Please, anyone having suggestions to add to this pages,
please e-mail them to me: melindaarmstron(at)hotmail.com
The following suggestions should
improve your chances of getting into PA school.
1.
Research and apply to 3-6 schools.
Remember state schools usually
have an out-of-state quota ~1-3 a class; private schools do not.
Find out
what leveling courses that are required and plan your classes FAR AHEAD
OF TIME. Remember, each school has slightly different requirements.
Advanced
knowledge of medical terminology & pharmacology are HIGHLY recommended
for students.
(Junior
Colleges and Community Colleges often offer such classes at night --cheap
and convenient)
Call and have an information & application packet sent to you
NOW!!!!! Getting last year’s application packet will let you see what
they will want and you can get a jump on filling it out.
Make copies of everything—it will make your life easier if you
have to reapply next year and it also is important to look over your application
and essay before you go to the interview.
Order
the Program Directory (800) 708-7581. Program and contact info provided.
2.
Join the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA)
as an affiliate member.
$60 membership—receive
information on national activities, monthly newsletter, and Journal of
American Academy of Physician Assistants (JAAPA) –it keeps you informed
(703) 836-2272.
Most states
have AAPA state chapters that you can join (TX does not currently allow
this).
There are
special interest groups you can join, such as (check out
www.aapa.org)
Rural Health
Caucus
Society
of Air Force PAs
Public Health
Service Academy of PAs
Christian
Medical & Dental Society
3.
Shadow a PA! ***THIS IS A MUST IF YOU DON'T HAVE PREVIOUS
MEDICAL EXPERIENCE, OR YOU VERY LIKELY WILL NOT GET IN***
Some hospitals
offers scholarships for volunteers who plan to be health care professionals
(the scholarship is available in the Spring (and some provide volunteers
receive their smock for free, and receive a free meal on the days they
volunteer). Other may not provide any of the above.
4. Join the PAFOURM & STUDENTPA discussion
lists.
You
can ask them questions about the profession and about the schools you are
applying to ***GREAT RESOURCE*** -- I found two PAs to shadow this way.
They
archive topics so you can look at posted emails from the past on a given
topic.
(FOR PAFORUM) with the
command SIGNON PAFORUM in the body of the message.
(FOR
STUDENTPA) with the command SIGNON STUDENTPA in the body of the message.
5.
Check PA information resources on the web.
American Academy of Student Assistants, http://www.aapa.org
Physcian Assistant Web Ring, http://www.webring.org/cgi-bin/webring?ring=paring;list
(An always growing list of sites)
Student Academy of the American Academy of Student Assistants, http://saaapa.aapa.org/
There are many more you just have to look
on this site of Physician Assistant World on the page of Physician
Assistant Links at http://paworld.i8.com/palinks.htm
6.
Faculty on your campus can put you in touch with students from your university
who are in PA schools.
7.
Keep a file of each school and post information to a Checklist. (To see
a checklist, scroll down)
a.
Open House Date (GO TO THEM **BIG HELP** --Not to mention it goes in their
file on you)
b.
Meet the completion and deadline for required courses.
c.
Deadline for application packet.
d.
List of school transcripts - requested and received.
e.
Letters of recommendation - requested and received (mail them together
or with the packet)
8.Order
Getting
into the PA School of Your Choice by Andrew Rodican PA-C. ISBN
0838531326, Published by Appleton & Lange ***THIS BOOK
IS A MUST***
It
features:
How
to select a PA program.
Setting
& achieving your goals.
Complete
list of PA programs/costs in the U.S.
Expert
advice on effective letters of recommendation.
Writing
a quality essay—including sample “essays that worked”
Successful
interview strategies—including over 60 of the toughest questions and answers.
Advice
and contacts for financial aid.
And
much more.
9.
Texas
Schools (My area of experience) -- information on these and other schools
can be found at
www.aapa.org Many
schools will be going to upgrade their program to a master's degree program
in the next year or two.
University of Texas
Southwestern – Dallas
Physician Assistant Program
6011 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390-9090
E-mail: PA.SAHSS@utsouthwestern.edu
Phone:
214/648-1701
University of Texas Health
Science Center at San Antonio
Physician Assistant Program
7703 Floyd Curl Drive, MC 6249, San Antonio, TX 78229
Phone: 210/567-8811
University of Texas Health Science Center – San Antonio (Military
Interservice - accepts a few civilians)
Academy of Health Sciences
Attn: MCCS HMP (PA Branch)
3151 Scott Road, Suite 1202, Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234-6138
Phone: 210/221-8004
Department
of Physician Assistant Studies
School of Allied Health Sciences
The University of Texas Medical Branch
301 University Boulevard, Galveston, Texas 77555-1028
University of North
Texas - Fort Worth
Physician Assistant Program
3500 Camp Bowie Blvd, Fort Worth, TX 76107-2699
Phone: 817/735-2301
Baylor
College of Medicine – Houston (only master’s program in Texas in
the year 2000)
Department of Community Medicine
One Baylor Plaza, Room 633E, Houston, TX 77030
Phone: 713/798-4619
Texas Tech University
Physician Assistant Program
Texas Tech University Health Science Center
Department of Diagnostic and Primary Care
3601 Fourth Street, Lubbock, TX 79430
Phone: 806/743-3622
The University of Texas
- Pan American - BS
Physician Assistant Program
1201 West University Drive, Edinburg, TX 78539-2999
Phone: 956/381-2298
Last Tips:
This
is going to take a lot of time and energy. Be organized, stay
on top of it.
RESEARCH!
RESEARCH! RESEARCH! You can never be over prepared.
Call
the school… did you get my application packet, etc.? There
are hundreds of people applying and the schools will not put any effort
to hold your hand or call you if you are missing anything.
Feel
Free to copy and use this form for each of schools to which you are applying.
PA School Checklist
SCHOOL:
________________________
APPLICATION DEADLINE ______________
School
Address: __________________________________________________________________
Check Them Off
_________
Sent for Application (Date)__________________________
_________
Received Application (Date) _________________________
_________
Sent Application to School (Date) ________________________
PA
Program( __ ) _____-__________
_________
Verified School has Received Registrar ( ____)_____-_________
Open
House Dates___________ ____________
____________ ____________
_________
Cleared by work/school to attend Open House
Recommendations
(with Stamped, Self - Addressed Envelop)
DATES
Who?
When I gave it to them When they sent
it/returned to me
__________________ ____________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
DATES
School
Transcripts When
I ordered them?PA School Received
them?
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
Did
I forward my (fall) last semester’s transcripts? _____Yes
_____ No
Contact
PA School – Did they get everything? _____Yes _____No
Created
6-15-99 Last Updaated 03-31-03
