Interview Preparation

:) in Connersville, Indiana said: When is the info session in University of south Alabama?
Can anyone tell me where it will be?
Plz-

The info session is at 2:30. It is on Springhill Ave, they put a map in the info I think. Its not to hard to find if you are going on 65 take Springhill Ave and turn towards downtown. It will be on the left. I don't remember what floor the school is on but there will probably be tons of signs and PAs hopefuls milling about. I'm local so just let me know if you need anything I'll check in again tonight.

KS - I had an interview in Nov. Really, it's very laid back, and I had no heads up before the interview day. Just be ready to discuss any flaws in your transcript. Also, one girl had NO flaws, 3.8 GPA, tons of health care, etc, and she was NOT offered a position!!! I know this b/c she was more than willing to talk about herself :) But, thankfully, she was accepted to 2 other schools. FYI...AT Still is in the top 25! Good luck! Everyone was asked something different for essay and in the 2 interviews. The intervews are not with current students, but intructors. Good luck to you!!!

did everyone who applied to drexel and pace already get a letter for an interview??

Is there anyone who applied and/or intervied at Alderson Broaddus College in Philippi, WV.

I applied to Drexel and Pace and still have not received any information. Hope that makes you feel a little better =)

yes, actually that makes me feel so much better alexis! thanks. i'm like freaking out because I didnt really apply to a lot of schools, and i didnt get into stony brook. my gpa isnt the best (2.93), but I have like 2500 hourse of patience care hours. I also have 3 good letters of rec (1 from the Dr. i worked for, 1 from my anatomy&physio professor, and one from my dean). Does anyone think i have any chances at Drexel or Pace????????

i meant to say 2500 hours**

Colorado in Overland Park, Kansas said: KS - I had an interview in Nov. Really, it's very laid back, and I had no heads up before the interview day. Just be ready to discuss any flaws in your transcript. Also, one girl had NO flaws, 3.8 GPA, tons of health care, etc, and she was NOT offered a position!!! I know this b/c she was more than willing to talk about herself :) But, thankfully, she was accepted to 2 other schools. FYI...AT Still is in the top 25! Good luck! Everyone was asked something different for essay and in the 2 interviews. The intervews are not with current students, but intructors. Good luck to you!!!

Hey, thanks for responding. I had the interview before I got your message. It was really laid back, just a long day! I loved the program and AZ. Did you get accepted to the program? How long after your interview did you hear back anything?

re: Pace, i sent in my caspa application late september, received an email invitation to interview on december 15th and interviewed january 6th. there were about 20 students in my interview group, and i know there was at least one group right before mine and one after. i also know that they had been interviewing for about a week before my date. hope this helps.

T, thanks for the info on Pace. I'm beginning to think they already have everyone they want? =(. I getting really scared now. If you don't mind me asking, did you hear back from Pace about your acceptance? Since I haven't reachieved a letter or anything saying I didn't get in, maybe they are waiting after interviews to see how many people accept, and then decided if they should ask other applicants for an interview i guess...At least I hope that's the case =/ .

hinalp, no problem. i have not heard back from pace yet. they said it would take about 4 weeks. don't worry about not getting an interview yet, as they say, no news is good news! most schools are pretty good about rejecting you right off the bat if they don't think you are a good fit (i got rejected from stonybrook, too). i am still getting offers to interview from other schools, so try not to sweat it too much...hopefully your's is just on the way! if you end up getting an offer, let me know, i can offer some words of advice.

Yes, I got accepted. I heard a little less than 3 weeks later. But the Chair pretty much told me he would offer me a seat during my interview with him. Some of the other candidates I was with didn't find out till much later. Students that interviewed last year received an offer that following Monday, according to them. It's so hard to wait for that call. I was so excited. I LOVE the school and the location of course. Good luck to you.

T in New York, New York said: re: Pace, i sent in my caspa application late september, received an email invitation to interview on december 15th and interviewed january 6th. there were about 20 students in my interview group, and i know there was at least one group right before mine and one after. i also know that they had been interviewing for about a week before my date. hope this helps.

I interviews on Jan 6th as well around 11:30. How do you think you did? Have you heard back from them at all?

Hey guys. Just checking in on the people that interviewed at South Alabama. How'd your interviews go?

hi angie, i was at the 11:30 interview as well! i couldn't get a good read of the interview as it was only 7 minutes long. i didn't feel like they had time to get to know me well at all. i left feeling very unsure about myself as well as the program itself and i haven't heard from them....

T in New York, New York said: hi angie, i was at the 11:30 interview as well! i couldn't get a good read of the interview as it was only 7 minutes long. i didn't feel like they had time to get to know me well at all. i left feeling very unsure about myself as well as the program itself and i haven't heard from them....

Yea i felt the same way! They asked me a few questions and that was it...I was wearing a red sweater and white collared shirt. What were you wearing? I wonder if I remember you...I hope they stay true to the four weeks bc I'm dying to know!

hm.. not sure. i was in the last group to do the "group exercise" (which i couldn't stop laughing about all day). i didn't feel at home there or comfortable. i went to an info session and felt the same way.

