A simple and straightforward request. Briefly, in 5,000 characters (not words), explain your desire to become a physician assistant. Easy, right?
Facing the Challenge of Personal Statements
Having taken difficult pre-requisite classes, achieved thousands of hours of patient care experience, and conquered the GRE, a student’s desire to become a physician assistant should be evident. Yet, physician assistant schools want to know your individual story.
The Struggle with Self-Expression and Writing
Faced with this task, many candidates struggle to voice their intentions for various reasons. Students might be challenged by how to write about themselves without sounding conceited. They might feel their story is not profound. Or simply, they aren’t strong writers or lack a creative idea of how to go about this assignment. This can lead to anxiety, frustration, or worse, a subpar product.
Understanding the Importance of Personal Statements
It would be easier to write a generic explanation of why you want to be a physician assistant, assume others are doing the same, and rest on the strength of your GPA or other aspects of the CASPA application. However, it would be a mistake to devalue the personal statement as it carries weight and heavily influences a school’s decision to offer acceptance.
Embracing the Opportunity to Stand Out
It provides a chance for the student to separate themselves from the pack of applicants. A unique opportunity for the reader to learn more about you, your personality, and what you can bring to a program.
Crafting a Personal Statement: Tips and Strategies
In a way, the personal statement is a sales pitch with the objective to get the reader to buy the product without realizing they have. The writer has the power to impress, influence, and convey attributes that do not fit in the other CASPA sections. To peak one’s interest to the point they would like to meet you and extend an interview.
Seeking Help: Editing Services and Professional Advice
To accomplish this mission, it is best to take your time, proofread, and make several revisions prior to turning in the final result. Even better, it is recommended to seek the advice of a physician assistant, especially one knowledgeable about the selection process.
Our Comprehensive Services
I try to simplify the personal statement editing process by offering it within one bundle that also includes general advising, supplemental essay review, and interview strategies. These steps are all connected and part of the final pathway of getting into a physician assistant program. The price is $250.00 for everything.
Editing Process and Ensuring a Polished Work
In regards to the personal statement portion, services include draft review, critiques, and revisions. All lines will be read and thoroughly examined. Recommendations will be made on an ongoing process until the essay is a completely polished work that will capture the audience of the selection committee.
Success Stories and Testimonials
Over the years working as a physician assistant at academic hospitals, I expanded my duties to include teaching at universities, mentoring students, and being involved in selection committees. I have aided countless students achieve their goals and would like to do the same for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a 5,000 character (not words) essay describing why you want to become a physician assistant. No other criteria are listed, therefore it is an open ended question left up to the student how they want to answer.
A well written statement will be able to demonstrate your knowledge of the physician assistant profession and why you want to enter the field of medicine in the role of a physician assistant through personal stories and experiences. It should convey your personality and not be a generic essay or extension of your resume.
You are allotted 5,000 characters and should aim to make every word count. A strong personal statement does not necessarily need to reach the finite number of characters. This could occur at the expense of having the reader lose interest if not concise or the writing is redundant. Too short a statement is not recommended either as it might imply little effort was provided, or worse, the writer short changed their opportunity to stand out amongst the other applicants.
The short answer is VERY important. It is the one part of the CASPA application process that provides an opportunity for the potential candidate to display their personality, unknown strengths, unique life experiences, prior job skills, and other great attributes that do not fit into the other sections. Letters of recommendation also give insight into a candidate, but the personal statement is written by the student and they hold all the power to explain why they would make a terrific physician assistant.
The physician assistant application process is detailed and includes several admission requirements including grades and healthcare experience. Being a strong candidate in one area, especially academics, is not enough to guarantee a slot in a program. The personal statement matters, especially for students who might have an average or below average GPA. Taking advantage of an opportunity to have an experienced reader critique your personal statement to produce a higher quality product is a smart decision. And it is a small fee to pay when compared to the overall application and tuition cost or potential time lost waiting to reapply the following year.
This is a personal decision but generally if you feel uncertain of your personal statement in regards to its content or how it compares to your competitors, seeking counsel from an editing service seems prudent. If you have a strong essay that is void of deficiencies or mistakes, then likely you do not need assistance. But if there is any doubt, help is available.
I am the sole proprietor of BillAthePA and all personal statement submissions will only be performed by myself.
Yes. We will be in contact throughout the process.
As listed in the Terms and Conditions, all refunds are made at my discretion. Refunds will not be made for services already rendered or for unused services. Failure to keep in contact is not grounds for a refund and will result in termination of services.
Get in Touch
Call or Text
619-694-7697
Email Me
BillAthePA@gmail.com