Applying to PA school |Requirements|Personal Statement|Tips

[@taliasimmons5137]

this video just motivated me in sooo many ways, thank you so much!

[@itsKendraLynne]

Thank you so much for watching!!

[@plutoprincess777]

Loved this video very informational, thank you! I remember watching your 'why I choose PA over MD' video back in 2017, my sophomore year of college, and you actually helped inspire me to pursue PA as a career.

[@itsKendraLynne]

Awww thank you so much for watching!!

[@autumn7247]

Ahhh this makes me so anxious because what if I get prerequisites done for a certain program and then don’t get accepted into that program😭

[@itsKendraLynne]

All of the pre-reqs are relatively the same, but scope out your top choices for schools and make sure you get all of them done :)

[@veronicasarabia3821]

@@itsKendraLynne hi, do i have to re-take Anatomy&Physiology if it’s been 5 years since I took them?

[@shanegrayson9701]

First off, what an awesome and informative video! I just wanted to let any high school seniors know that I am currently going through the interview process for PA school and have gone through things such as research, shadowing, PCE, and the GRE. I am part of an organization called MED-ED and we are a group of students from different medical backgrounds that come and speak to high school students from medically underserved areas about different careers in healthcare. I am obviously the PA student representative of the group but we have students that represent the M.D, D.O, P.A, OTD, R.N, and N.P professions. We are based in Pittsburgh and would love to come and speak to schools about medical-related careers but we also do Zoom meetings at any school in the country! We talk about the differences between professions such as responsibilities, education requirements, and compensation. On top of all of that, we walk you through step by step on the process to becoming a P.A or any other medical professional! If any of you are interested you can follow us on Instagram @ _med_ed and message us! we would love to hear from all our future healthcare professionals! Thanks for reading!

[@OmarAbdulMalikDHEdMPASPACPAPro]

Peace be to you! I'm one of your many subscribers! This is GREAT advice! I earned a Biology degree before PA school. However, I think Business would have REALLY valuable! We PA have MANY opportunities for entrepreneurship in the healthcare field! I didn't know that before!☹ Keep up the great work you are doing!🤓Thumbs up!👍🏾👩🏻‍⚕️

[@emilyarana6112]

Omar Abdul-Malik DHEd, MPAS, PA-C Hi! I’m a senior in high school at the moment, but I am interested in becoming a PA in the future. Could you please elaborate on what you meant by having many opportunities for entrepreneurship in the healthcare field? Thank you!

[@barbaraa5538]

This is so nice to see! Thank you!!! I plan to major in buisness! I am if-y of how that will go. But I have an interested in buisness, and PA school will have enough science for me... no need to major in science for 4 years before, I do even more science in PA school. Don't get me wrong I love medical science, but I don't want to learn only that during my schooling. So nice to see that you mentioned that. It gave me a sense of relief.

[@itsKendraLynne]

Love that!! Good luck in your journey, you'll do amazing :)

[@rileynickell]

Your video was very helpful I thank you so much! I am applying to PA school next year after requirements are finished!

[@mitchie9630]

First view ya yeettt!!!! Glad you’re back ☺️

[@itsKendraLynne]

Yayyy! Thank you! :)

[@ShesJustLivin]

I just find out that you can get a master's in business administration without having been a business major in undergrad.

[@itsKendraLynne]

Great to know! Thank you! :)

[@CreamyGoodness22]

Great tips. I know you mentioned Nova which is where I'm looking into (orlando campus). Would you have an idea on their direct patient care hours/health care hour requirements??

[@itsKendraLynne]

Thanks for watching!! You can go to nova’s website and they list all the requirements there 😊

[@AD-yl2yv]

hi kendra. im a pre-pa student. you said that pa schools require patient care and healthcare hours. i am currently in an emt course and i currently shadow. i know that an emt counts as patient care hours but can i also use those hours for healthcare hours along with shadowing?

