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What to Expect at the PA School Interview

If you have received an invitation to interview at a PA program, you should feel proud and know that the PA program is seriously considering you for a spot in their incoming class! While anyone can apply to a PA program, PA schools are selective about who they invite for an interview.

Every PA school in the country conducts some form of interview. The goal of the interview is to get to know the applicant more closely, understand their motivations for becoming a PA, and assess their interpersonal skills.

How are PA School Interviews Conducted?

PA school interviews are either conducted in person at the school or online usually in the form of a Zoom interview. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, some schools have moved their interviews online but many other PA schools still require applicants to interview in person.

Some PA Schools Allow Applicants to Choose Between Zoom and an In-Person Interview

If a PA school gives you the choice to interview in person or to do so online, they will not hold it against you, if you opt for the online option. That being said, there are certain pros to going to an interview in person:

Showcasing Interpersonal Skills: Many students feel they can more effectively leave a positive impression on PA school admissions committees and showcase their interpersonal skills in person. Demonstrating strong nonverbal communication is at times more challenging online. For example, many interviewees for PA school report that it is more difficult to make eye contact when interviewing online.

Avoiding Connectivity Problems: With online interviews, you always run the risk of connectivity problems. Even if the connectivity problems are not your fault, they may disrupt the flow of the interview and make the process go less smoothly.

Evaluating the Program Up Close: The PA school interview is an opportunity for PA school applicants to see a school up close, interact closely with faculty and students, and get a feel for what it would be like to attend that particular PA program. Remember, the interview is not just a chance for PA schools to assess your candidacy, it’s also an opportunity for you to determine if the program is right for you.

The pros of interviewing in person have to be weighed against the cons. This includes the costs of airfare and lodging involved in traveling to an in-person PA school interview as well as the time required for travel.

A study of applicants who interviewed for PA school between March 2020 and January 2022 revealed that the majority of applicants favored the online interview because of the lower costs and less time away from work.

Bottom Line: Should I Interview for PA School Online or in Person?

If the PA school is among your top choices OR is the only program where you have received an interview AND if you feel you would leave a stronger positive impression in person, then you attend the interview in person.

If on the other hand, you have multiple PA school interviews, the school is not among your top choices, or financial and time factors are major considerations, it is perfectly reasonable to do the interview online.

PA School Interview Formats

Whether you do an interview in person or online, the PA school interview can take one of several formats:

PA School One-on-one Interview: This is a traditional interview with a faculty member and/or student where you are asked a series of questions. At some schools, you may have one-on-one interviews with more than one person. Depending on the interviewer, the interview can be very structured with a series of questions or it can be more laid back and conversational.

PA School Group Interview: Group interviews usually involve one or more interviewers and a group of aspiring PA students. In group interviews, you will encounter many of the same questions as those in a one-on-one interview. However, since there are other PA school applicants present, you are less likely to be asked questions about the specifics of your academic background or personal life.

Group Activity: Some group interviews involve interviewees working together to complete a task or solve a problem. An interviewer or evaluator will evaluate each interviewee on their ability to accomplish the task and collaborate with others. Most of the time, the group activity will be accompanied by another interview format as well.

PA School Panel Interview: Panel interviews are the reverse of a group interview. In this setup, one PA school applicant is interviewed simultaneously by multiple interviewers from the PA school. The types of questions you encounter in a group interview are typically similar to those you would see in a one-on-one PA school interview.

PA School Multiple Mini Interview (MMI): The MMI interview for PA school comprises a series of timed interview stations, with each station located in a room. Before entering the room, the interviewee is presented with a prompt. The interviewee then enters the room and responds to the prompt in a defined period of time (usually 5 – 10 minutes). Interviewees rotate from one station to the next but the interviewer at each station remains the same.

The prompts in a PA school MMI interview typically involve an ethical scenario or situation that requires critical thinking and problem-solving. Some PA school MMI prompts may involve role-play. For example, you may be prompted to enter the room and play the role of the PA for a patient who refuses to comply with your proposed treatment. An actor in the room will play the role of the patient.

