tips for writing personal statement for pa school

Write The Perfect PA School Personal Statement [With Examples]

Filling out your PA school application is exciting and overwhelming. You’re beginning the first steps to your career goal, but it includes so much!

You’ll need to complete your application through the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants ( CASPA application). The application includes letters of recommendation, service hours, and a personal statement.

Your personal statement is one of the most important pieces inside the CASPA application. A PA personal statement is really a personal essay that offers you a time to shine.

The goal is to pique the admissions committee’s interest in you, in hopes they will contact you for a school interview.

Your PA school wants to learn more about you and your past experiences. If you’ve kept a journal of your healthcare experiences, it will make the process a little easier. If not, take a week to think through your past medical experiences, patient interactions, and shadowing experiences.

Your goal is to be accepted into a PA Program, become a PA student, and join the PA profession . To get there, you have to complete your application essay. So, let’s get started!

What Is the Purpose of a Physician Assistant Personal Statement?

Your PA personal statement might be the toughest part of the application process. Ultimately, your application essay is a sales piece about you, and that can be difficult to write. Inside the application, your PA school sees an academic background that talks about what kind of student you are.

Your work history tells them about what you’ve done professionally. Your letters from your PA evaluators show what others have to say about you. This is the only time in your PA school application that you hold the pen.

The American Academy of PAs recommends you pay attention to a few dos and don’ts as you consider what to put in your personal statement. Remember there is a 5,000 character limit. This means you have 5,000 characters, not words, in which to complete your essay. Often, this will come out to be about 800 words.

In your essay, clearly state why you’re pursuing the PA profession while demonstrating your knowledge of it. Communication skills are a necessity in the PA profession, and this is a chance for your communication skills to shine. Use your personal essay to communicate why you’re up to the challenge.

Don’t be vague, don’t use abbreviations, and don’t use informal language like contractions. Instead, write formally and identify the theme that brings the whole essay together.

Be sure to make every word count. Most importantly, do not make your personal statement a reiteration of your application. The admissions committee has already read your application. This is time to make yourself unforgettable.

As you are brainstorming, outlining, and writing your application essay, keep your audience in mind. Admission committee members are physician assistants, and they’re looking for good future PAs.

They’re interested in your desire to be part of a growing profession and your passion for patient care. Communicate this through your application essay.

Your PA School Wants To See You Shine in Your Personal Statement

Your personal statement is your unique story of why you want to become a physician assistant. To tell your story well, it’s important to do your homework on your audience. Start by investigating the physician assistant school and take note of their mission, ideas, and values. You can find most of this information on their website.

Look for the emphasis the school places on primary care or specialties. Do they encourage out-of-state applicants? What’s their vision for the future of education? As you find these answers of the PA program you hope to attend, ask yourself—How am I a match? Answers to these questions will help you as you write your personal statement.

Each week, skim through the articles that pop up in your news feed to get to know your intended school. The key word here is “skim;” it’s not necessary to read each word. You only need to read enough to find information to include that will help set yourself apart from other candidates.

Unless you’re perfect, you likely have had to overcome some challenges in your education or your personal life. Recount these challenges in your application essay and identify how you’ve overcome them. Above all, be human in your essay so the admissions committee connects with you and is excited about meeting you.

Prepare, Then Write Your PA Personal Statement

Let’s begin at the beginning. Don’t procrastinate! Some prospective PA students put off writing until they feel inspired or they feel the deadline is disturbingly close.

Sadly, this only feeds the anxiety that often accompanies writing a physician assistant personal statement. If you avoid procrastinating and instead use the process below, it becomes easier. The process includes brainstorming, outlining, and finally writing. But first, let’s start with the structure of the personal statement.

Anatomy of a Physician Assistant Personal Statement

The first thing you need to understand is the structure of the document. Once you know that, it’s easier to brainstorm the type of information you’ll need to write it. A PA personal statement includes an opening statement, a body, and a strong conclusion.

Opening Statement

Your opening statement sets the tone for the rest of your essay. It must grab your reader’s attention and make them want to stay along for the ride. This is where your research into the school comes in handy. Some schools prefer a straightforward statement while others are looking for a compelling story that sets the stage for your desire to become a PA student.

Opening statement stories can recount:

When you were cared for by a physician assistant.
What you learned from your personal medical experiences.
What you discovered from a friend or family member in the healthcare field that touched you.
Your volunteer experiences.
What it was like to live in a medically underserved area.

Providing a personal experience helps the admissions committee decide if they want to invite you to a school interview. Be sure to brainstorm multiple personal experiences to use in your opening statement. That way, as you move forward and start writing your first draft, you can change the opening statement to fit the flow of the rest of the essay.

Body of the Essay

This part of your essay tells the admissions committee why you decided to apply to their physician assistant school. Include in the body of your essay how you built an understanding of medicine and what drove you to want to become a physician assistant.

For instance, shadowing other healthcare professionals, reading, healthcare experience, and personal experience are ways of showing your knowledge and passion for the medical field.

It may also help to touch on why you chose to be a physician assistant and not a nurse practitioner or an MD . Remember, you’re speaking to PAs who already know what a PA does . Instead, address what it is about being a physician assistant that speaks to you personally.

Mention specific skills that make you a great PA, such as teamwork, communication, compassion, and your desire to work as a healthcare provider.

If you were faced with challenges and obstacles during your high school or college career, address them and discuss how you’ve grown from the experience. Don’t make excuses; just take ownership of the situation and address it honestly.

Strong Conclusion

You’ve finally finished the body of your PA school essay. This last paragraph of your personal statement should reemphasize your desire to attend physician assistant school, and, specifically, that school’s PA program. In your last paragraph, let your empathy, passion, skills, and dedication shine through.

Make a Personal Statement List, Then Check It Twice

If the process makes you feel overwhelmed, be assured you’re not the only one. However, taking these next two steps can make writing the essay much easier and less intimidating. Let’s start with a personal statement list from which you will later write an outline.

Schedule a date for when you’ll start writing your first draft. Mark this date in your calendar so you won’t forget or procrastinate. Then, on your calendar, mark one week before your “start writing” date. This is your brainstorming date.

On your brainstorming date, make a list of points you want to cover in your application essay. Because this is a brainstorming session, you don’t consider the character limit, it does not need to be in logical order, nor does it all have to follow the same theme.

Your list should include from 3 to 5 experiences that demonstrate the path you’ve taken to become a physician assistant. Patient interaction, academic experience, shadowing, clinical experience, and volunteering all fit the bill. If you have a particular story that you would like to weave throughout the essay, then include that on the list as well.

If you’re considering beginning your application essay, with a story, it’s helpful to brainstorm multiple ideas. A good opening story will build the structure of the document, so add all potential ideas to the list. Again, this is brainstorming, so there’s no need to nail down your opening story right now.

Now, put the list off to the side for at least 4 days. This will give you a chance to mull over your ideas without pressure, so when the time comes, the essay flows naturally.

Create an Outline of Personal Experiences

After 4 days, pull out the list of your personal experiences and begin to structure your essay in the form of an outline. An outline can help you organize your thoughts, so your content flows together.