[@itsKendraLynne]

They should count for healthcare hours as well. Most schools require one or the other or they give you an option of one or the other. It would not count for shadowing

[@johnguillen68]

I have no guidance and I'm just winging it. I started my CASPA but working parttime makes it hard for me to pay for these applications. I live alone and work weekends as a paramedic in the Emergency Department. I'm almost done with my Bachelors's in Biology. I know that I should get ready for the GRE but don't know how to prepare for that. I am anxious to get PA school started.

[@itsKendraLynne]

You got this! I literally just studied what I knew what I was weak in for the GRE. Being a paramedic in the ED is GREAT clinical hours. You should do well. Good luck to you!!

[@johnguillen68]

@@itsKendraLynne Thank you very much. I have this semester off because of financial issues. So I'm taking this time to try to finish my CASPA and maybe review a bit on the GRE. I still have BioChem and Plant Biology to take, hopefully in the Fall.

[@itsKendraLynne]

@@johnguillen68 You got this!!

[@tannermcgowan7011]

Hey! I am graduating Animal Sciences at the university of illinois urbana-champaign with a 3.62 (so far). Except i haven’t taken orgo yet... do you think it would look bad if i took orgo at a community college next fall?

[@itsKendraLynne]

No, as long as you do well in the course 😁

[@Shawnee11759]

I have worked in the hospital since I was 14. In NYC we have summer youth program and I worked in labor and delivery, postpartum, nursery, and NICU. I did this program every summer until I was 22. I work in the hospital in Nutrition currently and would like to go to PA school. I was recommended and gifted a scholarship to attend PA school. I have recommendations. I am just curious about school

[@evasackey8567]

Hi Kendra, would you be willing to review personal statements? Thanks for the video....really helpful!

[@itsKendraLynne]

Thanks for watching! I am not currently reviewing personal statements, but may open up a giveaway on my IG to go over a few! @itskendralynne

[@MelJDou]

You r awesome girl! Thank you for sharing this! I used to be a nurse in China for 3 years and earned an associate degree, now I’m a patient care tech in the U.S. hospital for almost 2 years. Is there a faster way to get in PA school for me?

[@itsKendraLynne]

Thank you!! Not sure what “faster” would be for you. It’s different for everyone. Just get your hours and your pre-reqs done as soon as you can! ☺️

[@chaip1585]

I want so badly to do something with medicine and PA sounds like it suits me, but i hate hate hate microbiology and I hate chemistry even more :( I’m terrified to take those classes because I know I will probably do poorly. I finished anatomy and physiology with an A+ because of how much I love the more hands on stuff like that.. I don’t know wth to do because I know these are reqs for PA school :(

[@TrainingIsBelieving]

you got to do what you have to do lol.

[@itsKendraLynne]

Lol, what he said below. If you THINK you're going to do poorly, then you're going to do poorly. Change your mindset and you'll do well :)

[@katbatson]

I don’t understand, so do I go to school to get certified to be an EMT or a nurse before I can go to PA school?

[@spicyshizz2850]

Kat Batson did u ever figure out

[@katbatson]

Spicy Shizz so I think it depends on what kind of PCE you want. You want a lot of hours for most programs, but I don’t have time to go to nursing school or EMT certified because I am still working in my undergrad and work full time. However, I am a phlebotomist at a plasma center and have been for years, and this will count for PCE hours. So will things like medical scribe, medical aid, and CNA. so I am just going to stick with phlebotomy for my PCE hours. I highly recommend checking out the physician assistant subreddit on reddit. It is very helpful

[@spicyshizz2850]

Kat Batson thank you but the more I learn how much u have to commit I think I might just go the business route, own rental properties, Actor, and box

[@spicyshizz2850]

Kat Batson are u trying to become a pa

[@katbatson]

Spicy Shizz yes I am! I am 24 right now not even close to being done w my bachelors so it’s gonna be a while before I can apply to a PA program, but luckily I have a lot of life experience under my belt already so I am about 90% sure this is the career th for me

[@mahmudasiddika4197]

Please ..give some information for International students

[@itsKendraLynne]

I’m going to have to do some research. I do get a lot of questions about this!

