supplemental essay pa school

How to Write Standout PA School Supplemental Essays

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If you’re applying to PA programs , you likely already have a handle on the requirements for your CASPA application. But what about any supplemental applications? It can often be difficult to navigate each program’s individual requirements for supplemental applications, including different essay prompts and additional fees for each. If you’re wondering how to make your PA school supplemental essays stand out from other applicants, here’s everything you need to know to get started.

Many years ago, when I was a pre-PA applicant, I impulsively added a school to my CASPA application at the last minute without thoroughly researching the school’s requirements. Surprisingly, I received an email a few days later informing me that my application would not be considered complete until I finished the supplemental application and paid an additional fee. I distinctly remember clicking the link in the email and feeling overwhelmed as a new browser window opened and three additional essay questions popped up. Rather than completing the essays, I promptly closed out of the browser window and didn’t look back. 

Now, I think back on this moment and wonder: What if this school had been the perfect fit for me? What if it was one that I hadn’t impulsively added to my application, but rather one that I had meticulously researched and had my sights set on for years? I would hope that after years of completing prerequisite coursework , obtaining patient care experiences, and polishing my personal statement, a supplemental essay wouldn’t be the obstacle standing in the way of a school that I desperately wanted to attend.

What are supplemental essays and how are they different from your personal statement?

As a reader of many applications over the past few years, it’s clear that supplemental essays aren’t simply there to add additional steps to the application process. Supplemental essays allow a program to ask questions that are more targeted to their specific program (e.g., “Why did you apply to our program?”). It helps the application reviewer further delineate whether you’re a good fit for their cohort, and it also gives you another opportunity to demonstrate who you are.

The prompt for your CASPA personal statement is “Please explain why you are interested in being a PA.” This question is general and nonspecific, as your response is included in your application to every program where you apply. In contrast to your personal statement, supplemental applications are not a required component of every program. Additionally, some programs may have a supplemental application, but no supplemental essay. Some programs may include one supplemental essay, while others may have multiple essay prompts. 

What are the general requirements for PA school supplemental essays?

Supplemental essays are typically shorter than your personal statement, though this can vary. While CASPA personal statements have a character limit of 5,000 characters (including spaces and punctuation), supplemental essays are often shorter than personal statements, varying from 250–2,000 words based on the program and prompt. Some supplemental applications may have short answer questions requiring a response in 50–100 characters rather than a full essay. 

Additionally, supplemental applications often have an additional fee. You should thoroughly research schools of interest so they can appropriately budget for this added expense. 

The delivery of supplemental applications and essays may also vary by program. Some may need to be submitted at the same time as CASPA. Some programs may automatically send the supplemental application to students via e-mail as soon as their CASPA application is received, while others may only send it out if an interview invitation is offered. You should work quickly to complete the supplemental essays and pay attention to deadlines, as these may differ from the program’s posted application deadline or may differ from applicant to applicant based on when their application was received and verified.

If you’re required to upload a document with your responses, standardize your formatting (12-point, monospaced sans-serif font, such as Arial). Also, pay attention to specific uploading instructions regarding document type (.doc vs. .pdf) and naming the document.

What are some common questions that PA programs ask as supplemental prompts?

While supplemental essay prompts vary from program to program, there are some common themes that pre-PA students should expect:

How do I start brainstorming ideas for these prompts?

Begin early—ideally before you submit your CASPA application. It may be helpful to create a “brainstorm notebook” with pages dedicated to potential supplemental essay themes. Keep your notebook with you at all times and jot down ideas as they come to you. This process was helpful to me during personal statement writing as I often find inspiration on my walks home from work. 

Ask yourself the following questions as you brainstorm:

• What are my future goals?
• What am I looking for in a PA program?
• How have I been shaped by my experiences?
• Which aspects of myself will set me apart from other applicants?

What are some tips for writing my PA school supplemental essays?

1. plan ahead.

Identify which schools have supplemental essays before you submit your application. Keep track of deadlines for supplemental essays and plan ahead. Then, budget your time to complete your supplemental essays as soon as you receive your essay questions.

2. Get familiar with the program

Familiarize yourself with the programs to which you applied and their missions. Peruse the website, attend info sessions, and participate in pre-PA events. You want to have a good grasp and understanding of what the school is looking for in a student and make sure this matches what you’re looking for in a school.

3. Make it different than your personal statement

Don’t copy and paste your personal statement! You should be covering different material than you do in your CASPA personal statement. Remember, this is your opportunity to supplement your application, not repeat it using different words.

4. Be specific

Highlight your answers with experiences and clear examples. Your answers should demonstrate your research and understanding of the program along with your ability to tie them to your own experience, interest, values, and goals. Also, be sure to avoid generic statements or vague language.

5. Tell the truth

Don’t write based on what you think the program wants to hear, especially if it conflicts with your true interests and values. Honesty is the best policy!

6. Proofread

You don’t need to pay for proofreading services—have a friend or family member read your essays and provide feedback. Consider recording yourself reading your essays and then playing it back. You may discover “sticky” areas, redundancy, or sections that are in need of smoothing over. 

7. Tailor to each specific program

Don’t reuse a supplemental essay without first revising it to align with that specific program’s essay prompt. Even though supplemental essay questions may be similar across programs, prompts will still have enough variation in their wording that it is obvious if a response was reused. I’ve personally seen students submit an essay to one program with another school’s name in it!

