We're back with a new episode covering my 2nd semester of PA school and giving you some points to reflect on and consider whether you are truly ready for PA school! I encourage you to really take some time to seriously ask yourself some of these questions and take a hard look at where you can stand to grow and where you are already well-equipped. I am more than happy to help and advise pre-PAs, whether that means reading over essays/personal statements, reviewing parts of your application, or an...
Jan 08, 2024•35 min
It's been a while but if you've been curious about how my first semester of PA school went, here is a little recap for you all! As usual, I have included some tips based on my own experience for how you can best prepare for PA school and hopefully be successful in your first semester as well! I am more than happy to help and advise pre-PAs, whether that means reading over essays/personal statements, reviewing parts of your application, or answering any questions you might have! If you would like...
Aug 21, 2023•26 min•Season 1Ep. 12
If you are applying this cycle and are curious what happens after you are accepted, or if you are in the fortunate position of having been accepted to a PA program and are wondering what's to come, in this episode I give you a glimpse into my PA school orientation and onboarding process. Full disclosure: I attended two different program orientations, with the program that I ultimately decided to attend holding their orientation in late March in preparation for our cohort beginning the program in...
Apr 15, 2023•19 min•Season 1Ep. 11
This episode is all about the oh so pivotal, yet oh so daunting personal statement that is required as part of your PA school application on CASPA. A poor personal statement can definitely lower your chances of getting invited for an interview while an amazing personal statement can make all the difference in landing an interview for someone who might not otherwise make the cut. I submitted 2 different personal statements and based on my experience, I have a lot of tips and tricks that will hope...
Mar 10, 2023•33 min•Season 1Ep. 10
If you've been listening to the podcast recently, you probably know that I've been hinting about having a guest on the podcast. If you were excited about that, then this episode will definitely make your day! Ariel Campa, recent PA school graduate, mom, and creator of the Becoming a PA podcast, agreed to join me on the podcast to share about her PA journey and pass on some wisdom she's gained along the way. Tune in to hear how she balanced PA school, family, and life in general as well as her ad...
Feb 11, 2023•37 min•Season 1Ep. 9
If you're gearing up to apply to PA schools this cycle, this episode covers a lot of useful information! In this episode of the Nontraditional PA Podcast, I go over what you can be working on now to ensure early submission of your best PA school application, and I offer an in-depth look at how to craft strong descriptions in the experiences section of CASPA. The experiences section is a pivotal part of your PA school application. Through it, schools get to learn a lot more about you, your person...
Jan 30, 2023•23 min•Season 1Ep. 8
If you have worked a difficult PCE job or in a toxic healthcare environment, you may be asking yourself how much longer you can hold out and if it will "look bad" to PA schools if you leave the job early on. Or maybe you're in the position of recently starting one job and shortly thereafter were offered another job that you were more interested in. If you're wondering whether PA schools will view your leaving a PCE job relatively soon after being hired as a red flag to PA school admissions teams...
Jan 19, 2023•7 min
Maybe you've decided that physician assistant/associate (PA) is the career for you, and you've already begun planning out your steps to making that dream a reality. Maybe you're still considering whether this career is a good match for your lifestyle and your family obligations. Hopefully this episode will prove helpful wherever you're at in the process. In this episode, I highlight not only what's involved in applying to PA school but the associated financial costs so that you can make a plan o...
Jan 06, 2023•33 min
If you're bummed out that you didn't get into a PA program this last cycle or were *SO CLOSE* but didn't quite get a spot at your top program, this episode is for you. In it, I detail my reapplication experience with my top choice program and how I improved my application the second time around, and l also provide some tips for reapplicants based on the feedback I was given and what I've learned through this process. Leave a comment, like, and subscribe if you find this helpful. Also, I'd love t...
Dec 16, 2022•27 min
In this episode, I cover some important things to know about PA program interviews, based on my own experiences with traditional interview formats. I include some tips for how to prepare as well as what you should expect on interview day, and I provide some insight into how you can evaluate the program during the interview to see if it's truly a place you will thrive as a future PA student. If you have any questions or would like to get in touch with me, my email address is kamaha.kirsten@gmail....
Dec 01, 2022•26 min•Season 1Ep. 4
In this episode I cover another requirement for PA school admissions, standardized testing. Whether you are a strong standardized test taker or you refuse to even say the words "standardized test," in order to get into PA school you will likely need to complete one if not more of the big three, which includes the GRE General Exam, the CASPer Test, and the PA-CAT. Listen in to learn more about the purpose of these exams, what you can expect when you take these tests, and what might help prepare y...
Nov 10, 2022•19 min•Season 1Ep. 3
In episode 2 of the Nontraditional Physician Assistant/Physician Associate (PA) Podcast, I dive more into what a PA is and the history of the profession. Decided that you are interested in becoming a PA? I lay out some crucial first steps and things to be aware of as you begin your pre-PA journey. Tune in, like, subscribe, and leave a review if you find this to be helpful. I would love to hear your feedback and if you have any topics or things you want me to discuss or cover in future episodes, ...
Aug 12, 2022•29 min•Season 1Ep. 2
Welcome to the Nontraditional Physician Assistant/Physician Associate (PA) Podcast. Feel free to follow along on my unconventional journey from pre-PA to PA student to practicing PA! I hope to provide some useful insight and information for others looking into the profession and to encourage and help other nontraditional/unconventional pre-PAs find your unique strengths and what you bring to the table as an applicant. Feel free to follow or reach out to me on Instagram @ the.nontraditional.pa_s...
Aug 08, 2022•1 min
Welcome to the Nontraditional Physician Assistant/Physician Associate (PA) Podcast! Listen in to hear all about why I decided to start this podcast, my goals for this podcast, and for the details of my rather unconventional journey leading me to this goal of becoming a PA. If you have any questions or would like to get in touch with me, my email address is kamaha.kirsten@gmail.com or follow me on my Insta @ the.nontraditional.pa_s Like, subscribe, or leave me a note! You can support the podcast ...
Jul 30, 2022•15 min•Season 1Ep. 1
