PA Interview Question

Why have you chosen to apply to Albany Medical College's Physician Assistant Program? 

• Home: Voorheesville / Capital Region

• Full circle: Family + I received care through Albany Med

• Work connection: Clifton Park Family Practice

• Role models: Albany Med physicians/PAs → patient relationships + genuine care

• Experience: 50+ years educating PAs

• Hands-on: Cadaver dissection + manikins/simulated patients

• Small cohort: 42 students → faculty/classmate relationships

• Outcomes: 100% graduation + 99% PANCE pass

• Goal: Build clinical skills → serve my community

Tell me about yourself

• Home: Voorheesville, NY → 20 min from Albany

• Family: Parents + younger sister → 13 months apart → best friend

• Healthcare interest: Scoliosis diagnosed elementary school

• Patient experience: Orthopedic care → brace + chiropractic

• Surgery: Spinal fusion senior year → 1 month recovery + school/PT

• Lesson: Patient perspective → explanation + support matter

• College: USC → BS Biological Sciences → graduated in 3 years

• MA: 5-week St. Peter’s program → hands-on + preceptorship + certification

• Experience: Clifton Park Family Practice → college breaks → full-time after graduation

• Why PA: Family medicine → variety + patient relationships

• Skills: 9 providers / multiple pods → adapt + communicate + anticipate

• Other offices: Float support → adapt to different needs/workflows

• Outside work: Active → reading → travel → family/friends

Why do you want to be a PA?

• First exposure: Teenager → patient seeing dermatology PA

• Acne + mole checks → could feel uncomfortable/scary

• PA made me feel comfortable + heard

• Saw her examine, diagnose, treat + perform procedures

• Also saw: Listening + genuine patient connection

• Spark: Medical knowledge + patient connection

• Career goal: Wanted to become a medical provider

• Science: Enjoyed science → Biological Sciences major

• People: Wanted direct patient interaction

• Why PA: Medical decision-making + hands-on care

• PA model: Collaboration + continuous learning

• MA experience: Reinforced my decision

• Working with PAs: Saw listening + patient education

• Also saw: Diagnosis/treatment + patient advocacy

• Patient lesson: Good care goes beyond the diagnosis

• Important: Adapt to patient needs + communicate clearly

• Recognize barriers → make patients feel heard/supported

• Future PA: Science + relationships + direct care

• Goal: Treat + educate + advocate + support

Are you aware of what a PA does?

• Understanding grew through: Patient → MA → Shadowing

• PAs are medical providers

• Take histories + perform physical exams

• Diagnose + treat conditions

• Order + interpret diagnostic testing

• Prescribe medications

• Educate patients + perform procedures

• Procedures/scope: Depend on specialty + scope of practice

• Collaborate with physicians + healthcare professionals

• Can practice across many specialties

• Shadowing: Evaluated patients + reviewed imaging/results

• Shadowing: Developed treatment plans + performed procedures

• Shadowing: Educated patients + collaborated with physicians

• MA: Work alongside PAs → saw responsibility firsthand

• Beyond clinical: Build patient relationships

• Communicate through uncertainty + educate

• Advocate for patients when barriers arise

• What matters: Hands-on care + patient connection

• Future goal: Patients feel heard + informed + supported

What have you done to prepare for PA school?

• Academics: Biological Sciences degree → 3 years

• Magna Cum Laude

• Freshman challenge → 18 credits + out-of-state transition

• Chemistry I → C+

• Realized old study habits weren’t enough

• Changed: resources + time management + adaptability

• Lesson: resilience + academic growth

• Clinical: Medical Assistant → hands-on patient care

• Rooming + vitals + EKGs + point-of-care testing

• Specimens + EHR documentation

• Float MA → different providers, workflows + offices

• Lesson: adaptability + communication + patient-centered care

• Patient: Spinal fusion as teenager → firsthand vulnerability

• Learned importance of clear explanations + support

• Shadowing: Cardiology + dermatology + orthopedics

• Saw evaluation, treatment, procedures + collaboration

• Volunteering: CommUnity Shop → basic needs + SDOH/access to care

• Overall: Academic rigor + clinical skills + patient perspective + service

• Future PA: Compassionate + adaptable + patient-centered

6. When did you decide to pursue PA school?

What is your biggest weakness?