8. Clearly answer the prompt 

If the question is asking about the program’s mission, don’t ignore the prompt and use the open space as an opportunity to explain a failure on your transcript or another unrelated experience. Supplemental essays are often scored based on a specific rubric, so if you don’t answer the question a reviewer may be unable to score you.

9. Avoid buzzwords

Make sure that in an attempt to tailor to a specific program, you aren’t simply regurgitating language from the program’s website. There is a time and place for buzzwords, but using too many of them will distract from your essay and make it feel less personal.

10. Demonstrate who you are

Remember, your supplemental essays are an opportunity for an application reviewer to get to know the real you! It’s always frustrating when I’ve read through an entire applicant’s package and I still feel like I don’t know anything about them. Above all, the best way to stand out in your essays is to expand upon what makes you unique, the same way that you would in an interview. You got this!

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By Jennifer Comini, PA-C

Jenn Comini, PA-C, is a physician assistant educator in Los Angeles. After receiving a bachelor’s in behavioral neuroscience from Northeastern University, Jenn completed her MS in Physician Assistant Studies at the Pace University-Lenox Hill Hospital PA Program. She has worked clinically in urgent care and neurology, with a special interest in headache disorders, neuroimmunology, and mental health. She now works as an Assistant Professor at a PA program. Jenn has been a question author for Rosh Review since 2017. When not lecturing or writing questions, Jenn is often spending time with her rescue dogs and doing yoga.

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PA School Supplemental Essay Examples

Writing can be difficult, even with practice and training, and oftentimes, reading over PA school supplemental essay examples can help you with your own forays into that realm.

Prompts will change from year to year, and from school to school, but you can expect to find certain prompts generally repeated, albeit with slightly different wording. These prompts are fairly common, and not just in physician assistant programs ; these prompts can be found in applications for medical school secondary essays , as well.

Each essay you write should be a finely-crafted sample of yourself that shines through, tells your story, and showcases your best side to the admissions committee. It can be tricky to know how to throw in your story, along with pertinent information about your academic accomplishments, or the best extracurriculars for PA school , but if you study these examples, you’ll see how to go about this task.

Below, we give you several examples of likely and possible prompts that you will encounter, as well as answers to those questions. Studying these will help you craft your own answers, showing your schools-of-choice how you meet the PA school requirements for their program.

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Article Contents 11 min read

Why do you want to be a pa.

My first memory is, literally, playing with my father’s stethoscope. I was fascinated by it. While this is hardly the first step on my journey to medicine, I like to imagine that there has always been something in my DNA or my psyche which has demanded that I pursue healthcare as a vocation.

I was sick a lot as a child and was in and out of the hospital, finding myself needing help with allergies, asthma, and the occasional broken bone. This early exposure to healthcare, as well as my father’s profession as a doctor, made me familiar with what went on in a hospital.

One day, my dad let me come with him to the hospital to see what it was he did. I was still as fascinated with the trappings of the medical field as I was as a child with that stethoscope. Because of my fascination, he let me come along. I sat in the balcony of an operating room, watching my father carefully controlling the anesthetic to keep the patient unconscious, but alive – safe.

Allow me a moment to talk about another passion of my life: sports. I’ve always been an avid sportsman, enjoying soccer and baseball as a boy. What I love most about sports is the teamwork: the offense and defense working in tandem, under a team captain’s plan, to win the game. What I saw in the operating theater was exactly the same kind of teamwork, with nurses, doctors, and other healthcare professionals operating together to heal their patient.

That interest in the complete healthcare team got me researching the different positions and kinds of medical experts there were – and I looked up everything from anesthesiologists to x-ray techs. Along the way, I discovered the physician assistant. This resonated with me. It seemed like this role had something special to offer their team. They were versatile, worked under doctors to provide a variety of care, and seemed like they could help a lot of people.

Your program has a strong emphasis on patient interaction and foundational knowledge. I love the former, and know I will need the latter.

Patient interaction is my favorite part over any other aspect of healthcare. I love bringing somebody a smile and peace as much as a medical cure for their condition. I recognize that medicine is a holistic process and know that a big part of that whole is making sure that the patient is taken care of as a person.

Because your program gets PA students together with patients sooner than other programs, I was immediately drawn to it, knowing that I would feel useful, and like I was making a difference faster than at almost any other school.

Foundational knowledge is also important to me. Rather than rushing into new techniques or fads, your program emphasizes having a strong knowledge of the basics. I know that building on those basic techniques will allow me to place newer ideas on a firm foundation, and help me navigate the strange realms of human physiology and healthcare.

Although foundations are important in your program, that hardly means you are living in the past. You have some of the most state-of-the-art laboratories I have seen. It’s nice to know that I will be able to learn with advanced techniques and the latest elements of medicine.

The obvious answer is “physician assistant,” but of course, there are so many aspects to that job, and I will go into some of my top choices for what kind of PA I want to be and what kind of life I hope to lead.

My ideal situation would be to practice under the auspices of a hospital in a small town, or even out in the country. I have always loved open places and nature, and I think that living in such a community would bring me great personal satisfaction.

On a professional level, assisting with a smaller hospital or a family practice out in the country would maximize the use of my skills – in my opinion. Staffing is an often-encountered hurdle in such small communities, and a PA – or several – would be of tremendous use in a rural area. Since doctors are scarce, being able to add staff members who can assist those physicians would be giving a small community an amount of healthcare that would really make an impact.