Remember, there is a 5,000 character limit, so the outline will help you stay on track as you write on the proverbial paper (because you’re writing it on the computer, right?). .

Most pre-PA students write their essays in chronological order. And, truth be told, this is also the best way for the admissions committee to absorb the information. If you do choose to flashback, make it clear so your reader isn’t confused.

Do not try to be perfect—neither in your writing style nor in how you portray yourself.

Your ability to be vulnerable about your challenges makes you more of a real, relatable person. Set aside 2 or 3 days to nail down the outline for your personal statement. Not 2 or 3 full days, but 2 or 3 days to write, mull, and contemplate over the structure, stories, and theme you’ll use.

Start Writing Your Personal Statement: It’s Time to Put Pen to Paper

It’s time to start writing. Set aside quiet time when you won’t be interrupted, and find a space where you can relax. Turn off your phone notifications and shut the door. Take time during the process to do what helps you to calm the butterflies. Simple exercises, music, prayer, and meditation are all popular methods of quieting your mind.

Then start writing using the outline. As you write, remember this is a first draft; you’ll spend time editing, rearranging, and proofing later. Writing your first draft might be one of the fastest steps in writing your personal essay. This is because you’ve already put in the time and effort to develop the ideas. Now is the time to depend on them.

If you feel stuck, many writers find freewriting loosens the creative juices and helps the words flow.

Freewriting is the practice of continuously writing the thoughts that come to you. It was discovered by Peter Elbow in 1973, and it’s been found to help “un-stick” content development. Plus, since you’re using a keyboard, this technique is much easier for you than it was for Mr. Elbow using pen and paper.

After you write your first draft, you’ll need to edit it. One editing technique is to speak your essay out loud as if you were telling it to someone. Use a recorder so you can playback your thoughts—especially those well-worded statements you can’t seem to recreate later.

Seek a Personal Statement Review

Once you’ve polished your personal statement to the best of your ability, it’s time to seek a personal statement review. This is a review process undertaken by an expert, licensed PA who can help improve the flow of your essay and guide you to produce your best possible personal statement for PA school.

Your PA school essay should not be the area of the application process that limits your acceptance.

Potential PA students do well to have a personal statement review, so they don’t get lost in a sea of applicants. The admissions committee is not looking for a cookie-cutter essay, but rather your strongest response to their prompt.

Some PAs that do personal statement reviews also offer services to review CASPA applications. Consider this when choosing a PA to perform your personal statement review. As you weigh your options, costs, and timing, remember the importance of the personal statement to your PA school application and ultimately getting a school interview.

Examples of a PA School Essay

It’s always easier to understand how to write your essay after you’ve read several examples. The PA Life published and analyzed 31 examples for you to read through. At the end of each of these real-world examples are brief comments to help guide the writer to produce a better essay.

The first time you read through a personal essay example, you may miss some points, so be sure to read through examples multiple times.

Here are two short examples using different perspectives to help you determine what the best option is for your personal statement. Neither of these meets the 5,000 character limit since the objective is to offer you different options in the way they could be written and not to develop a full physician assistant program essay.

Personal Statement: Example One

I was seven and my mother was once again giving me cough syrup. I took it standing over the toilet because the cherry flavor made me nauseous, and I was sure I would throw up. This went on for years.

Years of springtime coughing and cherry cough syrup. Years of coughing all night and well into the day. Years and years—until as an adult, I realized I had allergies. In those years, I was cared for by my family physician who was gentle, caring, and took the time to talk with me and my parents.

Over the years I have been treated by nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and physicians. Thankfully my lungs have healed well, and I use my inhaler once every two to three years.

But in those years, I grew to have an understanding of the different roles of mid-level providers and physicians. And, from that understanding, I grew to appreciate the flexibility, professionalism, skills, and abilities that a physician assistant brings to their practice each day.

During my hours of healthcare experience as an EMT, I have also had the privilege of working alongside physician assistants who have demonstrated the unique combination of communication skills, teamwork, and compassion that I believe I also hold.

My desire to practice as a physician assistant is driven by my own healthcare experiences as well as those I have witnessed at work.

Over the past five years, I have volunteered at homeless shelters and nursing homes, while working as an EMT. In that time I have come to realize I am driven to help others, and being a physician assistant is the best way for me to fulfill that life mission. [Character count: 1588, Word count: 281]

Personal Statement: Example Two

In the past three years, I have held the hands of children as they died, comforted their parents, and watched their siblings mourn. For three years I have watched the doctors, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants in our hospital work to save lives, and I have seen the difference they make.

As a nurse, I had always assumed I would go on to become a nurse practitioner, so I could see my own patients. But, in the past three years, I have had the chance to see these professions in action, and I have come to realize my goal is to become a physician assistant.

Growing up I lived in a medically underserved area of our large metropolitan city. I saw first-hand the injustices that led to the loss of life or permanent disability. Today I am a nurse in a large city hospital serving those same people, the people from my neighborhood.

In these years I have developed strong communication skills that have served me well as I teach my patients how to care for themselves at home. My experience has been that positive patient outcomes rely on patient understanding and a belief in their necessary care.

My patients and colleagues have taught me the meaning of teamwork, compassion, and understanding of cultural differences. In watching the practice of different medical professionals, it has become obvious that physician assistants are the embodiment of the kind of care I want to offer my patients.

Each medical professional comes from different backgrounds, with different perspectives. I know that my perspective has been impacted by the neighborhood and community of my childhood.

I believe this impact has been a positive one, as it has driven home the need for people who are sensitive to cultural differences, have the time and desire to work with patients, and who have the skills and knowledge to care for them. These characteristics describe me, and I believe they are a deep and integral part of the physician assistant’s practice.

During my freshman year of undergraduate school, my grades faltered as I was learning how to live away from home and control my own schedule. By my sophomore year, I understood what was needed to get the grades I desired, and I achieved high marks through the rest of my education.

To achieve my goal requires my diligence, focus, and ability to absorb and utilize knowledge. I believe I have demonstrated these characters in my undergraduate degree and during my work experience. I am confident in my ability to successfully complete my education and close the gap in healthcare as a primary care provider. [Character count: 2,562 Word count: 444]

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Pa school personal statement: complete guide + examples.

tips for writing personal statement for pa school

Reviewed by:

Akhil Katakam

Third-Year Medical Student, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University

Reviewed: 11/6/23

If you’re applying to a Physician’s Assistant program, you will be asked to write a personal statement. Continue reading as we outline the dos and don'ts of your PA school personal statement.

Male physician's assistant consulting with female doctor

Are you wondering how to write a unique, stand-out personal statement for PA school? We’ve got you covered with our complete guide to writing a stellar personal statement.

This one document has the power to set you apart from the competition, giving admissions committees a deeper understanding of who you are beyond your academic achievements and test scores.

In this guide, we'll walk you through the dos and don'ts of crafting a compelling personal statement that will leave a lasting impression.

