Common Mistakes Made By Applicants
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Completing the Application Late
While November 1 is the CASPA deadline, we highly recommend that you complete your application by the end of summer. This includes all supporting documents.
Remember, applications are considered in the order in which they are completed, not submitted. You should follow-up with anyone who is writing letters on your behalf; make sure CASPA has all the necessary items needed to complete your application.
Poorly Written Personal Statements
While there is no template of what should be written on your personal statement, applicants should be able to express their thoughts and ideas in an organized and meaningful manner. Typically, we ask that applicants identify their underlying motivation for a career as a physician assistant, personal qualities they possess that will benefit the profession and their future patients, and any components that they wish to highlight or address such as other portions of the application like adverse changes in their academic record or significant learning experiences that may have influenced their development as a human being.
Using the Same Application from Last Year
The Admissions Committee expects improvement on your reapplication. Do not submit the same answers to your essays from the previous year. There should be new information or experiences over the past year that can be incorporated into a new application. Using a 'cut and paste' approach indicates a lack of effort.
Not Including Specific Information in Response to Activity Questions
The Admissions Committee carefully evaluates your extracurricular and health-related activities. Be sure to provide in-depth information about them including the time-frame and number of hours per week. Lack of information or providing inconsistent information does not present itself well on your application.
Failing to Complete the Prerequisite Courses
The prerequisite courses are required for admission. There is no policy for waiving these requirements. Therefore, you should demonstrate on your application that you will complete them no later than December 31 of the year prior to expected enrollment. PA programs vary in regards to prerequisite requirements. Please be sure to check each program's website for the latest admissions information.
Demonstrating No Improvement from Last Year's Application
If you were unsuccessful in your previous application, you should evaluate how to improve your future application. On the Secondary Application, there is space to answer what you have done to improve your application from the previous year. Do not leave this question blank. If you have nothing to add, you should be concerned about how your reapplication will be perceived by the Admissions Committee.
Submitting False or Misleading Information On the New Application
Unfortunately, there are occasions that applicants submit materials that either misinform the Admissions Committee or omit information that was asked of them during the application process. It is the best policy to be honest during the admissions process.
Quitting Activities After Graduation
While your lifestyle may change after graduation (obtaining full-time employment), applicants are expected to maintain some involvement in their community and health-related service activities. It is our perspective that medicine is a profession of service and we look to find those who continue to engage themselves in these activities.
Applicants Who Do Not Interview Well
Since one of the key components of being a PA is communication, interviews are a very important part of the admissions process. TCOM utilizes a closed-file approach, which means that interviewers do not have information regarding your grades.
This is a difficult area to assess since many applicants are not certain how they actually performed in their interview. However, if you were having difficulty answering questions or know that it is very difficult for you to communicate with strangers, then you may want to practice interviewing with friends or take a public speaking course to help you overcome any anxiety you may experience in an interview situation.
This page last updated Dec 08, 2008