Additionally, getting to know a smaller community would be satisfying and allow me to understand my patients a lot better than in a larger city with more distance and less personal contact.

The philosophy of medicine has fascinated me for some time, and I would like to continue my studies in this area. The culmination of these studies would occur after practicing for a short time. At that time, I would like to get my master of physician assistant studies (MPAS), and dedicate some of my time to teaching up and coming PAs and other healthcare professionals. I believe in giving back to my community and offering a helping hand up to the next generation of healthcare professionals.

I didn’t like the first years of my life. Bounced around from foster home to foster home, it took years before I had found my adoptive parents and was finally, permanently accepted into a family. That acceptance meant the world to me, and showed me that you can choose your family and choose to find love and acceptance in even the direst of circumstances.

We lived in a suburb, and the whole place seemed as quiet and tranquil as a Norman Rockwell painting on Prozac. Not unpleasant, just a little lethargic. That was okay. It gave me two important aspects of myself: a desire to explore, and a safe place to return to at the end of any adventure.

I remember one time biking along the train tracks with my buddy Rod. We had each received a new bicycle for our birthdays and knew that this was the most freedom a boy could get before he could get a driver’s license.

Rod didn’t see the train as quickly as I did, and when I yelled, he fell from his bike, and I dropped my own vehicle to race to him. I pulled him back from the edge of speeding death just in time. It was the most scared I’ve ever been in my life; Rod was another “family” member I’d chosen.

That brush with near-death was one of the reasons I have that made me want to make a career out of helping people. I knew what could have happened if I’d been slower, and I knew that people faced that moment down every day. When Rod and myself, breathless, returned to safe, secure, sedentary suburbia, I knew I wanted to stand with those that were facing death.

Ironically, it didn’t make either of us scared to try new things. Both Rod and myself go rock climbing. I think, in a counter-intuitive way, the incident with the train made both of us realize that we couldn’t control every outcome, but that we could always count on each other. I don’t know how many risks I’d take without Rod watching my back, but with his help, I feel more stabilized.

Whether through my adoptive family, my familial friends like Rod, or my quiet suburbs, I know that I can go forward on any adventure – rock-climbing or bike-riding, or learning about medicine – and have a safety net made of love at my back. I wouldn’t be me without those people or my joy in adventure and in the care of friends.

Explain Any Gaps or Deficiencies in Your Application

The hardest lesson I’ve ever had to learn was one I had to learn at the expense of some of my GPA. My first year of university was radically different from high school, in terms of its scope and the requirements it placed on me, as well as my response to it. In high school, I had been under the roof of my parents, and they kept me in a very strict environment. At university, I cut loose, like I was a rubber band pulled taut and finally snapping back.

I’m not blaming my parents for what I did, of course, I’m merely saying what led up to my failing my chemistry course in my first semester.

Winter break came, and I knew I had a major decision to make: change majors or press on. I decided to keep going, and with that dedication came great resolve. Over the break, other students spent their time reconnecting with friends and family after their first years away at school. For myself, I studied. In fact, what I did was study how to study.

By the time I got back to school, I arrived with a multitude of study guides, meditation techniques, and day planners with which I would set up a regimen of studying habits to ensure success. I added chemistry back onto my course load and re-took the course that semester.

I had learned a valuable lesson about how to spend my time, how to study, and how to seek out techniques to help me. I also learned not to ignore problems (like a poor grade on a midterm) but to confront my difficulties head-on and keep my goals in sight.

So, while you will see an F on my transcript for one semester’s chemistry class, I encourage you to look to the next semester, which has an A- for the same course. Now, don’t ignore the F, either. An F symbolizes failure, and an A- symbolizes passing, but both together show progress, perseverance, and lessons learned. Those two together are far more valuable than either alone. Because anybody can pass a course, but a true student learns and grows.

My mother is an architect, and I remember invading her home office one day, as a child, staring at her draughts papers and having her explain to me about how she needed to compensate for structural weight, materials, and the terrain the building was being built on. Without a solid foundation, perfect design, and the right materials, the whole structure would collapse. Every element was necessary.

I don’t want to get lost in the metaphor. I don’t want to declare the whole building an allegory with this profession as the materials and that profession as the foundation and so forth. What I want to stress is the essential elements of the team.

To me, a physician assistant, working with a doctor, is somebody who steps in to take burdens off of shoulders, lightening the primary physician’s load enough to allow them to focus on a wider area.

A physician assistant, of course, can step in and accomplish much of what an MD or GP can do. Their scope is limited, yes, and they report to – and work in collaboration with – an MD, but they can still take on many tasks for the MD to essentially extend the effective influence and scope of care of that MD.

I think of PAs as integral insofar as they can bridge a lot of gaps where a full MD isn’t needed, but the patient still needs heavy treatment. They are in the middle of the medical world, and that is a position which I think is as exciting as it is useful.

I’ve always enjoyed mediation and removing burdens from others. I think that is the best role for me, and I think working as a physician assistant will give me exactly that.

Wondering how to navigate your applications?

You have already made a great decision to research your essays before writing them, or while revising them. Professional physician assistant application help is a great choice to make, and we’re glad that you are taking your application seriously enough to study these examples. Apply this same process to the rest of your application, with your PA personal statement , for example; research, look at samples, and go for PA personal statement editing , and so on, with every aspect of your application to PA school.