Get The Ultimate Guide on Writing an Unforgettable Personal Statement

How To Write a Strong PA School Personal Statement

The first step is understanding what a personal statement is. A personal statement is a piece of writing that shares who you are to admissions committees. Many programs like humanities and social sciences ask applicants to write personal statements to learn about the applicant on a more intimate level.

Unlike a statement of purpose, a personal statement focuses more on you and your interests and hobbies rather than academic achievements and accomplishments.

A personal statement is usually less formal and may take a storytelling approach as you share how your experiences have shaped you and led you to apply to the specific program.

While the tone is less formal than a statement of purpose, make sure your personal statement is well-written and engaging to your reader. You should proofread and edit your writing multiple times before submitting it.

When writing a personal statement, think about answering some of the following questions:

Why did you pick this program?
What experiences do you have that makes you a good candidate for the Program?
What can you bring to the program?
What can the program bring to you?
What achievements are you proud of?
What setbacks or challenges have you overcome?
What are your career goals, and how does this program help you achieve them?

As most personal statements are about 500 to 600 words, or two pages double-spaced, you won’t have the space to answer all of these questions. Pick a few to focus on.

Now that we have a pretty good understanding of the expectations and tone of a personal statement let's discuss how to write a strong personal statement for PA school.

The first thing to do before you begin writing is to read the school’s instructions carefully. Different schools may ask you to include specific pieces of information in your statement. The key to impressing the admissions committee is to demonstrate that you are detail-oriented and have actually read through the instructions.

Admission committees for PA schools want to know if you are right for the field before admitting you into the program. If they think you won’t make a good PA, then they most likely won’t accept your application.

Your personal statement for a PA school should demonstrate why you want to be a Physician Assistant and why you would make a good PA. When writing your statement, highlight specific attributes and characteristics that make up a good PA. Some specific traits to highlight may include:

Attention to Detail
Compassion
Confidence
Problem-Solver
Emotional Intelligence
Commitment
Professionalism

All of these traits make up a successful Physician Assistant . Use specific examples from your personal experience to show off your great traits. As the saying goes, show, don’t tell. Pick a couple of examples that demonstrate you possess one or more of these traits for your personal statement.

Successful PA essays are not about job experience; in fact, you should think of a well-rounded approach to medicine. For example, think of extracurricular activities that have shaped your interest in medicine and helped you grow as a person.

Make sure to work on your personal statement well in advance of submitting your application. This will help ensure you have ample time for revisions, meet the application deadlines and can present the best possible version of yourself to the admissions committee.

What To Avoid In Your Personal Statement for PA School

There are a lot of tips on how to write a good personal statement for med school that you can use for a PA personal statement. However, it is important to know what to avoid doing as well.

Don’t be dishonest and disingenuous in your personal statement. Admissions committees read thousands of personal statements and can spot those who feel off or insincere.

You don’t have to be a perfect person or perfect applicant to get accepted; be yourself and be honest. In fact, acknowledging challenges or setbacks that you have faced and overcame is a great way to demonstrate your resilience and problem-solving skills that make you a stronger candidate!

Also, avoid generic clichés and overused quotations in personal statements. This can include statements such as “I want to be a PA because I love helping people.” General statements such as this are overdone and come across as dull and impersonal.

Also, steer clear of fixating on salary details. Focusing too much on the money aspect might make it seem like your main motivation for becoming a Physician's Assistant is financial gain, rather than a true passion for patient care and healthcare. Instead, let your personal statement shines with your real-life experiences and genuine enthusiasm for this profession.

Instead, try some suggestions for engaging ways to start your PA personal statement from Hamilton University:

Standard: Simply state what you will be talking about in your paper, basically like a thesis statement.
Creative: Find a creative and unique way to begin your personal statement. For example, you can start your piece with a relevant quotation that speaks to you and relates to your experiences.
Action: Begin in the middle of a story to draw your reader right into the action.
Personal: Start off your statement by revealing something personal about yourself that has led you to your interest in medicine.
Informative: State a fact that leads into your personal experiences.

Avoid academic jargon or overly complicated language in your personal statement as well. Keep it simple and easy to read. Being over-dramatic can be off-putting and impersonal. Your personal statement should reflect who you are, so be authentic and genuine.

It can be difficult to write something intimate about yourself for strangers to read. It can also be hard to balance between humility and boasting. If you need some extra help, you may find some tips on how to write a recommendation letter for yourself helpful.

While a personal statement is not the same as a letter of recommendation, there are some core similarities.

Person typing essay on laptop next to stethoscope

PA School Personal Statement Example

Now that we have discussed the components of a personal statement for PA school, let’s check out some essays that were accepted for PA programs to give you an idea of what a good personal statement looks like.

Here is an example of a well-written personal statement:

“Hey Doc, you might want to have a look at this.” On my computer rested a radiology report for a patient I saw with my rural preceptor. She came to the office with left upper quadrant pain, early satiety, and abdominal distention. Due to the patient’s age and family history, I was worried that her vague symptoms could be related to ovarian malignancy; thus, I enquired to my preceptor if he thought ultrasonographic imaging would be appropriate. He readily agreed with my rationale. This report reflected my gut feeling that something was wrong: “There are multiple solid masses in the liver…dominant mass measures 17.0 x 12.9 x 18.1 cm. Follow-up CT recommended.” Although it may sound strange, reading those words convinced me I wanted to become a radiologist.

I wanted to be the person to give an answer for that patient. I wished I could have performed the patient’s ultrasound examination and subsequently analyzed the findings. One of my family medicine patients suffered mortal complications from the rupture of a massive basilar artery aneurysm, and I used his tragic CTA findings to give insights on how to understand the Circle of Willis and how its anatomy explained the patient’s unfortunate condition.

I had done research one summer centered around using microbubble contrast-enhanced ultrasound to characterize indeterminate renal lesions. I began the project as someone who was incapable of understanding what those series of words actually meant, but by the end I was trying to explain the various septations and wall patterns of lesions suggestive of malignancy to my exasperated, but thankfully supportive, parents. It is this constant teaching aspect of radiology that attracts me to the field. The most obvious instruction one gives as a radiologist is assisting physicians with disease diagnosis and pathology localization, but I see a burgeoning, ever-questioning group of pupils waiting ahead for radiologists: their patients.

As society becomes increasingly tech-savvy, there will be an increasing desire from patients to access their medical images digitally. With that, there comes the concurrent expectation that radiologists will have to be responsible in disseminating this information, as well as explaining the abnormalities. As this latter role has traditionally been in the hands of primary care physicians and/or specialists, radiology will have to adapt and rise to this challenge.

I am looking for a residency program that wants to prepare its students for this inevitable future. Such a program would obviously need to be strong in giving its future radiologists extensive breadth and depth in commonplace and emerging image modalities with distinguished skills in fostering student independence. As part of that independence, the program must have a strong emphasis on how best to explain radiologic findings for both physicians and laypeople. Additionally, I hope for ample opportunities for resident research, as well as strong mentorship from both upper level residents and faculty.”

Why this personal statement works : The student clearly outlines their goals and how these goals relate to the PA program. The student also clearly demonstrates how their background and personal experiences support their career goals which shows the reader that they are capable of being a great candidate for a PA program.

