For over three years, I have been working as a clinical assistant at an Internal Medicine practice. Have at least three people you trust read and critique your essay. The CASPA application is broken down into four parts: personal information, academic history, supporting information, and program materials. Frequently Asked Questions | Physician Assistant Studies If they dont know you, they cant like you enough to invite you to interview. This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Experiences that are typically accepted primarily include evidence of direct patient care: obtaining manual vital signs . Many rely on generalizations or fail to show readiness for PA school. The Central Application Service for Physician Assistants. List it as a "Current" experience. 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. Please read our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) before submitting questions. Without making a huge leap, expand on those prior experiences that helped you build skills that will be useful in the future. When all of your supporting documents have been received, your application will be designated as Complete. CASPA Series | How to Format Your Experiences (with examples!) myPAresource inc.,2020. This is THE subreddit for all pre-physician assistant students seeking help with their applications. 13 Provocative PA School Personal Statement Expressions . Press J to jump to the feed. Stocked supplies for patients on isolation and followed appropriate isolation precautions. All tutors are evaluated by Course Hero as an expert in their subject area. Which is correct, bullet points or paragraph form?? 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. Your description of any experience should be factual. If you havent read CASPAs definitions of the different types of experiences, then read them now, and carefully (read CASPAs FAQ here). While the other details are straightforward, the wide open blank space is your only opportunity to add subjective information about your experience. Experience Section on CASPA : r/prephysicianassistant - reddit You want to jam-pack this section with details about the experience and your role. How do you calculate your hours? hire us to coaching you through the process. I used bullet format, job title - job description. CASPA Experience section - CASPA - Physician Assistant Forum By Take a step back from the position, and rather than describe it solely as a job, describe the experience holistically. This means that your application either needs to be submitted and paid for by that specific date, or needs to have been submitted, paid for, AND verified by the date stated. Aim to be as descriptive as possible when completing your CASPA application. It's equally important not to overstate your duties in a role as PA schools will see through this and question your integrity. 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. Leadership Experience Therefore, writing descriptions that are loaded with valuable details and examples will not only benefit your application, but will help give admission committees a true picture of your experiences. The Experience section is one of the most time-consuming, yet vital portions of your CASPA application, so preparing your descriptions beforehand can save valuable time during application season. Those are subjective descriptions. Step 6: Finally, the last step is giving authorization for the PA programs to contact these organizations/supervisors. CASPer Test - What You Need To Know About The Exam, my PA Resource, PO Box 153, Woodstock, GA, USA, you can work on before the cycle youll be applying. Your description of any experience should be factual. Let the experience speak for itself by saying specifically what you did. Create authentic, effective responses for your PA school interview with a proven step-by-step framework. List the additional number of weeks you have completed since originally submitting your application. . Enter the date or date range in which the experience took place. Conclusion sentence connecting the experience back to your goal of being ready for PA school. The level of detail you should include for a volunteering entry depends on the relevance of that experience to a career in medicine. You can all Whateverville and to figure out whats going on. Sentence mentioning skills and values gained from this experience. List what you observed, accomplished, or learned without describing how you felt about it. The CASPA application has separate sections where you are asked to list your achievements, memberships, certifications, and licenses. The "supporting information" section is where you'll list volunteering, patient care experience, health care experience, non-health care work, shadowing, and extracurricular activities. My key responsibilities include taking patient vitals, recording patient medical histories, discussing current patient medications, administering vaccinations, and performing electrocardiograms. "my duties at this job included 1.23etc") I feel like they won't know me unless I'm able to say subjective things, but I also feel like that could be against "rules"..or whatever 2018 PhysicianAssistantForum.Com. Second, have an accurate idea of what your CASPA cumulative GPA and CASPA science GPA will calculate as. For shadowing role description, would it be wrong of me to simply put "Observed the role of a PAin the sickle cell clinic". Completing CASPA (Central Application Service for Physician Assistants - online application service of the Physician Assistant Education Association) takes a lot of effort, but there are ways to make the application process more manageable. For more help, consider our ebook on essays, or hire us to coaching you through the process. Check out the r/PAstudent subreddit once accepted and r/physicianassistant after graduation. In this section you list all of your experiences, from PCE to HCE to volunteering to shadowing and more! 