You could run into anything, really, but generally-speaking, the essays you encounter will fall into a few, basic categories:

Personal, like “Tell us about yourself”

Professional, like “Why do you want to be a PA?”

Quirky, like “If you were a kitchen implement, what would you be?”

Other topics might include: What are your strategies for coping with the stressors of school; Tell us about your family; What books have influenced you in the past year; If you couldn’t be a PA, what other career would you want to have; or Where would you like to work as a PA. 

Follow any direct CASPA guidelines or guidelines issued by your school. Never go longer than the guideline; consider these as unbreakable rules.

If no length is given, aim for about 500 words; don’t go longer than 600, or shorter than 250. These are short essays, so you don’t need pages and pages on each subject.

Yes. Prompts like, “Why did you choose our program?” are obviously specific to an individual school, and you will need to tailor them accordingly. Others are more general or adaptive, such as, “Why do you want to be a PA?”

Check with each school or program to see what their requirements are. They will not all find it necessary to receive supplemental or secondary essays. Likewise, they might have topics which are optional depending on your personal application and background. If an essay asks you to comment on any gaps in education you’ve had, for example, you won’t need to fill that out if there are no gaps and no low scores or other discrepancies that require explanation in your application.

You can , yes, but depending on the essay, you shouldn’t skip it.

In the above example, you truly might just skip over an essay explaining a gap. If you don’t have a gap, you don’t have an essay to write.

But, if at all possible, write every essay. If you have a tenuous connection to the topic, brainstorm for a while and write something. Every essay is another chance to gain a point or stand out in the eyes of the admissions committee.

For instance, if there is an optional essay saying asking you to show your relationship to an underprivileged community, you might think you need not fill it out if you aren’t part of an underrepresented minority group. But, if the essay just asks for your relationship to such a community, you almost certainly have a connection – a friend, relative, mentor, and so on – who fits that description. You can talk about that connection, or perhaps some volunteer work or politically rallies you’ve been to and how they inspire you and affect you.

CASPA is the Centralized Application Service for Physicians Assistants. It is a service of PAEA – the Physician Assistant Education Association, and allows application to multiple programs through one, centralized program.

Essentially, yes, but you’ll need to fit the answer to different places. Let’s take the prompt “Why do you want to be a PA?” and look at three examples.

In a larger essay, a primary application essay, you’ll likely be given a larger character, word, or page count limit to write out your journey. You can expand on ideas, give a little more of your personal story, and you will be expected to provide more detail commensurate with the increased size of the essay.

In the secondary essays section, these prompts will be, as detailed above, shorter and more to the point. You have less room and less detail.

If you encounter such a question in an interview, it is unlikely that your answer will be formally timed, however, the expectation is that it will occupy approximately two minutes of time, not much more or less. You also will have to cover the “bullet points” and fill in detail ex tempore , instead of writing out precise language and memorizing it.

Always ask yourself what the reader – the admissions committee – wants to know and make sure you answer that. “Tell us about yourself,” isn’t just a list of hobbies, it’s you showing your best, personal attributes – for example.

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Are you applying to Physician Assistant (PA) school and need guidance on crafting a powerful supplemental essay? Look no further! In this comprehensive video, I dive deep into the secrets of writing a strong supplemental essay for PA school that will set you apart from the competition and impress admissions committees. Whether you’re a prospective PA student or a re-applicant seeking to strengthen your essay, this video provides the essential tools and strategies to help you stand out in the competitive PA school admissions process.

Table of Contents

Supplemental essays are an additional requirement for some PA school applications, and although they may seem daunting, they provide an opportunity for applicants to stand out from the crowd. In this article, we will explore effective strategies for writing a powerful supplemental essay for PA school that showcases your unique qualities and strengthens your application.

Understand the Supplemental Essay Requirements

Not all PA programs have supplemental essays, so it is essential to review the application requirements of the programs you are applying to. Some programs include their supplemental essays directly in the centralized application system, while others may send you a separate link or invite you to complete them. Familiarize yourself with the specific instructions and deadlines for each program to ensure you complete the essays correctly.

Determine the Essay Length and Character Count

Supplemental essays can vary in length, with character limits ranging from as low as 250 to as high as 9,999. Pay close attention to the specified character count and make sure your response fits within the given limits. Be concise and impactful, delivering your message effectively within the allowed space.

Research the Program and Connect with its Mission

Many supplemental essay questions revolve around your reasons for wanting to attend a specific PA program and how you align with its mission and vision. To craft a compelling essay, conduct thorough research on the program, explore its curriculum, extracurricular activities, and unique offerings. Look beyond surface-level factors like location and pass rates, and identify aspects of the program that resonate with your values, goals, and experiences.

Show, Don’t Just Tell

Instead of merely stating your interest in a program’s mission or vision, demonstrate how you already embody these qualities as a pre-PA student. Use your experiences, such as patient care, volunteer work, shadowing, teaching, or leadership roles, to illustrate your commitment to the program’s mission and how you have actively contributed to it. By showcasing your existing efforts, you present yourself as a candidate who will continue to thrive in the program and make a meaningful impact as a practicing PA.

