Look good on your application!

When filing out the CASPA there is a section that askes to what orginazations you belong. When I applied, I didn't really belong to any medical professional organization. I didn't know at the time that I could have signed up to be an Affiliate member for the American Academy of Physician Assistants. It will cost you $75 to apply for one year's dues, and it gives you some great tools to use for getting into PA school.

One of the benefits the AAPA offers is a daily email that shows what is going on in the healthcare field relating to PA's. This includes new treatments for patients or even what is happening in the legislative field for the PA profession. I would read these headlines all the time, so it kept me up to date with what is facing the PA profession. (which is a possible question that will be asked at an interview). In fact I was asked in my interview: "what is the biggest obstacle that you feel is facing the PA profession for its future" I honestly related what I read from the emails I received from the AAPA. If your serious about getting into PA school, sign up for the AAPA, you will benefit from it being on your application. 

Also don't forget to sign up for your state's Academy of Physician Assistants, its another organization that you can apply for that will look good on your application. I signed up for the Arizona Academy of Physician Assistants, and I have been able to keep up to date about what is facing the PA profession in my home state.

Central... what?

CASPA- Cas`pah: Central Application Service for Physician Assistants 


It is a very long application, and it will take you A LOT of time, so I started as early as I could filling mine out. In fact I signed up for the previous years application cycle just so I could see what I would be required to fill out. I made a list of everything I would need in Microsoft Word and filled it out myself. Then when the CASPA application opened I copied and Pasted everything I needed, including all of my courses and grades. (yes you have to fill that in by yourself, not just some classes, but EVERY class).

Most schools will tell you that it is important to apply/finish and submit your CASPA as early as possible, because it is on a first come, first serve basis that they enroll students. I took that to heart and completed my CASPA 6-7 days after it opened up. (It helped that I was prepared). CASPA needs to receive your letters of recommendation and official transcripts before your application is considered complete. I had emailed those who were providing my letters of recommendation and asked them to have it prepared so when I emailed them the link, they could just copy and paste it.

Above are the schools that I applied for. Some programs require another application that is different than the CASPA, if they require a 'Supplemental Application' you will find it to the right of your selected school.

GPA... Everyone asks about GPA, what is the best GPA to have to get accepted. Honestly it depends on how well rounded the other parts of your application are. I have included my GPA so others can gauge how they are doing, I didn't have the best GPA, but I wasn't that bad either. I did however, have a higher GPA for the last 45 credits or so, which most schools look for.

Letters of recommendation:

• One of the physicians I work with
• A PA that I shadowed
• My microbiology professor

One of the PA's that I shadowed graduated from Pacific University and so I was able to get some great insight from his experiences, and also have an alumni from Pacific write me a letter of recommendation for Pacific's program! (I'm sure it made me look very good on paper). If you get a chance to shadow or talk to a PA who graduated from the program your interested in don't pass it up!
If you have any questions regarding the CASPA comment below, I will let you know my insight.

After submitting my application...WAITING...Thats right, one of the hardest things PA school applicants have to do is wait to hear from schools. An amazing resource I used was: Physician Assistant Forum. It is an amazing resource that allows prospective PA students talk about their experiences with each school that they applied to, and talk about any correspondence they receive from the schools. Sign up for free, go to the "pre-PA" section and look up schools you applied to. Don't pass up this great tool!