PA School Mock Interview
Excel in your PA school interview with 21 questions covering clinical experience, patient scenarios, and professional motivation.
Question 4 of 21
How have you prepared yourself for the PA profession? How are you a competitive applicant?
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Ryan Brown created and launched MockQuestions in 2008.
This is a time to talk about schooling and prerequisites, but don't leave out soft skills too. Being a good PA student and working as a PA requires many other factors besides grades. Address actions that you have taken to be a good provider or really excel in both the hard and soft skills.
Ryan Brown created and launched MockQuestions in 2008.
"Once I decided on becoming a PA, I knew that my journey would require multiple parts for me to be a success. I enrolled in classes and developed study habits that would push me so that I could be better prepared for the course load. I volunteered at low-income clinics so I could have a better understanding of life experiences outside of my own. I also worked in a cancer research lab so that I could be prepared for academic research in my career."
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Anonymous Answer
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.
Stephanie's Feedback
These are impressive accomplishments, and any program of advanced study would be lucky to have someone so conscientious and hard-working! My only suggestion is to also highlight your academics and/or coursework for undergrad. Did you take strong STEM classes that will aid your transition to PA school? Did you graduate with a competitive GPA? If so, include these details! Showcasing your academic success will help your interview committee feel confident in your ability to excel in the PA program.
Anonymous Answer
My undergrad academic coursework prepared me for the rigorous nature of PA school as I took my all prerequisite courses in my junior and senior years. I participated in the healthcare club, community activities, and an internship at the hospital. I am a detail-oriented, multitasked, problem-solver, and multilingual, worked in different areas of medicine such as ED, PACU, AICU, behavioral health, and higher science GPA.
Marcie's Feedback
Excellent! It sounds like you have done a lot to prepare yourself. What degree did you earn and from where? Can you also give more details about the community activities and clubs you participated in and how these experiences benefited you? How did the internship help to prepare you? The more details you can include, the better! Great job!
Anonymous Answer
I have shadowed PAs in both a surgical and primary care setting, I think one of the most important ways to prepare is by fully understanding the profession. I have worked very closely with PAs and also volunteered alongside them for the last seven years. I know what they do and I have seen how successfully they can be utilized.
Marcie's Feedback
Excellent! It sounds like you have a lot of relevant experience. Can you discuss in further detail what makes you a competitive applicant? What technical skills did you learn while shadowing that differentiate you from others? What qualities do you possess that will make you an amazing PA?
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