FREE FOR CLUB LEADERS
Pre-PA Club Curriculum
A free 32-week curriculum of videos, discussion prompts, and resources to help Pre-PA clubs run impactful, stress-free meetings. Whether you are leading a group or learning on your own, run the topics in order or pick whatever your members need most this month.
HOW IT WORKS
Each week pairs a short video with a discussion exercise
Play the video together (most are 10 to 20 minutes), work through the exercise as a group, and use the linked resources for anyone who wants to go deeper. Every topic fits inside a single meeting.
FOR CLUB LEADERS
Request a PA Platform speaker for your meetings
We love speaking to groups. Send us a message if you would like a PA Platform speaker for one of your meetings. Since we get the question often: there is no charge. We also offer bulk-order discounts for Pre-PA groups on the PA School Personal Statement Guide and the PA School Interview Guide.
Tell us about your group, your meeting schedule, and what your members are working on.
Point your members to the free Pre-PA Club community and our library of worksheets and tools.
WEEKS 1 TO 8
Getting Oriented
Set a deadline for when you want to submit your application and write it down. Make a list of materials you need to gather to prepare for filling out your CASPA application – transcripts, experience logs, resume, headshot, etc.
Resources for this week
Discuss the process of waitlists for PA school and some ways you can improve your application if found in a situation where you end up waitlisted. Think about your PA school application and determine what the weakest area is. Brainstorm ways to improve this area.
Resources for this week
Use the personal statement planning worksheets from The PA Platform to map out the content you want to include in your personal statement. Set a deadline for when you want to be done with your essay and find an accountability partner.
Resources for this week
What mistakes stand out to you from the video? Which ones seem like common sense and which ones are surprising? If you have written your personal statement, revisit it with these mistakes in mind to make sure you don’t have any errors.
Resources for this week
What was the most helpful point from the video? With these insights, what do you need to change about your application or work on to make sure you are on track with your own process. Look at some of the programs you’re interested in to see if they have information sessions. Come up with a list of questions you would like to ask your top programs.
Resources for this week
If you haven’t started tracking your experience, download the Experience Log from The PA Platform and save it somewhere safe like Google Drive or Dropbox. Record the experiences you have and look at your list to determine where you need to focus your efforts to gain more hours. Look at the PA programs to determine what their requirements for experience are to make sure you’re on track.
Resources for this week
Start a discussion in your group about online PA programs. What are the benefits and downsides to a program like this? Do you think you would be successful in a program like this? Why or why not?
Resources for this week
Since reapplying has become a common part of the PA school application process, is this something you are okay with? What will be your plan if you have to reapply to PA school? Look at the strengths and weaknesses of your application to determine areas that could come up during your cycle.
Resources for this week
WEEKS 9 TO 16
Building the Application
Set a deadline for when you want to submit your application and write it down. Make a list of materials you need to gather to prepare for filling out your CASPA application – transcripts, experience logs, resume, headshot, etc.
Resources for this week
Set a deadline for when you want to submit your application and write it down. Make a list of materials you need to gather to prepare for filling out your CASPA application – transcripts, experience logs, resume, headshot, etc.
Resources for this week
Set a deadline for when you want to submit your application and write it down. Make a list of materials you need to gather to prepare for filling out your CASPA application – transcripts, experience logs, resume, headshot, etc.
Resources for this week
Set a deadline for when you want to submit your application and write it down. Make a list of materials you need to gather to prepare for filling out your CASPA application – transcripts, experience logs, resume, headshot, etc.
Resources for this week
Set a deadline for when you want to submit your application and write it down. Make a list of materials you need to gather to prepare for filling out your CASPA application – transcripts, experience logs, resume, headshot, etc.
Resources for this week
Make a list of the types of PA school interviews discussed. Which one seems most exciting to you? Which one seems the most scary? Spend some time researching more about the interview types that concern you.
Resources for this week
Find some PA students to follow if you’re active on social media, and don’t be scared to ask questions! Make a list of questions you can ask PA students at an interview. What are you looking forward to most in PA school? What parts of PA school do you think would be the most challenging for you?
