Gaining entry to a medical school is one of the most difficult challenges for any industry. Physician assistant programs are extremely difficult to get into and according to statistics data from PAEA, the average acceptance rate into a PA school is only around 20%. Yes 20%!
If you have been rejected by a PA school, you’re not the only one who has gone through this. Thousands of students are denied entry in the PA school for a plethora of reasons.
Rejection for anything can be painful, especially if it for something that you really want to gain a career in. You might feel upset, that’s understandable, but it’s really not the end of the world.
Here, we will guide you through a few things to do if you didn’t get accepted and also share tips for how to get into PA school.
Why Are People Rejected from PA School
The chances of getting into PA school are slim and most rejections occur due to the high number of applications schools receive, competition is fierce. To be accepted you really need to stand out. A lot of people have a dream of going to PA school and apply prematurely before they have built experience and developed skills. But with more time and a focused mentality, and with a goal insight, you can put together a strong application and gain a better chance of being accepted for PA programs.
Take Some Time For Yourself
A little discouragement is understandable because it is natural for a person to feel bad when they are rejected in the first place because of any reason. However, before you decide to wrap this dream and throw it away, you need to take some time out for yourself and think about what went wrong. There is no need to quickly apply for different healthcare jobs because you might get confused about coming across the right opportunity. Because you are running high on emotions, it is best to settle down, sit back, relax and make a plan for going forward.
Evaluate Your Application
If you are still swooning over going to PA school, now is the best time to evaluate your application and check what went wrong. Try to be your critic and identify the loopholes in your application. Even if you spot a typo in your application, it is best to make a note of it. Secondly, don’t be afraid to contact people working in the industry for advice because it might have only been a very basic reason behind your application getting rejected. If you are not good at identifying the mistakes in your application, it is best for you to ask a friend or a relative of yours to go through it.
Get Help
If it is hard for you to evaluate your application, you can ask for advice from others. There’s no reason to shy away from chucking out your mistakes because it will help you cut them down in the next application. Sometimes, seeking professional help is the best way to make a difference in your work. It is best for you to consult a PA mentor who has hands-on experience of going through different applications on the web. However, if you can’t afford to hire them, you can read articles on the web.
Motivate Yourself
You have to be honest with yourself and take a reality check. If you want to register a successful career in physical education, you need to be mentally strong as well. Keep in mind, you are the only one who can motivate themselves the best. Especially when you have been denied entry in the PA school, you need to act wise and think for yourself. If you really want to gain entry into the PA school, it is best for you to think positively.
Add More Experience
Focus your efforts on trying to gain more experience in the healthcare sector. Take courses or get involved in extracurricular activities and try to add as many strengths to your resume and application as possible. You could even try working, interning or volunteering in your holidays or spare time.
Re-Apply
If you really want to succeed, work on your strengths, try to gain more experience and make a stronger application the next time round. Don’t let one rejected knock you back, use this as motivation for a positive outcome next time.
Consider Alternative Options
There are also lots of similar study programs and options for working in healthcare that you might want to consider. You could research different careers if you didn’t get into PA school and see if anything else appeals to you.
Hopefully our guide has given you some suggestions for what to do after a PA school rejection. Although it can be a shock and knock you back, it really isn’t the end of the world. Stay calm, put together a plan and see what is best for you to do going forward.