Interview

Four tips for excelling on interview day.

+ a pre-interview checklist and questions I was asked.

First tip: Stay calm. You’ve got this.

I know it can seem mortifying when you sit down at night and your mind starts racing; thinking about worst case scenarios. It seemed that way to me anyways, but just remember that the hard part is over. If you were selected to interview, the committee knows you have what it takes to be a PA. You look amazing on paper, now they are trying to get to know you better on a personal level. They want to find a group of students for the upcoming class who are mature and will work well together. It is cliché, and everyone says this, but don’t forget you are interviewing the program too to make sure it fits you and your goals.

The day before your interview: If possible, drive to the location of the interview and walk to the building where you will be meeting. This way you know exactly where to go and will have one less thing to stress about when you go to bed that night.

The night before your interview: Set out your entire outfit, bag/portfolio, keys, and anything else you might be scrambling to find the next day otherwise. Set multiple alarms and set them early. I usually never sleep through an alarm, but just in case. Finally, try to go to sleep early. I know it will be difficult, but it is worth it to wake up with a fresh face and clear mind.

The morning of your interview: Eat a small breakfast. I was told breakfast would be provided but it ended up being muffins and coffee. You will be at the interview for several hours, so if you are a picky eater or get hungry every couple of hours like me, eat before or on the way. If you do not usually drink caffeine/coffee, do not start on interview day. It could make you jittery or cause an upset stomach; the last thing you need added to your day. When you arrive where you need to be, take a few deep breaths and envision a successful day. I also went to the restroom first and held my hands and wrists under cold running water to cool off and prevent my handshake from being too sweaty.

Second tip: Do not memorize answers.

I read a book called Getting into Physician Assistant School before I started applying. I think it was helpful, but the end included a whole section dedicated to different types of interview questions you might encounter. I started reading them and trying to think of answers the interviewers would want to hear, but I finally had to stop myself. There were just too many and it stressed me out because I was overthinking it. I definitely agree with being prepared and getting in the right mind set of what to expect, but do not memorize answers. If you want to set yourself apart from others in a positive way, be true to yourself. Answer questions honestly and avoid worrying about what you think they want to hear because I guarantee they have already heard those same cookie cutter answers. I think one of the things that helped me tremendously was talking to current PA students at the programs where I applied. I did not know any of the students personally, however, while shadowing PAs, I often met second year students completing their clinicals. I practiced answering questions aloud while I was driving, at home in the mirror, and to my friends. Another option is to do a mock interview with your school advising council. Definitely do your research on what a PA is/does, the history of the profession, and specifics of the programs you are applying to.

Third tip: Look and act professional.

Some schools will not specify exactly what they expect you to wear. I suggest a full business suit. You cannot go wrong with looking clean and professional. Find an outfit that is unique to you and your style, but nothing too outlandish. I would suggest a neutral colored suit jacket and pants (navy, black, grey) with a touch of your personal style underneath. Do not wear anything too revealing. I say go with a pant suit rather than a skirt, but that is just my personal opinion. If you do choose to wear a skirt, wear tights/pantyhose underneath. Wear closed toe shoes. I wore a low heel because that’s what I feel more confident in, but if you are more comfortable in flats wear them. You will most likely get a tour of the school, so wear something you can get around in easily. Try to avoid wearing harsh make up or excessive jewelry. I am a fidgeter when I am nervous, so I only wore a pair of small stud earrings and I fixed my hair up and out of my face to avoid worrying or playing with it. Wear deodorant but keep any other scents to a minimum to avoid triggering any allergies of others. Do not chew gum. When you introduce yourself, use a firm handshake, smile and make eye contact, and wait until asked to be seated. This is their first impression!

Fourth tip: Be nice to everyone.

You never know when someone you meet could have an impact on your acceptance. Even if they don’t personally have any say, someone who does might be watching. Make sure you smile and genuinely get to know some of the others in your interview group; these could be your future classmates. You might also get the chance to talk to current students and faculty. These people are there for you so be respectful of their time and appreciative of the opportunity to be there. It is in some ways a competition, but do not think of the other applicants as your competitors. They are just as nervous and excited as you are. Most importantly, do not compare yourself to other applicant’s achievements or background stories. You each have unique strengths and qualities.