Here is another excerpt from a statement that shares a personal story:

“Do you think we can take in a 2-year-old?” Unsure if my wife was joking, I stopped midway up the steep hill on 19th Street in Birmingham to catch my breath, which was now short for reasons other than the strenuous walk. My wife went on, explaining that her niece, Gabby, needed a home. Nobody else in the family was able to help, and if we didn’t, she would likely end up in foster care. Though we later discussed it at great length, my mind was made up before I submitted the hill. My parents, who worked at a children’s home in Alabama for most of my life, showed me the impact a loving home could have on a child’s life. I couldn’t imagine saying no to this little girl. Less than a month later, we received full custody of Gabby and it became the three of us (plus the cat). It was my first year of medical school, my wife worked full-time, and we were the sole caretakers of a toddler. Through all the stresses of those early times, one thing stands out in my mind as perhaps the most stressful of all—her nighttime cough. That cough kept us awake at night. Each time Gabby let out a string of coughs, I crawled down to the edge of the bed and put my hand on her chest to make sure she was still breathing. We had been told that she might have asthma, but that was all we knew. We didn’t have any of the documentation most places required for care. We had no Medicaid information, Social Security number, birth certificate, or medical history—only a piece of paper signed by a judge that said we were responsible for her. My wife and I were at a loss—how could we care for this child if we could not get her most basic healthcare needs met? Thankfully, we stumbled upon Christ Health Center, a Federally Qualified Health center (FQHC) in Birmingham.

Christ Health Center was exactly what our family needed. In addition to caring for Gabby’s needs when most other places would not, I saw there a model of the sort of clinical work I intend on doing after residency. I was so impressed I signed up to do an elective rotation with them between first and second year. Prior to that, I was fairly certain I wanted to practice family medicine and work with the underserved in some way; after my first day at Christ Health Center, there was no doubt left in my mind. My draw to family medicine in general, and FQHCs in particular, is the potential for community change. At Christ Health Center, patients often came in with their entire families and everyone in the room had an issue to address, medical or otherwise. I learned some of the nuances of working with a community and gained skills necessary to help meet these needs. Usually, it was just a word of reassurance; other times, it was patient and family education; and occasionally, it was setting them up with resources for food and housing.

The lessons of those few months are often in my mind as I see patients. During my family medicine clerkship, I was tasked with doing the H&P for three different children in the same room. Inside, I found a frazzled mother completing paperwork while the kids scrambled about the room. She tried her best to calm them as I started on the histories, but to little avail. She grew more and more dispirited as she continued answering, “I don’t know.” Finally, on the verge of tears, she said, “I’m so sorry. I just got custody of all three of them and don’t know anything about their histories.” I paused, remembering Gabby’s nighttime cough. Finally, I said, “Don’t worry, we’ll take care of them. I know exactly how you feel.”

Why this personal statement works : This student takes a slightly different route than the first example but is also an effective way to write a captivating personal statement.

This statement reads more like a story, and the reader gets to know the student on a closer level.

By creating this sense of intimacy, the student demonstrates that their empathy and their ability to overcome personal challenges makes them a great candidate for a PA program.

Both examples are strong, so the route you want to take is up to you.

Still have some questions? Keep reading as we answer some of your frequently asked questions.

1. What Should Be In A Personal Statement for PA School?

You should highlight some of your traits and experiences that make you the right fit for the program and the field. Make it personal and make it about you, but remember to also be genuine and humble.

A personal statement is your opportunity to introduce yourself to the admissions committee. Think about how you want to present yourself and what you want the admissions committee to know about you.

2. How Do You Write A Unique Personal Statement for PA School?

The most important piece to writing a unique personal statement for PA school is to be yourself and write from your heart.

3. How Long Should a PA School Personal Statement Be?

This all depends on the school and their instructions. However, most personal statements range from 500 words to 1,000 words. Unless stated otherwise, they should never be longer than 1,000 words.

Final Thoughts

A personal statement is a key piece of your application. Like your interview , it’s your chance to introduce yourself to the admissions committee and really stand out amongst other applicants. A PA school personal statement is also a great opportunity to show off your writing and communication skills.

Remember to read through the instructions posted by the school, keep it personal and honest, and proofread and edit before submitting. Follow these key steps to write a personal statement that will impress admissions committees.

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January 26, 2024

Writing Your PA School Personal Statement with Impact [Including a PA Personal Statement Example]

There are approximately 300 accredited PA (physician assistant) schools in the United States. In the most recent application cycle, these schools received more than 27,000 applications. The matriculation rate for PA schools hovers near 30%, which is lower than the approximate 40% matriculation rate for medical schools. Is becoming a PA a competitive process? Yes! Is it impossible? No!

For you to stand out in this crowded applicant pool, your personal statement for your PA application has got to shine from the first sentence to the last. It needs to tell a compelling story that focuses on your sustained interest in the field, while at the same time building a case for your qualifications. It should not rehash your CV, be loaded with clichés, or focus solely on a story that portrays you as a victim.

The character limit for the CASPA (Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants) personal statement is 5,000 – which includes spaces ! Some people at first believe the limit is 5,000 words and end up having to severely cut back their overwritten drafts. Don’t let this happen to you!

The following successful essay responds to the question, “Why PA?” After reading this essay, you’ll understand why the candidate was accepted into a PA program. The individual has given permission for their essay to be shared publicly. All personal identifiers and details have been removed to protect their privacy.

PA School Personal Statement Example

I was nine years old and in the middle of Mrs. Russell’s third grade class when my stomach began to itch uncontrollably. I remember thinking to myself, “Did I get bitten by a bug?” Completely distracted by the incessant itching, I asked Mrs. Russell if I could go to the nurse’s office. When the nurse lifted my shirt, I saw the biggest “bug bites” I had ever seen covering the majority of my stomach. She quickly called my mom, who took me to several different doctors as the “bug bites” continued to spread all over my body. None of the doctors could figure out what was wrong with me until I saw a Dermatology PA. He immediately diagnosed me with a delayed allergic reaction. He gave me a medication that almost immediately made the hives disappear. I no longer struggled to open my eyes! It was like magic! To this day, I still have no idea what caused that allergic reaction, but I am grateful for this experience, because it introduced me to a PA who continued to touch my life and cultivate my interest in medicine and healthcare.

Year after year, my love of learning continued to flourish. I began taking gifted classes in math and science in the fifth grade and continued to take honors and advanced placement classes when I reached high school. In addition to my studies, I also began to play volleyball and softball. Through these sports, I learned the skills that a textbook could not teach me, such as accountability, integrity, teamwork , and leadership. Through my academic achievements, active participation in numerous school clubs, and leadership role as the captain of my volleyball team, my high school nominated me to participate in a National Youth Leadership Forum in the summer of ——. I attended lectures by a PA, a nurse, a chiropractor, a veterinarian, and several physician specialists. In addition to the lectures and countless group activities, I visited several medical facilities. In one of the labs, I saw a table displaying human organs infected with different diseases and cancers. To my surprise, I was eager to touch them and learn why the people they once belonged to could not have been saved. From that experience on, I became determined to pursue medicine.

