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I paid most of my way through college by waiting tables, but describing the skills I gained as being genuinely relevant to work as a PA would be a stretch, and it would look like one on an application.). First, lets break down the Experience section of CASPA. Through this role, I have gained valuable clinical experience, strengthened my communication skills with both patients and fellow medical colleagues, increased my medical knowledge, and learned the art of team-based care. You start by selecting the programs you wish to apply to, then you submit one application that includes all necessary materials. About two weeks after that your courses will be checked, CASPA GPA calculated, and your application will be Verified. As always, Im happy to help! The Advice You Can Ignore When Crafting Your PA School Application Essay, How to Prepare Now for a Potential Second Application Cycle, How to Assess the Impact of Geography on the PA School Experience, What to Know About Interprofessional Opportunities Offered by PA Programs, How to Increase Potential Employer Interest When Exploring a New Specialty as a PA. Through this role, I have gained valuable clinical experience, strengthened my communication skills with both patients and fellow medical colleagues, increased my medical knowledge, and learned the art of team-based care. If it is, do your best to add in the details. Experiences in which you held a leadership role within an organization, such as the president of a club, fraternity/sorority, etc. "my duties at this job included 1.23etc") I feel like they won't know me unless I'm able to say subjective things, but I also feel like that could be against "rules"..or whatever 2018 PhysicianAssistantForum.Com. All rights reserved. You cannot view these CASPA calculated GPAs until you submit an application. The Experience section is one of the most time-consuming, yet vital portions of your CASPA application, so preparing your descriptions beforehand can save valuable time during application season. So sorry I'm just replying, I'm in my 2nd week of PA school and getting my ass handed to me lol. Not describing invites the reviewer to skim through this section without spending time thinking about the great things you have accomplished. Like listing volunteer experience, how you describe non-health care related work can be vague or specific, depending on the circumstances. This is THE subreddit for all pre-physician assistant students seeking help with their applications. The method to document this experience is through the CASPA online application. (ex. Include your family structure (siblings, parents and their marital status, type of home environment) and a little information about the location (hometown and some basic demographics about it). Starting Your CASPA Application Get started with an overview of the process, important dates and fees, and contact information. While the other details are straightforward, the wide open blank space is your only opportunity to add subjective information about your experience. The FAQ spells out what counts as: Make sure you use the right category when you describe your experiences. Anticipating that your CASPA calculated GPA will be either higher/lower/or about the same as your undergraduate GPA will keep you informed and prepared when deciding which programs you should ultimately apply to. Everyone else (those with lower GPAs and minimal healthcare experience) should apply to 20 or more. If something is important enough to mention in the description, you should give specific details. 362 0 obj <>stream Some applicants wait to submit while one last grade comes in so it can be included. I have a similar question. In CASPAs Identifying Information section you can provide some information on your upbringing, but most students dont. If you are going to share an experience make sure it is not a clich and it is absolutely necessary as to why this experience played a role in wanting to become a PA! "As a CNA, I conducted various patient care activities and tasks. Learn more. This can be really helpful when you've held several similar positions. If you want to be a physician assistant but you feel that your GPA isn't high enough, you still have hope. : describing your experience. If you feel you have an experience that may not relate to PA school, but may make you stand out as an applicant, then definitely add it! The experiences section of CASPA is a crucial part of your application. Research in public health or nursing is a critical component of advancing healthcare and improving health outcomes for individuals and communities. Whether youre applying for the first time or youre a re-applicant to PA school, its important to follow CASPA application best practices to you dont make critical mistakes or delay your Caspa application status for PA school. ^lW(y $k^ r x#1, 0 | A good essay starts with being original and taking a risk or two. Pretty straightforward, right? Check out the r/PAstudent subreddit once accepted and r/physicianassistant after graduation. Make this part easy by not stressing over the blank spaces. First, youll add an experience in CASPAs Experience section. This is the only information that PA programs are given about your patience care experience, so the information that you provide in this section will serve as the only reference a program has when determining your quality patient care experience. Enter information about your supervisor at the organization. Answer & Explanation. Verified means the fat lady has finally sung. If you feel you have an experience that may not relate to PA school, but may make you stand out as an applicant, then definitely add it! As anyone who has tackled the CASPA application in the past can attest, it's not something that can be done in an afternoon. Typical candidates (1000-3000 hours PCE and 3.2-3.5 GPA) should apply to 12 or more. It is your chance to go into detail about the diverse experiences you have had leading up to PA school. Agreed with both responses above. Describe the type of practice and provider (e.g., dermatology, PA) you observed. Your recent experience is most important, so don't stress if you can't find the phone number for your boss from six years ago. I would put in any experience you've had since college. Otherwise, leave it out. List what you observed, accomplished, or learned without describing how you felt about it. What insights you gained, etc. Leadership Experience The CASPA application is broken down into four parts: personal information, academic history, supporting information, and program materials. Allowing PA programs to contact these people gives your experiences more validity. We think this is a missed opportunity. All Rights Reserved. Next, youll be prompted to enter in the Experience Details. CASPA will ask for your Title at the experience and the Type of Recognition you received through this experience (compensated, received academic credit, volunteer). A couple examples weve run across: I strove to provide excellent patient care and gain an intimate understanding of patient needs. myPAresource inc.,2020. It is the first sense to develop in the fetus, and it is the most sensitive of the senses in both adults and children. Your link has been automatically embedded. PAI 20: Rejected by PA Schools! I maintain a neat and clean environment for each patient. This was my first experience working with patients and it ignited my passion for helping others.". For example, prescribing medication, performing procedures, directing a course of treatment, designing a treatment regimen, actively working on patients as a nurse, paramedic, EMT, CNA, phlebotomist, physical therapist, dental hygienist, etc. To give an idea, here are two contrasting examples: Example 1 (loaded with details): For over three years, I have been working as a clinical assistant at an Internal Medicine practice. This mistake is common and more work to avoid. It also avoids the "not limited to" statement from the original. It depends a little on your exact responsibilities, but in most cases ER volunteer work should be classified as Healthcare Experience (because the Volunteer category is for non-medical types of volunteering, and you had patient interaction, but were not responsible for the patients care). List what you observed, accomplished, or learned without describing how you felt about it. (LogOut/ You can all Whateverville and to figure out whats going on. All rights reserved. The application process is painful enough. Review the definitions below, consider the duties you performed, and choose the category that you think best fits the experience. CASPA will use grades from every course youve ever takencourse grades from undergraduate classes, random online courses, community college courses, etc. For example, how would you classify volunteering in an emergency room Volunteer, Patient Care Experience, or Healthcare Experience? By I have gained many qualities that will help me as a future PA. Can you see the difference that a thoughtful description of your experiences can make on your application? Fun fact:you can begin an application in CASPA even if you donotplan to apply for that cycle. And, if you want to approach your full application with a clear step-by-step plan that will make all of your decisions simpler, dont miss my Application Head-Start Workshop. Many applicants are surprised by their CASPA calculated GPA. By lenn19 Started June 23, 2022. . You want to jam-pack this section with details about the experience and your role. Related activities you would like your selected programs to review; for example, academic clubs and competitive teams. But, if you were instrumental in coordinating a blood drive or participated in a medical mission trip, you should provide some more detailed information about that activity. For example, if you are currently a teaching assistant for a college course, keep a list of key points from this experience that can strengthen your PA program applications. Applications may be need to be submitted with the CASPA application, they may have different deadlines than the CASPA application or be an invite-only that the program will send via email after reviewing your CASPA. 