Shows
The Nontraditional Physician Assistant (PA) PodcastEpisode 13: 2nd Semester Recap + Are You Ready for PA School?We're back with a new episode covering my 2nd semester of PA school and giving you some points to reflect on and consider whether you are truly ready for PA school! I encourage you to really take some time to seriously ask yourself some of these questions and take a hard look at where you can stand to grow and where you are already well-equipped.
I am more than happy to help and advise pre-PAs, whether that means reading over essays/personal statements, reviewing parts of your application, or answering any questions you might have! If you...
2024-01-0834 minThe Nontraditional Physician Assistant (PA) PodcastEpisode 12: My First Semester of PA SchoolIt's been a while but if you've been curious about how my first semester of PA school went, here is a little recap for you all! As usual, I have included some tips based on my own experience for how you can best prepare for PA school and hopefully be successful in your first semester as well!
I am more than happy to help and advise pre-PAs, whether that means reading over essays/personal statements, reviewing parts of your application, or answering any questions you might have! If you would like...
2023-08-2126 minThe Nontraditional Physician Assistant (PA) PodcastEpisode 11: My PA Program Orientation and Onboarding ProcessIf you are applying this cycle and are curious what happens after you are accepted, or if you are in the fortunate position of having been accepted to a PA program and are wondering what's to come, in this episode I give you a glimpse into my PA school orientation and onboarding process. Full disclosure: I attended two different program orientations, with the program that I ultimately decided to attend holding their orientation in late March in preparation for our cohort beginning the program in early May. Having been through two orientations, I can tell you a bit about...
2023-04-1519 minThe Nontraditional Physician Assistant (PA) PodcastEpisode 10: How to Write Your Best Personal StatementThis episode is all about the oh so pivotal, yet oh so daunting personal statement that is required as part of your PA school application on CASPA. A poor personal statement can definitely lower your chances of getting invited for an interview while an amazing personal statement can make all the difference in landing an interview for someone who might not otherwise make the cut. I submitted 2 different personal statements and based on my experience, I have a lot of tips and tricks that will hopefully help make the writing process go more smoothly for you! Whether you're applying this...
2023-03-1033 minThe Nontraditional Physician Assistant (PA) PodcastEpisode 9: Interview With Traditional-Turned-Nontraditional Recent PA School Grad ArielIf you've been listening to the podcast recently, you probably know that I've been hinting about having a guest on the podcast. If you were excited about that, then this episode will definitely make your day! Ariel Campa, recent PA school graduate, mom, and creator of the Becoming a PA podcast, agreed to join me on the podcast to share about her PA journey and pass on some wisdom she's gained along the way. Tune in to hear how she balanced PA school, family, and life in general as well as her advice for those navigating a similar path.
2023-02-1137 minThe Nontraditional Physician Assistant (PA) PodcastEpisode 8: What to Work On Now If You're Applying This Cycle + How to Write CASPA Experience DescriptionsIf you're gearing up to apply to PA schools this cycle, this episode covers a lot of useful information! In this episode of the Nontraditional PA Podcast, I go over what you can be working on now to ensure early submission of your best PA school application, and I offer an in-depth look at how to craft strong descriptions in the experiences section of CASPA.
The experiences section is a pivotal part of your PA school application. Through it, schools get to learn a lot more about you, your personality, and what's important to you, so you d...
2023-01-3022 minThe Nontraditional Physician Assistant (PA) PodcastEpisode 7: Quitting Your PCE Job Early On--Is It a Red Flag?If you have worked a difficult PCE job or in a toxic healthcare environment, you may be asking yourself how much longer you can hold out and if it will "look bad" to PA schools if you leave the job early on. Or maybe you're in the position of recently starting one job and shortly thereafter were offered another job that you were more interested in. If you're wondering whether PA schools will view your leaving a PCE job relatively soon after being hired as a red flag to PA school admissions teams, you're not alone, and this episode...