Sometimes, an MMI prompt at a PA school interview may mirror questions you would encounter in a traditional one-on-one interview. For example, at one of the stations in an MMI interview, you may be promoted to explain to the interviewer why you want to be a PA.

PA School Video-Based Interviews:  Some PA schools use a video-based interview like the Kira Talent assessment as part of their admissions process. In a video-based interview such as Kira, you will be given a series of interview questions and asked to provide your responses in a timed video recording. The questions you encounter in a Kira Talent assessment for PA school will not differ drastically from those you see in a traditional interview or MMI.

Keep in mind that the KIRA Talent assessment does not necessarily replace the other interview formats and may be used in conjunction with other interview formats or as one of the screening steps prior to a full interview. To the best of our knowledge, few PA schools currently use this format.

How to Prepare for PA School Interviews

Get an Early Start: Don’t wait until you receive interview invites! Many PA schools, especially those that conduct interviews on Zoom, may invite you to interview with little notice.

Know Your Application: Make sure you know your application inside out.

Know the School: Learn as much as you can about the program and be prepared to answer why you want to attend the program.

Review Sample PA School Interview Questions: Look at a wide range of questions and practice responding on the spot. Clear a mental outline for how you would respond to common questions. Practice sounding conversational and avoid scripted answes.

PA School Interview Questions and Answers

The questions you encounter at a PA school interview can be broken down into several categories:

1) Common Interview Questions (Traditional Questions)

2) Application Questions

3) Personal Interview Questions

4) Situational Interview Questions

5) Ethical Interview Questions

6) Healthcare System Interview Questions

 

How to Answer Common PA School Interview Questions

Below are some sample common PA school interview questions along with Do’s and Don’ts for how to answer each:

Tell me about yourself

 Do’s:

• Provide an overview of yourself as a person including your background and upbringing: This question provides a great opportunity to connect with your interviewer on a personal level and add color to your application by sharing who you are as a person! You may include topics such as where you were born and raised, your cultural background, your parents’ jobs, and your siblings.
• Share formative experiences that have shaped your values: PA schools want to know what is at the core of your interests and career ambitions. If there were experiences that played a key role in shaping your values, especially as they relate to your passion for the PA profession, you should mention them here. One of our students who recently interviewed for PA school talked about moving often because of her mom’s job. She described how this experience taught her to regularly connect with people to make new friends, eventually leading to her passion for working with people.
• Discuss interests and hobbies: If you have seriously pursued hobbies or interests outside of school, include them in this response! Sometimes this opens the door to a lighthearted conversation about those interests which can make the interview experience more comfortable. For example, if you played a sport or a musical instrument for an extended period, you should mention it as part of your answer to this question.
• Touch on your academic and professional achievements: This question is NOT about your pre-PA journey. Nevertheless, a nice way to bring your response full circle is to briefly touch on your major accomplishments such as where you go (or went) to college, your college major, and significant experiences that have reaffirmed your desire to become a PA.

 Don’ts:

• Rehash your college career or CV in detail: It’s best to avoid a long description of your academic and professional background. Keep the primary focus on you as a person, not as a PA school applicant!
• Explain weaknesses in your application: Some PA school applicants use this question as an opportunity to explain poor performance in classes or other weaknesses in their PA school application. Mentioning these weaknesses when you have not been asked about them may come across as defensive and draw unnecessary attention to them.
• Explain why you want to be a PA: Students often feel compelled to include why they are pursuing the PA profession in their response to this question. Remember, they can – and most likely will – ask that question separately.

Why do you want to be a PA?