• Weakness: Reserved in unfamiliar situations

• Naturally: More introverted

• Challenge: Speaking up + initiating conversations

• Earlier: Hesitated → wanted the “right” thing to say

• MA pushed me outside my comfort zone

• Float MA → regularly enter unfamiliar offices

• Need to introduce myself + ask questions

• Learn: Supplies + office workflow

• Ask providers about preferences/expectations

• Learned: Better to ask than figure everything out alone

• Home office: More comfortable with patients

• Ask about symptoms + history + concerns

• Clearly relay information → provider

• Key lesson: Reserved cannot interfere with patient care

• Growth: Initiate conversations + speak up

• Growth: Ask questions + seek clarification

• Still introverted → much more confident

• PA school: Participate + collaborate + communicate

• Goal: Continue building confidence

What is your biggest strength

• Strength: Adaptability

• Comfortable: New environments + changing expectations

• MA: Multiple pods + 9 providers

• Each provider: Different workflows/preferences

• Float MA: Regularly work in different offices

• Early challenge: Unfamiliar supplies/workflows/provider preferences

• Response: Ask questions → observe → adjust

• Priority: Adapt without compromising patient care

• Busy offices: Longer wait times → communicate clearly + help patients feel heard

• Chapter Captain: Severe thunderstorm → plans suddenly changed

• Action: Emergency procedures + coordinate with leadership

• Scale: 100+ people → keep calm + organized

• Lesson: Adaptability ≠ just being comfortable with change

• Adaptability = learn + ask + adjust + stay effective

• PA school: New material + people + clinical environments

• Goal: Remain effective when situations are unfamiliar/unexpected

Who is the most important member of a healthcare team?

20. What is the biggest challenge facing PAs?

9. Why do you think you would be successful in PA school?

How will being a younger applicant affect your performance in the program?

• Age: May be younger than some classmates

• Belief: Age alone doesn’t determine readiness

• Academics: Biological Sciences degree → 3 years

• Graduated Magna Cum Laude

• College courses: AP/dual enrollment + summer coursework

• Developed: Strong time management + academic discipline

• College: Balanced coursework + leadership + volunteering + shadowing

• Lesson: Organization + prioritization

• Clinical: ~2 years MA experience during college breaks

• Stayed with same family medicine practice

• Float MA → different offices + workflows

• Skills: Adaptability + communication + professionalism

• Built trust: Welcomed back to practice repeatedly

• Patient experience: Years of scoliosis care + specialist appointments

• Surgery: Spinal fusion → firsthand healthcare perspective

• Lesson: Understand patient vulnerability + healthcare navigation

• Readiness: Academic + clinical + personal experience

• Goal: Contribute + perform at same level as classmates

Can you explain your lower grade/ low HCE or shadowing?

• Academic challenge: Freshman year → 18 credits → Chem + Calc → out of state

• Grades: Chem I C+ → Calc II B

• Response: Reevaluated study habits + time management

• Action: Developed better study methods + sought resources

• Outcome: Grades steadily improved → Magna Cum Laude → 3-year degree

• PCE context: Accelerated academic path + out-of-state school

• MA: 5-week St. Peter’s program → CCMA credential

• Experience: Worked school breaks → 1,100+ PCE hours

• Balance: Coursework + leadership + volunteering + shadowing

• Takeaway: Preparation → resilience + adaptability + compassionate PA

12. What are you looking for in a PA program?

What qualities make a successful physician assistant? (27 in book)

Describe your volunteer experience.

• Confirmation: 2+ years → peer mentor

• Responsibilities: Monthly sessions → Bible studies/discussions/activities

• Mentorship: Welcoming environment → encourage questions + participation

• Leadership: Planning meetings → contribute activity ideas

• Chapter Captain: Panhellenic recruitment → 2,500+ PNMs

• Commitment: 12+ hours/day during recruitment

• Responsibilities: Coordinate flow → schedule/order changes → keep events on time

• Challenge: Weather/emergency protocols → adapt quickly

• Skills: Organization + communication + adaptability

• CommUnity Shop: Food/clothing/household resources

• Responsibilities: Organize donations + help people access resources

• Lesson: Dignity + respect → understand barriers to basic needs

30. What are your thoughts on the name “physician assistant” and the push to change to “physician associate”?

What is the most selfless thing you have done?