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. If you've kept a journal of your healthcare experiences, it will . Instead, try to submit around mid June. This is the only information that PA programs are given about your patience care experience, so the information that you provide in this section will serve as the only reference a program has when determining your quality patient care experience. To give an idea, here are two contrasting examples: Example 1 (loaded with details): For over three years, I have been working as a clinical assistant at an Internal Medicine practice. CASPA defines verification process as follows: Verification is the process used to ensure all of your coursework was entered correctly and consistently. You cannot view these CASPA calculated GPAs until you submit an application. This is THE subreddit for all pre-physician assistant students seeking help with their applications. Note that this may take a few weeks, but the average time it takes for your application to be verified is two weeks. As another example for a non-healthcare related experience entry, if you were a teaching assistant for a college course, consider expanding on how you guided students to the correct answer using critical thinking skills, kept open communication with the professors and team you are working with and managed your time efficiently! Applicants everywhere are working hard to polish their PA school applications. Maximizing the Experience Description Sections of CASPA - My PA Resource First, lets break down the Experience section of CASPA. The method to document this experience is through the CASPA online application. Only then can you rest for a bit until you are invited to interview! Feel free to add as many experiences that you would like. The sensation of touch is the most basic of the five senses and is described as the physical interaction between objects. 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. June is early enough to stay ahead of the masses, and just late enough that youll have your Spring course grades. Write The Perfect PA School Personal Statement [With Examples] - LinkPAs From your own experience, describe how the Colorado Reproductive Equity Act has impacted your life. Starting Your CASPA Application Get started with an overview of the process, important dates and fees, and contact information. CASPA experience descriptions : r/prephysicianassistant - reddit All rights reserved. Review the definitions below, consider the duties you performed, and choose the category that you think best fits the experience. Introduction to CASPA - The Centralized Application Service for How to fill out CASPA Experience Section - YouTube If the experience was a student-organized group and there was no advisor, list a member who can verify your experience. 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). PAI 19: How to open your PA School Application Essay, PAI 17: Medical Ethics Interview Questions, PAI 14: PAs and Continuing Medical Education. So, what does that look like? 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. CASPA experience descriptions . (I'm not bashing servers. Contact Feel free to add as many experiences that you would like. 362 0 obj <>stream This section is found under the Supporting Information section of CASPA. Allowing PA programs to contact these people gives your experiences more validity. Certain information from your application transfers over from one application cycle to the next (i.e. Allowing PA programs to contact these people gives your experiences more validity. There are free online resources that can help you estimate it. How should you word your experiences? A question? The application process is painful enough. Plus, some schools might have different or additional requirements which you will need to make sure that you're not missing anything. Not describing invites the reviewer to skim through this section without spending time thinking about the great things you have accomplished. Check out the r/PAstudent subreddit once accepted and r/physicianassistant after graduation. Stay tuned for the answers to all . You will be given a 600 character limit, not including spaces. comment sorted by Best Top New Controversial Q&A Add a Comment . CASPA has added an optional essay question so that applicants can describe the ways COVID-19 has impacted them. CASPA Quick Start Guide and FAQs - Liaison In this section, you can enter your professional experiences in several categories, or types. Join us. So, what does that look like? List what you observed, accomplished, or learned without describing how you felt about it. If you've worked in the same role for the past 12 years, there's no reason to shave two years off of that work. I served as the primary liaison between provider and scribe teams. Even if a community service activity was outside of the medical world, the skills you gained from it might still be relevant. Click Contact Us up top. 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. CASPA will count both grades, the poor grade and the higher grade, in the cumulative GPA. 