Toughest Physician Assistant Program Interview Questions Answers and PA School Application Process
UBMI Publications
October 09, 2010
By Andrew J. Rodican, PA-C
Physician Assistant School Admissions Committee Expert
There´s nothing worse than making it all the way to the physician assistant program interview and blowing it! Many applicants come unprepared for the tough questions, some get too anxious and are unable to perform well, and others fail to connect emotionally with the interviewer.
If you´re fully prepared for the interview, you will maximize your chances of scoring high with the committee.
Here are some tips to help you with the PA School application process:
1. Prepare ahead of time: The toughest physician assistant program interview questions www.AndrewRodican.com are the ones that ask you to "describe a situation…" The interviewer wants you to tell a story and not just give a generalized answer. These are called behavioral questions. A common question you will be asked is "Describe the most stressful situation you´ve had and tell me how you handled it." This is one of many behavioral questions that you should be prepared to answer.
2. Be calm: If you are unprepared, you´re more likely to be anxious. Anxiety leads to a series of physiological responses that kick off the "fight or flight" mode. Your breathing becomes shallow, your pupils will dilate, your heart starts racing, and your "thinking brain" shuts down. When this happens, your body language will not be conducive to creating a positive emotional impact and you will not be able think clearly and answer those tough behavioral questions.
3. Dress appropriately: In short, an interviewer judges you within the first thirty seconds of meeting you. So men should wear a business suit with shined shoes and women should do the same. I monitor a PA applicant forum where applicants kick this question around a lot; "Do I have to wear a suit to the interview?" Absolutely!
These are just a few tips to prepare you for the physician assistant school application process. The key word here is to "prepare." Failure to prepare is preparing to fail.
For more information on the toughest behavioral interview questions and answers, or to sign up for our FREE Webinar: The 5 Major Mistakes You Must Never Make When Applying to PA School, visit our website at www.AndrewRodican.com.
Written by:
Andrew J. Rodican, PA-C
Author of "The Ultimate Guide to Getting Into Physician Assistant School" (McGraw-Hill)
AJR Associates, LLC
888-846-6668
www.AndrewRodican.com
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