As anyone who has tackled the CASPA application in the past can attest, it's not something that can be done in an afternoon. What it was like to live in a medically underserved area. In this video I tell you how to successfully format your experiences such as your PCE, volunteering, etc, to be more competitive to PA school admissions. I used bullet format, job title - job description. Paid work done outside of the health care field or a research lab; for example, a retail or restaurant job. They can be accessed from the sidebar as well as the TOP menu bar. Feel free to add as many experiences that you would like. This mistake is common and more work to avoid. Maximizing the Experience Description Sections of CASPA - My PA Resource If you are unsure how an experience should be classified, we recommend contacting CASPAs customer service line and asking them. Please read our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) before submitting questions. Otherwise, leave it out. Hey all, Im curious if the use of "bullet points" are encouraged instead of typical narrative paragraphs in description of experiences. Applicants everywhere are working hard to polish their PA school applications. Remember not to overstate your role. CASPA Application Tips My PA Resource 3 Reply madbro2520 5 yr. ago Props to you for getting things done ahead of time. Although you can enter any experiences that you believe are relevant to your application, we recommend focusing on those experiences within the last 10 years and at the collegiate level and above. So, what does that look like? I'm trying to fill out my experiences, is it okay to use subjective information/words? This is a person that programs can contact to verify that this experience occurred. If you ever have a question about the CASPA application, reach out to a representative through their website! Applications open in April, and much of your competition will submit their apps in April. At this part of the PA school application process, youll have to brush up on your interview skills. But, that doesn't mean you are required to spend hours figuring out what to include or mulling over what to write in the sometimes-intimidating "description" section of each entry. CASPA has added an optional essay question so that applicants can describe the ways COVID-19 has impacted them. The goal of undertaking PA programs is to ensure people live healthily. ^lW(y $k^ r x#1, 0 | Press J to jump to the feed. Since patient care hours are a huge element of your application for many PA programs, its important that you carefully and strategically explain your experience so that PA programs get a clear understanding of that specific experience. I suggest keeping a file on your computer dedicated to drafting and editing experience descriptions so that once CASPA opens, they are polished and ready to go! CASPA Experience section - CASPA - Physician Assistant Forum All these little data points help a reader picture you in their mind. The "experiences" portion of CASPA is one of the most valuable parts of your application! For more help, consider our ebook on essays, or hire us to coaching you through the process. Worked closely with nurses, PAs, and physicians to appropriately implement care plan for patients and discuss any of my duties that required clarification. Schools with rolling admissions usually have few seats available by that late in the year, and interviews for them are already well underway. This section is found under the Supporting Information section of CASPA. First, lets break down the Experience section of CASPA. Keep in mind that it is important to balance your healthcare experience with other experiences that make you unique as an applicant and accurately reflect the person you are. Your recent experience is most important, so don't stress if you can't find the phone number for your boss from six years ago. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Filling out an online CASPA Application can be tedious. If you want to be a physician assistant but you feel that your GPA isn't high enough, you still have hope. Your link has been automatically embedded. Step 4: Next, youll be prompted to enter in the Experience Details. CASPA will ask for your Title at the experience and the Type of Recognition you received through this experience (compensated, received academic credit, volunteer). In CASPAs Identifying Information section you can provide some information on your upbringing, but most students dont. Many rely on generalizations or fail to show readiness for PA school. Today we share them with you and tell you how best to avoid them. You should also go over how your family life was when you were growing up. transcripts, references, and your personal statement). What you learned from your personal medical experiences. : describing your experience. Enter the date or date range in which the experience took place. To prevent missing any deadlines, keep a list of important dates for each program you are applying to. Write The Perfect PA School Personal Statement [With Examples] - LinkPAs If it's important enough for you to include, you should allow it to be verified. (I'm not bashing servers. Third, be familiar with the difference between CASPA application submission and verification. It also asks