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. Step 2: After categorizing the experience, you will enter details about the organization (name, location, etc.) as you are currently involved in the role. If you volunteered at a 5K run, we don't need to know that you helped fold chairs, handed out race bibs, or passed Gatorade to participants. Enter the average weekly number of hours that you completed for this experience during the date range that you indicated. If you want the reader to take you seriously, dont try to sell them a used car. Research 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. laurentx3 If you struggle to understand what to put for your experience, it can help to break ideas into bullet points. Filling out an online CASPA Application can be tedious. They should be concise and informative. Some programs list a submission deadline and some list a verification deadline, some have whats considered rolling admissions. Impress admission committees every chance you can, including with these short paragraphs. CASPA Applicant Help Center - Liaison Through this role, I have gained valuable clinical experience, strengthened my communication skills with both patients and fellow medical colleagues, increased my medical knowledge, and learned the art of team-based care. hb```2FB ea vA#QYdF%tOqP40I0 us00M@,6/A1-L7X.1j4L`YR2C)|sxvMu 'F \LB43L[CT1J /' If something is important enough to mention in the description, you should give specific details. This is a person that programs can contact to verify that this experience occurred. Copyright 2022 Be a PA Consultants, All rights reserved. Conquering the PA school application process is a rite of passage for every future PA student. Youll check either the yes or no box. Pretty straightforward, right? Describe your duties and patient responsibilities, which may include taking vital signs, drawing blood, charting, and transporting and assessing patients. Six programs is the bare minimum, and only for top tier students (over 3000 hours patient care experience, 3.5+ GPA and strong essay). Applications open in April, and much of your competition will submit their apps in April. I have gained many qualities that will help me as a future PA. Can you see the difference that a thoughtful description of your experiences can make on your application? While you should be detailed with every experience that you add. This standardization is achieved by using your coursework to create a standard set of GPAs, ensuring you are compared to other applicants fairly and equally.. They can be accessed from the sidebar as well as the TOP menu bar. A couple examples weve run across: I strove to provide excellent patient care and gain an intimate understanding of patient needs. You will then be prompted to enter the Experience Dates, which will give you the chance to enter both the start and end date, whether it is a current experience, and the status of the experience (full-time, part-time, per diem, temporary). : describing your experience. When you are deciding which programs to apply to, take the time to calculate your CASPA overall GPA and science GPA so you do not apply to a program and realize your calculated GPA was below the required minimum. But, if you were instrumental in coordinating a blood drive or participated in a medical mission trip, you should provide some more detailed information about that activity. Want more help on your CASPA application? Think about how what you've done in the past can align with what you will do as a PA. Your previous content has been restored. 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. Inside PA Training offers a comprehensive CASPA Application Review service so your application will look its absolute best. 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. First, judge where it's relevant enough to include. Everyone else (those with lower GPAs and minimal healthcare experience) should apply to 20 or more. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts, https://www.reddit.com/r/prephysicianassistant/search?q=bullet%20points&restrict_sr=1. This is how I formatted my experiences on CASPA to give myself the best chance to get selected. Do not include paid work experience in this section. 0 If you are going to share an experience make sure it is not a clich and it is absolutely necessary as to why this experience played a role in wanting to become a PA! Please read our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) before submitting questions. Note that since each program's definitions and requirements vary, CASPA has no specific preference as to which category you choose. Experiences - Liaison Keep in mind that CASPA site has a vast help center, a great quick start guide and a live chat service. https://www.reddit.com/r/prephysicianassistant/search?q=bullet%20points&restrict_sr=1 :D. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. But, this is not the place for mini, unsolicited supplemental essays. After coaching hundreds of applicants we know the most common CASPA application mistakes, weve gotten familiar with a number of easily avoidable mistakes that can weaken an application. Leave out irrelevant details that are non-specific to this particular experience in order to leave room for the necessary material. Here is a guide on the best PA schools in Louisiana to help you build your career. However, if you worked in marketing for five years, you probably worked with a team and developed projects in a professional setting that, though outside of medicine, will help you to succeed as a PA. 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. %%EOF Describing Your Experiences In The CASPA Application First, have your "experiences" descriptions prepared before the cycle opens. Step 5: Next you will enter the Description/Key Responsibilities of the experience. Powered by Invision Community, Welcome to the Physician Assistant Forum! 