Do’s:

• Provide a few solid reasons why you find the PA profession appealing: Start your answer by stating what aspects of the PA profession you like. For example, you may mention that you like working in teams within a healthcare setting as one reason why you are pursuing the PA profession.
• Draw on experiences working alongside PAs or shadowing PAs: Many PA school applicants worry that by citing specific reasons, their answer will come across as ‘generic’. Afterall, there are only so many reasons why someone would want to become a PA! The way to avoid sounding generic is by providing specific examples. Describe what aspect of the work you found appealing in your specific experiences and show how the PA profession lends itself well to these aspects that you like most.

 Don’ts:

• Focus on good work life balance or short training time: You want to show that your interest in the PA profession is not driven by convenience and comfort. Your training as a PA may be shorter than that of physicians, but many PAs work just as hard as their physician counterparts do.
• Provide a long explanation for why you don’t want to become a physician: This question is not about why you don’t want to be a medical doctor. Avoid comparing and contrasting PAs with doctors and instead focus on why you love the PA profession.
• Focus your response on your own experiences getting care from a PA: If you have been treated by PAs or seen others in your family receive care from PAs, these experiences may have played a key part in informing your impression of the PA profession. You may cite such experiences as the initial factor attracting you to the PA profession, but the bulk of your response should be based on your professional experiences in the healthcare setting.

Why do you want to attend our PA school?

Do’s:

• Discuss how the program’s mission aligns with your interests: A PA school’s mission statement is a reflection of their core philosophy. Showing that you understand this philosophy and tying it to your core interests is a good way to impress PA school interviewers.
• Provide specific examples of what you like: The more you can provide details about what the program has to offer, the more you show your interviewers that your interest in the program is genuine. Look at their website, search the program on Google, and look at their social media accounts to learn more about specific opportunities they offer PA students.

Don’ts:

• Provide a generic answer about why you want to attend the program: Saying that you want to go to the school because of the “superb education” or “esteemed faculty” without providing details is not convincing. If you think the education is superb, give examples of what makes it superb.
• Cite the geographic location as your main reason for wanting to attend: It’s understandable if you want to attend PA school in a city you see yourself living in or a location near your family. However, this should not be the primary reason for your interest in a program. PA programs are put off by applicants whose main motivation is not the school itself but the location.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years

Do’s:

• Discuss the clinical career you envision yourself in: Some topics to include are urban versus rural practice, hospital versus outpatient clinic setting, and community versus academic medical center. If there is a certain specialty or specialties that interest you, you can mention them but it helps if you show an openness to exploring new specialties in PA school.
• Mention specific patient populations you hope to serve: If there are specific patient populations that you wish to serve, it would be worth indicating. You may say you are interested in working with pediatric patients, the elderly, or those from certain marginalized backgrounds.
• Discuss how you hope to contribute to advancing the PA profession: While your primary role as a PA will be clinical, PA schools appreciate applicants who also want to make a larger scale difference. For example, if you plan to take on leadership roles in healthcare or become involved in research, mention these interests and how you envision incorporating them into your career.

Don’ts:

• Be fixated on one specialty: Showing an interest in a certain area of medicine is acceptable but you should avoid coming across as rigid in your interests. It’s important to show that while you have certain interests, you are also open to exploring new options.

What is your biggest weakness?

Do’s:

• Present a genuine weakness: This is not a trick question. Recognizing that no one is perfect, admissions committees are asking this question because they want to know if you look inwards to improve as a person. By acknowledging a weakness, you demonstrate self-awareness, humility, and confidence.
• Describe what strategies you are using to improve on the weakness: It is critical to include this in your response. It’s not enough to say that you are not good at a certain thing. It’s important to show that you are making an effort to improve on the weakness.

 Don’ts:

• Present too much of a good quality as a weakness: It’s tempting to say that you do too much of a good thing to avoid having to respond to this question. A classic example is saying that you are a perfectionist. Another example is saying that you “care too much” about others. Being a perfectionist or caring too much are not true weaknesses but just an excess of a redeemable quality.
• Present a weakness that is fundamentally incompatible with being a PA: Though it’s important to be honest, avoid citing a weakness that is fundamentally incompatible with being a PA. For example, saying that you don’t like dealing with people may not go over too well if you want to be a PA. If you believe this is honestly your weakness, it may be worth considering another career.

