Writing_Sample_Core Story PH 2 Rshoaf

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The five primary

mistakes made byPhysician

Assistant (PA)School applicants

Fierce competition presents new

challenges and

considerations



© Copyright - 2010

Looking at the Healthcare Industry Today

2

� Demand for Healthcare will escalate overthe next few decades as Baby Boomersretire.

� 20 years from now, more than 20% ofthe population will be over 65.

�

According to the US Bureau of LaborStatistics, 10 of the 20 fastest growingoccupations are healthcare related.

� 3.2 million new jobs will be created by thehealthcare industry in the next 10 years.

�

Within this opportunity, US News and WorldReport sites Physician Assistant (PA) as one ofthe best careers opportunities.

Juno Connection for Healthcare Professionals, Healthcare Employment Trends for 2011, Dec 2010

Best Careers: 2009, US News & World Report, 12/11/2008



© Copyright - 2010

Physicians Assistants At a Glance

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� Came to be in the mid 1960·s due to anincreasing demand for qualified medicalpersonnel in the military as physicians returnedto civilian practice.

� The first training class of PAs, composed of

former US military medics, graduated on Oct 6th,1967 ² considered the official anniversary date ofthe profession.

� Today, demand for PAs keeps growing as theindustry expands while seeking cost reduction.

� Physicians assistants work with physicians innearly all medical and surgical specialties andsubspecialties.

A Brief History of the Physician Assistant Profession, The Society of Army Physician Assistants, July 2010

Why Physician Assistant School May be Right for You, US News & World Report, 8/6/10, Specialty Practice, AAPA, 2010



© Copyright - 2010

Physician Assistant ± A Rewarding Career

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35,000

75,000

150,000

20,000

40,000

60,000

80,000

100,000

120,000

140,000

160,000

Demand Drives Large Increase in

the Number of Physician Assistants

1997 2010 2020

� Job Security. Employment ofphysicians assistants is expected togrow by 39% from 2008 to 2018, muchfaster than the average for alloccupations, according to the USBureau of Labor Statistics. � Fulfilling. PAs do 80% of what doctors

do: conduct exams, diagnoseconditions, prescribemedications, even assist in surgery insettings as diverse ashospitals, academic medicalcenters, public clinics and prisons

� The Benefits. Starting pay isrespectable, median income of$87,500 in 2009. Plus, training is muchshorter than it is for doctors, typicallyconsisting of two to three years, post-bachelor's.Best Careers: 2009, US News & World Report, 12/11/2008 , Physician Assistants ± Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition, BLS, 12/17/09 ,



© Copyright - 2010 5

Could this incredible

opportunity be just beyond

your reach?

Five primary mistakes make by PA applicants




� Are you prepared to be one of the few(4% to 9%) who are accepted into thetop programs in the country?

� Do you have the knowledge of the PAacceptance process needed tosucceed?

� How confident are you that youunderstand what it takes to be in thetop 5% to 10% of all PA applicants?

� Are there prospects who seem to beahead of the pack?

� If so, what are they doing?

www.andrewrodican.com

Looking at Your Chances of Acceptance



© Copyright - 2010

Master¶s programs ± Why so Important?

7

� From 1997 to 2009 the demand for PA·sMaster·s degrees has increased 345%while the number of programs offered isonly 80%, or 114 out of 140, of the totalprograms offered.

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009

Increasing Demand for Master programsDecreasing Demand For Baccalaureate programs

83% Gap

FAQ,AAPA, May 2010, Twenty-Fifty Annual Report on Physician Assistant Educational Programs in the US, Physician Assistant Education Association, 2009



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Top Master¶s PA programs ± the difference

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� Not all Programs have equal salarypotential.

� Observe the discrepancy in startingsalaries for MBA graduates, forexample, by School.

School Median Total Pay Package

University of Pennsylvania $145,000

Northwestern University $133,000

New York University (N YU) $128,000

V irginia University $121,000

Duke University $114,000

Average MBA Starting Salaries at the Top Business Schools, US News & World Report/Individual college websites cited by Admissions Consultants, 2008



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Will You Pass the Test?

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� Upon graduation, Onlythose Passing the PhysicianAssistant National CertifyingExamination test can usethe title Physician Assistant² Certified or PA-C.

� The better theschool/program, thegreater the likelihood of

your passing this importantcertification.

AmericanAcademy of Physician Assistants, ³Becoming a Physician Assistant, www.aapa.org/about-pas, , March 2011

The Five Year National

Average for the First TimePass Rate is

92.4%Make Sure YOU are in this

group





So Many Lost Opportunities. Why?

Due to the popularity of Physician Assistant as a careerchoice, there are simply more applicants than availablepositions in the top programs. Below indicatesacceptance rate averages throughout the country.




FAQ, Nova Southeastern University, 3/31/10, http://www.nova.edu/pa/faqs.html

PA Program Acceptance Rates ± the Reality

The University of IowaAccording to the university website, June 2010, out of 630applicants for the May 2010 class, only 25 were admitted, ora 4% acceptance rate.

Marquette

Mary Jo Wiemiller, chair of physician assistant studies atMarquette University College of Health Sciences, ít hasbecome increasingly more competitive to gain acceptance toa PA training program.µ And, ´du to the increasedinterest, the school can only accept 10% of applicants.

Baylor College of MedicineBCM posted on their college site, October 2009, that out of700 applications, only 100 were interviewed and ofthose, only 35 were offered positions - an acceptance rate of5%.