338 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[<3DEFC28824D45D47906D5F311E7E49C6>]/Index[311 52]/Info 310 0 R/Length 121/Prev 178179/Root 312 0 R/Size 363/Type/XRef/W[1 3 1]>>stream Shadowing Aim to be as descriptive as possible when completing your CASPA application. Tagged: CASPA tips, CASPA, PA school application, PCE, pce, be a pa3, AHS. Pasted as rich text. Remain neutral and factual. Both paid and unpaid work in a health or health-related field where you are not directly responsible for a patient's care, but may still have patient interaction; for example, filling prescriptions, performing clerical work, delivering patient food, cleaning patients and/or their rooms, administering food or medication, taking vitals or other record-keeping information, working as a scribe, CNA (depending on job description), medical assistant, etc. Did you also write about what you learned from the time you spent shadowing each specific person or just what you witnessed? Considering not only what you did (like take vitals), but how you interacted with patients, worked as part of a team, or lessons you learned in a particular role will help you to distinguish one position from the next. Whether youre applying for the first time or youre a re-applicant to PA school, its important to follow CASPA application best practices to you dont make critical mistakes or delay your Caspa application status for PA school. 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. In the CASPA application for documenting shadowing hours, what should be written in the description/key responsibilities section? Do You Share These Burning Questions of PA School Applicants? Include your family structure (siblings, parents and their marital status, type of home environment) and a little information about the location (hometown and some basic demographics about it). 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. PDF Tips for CASPA Experience entries - University of Colorado Boulder You want to make them see you as a real person theyd like to meet (interview). Hey all, Im curious if the use of "bullet points" are encouraged instead of typical narrative paragraphs in description of experiences. Options to categorize you experiences include non-healthcare employment, research, volunteer, patient care experience, healthcare experience, shadowing, leadership experience, extracurricular activities, and teaching experience. If you ever have a question about the CASPA application, reach out to a representative through their website! Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Its important to put a lot of thought into these descriptions, because this is the only information that admission committees receive regarding your experiences. In the supporting materials section of CASPA, you are given the opportunity to list and describe the various roles that add to your application. My tasks included, but were not limited to, taking patients' vitals signs and blood sugar checks. The CASPA application has separate sections where you are asked to list your achievements, memberships, certifications, and licenses. Patient Care Experience* If it's important enough for you to include, you should allow it to be verified. Youll check either the yes or no box. Also, the last bullet point takes a vague statement from the original paragraph and describes a direct lesson. Note that you cannot repeat hours between experience types. Once you add the experience, youll be prompted to categorize the Experience Type based on the following categories: After categorizing the experience, you will enter details about the organization (name, location, etc.) First, lets break down the Experience section of CASPA. For example, prescribing medication, performing procedures, directing a course of treatment, designing a treatment regimen, actively working on patients as a nurse, paramedic, EMT, CNA, phlebotomist, physical therapist, dental hygienist, etc. The blank space is just about the facts. When you were cared for by a physician assistant. Why would you pass on giving them a few details about you? Volunteer work done outside of the health care field; for example, working for Habitat for Humanity, tutoring students, participating in or working for a fundraiser walk or blood drive, etc. Or should I elaborate more on the experience? Direct patient care duties included taking vital signs, blood glucose monitoring, and answering patient calls. You don't have to avoid sentences completely in your descriptions, but overall, your descriptions should be direct and to the point, whether you are using bullet points or not. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. 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! I'll share with you the three things PA. Describing your background in this way will allow the person reviewing your application to better understand the breadth of your experience. It involves systematic investigation and analysis of health-related issues, such as disease . We think this is a missed opportunity. Applicants dress up their experiences with descriptions that try to inflate their experiences or sound educated. Press J to jump to the feed. Pep Talk #16: How Many PA Programs Should I ApplyTo. 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. Several schools offer PA programs. This can be really helpful when you've held several similar positions. Todays post is going to discuss the ways to properly and strategically describe your experiences that you enter into CASPA. While you should be detailed with every experience that you add, being extremely descriptive is vitally important for the experiences that fulfill your patient care experience category. This is the only information that PA programs are given about your patience care experience, so the information that you provide in this section will serve as the only reference a program has when determining your quality patient care experience. Paid work done outside of the health care field or a research lab; for example, a retail or restaurant job. CASPA experiences 2022-2023 cycle - describing the same job at different locations. Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk. If you are going to share an experience make sure it is not a clich and it is absolutely necessary as to why this experience played a role in wanting to become a PA! Research in public health or nursing is a critical component of advancing healthcare and improving health outcomes for individuals and communities.