How Should I Start My PA School Personal Statement?
Writing a personal statement is hard. Getting started can often be the most difficult part. Thinking of your experiences, different angles, and a vantage point to deliver your opening paragraph can be a daunting task. Let’s look at a few things we like to see when assembling a compelling introductory paragraph.
Be Positive!
Admissions committee members read COUNTLESS essays from applicants each year. Transitioning from one essay to the next can be mind-numbing, even for them! The last thing we want when opening the essay is to begin with a reflection that has a heavy negative connotation. We want to promote you as a candidate to the committee, highlighting your best traits and qualities. That should start from the opening paragraph in your essay!
Use a Meaningful Experience!
When crafting this essential paragraph, we need to engage the reader. Firmly gripping their interest early in your personal statement is a key aspect of an effective essay. Think about some of the most impactful experiences you have had to this point in your journey. Did you or a family member face a significant health crisis that led to your introduction to a PA? Did a PA have a profound impact on you or someone close to you? Did you grow up in a medically underserved area that is in dire need of medical providers to extend access to care? These can often serve as a catalyst for your interest in the profession and work well as a starting point for the personal statement.
Be Concise!
We want to engage, not belabor! Remember, we only have 5,000 characters (with spaces!) to inform the reader of why you want to become a PA. Our job in the introduction is to generate momentum, starting with a firm foundation that allows us to seamlessly transition to your body paragraphs where we can dive deeper into your interest in the profession. Save elaborate descriptions for later in the essay!
As we move to the latter half of your introduction, be thinking about ways to tie in the information that you are getting ready to present in the next paragraph. Leave the reader with some information that makes them want to know more! Your transition point is vital to promoting a desire to learn more about you in the body paragraphs.
Let’s get started!
Carey Lennon, PA-C
