Fourth Semester at UT Southwestern

Fourth Semester at UT Southwestern

Updated: 08/03/2015

Finishing didactic is probably one of the most bittersweet and alleviating feelings you have ever felt in your life; there really isn’t another comparison, unless passing the PANCE feels the same way or better. Although this semester may have had a less demanding class-schedule and less courses than previous semesters, there was definitely enough work to be done. Between SOAP write-ups, seeing patients in the hospital or in a controlled (OSCE) setting, or preparing for exams, there was never a dull moment. This semester felt like one of the most rewarding because we finished our didactic education - now it is time to review everything, hammering the material in, and ensuring we are competent providers when we graduate.

Third Semester at UT Southwestern

Third Semester at UT Southwestern

They say that the further you move along in PA school, the tougher it gets, and “they” are right. In light of the fact that it is only our third semester, this has been the busiest one, for sure. It feels like we had just started the GI block, but before long we had completed neurology, orthopaedics, endocrine, and nephrology/urology. Alas, we received information about our clinical rotations beginning in the fall about 2-3 weeks ago and I am ecstatic. Not only that, but I now have my very own little. If you were unaware, our program has the big/little system. I am able to pass down helpful information and books to my little to help her navigate through PA school.

Why I Chose UT Southwestern's Physician Assistant (PA) Program

Why Did You Choose UT Southwestern’s PA Program?

This is a commonly asked question. I get this question about once a week from my blog or in-person when I give campus tours. It is a very difficult question to answer. Mainly because it's difficult to answer without making one PA program shine and all of the others look inferior. There are plenty of wonderful PA programs available, so I won’t spend any time criticizing them. Instead, I will say a few things about the program I did choose. These are in no particular order.

1. Excellent rotation sites: When I was looking into UTSW, they were building 2 new major hospitals within walking distance of the university (William P. Clements and Parkland Memorial Hospital). Those hospitals are now complete and are some of the largest in the southwest region, they offer state of the art facilities, and will include many new rotation sites for our program allowing it to grow in size. In addition, our program phases out bad rotations if they find any not up to high standards (which does occasionally happen) and they find new rotations for students if that does happen.

Second Semester at UT Southwestern

First off, thank you all for reading. I started my blog about one year ago with the intention of keeping myself updated about current events in the PA profession as it is rapidly changing with our developing healthcare system. While I have yet to write many articles that have needed writing since the beginning of this semester, I plan to write a lot while I have a one month break this winter. Thank you for reading my blog and for helping me reach 200k views! -Paul

We finally completed our second semester (Fall I) at UT Southwestern. It was a doozey. Much harder than I had expected. It made summer semester seem like a breeze!

First Semester at UT Southwestern

Dear Readers,

I sincerely apologize for not having been as active as I was previously. Today I completed summer I at UT Southwestern. I can tell you all that it was no easy task. All of the rumors are true! While I definitely enjoyed my first semester here in Dallas, I have to say, it was probably the most difficult semester I've ever endured. Here is a snapshot into each course and my overall experience thus far. I hope you future PA's enjoy this post!

A look at a typical week in the first semester of PA school. This is Summer I at UTSW.

Supplemental Applications and Physician Assistant School

Supplemental Applications for Physician Assistant School

Last Updated: 08/03/2015

Supplemental applications should not reflect anything in your CASPA application and are your chance to let admissions know more about you as an applicant. Nothing should be repeated from your personal narrative. If you start to deviate from the question as the paragraph continues, you are not answering the question. Find out what you want to tell admissions because you usually only have 300-500 words to answer, although some may have higher word maximums. Supplemental questions are your last chance to speak to admissions committees so it is important that you put lots of effort into them. Below are example questions from supplemental applications. As you can see, most programs ask similar questions. While these may not be used again, it is suggested that you write specific answers to the prompts you receive from your program’s supplemental application. As you gain experience, you can use these as a guide as to what type of questions you might see when you get ready to apply. It is never too early to draft a supplemental essay or your personal narrative. Jot ideas down in your spare time while shadowing or working. Keep an idea in your mind about what you’ll be asked about in the future.  

For help with your supplemental applications, utilize resources such as The PA Platform, which provides pre-PA assessments, supplemental application reviewing, letter of recommendation reviewing, and mock interviews.