Kettering College PA Program: Katelyn's 3-for-3 Acceptance Story at 21

As a senior in high school, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in medicine due to watching TLC’s a baby story and Discovery health channels Surgery saved my lie however I was unsure what. Our high school gave us the opportunity to spend half the school day at an internship of our choice and own arrangement. So, I decided to do an internship at a pain management/sports medicine facility. I was with a doctor from 8-12 every day and he had 2 PA’s. This is where I was introduced to the PA profession. I met one who had previously practiced in the ER and another who also currently practiced at an urgent care. I was intrigued by the lateral flexibility being a PA provided but also their level of autonomy. I was able to shadow them and see the teamwork between the PA and their supervising physician and the support the PA provided to the patient workload, but I also watched them independently manage their own patients from the initial consultation to reviewing images, changing treatment courses and medications and even perform trigger point injections. As a scribe, my decision to be a PA was further solidified as I worked alongside PA’s who were able to independently manage and treat their own patients but also collaborate with a physician on duty. I witnessed this PA/provider relationship when I had the privilege of observing a CABG in July where the PA was the first assist. While the PA harvested the vein, the doctor prepared the chest and once they were both done and the patient was on bypass, they collectively performed the surgery. These benefits of being a PA and being a valuable part of the patient care team are why I want to be a PA.

10

I had seven interview offers. I interviewed with three programs and was accepted to all three programs.

I will be Kettering College MPAS

I was surprised how incredibly welcoming and inviting each programs staff was. I never felt intimidated but instead professors were excited to get to know me as a potential candidate and seem incredibly interested in what I brought as a candidate. It made the interview process so much less stressful which allowed me to perform better during my interviews.

The most helpful resource was the physician assistant school interview guide by Savannah Perry. The most helpful personal resource was connections. I had two girls who were older than me who were also pre-PA and their guidance was huge to my success. I also had a PA mentor whose wisdom, advice, and willingness to help also made all the difference in my journey. I always had someone I was able to reach out to for help whether it was academic, where to volunteer, where to gain PCE, etc.

My biggest advice for other pre-PA’s is to find mentors. Find people you trust, especially another pre-PA and a PA. Networking is huge when it comes to shadowing other PA’s and letters of recommendation. Another thing I found helpful was having numerous people read my essays; getting various perspectives from people in the medical field and other people not was very helpful and made my essays so much better. You do not have to take everyones advice but different perspectives should be considered.

Instagram: katie__suee__

Seven offers, three interviews, three acceptances, all at 21. Katelyn credits mentors more than stats, and the way she describes watching a PA first-assist a CABG explains why her "why PA" landed with every committee that heard it.