Getting Into Dental School: Planning Your Pre-Dental Journey

Getting Into Dental School: Planning Your Pre-Dental Journey

  Get Started Today Call: 888-839-9997 e-mail: [email protected] 20 Minutes Free Consultation A Timeline for Pre-Dental Students – From Freshman Year to Dental School Acceptance!  By Vince Law, DDS Embarking upon your college career as a predental student with the goal of applying to dental school can feel daunting. You want to have a robust social life and a full college experience but simultaneously maintain the grades, clinical experiences in dentistry, and extracurricular activities that will make you a top-notch dental school applicant when it’s time to apply. Don’t Get Overwhelmed as a Pre-Dental Student!   The key to not becoming overwhelmed is to first and foremost embrace the pre-dental journey and come up with a pre-dental to-do list early on. Whether you plan to go to dental school straight out of college or you wish to take a gap year, having a clear timeline can help you organize all activities that would make you a strong dental school applicant. Remember, a pre-dental to-do list is not something you are going to knock out in one night! Give yourself time to carefully plan out your pre-dental journey and be flexible to adjustments as needed. Crafting a Pre-Dental Plan   Many students will elect to do a gap year between college and dental school, and that is totally fine! According to the ADEA, the average age of the incoming dental student is 24 years old. Below is a rough timeline for students who want to matriculate into dental school directly after college. For those who plan to take a gap year or two, this timeline can be adjusted accordingly. Freshman...
How to Get Into PA School: An Insider Perspective from the Admissions Committee

How to Get Into PA School: An Insider Perspective from the Admissions Committee

  Get Started Today Call: 888-839-9997 e-mail: [email protected] 20 Minutes Free Consultation How to Get into PA School: An Admissions Committee Insider Perspective – Interview with Jay Geary, MSPAS, PA-C  In an exclusive interview with Jay Geary PA-C from MCPHS Worcester, we delved into the many aspects of navigating the path to successful admission into PA school. We first share key takeaways from the interview followed by a transcript of the interview. Importance of GPA: Jay Geary PA-C emphasizes that GPA is a crucial factor in PA school admissions, advising applicants to aim for a GPA well above the minimum requirement, ideally around 3.5. Significance of Direct Patient Care Experience: Geary underscores the importance of meaningful hands-on patient care experience, suggesting that roles requiring a license or certificate carry more weight. He recommends at least a thousand hours, ideally started during undergraduate years. PA Shadowing: According to Jay Geary, PA shadowing is deemed valuable by PA schools and he suggests a minimum of 20 hours. He emphasizes that quality matters, encouraging applicants to diversify their experiences across different specialties to better understand the PA role. Leadership and Volunteer Experience: Volunteer and leadership experiences, particularly in clubs or organizations, are viewed favorably by admissions committees. Geary notes that being a leader in a fraternity, sorority, or pre-PA club can strengthen an applicant’s profile. Resilience and Determination: Jay Geary highlights resilience and determination as distinguishing factors. He shares an anecdote of a successful applicant who demonstrated a strong desire for the PA profession despite facing initial setbacks. Prerequisites and Hands-On Experience: Jay Geary cautions against applying with outstanding prerequisites and limited...
Letters of Recommendation for PA School: Tips and Considerations for PA School Applicants

Letters of Recommendation for PA School: Tips and Considerations for PA School Applicants