Avoid Clichés and Superficial Responses

When addressing essay prompts like “Why do you want to attend this program?” or “How will you contribute to the diversity of the class?”, avoid generic answers that lack depth. Instead of providing predictable responses, dig deeper and explore specific aspects of the program that genuinely appeal to you. For instance, discuss the curriculum structure, unique learning opportunities, international rotations, leadership possibilities, or working with underserved communities. Make sure your reasons are personal and meaningful, reflecting your true motivation for choosing the program.

Embrace Your Diversity

Diversity encompasses more than just racial or ethnic backgrounds. Consider the unique qualities, experiences, and perspectives that set you apart. Reflect on how your upbringing, learning style, or other aspects of your identity contribute to the diversity of perspectives in healthcare. Emphasize the value you will bring to the program through your diverse background, enriching the educational experience for both yourself and your peers.

Seek Feedback and Review

Supplemental essays can be challenging to write, and it is essential to seek feedback from others. Consider consulting professionals, mentors, or pre-PA advisors to review your essays. They can provide valuable insights, ensure your responses are on the right track, and suggest improvements. You can also consider professional essay review services like those offered by The Posh PA, which specialize in helping PA school applicants with their supplemental essays.

Maintain a Strong Structure

As with any essay, a strong structure is crucial. Ensure your supplemental essay has a clear introduction that captures the reader’s attention, a well-structured body that supports your main points, and a thoughtful conclusion that summarizes your key arguments.

In conclusion, writing a powerful supplemental essay for PA school requires careful planning, research, and self-reflection. By understanding the essay requirements, connecting with the program’s mission, and showcasing your unique qualities and experiences, you can create a compelling narrative that sets you apart from other applicants.

Avoid clichés and superficial responses, and instead focus on expressing your genuine motivations, aspirations, and contributions. Seek feedback and review from trusted individuals to refine your essay and ensure its strength. Remember to maintain a strong structure throughout your essay, capturing the reader’s attention and leaving a lasting impression. With these strategies in mind, you can confidently craft a supplemental essay for PA school that highlights your suitability and enhances your overall application. Good luck!

Also read: 6 Qualities That Make a Successful Physician Assistant

I’m Michele Neskey, aka The Posh PA . Welcome to my YouTube channel ! My mission is to provide personalized guidance, education, and motivation to build confidence and promote wellness for aspiring physician assistants and beyond.   

Having been a PA for 17+ years and helped hundreds of students gain acceptance into PA school,  I understand the admissions process. I know what they are looking for, and I can help you tailor every component to make you shine, giving you the BEST chance of getting accepted to a program.  But it doesn’t end there. I create personalized plans for PA students and practicing PAs including test-taking strategy for the PANCE, contract negotiations, and tools to overcome and prevent provider burnout. 

My goal is to get you into a physician assistant (PA) school & survive the rigorous program, help you prevent burnout as a practicing PA, and help you take care of yourself so you can be the best version of YOU for your patients, family, and most importantly YOU!

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The Best Answer To “Why Do You Want to Attend Our PA Program?”

Not every PA program will make you write supplemental essays, but when they do, one of the most common prompts is “Why do you want to attend our PA program?”

Why Do PA Programs Ask This Question?

• To see how much you want to go there.
• To see if you’re a good match for the program.

Other Ways to Ask This Question:

• How will we be mutually beneficial for each other?
• In what ways are our mission and opportunities personally relevant to you?
• How will you build on your past experiences at our school?
• How do your priorities in life apply to your interest in our PA program?
• What do you expect to contribute to this university and community PA school?

One of the reasons this is so difficult to answer is because many PA programs offer similar curricula and opportunities, not to mention the same generic mission statements that contain all the common buzzwords.

So how do you go about answering this prompt?

The best answers use your past experiences as a base to project what you want from a PA program, even if you might change your mind when you get there.

For example, if you have a lot of experience working at free or mobile clinics, you should focus on finding similar ways to help the underserved at the PA program.

The Why Our PA Program Formula:

What is your specific interest in our pa program what opportunities would you take advantage of as a student here why.

“I am interested in attending the ABC Health Sciences PA program due to its ___________, ___________, and ___________ .”

DON’T start your “Why Our PA Program” essays this way. The PA programs will be used to hearing this narrative, and it will likely bore them to death.

Think about it this way: they know what they have to offer, and they know why it’s generally attractive, but they don’t know why it’s so personally relevant to you.

You’re the interesting X-factor in the whole equation, so even though it might seem counterintuitive, you should start your “Why Our PA Program” essays with something about yourself.

Here’s a General Formula:

Para 1 - "The Hook" - Establishes your major healthcare involvements and values.

Para 2 - "The Value Connection" - Connects to the program's mission, emphases, culture, etc.

Para 3 - "The Concrete Connection" - Specific opportunities at the program that let you embody the value connection.

Para 4 (Optional) - "Locational Ties" - Any locational or personal ties (grew up nearby, family in the area, relationships with alumni or students, etc.).

If you follow this formula, you can reuse the part about yourself across your supplements and find new connections to the other programs.

If you start these “Why Our PA Program?” essays by establishing yourself first, then you’ll sound more personalized and less like a template (even though it’s indeed a useful template for you!).

Reasons Why to Pick a PA Program:

• Do family obligations anchor you to a particular area?
• Is commuting or relocating worth the sacrifice? Are you willing to do so if necessary?
• Some regions or states have fewer schools than others and are swamped with a higher volume of applicants.

