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So, you got waitlisted for PA school?

So, you got waitlisted for PA school?

You spent hours scrolling through myPAbox to make sure your experiences matched with the programs requirements, perfecting your personal statement, and practicing for your interview. Now after days, weeks, or even months of waiting, you finally get that email or call from the program you’ve been dying to hear back from. WAITLISTED, ugh. Now what?

A waitlist notification comes with a laundry list of emotions that are conflicting with one another. Excited and disappointed, thrilled and angry, pride and self doubt, all wrapped together in an anticlimactic email letting you know that you’re a desirable candidate but didn’t quite make the cut… yet. 

But let me be the first to tell you, YOU ROCK and ignore those thoughts of self doubt. Remember that thousands of people, just like you, are going through the same application process you are, yet you were able to lock in an interview. Now that is more than enough to be proud of! Many applicants, myself included, received numerous flat out rejections from programs without even interviewing.

 As you know, the application process is grueling and unbelievably competitive so getting to meet faculty face to face (or through zoom) to prove you’re worth a chance, is something to be incredibly proud of. Now we need to move forward from this waitlist news with a positive attitude and figure out how to capitalize on the situation. 

Step 1

 Email the program and ask if there is a running list of applicants on the waitlist, and where you fall on it. This can help you build a reasonable expectation of if/when you will be pulled off the waitlist. If it is early in the cycle, remind yourself that most students jump on their first acceptance, and continue to interview at other programs. 

Chances are that some students that have already accepted a seat will retract their acceptance for another program, opening up another seat in the program. 

Step 2

Think back to your interview and take note of what you think went really well, and what could have gone better. It is always uncomfortable to focus on our weaknesses, but this is how we grow. 

You need to find those weak spots in your interview, and tweak it. Maybe when they asked you about what a day in the life of a PA is, you blanked and rambled. Or maybe when they asked you to describe yourself, you stumbled on minor details that made you seem flustered. Perfect those.

Ask your family or friends to practice interviewing, or better yet, use myPAbox for mock interviews! 

Before you know it, you’re going to be in your next interview and feel like you have done all of this before because you practiced so much. This will allow your confidence to shine and enable the program to see more of your true personality. 

Step 3

Apply to more programs. Depending on how late in the cycle your waitlist notification came, it may be time to consider applying to more programs. 

Using myPAbox can allow you to find more programs that you are a good match for, and increase your odds of getting accepted this cycle. 

Remember, it only takes one acceptance to allow you work towards becoming a PA-C! Totally worth it.

Step 4

Do not give up hope! I know this is a confusing time, but don’t forget that you might get that call saying that you have been pulled off the waitlist, and are being extended an acceptance to the program! 

My program has numerous students that were pulled off the waitlist, and I could not imagine my experience without them.

If you are a first time applicant or re-applicant here are 5 tips to get accepted to PA school

“ Harness this emotion to push you to apply to more programs, strengthen your interview skills, and keep your head up! .⁣”

Use code “PATIPS20” to save 20% on your subscription to myPAbox

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