My interest in the PA profession quickly became a driving force in my life after my mom was diagnosed with Stage IV Melanoma in February —— and quickly passed away in October of that year. I was devastated upon hearing her diagnosis. How could this happen when she went to the Dermatologist every three to six months? The same Dermatology PA who had healed me with his “magic pills” spent a significant amount of time with my mom after her diagnosis. He met with her and my dad following a long day of seeing patients, to determine if he had missed something in her regular exams. He also made himself available to my entire family and recommended specialists and experimental treatments. He explained everything we did not understand along the way. It is because of the compassion, sincerity, and care he provided to my mom and my family during this difficult time that I became certain I wanted to pursue my love of medicine as a PA.

Throughout my undergraduate career, as well as the time since I graduated, I have continued to explore the medical field to learn as much as I can about becoming a PA. Through countless hours of shadowing and volunteering as a medical assistant at —— Dermatology, I have learned how crucial teamwork, effective communication, detailed note-taking, and compassion are for effective patient care. There have been numerous instances where doing a simple and nearly painless biopsy could have turned into a serious and most certainly uncomfortable medical situation. By taking thorough patient histories, accurately noting any allergies, and verbally communicating these notes to the practitioner, I have been able to ensure that patients receive the best care possible while averting any avoidable crises.

Every challenge and opportunity that I have encountered since I was the itchy little girl sitting in Mrs. Russell’s class has brought me to this decision. My mom’s passing has only made me more passionate about this profession and has given me a new appreciation for life that I hope to share with my patients and community. With my love of learning and helping others, as well as the skill set I will gain from a PA program, I am certain that I will have the tools needed to become a valued member of a larger care team. I am eager to see how these opportunities will positively impact not only my life, but also the lives of others.

What makes this PA personal statement outstanding?

This essay shows that the writer invested the question “Why PA?” with a great deal of thought. It is exceptional for the following reasons:

1. The writer specifically explains “why PA” from the first paragraph to the last.

She writes with honesty and skill, directly responding to the essay prompt. Each paragraph illustrates an additional reason that becoming a PA is the only profession for her. She builds her case by discussing her academic achievements (advanced placement and honors classes in math and science), shadowing and volunteering as a medical assistant, and learning to appreciate the essential “soft skills” of compassion, sincerity, and care in a PA, which convinces the reader that she is grateful for, dedicated to, and thirsts for knowledge in the field of medicine. For these reasons, the candidate was invited to interview and received an acceptance.

2. The writer demonstrates a longitudinal pattern of behavior and involvement that supports her educational goal.

In my experience, past behavior predicts future behavior . This candidate’s pattern of behavior aligns with the work and responsibilities of a PA. With a love of learning and teamwork, as demonstrated by the experiences she chose in the medical arena, the writer proves through her long-term involvement with medicine that she will seamlessly fit into the role of PA. It is clear how much effort she has invested into preparing for this career.

3. An appealing balance of personal motivations and professional goals are represented in the essay.

From her childhood experience of being successfully treated by a PA to appreciating the clinical skill and sensitivity of PAs she encountered over the years, this writer’s motivations are a perfect blend of the personal and the professional. She writes convincingly about why this career path will be so meaningful on multiple levels. By drawing on both her personal contact with the profession and her preparation for it, she convinces readers of the variety and depth of her commitment. Each paragraph builds from personal to professional motivations, culminating in a conclusion where she ties the two threads together.

The profession of PA continues to grow in stature and popularity. When submitting your CASPA, remember you will be evaluated on the competitiveness of your holistic portfolio, with the personal statement being a critical component. Take time to craft your narrative, leave yourself additional time for reviewing and editing your drafts, and ensure that the statement you submit will captivate the admissions committee!

As the former assistant dean of student affairs and career development at the William Beaumont School of Medicine, Dr. Valerie Wherely worked directly with the dean of the School of Medicine, the associate dean of student affairs, the associate dean of clinical curriculum, and the assistant dean of admissions, as well as with Year 4 students on both residency application reviews/critiques and mock interview preparation. Work with Valerie! Schedule a free consultation today!

Related Resources:

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The Do’s and Don’ts of Writing an Impactful PA School Personal Statement

Pre-PAs need to do some physician assistant shadowing.These eight tips will help you get the most out of the experience.

So, you’re ready to apply to PA programs and are navigating your way through the application process. You’ve taken all of the right prerequisites, spent hours shadowing and working in health care, and sent out requests for references. Now you’re wrestling with what to write in your personal statement. The personal statement is one of the most important aspects of your application. How do you make it stand out from the rest and land yourself an interview? Here are the do’s and don’ts of writing an impactful PA school personal statement.

The PA school personal statement is not just a chance to set yourself apart, it’s the only place that has a “voice” in your application. Admissions committees look at hundreds, if not thousands, of applications from well-qualified applicants every year. This is your chance to speak directly to them. Your personal statement sheds light on who you are and what drives you toward becoming a PA. There are many articles out there giving out the standard advice on what to include, and exclude, from your statement. Here are some do’s and don’ts that are not so standard.

Do: Use correct spelling, grammar, and formal language

Ok, the first tip is fairly standard. Even though this tip falls within the category of “basic” advice, it’s important enough to mention anyway. You are applying to a demanding and rigorous graduate-level program, and professionalism is imperative. Remember that this is your voice. Speaking in informal slang or using unprofessional language is going to reflect poorly. Admissions committees are looking for applicants who will be able to interact professionally in the classroom and on clinical rotations.

Don’t: Call the profession “physician’s assistant”

This goes along the same lines as using professional language. If you want to be a PA, then you must know what the acronym stands for. The correct name of the profession is “physician assistant” or “physician associate,” without the possessive form inferring belonging. The permanent name change is on the horizon but either way, make sure that you are using the correct terminology for the profession. Making a mistake here makes you look like you haven’t done your research and aren’t up to date on current PA events.

Do: Be interesting and honest

Do you have a life motto? A noteworthy quote from a favorite book? A life-changing event that drove you toward becoming a PA? Use it at the beginning of your statement to draw your reader in. Beginning your statement with a story or words that are descriptive and stimulating creates curiosity and interest, setting you apart from other applicants. Make sure that you tie this initial theme into the rest of your statement by revisiting the theme intermittently throughout and mentioning it again before your conclusion. Be careful to leave out the drama. Expressive language is a tightrope to walk between interesting and theatrical.

Don’t: Emphasize a specialty you’ve selected

One of the many wonderful things about becoming a PA is the job flexibility and the multitude of medical specialties that PAs are practicing. You may already be dreaming about becoming an amazing dermatology PA but that is not what your statement should say. Remember that you are applying to PA school, where your education will be broad and comprehensive. Your future institution needs to know you’ll be interested to learn about all of the modules and not just one topic. Your statement should speak to why you will be a successful PA student and not skip ahead to what your long-term goals are.