What is your biggest strength?

Do’s:

• Cite a character strength: Remember, the question is asking for a character strength, not a hard skill such as knowing how to code or being bilingual. Present a character strength and explain how it will help you as a PA student and future PA.
• Demonstrate in clear terms how you have acquired this strength: Anyone interviewing for PA school can present a long list of strengths but your answer will not be compelling if you do not show how the strength was acquired. For this question, it helps to work backwards. First think of your life experiences and consider how they have given you qualities that make you a good candidate for PA school.

Don’ts:

• Present your strength as an innate quality that you were born with: It’s common for applicants to respond to this question by saying, “Ever since I was a child, I was inherently good at connecting with people” or “inherently good at science” or inherently good at another trait. During the PA school interview, admissions committees want to see that you are thoughtful and self-reflective. One way to show this is by describing how you have become the person you are.
• Do not present positive virtues as your strength: Virtues such as honesty or integrity should not be presented as distinct strengths. They are qualities that every applicant to PA school must possess.

Why should we accept you to our PA school over other highly qualified candidates?

Do’s:

• Acknowledge that there are other highly qualified applicants applying to the program: Doing so will make you sound humble. It’s also a great way to show that you acknowledge that the program attracts a high caliber of students.
• Highlight a strength that you have developed through your experiences: You can take the same approach here as you did in the prior question, highlighting a character strength.
• Demonstrate how you have acquired this strength: As mentioned, it’s easy for anyone to pick a laundry list of strengths to attribute to themselves. But to convince your PA school interviewers that you possess a strength, you need to show how it was acquired.
• Show how your specific strength is aligned with advancing the PA program’s mission: This question is not so much about how you are better than other applicants but more about how your strengths allow you to better align with that specific PA program. Think about what you bring to the table that allows you to advance that PA program’s mission.

 Don’ts:

• Provide a generic strength that any applicant can possess such as being hard working: While it’s good to be hard-working, this is not necessarily a strength that separates you from the pact. Virtually all PA students are hardworking. Focus on a quality that not every PA student possesses.
• Make comparisons to others: Although the question is asking you to make a case for why you should be accepted over other applicants, you should avoid comparatives in your answer that suggest you are better qualified. For example, language like “I would be better at teamwork than other applicants” or “I would more effectively connect with diverse patient populations than other peers” should be avoided. Instead, focus on what you can do well without making comparisons: “I believe I should be accepted because my ability to work effectively in teams would enable me to work closely with my peers to create a collaborative learning environment where we can all learn from each other.”

What would you do if you were not accepted to PA school this cycle?

Do’s:

• Demonstrate that you would not give up on your passion for the PA profession: One of the most sought-after qualities in PA school applicants is conviction. The people interviewing you want to know that you are totally committed to becoming a PA and that nothing will deter you from this goal. If you are certain that this is the right profession for you, demonstrate your conviction by letting your interviewers know that you plan on reapplying until you get in.
• Show that you will seek constructive criticism: Let your interviewer know that you will seek out any constructive feedback to figure out how you can improve your candidacy for the next application cycle. In doing so, you show that you are open to receiving advice and implementing suggestions.

Don’ts:

• Mention going into an alternative career: As mentioned above, admissions committees want to know that you are totally committed to the PA profession. Mentioning that you would consider other options calls your conviction into question If you are genuinely unsure about whether you would pursue the PA profession, that’s fine but that should serve as an opportunity for further self-reflection to see if you are in the right profession.

If you could not be a PA, what profession would you choose instead?