2018 PhysicianAssistantForum.Com. They should be concise and informative. Which is correct, bullet points or paragraph form?? Edit these descriptions until you are confident that they describe the experience in a way that will make the admissions member excited to learn more about you and want to extend you an interview offer! Contact If you made Deans List, describe what that means: Deans List is reserved for students who achieve a 3.5 or higher GPA for any given semester. Even if you think they will know what a phlebotomist is, or what it means that you are CPR certified, give at least some description of that achievement. CASPA will count both grades, the poor grade and the higher grade, in the cumulative GPA. Remember to include skills that may help you as a PA or PA student that might not be directly caring for patients, like training new employees, being familiar with billing or diagnosis codes, or working with other types health care providers. If you struggle to understand what to put for your experience, it can help to break ideas into bullet points. The Central Application Service for Physician Assistants. Youll check either the yes or no box. Enter the date or date range in which the experience took place. While you should be detailed with every experience that you add, being extremely descriptive is vitally important for the experiences that fulfill your patient care experience category. This is the only information that PA programs are given about your patience care experience, so the information that you provide in this section will serve as the only reference a program has when determining your quality patient care experience. Those are subjective descriptions. We are also in the planning stages for a webinar on making your CASPA application shine. Feel free to add information you gained from your observation or in discussion with the PA, but remember to frame it as a fact rather than a magical moment. Note that this may take a few weeks, but the average time it takes for your application to be verified is two weeks. The quality of the description short responses can elevate your application as a whole. Trying to squeeze in unnecessary impassioned information will only exhaust you and anyone else who will eventually be reading through your application. Applications open in April, and much of your competition will submit their apps in April. Aim to be as descriptive as possible when completing your CASPA application. You will need to collect and prepare several documents such as writing a personal statement or essay, contacting your references and getting letters of recommendation ready, previous job experiences, and submitting your transcripts. as you are currently involved in the role. In mine, I wrote specific things that I witnessed - lacerations, sutures, MVCs and so on. At this part of the PA school application process, youll have to brush up on your interview skills. If you are going to share an experience make sure it is not a clich and it is absolutely necessary as to why this experience played a role in wanting to become a PA! Six programs is the bare minimum, and only for top tier students (over 3000 hours patient care experience, 3.5+ GPA and strong essay). and your supervisors information (name, title, contact information). This is how I formatted my experiences on CASPA to give myself the best chance to get selected. Several schools offer PA programs. You should also go over how your family life was when you were growing up. laurentx3 hire us to coaching you through the process. If you ever have a question about the CASPA application, reach out to a representative through their website! You will have their attention, and a good essay can leverage that attention into an interview. If you are looking for the best PA schools in Minnesota, here is a guide to top-notch schools. Applicants everywhere are working hard to polish their PA school applications. The Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA) simplifies the process of applying to physician assistant programs. If it's important enough for you to include, you should allow it to be verified. Once received by CASPA, your application and materials go through a verification . This gives a much clearer picture of the applicant's experience. There are stages to the process. In mine, I wrote specific things that I witnessed - lacerations, sutures, MVCs and so on. Describing your background in this way will allow the person reviewing your application to better understand the breadth of your experience. If you have any specific questions about a particular experience, feel free to shoot me an email. Maybe you led a team of volunteers or you worked with another organization on a project, either of which shows a higher level of responsibility in your role requiring skills that could help you in a future career as a PA. For over three years, I have been working as a clinical assistant at an Internal Medicine practice. Its important that you use the 600 characters in such a way that gives PA programs a clear understanding of the specific experience that you are describing. 3 Reply madbro2520 5 yr. ago Props to you for getting things done ahead of time. I have gained many qualities that will help me as a future PA. Can you see the difference that a thoughtful description of your experiences can make on your application? Stocked supplies for patients on isolation and followed appropriate isolation precautions. This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. I served as the primary liaison between provider and scribe teams. Any experience working on a research project, preferably in addition to or outside of regular classroom work. You will then enter the number of average weekly hours and the number of weeks. Think about it: thousands of hopeful applicants are all vying for the same attention. Let's cover what to do for the most common experiences you might include in your application. A PA personal statement is really a personal essay that offers you a time to shine. Stick with what it asks for (so you don't look like you can't follow directions). This is a person that programs can contact to verify that this experience occurred. But it can make or break your chances at getting interviews for PA school. Use your best judgment to relay the information that you need the reader to know, rather