Do: Sing your own praises

Bragging about how great you are is probably the toughest demand of the personal statement. Commonly, applicants write about anecdotes from patient experiences, meeting a PA that changed their life, or a family member that inspired them. Be careful in choosing one of these topics. Although one of these topics may be appropriate, it may be too common a theme to set you apart. Instead, really speak to the reader about why you’re passionate about becoming a PA. Write instead about incidences when you overcame adversity, your diverse life experiences, and what you’ve done to prepare yourself for the next challenge.

Don’t: Explain what PAs do

Admissions committees already know what PAs do in their daily careers. Statements that discuss how PAs have job flexibility, work in team-based environments, and have a better work-life balance don’t give the reader information about what they’re really interested in, you! Also, avoid statements about how the timeframe to obtaining your degree is shorter than other desirable careers. This makes it look like you’ve chosen to be a PA for the wrong reasons. Instead, discuss how you’ve prepared yourself for PA school and how being a PA aligns with your goals and values.

Do: Talk about your “soft skills”

There is a reason that most PA programs want applicants to have health care and shadowing experience. Many programs evaluate volunteer experiences as well. Every patient experience is a learning experience. Highlight what you’ve learned through your caregiving encounters. Have you volunteered your time serving and benefiting others? Have you put yourself in situations that challenge you to be more empathetic, more enduring, more confident, or more humble? Emphasize the “soft skills” that you have learned. These skills are harder for programs to teach than academics and are just as essential as medical knowledge in caring for patients.

In summary, writing your PA school personal statement should be the most exciting part of your application process because it’s your chance to showcase who you are outside of the application boxes. Show the reader that you are a human with depth, motivation, and passion for your future profession. It’s not an easy task to do in less than 5,000 characters, but speak professionally, and with authenticity, and interviews are sure to follow.

Looking for more essay writing tips for your PA school application? Check out this post on how to write your PA school supplemental essays !

More than 85% of PA programs in the U.S. use Rosh Review Qbanks to help their students prepare for their board review and beyond. Get a headstart as a pre-PA student with a free trial !

By Jennifer Sample, PA-C

Jennie is a Physician Assistant currently practicing in Emergency Medicine and Acute Care Medicine for both University Hospitals and the Cleveland Clinic. She is also the Admissions Coordinator and an Associate Professor with Lake Erie College’s PA Program in Painesville, Ohio. She graduated from Lake Erie College in 2003 with a Bachelor of Science degree and graduated with a Master of Physician Assistant Sciences degree in 2006 from Gannon University. In 2019, she graduated from A.T. Still University with a Doctorate in Health Education. She has been a question author with Rosh Review since 2013. When not working, she enjoys spending time with her four children and her husband, traveling as much as possible.

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Medical School Admissions

PA Personal Statement

When it comes to standing out from a sea of PA applicants, earning a high GPA and GRE and completing all of your PA school requirements aren’t enough. To compete in this hyper-competitive discipline, students must be able to express themselves in a way that showcases their unique skills and passions. The good news is that the PA personal statement offers a valuable opportunity to show admissions committees how you would add to the college community.

Personal statements enable students to introduce themselves to admissions committees while demonstrating their commitment to the field. When crafting a PA personal statement, students should highlight their unique academic and professional history while explaining why they’ve chosen to pursue this field of study. In particular, applicants want to reveal why they’ve chosen to become PAs rather than pursue another position in the medical field.

Because competition is high for PA program slots, students need to use every advantage they have to stand out from the crowd. Keep reading to learn about the CASPA PA personal statement prompt and discover tips on crafting an essay that will make the right impression.

Table of Contents

Understanding the PA Personal Statement Prompt

As an aspiring PA, you can expect to apply to colleges using CASPA, or the Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants. The only national organization for PA program applications, CASPA allows students to apply to multiple schools using one application and personal statement. Currently, future PA are asked to write 5,000 characters on the following prompt:

In your own words, write a brief statement expressing your motivation or desire to become a physician assistant. Keep your statement general as it is shared with all programs you apply to.

Applicants should note that the prompt is designed to assess whether they understand what being a PA entails. After all, physician assistants hold numerous responsibilities and face a wide range of challenges, from diagnosing complex medical conditions to dealing with difficult patients and family members. Additionally, schools want to know what personal characteristics and experiences help differentiate students from the pack. The best PA personal statements showcase attributes that might not be evident from a student’s transcripts, such as their sensitivity to patients and passion for the career.

What PA Schools Are Looking for

While there’s no single perfect applicant profile for PA programs, schools do seek out certain skills and attributes. According to the Johns Hopkins Physician Assistant guide , the best PA school applicants demonstrate the following:

Experience-based knowledge of what a PA career entails
Compassionate and caring attitude toward others
Enthusiasm for the field
Integrity and trustworthiness
Talent for leadership
Ability to communicate with people from different walks of life

The goal is to show PA schools that you know what you’re getting into and have the natural talent and aptitude to excel.

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PA School Personal Statement Top Tips

December 4, 2022
Rebecca DePalma

The personal statement is arguably one of the most important aspects of your PA school application. Anyone can take science classes and be involved in extracurriculars, the real differentiator from one person to another is most clearly seen through their statement.

The first step is to make sure you meet all required aspects a program requires, which is searchable through myPAbox . The second step is to round out your other application aspects such as the personal statement. As a prior PA applicant, current PA and statement editor, these are my main tips:

1. General writing perfection

I know the word perfect is intimidating and often unattainable, but if there’s ever a time to attain perfection it is in the spelling and grammar of your personal statement. This means you shouldn’t have any simple writing errors.

Obviously not everyone can write a masterpiece, and it doesn’t have to be, but it should be free of general common writing errors. This also includes professionalism and no errors in the word or pluralization of PA/PAs/PA’s. Make sure you proofread your statement many times and have at least a couple others look over it as well.

2. Goals of each paragraph

Equally important is the content of the statement. I recommend writing a list of aspects you know you want to include in the statement and impart to admissions. Then figure out how you are going to structure/organize that content into a logical order.

For example, maybe one paragraph focuses on clinical experience you have had that has led you to want to become a PA, so on and so forth. Just make sure each paragraph has an organized goal that is clear to a third party reader.

3. Unique to you

So you have the content, and it is free of grammatical error. Going further, try to add information that is unique to you. Each sentence should be rich with concise detail, as to differentiate your statement from the 100s-1000s of others that admissions is reading. As a brief example, “I learned a lot from my patient” is not a good use of characters. Rather, writing “I learned XYZ from my patient in the X unit” etc. is a way to fill in the uniqueness of your own personal experience.

4. Connection

Delving even deeper, if you really want to put your statement on the next level – try to connect aspects of your statement, weaving a path through it. This can be done through a general theme, or connecting various work/volunteer/hobbies with a common strand of interest. This not only ties your statement together in a cohesive manner, it also differentiates you in a thoughtful way. It helps you stand out and be memorable to admissions amongst the piles of other personal statements. This isn’t required in any way, but a nice touch to consider.