Thanks T, that was really nice of you. I really hope your right and I do hear soon. Hopefully its good new that i hear. Although i'm getting very unsure about my application. If you dont mind, can you share your gpa with me? I just want to know where i really stand for Pace. You dont have to, i know its personal. But thanks a lot for your encouragement. Did anyone get anything recently from Drexel?

I got an email from Drexel last week inviting me for an interview on the 30th of January

ahh really katie?! congrats. I'm really hoping to hear from them soon. Do you know when they started their interviews and when they are going to be done?! I'm so worried!

i don't mind sharing my gpa since nobody really knows who i am anyways! my overall gpa was around a 3.5 and my science was around a 3.4. i know they say that they only "require" 200 hours of hands on experience, but i had about 5 months CNA experience and 18 months at a physical therapy aide. i think that as long as you have a "C" in their core requirements and meet the pre-reqs they will look at your OVERALL application. good luck!

Yeah, I definitely meed their pre-reqs and I definitely have over a C all of them. I've worked as a Medical Office Assistant for about 2 years part time (like 2500 hours total). I'm just worried my gpa is going to work against my favor, because I had a 2.93, which is almost a 3.0, but not quite there =/.

Hinal I wish you luck it is an incredible profession. I think Drexel has a great program, but I declined my interview because I was accepted somewhere else.

Hi Jennifer,
It was great to meet you on Friday at South. I looked for you before I left but you must have already been gone. I feel good about the interview overall, but I was extremely nervous until about half way through. Of course there were a few questions that I wish I had answered better but I did the best I could. How did it go for you?

Did you have to order the fifteen items from most important to least? Yea that was a little weird. So if you get accepted, will you turn them down?

I got an email from Drexel and my interview is on January 23rd.

sweetpea in Asbury Park, New Jersey said: Hi all,
I was just wondering if anyone has been accepted to UMDNJ yet? I was accepted a few weeks ago and I am so happy! I just had an interview at PCOM and I also have an interview at Drexel on tuesday. I was just wondering if anyone had any insight as to which of these schools is the best. I know there is no valid ranking for PA schools, but I really like all of these schools, however if UMDNJ is the best then I wont even bother going for my interview at the other schools. Any insight from anyone would be helpful!
Thanks!

HI, i have an interview coming up at UMDNJ for the PA program, any helpful interview tips?
Thanks

I have an interview at UMDNJ on Feb 4th.

I have been accepted to Chatham already but haven't been to visit yet.

I also have an interview at Drexel on Jan 30th but want to move it to give me more time to change my work schedule and book flights. I haven't heard back from them yet even though I've replied by email and left two voice messages.

I also have a phone interview with Idaho State Univ.

I'm also wondering how to judge the best PA school since I haven't found a rating.

I interviewed with Nova Southeaster - Orlando on Jan 12th. They are an interesting school but 14 months of purely didactics and then clinicals seems a bit boring. I shadowed a PA who said he really looked for hands-on patient contact early in the PA program. He went to Long Island University in Brooklyn and said day 1 they were seeing patients. A friend who just graduated from the Stanford PA program said they do one semester of didactics and then all the following time is part clinicals and part didactics. This sounds much more appealing than sitting in a classroom for 14 months with plastic dummies.

UMDNJ is a top notch PA school. Its practically in my backyard, because i'm from piscataway. I would have wanted to go there, however I've lived in piscataway my whole life so I decided it was time for a change. I think if anyone got accepted to UMDNJ, it would definitely be in their advantage to go there. Their program is very prestigious.

Did you pay for your spot at Chatham? I am only wondering because I was waitlisted and am now praying a spot will open. Thanks.

marcinsf in San Francisco, California said: I have an interview at UMDNJ on Feb 4th.

I have been accepted to Chatham already but haven't been to visit yet.

I also have an interview at Drexel on Jan 30th but want to move it to give me more time to change my work schedule and book flights. I haven't heard back from them yet even though I've replied by email and left two voice messages.

I also have a phone interview with Idaho State Univ.

I'm also wondering how to judge the best PA school since I haven't found a rating.

I interviewed with Nova Southeaster - Orlando on Jan 12th. They are an interesting school but 14 months of purely didactics and then clinicals seems a bit boring. I shadowed a PA who said he really looked for hands-on patient contact early in the PA program. He went to Long Island University in Brooklyn and said day 1 they were seeing patients. A friend who just graduated from the Stanford PA program said they do one semester of didactics and then all the following time is part clinicals and part didactics. This sounds much more appealing than sitting in a classroom for 14 months with plastic dummies.

They haven't sent me the letter and data to confirm my spot. I only received a phone call confirmation so far. I will pay and confirm it when I get the letter. Prior to the phone call last week, I had received an email and letter saying I was wait listed so the phone call on acceptance was a nice surprise.

Sandy in Mobile, Alabama said: Hi Jennifer,
It was great to meet you on Friday at South. I looked for you before I left but you must have already been gone. I feel good about the interview overall, but I was extremely nervous until about half way through. Of course there were a few questions that I wish I had answered better but I did the best I could. How did it go for you?

