PA School Interview Guide: The Book to Get You In

By: Savanna Perry, PA-C

TL;DR

The Physician Assistant School Interview Guide is a book written to help pre-PA applicants prepare for the part of the process that actually earns the acceptance: the interview. It walks through every interview format you might face, hundreds of practice questions with tips and examples, and what to do after you interview, all in one accessible resource.

Last Updated: June 12, 2026

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Why does the PA school interview matter so much?

After working with hundreds of hopeful PA candidates on their interview skills, I have seen the same pattern again and again. The personal statement is what lands you an interview, but the interview is what actually gets you in. It really is that important.

I also noticed how many applicants walk into interviews without the confidence they need to secure a spot, and how little quality information exists about succeeding specifically in a PA school interview setting. There was really only one book out there, and it was the same one I used seven years ago. The process has changed a lot since then, and PA school has only gotten more competitive.

A professional mock interview is a great option, but it does not work out for everyone in terms of timing or budget. I wanted to create something more accessible that any applicant could pick up and use to take control of their interview prep.

In this post:

What is inside the Physician Assistant School Interview Guide?

The guide is organized into three parts so you can move through prep in a logical order.

- Part 1, Getting Ready: This breaks down the different types of interviews you may run into at various PA programs, so you know what to expect before you arrive. Then it covers the steps to take before and after you get the invitation, including the techniques that help you impress your interviewers.
- Part 2, The Questions: This dives into the different question and interview types and how to handle each one, including traditional questions, behavioral questions, ethical questions, multiple mini interview (MMI) questions, group interviews, and essays. It ends with the questions you should ask your interviewers. Every chapter is packed with questions, tips, examples, and ways to rephrase prompts so you are not thrown off by how a question is worded.
- Part 3, Follow-Up: This covers everything after the interview plus an FAQ. You will also find Interview Preparation Worksheets, a Mock Interview Guide, and a Master Question List of the 300+ questions from the book.

There is a lot packed into these 210 pages.

In Our Experience

In our experience coaching applicants, the interview is where strong candidates either seal the deal or lose ground they earned with a great application. So much of the nervousness comes from not knowing what is coming, and once you have practiced the question types and rehearsed your stories, your confidence shifts completely. I wrote this guide to give applicants that same preparation in a format they can work through on their own time.

How can you get a copy?

The book is available for $15.99 through The PA Platform with free shipping [VERIFY]. If you have Amazon Prime, it is also on Amazon for $18.99 with 2-day shipping [VERIFY].

It took two years to write while working full-time, and the goal was always the same: give applicants a practical, affordable tool so they can walk into the interview prepared instead of guessing. If you pick it up, I would genuinely love your feedback or an Amazon review, and you are always welcome to reach out with questions.

Every Pre-PA Should Know...

The book includes a Master Question List of over 300 interview questions, so you can practice the formats programs actually use instead of guessing what they might ask.

Free Interview Worksheet → https://www.thepaplatform.com/services/free-pa-school-interview-worksheet-download/

Listen: PA School Interview Prep with Live Examples

Reading about interview questions is fine. Hearing people actually answer them is better.

Episode show notes & key takeaways

Reading about interview questions is fine. Hearing people actually answer them is better.

This is from a live webinar where we went through real interview questions and real answers from participants, then talked about what worked and what didn't. That feedback loop is the whole point, because you cannot hear your own filler words and rambling until someone points them out.

A pattern I see constantly: people answer the question they wish they'd been asked. Or they give a perfectly nice answer that doesn't actually say anything about them. Specificity is what makes an answer memorable.

Also worth saying, everyone in that webinar was nervous. You are not uniquely bad at this.

What we cover

Common PA school interview questions, worked through live
Real answers from participants and what I'd change
How to be specific instead of generically pleasant
Handling questions you didn't prepare for
What nerves do to your delivery and how to manage it
Why practicing with other people beats practicing alone

Resources

Follow The Pre-PA Club: Apple Podcasts · Spotify · All episodes

Need to Know:

The personal statement earns the interview, but the interview earns the acceptance
The guide covers traditional, behavioral, ethical, MMI, group, and essay interview formats
Part 1 prepares you, Part 2 drills the questions, Part 3 covers follow-up
It includes 300+ practice questions with tips, examples, and rephrasing help
You also get Interview Prep Worksheets and a Mock Interview Guide
It is 210 pages and available through The PA Platform or Amazon [VERIFY]

FAQ

What is the Physician Assistant School Interview Guide?

It is a 210-page book written by Savanna Perry, PA-C, to help pre-PA applicants prepare for PA school interviews. It covers interview formats, 300+ practice questions, and follow-up steps.

Why is the PA school interview so important?

Your personal statement is what lands the interview, but the interview is what actually gets you accepted. It is often the deciding factor between strong candidates.

What interview formats does the book cover?

It covers traditional questions, behavioral questions, ethical questions, multiple mini interview (MMI) questions, group interviews, and essays, plus the questions you should ask your interviewers.

How many practice questions are included?

The book includes a Master Question List of over 300 questions, with tips, examples, and ways to rephrase each one so you are not caught off guard by wording.

Where can I buy the Physician Assistant School Interview Guide?

It is available through The PA Platform for $15.99 with free shipping, or on Amazon for $18.99 with 2-day shipping for Prime members [VERIFY].

Is the book a substitute for a mock interview?

It is a more accessible companion. A live mock interview is valuable, but the guide gives you the structure, question banks, and worksheets to prepare thoroughly on your own time.

CLOSING

PA school interviews are nerve-wracking, but they get a lot less intimidating once you know the formats and have practiced your answers out loud. The Physician Assistant School Interview Guide is built to walk you through that prep step by step. Grab a copy when you are ready, and reach out anytime if you have questions about your interview.

Mock Interview → https://www.thepaplatform.com/services/mock-interview/

PA School Interview Guide: The Book to Get You In