• Situation: Panhellenic recruitment → severe thunderstorm

• People: 100+ PNMs + recruitment counselors outside

• Role: Chapter Captain → manage recruitment operations

• Challenge: Different chapters → different emergency protocols

• Action: Only co-captain + I knew our protocol

• Leadership: Divided responsibilities → directed people to shelter

• Communication: Contacted chapter leadership + recruitment executives

• Safety: Kept people calm + organized

• Extra: PNMs’ belongings still outside

• Selfless action: Ran through heavy rain → gathered belongings

• Mindset: Soaked, but prioritized their needs over comfort

• Lesson: Selflessness = recognize others’ needs + act without hesitation

What is the biggest responsibility you have ever had?

• When: Age 16–17 → summer

• Who: Grandmother / Mom-Mom

• Routine: Visit each morning before aide arrived

• Care: Make sure she was okay → organize medications

• Appointments: Bring her when needed

• Mindset: Someone else was depending on me

• Challenge: Worried something might happen while responsible

• Preparation: Wrote down DOB, phone number + emergency information

• Lesson: Responsibility = prepare before something goes wrong

• Qualities: Attentive + patient + reliable

• Perspective: Learned vulnerability of depending on others

• PA connection: Patients trust providers with their health

• Goal: Patients feel prepared, attentive, genuinely cared for

45. Describe a time you had to overcome adversity

What is your biggest regret?

• Regret: Didn’t volunteer at CommUnity Shop sooner

• When: Last semester of college

• What: Campus food pantry + clothing/household items

• Role: Restock → donations → check out customers

• Key realization: My attitude affected others’ experience

• Patient/service mindset: Asking for basic needs can feel vulnerable

• Action: Kind + respectful + welcoming

• Regret: Saw challenges in my own community I hadn’t recognized

• Lesson: Socioeconomic factors affect health + well-being

• PA connection: Quality care extends beyond clinic

• Barriers: Unmet basic needs → healthcare access + health outcomes

43. Describe a disappointing moment from your life?

Tell me about a mistake or critical feedback.

• Setting: MA → family medicine → rooming patient

• Mistake: Patient said A1c was due + previous note → assumed it was due

• Action: Performed A1c before provider visit

• Issue: Test wasn’t due → insurance wouldn’t cover until following week

• Response: Immediately took responsibility + apologized → no excuses

• Feedback: Provider explained why → verify before performing

• Correction: Documented result + noted when it could be entered

• Change: Verify test is due + ordered + covered

• Don’t rely solely on: Patient understanding or previous note

• Lesson: Accountability = own mistake + listen + change behavior

• PA connection: Small assumptions → consequences → attention to detail + verification

You are a PA. You are at a baseball game and the woman in front of you has a suspicious mole you suspect could be melanoma. What do you do?

• First: Recognize uncertainty → not a clinical setting

• Assess: Can I accurately evaluate the mole?

• Questions: Does she know about it? Seeing dermatology?

• Stranger: Likely do not approach

• Why: Could be wrong → unnecessary anxiety

• Privacy: Respect personal space + unsolicited advice

• Limitations: No exam/history → cannot diagnose melanoma

• If I know her: Approach privately if appropriate

• Language: “I noticed a concerning/different mole”

• Avoid: Presenting melanoma as a diagnosis

• Suggestion: Recommend professional evaluation if not already addressed

• Key: Respect + uncertainty + scope of practice

You are a PA, a patient on your schedule insists on seeing an MD. How do you respond?

• First: Ask why they prefer an MD

• Listen: Understand concerns + answer questions

• Educate: Explain PA role + scope

• PA role: History → exam → diagnose/treat → prescribe → collaborate

• Reassure: Capable of providing appropriate care

• Collaboration: Involve/consult MD when needed

• No pressure: Don’t force patient to see me

• If still prefers MD: Respect their decision

• Next step: Schedule MD or reschedule appropriately

• Key: Patient autonomy + informed choice

  • Goal: Patient feels heard + respected

A patient is not proficient in English, and you are unfamiliar with their language. How can you assist?

• First: Welcome + respect patient

• Offer: Office interpreter service

• If accepted: Use appropriate interpreter

• If declined: Respect preference + recognize communication risks

• If unavailable: Follow practice process for language assistance

• Avoid: Relying on my limited language ability

• Communication: Confirm important instructions are understood

• Resources: Written materials in appropriate language

• Approach: Same patience + respect for every patient

• Lesson: Language barriers can affect accuracy + safety

  • Key: Take extra steps to ensure understanding

What is something difficult you have had to discuss with someone?