Do’s:

• Share another profession that interests you: Unlike the prior question, this is asking you for a hypothetical scenario in which being a PA is not possible. Answer the question by sharing an alternative career you may enjoy. Some people answer this question by saying they would go into nursing or become doctors because they are closest to being a PA. While this is a viable option, your answer may be more memorable and genuine if you choose something totally different like being a pilot, chef, or archeologist!
• Acknowledge that no other profession would not be as meaningful: To show how much the PA profession means to you, you can highlight that while you have other interests, no other profession would be as meaningful. You can also talk about ways in which you would incorporate meaningful elements of the PA profession into your other career. For example, you may say, “As a chef, I would give back by providing free healthy meals to low-income populations who are experiencing hunger.”

Don’ts:

• Say that you will be a PA any way: Do not insist that you will be a PA. This is a hypothetical question; by insisting that you want to be a PA, you are not answering the question.

What is the difference between a PA and an NP?

Do’s:

• Discuss the training model: One of the main differences between NPs and PAs is the training. PAs complete an undergraduate degree (in any field), prerequisite courses for PA school, and a master’s degree in physician assistant studies. NPs have to receive a bachelor’s degree as well as a master’s or doctoral degree in nursing. PA training focuses on general medicine, while NP training is usually specialized in a certain area such as family medicine or psychiatry. PA education is modeled after medical education emphasizing the basic pathophysiological basis. By contrast, nurse practitioner training follows the nursing educational model, placing more emphasis on delivery of care to the patient.
• Describe broadly how regulations differ for each profession: Regulations are in part dependent on the state but in 28 states, NPs are allowed to practice independently. PAs on the other hand must almost always practice under the supervision of a physician.
• Mention why you prefer the PA profession: Though this question doesn’t directly ask, it is helpful to briefly mention why you are drawn to the PA profession. Some PA school applicants cite the appeal of the medical education model while others as say they appreciate working under the supervision of a physician and the unique opportunity it offers for collaboration and teamwork.

Don’ts:  

• Criticize the NP profession: Both NPs and PAs play a meaningful role in healthcare. You will not come across as more passionate about the PA profession if you speak negatively about NPs or suggest that the work of PAs is “better” in some way. Your goal should be to show that you understand the differences, respect both professions, and feel that the PA profession better aligns with your goals.
• Discuss differences in salary: Some intelligent applicants feel compelled to discuss differences in salary between the two professions. In doing so you may provide a response that is more complete, but at the same time, you run the risk of coming across as too focused on the financial rewards of the profession.

These types of questions are usually seen in traditional interviews, panel interviews, video-based interviews, group interviews, and occasionally in MMI interviews.

PA School Interview Application Questions

This category includes all questions that you may be asked about your CASPA application or supplemental applications. One common question you may get about your application is the following:

Why did you perform poorly in a class or a semester?

Do’s:

• Explain the circumstances that led to the poor performance: It’s important to show why you didn’t do well in a certain part of your pre-PA education. Explain the circumstances that led to the poor performance
• Take responsibility for the poor performance: This is one of the most critical parts of this question. You want to show that you and only you are responsible for the fact that you didn’t do well.
• Discuss growth: Mention what you learned from this experience, how it helped you grow, and how you would avoid the same mistake in the future.

 Don’ts:

• Be intimidated by this question: Though this question may seem intimidating, it doesn’t have to be. If your poor performance was a serious concern for the PA school, they would not have invited you for an interview. The fact that you have been offered an interview means the PA program is impressed by your overall academic record.
• Blame others: The biggest mistake PA school applicants make when answering this question is to blame others for their poor performance. It’s understandable if extenuating circumstances affected your ability to study. For example, if the poor performance coincided with an illness or family emergency, you can explain how these events made it more difficult to do well but don’t blame the bad grade on a professor being unfair for example.

Other examples of application questions include:

• Provide more detail about any of your activities including patient care experience or community service
• Why did you take part in a certain extracurricular or clinical activity?
• Why did you attend the college you attended for your undergraduate degree?
• Why did you take 2 years off after college?

These types of questions are usually seen in traditional interviews and panel interviews.

