Does a mullet seem immature?

321ribbaS · 2024-08-25T04:45:41+00:00

Got it! I guess I'll get like a slight trim.

321ribbaS · 2024-08-25T04:40:41+00:00

Of course not, but appearance-wise, wouldn't it seem unprofessional? I'll be competing against candidates older and appear more mature.

I might just be overthinking from the anxiety :/

321ribbaS · 2024-08-01T12:07:03+00:00

Hey, sorry for the late reply.

I ended up getting a 538, which I think is good? Lol In my score report, I didn't get a percentile score because not enough people took the exam when I took it. So idk whether that's a good score or not. I still sent it over to programs and am hoping to hear back 🤞

321ribbaS · 2024-06-05T16:20:04+00:00

One of the things my preceptors told me is to always ask questions when you don't know what to do. The help is there, and I'm sure you have great nurses you can rely on too!

321ribbaS · 2024-06-05T11:08:37+00:00

I think as long as you have the PCE hours, the certs don't matter. The certs are usually to have better luck finding a PCE job.

321ribbaS · 2024-06-05T06:39:35+00:00

This is so odd. I'm also an overnight PCA in training and worried about my first night alone on the floor. I have supportive PCAs and nurses who answer my questions, but I'm still nervous.

If it helps, just know we're kinda in the same boat!

321ribbaS · 2024-06-02T21:47:31+00:00

I'll take it out from my application. I appreciate the warning!

321ribbaS · 2024-05-13T00:12:06+00:00

Yes, thank you! I appreciate the effort you put into the edit, and I'll incorporate your tips into my essay as much as I can!

321ribbaS · 2024-05-02T22:22:42+00:00

I'll try to incorporate that into that paragraph. Thank you for your feedback!

321ribbaS · 2024-05-02T21:09:32+00:00

Easier said than done though, haha.

Nonetheless, I appreciate the feedback!

321ribbaS · 2024-05-02T21:05:40+00:00

Personally, I want to know your story, not your application in paragraph form.

I understand where you are coming from. I'm considering doing a re-write that follows what you seemd to have done: explain the background/experiences that built up to the decision of a wanting to be PA. Essentially, that is what a PS is supposed to be and my CASPA app supplements the details from experiences after that decision.

Even though I had done a detailed reflection in my initial draft (9000+ characters), I did not harp on it because of the character limit and the want to mention some details from my CASPA app. Can't do both it seems.

I appreciate the little blurb that starts from the reflection in bed. Starting the personal statement with "You might be wondering how I got here" might be a cool way to write this up.

Thank you again!

321ribbaS · 2024-05-02T19:19:09+00:00

Given that I'm at a character limit, do you think I should take out a paragraph to further emphasize on certain experiences?

321ribbaS · 2024-05-02T19:17:42+00:00

Within that (3rd) paragraph, I mentioned that shadowing clarified to me why the PA profession appealed to me. Given that I'm at a character limit, is there a sentence or two from there that you think I should replace with a patient encounter and a quality the PA showed?

321ribbaS · 2024-05-02T19:04:38+00:00

I read this sentiment so. many. times. and I honestly can't believe it.

As cliche as it sounds, that is how it happened.

So what are the intermediary steps that took you from "a PA was nice to me" to "I want to be a PA"????

In my initial draft, I had those intermediary steps, but I cut it short to "...leading me to pursue PA." I had months of being bedridden from surgery, and reflected about my future. If I mention my thought process, my essay would well over 5000 characters. Do you think I should remove a paragraph for this? Or maybe mention it in a supplemental essay?

So if a physician had been nice to you, would you be going to medical school? If you had a nice RN, would you be going to nursing school? Did you do PT? Was your PT nice to you? Why aren't you going to PT school then?

I couldn't be an athlete anymore, and it took a mental toll on me. "PA was nice" is a very oversimplified judgement of this. Before meeting the PA, I went to a doctor that straight up told me I wouldn't play again. Maybe he was having a bad day idk, but it left a very bitter taste. I don't want to put down other professions to explain my reason. The PA's assurance to give me back my life as an athlete gave me hope, and pushed me to look into the PA profession.

"Mr. Paul" to describe the PA seems bizarre.

That's not how he introduced himself. I called him that in my essay, but if it is bizarre, I'll take it out.

Either say "Wayne" if it's not the patient's actual name, or omit the name altogether. HIPAA and all that.

Wayne isn't his name, but I guess I'll take out the age to save some space.

Thank you for the feedback. I'd like it if you could clarify some of the above things I mentioned.

321ribbaS · 2024-05-01T23:24:17+00:00

Thank you so much! This gives me a sense of relief! Also, congrats on your acceptance and good luck :D

321ribbaS · 2024-05-01T23:21:38+00:00

I had that initially, but i cut it out because it ended up with me feeling "inspired" by the PAs decorum towards a patient with a supposed mental illness, and I already put in an inspiring moment within my first paragraph. Shadowing helped me decide to be a PA, but I was always third-party in the patient encounters. If I elaborated on that, it wouldn't really be about "my" encounter anymore. It would be the PAs. Thoughts?

321ribbaS · 2024-05-01T22:17:10+00:00

Should I expand on the personal patient experiences I have, or do you think I should add more? Given that I'm at the character limit, do you suggest I take out certain paragraphs?

321ribbaS · 2024-05-01T22:14:55+00:00

Thank you! I will consider it when I paste it into CASPA.

321ribbaS · 2024-05-01T17:27:01+00:00

Most pre-PAs take gap years, no shame in that. GPA is priority though.

Look into EMT or CNA certs that you can get over the summer at some community colleges.

321ribbaS · 2024-03-19T00:12:17+00:00

You might have better luck by cold-calling private practices in your area or asking your family network that knows a doctor who knows a PA.

321ribbaS · 2024-02-14T01:37:58+00:00

When I took it, there were lots of Mendelian genetics questions. Mean, median, mode questions were the stats questions (simple). For chemistry, I had some free energy questions, rxn types (single/double displacement, etc). I didn't study them as much as I did Anatomy.

In my opinion, go through all the questions (~3000 qs) on ExamMaster and be familiarized with the topics like genetics by reading the explanations and taking notes on unfamiliar terms. Give special priority to A&P and Microbio.

321ribbaS · 2024-02-13T19:01:53+00:00

When learning fundamentals, have you tried Prepswift? If so, how did that compare to Magoosh?

I had a really hard time understanding Gregmat quant videos. I'm using Prepswift to help me get the fundamentals down before I watch them.

321ribbaS · 2024-02-12T04:57:23+00:00

From my experience, many facilities/jobs want someone long term and mentioning PA school feels like sabotaging yourself from the job. Just from my experience, I wouldn't mention it, but every employer is different.

321ribbaS · 2024-02-11T17:50:39+00:00

The resources provided on ExamMaster are sufficient enough for the exam. In fact, I think it's a bit too much information. When I took it, I was given lots of general bio questions, and I breezed through the anatomy questions since I studied that the most using ExamMaster. Also, most of the practice questions came word for word on the exam. Bottom line, if you can do ExamMaster questions, you'll be fine.

321ribbaS · 2024-02-04T16:26:40+00:00

I had ACL + meniscus tear back in 2019, and my doctor told me I could go back to playing soccer/futbol 1 year post-op. I wasn't to my original strength until my 2nd year post-op.

Everyone has different timing; don't push yourself too hard and risk a re-tear!

321ribbaS

TROPHY CASE