• When: Night after spinal fusion surgery

• Situation: Significant pain → parents had gone home

• Concern: Got period → needed a pad → worried about bedding/self

• Why difficult: Vulnerable + dependent on staff + embarrassed

• Frustration: Had mentioned situation before surgery → still needed to advocate

• Action: Pressed call light → explained situation to nurse

• Response: Nurse was kind + accommodating → helped quickly

• Lesson: Sensitive concerns can be hard for patients to voice

• Provider role: Create judgment-free environment

• Key: Listen with patience + compassion

  • PA connection: Small concerns can feel significant to patients

How do you deal with high stress situations? Give an example.

• First: Pause → stay calm → focus on immediate steps

• Example: Panhellenic recruitment → Chapter Captain

• Crisis: Severe thunderstorm → ~100 PNMs/counselors outside

• Challenge: Unclear shelter procedures

• Action: Only co-captain + I knew protocol

• Leadership: Divide responsibilities → direct people to shelter

• Communication: Chapter leadership + recruitment executives

• Mindset: Stay calm because others needed direction

• Next: Belongings left outside → retrieve in rain

• Lesson: Stay composed → prioritize → work with others

• Decompress: Family + staying active

• PA school: Same strategies → organized + present

Tell me about a time you used teamwork to solve a problem.

• Role: Chapter Captain → Panhellenic recruitment

• Team: Co-captain + me → jointly managed chapter facility

• Goal: Keep events on schedule + communicate changes

• Division of roles:

  • One → monitored PNM line/order

  • Other → timing + chapter coordination

• Situation: PNM missing → minutes before event

• Action: Communicated with chapter + recruitment counselors

• When she arrived: Coordinated new line order

• Communication: Updated chapter → adjusted recruiting order

• Outcome: Event stayed on schedule → no major delay

• Teamwork lesson: Clear communication + trust + flexibility

• PA connection: Collaboration with classmates → physicians, nurses, healthcare team

Situation/ Ethical answer template:

1) I am a… I must decide what to do in this situation.

2) Some questions I would consider in this situation are:

3) For this scenario we have vs. _, pros vs. cons

4) In this scenario, I would…

Where do you see yourself in five years?

• Graduated from PA school

• Working as a Physician Assistant

• Found a specialty I am passionate about

• Working in a practice where I enjoy collaborating with colleagues

• Building a strong relationship with my supervising physician

• Providing high-quality patient care

• Becoming a trusted member of my healthcare team

• Developing meaningful, long-term relationships with patients

• Making a positive impact on patients' health and well-being

• Serving and giving back to my local community

• Continuing to grow professionally and personally

• Maintaining a healthy work-life balance

• Staying active and prioritizing my well-being

• Spending quality time with family and friends

• Building a fulfilling career while making a meaningful difference in patients' lives

Tell me about a leadership role you have held.

• Chapter Captain during UofSC Panhellenic Recruitment

• Responsible for recruitment operations at assigned chapter

• Helped support 2,500+ potential new members

• Volunteered 12+ hour days during recruitment

• Severe thunderstorm developed during an event

• ~100 PNMs and recruitment counselors were outside

• Different chapters had different emergency procedures

• Co-captain and I were the only ones who knew our chapter's protocol

• Quickly divided responsibilities and delegated tasks

• Directed people to appropriate shelter locations

• Communicated with chapter leadership and recruitment executives

• Helped keep PNMs and RCs calm during uncertainty

• Retrieved belongings left outside in the storm

• Learned the importance of staying calm under pressure

• Leadership lessons: communication, teamwork, delegation, adaptability, and stepping up when others need direction

What advantages or disadvantages would you have as a younger applicant?

Advantages

• Took college courses while in high school

• Completed summer college classes

• Graduated magna cum laude in 3 years

• Demonstrated commitment, discipline, and perseverance

• Worked as a Medical Assistant for 2 years

• Returned to the same practice during school breaks

• Floated between departments and office locations as needed

• Long-term employment shows reliability and strong work ethic

• Comfortable using technology and Epic EMR

• Personal experience with scoliosis, specialists, and treatments

• Developed empathy and understanding of the patient perspective

• Balanced academics, organizations, shadowing, volunteering, and work

Disadvantage

• Fewer healthcare hours than some older applicants (~1,100 at application)

How I Address It

• Made the most of each clinical experience

• Sought meaningful responsibilities and growth opportunities

• Depth and quality of experiences prepared me well for PA school

• Demonstrated maturity, commitment, and readiness despite younger age

What is your life saying?