[@Uwu_monse]

So I will be majoring in biology and starting college this fall. I was wondering, what type of job should I get in order to make up my patient contact as well as my health care experience while I’m in college ?

[@itsKendraLynne]

Usually medical assistant, ER tech, medical scribe are great options :) You can also research the school you're interested in and see what they accept as patient contact hours. When I was applying, some schools were accepting just volunteering

[@johnguillen68]

This is my last semester for my BS in biology. I've started my CASPA but never finished it. This summer I'll be working on my GRE and in hopes of getting a good score to start school in the Fall or by the Spring semester (whenever school starts their program). I'm hoping my experience as a paramedic in the ER for 15yrs, my age, and being bilingual would get me in faster. What are the challenges you faced while preparing for PA school?

[@cafe_rae]

I really want to get into the dermatology field and have been thinking PA, but I'm 30 and don't have any experience and this is kinda confusing. I have an associates and was part way done with my bachelors in English. So basically I need to finish my bachelors in something, go to PA school for my masters, then shadow?

[@itsKendraLynne]

You need patient contact and shadowing hours before you apply to PA school ☺️ then check out my “how I got into aesthetics” video

[@ads112233]

I’m in school for ultrasound at the moment. I am thinking about applying to PA school once I’m done. Will working as a ultrasound tech count towards patient care hours?

[@itsKendraLynne]

It definitely should! I would call any schools you're interested in and double check to be sure, but that's an awesome skill to have! I used to do ultrasounds of thyroids in my ENT job :)

[@victoriaboveto9799]

how do I get hours of hands on or care? should I find a job at a clinic and do a phlebotomy course?

[@florenciaroyocorrea6711]

Would nursing hours count as "Direct Patient Contact" hours? I am a nurse and was wondering if those hours would count towards my application. Awesome video, thank you!

[@itsKendraLynne]

Absolutely!! And thank you’ 🙃

[@biancaflores179]

This might be a dumb question, but does being a licensed pharmacy technician meet the health care experience requirement?

[@itsKendraLynne]

Bianca Flores hey! I just posted a video on HCE, but no it wouldn’t. Check out the vid 🤗

[@rinchensherpa8859]

If you get like C on science classes like biology or calculus, can you retake and enter the better grade for under GPA...

[@itsKendraLynne]

That’s dependent on your school ☺️

[@rinchensherpa8859]

Is it better to retake than not to retake classes

[@chartainh3413]

What about if you have pharmacy tech 4-5 years experience for patient contact hours?!!!

[@itsKendraLynne]

I’m not 💯 about pharmacy tech. I’d call the schools you’re interested in and ask if that would count ☺️

[@chartainh3413]

Kendra Lynne okay thanks

[@calisue309]

I live in Miami and I’m having trouble finding patient care experience. Do you have any recommendations?

[@itsKendraLynne]

So sorry for the late response! Did you have any luck finding PCE hours?

[@alexisvalenzuela11]

Could you link your Excel spreadsheet?

[@carla8383]

Do you think becoming an RN before becoming a PA helps?

[@itsKendraLynne]

It definitely does! But you could also consider doing NP if you want to go that way :)

[@smiley8106]

How long is a personal statement? What’s the minimum and maximum?

[@itsKendraLynne]

There's a certain character limit. Not sure what it is but there is a max, not a minimum

[@malikaahmed14]

Does physical therapy tech count?!

[@biancaalyssa_]

Hi kendra! quick question I just started college this year and I am interested in becoming a Derm PA. however, I am confused on what undergrad degree i should be obtaining. I am not sure which route is better to take. major in biology, chem, nursing or health science?

[@andres8416]

Florida Gang!!

[@mariakhalid241]

hi im an international medical graduate i did 3 months of residency in my country ,but now i want yo become a PA will my GPA be checked because we dont have grades here its just pass and fail ....and will i EASILY get admission in a PA program in canada

[@LandonC17]

What the most common majors for PA

[@Jasminesghost]

i have a question! Since im only 18 and heading to college literally next fall, where should i look to get experience so i am able to apply to PA school right after i graduate college? Is it possible to get these hours during college? or should i wait until i graduate to do so? I would love to become a medical assistant but i think im too young to do so!

