Interviews

Before the Interview

Notification of Interviews

Programs will send the invitation to the email you provided on your application. They will include instructions on what next steps look like, which can vary. Some programs gave me the option of multiple interview days and times, others only gave me one option. Generally, they will ask you to confirm your interview and send a schedule of what to expect that day.

Expectations

I applied during the 2020-2021cycle, which meant that interviews looked a little different than they had traditionally. Typically, interviews are hosted on location at the program. There is still so much that is unknown for future cycles since the pandemic will influence whether interviews continue to be virtual or back to being in person. I will say that there are both pros and cons to each situation. Doing interviews virtually meant that I saved a lot of money on travel expenses. I also found it easier to fit anywhere from two to six hours into my schedule rather than needing to take the time to travel somewhere. Those two pieces meant that I didn’t have to pick which interviews I would prioritize over others; I had four interviews in eight days at one point! After that, I felt that I truly gave each program an equal chance.

However, there was the downside that I didn’t get to fully experience what each program was like. While interactions with current faculty and students was wonderful to give a sense of the culture of each program, I did miss out on seeing the facilities in person. The good news is that through the interviews, I was able to narrow my choices to just a few programs so I could visit those before making a final decision.

Preparation

When preparing for your interview, I cannot recommend Savanna Perry’s Physician Assistant School Interview Guide enough! I read this book cover to cover and took notes from her advice. She provides tips and tricks, sample interview questions, what to include in answers, and so much more. This was hands down the best investment I made in preparing for the interview.

I did not choose to pay for a mock interview through any service, but there are many people who will share how prepared they felt after completing a mock interview. You can choose a service geared specifically to pre-PAs, or some universities may offer their own. For example, the Career Center at Colorado State University has mock interviews for students.

The most helpful exercise I did prior to interviewing was to first read the Physician Assistant School Interview Guide. Then, after learning everything I could about how to be successful, I created a document specifically for interviews. I started by making a list of everything that I wanted to communicate during my interview: experiences, traits, and anything else that was personal and would help them get to know me. Then, I added every single sample interview question provided in the Physician Assistant School Interview Guide. For each one, I provided a few short bullet points that I would use to answer. This helped me reflect on my pre-PA journey and gave me something to review before every interview.

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