Generally, you'll want to apply to most in-state schools where you're a resident, along with a handful of other schools in areas where you have personal ties (former residence, family in the area, went to school there in the past, etc). This is a good way to build the initial list and then whittle down from there.

• State schools are frequently less expensive than their private counterparts.
• Consider how much money you will have to borrow and your debt comfort level.

All PA programs are costly, but choosing the best physician assistant program for you will pay off in the end.

How Established is the PA Program?

• A PA program that has been in operation for 10+ years is ideal - fewer logistical issues, reliable administration, vetted clinical sites and preceptors.
• A fledgling program may still be working out issues, and you will be along for the ride. Is this the best PA school for you, and are you ready for the ride?

Overall, opt for the most established, reputable program, but keep in mind that you may not be able to be picky.

• The length may vary from 24-36 months. This could be a deciding factor if you are torn between two similar schools.

In general, a shorter length is probably ideal, unless you're very concerned about keeping up with the rigor of a more accelerated pace.

Fit of the Prerequisites

• If you've already completed your degree and PA school prerequisites, choose a program with a curriculum that's similar to the work you've done.
• If not, look at the schools that seem like the best fit and tailor your coursework to programs you desire.

Most Programs Will Require at Least These Prerequisites:

• One year of chemistry with labs*
• One course each of human anatomy and physiology with labs
• One course in microbiology with lab
• One course in statistics
• One course in psychology

*Schools can be particular about which chemistry series they prefer. It's important to consult websites of schools.

Other Frequently Required or Recommended Prerequisites:

• General biology
• Organic chemistry
• Biochemistry
• Additional courses in social/behavioral sciences
• Languages (some schools require coursework in Spanish)
• Medical terminology
• Public speaking

C urriculum Style

• Do they use Problem-Based Learning , or a more “traditional” lecture format?
• Is it a pass/fail format that encourages teamwork among students, or is it a competitive “medical school” model where students are ranked by grades?

Overall, try to consider what type of learning environment you've thrived in before and what you envision thriving in as a PA student.

F irst-time PANCE Pass Rate

• What is the program’s retention rate? If they have a 99% PANCE pass rate for the last five years, that could be terrific, particularly if they retained all or nearly all of the original class.
• That same pass rate means less if they had a large cohort of students who were cut from the program for lackluster performance.
• This is good to ask about when you interview. Most program directors are eager to discuss their PANCE pass rates and answer questions that give them the chance to explain what's behind the numbers.

Overall, a higher PANCE pass rate is obviously better, but understand that you need to take it with a grain of salt.

Is There a T hesis Requirement ?

• A thesis is a paper that is tied to a major research project.

If you like doing research and writing, this could be a boon for you. If not, it could be a nightmare.

Example Answers for “Why Our PA Program?”

Describe your specific interest in the ohsu program. why are you interested in receiving your pa education and training at ohsu what factors did you consider in your decision to apply to ohsu (2250 characters).

During one of my first days as an MA at Thousand Oaks Orthopaedic, I saw the power of teamwork in action. I received a frantic call from an ER nurse stating that a patient, Alyson, had presented in excruciating pain. An x-ray showed that her greater trochanter had broken off after a hip replacement surgery. Our PA and surgeon collaborated with the nurse to schedule an urgent surgery and ensure the patient received the highest level of care. This experience showed me the importance and effectiveness of working on a multidisciplinary team in healthcare. Not only is this teamwork essential in practice, but it is critical to establish its foundation early on in one’s medical training, so that it is second nature and streamlined in times of need. Had the communication not been effective and immediate in Alyson’s situation, she might have suffered even more pain or done further damage to her hip. Outside of Thousand Oaks Orthopaedic, I have a history of working effectively on teams, both clinical and non-clinical. Whether it was my sorority or my teams at Workflow Consulting Group, I found that I can thrive as both a roleplayer and a facilitator given the particular task or context. Through shared efforts, my teams at Workflow recouped millions of unpaid dollars from insurance companies, money that the hospitals could use to ensure they maintain the highest level of patient care. And as in Alyson’s case, working as an MA has shown me that this type of teamwork is especially important in medicine. Based on these experiences, I am interested in OHSU’s Interprofessional Education course, as I have seen the essential role of collaboration between providers firsthand. In addition to building clinical skills and teamwork that ensure patients receive the highest level of care, I appreciate that this course affords students the opportunity to learn from other types of professionals and gain more insight into the unique roles of doctors, nurses, and PAs in the healthcare community. This knowledge is of unparalleled importance when it comes to patient-centered care. I believe that as a PA student at OHSU, I could contribute my experience and enthusiasm for teamwork to the Interprofessional Education curriculum and PA program.

