dkwee Posted January 24, 2012 Author What are some good questions to ask Adcoms? My goal is to not only get the information I want, but also to impress them with my sincere & great interest in their program. Having the utmost desire to join that PA program is one thing, but knowing the right questions is another. As such, I'd like for us to discuss some questions to benefit us Pre-PA students seeking to approach Adcoms. Thank you!
dkwee Posted January 24, 2012 What are some good questions to ask Adcoms? My goal is to not only get the information I want, but also to impress them with my sincere & great interest in their program. Having the utmost desire to join that PA program is one thing, but knowing the right questions is another. As such, I'd like for us to discuss some questions to benefit us Pre-PA students seeking to approach Adcoms. Thank you!
Moderator LT_Oneal_PAC Posted January 24, 2012 Moderator You can't be seriously asking someone to do the work for you? Right? Study the school, study the issues. Come up with your own questions.
Moderator LT_Oneal_PAC Posted January 24, 2012 Moderator You can't be seriously asking someone to do the work for you? Right? Study the school, study the issues. Come up with your own questions.
Just Steve Posted January 24, 2012 i don't have hard numbers in front of me, but my school held several open houses at all four of their campuses. The amount of faces that roll through in that whirl wind has got to be staggering. Remembering a person for asking smart, on topic questions is about nil. However, it's probably a safe bet to lay money that a person asking really weird, off topic questions will be remembered as they will serve as the comedy relief in the office for the next several weeks. If there is something you really feel that you want to know and can't find off their website, by all means, ask that question. I fully support a person doing due diligence to vet out the school to make sure that YOU really want give them TENS OF THOUSANDS of dollars. Your education is the second biggest purchase you'll make, outside of your house. Make sure that is the school for you. But I would suggest that you stop short of asking questions hoping to impress anyone. That never ends well. Ever.
Just Steve Posted January 24, 2012 i don't have hard numbers in front of me, but my school held several open houses at all four of their campuses. The amount of faces that roll through in that whirl wind has got to be staggering. Remembering a person for asking smart, on topic questions is about nil. However, it's probably a safe bet to lay money that a person asking really weird, off topic questions will be remembered as they will serve as the comedy relief in the office for the next several weeks. If there is something you really feel that you want to know and can't find off their website, by all means, ask that question. I fully support a person doing due diligence to vet out the school to make sure that YOU really want give them TENS OF THOUSANDS of dollars. Your education is the second biggest purchase you'll make, outside of your house. Make sure that is the school for you. But I would suggest that you stop short of asking questions hoping to impress anyone. That never ends well. Ever.
Moderator LT_Oneal_PAC Posted January 24, 2012 Moderator Sorry, I won't post any more discussion topics like this. I don't mean to be harsh, and I disagree with the above. Asking smart questions in an interview will get you remembered IMO. Being funny will as well. It's just one of those things that 1) the questions need to be school specific and something they didn't address. 2) ask opinions on pa issues. But so many of us weren't given this and I don't think its fair to tell outright. Now if you want questions you want to ask to make sure you are going to a good school I'd be happy to help!
Moderator LT_Oneal_PAC Posted January 24, 2012 Moderator Sorry, I won't post any more discussion topics like this. I don't mean to be harsh, and I disagree with the above. Asking smart questions in an interview will get you remembered IMO. Being funny will as well. It's just one of those things that 1) the questions need to be school specific and something they didn't address. 2) ask opinions on pa issues. But so many of us weren't given this and I don't think its fair to tell outright. Now if you want questions you want to ask to make sure you are going to a good school I'd be happy to help!
taotaox1 Posted January 24, 2012 Yea, just ask the stuff you want to know.... Don't ask stuff just to ask stuff. Your stats, personal statement, and later your interviews are what matter. an open house really is just an open house for the most part.
taotaox1 Posted January 24, 2012 Yea, just ask the stuff you want to know.... Don't ask stuff just to ask stuff. Your stats, personal statement, and later your interviews are what matter. an open house really is just an open house for the most part.
dkwee Posted January 24, 2012 Author Now if you want questions you want to ask to make sure you are going to a good school I'd be happy to help! I think that's what I was looking for. That would help a lot. I just recently started my search for PA schools and I absolutely do not trust the "rankings" currently available. I know for sure there are other criteria that are important, just as PANCE pass rates. I guess I should have been more clear as to what I was looking for. I'm about to go to 5-6 PA programs within my state, and I don't have a clue as to what I should ask them to determine whether or not their school is right for me. Sure, I could go on their website and learn their prerequisites or go to their campus and see if I like their facilities, but I'm looking to know questions along these lines... I just can't think of all the good questions to ask. Here are some in mind, as examples: - How are the availability of rotations for all students, not just some? - How do you compare to older & well-established programs? What sets you apart? (Probably too general, but I am "suspicious" of any program younger than 15 years.) - Do you offer electives in your programs, or is there a completely set curriculum? Hope that cleared things up.