• Life saying: “Everything happens for a reason”

• Believe setbacks often lead to growth and new opportunities

• Example: not accepted to my original dream college

• Initially disappointed by the rejection

• Chose to attend the University of South Carolina

• Found great professors and mentors

• Built meaningful friendships

• Gained valuable leadership experiences

• Developed academically and personally

• Grateful I ended up at UofSC

• Experience showed me that unexpected paths can be beneficial

• Another example: living with scoliosis

• Saw multiple specialists and underwent spinal fusion surgery

• Developed resilience and empathy through my healthcare experiences

• Those experiences helped inspire my goal of becoming a Physician Assistant

How do you plan to use your PA/ medical education?

• Provide patient-centered care

• Recognize patients as the most important members of the healthcare team

• Help patients better understand their health and treatment options

• Empower patients to make informed healthcare decisions

• Apply knowledge gained in PA school to improve patient outcomes

• Use broad medical education to understand the whole patient

• Appreciate how different body systems and conditions interact

• Understand how medications affect overall health

• Consider the impact of comorbidities on patient care

• Better understand the experiences of patients seeing multiple specialists

• Apply lessons from all specialties, regardless of future field of practice

• Build strong, trusting relationships with patients

• Advocate for patients' health and well-being

• Commit to lifelong learning and professional growth

• Use my education to become a compassionate, knowledgeable, and effective PA who makes a meaningful difference in patients' lives

 What non-science undergraduate course will benefit you most in PA school?

• Public Speaking

• Developed clear and confident communication skills

• Learned how to organize and present information effectively

• Practiced building upon others' ideas during discussions

• Improved professional presentation and communication

• Increased confidence when speaking with others

• Apply these skills daily as a Medical Assistant

• Maintain eye contact and active listening when rooming patients

• Use open-ended questions to gather information

• Ask follow-up questions based on patient concerns

• Help patients feel heard and understood

• Communicate important information to providers

• Effective communication is essential for patient-centered care

• Will help with more in-depth patient interviews in PA school

• Will help explain complex medical information clearly to patients and collaborate with healthcare teams

What is the most stressful part of your current job?

• Staffing shortage at my family medicine practice

• Practice is one of the busiest in the network

• Often responsible for additional duties when short-staffed

• Room more patients than usual

• Perform additional testing and clinical tasks

• Review schedules and pre-visit plans proactively

• Identify and correct scheduling or appointment errors

• Frequently float to different parts of the office

• Help cover for coworkers who are absent

• Need to adapt quickly to changing daily demands

• Balance multiple responsibilities simultaneously

• Maintain quality patient care despite increased workload

• Learned strong time-management skills

• Developed adaptability and teamwork skills

• Learned to stay positive and remain calm under pressure while keeping patient care the priority

What is the most important factor between a PA and supervising physician?

• Most important factor: trust and mutual respect

• PA-physician relationship is built on collaboration

• Both providers must trust each other's clinical judgment

• Shared goal is providing high-quality patient care

• PA must know when to work independently and when to seek guidance

• Respect for the physician's experience and expertise

• Supervising physician must trust the PA's decision-making

• PA must recognize personal limitations

• Important to ask questions when uncertainty arises

• Open communication strengthens the relationship

• Discuss patient cases collaboratively

• Work together on treatment plans and patient management

• Trust allows for effective delegation of responsibilities

• Respect creates a positive and productive work environment

• Trust, respect, and communication ultimately lead to better patient outcomes

Do you think your PCE job is limited in the hands-on portion compared to other jobs (nurse, emt, etc.)?

• Do not view my experience as limited, but different in scope

• Healthcare roles have different responsibilities and purposes

• Work in an outpatient family medicine setting

• Different experience than hospital-based nursing or EMT work

• Collect vital signs on patients

• Perform point-of-care testing

• Obtain EKGs

• Perform A1C testing

• Document patient information for providers

• Gather information used in clinical decision-making

• Obtain patient histories and discuss concerns

• Build rapport and trust with patients

• Exposure to a wide variety of conditions and patient populations

• Developed communication, teamwork, and clinical workflow skills

• Every healthcare role offers unique strengths; family medicine experience has prepared me well for PA school and practice