© Copyright - 2010

Overlooking the Importance of the Essay

and Letters of Recommendation

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� The essay is your ticket to the interview.

It allows you to humanize yourself. Small

details like using the work Íµ too

much, among other things, can turn a

winner into a loser.

� The Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions

survey sites that sites that, óf

Admissions Officers at 145 schools across

the US, 87% say they have received a

negative letter of recommendation. Of those, 15% report that a poor letter of

recommendation is actually the biggest

application killer.



© Copyright - 2010

Understanding the PA Profession?

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This is the number one reasonapplicants are rejected! Physiciansare a very close-knit, protectivegroup, facing many challenges alongthe way. They·ve managed to carveout a niche in the US healthcaresystem. If you want to get into thisprestigious club, you·d better knowwhy! You must go beyond

shadowing a PA or reading a journalor two in order to gain admission tothis club.




© Copyright - 2010

Failing at the Tough Interview Questions

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Too many applicants feel that they can come toan interview and just ´wing it.µ In a climate of

hundreds of applicants wanting to take yourseat in the next class, you can·t afford to takethe interview lightly.





So«someone is winningthese PA training positions

at top schools. So whatare they doing?

How Do I Win in This Environment?




AVOID the five primary mistakesmade by many Physician

Assistant Program Applicants

with the right effort and

preparation, which are:

5 Primary Mistakes made by PA applicants

1. Your understanding of the PA Profession is weak.

2. Your Essay does not create interest or a desire to meet you

3. Your letters of recommendation are killing you

4. You Don·t know the right ways you must handle toughinterview questions

5. You don·t know the ́ Secretµ to scoring high on the Interview.




© Copyright - 2010

Understand the PA Profession - Completely

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� Do the work, the time and theresearch to know the PA professionthoroughly and completely.

� Secure work or volunteer, if you have

to, to gain a first hand knowledge ofthe healthcare industry.

� Meet and interview as many PA-Cs aspossible. Ask about the pluses, theminuses and what they like most and

least bout their chosen career.� Seek out books and enroll in available

PA application preparation courses andbe committed.




© Copyright - 2010

Get the Interview with an Outstanding Essay

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�

Your graduate school essay must notcontain careless errors

� A personal statement steers clear ofvague generalities

�

Should not be a summary of yourresume

� Avoid sensitive topics

� Do not carelessly use big words in an

attempt to impress� Do not use cliché·s like: I·ve always

been fascinated by medicine or I reallywant to help people.

Top Graduate School Essay Writing Mistakes You Must Avoid, Petersons, 2010, www.petersons.com, www.andrewrodican.com



© Copyright - 2010

No Negative Recommendations!

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�

Assure that those with whom yourequest a letter ofrecommendation, have a positiveimpression of you. Don·t guess.

� Insist that you are provided a copy of

the letter of recommendation andhave an opportunity to view and signoff on the content in advance of theletter being sent. This will make thewriter think twice about writing

negative comments about you.And, will give you the peace of mindyou need concerning what is beingsent.




© Copyright - 2010

Win the Tough Interview Questions

20

�

Prepare for the commonly askedquestions. Do your research on theinternet on FAQs of the PAinterview.

� Be prepared to explain thedifference between a PA and anNP, and a PA and a physician.

� Be aware of current trends and/ornews relative to the PA profession.

� Prepare a 250 word (or less)response to the question, ´why doyou want to become a PA?µ

http://www.aapa.org/student-academy/current-students/pearls-from-pa-students/interviewing



© Copyright - 2010

Learn the ³Secret´ to Scoring High on the

Interview

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The secret and it·s implications:� Admissions selects candidates based on

emotion and justifies its decision with thefacts. So grades are not enough. You will alsobe sized up in the first 30 seconds via:

� 55% dress, act and how you walk through thedoor

� 38% the quality of our voice, grammar andoverall confidence

� 7% from what we actually say!

� Be yourself and forget the canned answers. Beclear and honest with what you way and meanit wholeheartedly.

³J ob Interview Techniques´, Sarina Russo School and Employment Agency, 2007, www.andrewrodican.com



© Copyright - 2010

Beyond the Top Five Mistakes..... Three

More Tips from top PA Schools

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TIP ONE ² Medical Experience

´We are really looking for studentswho·ve had some previous healthcareexperience where they·ve had some

direct interactions with patientsµ saysD.P. Asprey, director of a top PA program.

Therefore, it is imperative that you spendas many college summers as possible, orsue your free time during school, working

or volunteering at a hospital or doctor·soffice.

Why Physician Assistant School May be Right for You, US News & World Report , 8/6/10



© Copyright - 2010



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TIP TWO² Science Classes Count Most

Take as many core science classes ²anatomy, biological sciences, and organicchemistry ² as you can and focus intensely

on these courses. Although the overallGPA of at least 3.0 is important, manyschools give extra weight to yourperformance in science courses.




© Copyright - 2010



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TIP THREE² Show Compassion

Volunteering exemplifies your desire tohelp your fellow man ² the attributeidentified by schools as the most integral

to becoming a successful PA. ´Studentswho have had experience in working withunderserved populations, rural or diversepopulations, performing volunteer serviceor disaster relief, or other experiences

that illustrate a dreive and compassionfor others often stand out to theadmissions committee,µ says D.P.Asprey, director of a top PA program.



© Copyright - 2010

The five primary

mistakes made byPhysician

Assistant (PA)School applicants

Fierce competition presents new

challenges and

considerations

Documents

Writing_Sample_Core Story PH 2 Rshoaf