dkwee Posted January 24, 2012 Author Now if you want questions you want to ask to make sure you are going to a good school I'd be happy to help! I think that's what I was looking for. That would help a lot. I just recently started my search for PA schools and I absolutely do not trust the "rankings" currently available. I know for sure there are other criteria that are important, just as PANCE pass rates. I guess I should have been more clear as to what I was looking for. I'm about to go to 5-6 PA programs within my state, and I don't have a clue as to what I should ask them to determine whether or not their school is right for me. Sure, I could go on their website and learn their prerequisites or go to their campus and see if I like their facilities, but I'm looking to know questions along these lines... I just can't think of all the good questions to ask. Here are some in mind, as examples: - How are the availability of rotations for all students, not just some? - How do you compare to older & well-established programs? What sets you apart? (Probably too general, but I am "suspicious" of any program younger than 15 years.) - Do you offer electives in your programs, or is there a completely set curriculum? Hope that cleared things up.
swimrgal02 Posted January 24, 2012 I think that's what I was looking for. That would help a lot. I just recently started my search for PA schools and I absolutely do not trust the "rankings" currently available. I know for sure there are other criteria that are important, just as PANCE pass rates. I guess I should have been more clear as to what I was looking for. I'm about to go to 5-6 PA programs within my state, and I don't have a clue as to what I should ask them to determine whether or not their school is right for me. Sure, I could go on their website and learn their prerequisites or go to their campus and see if I like their facilities, but I'm looking to know questions along these lines... I just can't think of all the good questions to ask. Here are some in mind, as examples: - How are the availability of rotations for all students, not just some? - How do you compare to older & well-established programs? What sets you apart? (Probably too general, but I am "suspicious" of any program younger than 15 years.) - Do you offer electives in your programs, or is there a completely set curriculum? Hope that cleared things up. Here's my advice after surviving this past cycle: Just going to an open house will give you a feel for the program. The presentations given at the open houses will answer a lot of your questions. All the open houses I've been to have a Q&A session as well, so expect to get more of your questions answered by what others ask. If current students are at the open house, make sure to ask THEM questions too! I ALWAYS asked: "so, why did you go to this program instead of others?" and "what is your average academic day like?" Doing your online research and going to open houses is about all you can do before the interviews. Interviews are where you will make your decisions.
swimrgal02 Posted January 24, 2012 I think that's what I was looking for. That would help a lot. I just recently started my search for PA schools and I absolutely do not trust the "rankings" currently available. I know for sure there are other criteria that are important, just as PANCE pass rates. I guess I should have been more clear as to what I was looking for. I'm about to go to 5-6 PA programs within my state, and I don't have a clue as to what I should ask them to determine whether or not their school is right for me. Sure, I could go on their website and learn their prerequisites or go to their campus and see if I like their facilities, but I'm looking to know questions along these lines... I just can't think of all the good questions to ask. Here are some in mind, as examples: - How are the availability of rotations for all students, not just some? - How do you compare to older & well-established programs? What sets you apart? (Probably too general, but I am "suspicious" of any program younger than 15 years.) - Do you offer electives in your programs, or is there a completely set curriculum? Hope that cleared things up. Here's my advice after surviving this past cycle: Just going to an open house will give you a feel for the program. The presentations given at the open houses will answer a lot of your questions. All the open houses I've been to have a Q&A session as well, so expect to get more of your questions answered by what others ask. If current students are at the open house, make sure to ask THEM questions too! I ALWAYS asked: "so, why did you go to this program instead of others?" and "what is your average academic day like?" Doing your online research and going to open houses is about all you can do before the interviews. Interviews are where you will make your decisions.
DrCats Posted January 24, 2012 I suggest you go to one open house. That will raise questions from the information you are given. Talk to current students of the program, ask them questions... Its normal not to know what questions to ask, you don't know what you don't know. This forum is really hard on those who don't do their homework... It can come across mean, but we want everyone to participate in their own future, not have answers handed to them - I don't mean you specifically, but in general... Read past posts on this forum, it will give you LOADS of information and maybe you will have other new questions to ask. Good Luck to you and welcome to the forum! :)
DrCats Posted January 24, 2012 I suggest you go to one open house. That will raise questions from the information you are given. Talk to current students of the program, ask them questions... Its normal not to know what questions to ask, you don't know what you don't know. This forum is really hard on those who don't do their homework... It can come across mean, but we want everyone to participate in their own future, not have answers handed to them - I don't mean you specifically, but in general... Read past posts on this forum, it will give you LOADS of information and maybe you will have other new questions to ask. Good Luck to you and welcome to the forum! :)
Theyus Posted January 24, 2012 I'm not saying it's impossible to make an impression on adcoms at open house, but it's unlikely you'll do much. I know of a couple of faculty that recognize interviewees from events held by their program, but those are usually special cases (e.g. I know an officer for a pre-PA organization that took members up to open house for a field trip, the adcom recognized her because she was an officer).