Why have you chosen to apply specifically to the USC Primary Care PA program? (400 words)

When I was 17, I took my friend to Planned Parenthood to get an abortion. Coming from a religious family, she did not want to go to her family doctor and risk her parents finding out. When she had nowhere to turn, Planned Parenthood was there. As we pulled into the parking lot, we were met by people holding a painting of the Virgin Mary, trying, and succeeding, to make my friend feel guilty. My naive 17-year-old self couldn't believe people would be against an organization I felt was so important. Ten years later, as I enter the PA profession, I see more than ever the importance of organizations like Planned Parenthood. Moreover, after working in the healthcare field, I recognize the need to not only advocate for my future patients but for all patients seeking medical treatment. Because of this, USC’s advocacy trip to Washington D.C. is especially intriguing. I appreciate that USC gives its PA students a unique leadership opportunity that will allow them to support both the future of the PA profession and their patients as a whole. It is important for me to have a strong voice for my patients, and this program would allow me to do this. Reciprocally, I believe I could bring a unique perspective from my experiences volunteering for Planned Parenthood. Additionally, I would look forward to volunteering in the USC student-run clinic. During one of my first days as an MA, I saw the power of teamwork in action. I received a frantic call from an ER nurse, stating that a patient had presented in excruciating pain. An x-ray showed that part of the greater trochanter of her femur had broken off after a total hip replacement surgery. Our PA and surgeon collaborated with the nurse to schedule an urgent surgery and ensure the highest level of care. This experience showed the importance of working on a multidisciplinary team in healthcare. As such, I appreciate that the student-run clinic gives PA students the chance to work on teams with medical, pharmacy, and OT students. This teamwork is essential in practice, but also critical as a foundation early in one’s training, so that it’s second nature and streamlined in times of need. My brother and sister both attended USC as undergraduates, and it would be an honor to blaze my own path as part of the Trojan family!

How to Create a Template for the “Why Our PA Program?” Prompt

Let’s say you only have 1000 characters. Here’s how you might handle the initial challenge:

Due to my passion for oncology research, I appreciate BLANK PA Program’s (BPP) Exploratory Program, which allows new students to incorporate personal benchside pursuits into their curriculum. Under the guidance of Dr. Dream in the Wonderful Lab, I can build off my previous cancer studies while also volunteering in my hopeful future specialty of pediatric oncology at BPP Children’s Hospital. After witnessing the dire needs of the poor and homeless at free clinics in college, I would feel honored to work at BPP’s Saturday Clinic for the Uninsured. Many of my experiences have been with terminal patients or in end-of-life care, so I am thrilled at the chance to have more direct impact through acute, immediate treatments. As an eager, hands-on learner, I value BPP’s early clinical exposure and Specialist Mentoring in the first two years. BPP will allow me to apply my growing expertise toward a new community in need, while also giving me novel opportunities that can hone my future practice. (999 characters)

Reusing the Template:

In a longer essay, 2-3 sentences can be added to show your personal ties to the location, your relation to alumni, or your interest in continuing an important non-medical activity they offer that matches your background, personality, or prior experiences.

Let’s say you’re writing for a school with a longer limit, maybe 1500 characters. Here’s how you could use your previous answer as a template :

Due to my passion for oncology research, I appreciate TOKEN PA Program’s (TPP) Cancer Center, which houses breakthrough studies in T-cell isolation and customized vaccines. Under the guidance of Dr. Smart in the Brainiac Lab, I can build off my previous cancer studies while also volunteering in my hopeful future specialty of pediatric oncology at TPP Youth Hospital. After witnessing the dire needs of the poor and homeless at free clinics in college, I would feel honored to work at TPP’s Student-Run Clinic for the Underserved. Many of my experiences have been with terminal patients or in end-of-life care, so I am thrilled at the chance to have more direct impact through acute, immediate treatments.

As an eager, hands-on learner, I value TPP’s early clinical exposure and Equal Partner Teaching. TPP is located in Tokenville, a community near my hometown, and I would be honored to return there and serve the populations who helped raise me. Being near extended family will provide a great support system for me while adjusting to the rigors of PA school. Since I have always used my athletic hobbies to destress and stay sharp, I am excited to partake in the TPP Fitness Club during my rare free time. TPP will allow me to apply my growing expertise toward a familiar community in need, while also giving me novel opportunities that can hone my future practice. (1370 characters)

Always think about what you can reuse across PA programs to make the overall application process easier. If you utilize a template, then the only real burden is doing research for each PA program and making a list of what to include about them in your essays.

How to Answer "Discuss the three most important priorities in your life, and how they apply to your interest in our PA program."

This prompt is fairly common and has appeared as a supplemental essay for several PA programs in recent years. One notable example is Marshall B. Ketchum, a program that only gives you 1,000 characters to answer this question.

Generally, you'll want to approach it similarly to the regular "Why do you want to attend our PA program?" question - it's still important to "tee up" anything you say about the school with something about yourself. But in this case, you'll set up three short paragraphs (~300 characters) that build a bridge between your priorities and the school's mission, curriculum, opportunities, etc.

Here's a good example that illustrates this approach:

1. Personal responsibility

My faith has instilled the priority of ethics and morality. I do my best to live my life with a clean conscience. My obligation to live out my faith through good works translates to a level of clinical and professional responsibility. I vow to be a PA who upholds my oath to “do no harm” and provides conscientious care. 

2. Lifelong learning and stepping outside my comfort zone

As a scribe and MA, I’ve embraced learning curves and avoided complacency by experiencing multiple settings: home health, primary care, integrative medicine, ENT, and facial plastic surgery. Each position has required me to expand the depth and breadth of my knowledge and actively apply it. 

3. Teamwork and communication

Lastly, I prioritize strong relationships. Beyond my friends and family, I form close bonds with coworkers and build rapport with patients so that treatment feels like a collaborative partnership. I will carry these values of teamwork and communication into my career. (993 characters)

Obviously, these aren’t the ONLY strategies for answering the “Why Our PA Program?” question, but I have found them to be tried and true. Feel free to borrow their ideas and make them your own. ‍

‍ Have any questions? Feel free to email me at [email protected], and I’ll respond to you personally as soon as I can.