Resources for this week
Look up the top PA schools on your list to see if they require the GRE. check your local libraries to see if they provide GRE prep materials. Look at your schedule to find an optimal time to plan your studying for the GRE and pick a timeframe you want to have it completed, keeping in mind it takes 2-3 weeks to receive a test score.
Resources for this week
WEEKS 17 TO 24
Essays, Experience, and Interviews
Have you heard of the PA-CAT. Facilitate a discussion about how this test contributes to the PA school application process and the pros and cons. Look at the subject list for the PA-CAT – which subjects do you feel most comfortable with? Which subjects do you feel less prepared for?
Resources for this week
What factor of your application is currently most concerning to you? What are some ideas for how you can improve on this potential red flag? Ask your peers for ideas and advice to see if they are in the same position.
Resources for this week
Do you have a resume? If not, use Canva or the resume template on The PA Platform to start your resume. Think about the categories you want to include and identify any areas where you need to focus on experience. Save your resume in multiple places just in case!
Resources for this week
Pull up your transcripts and the course subject list for CASPA. Identify which courses will be considered science or non-science. Highlight specific prerequisite courses and double check that they are accepted by your top choice PA schools. Check your school course categories to see if there are any specific courses that may be considered science courses by CASPA.
Resources for this week
Look up some of your top PA schools to see what the financial expectations are. Look at tuition and fees. Search for the cost of living in the specific area of the program. Spend some time looking into federal and private loans to understand what to expect.
Resources for this week
What are 3 things you learned about the PA profession from this session? What are 3 specialties or settings you would be interested in shadowing to learn more about PAs? How did your knowledge of the PA profession change after watching this session? Make an actionable plan to find more local PAs to shadow in person by thinking of anyone you can ask for opportunities.
Resources for this week
What can you do to prepare for CASPA at your current stage? Find an accountability partner to double check each other’s applications for typos or missed mistakes and encourage each other throughout the process. What are 3 things you learned about the PA school application process?
Resources for this week
Set a deadline for when you want to submit your application and write it down. Make a list of materials you need to gather to prepare for filling out your CASPA application – transcripts, experience logs, resume, headshot, etc.
Resources for this week
WEEKS 25 TO 32
Finishing Strong
What makes a good letter? What type of person should you look for to write your letters? Brainstorm a list of people you could potentially ask for a letter – professors, supervisors, PAs, etc. Take some time to draft an email asking a potential letter writer for a letter of recommendation.
Resources for this week
Discuss positions and certification programs that other students have found in your area. Spend some time showing how to look up job opportunities in the area. Discuss pros/cons of completing a certification program. Look up your state medical board to see requirements for certifications.
Resources for this week
Use the free GPA calculator and unofficial transcripts to estimate your current CASPA Overall and Science GPAs. Highlight any grades (particularly prerequisites) that are C or lower that may need to be retaken prior to applying.
Resources for this week
Look at your school’s course catalog and major options. Determine if there are any specific courses that your current path requires and how those translate into required courses for PA school. Look for courses that fulfill both the science and non-science options. Look for unique courses that may be great for electives or information helpful prior to PA school.
Resources for this week
Make a timeline for writing your personal statement. Discuss some main topics you would like to include and areas you may be lacking and need to seek more experiences. Try to verbalize your “Why PA?” Is it specific enough to PA?
Resources for this week
Look at the top 3 schools on your list to see if they require supplemental applications. Read the mission statements for the top PA schools on your list and make sure you feel you fit with them and can respond to prompts surrounding this mission.
Resources for this week
Find a partner to help each other prep for PA school interviews. What are you most worried about in the interview process for PA school? Brainstorm some questions that may come up during a PA school interview and quiz each other.
Resources for this week
Make a list of your top 3 non-negotiables for PA school. List the factors that would be nice to have and things you would like to avoid. Make a pros/cons list for all of these factors and then readjust your list if needed. Choose 3-5 programs you think you are interested in and visit their websites to see how these programs fit with your list. Use these factors to research other programs further.
Resources for this week
Want help beyond the club meeting?
Members who want one-on-one guidance can meet with a practicing PA coach for a written plan, essay edits, or interview practice.