21 PA School Interview Questions & Answers

"I think that my greatest weakness is how introverted and soft-spoken I am. While being introverted in itself is not a weakness, I feel like it can sometimes be misunderstood as me not wanting to communicate or take part in the conversation. During my experience volunteering as an EMT and working as a clinical assistant, I have been able to find my voice a bit more to take part in conversations, especially when advocating for a patient and their needs."

"I would bring a snorkel so that I could swim in the water and see what is beneath me, not only to be aware of my surroundings but also to appreciate its beauty. I would also bring a hammock with a bug screen to lounge and relax without mosquitoes. Lastly, I would bring a paddleboard or kayak to explore the water from above."

"I think that I would be a water lily, floating in a pond. We are similar in that we are able to go with the flow and gather what we need from our environment in order to survive and flourish. Additionally, water lilies provide shelter for animals like I provide a safe place for people to come to if they need a listening ear."

"That is a very difficult question, but I would probably say my favorite movie is Good Will Hunting. I love seeing the underdog succeed in that story. The kid has every reason to fail, but he makes it out of Boston and is able to heed the advice of the people who care about him."

"I think that I would belong to Hufflepuff because they are hard-working, loyal, and patient. They go the extra mile for those they care about and tend to see the best in others."

"If I had a patient diagnosed with an STI that doesn't want to tell their spouse, I would have to protect the confidentiality of their personal health information. However, I also ethically feel that the spouse should be made aware for the sake of her health, so I would take the time to educate and inform the patient that it is in their spouse's best interest to be told about the diagnosis. Additionally, I would inform the patient of my obligation to report the diagnosis to the local health department, as applicable."

"If I was in the situation where a patient was sent home with a medication they were allergic to, I would have a discussion with the supervising physician. I would inform them of my concern and let them know what I would like to do, including contacting the patient to change their medication. If they are still telling me not to worry about it after this discussion, I would have to let them know that I would be personally contacting the patient to change the medication or at least inform them of the mistake."

"If I was at work and noticed one of my colleagues showing up under the influence of alcohol, I would respectfully pull them aside to have a one-on-one conversation with them. First of all, I would check in with them to make sure that they are okay and don't have anything that they need to discuss with me or with someone else. If not, I would talk to them about excusing themselves from work that day, so they can take care of themselves. If they were unwilling to excuse themselves, I would have a conversation with a higher-up in order to make sure they do not practice that day, so that our patients are safe and taken care of."

"I do believe that everyone deserves access to healthcare. I believe it to be a basic human right and not dependent on their ability to pay. We need more practitioners that serve those living below the poverty line and I plan to help serve those populations in my career as a PA."

"Aside from the plethora of honorable mentions and impressive rankings, I want to attend this program because its mission and program goals align well with my values. I value the emphasis on a team approach, collaboration, and inter-professional education. Working as a team is an essential aspect of working as a PA. I have been lucky enough to work in an emergency room where the staff is all committed to working together as a team. Knowing that this program fosters this kind of environment is very important to me. I loved learning about the state-of-the-art Health Sciences Library, Computer Learning Lab, and Health Sciences Clinical Skills Center including the Patient Simulation Laboratory that enables a high-quality PA education. The excellent student-to-faculty ratio also allows for the utilization of these resources with the best oversight possible. I have always enjoyed the chance to be close with professors to learn not only from the curriculum but from their own experiences. Another attribute that influenced me to apply is the emphasis on competence in primary care as the foundation of sound clinical practice. There has been an imbalance between specialty and primary care providers, even though primary care is central to a properly functioning health care system. With a good base in primary care, there would be better health outcomes as people have better access to health care, leading to less need for emergency hospitalization."

"I am detail-oriented, multitasked, a problem-solver, multilingual, and a quick learner."

"A PA, or a physician assistant, is an advanced practice provider that is able to diagnose illnesses, develop and manage treatment plans, and prescribe medications. While able to practice autonomously and see patients independently, PAs practice as part of a team with a supervising physician and other providers. They are an integral player in the healthcare system and are able to help provide the best possible care to the patient, often acting as the patient's primary medical provider. In my experience working with and shadowing PAs, they are very good at communicating with patients and educating them on their conditions and medications."

"If I do not get accepted to PA school this cycle, I will be taking another look at my application and thinking back to my interview experiences to find out what I can do to be a better applicant. I would also continue to search for further opportunities to shadow PAs and volunteer my time in my community. I would also look for chances to receive constructive criticism on my application and my interview skills."

"Someone that I have always looked up to is my grandmother. I attended her retirement party as a child, and even since retiring, she has always kept herself busy caring for others. She volunteers at the local food pantry almost every day, and when she's not there she is making sure that her friends and family have everything that they need to be healthy and happy. She is always willing to lend a hand or just listen, and that is something that I have always tried to emulate."

"I decided to go back healthcare field after graduation, marriage, a baby, and a gap year. I didn't know how to start my career with a 7-month-old baby while my husband was going through a transition phase. I challenged myself and accepted a PRN position as a nursing assistant in a hospital. I was also breastfeeding and we were still in the pandemic period. On top of this, I had to through hospital training, in class/lab, quizzes, and exams. I took an exam and scored 98% in the final."

"My interests include kayaking and swimming in Lake Champlain, hiking in the Adirondacks, and spending time with my friends and family. I like to go camping during the summertime and set up a hammock between a couple of trees to read a book. I also really enjoy listening to music and spending time with my dog, Finley. I like bringing her to the dog park nearby to meet new people while she gets to run around."

"Evidence-based healthcare is the practice of using the most up-to-date research evidence in order to guide your clinical decision-making. This approach allows you to utilize the clinical experience of your predecessors in order to provide the best care for your patients."

"I would say career advancement, the volume of work, personal/work-life balance, and staying up-to-date with state legislation."

"I have prepared myself for the PA profession and made myself a competitive applicant by obtaining a bachelor's degree in biology with a minor in chemistry from Saint Michael's College in 3 years. During this time, I balanced the rigorous courses with a part-time job, as a supervisor, as well as volunteering as an EMT. I feel as though this experience helped me to learn how to manage my time and my priorities. I also have over 3 years of experience working in the emergency room, gaining patient experiences, and working as a team."

"From my experience as an EMT, I knew that healthcare was what I wanted to do, but I wasn't satisfied with the level of care that I was providing. I learned that I wanted to be more involved with finding diagnoses and managing treatment plans. As a clinical assistant, I have been able to work with nurses, nurse practitioners, doctors, and physician assistants, and it has enabled me to find out that being a PA would be the perfect balance of collaboration, autonomy, and flexibility throughout my career to change specialties."

"While PAs and MDs can function pretty similarly in the healthcare system, one major difference is that PAs practice under a supervising physician, while MDs can practice independently. Another difference is that PAs are able to enter the workforce sooner, as PA programs last about 2 years and then you're ready to find a job, whereas MDs endure 4 years in medical school and then enter residency. Personally, I enjoy working as part of a collaborative team and I was drawn to the versatility that PAs have to change specialties to find where they are best suited."