  Get Started Today Call: 888-839-9997 e-mail: [email protected] 20 Minutes Free Consultation Letters of Recommendation for PA School If you are on the path to applying to PA school, you probably know that PA school letters of recommendation (also known as letters of reference or letters of evaluation) are a key part of the PA school application. PA schools want to see that people you have worked with in a professional or academic capacity can attest to your aptitude and abilities.     Who Should I Get Letters of Recommendation from for PA School? Different PA schools have different requirements for letters of recommendation. It’s important to check each school’s requirements. As a general rule, applicants should aim to get letters of recommendation from the following individuals: College and university professors Supervisors from direct patient care experiences PAs from direct patient care experiences PAs from shadowing experiences Other individuals who have supervised or mentored the applicant and can attest to their intellectual aptitude, commitment to service, and work ethic Important Considerations for Different Types of PA School Letters of Recommendation Professors: Many PA schools expect applicants to submit a letter of recommendation from a professor who can speak to the applicant’s academic strengths and their ability to handle the rigors of the graduate-level course load in PA school. How to Choose the Right Professor for a PA School Letter of Recommendation? Science Professors are Preferred: The PA school curriculum is heavy in science coursework. That’s why letters of recommendation from professors who can attest to your abilities in the sciences are preferred. Some PA schools even require letters of recommendation...
List of PA Schools that Require the PA-CAT

List of PA Schools that Require the PA-CAT

      Get Strategy Support with PA School Admissions! Call: 888-839-9997 e-mail: [email protected] Call Today for a 20 Minutes Free Consultation     e-mail: [email protected]     PA-CAT as a New Test for PA School Admissions For years, PA schools have been using the graduate record examination (GRE) as the main standardized test to evaluate applicants. The GRE is required by many PA schools across the US. The decision to take the GRE or not can be a difficult one for PA school applicants because the GRE is not required by every PA school. What is the PA-CAT? In the last few years, a new specialized exam known as the Physician Assistant College Admissions Test (PA-CAT) has been introduced. The PA-CAT is administered by Exam Master and considered by some schools to be superior to the GRE. Rather than testing applicants on verbal and quantitative reasoning as the GRE does, the PA-CAT is a specialized test comprising general biology, microbiology, anatomy and physiology, genetics, general chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry, statistics, and behavioral science. How Long is the PA-CAT? There are a total of 240 multiple-choice questions on the test. Applicants will have 4 hours and 30 minutes to take the test but there are breaks between sections. The PA-CAT is administered through Prometric, a testing center with branches all across the United States, where the test is administered. The test is also available to take through Prometric remotely from your computer at home using their live remote proctor system. Do I Need to take the PA-CAT to Apply to PA School? Though the news of a new specialized...
The PA School Interview Process: What to Expect at my PA School Interview

The PA School Interview Process: What to Expect at my PA School Interview

  Talk to a PA School Admissions Consultant Today Call: 888-839-9997 e-mail: [email protected] 20 Minute Free Consultation 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...
Direct Patient Care Experience for PA School Admission: Becoming a Competitive PA School Applicant

Direct Patient Care Experience for PA School Admission: Becoming a Competitive PA School Applicant

  Talk to a PA School Admissions Consultant Today Call: 888-839-9997 e-mail: [email protected] 20 Minute Free Consultation Direct Patient Care Experience is a Great Way to Bolster Your PA School Application Of all the requirements for successful acceptance to PA school, patient care experience is one of the most important. Many PA schools require applicants to acquire patient care experience and those that don’t, look much more favorably on applicants who have this kind of experience. Why is Patient Care Experience Important to PA Schools? There are several reasons why PA schools place such great emphasis on patient care experience: Understanding the Role: Undertaking a patient care role allows aspiring PAs to understand the immense responsibility associated with caring for someone’s life. Naturally, PA schools want to avoid admitting a student who enters the program uninformed and changes their mind midway through the program. Developing a Foundation in Healthcare: Direct patient care experience allows pre-PA students to develop basic clinical judgment and learn medical jargon, which could help them excel as a PA student.   Cultivating Teamwork Skills: Most patient care experiences involve working in a team, a concept that is at the core of the PA profession. PA schools seek applicants who are capable of effectively working as part of a healthcare team and getting along with other team members. Is Patient Care Experience the Same as Healthcare Experience? For the purposes of this article, patient care experience refers to any clinical role that involves working hands-on to care for patients (this does NOT include administrative and clerical roles). Many PA schools use the terms patient care experience,...