Take in Some Early Grey Freshly Brewed Hot Tea Before Your PA School Interview: How to prepare.
If you have been one of the few selected candidates for a prestigious PA school interview, I am sure your excitement was hot and heavy until the tea ran cold and the anxiety set in. It is vital to celebrate these wins, as applying for PA school was no easy feat. While the application process is grueling and at times, incredibly stressful, the adventure on the path to becoming a PA is really just beginning. It is important to stay focused, diligent, and on-guard.
Most programs have people who sit on the admissions committee, evaluate applications, and conduct applicant interviews. The committee comprises program faculty, program PA students, graduate PAs who work in the community, and various other medical professionals. Each committee member is issued a stack of applications to review and score. That same stack of applications is then passed on to two other committee members for review and scoring. Once all the applicants receive a score, the committee meets to select a group of candidates to interview. Many schools interview approximately 100 applicants per year. The committee usually unanimously agrees on candidates who are clearly and objectively the cream of the crop and offer a seat at the program.
I have curated some recommendations that are essential to prepare for your PA school interview, apart from scheduling the absolutely necessary mock interview series with me.
Next Steps:
Complete a mindmap and the rest of my tailored interview worksheet for preparation
Write out specific examples and plan on inserting an anecdote into every question to increase specificity and help them remember you at the end of the interview
Practice the “fact-story-relevance” format
Memorize the program’s mission statement and specifics about the school
Get some up to date statistics on the PA career path from AAPA to quote
Prepare specific questions for the program, as they will often ask you if you have any questions for them and you want to have this prepared as well
The day before the exam:
Plan on being in the city of where your interview is, do not travel more than 1 hour on the day of your interview
Prep a briefcase or purse with a notepad, pen, 5-10 copies of your resume, a mint/gum, water, and healthy snacks (granola bar, a sandwich, and nuts)
Plan on getting at least 8 hours of sleep
Eat green leafy vegetables which have properties that boost brain function
Remind yourself that you were chosen for an interview due to them liking you and they just want to get to know you better. Keep that mantra in your head to build confidence
If you are feeling anxious, have some lavender infused decaffeinated tea.
The day of your exam:
Eat high-protein breakfast
Drink at least 1 bottle of water
Limit caffeine intake (you will be running on adrenaline and you don’t want that to turn into anxiety)
Plan on arriving at the interview site 45 minutes-1 hour early, finding parking, and prepping in your car before going in
Walk in at least 15-20 minutes early
Be very friendly to your interviewers and other applicants, make friends, and get connected. Remember - they are always watching
This didn’t cure your anxiety? Shocking. Be smart, switch to decaffeinated tea, and schedule a free 15-minute consultation with me for more info by visiting the “BOOK” section on my website. Now drink your earl-grey, relax, and let's dive in.
Join us again for more exclusive hot tea on the tips and tricks of getting into PA school.
Where there is tea, there is hope,
Rachel Watters, PA-C, MSPA, MHA, MPH BS
Founder and CEO of PA-C By The Sea