PA School Personal Interview Questions

These questions are designed to help the interviewer know more about you as a person and to learn about your values and interests. Examples include:

• What was the last book you read?
• What was the last film you watched?
• If you could meet any person living or dead, who would it be and why?
• Who is your biggest role model in life?
• Tell me about a time when you had a lot of fun recently
• How do you deal with failure?
• What achievement are you most proud of?
• What is your biggest regret in life?
• How do you deal with stress?
• How do you deal with criticism?
• What three words would your friends and family use to describe you?
• What does professionalism mean to you?
• What does integrity mean to you?
• How do you know you possess the emotional maturity to work as a PA?

These types of questions are usually seen in traditional interviews, group interviews, video-based interviews, and panel interviews.

PA School Situational Interview Questions

These questions are designed to assess how you handle challenging situations. Situational questions may be asked in one of two ways:

• Real Situation: You can be asked to think of a specific situation you have encountered in the past and explain how you handled it.
• Hypothetical Situation: You may be given a hypothetical scenario or situation and asked how you would handle this situation.

Some Examples of situational questions are as follows:

• Tell us about a time when you disagreed with a superior. How did you overcome this disagreement and what did you learn from it?
• Tell me about a time you failed at something
• If you were given one million dollars today, what would you do with it?
• Tell me about a time when you did not get along with someone you were working with
• As a PA, if you saw your supervising physician administering the wrong medication to a patient, what would you do?
• What would you do if you saw a PA school classmate cheating on an exam?

These types of questions are usually seen in traditional interviews, MMI interviews, video-based interviews, and panel interviews

PA School Ethical Interview Questions

Ethical questions are questions that involve addressing a moral or ethical quandary. They can be presented as hypothetical situational questions and, in that respect, they overlap with situational questions. For example, the question about how a PA should respond if they saw their supervising physician administering the wrong medication or about how you would respond to a peer who was cheating on an exam both have ethical implications!

Ethical questions can also be asked in a more general sense. Examples of some general ethical questions are as follows:

• What is your view on medical marijuana?
• Do you believe that the government should restrict a woman’s ability to have an abortion?
• Do you believe that active euthanasia is morally justified?
• In the event of a future pandemic like COVID-19, should the government mandate a vaccine?

These types of questions are usually seen in traditional interviews, MMI interviews, group interviews, and panel interviews.

PA School Interview Healthcare System Questions

These are questions that pertain to the healthcare system. While you are not expected to be an expert, PA schools are in particular interested in learning how much you know about the role of PAs within the healthcare system and legislation that affect PAs. Examples of healthcare system questions are as follows:

• Should PAs be allowed to practice medicine in the absence of physician collaboration?
• What are the laws surrounding PA physician collaboration in your state?
• Should the term physician associate be used to refer to PAs? Why?
• What is the biggest challenge PAs face within the healthcare system?
• What is the largest challenge facing the US healthcare system?

These types of questions are usually seen in traditional interviews, MMI interviews, group interviews, and panel interviews

 

Key Takeaways

1. Getting Interviewed is a Big Deal: If you’re invited for a PA school interview, it’s a pat on the back – they’re seriously considering you for a spot in their program. These interviews aim to know you better, understand your PA motivations, and evaluate your people skills.
2. Interview Styles Vary: PA school interviews come in different flavors – one-on-one, group, MMI, and even video-based. Expect questions ranging from traditional to situational and ethical ones.
3. In-Person vs. Online Dilemma: Some schools let you choose between in-person and Zoom interviews. In-person lets you shine with your people skills, but online saves you time and money. Consider your priorities and the school’s vibe.
4. Question Categories: Be ready for classic “Tell me about yourself” and questions about your application. They might also throw in personal stuff, tricky situations, ethical dilemmas, or even quiz you on healthcare system knowledge.
5. Choosing the Format: If it’s a dream school or you think in-person suits you, go for it. But if you have multiple interviews, financial concerns, or Zoom’s your comfort zone, online is a perfectly legit choice.

 

 

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