Want to see if we’re a good fit to work together on your PA applications? Book a FREE consultation with me!

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The Yale PA Program Admission Process and How to Apply

The Yale PA Program utilizes a rolling admission process . This means that those who complete their applications first (verified CASPA application, official GRE score report, three reference letters, the supplemental application, and no more than one prerequisite in progress), are considered for early interviews and admission decisions.

Interviews for invited applicants are scheduled from early-October through November, depending on space availability. Therefore, we encourage applicants to submit their applications early.

1. Complete Required Standardized Tests (ETS Code 3983) – GRE and TOEFL (if required)

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) official score is required of all applicants. We do not waive this requirement.

We strongly encourage all applicants to take the GRE by August 15th in order to meet our application deadline. All test scores are uploaded by CASPA to the on-line application. An applicant must use the institutional code of 3983 when requesting GRE scores for Yale. If the applicant cannot view the test score results on the application portal, they have not been loaded. Applicants must then submit a request to CASPA to have scores matched to their application.

• Use the GRE code of 3983.
• More information regarding the GRE can be found at www.ets.org.
• Competitive applicants to the Yale PA Program score in the 50th percentile or above on each section of the GRE exam.
• Scores can be no older than five (5) years.

TOEFL Required (ETS Code 3983): For those whose first language is not English and did not earn a degree in the United States, Canada or Great Britain, the TOEFL is required. Please see the International Students section for details .

Special Circumstances

We are accepting the in-home version of the GRE.

More information is on the ETS website.

2. Submit the CASPA Application

The 2024-25 application cycle opens April 25, 2024. Applicants must e-submit their CASPA application by 11:59 pm EST September 1, 2024, through the Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA) . Applications must be verified (GPA calculated) and complete by October 1, 2024. An application is considered complete after the following are received: the Verified CASPA Application and Supplemental Application. The CASPA Application must include three letters of recommendation, official GRE scores, no more than one prerequisite in progress, and World Education Service (WES) evaluations (if required).

Applications are only reviewed once all documents have been submitted and the application has been verified by CASPA. It is the applicant's responsibility to monitor their application status on CASPA and complete all requirements in a timely fashion. The on-line CASPA application must:

• Show the courses that satisfy the prerequisites. A maximum of one prerequisite course may be "in progress" at the time the CASPA application is submitted. The "in progress" course must be completed by December 31st with a grade of "B" or better.
• Include three letters of recommendation. These are usually written by someone who is very familiar with the applicant. At least one recommendation must be submitted by a health care professional who has observed the applicant in either a volunteer or employment capacity. Examples include, but are not limited to:
• a professor or another individual familiar with one's scholarship
• a physician, physician assistant or other healthcare provider
• another professional affiliate

3. Submit the Supplemental Application

Following completion of the CASPA, all applicants are required to submit the Yale University Supplemental Application . The supplemental application can be found here: https://www.applyweb.com/yalepa/ . Applicants will need their CASPA ID to complete the supplemental application. The supplemental application includes short essay questions aimed at determining your readiness for entering the PA profession and the Yale program. The non-refundable supplemental application fee is $50 and must be remitted at the time you submit your application. Fee waivers for the supplemental application are available to applicants who have been granted a CASPA fee waiver. The supplemental application deadline is 11:59 pm EST on September 1, 2024.

For more information, visit the Admissions FAQ Page .

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Pa school caspa application.

• CASPA Application

The Top 3 Mistakes in PA School Supplemental Essays

Hey future PAs, let’s chat about something super important – those sneaky little supplemental essays for PA school applications. Now, you’ve probably heard the basics: don’t make typos, be professional, the usual drill. But let’s dive into the real talk – the top three “oopsies” that can make the difference between a fist-bump and a face-palm when the admissions committees are reading your essays.

Mistake #1: The Copy-Paste Catastrophe

Alright, we get it. You’re applying to like, what, ten schools? And each one wants a unique essay? It’s tempting to copy-paste your heart out and just change the school name. But here’s the thing – you don’t want to copy-paste & call it a day. You DO want to edit & personalize it to match the school. It’s like using the same pick-up line on everyone at the party; it’s not a good look. So, personalize, our friends. Show each program why you’re into them specifically, not just why you want to be a PA. Again, this does NOT mean you need to recreate the wheel! Yes, you can recycle essays if the question is the same, but revise it a bit to align specifically with the school.

Mistake #2: The Sob Story Slip

We all have challenges we’ve overcome, and it’s great to share them. But remember, this isn’t a script for a Lifetime movie. If you’re sharing a personal struggle, flip the script and focus on what it taught you and how it’s sculpted you into a future rockstar PA. Keep it positive and professional. The goal is to show resilience and insight, not to make your reader reach for a box of tissues.

Mistake #3: The Jargon Jumble

Using big medical words might seem like a way to show you’re savvy, but it’s really just a way to obscure your point. This isn’t a medical terminology pop quiz. Write like you’re telling your story to a friend (who maybe slept through biology). Keep it clear, keep it simple, and most importantly, keep it genuine.

So there you have it. Avoid these blunders, and you’ll be on your way to essay greatness. Keep your writing as awesome as your future white coat will look. And remember, this essay is your moment to shine – so make it count!