dottie7 Posted April 28, 2019 Share Posted April 28, 2019 I could use a little help with my personal statement- I'm struggling with how to talk about my experiences without sounding resume-like.... any tips? I'll attach my draft as well if anyone wants to read and tell me what needs to be improved! Thanks. Admissions Essay.docx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sb123 Posted April 29, 2019 Share Posted April 29, 2019 Do you have any experiences besides shadowing? You mention er tech or MA but you don’t mention your experiences Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nichole96 Posted April 29, 2019 Share Posted April 29, 2019 It sounds like you 1) don't have any PCE 2) don't have much healthcare experience at all (ER volunteering is good but you're seeing the very tip of the iceberg) 3) haven't had any encounters with a PA. As a result, this reads very hypothetical ("I am confident that by working as an ER Technician or Medical Assistant full-time I will be able to learn about the kind of provider I wish to be" is a great example). Honestly, it sounds like you're trying to apply too early. When you're ready to apply, statements like "my role as an xxx sparked my desire to accomplish x, y, and z as a PA" will come naturally. If I'm wrong, great! But your personal statement needs to reflect your experience with concrete statements about why you want to be a PA *and* the experiences you've had (not the ones you plan to have) that led you toward this career. Good luck! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dottie7 Posted April 29, 2019 Author Share Posted April 29, 2019 Thanks! I've worked as a PT Aide and am about to start my new job as an ER Tech. I was told not to list experiences or include them since they're in my resume, so that's why they aren't in there. I wasn't sure how to explain my motivation for becoming a PA without them, so that's why it sounded dull and awkward. Thanks for the help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sb123 Posted April 29, 2019 Share Posted April 29, 2019 (edited) 2 hours ago, dottie7 said: Thanks! I've worked as a PT Aide and am about to start my new job as an ER Tech. I was told not to list experiences or include them since they're in my resume, so that's why they aren't in there. I wasn't sure how to explain my motivation for becoming a PA without them, so that's why it sounded dull and awkward. Thanks for the help! You should definitely include your experiences as a PT aide to show you have patient care. Listing them as they’re listed in your resume is a no, but telling your experiences that reveal qualities about you that’ll make you a great PA is a good idea. Edited April 29, 2019 by Sb123 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nichole96 Posted April 29, 2019 Share Posted April 29, 2019 ^absolutely right. Don't waste a whole paragraph saying "as a PT Aide my responsibilities included..." but definitely *do* talk about the experiences that led you to PA school! I'd encourage you to read examples of personal narratives online (I found PA and medical school essays helpful) and as you read, make a note of what draws you into certain essays. Then you can use those strategies (being careful not to plagiarize) in yours! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dottie7 Posted April 29, 2019 Author Share Posted April 29, 2019 36 minutes ago, nichole96 said: ^absolutely right. Don't waste a whole paragraph saying "as a PT Aide my responsibilities included..." but definitely *do* talk about the experiences that led you to PA school! I'd encourage you to read examples of personal narratives online (I found PA and medical school essays helpful) and as you read, make a note of what draws you into certain essays. Then you can use those strategies (being careful not to plagiarize) in yours! That's great advice! Thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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