Things I wish I knew before I started

It's been over 2 years since I learned that I was accepted to PA school, and would be beginning this incredible (albeit, extremely stressful, at times) journey that I am over 1/2 finished with.  At times, it seems so common place to get up in the morning, drag myself to class for another day, and stuff more into my brain than I thought would even fit just the day before.  But then again, I have my moments where I remember how worried I was that I'd never get to this point, and I was anxiously checking my email 8.3 times per day for any news about my acceptance status.  But every time someone asks me about any advice I have for the application process, or help out with an interview session with my program, I feel as though I have been transported back to my own interview, and how incredibly nervous I was feeling, worried that everything in my future relied on one decision that wasn't even my own to make.  Now, whenever a friend from college asks me about any tips they have for applying to PA school, I tell them I don't remember much, except for the things that I learned (unfortunately) from experience...the hard way, and will always recommend someone think about when they are applying to PA school:

1. Know (and be able to express in words) exactly why you want to be a PA.  I knew that I wanted to be a PA, but couldn't concisely express exactly what attributes of the profession appealed to me.  The 2nd time I applied, I knew exactly why, and they weren't the cookie-cutter answers many people probably give.  I knew what pieces of my personality were suited for becoming a PA, and the things of the profession that would satisfy each of the things I wanted and needed in my career.
2. Think long and hard about who you want to write your letters of recommendation.  They usually only permit 3 letters, and you want those 3 letters to be from people who can speak very well about your character, personality, work ethic, patience, etc., and not some generic form letter.  While getting a letter from someone with impressive titles, such as the head of a hospital department or a decorated college professor may seem like it is a good idea, if they can't talk about specific conversations you've had with them, or they don't know you outside of the classroom, steer clear of that person.  You really only want to do the application process once, and since you only have 3 letters to work with, choose people who have known you for a long time, with whom you have worked, or a doctor or PA that you've shadowed or volunteered/worked with, who can speak in detail and highly of your character and accomplishments.  Other than your first-hand account of your life and experiences, your letters of rec. allow the admissions committee to get another point of view of who you are, and if what your record shows is supported strongly by your letters of rec., it's much stronger than if your letters are generic and say something like "X is a good student who performed well....blah, blah, blah."
3. On that note, spend some time getting to know yourself....and know yourself well enough that you can both write and talk about yourself.  This seems like a stupid suggestion, but it comes in handy when you have to start writing essays.  The people who work in admissions read hundreds, if not thousands, or applications each cycle, which include at least one, if not more, essays to read.  You have to be able to stand out in 500 words or less.  Sit down and think about events/people/experiences/etc. that have changed the way you think, how you interact with people, etc., outside of school.  You have to be able to show that you can overcome adversity, stressful situations, and that you are passionate about things other than studying.  You've already gotten to the point where you have the grades and test scores that are impressive enough to apply to PA school....they want to know what ELSE you do!
4. Don't get caught up with thoughts of what you THINK they are looking for.  I feel into this trap the first time I applied: I was so worried about what I thought PA schools were looking for, rather than just being myself, and telling them about who I really was.  Whether or not the things you love to do (play an instrument, enjoy classic film, etc.) is something that is mainstream or not, just go with it, and if you think it's important for the admissions committee to know about you, then write about it.  When you're writing your essays or answering interview questions, talk about the things you love with so much passion and enthusiasm that you will make the people reading your application just as passionate about your activities and interests as you are.  It is all about building a picture of your character, and what makes you tick.
5. The most important thing that I tell people is to START EARLY!  If you plan on applying to more than one program, it is likely that you'll have to write a few essays, and you'll want to take plenty of time drafting your ideas, and working on edits (and having multiple people that you trust to edit them), and making sure that everything is absolutely the way you'd want the admissions committee to see them, and without spelling and grammar errors.  It will be much less stressful if you have some time to work on your applications, and submit them early, rather than starting late, rushing through your application and writing, and submitting in a hurry just prior to the deadline.  Applying is already super stressful, and taking enough time will help lessen that stress (if only by a little bit).

That's all for now....one more week of break to enjoy before tackling 15 more weeks of class, comprehensive exams, ACLS/PALS training, and then, on June 1, starting rotations!!!!  So close!