2023-01-1906 minThe Nontraditional Physician Assistant (PA) PodcastEpisode 6: The Cost of Applying to PA SchoolMaybe you've decided that physician assistant/associate (PA) is the career for you, and you've already begun planning out your steps to making that dream a reality. Maybe you're still considering whether this career is a good match for your lifestyle and your family obligations. Hopefully this episode will prove helpful wherever you're at in the process. In this episode, I highlight not only what's involved in applying to PA school but the associated financial costs so that you can make a plan of action and be successful, even if you're on a tight budget or have limited income...
2023-01-0632 minThe Nontraditional Physician Assistant (PA) PodcastEpisode 5: My Experience Reapplying to (and Getting Into) My Top Program + My Tips for ReapplicantsIf you're bummed out that you didn't get into a PA program this last cycle or were *SO CLOSE* but didn't quite get a spot at your top program, this episode is for you. In it, I detail my reapplication experience with my top choice program and how I improved my application the second time around, and l also provide some tips for reapplicants based on the feedback I was given and what I've learned through this process.
Leave a comment, like, and subscribe if you find this helpful. Also, I'd love to get your feedback on...
2022-12-1627 minThe Nontraditional Physician Assistant (PA) PodcastEpisode 4: How to Prepare for Interviews and What to Expect at a Traditional InterviewIn this episode, I cover some important things to know about PA program interviews, based on my own experiences with traditional interview formats. I include some tips for how to prepare as well as what you should expect on interview day, and I provide some insight into how you can evaluate the program during the interview to see if it's truly a place you will thrive as a future PA student.
If you have any questions or would like to get in touch with me, my email address is kamaha.kirsten@gmail.com or...
2022-12-0125 minThe Nontraditional Physician Assistant (PA) PodcastEpisode 3: PA School Admissions Focus: Standardized TestingIn this episode I cover another requirement for PA school admissions, standardized testing. Whether you are a strong standardized test taker or you refuse to even say the words "standardized test," in order to get into PA school you will likely need to complete one if not more of the big three, which includes the GRE General Exam, the CASPer Test, and the PA-CAT. Listen in to learn more about the purpose of these exams, what you can expect when you take these tests, and what might help prepare you for test day.
If you have any...
2022-11-1019 minThe Nontraditional Physician Assistant (PA) PodcastEpisode 2: Intro to the PA Profession and Tips for Getting Started On Your Pre-PA JourneyIn episode 2 of the Nontraditional Physician Assistant/Physician Associate (PA) Podcast, I dive more into what a PA is and the history of the profession. Decided that you are interested in becoming a PA? I lay out some crucial first steps and things to be aware of as you begin your pre-PA journey. Tune in, like, subscribe, and leave a review if you find this to be helpful. I would love to hear your feedback and if you have any topics or things you want me to discuss or cover in future episodes, feel free to let me know...
2022-08-1229 minThe Nontraditional Physician Assistant (PA) PodcastThe Nontraditional Physician Assistant Podcast TrailerWelcome to the Nontraditional Physician Assistant/Physician Associate (PA) Podcast. Feel free to follow along on my unconventional journey from pre-PA to PA student to practicing PA! I hope to provide some useful insight and information for others looking into the profession and to encourage and help other nontraditional/unconventional pre-PAs find your unique strengths and what you bring to the table as an applicant.
Feel free to follow or reach out to me on Instagram @ the.nontraditional.pa_s
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2022-08-0801 min
The Nontraditional Physician Assistant (PA) PodcastEpisode 1: Welcome/Introducing My Nontraditional Pre-PA JourneyWelcome to the Nontraditional Physician Assistant/Physician Associate (PA) Podcast! Listen in to hear all about why I decided to start this podcast, my goals for this podcast, and for the details of my rather unconventional journey leading me to this goal of becoming a PA.
If you have any questions or would like to get in touch with me, my email address is kamaha.kirsten@gmail.com or follow me on my Insta @ the.nontraditional.pa_s
Like, subscribe, or leave me a note! You can support the podcast here: https://anchor.fm/kirsten-kamaha...
2022-07-3015 min