You’ve submitted your CASPA. You’ve submitted your supplemental application. Now you wait. After the go, go, go it took to get to this point, waiting to hear about interviews can feel painfully slow.
Once those invitations start rolling in, you will have a new goal: Acing your interviews.
Here are some tips to consider while you wait
Practice, practice, practice: You don’t even have to wait for any invitations to start practicing your interview skills. Do mock interviews and make sure you can articulate your knowledge in a way that puts your best foot forward. Pro tip: Give thought to who you practice with. Don’t choose a person who will tell you everything was perfect when it truly wasn’t. Look for your friend who tells you what they think, even when you sort of wish they wouldn’t.
Understand the role of the PA: You probably demonstrated this in your application, but now is the time to make sure you truly understand the nuances of the PA profession. Know all the way down to your bones why this is the path you have chosen.
Study the mission and values of each program and consider how you fit those: You don’t just need to know “why PA,” you need to know “why this school?” How have you lived that mission? How do you embrace and exemplify those values?
Know the current hot topics in health care: What are the biggest issues faced by providers and patients today? What are the trends in the overall health care conversation?
These types of preparation will help you be the most authentic version of yourself when you finally get to the...
Interview Day
Dress professionally: Wear clothes that are comfortable but professional. You don’t necessarily need a three-piece suit, but you should put thought and care into your personal presentation. You can still trade in the pajama pants even if the interview is virtual.
Be polite to everyone: Nervousness can sometimes shorten our patience. Remember that how you treat the staff and fellow applicants in between interviews is just as important as how you treat the faculty who interview you. Interpersonal skills are important in health care, as is the ability to adapt to stress.
Mind the time zone: For virtual interviews, make sure you know what time zone the school is in. For in-person interviews, ensure that crossing a time zone doesn’t shift all your calendar appointments.
Test the tech: Make sure you know how to use the interview platform for virtual interviews. Double-check your mics, speakers, and camera. Think about the lighting. Consider whether your background is distracting. Then, arrive early and check it all again.
Ask thoughtful questions: In many interview situations, you can ask your own questions. Prepare questions ahead of time and write them down. Remember – you are interviewing the school almost as much as the school is interviewing you.
Good luck!
The Duke Physician Assistant Program Admissions Blog presents information based on the experiences of Duke PA Program staff and faculty. While the information provided is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication, requirements can change. Please visit the Duke PA Program website for the most up-to-date information.