Hi, here is the first draft of my PA school admissions essay. I want it to be unique, describe myself adequately as well as convince the reader that I do want to get into PA school more than anything. As of right now, I feel like I have too many "I"s in it. I know that this is an essay about myself, but I want it to read smoothly. Thanks in advance for all your help. Let me know what you think.
"What equipment do you need?" my supervisor yelled as I was assessing the airway of the unconscious man lying halfway under a pickup truck. I looked around as I heard this man's son screaming for me to help his father. I realized in this moment that I needed to gain control of this situation if there was any chance of helping his father. This is a familiar scene for me as a Paramedic responding to emergencies every day. There are so many uncontrollable elements when working in the field, but I have the opportunity to make the first impression to my patients and their family when they are in the midst of a crisis.
Being a Paramedic is so much more than the adrenaline rush that comes with a bad trauma. There are opportunities to educate a newly diagnosed diabetic on the difficulties of managing his blood sugar; to calm down the non-English speaking family of the three-year-old that has a bead stuck up his nose; to listen to the terminally-ill patient as she talks about her acceptance of death. This is where medicine ends and healthcare begins - with the ability to impact each and every one of my patients' lives. At this point in my life, I have found my niche in healthcare and I would like to challenge myself further. Becoming a physician assistant (PA) would allow me to continue what I love and would also provide opportunities that I do not currently have.
I did not always want to go into medicine. My undergraduate career started as a degree in Special Education. I worked with children diagnosed with Autism for four years and loved it. When I transferred to the University of North Carolina I had the opportunity to learn CPR/First Aid and that was when I was hooked - my first EMT course. I was young and had no prior knowledge of medicine. I was the student that asked, "We have a heart? Interesting, I wonder how it works." It was a challenge and I loved it. So I decided to become a Paramedic while I finished my undergraduate degree in a newly declared B.S. in Biology. To say this was an easy time in my life would be a lie. I continued a full-time schedule at the university while taking the equivalent of 12 hours at night to become a Paramedic, as well as working 24-36 hours a week as an EMT in the field. I learned a lot about time management during that period, but the heavy workload shows in a lower GPA. Though I fear the impact this may have on my acceptance to a PA program, I am proud of what I was able to accomplish by the age of 23. Though I sacrificed a higher GPA, I obtained a B.S. in Biology, became certified as a Paramedic, studied abroad in Scotland where I was able to work for the Scottish Ambulance Service and recognized by the state of North Carolina as a Level I EMT Instructor. I consider myself extremely fortunate.
Many people have asked why I chose to pursue a career as a PA instead of becoming a physician. A lot of research has gone into this decision. I have looked into becoming a nurse practitioner, a physician, a physical therapist and of course a PA. I can say, beyond a shadow of a doubt that I want to be a PA. I love the flexibility that comes with being a PA. I have an innate need to continually challenge myself, and as a PA I will have the option to switch specialties if a new opportunity presents itself. This career choice is a financially wise decision for me; the education requires a sufficient amount of time for me to learn what I need to become an excellent healthcare provider, while not putting me in a position to spend a large part of my working years as a student. I believe becoming a PA will be very fulfilling and will allow me to settle down when I choose to start a family. As a physician assistant I will be able to work autonomously, as well as collaboratively, with other members of a healthcare team. I believe that in spite of my atypical GPA, because of my experience and passion for medicine and healthcare, I am an excellent candidate for the Physician Assistant program and I am excited to start this journey.
"What equipment do you need?" my supervisor yelled as I was assessing the airway of the unconscious man lying halfway under a pickup truck. I looked around as I heard this man's son screaming for me to help his father. I realized in this moment that I needed to gain control of this situation if there was any chance of helping his father. This is a familiar scene for me as a Paramedic responding to emergencies every day. There are so many uncontrollable elements when working in the field, but I have the opportunity to make the first impression to my patients and their family when they are in the midst of a crisis.
Being a Paramedic is so much more than the adrenaline rush that comes with a bad trauma. There are opportunities to educate a newly diagnosed diabetic on the difficulties of managing his blood sugar; to calm down the non-English speaking family of the three-year-old that has a bead stuck up his nose; to listen to the terminally-ill patient as she talks about her acceptance of death. This is where medicine ends and healthcare begins - with the ability to impact each and every one of my patients' lives. At this point in my life, I have found my niche in healthcare and I would like to challenge myself further. Becoming a physician assistant (PA) would allow me to continue what I love and would also provide opportunities that I do not currently have.
I did not always want to go into medicine. My undergraduate career started as a degree in Special Education. I worked with children diagnosed with Autism for four years and loved it. When I transferred to the University of North Carolina I had the opportunity to learn CPR/First Aid and that was when I was hooked - my first EMT course. I was young and had no prior knowledge of medicine. I was the student that asked, "We have a heart? Interesting, I wonder how it works." It was a challenge and I loved it. So I decided to become a Paramedic while I finished my undergraduate degree in a newly declared B.S. in Biology. To say this was an easy time in my life would be a lie. I continued a full-time schedule at the university while taking the equivalent of 12 hours at night to become a Paramedic, as well as working 24-36 hours a week as an EMT in the field. I learned a lot about time management during that period, but the heavy workload shows in a lower GPA. Though I fear the impact this may have on my acceptance to a PA program, I am proud of what I was able to accomplish by the age of 23. Though I sacrificed a higher GPA, I obtained a B.S. in Biology, became certified as a Paramedic, studied abroad in Scotland where I was able to work for the Scottish Ambulance Service and recognized by the state of North Carolina as a Level I EMT Instructor. I consider myself extremely fortunate.
Many people have asked why I chose to pursue a career as a PA instead of becoming a physician. A lot of research has gone into this decision. I have looked into becoming a nurse practitioner, a physician, a physical therapist and of course a PA. I can say, beyond a shadow of a doubt that I want to be a PA. I love the flexibility that comes with being a PA. I have an innate need to continually challenge myself, and as a PA I will have the option to switch specialties if a new opportunity presents itself. This career choice is a financially wise decision for me; the education requires a sufficient amount of time for me to learn what I need to become an excellent healthcare provider, while not putting me in a position to spend a large part of my working years as a student. I believe becoming a PA will be very fulfilling and will allow me to settle down when I choose to start a family. As a physician assistant I will be able to work autonomously, as well as collaboratively, with other members of a healthcare team. I believe that in spite of my atypical GPA, because of my experience and passion for medicine and healthcare, I am an excellent candidate for the Physician Assistant program and I am excited to start this journey.