we would not know about you from reading your CV.

15.What achievement are you most proud of so far on your path to becoming a PA?

16.What are you reading right now?

17.Talk to us about your experience with and thoughts on handling blood and other bodily fluids. You will be subject to difficult scenarios in your role as a PA. How do you feel about this?

18.What other schools have you applied to, and where does Western University Of Health Sciences rank?

19.Which medical-related newspapers, journals, or publications do you read to stay in touch with new medical discoveries and current events?

20.How will you express your opinions on controversial topics such as abortion, euthanasia, physician assisted suicide, and cloning as a Physician Assistant?

21.What is your opinion on socialized health care versus privatized health care?

22.How would you react if you discovered a classmate cheating during PA school?

23.How do you respond to feedback and criticism? Describe a situation where your work was criticized. What was your immediate reaction to the situation?

24.Who in your life has mentored or inspired you in this career path as a Physician Assistant?

25.How well do you think you performed in this interview today?

26.How do setbacks emotionally affect you and your work?

27.How would you like to see the delivery of healthcare evolve during your career as a Physician Assistant?

28.As a PA, you need to gain certification from the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA). Have you started preparing for the PA-C exam?

29.In order to keep your PA-C certification, you need to perform 100 hours of continued education every 24 months. What is your continued education plan?

30.How does your family feel about you becoming a PA? Do you have a strong support system?

31.What challenges do you foresee in working as a Physician Assistant?

32.Have you put any thought into how you will handle a patient who refuses to take care of their health?

33.PA school can be very stressful for a lot of students. How do you successfully manage your stress levels in the classroom?

34.How do you plan to gain the trust and respect of the physician you will be rotating with as a PA student?

35.What qualities do you believe great leaders have? Which do you possess?