pa school essay editing

pa school essay editing

The Importance of PA School Essay Editing

1. Understanding the Significance of PA School Essays

When applying to PA school, filling out the application can be a daunting task. When I applied, I found the essay to be the most challenging part. Be prepared to write an essay that is two to three pages, double spaced with 12 pt font, and a 600-word limit. The essay should be well organized, demonstrate good use of grammar and language, and convey to the reader that you are a strong candidate. This is where it gets tricky. You must convince the admissions committee that you deserve one of those limited spots. But since everyone applying will be able to claim these things, it is your experiences and your interpretation of these experiences that will distinguish you from the rest. How are you going to do this in just 600 words? This is where “show, don’t tell” comes into play. You are going to tell your reader that you are a great candidate, but it is how you convey this message that will determine if you are just another candidate applying or a standout candidate. This essay is your only opportunity to speak to the admissions committee directly. So take advantage of this chance! Remember, this is an essay to convey who you are. What you take from the prompt is what you make of the essay. Use your creativity. Demonstrate passion. Good luck!

2. Common Mistakes to Avoid in PA School Essays

There are highlights of the May 26, 2010 interview with Director Michelle Holt Shannon, M.A. from the University of Kentucky’s Physician Assistant program. The advice and comments are beneficial and are an insight of what the admissions committee is looking for in a candidate. Start writing your essay early so it can be improved multiple times. Writing an admission essay involves taking a stance around the topics given which requires specific detail. Interviewers like to see how a candidate comes to a decision and seeing them write it. An essay allows them to see if the candidate will actually be able to mentally survive the program. A common reason for rejections is when a candidate says they did not put enough time into the essay. Set time to develop and decide on your stance around the topics given, brainstorm ideas and talk about it. Gathering feedback from others can be helpful, but too much feedback is discouraging when one person’s feedback conflicts with another’s. You may feel bewildered and when you start revising and enhancing your essay, it could turn into a completely new essay which may drive away from your original stance. Shannon states to make the essay more interesting and to paint a picture for the reader so they can create a visual in their minds. Using vivid and tangible examples is the key to doing this. Do not just state facts, exhibit comprehension. Although the essay is about the candidate, throwing in a bit of humanity or humility and admitting to past mistakes and what prompted a change can exhibit depth. Following are just a few examples of these kinds of stories. A common mistake students make by submitting an essay under the word count limit or above the minimum one. This shows the candidate could not follow directions and time management. Step away from a time you did something to make someone else happy. Why did you do it? How did it make you feel and how has it affected your relationship with the person? Describe an instance when you or a group of people acted presumptuously on an issue and answer to the consequences. What was the aftermath of it and what did you or the group learn? Narrate an experience when helping someone else helped you to understand yourself better?

3. The Benefits of Professional PA School Essay Editing

Professional editing can help students identify areas in which they could use additional support. Think of your personal statement as your interview. After a candidate has been selected by an undergraduate institution, an admissions interview is the next and most important step to sifting through hundreds of similarly qualified applicants. A high school statement can usually be used as a base to tailor to specific needs of an admissions process. High school students can create a comprehensive, honest, well-rounded personal statement utilizing the following information. A lighter course load can create time for a student to explore other ventures such as research, volunteering or part-time work. Creating a resume or cover letter can be a daunting task; it may be difficult to convey transferable skills, duties and achievements in a brief document. When applying for a job, consider using a curriculum vitae (CV) it is a much lengthier document. The personal statement is an opportunity to describe a long-term commitment to a specific endeavor. This may be research, a leadership position in an organization, or a prolonged experience such as studying abroad. The writing process can begin just about anywhere but it is easiest to start by focusing on an assignment brought along by a specific prompt. Admissions committees are looking for a succinct, focused, well-organized article that effectively answers the prompt provided.

4. Key Elements to Focus on During the Editing Process

A. Scholarship 1. Essays are the best way for selection committees to get to know you. 2. Consider who will be reading your essay and tailor it to that audience. 3. Reveal something about yourself that is not found elsewhere in the application. 4. Use your own words and be genuine. 5. Do not simply list information that is already available elsewhere on the application. 6. The tone of the essay should be positive and personable. 7. Do not make the essay into a resume and simply list these things. 8. Keep the statement limited to one-half to one typed page. B. Organization 1. The key to a strong essay lies in the organization. 2. Clearly delineate a beginning and ending. 3. The body of the essay can be one large paragraph, or several small ones. 4. For the intro, state more with fewer words. It is alright to get into the meat of the essay later. 5. A beginning and ending should make each point very clear. C. Theme 1. This can take some time to uncover sometimes. What is your motivation? How have you demonstrated that? 2. Define that overarching theme. This will help make the essay easier to write, and likely, more enjoyable. 3. This theme should be woven throughout the essay, reflecting multiple different aspects of your life and personality. D. Grammar 1. Your personal statement should be free of grammatical errors, as this is a reflection of your attention to detail. E. Impact Editing 1. This can be the hardest thing to do as a writer. When taking a second look at the essay, identify whether the impact that you set out to create is still prevalent. This could be the most important step. A friend or family member may be able to provide that objective opinion.

5. How PA School Essay Editing Can Enhance Your Application

Editing ensures your application will be memorable. Many applications are admissions committees read thousands of applications. Many candidates fall into the trap of writing about their experiences and the writing well doesn’t The first step in is the hardest. Many still which simply consists of spreading out the same information found on the website this is wasted space. says: “I have to warn you. If you do not maintain the attention of the committee during your essay, it weaker candidates will be exposed that an idea poorly understood is an essay poorly written. Those who misrepresent the career, their desired profession, or what it takes to be a good applicant will be discovered. This can be a passive form of editing. keeping professionalism in mind is important. Remember that some ideas may be correct, but they are not appropriate to present in an application because of their nature. Consulting resources such as professors, physicians, even the occupational therapist can give one an idea of how to improve an idea or make it more relevant to the task at hand. using made up hypothetical situations to answer an “O.K.” question that the candidate couldn’t answer and wants to talk about how little a question they were just asked, no more his situation at the time. The job of the editor at this point is to simply delete this question and have the candidate the lesser question to the less specific situation the candidate. Often an extra sheet of paper and some notes will aid in planning for the candidate what he needs to do the next time he is asked this question. This candidate error is a prime example where a simple explanation can save a lot of time.