The 5 Best Books for Aspiring Physician Assistants

Are you looking for the best books on how to get into PA school? The sheer number of books and resources for those interested in PA school or wishing to learn more about the PA Professions has grown in lockstep with the PA profession. While the timeless classic The Ultimate Guide to Getting Into Physician Assistant School, by Andrew Rodican, is still my favorite. I will guide you through some other options while also making a shameless plug for my book: How to Write Your PA Personal Statement. 🙂 Five books that will dramatically enhance your chances of getting into PA school Here is my list of the best books for aspiring physician assistants and those interested in the PA profession. 1. The Ultimate Guide to Getting Into Physician Assistant Shool The Ultimate Guide to Getting Into Physician Assistant Shool Whether you're a first-time applicant, reapplicant, or merely interested in the PA profession, The Ultimate Guide to Getting into Physician Assistant School provides a time-tested template to understand every step of the application process. Decide if the PA profession is a good match for youLearning to navigate the CASPA application processWriting a winning PA school essayLearning how to present your best self on your interview I bought the first edition of this book from a little known entity called "a book store" years ago when I was researching the PA profession. I have purchased every version since and recommend it above all others as the most well researched and comprehensive book on the topic. It should be in your reading arsenal. Buy at Amazon 2. Physician Assistant: A Guide to Clinical Practice Physician Assistant: A Guide to Clinical Practice Learning as much as you can about the PA profession and its roots will provide you with a much higher comfort level when completing the application and interview process. The admissions committee will know you've done you're homework, and you mean business. Written by Ruth Ballweg (who was the focus of our this documentary series) this book covers the history of the profession in detail, along with international development, accreditation, certification and licensing, PA MD relationships, healthcare financing and reimbursement, politics and practice laws, and much, much more. If you serious and want to get a leg up on your competition, read this book from cover to cover. Buy at Amazon 3. How to Write Your Physician Assistant Personal Statement How to Write Your Physician Assistant Personal Statement I promised a shameless plug, so here it is. If you were to poll 100 PA school admissions directors, most would agree that the personal essay is the most critical part of the application process. Once you have submitted your application, your grades, test scores, and medical experience are set in stone, so your essay is your best chance to personalize your application. The purpose of the PA school personal statement is to sell yourself to the reader. This book provides you with everything you need to know about essay writing, from form to finesse, with step-by-step tips and examples from winning essays. Buy at Amazon 4. How to Ace the Physician Assistant School Interview How to Ace the Physician Assistant School Interview I did a mock interview via Zoom with a PA school applicant who had interviewed four times in the past year and didn't get accepted to any programs. I reviewed his CASPA application and was impressed by his above-average GPA, many hours of clinical experience as an EMT, and remarkable test scores. I was as puzzled as he was. Less than two minutes into our mock interview, it all became very clear why he was getting interviews but not getting accepted. You can dramatically enhance your interview by studying some basic principles and practicing. While there are several additional books on this topic, including those by Paul Kubin (highly recommended) and Savanna Perry this book by Andrew Rodican is an excellent place to start. Buy at Amazon 5. The Applicant's Manual of Physician Assistant Programs The Applicant's Manual of Physician Assistant Programs With over 240+ PA programs (and growing) trying to make sense of it all can be overwhelming. While digital resources comparing PA school programs continue to evolve and improve, having a physical book will eliminate confusion and provide a big-picture overview, which can then be augmented by online search engines and the use of trusty Excel spreadsheet. Buy at Amazon There you have it. These are the five books I recommend you consider on your path to PA school. If there is a resource you have found useful or you would like to recommend to readers, please let me know in the comments section and make sure to leave us a link. - Stephen Pasquini PA-C Disclaimer: This blog post containsaffiliate links, which means that if you choose to make a purchase, I may earn a small commission to fund my coffee drinking habit. I favor Amazon because of their free shipping, student discounts, and excellent return policy, but please feel free to buy these books at your local bookstore or wherever you prefer to shop. Please do not spend any money on these products unless you feel you need them or that they will help you achieve your goals. You may also like -5 PA School Essays That Got These Pre-PAs Accepted Into PA School Ever wonder what PA school admissions directors are really looking for in a winning PA school essay? Have you been searching the internet and physician assistant forums for samples of PA school applicant essays for []The #1 Mistake PRE-PAs Make on Their Personal Statement What's the #1 one mistake that potential PAs and pre-physician assistant students make while drafting their PA school personal statement? A failure to outline and plan! Outlining your personal statement is like following a []4 Skills Pre-PAs Must Develop Before PA School Its no secret that getting into PA school requires a lot of hard work and planning. It's easy to become so overwhelmed by whatyou need to do to get into PA school that you lose sight of what you can be doing right now to prepare []