for how COVID-19 has impacted students academically and personally. CASPA will automatically calculate the total number of hours based on these numbers, and this calculation will show up directly under the numbers you have entered. While this may appear straightforward, if you open up the "supporting information" section and the menu unfurls, you'll start to see what takes so long. I achieved a timely and successful setup of services according to client needs, objectives, and contract specifications. If you have any specific questions about a particular experience, feel free to shoot me an email [here]. Describe your experience of (or your interest in) research, in endstream endobj 312 0 obj <. You want to jam-pack this section with details about the experience and your role. Think about how what you've done in the past can align with what you will do as a PA. Pay particular attention to the difference between the first two, which are frequently confused. This portion is one of the couple parts of CASPA you can work on before the cycle youll be applying. For example, if you worked as a CNA at your community hospital, describe what you did, what other healthcare workers you were on a team with, how it has inspired you to continue your journey to become a PA, general skills and values you gained, etc. Lets backtrack to Step 5: describing your experience. Select the appropriate experience type from the drop-down. (LogOut/ endstream endobj startxref Include any other impressive aspects about this specific experience. Experiences in which you held a leadership role within an organization, such as the president of a club, fraternity/sorority, etc. CASPA experiences 2022-2023 cycle - describing the same job at different locations. In this section you list all of your experiences, from PCE to HCE to volunteering to shadowing and more! I'll share with you the three things PA. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Nurse Practitioner vs Physician Assistant [Key Differences], 2nd Year PA Five Things to Know Before Graduating, Care for Caregivers: Preventing Physician Burnout, Tax Time: PAs and NPs Maximize profitability, Physician Assistant Burnout (Symptoms and Treatment), How Long PA School Will Take You & Your Curriculum. CASPA recommends submitting and completing your application at least 6-8 weeks prior to program deadlines. They can be accessed from the sidebar as well as the TOP menu bar. Example 2 (lacks sufficient detail): I work at a doctors office and my responsibilities include interacting with patients and performing different tests on them. Volunteer This is a person that programs can contact to verify that this experience occurred. Tips for Updating Your Personal Statement as a Reapplicant, my PA Resource, PO Box 153, Woodstock, GA, USA, Maximizing the Experience Description Sections of CASPA. Please try again. Here is a quick guide to constructing an experience description that adequately communicates your time in that role: Introduction sentence to summarize what the experience was. Use your best judgment to relay the information that you need the reader to know, rather than all the information you would want the reader to know. You cannot view these CASPA calculated GPAs until you submit an application. You will then enter the number of average weekly hours and the number of weeks. There is a difference and it is important when it comes down to program deadlines since every school might be on a different timeline. The CASPA application has separate sections where you are asked to list your achievements, memberships, certifications, and licenses. It also avoids the "not limited to" statement from the original. Agreed with both responses above. If they dont know you, they cant like you enough to invite you to interview. If you made Deans List, describe what that means: Deans List is reserved for students who achieve a 3.5 or higher GPA for any given semester. Even if you think they will know what a phlebotomist is, or what it means that you are CPR certified, give at least some description of that achievement. Experiences in which you are directly responsible for a patient's care. All Rights Reserved. You can attend PA program schools to pursue a degree in some of the best PA schools in Kentucky. Describing your experience in succinct points will help you to collect your ideas and avoid "fluffing up" your experience with unnecessary information. There are many reasons why applicants apply late. The blank space is just about the facts. Once you fill out the required information, such as your position and the number of hours gained, there is a textbox to describe the entry. Anticipating that your CASPA calculated GPA will be either higher/lower/or about the same as your undergraduate GPA will keep you informed and prepared when deciding which programs you should ultimately apply to. Remain neutral and factual. If one of your reference hasnt submitted their letter and a schools deadline is approaching, you can call him/her and encourage them to turn in in ASAP. All Rights Reserved. You will need to collect and prepare several documents such as writing a personal statement or essay, contacting your references and getting letters of recommendation ready, previous job experiences, and submitting your transcripts. Notice