Hey Sandy! It was really nice to meet you too! I hope we both get in!! The interview went okay. I was better the first half then the second half. I was a little nervous but I did the best I could. The two weeks of waiting is already killing me!! I'm trying to be positive but I'm so nervous. I really want to get in! Hope to see you soon! Let me know when you find out!

hey everyone, have my first interview @ Drexel on Saturday. What did everyone bring to the interview, I was thinking of typing up my shadowing experiences and making a nice portfolio with the different patients that were seen etc. Any help would be great.
Thanks and congrats to everyone who got in.

Jennifer in Mobile, Alabama said: Hey Sandy! It was really nice to meet you too! I hope we both get in!! The interview went okay. I was better the first half then the second half. I was a little nervous but I did the best I could. The two weeks of waiting is already killing me!! I'm trying to be positive but I'm so nervous. I really want to get in! Hope to see you soon! Let me know when you find out!

Jennifer,
Do you have other interviews or have you had any already? I think I told you that I only applied to South. It would be wonderful if we both got it. Feel free to email me at sandyscott7@bellsouth.net

Marcinsf,

Hello hope this helps. Good luck!

grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/grad/pas/search

consusrankings.com/2008/05/05/us-news-best-graduate-physician-assistant-programs-2007/

Hey check this out. Good luck!

grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/grad/pas/search

consusrankings.com/2008/05/05/us-news-best-graduate-physician-assistant-programs-2007/

for those who got rejected by stony...did u guys receive an interview?? and when was ur guys interview date?? thanks alot...

marcinsf in San Francisco, California said: They haven't sent me the letter and data to confirm my spot. I only received a phone call confirmation so far. I will pay and confirm it when I get the letter. Prior to the phone call last week, I had received an email and letter saying I was wait listed so the phone call on acceptance was a nice surprise.

Can I have a question on Chatham, becuase since the Admission Day , i havent heard anything from them. I did call, but they said they can not release on the phone. How can you know their decision, on the phone or by mail?

I was kicked out of my private undergraduate school because I had a lot of personal issues going on and my grades dropped. I now go to a public university and my grades are good. Is there any advice taht someone can give me about applying to PA school? What can I do to help me have a better chance at getting in?

My GPA is about a 2.6 and I have a few prerequisites left?

FuturePA1984 in Dallas, Texas said: I was kicked out of my private undergraduate school because I had a lot of personal issues going on and my grades dropped. I now go to a public university and my grades are good. Is there any advice taht someone can give me about applying to PA school? What can I do to help me have a better chance at getting in?

Hello,

My advise is to get lots and lots of patient care experience, most of the PA programs if not all require some amount of patient contact. Check all the programs that you are interested in because each program has there own spcific requirements.

As for your past be as honest as possible when putting your transcript information into CASPA, everything you submit is what CASPA will go by when they verify your info. Being honest is the best way to go..

If you were in the military, I would suggest applying to University of Washington's MEDEX program. This program has a great relationship with ex-military, they have been known to be the best prospects for this school.

Hello everyone. I have an interview with UTMB-Galveston this coming Friday the 23rd. I wanted to know if anyone was attending this interview as well.

kim in houston,

i was mailed a letter several weeks ago from chatham telling me that i had been waitlisted. i'm not sure if that means that all the seats are filled or if that means that they just didn't think i was a super qualified applicant. either way, i declined my waitlist offer so maybe another seat on the "waitlist list" will open up! good luck!

visitor in New York, New York said: kim in houston,

i was mailed a letter several weeks ago from chatham telling me that i had been waitlisted. i'm not sure if that means that all the seats are filled or if that means that they just didn't think i was a super qualified applicant. either way, i declined my waitlist offer so maybe another seat on the "waitlist list" will open up! good luck!

thanks, i have an interview in NYIT next month, do you have any advice, or there is anyone has an interview in that school yet? How is it?

Kim in Houston, Texas said: thanks, i have an interview in NYIT next month, do you have any advice, or there is anyone has an interview in that school yet? How is it?

I have applied to NYIT also but haven't heard anything yet. When did you get your interview invite and what it via email or mail. Thanks....

Good Luck

i got a letter on dec. 24 from drexel, it came in an email. interview is january 24

kim--i was offered an invite to interview @ nyit via email about a week ago. i don't know much about the program though but i hear it is great. can i ask why you would apply to the program in new york when you are so far away? what great things have you heard?

Physician Assistant Interview questions

Why do you want to be a P.A.?
What impressed you about the school before you came?
Why did you apply?
How do you plan to pay for this?
What are the duties and responsibilities of a P.A.?
Why did you choose P.A. over doctor/N.P.?
Are you using this as a stepping stone to be an M.D.?
What type of practice and where?
What is your foremost desire?
What will be the role of the P.A. in the work force/health care setting?
How will you contribute to the direction of the P.A. field?
What did you gain from your experiences? (In health care.)

Saipeople
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Does anyone use the PA forum? It hasn't been working for me all day. Is anyone else having the same problem? Thanks!

Anyone interview at Shenandoah on Jan 17? I'm still waiting to hear back...hope it's not a bad sign.

It hasn't been working since yesterday. I hope it goes back up. It's an awesome forum.