• Business School
    • Free MBA Admissions Consultation
    • MBA Admissions Services
    • School-Specific MBA Essay Tips
    • Executive MBA Essay Tips
    • MBA Admissions Calendar
    • Free Guides
    • Video Tips
    • Podcast
    • Selectivity Index
    • EMBA: The Ultimate Guide for Applicants
  • Medical School
    • Free Med School Admissions Consultation
    • Med School Admissions Services
    • Med School Admissions 101
    • Secondary Essay Tips (by School)
    • Student Interviews
    • Free Guides
    • Video Tips
    • Podcast
    • Selectivity Index
  • Law School
    • Free Law School Admissions Consultation
    • Law School Admissions Services
    • Law School Admissions 101
    • Selectivity Index
    • Free Guides
    • Podcast
    • Video Tips
  • Graduate School
    • Free Grad School Admissions Consultation
    • Grad School Admissions Services
    • Grad School Admissions 101
    • Free Guides
    • Video Tips
    • Podcast
  • College
    • Free College Admissions Consultation
    • College Admissions Services
    • Free Guides
    • Supplemental Essay Tips
    • Video Tips
    • Podcast
Accepted

Speak with an Accepted admissions expert for FREE!

Blog HomePodcastContact Us

Accepted Admissions Blog

Everything you need to know to get Accepted

July 10, 2018

Reading Time: 3 minutes

The Inside Scoop on Life as a PA

Interview with a Physician Assistant - Andrea Benedict

This interview is the latest in an Accepted blog series featuring interviews with medical school applicants and students, offering readers a behind-the-scenes look at top medical schools and the med school application process. And now, introducing Andrea…

Accepted: We’d like to get to know you! Where are you from? Where and what did you study as an undergrad?

Andrea: I’m from Athens, Pennsylvania. I was a Neuroscience major at the University of Delaware.

Accepted: Where did you attend PA school? When did you graduate?

Andrea: Lock Haven University. I graduated in 2008.

Accepted: When did you know that PA school was the career route you wanted to go?

Andrea: I knew in college when I started getting worried about committing to a specific specialty if I pursued medical school and residency. At that time I started to realize just how much I cherish flexibility.

Accepted: Looking back at the application process, what would you say was your greatest challenge? How would you advise other applicants who may be experiencing similar challenges?

Andrea: My greatest challenge during the admissions process was overcoming my fear of public speaking, which is essentially what you’re doing during an interview. I mean, this is a legit fear. We’re talking sweaty palms, irregular respirations, severe tachycardia, and near syncope. It’s no joke! I’m actually surprised I kept my composure during the interview. My best advice to others who share this same reaction is to watch Amy Cudd’s TED talk about body language. She gives a phenomenal presentation about power posing and the physiologic benefits of increasing your testosterone (thus lowering your cortisol) when these techniques are applied for two minutes. Genius! My second piece of advice is to invest in something tactile that you can keep in your hand, like a weighted fancy pen or a paperclip, something similar you can move around which allows your brain to concentrate on that and calm your nerves

Accepted: You have quite the Instagram following on your profile, Life as a Physician Assistant! What can readers find on your page?

Andrea: Authenticity. That’s one attribute that I pride myself on, whether I’m discussing the pros and cons of 12-hour shifts, PA school interviews, working night shift etc., is that I’m always going to fully disclose the good, bad, and ugly, even if it’s not politically correct or the generally accepted response. It’s better to be truthful and disliked than dishonest and loved.

Accepted: Can you share a little about #medthusiast? How did your clothing line come to fruition?

Andrea Oh goodness, you hit my weak spot. I could talk about merchandising, marketing, and apparel design for hours. Medthusiast came to fruition the same way each of my business ventures, like MEDtakeovers, came to fruition. An idea pops into my head, like, “Man, I wish there was an online store where I could totally nerd out and buy a bunch of medical-inspired apparel, mugs, accessories, etc.” Then I let that idea marinate for a few days and make a decision whether it’s plausible, and then if I truly embark on this new endeavor. If the decision is yes then I go all in and become completely engrossed. The rest is history. It’s such an amazing creative outlet.

Accepted: Lastly, as someone who has successfully gone through PA school and is now thriving in life, can you share a few words of wisdom for fellow students looking at taking the same track as you?

Andrea: Absolutely.

1. Be true to yourself and leave a job if it isn’t conducive to your personality. Most PAs learn this the hard way.

2.  If you’re interested in pediatrics then find a way to gain as much pediatric experience as possible because you will be heavily outnumbered by pediatric NPs vying for the same position.

3. Always remember that your time is valuable. Forty hour work weeks quickly become 50 and 60 hour weeks once you factor in time spent charting, phone calls, billing, etc. Make sure you take those extra hours into account!

4. Finally, for pre-PA students interested in pursuing a career as a PA, I think the best thing you can do is beef up your healthcare experience. That experience is so vital during your PA school education as well as after graduation!

You can continue following Andrea’s story on Instagram (@lifeasapa), on her blog Life as a PA, on her YouTube channel and follow her on Twitter (@life_as_a_pa). Thank you Andrea for sharing your story with us, we wish you much success!

For one-on-one guidance on your med school applications, check out our catalog of med school admissions services.

Do you want to be featured in Accepted’s blog? If you want to share your med school journey with the world (or at least with our readers), email us at bloggers@accepted.com.

10 Tips for Acceptance to a PA program - download your cheat sheet today!

AcceptedFor 25 years, Accepted has helped applicants gain acceptance to their dream healthcare programs. Our outstanding team of admissions consultants features former admissions directors, admissions committee members, pre-health advisors, postbac program directors, and doctors. Our staff has guided applicants to acceptance at allopathic (MD) and osteopathic (DO) medical schools, residencies and fellowships, dental school, veterinarian school, and physician assistant programs at top schools such as Harvard, Stanford, Penn, UCSF, Johns Hopkins, Columbia, and many more. Want an admissions expert to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch!

 

Related Resources:

• The A-Z of Applying to Postbac Programs, a free guide
• Andrea Benedict: Life as a Physician Assistant, a podcast episode
• How to Get Accepted to Physician Assistant (PA) Programs

Article by Accepted / Grad School Admissions, Medical School Admissions / entrepreneurship, med school student interview, Physician Assistant, Physician Assistant Student Interview

Get Accepted!

Sign up for a free consultation today!

Which program are you applying to?

Most Popular Blog Posts

1. 7 Simple Steps to Writing an Excellent Diversity Essay

2. 4 Ways to Show How You’ll Contribute in the Future

3. How to Write About Your Research Interests

4. Tips for Answering the Yale University Supplemental Essays and Short Answer Questions [2022-2023]

5. When Will Medical Schools Give You an Answer?

6. Sample Essays from Admitted HBS Students

7. Tips for Answering the University of Pennsylvania Supplemental Essay Prompts [2022-2023]

8. Top STEM MBA Programs: A Comprehensive List and Overview of STEM-OPT Eligible B-Schools

Sample Essays

MBA Personal Statement Examples

Medical School Personal Statement Examples

Graduate School Personal Statement Examples

Law School Personal Statement Examples

College Application Essay Examples

 

This Site is Featured on GMATClub

Home Page Services and Prices MBA Med School Law School Grad School College

About Us Press Room Contact Us Podcast Accepted Blog
Privacy Policy Website Terms of Use Disclaimer Client Terms of Service

Accepted 1171 S. Robertson Blvd. #140 Los Angeles CA 90035 +1 (310) 815-9553
© 2022 Accepted

BBB A+ RatingStamp of AIGAC Excellence

Copyright © 2023 · Education Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in