how all of these examples sound complicated, biased, or use sales words like liaison or successful. We will review each applicant's hours on a case by case basis and it will be dependent on how an applicant describes them on CASPA. Your previous content has been restored. First, lets break down the Experience section of CASPA. CASPA provides a general guideline of limiting your entries to the past ten years of experience and including only activities that are college-level or above. Check this list when the application cycle opens and make a plan that will guarantee your application is received by the admission committees before it is too late. Feel free to add information you gained from your observation or in discussion with the PA, but remember to frame it as a fact rather than a magical moment. Conquering the PA school application process is a rite of passage for every future PA student. The FAQ spells out what counts as: Make sure you use the right category when you describe your experiences. Once your application is submitted and all required material is received, your applications status will update to Complete. Your application is then in line to be verified. I really enjoyed talking with patients and getting to know them throughout myyears thereit always made my day when I was able to make someone smile and feel better even though they were sick") or should I keep it strictly objective, (ex. Feel free to add as many experiences that you would like. The Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA) simplifies the process of applying to physician assistant programs. In the CASPA application for documenting shadowing hours, what should be written in the description/key responsibilities section? Most will lack any of their writers unique personality. You can either use a bullet format or paragraph but stay consistent throughout all experience descriptions. 2018 PhysicianAssistantForum.Com. But it can make or break your chances at getting interviews for PA school. Instead say: I communicated with both providers and scribes. They cant save a seat for you if they dont know you want one! How to Choose Your Best Programs: Understanding Curricula, What Is Optimal Team Practice? The experiences section of CASPA is a crucial part of your application. This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Your description of any experience should be factual. This post will discuss a few CASPA tips and strategies to approach the CASPA application that will ease stress when the application cycle opens, and make sure you can avoid any potential application mistakes. Send the few descriptions into the writing center at your college, send them over to a former professor, or a knowledgeable colleague. If you've kept a journal of your healthcare experiences, it will . The Central Application Service for Physician Assistants. Why would you pass on giving them a few details about you? The quality of the description short responses can elevate your application as a whole. Many schools accept lower GPAs or have less stringent admissions requirements. I assist each doctor with a variety of tasks, which include aiding them in dressing wounds, chaperoning breast and pelvic exams, and contacting patients with lab work results. There is no limit to the number of experiences that you are able to enter, but you will want to add experiences that you feel are relevant to your PA application. Copyright 2022 Be a PA Consultants, All rights reserved. example: experience is a CNA, and along with describing the job duties, you would include how you learend to work with different personalities and work in a team better. You can post now and register later. All tutors are evaluated by Course Hero as an expert in their subject area. A couple examples weve run across: I strove to provide excellent patient care and gain an intimate understanding of patient needs. The experiences section of CASPA is a crucial part of your application. Once you add the experience, youll be prompted to categorize the Experience Type based on the following categories: Non-Healthcare Employment In the CASPA application for documenting shadowing hours, what should be written in the description/key responsibilities section? Youll check either the yes or no box. hb```2FB ea vA#QYdF%tOqP40I0 us00M@,6/A1-L7X.1j4L`YR2C)|sxvMu 'F \LB43L[CT1J /' The blank space is just about the facts. One last note: Some of your experiences may be long ago, and maybe you can't find your supervisor's information or specific details about the experience. Step 1: First, you'll add an experience in CASPA's Experience section. Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk. Or should I elaborate more on the experience? Its important that you use the 600 characters in such a way that gives PA programs a clear understanding of the specific experience that you are describing. Some essays they read are very basic. Avoid this mistake! When you were cared for by a physician assistant. First, have your experiences descriptions prepared before the cycle opens. Also, if you have taken courses outside of the main college you earned your degree at, you must use these in your cumulative/science GPA calculations. This was my first experience working with patients and it ignited my passion for helping others.".