[@Jasminesghost]

I just think im very young to get experience! At what age did you start getting experience? Im very sorry for so many questions, but i recently just found out what PA is and you really inspired me to pursue this because my dream has always been to have a job in a healthcare setting!

[@itsKendraLynne]

It's totally okay! I started working as a medical assistant in my Junior/Senior year of college, but I would definitely try to start earlier than that! :)

[@Jasminesghost]

@@itsKendraLynne Thank you very much for such a quick reply and i will definitely try!

[@adeladeen7514]

joyce Escatel You should look into becoming a CNA. It’s a quicker process for schooling and certification. I’m planning on starting in July and I start my freshmen year of undergrad in August

[@FruityUnicorn17]

Adela Deen that’s exactly what I am doing! CNA process is way quicker

[@mayerlimancia4308]

You think PA school can still accept me if I major in business ??? Or if can be able of finding a job to get experience in health care with a major of business??

[@anabelannroy9623]

After 12 th grade what should I do to become a pa??

[@Varsha-mq4md]

I've done bachelors in dentistry in india.I'm interested to join the pa program.I have 1 year of clinical experience.Does that count for direct patient contact or clinical hours?

[@Sharujoseph123]

Can I do pa after bsc nursing

[@zaytube4499]

How many hours do you have to shadow a PA?

[@itsKendraLynne]

Depends on the schools you’re applying to. Look up your programs of interest and they’ll have their requirements listed ☺️

[@AMJ564]

Hey kendra, I have one question I am an Indian student and I wanna apply for us pa schools how do I do it? (And yeah I have done my Bachelor of Nursing degree course from India) - edit

[@channghiem5012]

Here in California, Filipinos are 4percent of the population but are 40 percent of the nursing staff. What ethnicity are u?

[@mahanoor3493]

Chan Nghiem lmaooo

[@emilyarana6112]

I live in California too! All of my friends that are Filipino have parents that are nurses or want them to become a nurse!

[@itsKendraLynne]

Filipino lol

[@AndresGomez-ub9ec]

can i major in nursing?

[@itsKendraLynne]

You can ☺️

[@vinnnnnay3546]

What job did you have before becoming a PA?

[@ameena2489]

Vincent Calhoun she worked for a Plastic Surgeon as an MA (Medical Assistant)

[@itsKendraLynne]

I also worked as an MA in OB/GYN :)

[@maiabolden7182]

Kendra Lynne did you have to get a certification to become a MA? If so, how long did it take to get med asst. certification?

[@ameena2489]

Maia I think she said in one of her very first videos that you didn’t need really one so she didn’t get a certificate.

[@RachelHeartsBenefit]

In which job would you be able to remove sutures and staples-MA or EMT? I’ve been trying to go for the MA route for awhile but I’m open to EMT

[@itsKendraLynne]

I did those things as an MA :)

[@RachelHeartsBenefit]

Kendra Lynne did you get your MA certification or train with a physician on-the-job?

[@justinabenson7229]

I have a question can medical microbiology fulfill the requirement. I took that as a pre-nursing student don't want to take another microbiology lol. And most schools in texas requires 2 biology not sure what to take general biology and what? some schools specifies genetics and 1 biology others just say 2 biology so I'm confused

[@sharelifesue4797]

why would you have done business for PA school?

[@itsKendraLynne]

Because I want my own business as a PA ☺️

[@chartainh3413]

Or surgical tech?!

[@itsKendraLynne]

Definitely surgical tech!!

[@gangstachic911]

I’m thinking of changing from OT route to PA. I have a C chemistry which I already took last year. It is the pre req for PA school.. should I retake the class since the schools are so competitive?

[@itsKendraLynne]

You can if your science gpa isn’t cutting it. You need at least a 3.0 science for majority of schools!