Pre-interview checklist:

Business attire (dry cleaned and pressed)

Comfortable closed toe shoes

~6 copies of your updated resume and transcript (I had mine printed at a UPS store on natural paper)

Portfolio folder for these documents

Pen/pencil

Plain leather tote bag (if needed)

My interview experiences:

-OKC: I was scheduled to be there at 8am, but I arrived 30 minutes early. A group of about 30-40 applicants met at a building on the Health Sciences Center campus. We were greeted by a few current students and the director of admissions. We signed in and saw which small group we were split into and the approximate schedule of our day. I was in the first interview group of five other applicants in the 9am slot. Then, we had to hold a paper with our name on it and have our picture taken to be recognized by later. There was a brief introduction from the interim director of the program and then we got straight to business. There was a new twist this year that I believe will be implemented for future classes. We all watched a short video and had to answer three questions in five minutes on a sheet of paper. The video we watched was not medically related, but the point is to test ethics and character. After answering the questions, my small group was led by two current PA students to a different building. We waited in a smaller room until the interviewers came out and led us to an even smaller room for the actual interview. We were all called to our separate interviews around the same time so we all finished about the same time. I was interviewed by the director of the didactic portion of the program and a practicing PA in the community. My interview lasted about 20 minutes. I was able to answer all of the questions they asked and felt that my answers were very educated. I was extremely nervous and had a shaky voice and dry mouth. My interviewers held neutral facial expressions the whole time and it was hard to read how they felt about me. I didn’t think we connected on a super personal level because they were just reading off questions from a binder, but they were both very nice and professional. After my group was finished with interviews, the same two PA students took us on a tour of the campus and I think we were finished and free to leave around noon. I am extremely hard on myself, so for the next few days I questioned/doubted myself and thought of better answers to everything. Remember: they expect you to be nervous. I promise it goes better than you think.

Some questions I was asked:

• Tell us a little about yourself.·

• What moment made you decide to become a PA?

• Why do you want to be a PA, rather than a MD or NP?

• What made you apply to this program?

• Tell us about a time you failed in life (outside of classes).

• Tell us about a volunteer experience that you learned from or are passionate about.

• What skills have you learned from your experiences that are important in becoming a PA?

• Tell us about your favorite experience shadowing a PA and why.

• What 3 traits do you have that will make you a good PA?

• What challenges might you face working in a rural practice?

• What specialty do you want to go into?

• What are the differences in practice of a PA in the ER vs a clinic?

• What has been your biggest mistake in life so far?

• What does AAPA, NCCPA, and OAPA stand for? (& info about these in general)

• Do you have any questions for us?

Tulsa: This is a little bit of a drive for me, so I scheduled to be there for the 1pm section. I got there 30 minutes early. When I arrived, about 30 applicants met in a classroom, as well as the entire class of 2nd year PA students. We signed in and received a name badge that had our interview times and interviewer’s names on the back. This year at Tulsa, they decided to do two 15-minute interviews, so applicants had a better chance of meeting and connecting with more people. We listened to an introduction and history of the program presented by the director, then waited and talked to current students until we were taken to our interviews. The PA student that was assigned to me for the day was so sweet. She introduced me to her friends in the program and answered any questions I had. Hanging out with them before the interviews eased my nerves and made me feel right at home already. There were two interviewers in each of my interviews. I felt much more relaxed after going through the OKC program interview. Each interview went smoothly, and I was excited to be finished. Once the first half of applicants were finished interviewing, we were taken on a tour of campus and released for the day around 4pm. The other half of the applicants went on the campus tour first and interviewed after.

Some questions I was asked:

• Tell us about yourself.

• Why do you want to be a PA?

• What is your greatest strength/weakness?

• What 3 qualities do you possess that will make you a great PA?

• Why should we choose you over other applicants?

• Do you have any questions/concerns about our program?

• What kind of volunteering do you expect to do during your time in the program?

• What would you do if your supervising physician came to you and asked you to treat his wife for an STD without seeing the her as a patient yourself and without telling her why she was getting treated?

• What would you do if the attending physician yelled at you in the middle of the hospital for doing a poor job?

• What do you plan on doing now or if you aren’t accepted?
  

Best of Luck,

Destiny