Theyus Posted January 24, 2012 I'm not saying it's impossible to make an impression on adcoms at open house, but it's unlikely you'll do much. I know of a couple of faculty that recognize interviewees from events held by their program, but those are usually special cases (e.g. I know an officer for a pre-PA organization that took members up to open house for a field trip, the adcom recognized her because she was an officer).
Just Steve Posted January 24, 2012 So fill me in...I am curious... I attend a open house, ask a couple if questions. I put my application in the mail a few months later. How does the open house facilitator recognize my application is the one from that well dressed gentleman in the third row from one of the several open houses that they held? My best guess is that perhaps some programs have a very controlled number of seats for an open house? UW has four campuses for PA school and each campus has a few "information sessions" which is their version of an open house. My wife attended one for me and she reports approx 50 people in attendance. I attended one on another day and there was again over 40 people of super smart, super motivated people. Tough crowd to stand out in. The OPs original statement of wanting to use questions in attempt to impress the faculty just worries me. The school I am attending has been around for 40 years. I struggle to imagine wht could be said to impress them so much that they would be able to attach a memory to me in a positive manner. Maybe I am just too dense
Just Steve Posted January 24, 2012 So fill me in...I am curious... I attend a open house, ask a couple if questions. I put my application in the mail a few months later. How does the open house facilitator recognize my application is the one from that well dressed gentleman in the third row from one of the several open houses that they held? My best guess is that perhaps some programs have a very controlled number of seats for an open house? UW has four campuses for PA school and each campus has a few "information sessions" which is their version of an open house. My wife attended one for me and she reports approx 50 people in attendance. I attended one on another day and there was again over 40 people of super smart, super motivated people. Tough crowd to stand out in. The OPs original statement of wanting to use questions in attempt to impress the faculty just worries me. The school I am attending has been around for 40 years. I struggle to imagine wht could be said to impress them so much that they would be able to attach a memory to me in a positive manner. Maybe I am just too dense
Moderator LT_Oneal_PAC Posted January 24, 2012 Moderator So fill me in...I am curious... I attend a open house, ask a couple if questions. I put my application in the mail a few months later. How does the open house facilitator recognize my application is the one from that well dressed gentleman in the third row from one of the several open houses that they held? My best guess is that perhaps some programs have a very controlled number of seats for an open house? UW has four campuses for PA school and each campus has a few "information sessions" which is their version of an open house. My wife attended one for me and she reports approx 50 people in attendance. I attended one on another day and there was again over 40 people of super smart, super motivated people. Tough crowd to stand out in. The OPs original statement of wanting to use questions in attempt to impress the faculty just worries me. The school I am attending has been around for 40 years. I struggle to imagine wht could be said to impress them so much that they would be able to attach a memory to me in a positive manner. Maybe I am just too dense The OP said nothing about an open house and I specifically said in the interview. Asking smart questions in an interview will help over applicants who ask no questions and seemed disinterested/content to be ignorant and those who ask questions that can easily be found in research.
Moderator LT_Oneal_PAC Posted January 24, 2012 Moderator So fill me in...I am curious... I attend a open house, ask a couple if questions. I put my application in the mail a few months later. How does the open house facilitator recognize my application is the one from that well dressed gentleman in the third row from one of the several open houses that they held? My best guess is that perhaps some programs have a very controlled number of seats for an open house? UW has four campuses for PA school and each campus has a few "information sessions" which is their version of an open house. My wife attended one for me and she reports approx 50 people in attendance. I attended one on another day and there was again over 40 people of super smart, super motivated people. Tough crowd to stand out in. The OPs original statement of wanting to use questions in attempt to impress the faculty just worries me. The school I am attending has been around for 40 years. I struggle to imagine wht could be said to impress them so much that they would be able to attach a memory to me in a positive manner. Maybe I am just too dense The OP said nothing about an open house and I specifically said in the interview. Asking smart questions in an interview will help over applicants who ask no questions and seemed disinterested/content to be ignorant and those who ask questions that can easily be found in research.
mktalon Posted January 24, 2012 Doing something to impress somebody ALWAYS looks like you are doing something to impress somebody. They can sniff that out a mile away. The truth is, if you HAVE sincere and great interest in a program than you will have done enough research to answer many of the question you might have, and then the questions you are left with will be genuine questions and not a gimmick to make yourself look good. That's not to say that you can't ask questions on a forum about certain things, but you can't ask somebody else to create an aura of great and sincere interest for you. It sounds like you need to stop trying to LOOK like a good applicant and start trying to BE a good applicant.
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