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4 Questions to Ask Yourself When Writing Your PA School Personal Statement

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Elizabeth Provanzana is a licensed physician assistant with a multi-specialty background. Having earned a Bachelor of Health Sciences and a Master of Physician Assistant Sciences from St. Francis University, she has 13 years of experience in clinical medicine in areas of general, vascular, thoracic, gynecology, obstetrics, neurosurgical, orthopedic, and urological surgery. She wrote for EduMed regarding tips for preparing for writing Physician Assistant School Personal Statements.

Writing a personal essay for the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA) is the first step on your journey to education as a PA. There is a lot of pressure and anxiety surrounding this piece of writing and for a good reason. This is the first expression of you that the admissions committee will see when your application is reviewed and your first opportunity to stand out. There are vital topics to hit on to write a solid statement and some questions to answer to get the committee to give you a chance.

Here are some questions to ask yourself in preparation for writing your statement.

1. Why do you want to be a PA? What draws you to medicine and why specifically do you want to be a PA? You should highlight what sets apart a PA from other professionals. This is a chance to demonstrate what a PA does and that you understand the role. Be specific and talk about how the PA profession enhances medicine. Do not speak negatively on other medical professionals, and you don’t want to appear competitive or polarizing to the committee. There may be those that started as other medical professionals and built on that to become a PA, so don’t put any other occupations down.

2. What experience do you have that makes you an attractive candidate? What was your shadowing experience? Discuss what you liked about your experience with patients and other medical professionals. If you had contact with another PA, talk about how that inspired you and helped you understand what a PA does. The more you demonstrate that you already have been in the field and have a good understanding of your role, the better chance you have of getting an interview. PA programs are looking for candidates that already know what they are getting involved in. These are the candidates that are more likely to finish the program.

3. What qualities do you have that will make you a good PA? Tell the committee who you are with specific examples of times you demonstrated qualities that make an excellent medical provider. Whether it be a PA or a physician, there are some essential qualities that we all should all have to be successful. Working hard, compassion, a love of learning, and being a lifelong learner are some of the major qualities to consider Show real-life examples of when you have demonstrated these qualities. It’s important not to lie, never make up scenarios to impress the committee. If you can’t think of specific examples or if it’s hard to talk about yourself, ask those close to you to describe you. They can help you think of ways to talk about yourself in a positive, but humble light.

4. What sets you apart from other candidates? Have you been in an experience that has changed you for the better? Have you been working in the field for years and are ready to advance your career? Showing that you are already a skilled medical professional will help get you noticed. It isn’t always about medical experience, however. Show some creativity and let them see how you are unique. Maybe you went on a mission trip or volunteer in the community. Find ways to show service to others, even if it is not in the medical field. Getting involved in activities other than school or work will show you have good time management but will also give you an outlet when you are in school. Maintaining a life outside of school or work will help you stay well rounded and fulfilled. Examples are volunteering with the local food bank, religious activities, community outreach, or children services. These can be tied into your personal statement and show you have humility and compassion, important qualities in a PA.

Remember, make each word count as there is a limit to how long your personal statement for the CASPA can be and around 700-800 words isn’t a whole lot. Write an impactful statement and re-read it several times. Have someone else proof-read your statement for you. Make sure there is no negative tone and it is general so that you’re not limiting your chances to just one school. Most of all, be yourself and try to stay calm and confident.

PA School Personal Statement Editing: Your Key to Success

PA school personal statement editing services do much more than check your essays for spelling mistakes. In this blog, we'll tell you all about what they do and why it is worth the investment. Your PA personal statement is one of the most important application components you will submit. When done correctly, it can humanize your application and show the reviewer why you are a perfect fit for their program and a career as a PA, thus improving your chances of getting into your chosen program. On the other hand, a weak personal statement can make you a less attractive candidate and cost you one of those coveted acceptance letters. So, keep reading to learn more about PA school personal statement editing services.

>> Want us to help you get accepted? Schedule a free strategy call here . <<

Article Contents 9 min read

How important is the pa school personal statement.

Whether you are applying to Physician Assistant programs in Canada or the US, you will likely need to write at least one personal statement or statement of intent. Unless otherwise stated, your essay should be 5000 characters (approximately 1000 words) or less. It is supposed to tell the person reviewing your application why you want to be a PA, what makes you a good fit for the profession, and their school. Admission committees want to understand where your interest in becoming a Physician Assistant stems from, how committed you are to becoming a PA, and what steps you've taken (besides the obvious) toward making this a reality.

In other words, your PA personal statement is supposed to humanize your application by giving you a chance to talk to the admissions committee about your suitability for the program in your own words. This is especially important because PA programs are quite competitive. According to the Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA) , the profession seems to be getting more popular, which means that the level of competition is likely to keep rising.

Let's start by clarifying that PA school personal statement editing services do much more than scan your essay for grammatical errors and syntax issues. There is plenty of software, and there are even plenty of people who offer that service, but the consultants who work on PA personal statement editing are not among them. They are actual human admission experts who know the process of applying to Physician Assistant programs inside and out.

However, it is also worth mentioning that PA school personal statement editing services do not write your personal statement in your stead. If you are hoping to pay someone to do the work for you, then a professional PA school personal statement editing service is not what you are looking for. We recommend that you avoid consultants who offer this service altogether because it is an unethical practice that can potentially cost you a spot in your chosen program.

Instead, PA school personal statement editing services review PA applicants' admission essays and use their knowledge and training to provide personalized feedback and guidance to help students revise and polish these essays. The aim is to draft and submit a personal statement that will be more compelling, thus increasing their chances of getting into their chosen program.

Want to know what the other requirements are for PA school? Check this out:

More specifically, PA school personal statement editing services help applicants with the following:

Proofreading, Editing & Polishing

PA school personal statement editing services are typically offered by academic consultants, and while highlighting grammatical inconsistencies and spelling mistakes in your writing is not the only thing they do, it is one of the many things they can help with. It can be hard to proofread our own work. Not only because we are attached to what we write, but also because we've read it so often that we can easily miss little things like typos or bigger grammatical errors.

The truth is that you only get a few chances to impress the admissions board, and your PA personal statement is the first of those chances. This means that your personal statement represents you to the admission board. Submitting an essay with grammatical errors and typos tells the board that you either did not care enough to review your work and edit it, or that you did not pay attention to the details enough to notice those errors when you did review your work. Either way, it is not a great first impression to make.

Furthermore, not everyone is a gifted writer. And even gifted writers sometimes struggle to write about themselves or write in the appropriate format for personal statements. This is where PA personal statement review services come in. Consultants can thoroughly verify the grammatical syntax of your sentences, ensure that your essay is coherent and easy to follow; and, just as importantly, that it is free of grammatical or spelling errors.

As discussed earlier, your PA personal statement is meant to communicate quite a bit of information to the admissions board, but it can only relay the right information when it is done correctly. For example, if you use your personal statement to explain how you meet the different PA school requirements , you are not providing any new information to the admissions board or convincing them that you are the right candidate. Doing so would be a waste because the admissions committee already has the rest of your application, so they know that you meet the school's GPA requirements and other admission criteria.