than all the information you would want the reader to know. Keep in mind that CASPA site has a vast help center, a great quick start guide and a live chat service. Do You Share These Burning Questions of PA School Applicants? Your goal is to attract a little attention to yourself and to be memorable. Conquering the PA school application process is a rite of passage for every future PA student. This may include guiding students to the correct answer using critical thinking skills, always keeping open communication with the professors and team you are working with, and managing your time efficiently! Leave out irrelevant details that are non-specific to this particular experience in order to leave room for the necessary material. I've been a practicing PA for many years, and I help future PAs, like you, get ready for PA school & practice as a new PA. (LogOut/ Limiting your description to one or two sentences may come off as lazy and underprepared to apply to PA school. Hey all, Im curious if the use of "bullet points" are encouraged instead of typical narrative paragraphs in description of experiences. Sentence mentioning skills and values gained from this experience. There is no limit to the number of experiences that you are able to enter, but you will want to add experiences that you feel are relevant to your PA application. Without making a huge leap, expand on those prior experiences that helped you build skills that will be useful in the future. Inside PA Training offers a comprehensive CASPA Application Review service so your application will look its absolute best. I work at a doctors office and my responsibilities include interacting with patients and performing different tests on them. Here is where you will describe to the admissions committees your responsibilities, job duties, involvement, etc. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. You will then be prompted to enter the Experience Dates, which will give you the chance to enter both the start and end date, whether it is a current experience, and the status of the experience (full-time, part-time, per diem, temporary). Please try again. Enter information about the organization where the experience took place. Change). I'd say stick to your roles/ responsibilities! Therefore, writing descriptions that are loaded with valuable details and examples will not only benefit your application, but will help give admission committees a true picture of your experiences. Experiences in which you are directly responsible for a patient's care. What you discovered from a friend or family member in the healthcare field that touched you. To prevent missing any deadlines, keep a list of important dates for each program you are applying to. Youll check either the yes or no box. The essay is your chance to tell them whatever you think they should know about your desire to become a PA, and to do so as you see fit. CASPA defines verification process as follows: Verification is the process used to ensure all of your coursework was entered correctly and consistently. How should you word your experiences? How to Choose Your Best Programs: Understanding Curricula, What Is Optimal Team Practice? Schools with rolling admissions usually have few seats available by that late in the year, and interviews for them are already well underway. Most will lack any of their writers unique personality. There is no limit to the number of experiences that you are able to enter, but you will want to add experiences that you feel are relevant to your PA application. Third, be familiar with the difference between CASPA application submission and verification. Step 6: Finally, the last step is giving authorization for the PA programs to contact these organizations/supervisors. Take a step back from the position, and rather than describe it solely as a job, describe the experience holistically. I really enjoyed talking with patients and getting to know them throughout myyears thereit always made my day when I was able to make someone smile and feel better even though they were sick") or should I keep it strictly objective, (ex. CASPA experience descriptions . Clear editor. Keep in mind that it is important to balance your healthcare experience with other experiences that make you unique as an applicant and accurately reflect the person you are. Avoid this mistake! It is best to aim to have your application submitted a few weeks prior to this deadline, so that by the time that December 1st deadline rolls around your application is submitted AND verified. First, lets break down the Experience section of CASPA. When all of your supporting documents have been received, your application will be designated as Complete. But, this is not the place for mini, unsolicited supplemental essays. You must keep track of these deadlines! You don't have to avoid sentences completely in your descriptions, but overall, your descriptions should be direct and to the point, whether you are using bullet points or not. The CASPA application has separate sections where you are asked to list your achievements, memberships, certifications, and licenses. Step 1: First, you'll add an experience in CASPA's Experience section. Conclusion sentence connecting the experience back to your goal of being ready for PA school. Example 2 (lacks sufficient detail): I work at a doctors office and my responsibilities include interacting with patients and performing different tests on them. The blank space is just about the facts. If #2 above is a small missed opportunity, then using a bland or forgettable essay is a huge one (5000 characters)! Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts, https://www.reddit.com/r/prephysicianassistant/search?q=bullet%20points&restrict_sr=1. If you volunteered at a 5K run, we don't need to know that you helped fold chairs, handed out race bibs, or passed Gatorade to participants. Feel free to add as many experiences that you would like. Instead of giving up on your dream, consider applying at the schools on our list. Filling out an online CASPA Application can be tedious. Options to categorize you experiences include non-healthcare employment, research, volunteer, patient care experience, healthcare experience, shadowing, leadership experience, extracurricular activities, and teaching experience. Although you can enter any experiences that you believe are relevant to your application, we recommend focusing on those experiences within the last 10 years and at the collegiate level and above. Click Contact Us up top. All Rights Reserved. Time spent officially following and observing a health care professional at work, preferably in the physician assistant field. Your CASPA GPA may be slightly different than your universitys calculated GPA for a few reasons. 311 0 obj <> endobj Hi, I saw on a YouTube video that someone suggested to describe the experience and include a brief explanation of what they also learned from that experience. Your PA school wants to learn more about you and your past experiences. If youre not a born writer, not to worry get help. CASPA will automatically calculate the total number of hours based on these numbers, and this calculation will show up directly under the numbers you have entered. Once you add the experience, you'll be prompted to categorize the "Experience Type" based on the following categories: Non-Healthcare Employment Research Volunteer Patient Care Experience* Healthcare Experience* Shadowing Leadership Experience Extracurricular Activities Each of these make positive contributions to your ability to be a successful PA student and will be valued by admissions committees when you look at your CASPA application. While this may appear straightforward, if you open up the "supporting information" section and the menu unfurls, you'll start to see what takes so long. This portion is one of the couple parts of CASPA you can work on before the cycle you'll be applying. Also, it is a good idea to have these proofread, just like your personals statement should be. I suggest keeping a file on your computer dedicated to drafting and editing experience descriptions so that once CASPA opens, they are polished and ready to go! After coaching hundreds of applicants we know the most common CASPA application mistakes, weve gotten familiar with a number of easily avoidable mistakes that can weaken an application. Take advantage of the space they allow you to further prove your readiness for PA school and always max-out each description box. If you've kept a journal of your healthcare experiences, it will . Todays post is going to discuss the ways to properly and strategically describe your experiences that you enter into CASPA. Certain information from your application transfers over from one application cycle to the next (i.e. Enter additional details about the experience, including the title of the experience and the time commitments. Step 4: Next, youll be prompted to enter in the Experience Details. CASPA will ask for your Title at the experience and the Type of Recognition you received through this experience (compensated, received academic credit, volunteer). Applying to PA school is stressful which makes it easy to procrastinate. Have at least three people you trust read and critique your essay. Tagged: CASPA tips, CASPA, PA school application, PCE, pce, be a pa3, AHS. Most students list them but leave the experiences description blank. Select the appropriate experience type from the drop-down. But, that doesn't mean you are required to spend hours figuring out what to include or mulling over what to write in the sometimes-intimidating "description" section of each entry. Since patient care hours are a huge element of your application for many PA programs, its important that you carefully and strategically explain your experience so that PA programs get a clear understanding of that specific experience. Powered by Invision Community, Welcome to the Physician Assistant Forum! The "experiences" portion of CASPA is one of the most valuable parts of your application! The goal of undertaking PA programs is to ensure people live healthily. Once you fill out the required information, such as your position and the number of hours gained, there is a textbox to describe the entry. A question? The new CASPA cycle will open on April 26, 2018. Since patient care hours are a huge element of your application for many PA programs, its important that you carefully and strategically explain your experience so that PA programs get a clear understanding of that specific experience. Think about how what you've done in the past can align with what you will do as a PA. Again, if you have a comment, leave it below. Press J to jump to the feed. You can post now and register later. I assist each doctor with a variety of tasks, which include aiding them in dressing wounds, chaperoning breast and pelvic exams, and contacting patients with lab work results. If one of your reference hasnt submitted their letter and a schools deadline is approaching, you can call him/her and encourage them to turn in in ASAP.