Since PA school personal statement editing services are run by admission experts who have an in-depth understanding of the admissions world, they understand this and so much more about this process. For example, they are trained to decipher all the "admissions talk" on university websites, meaning that they can actually help you figure out what values and traits a specific PA program is looking for and ensure that you are highlighting those skills and qualities in your personal statement.

Furthermore, these consultants are objective third parties with expert knowledge, looking at the details of your academic background and experiences. That makes it possible for them to identify the activities and skills which make you a better candidate. For example, you may think that your love for nature or hiking is irrelevant to your PA application, but a consultant can help you understand how you can write about your experiences as a hiker in a way that will appeal to your chosen program.

Developing Writing Strategies & Improving Communication Skills

Writing a PA personal statement is no easy task, and often applicants are unaware that their essay writing skills may be lacking. Perhaps the last time you wrote an essay of this nature was when you were writing your college application supplemental essays, or maybe you have never written an academic admissions essay in the past. Unfortunately, most of us have not had lessons on writing academic admission essays or personal statements. So, even gifted writers like A+ English students don't have the tools to write a PA personal statement that will impress their chosen school's admissions committee.

Without personalized guidance, it is easy to write a generic essay that follows general tips from the internet and won't add real value to your overall application. But if you work with a PA school personal statement editing service, not only can they help you develop your essay writing skills, but they can actually teach you strategies and give you the tools you need to improve your written communication skills.

For example, let's say that you are working with a PA school personal statement editing service, and they determine that your essay needs a rewrite. Instead of writing this essay for you, consultants will help you brainstorm and teach you how to write a great original personal statement. Doing this will give you a chance to learn how to research, structure your essay better, and improve your writing abilities in general.

Check out these PA personal statement examples for some inspiration:

How to Find the Right PA School Personal Statement Editing Service

If you decide that working with a PA school personal statement editing service is right for you, then you need to find a consultant or consulting company that is worth the cost and investment. How do you choose the best PA consultant with so many services and hundreds of five-star reviews? Starting with a quick internet search is a good idea, but that will reveal dozens of options. How do you sort through them to find the best PA school personal statement editing service for you? We suggest that you pay attention to the following:

1. Choose personalized service

Admission essays such as medical school personal statements and, of course, PA personal statements are meant to be highly personalized. This is why following a standardized guidebook or general formula usually doesn't result in an outstanding essay. We recommend looking for a PA school personal statement editing service that works with students one-on-one and provides personalized feedback. This is the best way to ensure that the consultants are providing you with tips, strategies and guidance that are specific to you and that will strengthen your personal statement.

2. Consider their qualifications

You should take the time to research your potential consultants by navigating their websites and looking for reviews from students they have worked with in the past. You can use the following questions as a guide to determine whether they are qualified to provide this service:

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Cost is an important factor for plenty of students. Tuition for PA school is already a big expense, and so are the application fees. If you're fortunate to have a scholarship or funding for your degree, you may be able to designate some money specifically for consulting services, but if that is not the case, then finding a PA school personal statement editing service that can work with your budget is even more important. We recommend looking for a consulting firm that offers various payment options, such as installment plans to help you shoulder this cost.

Additionally, we recommend looking for a PA school personal statement editing service that offers some sort of guarantee. It is the unfortunate truth that sometimes, a student can follow all the consultants' guidelines, write a jaw-dropping essay, and still get rejected. In that case, what happens to the money you spent on their services? Here at BeMo, for example, we like to put our money where our mouth is, so we offer a money-back guarantee. Look for a service that offers the same or at least something comparable.

Good consulting firms or private consultants will offer a free initial consultation. Use that free consultation to ask questions and learn about them to determine whether they are worth trusting with such an important application component. ","label":"Bonus tip:","title":"Bonus tip:"}]" code="tab1" template="BlogArticle">

If you want to maximize your chances of admission to a Physician Assistant program in this increasingly competitive climate, then you need to do everything you can to take your PA personal statement from good to great. That is precisely what investing in a PA school personal statement editing service can do. The consultants who offer these services can help you highlight your strengths and address any potential red flags in a way that still makes you look like a strong candidate. Furthermore, working with a professional who knows this process inside and out will help you improve your overall communication skills. So take the time to research different editing services using the tips we've outlined above and invest in your future by getting this additional support from professional PA school personal statement editing services.

Physician Assistant programs are very selective and competitive. If you want to get into a PA program in the US or Canada, you need to submit an application that stands out.

Your PA personal statement is one of the only application components that allow you to tell the admissions committee why you deserve a spot in their program in your own words, making it one of the most important parts of your application. Think of it this way, a candidate with a relatively low GPA can get into a PA program if they have a highly compelling personal statement, but good grades can't make up for a poorly written one.

A good personal statement will show instead of telling the admissions committee why you are a good fit for their school and the profession as a whole. It will have concrete examples, a structure that is easy to follow and new information that contextualizes the rest of your application. Additionally, it will not have grammar or spelling mistakes.

That depends on the school you are applying to. Generally, you will need to write at least one personal statement for your initial application, but several PA programs have a supplemental application with additional essay prompts or short answer questions that you will need to respond to.

No, they do not! You should avoid any consultants or services offering to write your admission essays. Not only is this practice unethical, but it can actually land you in some muddy waters if the admission committee finds out or finds inconsistencies in your application.

It is a service offered by academic consultants where they review and help you edit your PA personal statement to ensure it represents you as a strong candidate, thus giving you a better chance of impressing the admissions committee and getting into your chosen program.

They can be, but there are services offered at different price points. Look for an editing service that is within your budget and provides payment options to help you with the cost.

Yes, they are absolutely worth it! Working with a professional can take your PA personal statement from okay to excellent, which is often needed to strengthen your overall application.

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Write The Perfect PA School Personal Statement [With Examples]

What Is the Purpose of a Physician Assistant Personal Statement?

Your PA School Wants To See You Shine in Your Personal Statement

Prepare, Then Write Your PA Personal Statement

Anatomy of a Physician Assistant Personal Statement

Opening Statement

Body of the Essay

Strong Conclusion

Make a Personal Statement List, Then Check It Twice

Create an Outline of Personal Experiences

Start Writing Your Personal Statement: It’s Time to Put Pen to Paper

Seek a Personal Statement Review

Examples of a PA School Essay

Personal Statement: Example One

Personal Statement: Example Two

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Writing Your PA School Personal Statement with Impact [Including a PA Personal Statement Example]

PA School Personal Statement Example

What makes this PA personal statement outstanding?

1. The writer specifically explains “why PA” from the first paragraph to the last.

2. The writer demonstrates a longitudinal pattern of behavior and involvement that supports her educational goal.

3. An appealing balance of personal motivations and professional goals are represented in the essay.

The Do’s and Don’ts of Writing an Impactful PA School Personal Statement

Related Articles

Do: Use correct spelling, grammar, and formal language

Don’t: Call the profession “physician’s assistant”

Do: Be interesting and honest

Don’t: Emphasize a specialty you’ve selected

Do: Sing your own praises

Don’t: Explain what PAs do

Do: Talk about your “soft skills”

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