Posted on Oct 27, 2015
Do you have any IPAP application tips for better recognition?
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Hello all,
Quick question. I have been reading all sorts of blogs regarding the IPAP and application process. Great information out there with some very thorough answers. I wanted to pose a more specific question though.
I am currently in the process of putting together my application. I have all the prerequisites and have done everything listed so far on the IPAP website.
What I'm looking for is more information about what kind of items I can add to my packet to make me stand out. I know the standard list of items and I know i cannot add extra stuff to the packet but what sort of things can I do that would be included in the packet that make me look like a better applicant.
Thank you for any response, it is much appreciated.
SGT Agne
Quick question. I have been reading all sorts of blogs regarding the IPAP and application process. Great information out there with some very thorough answers. I wanted to pose a more specific question though.
I am currently in the process of putting together my application. I have all the prerequisites and have done everything listed so far on the IPAP website.
What I'm looking for is more information about what kind of items I can add to my packet to make me stand out. I know the standard list of items and I know i cannot add extra stuff to the packet but what sort of things can I do that would be included in the packet that make me look like a better applicant.
Thank you for any response, it is much appreciated.
SGT Agne
Posted in these groups: IPAP Student
65D: Physician Assistant
65D: Physician Assistant
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 4
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SGT (Join to see)
I might be giving you the answer you don't want, but here we go.
1. SAT scores, take them more than once to get the best score possible. They choose applicants based on the whole picture, but sometimes they use SATs as a simple deciding point if they are on the fence. (I heard that one once from an instructor).
2. Be a good soldier. Simple military things such as high PT tests, solid NCOERs and awards can make a difference. If you are a consistent 1,1 and score 290 or higher, you will be considered a better applicant than the guy who doesn't.
3. Shadow more than you have to. Get solid recommendations from PAs who are in the business who know the program.
4. Write an authentic LOI. They know you want to get in the program (shoot, the packet is enough to prove you're committed). But the LOI is your chance to put your voice, your story into that pile of paper.
5. Take some extra classes. Take some biochem, organic chemistry, microbio, maybe an art class. Widen your view. The first three (and others like them) will make Phase I a bit easier, the last ones (and the ones like it) help you see the wider picture of human nature and might make you a better provider.
6. Prep yourself to have to do it all again. Not everyone makes it first time. One of my friends in phase II now applied several times over 10 years and even failed her first semester and got recycled. She's now the one other students hate to follow because she makes such an impression on all of our preceptors. She didn't stop and she's proving her worth every day.
I can only really say that 1, 2, and 6 are solid pieces of advice from people who are instructors in phase I. The rest is a solid guess based on the packet and graduating from the program. Good luck.
Josh Randles
I might be giving you the answer you don't want, but here we go.
1. SAT scores, take them more than once to get the best score possible. They choose applicants based on the whole picture, but sometimes they use SATs as a simple deciding point if they are on the fence. (I heard that one once from an instructor).
2. Be a good soldier. Simple military things such as high PT tests, solid NCOERs and awards can make a difference. If you are a consistent 1,1 and score 290 or higher, you will be considered a better applicant than the guy who doesn't.
3. Shadow more than you have to. Get solid recommendations from PAs who are in the business who know the program.
4. Write an authentic LOI. They know you want to get in the program (shoot, the packet is enough to prove you're committed). But the LOI is your chance to put your voice, your story into that pile of paper.
5. Take some extra classes. Take some biochem, organic chemistry, microbio, maybe an art class. Widen your view. The first three (and others like them) will make Phase I a bit easier, the last ones (and the ones like it) help you see the wider picture of human nature and might make you a better provider.
6. Prep yourself to have to do it all again. Not everyone makes it first time. One of my friends in phase II now applied several times over 10 years and even failed her first semester and got recycled. She's now the one other students hate to follow because she makes such an impression on all of our preceptors. She didn't stop and she's proving her worth every day.
I can only really say that 1, 2, and 6 are solid pieces of advice from people who are instructors in phase I. The rest is a solid guess based on the packet and graduating from the program. Good luck.
Josh Randles
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CPT (Join to see)
SSG (Join to see)
Short answer: I can't tell you the difference it makes to the application committee. I am not privy to the process or who is on it. I will give you my thoughts in pro vs con format. However, if you're interested, apply. Don't let your lack of "MOS" take you out of the process.
Pros:
-You have no bad habits or preconceived notions that need to be corrected.
-You will likely work harder because you feel inferior to the medical people there (don't be PA school sucks for all of us).
Cons:
-During the 3rd/4th semesters, you will have to play some catch up. Some of us will have previous knowledge that allows us to work less during some classes. For instance - I was a paramedic prior to school, and while the majority of class was sweating EKG, I did not have to work as hard d/t my previous experience. I still studied, but not has hard and could focus on other classes that were harder for me.
I will repeat my point above though, if you are interested, apply. Look at the requirements, read the reg, talk to your PA, shadow PA's in other specialties, do your best on the PT test, get good written evals. There were plenty of nonmedical MOS students in my class that were successful. There was one LPN in our class who was constantly on the bubble of failing, because he didn't take the course seriously. If no one else says this to you, I will. You can do it, apply.
Short answer: I can't tell you the difference it makes to the application committee. I am not privy to the process or who is on it. I will give you my thoughts in pro vs con format. However, if you're interested, apply. Don't let your lack of "MOS" take you out of the process.
Pros:
-You have no bad habits or preconceived notions that need to be corrected.
-You will likely work harder because you feel inferior to the medical people there (don't be PA school sucks for all of us).
Cons:
-During the 3rd/4th semesters, you will have to play some catch up. Some of us will have previous knowledge that allows us to work less during some classes. For instance - I was a paramedic prior to school, and while the majority of class was sweating EKG, I did not have to work as hard d/t my previous experience. I still studied, but not has hard and could focus on other classes that were harder for me.
I will repeat my point above though, if you are interested, apply. Look at the requirements, read the reg, talk to your PA, shadow PA's in other specialties, do your best on the PT test, get good written evals. There were plenty of nonmedical MOS students in my class that were successful. There was one LPN in our class who was constantly on the bubble of failing, because he didn't take the course seriously. If no one else says this to you, I will. You can do it, apply.
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SSG (Join to see)
CPT (Join to see), thanks for the reply. I may bring in some bad habits from the EMT field. I went through a civilian course off duty and got certified before deploying. The plan is to do some volunteer work as an EMT to get some sort of patient care hours. I plan to go to paramedic school sometime when I get back from deployment. I've heard it both ways for people going from a nonmedical MOS. Some people said it would not make a difference since the program focuses more on your academic life than actual medical experience and others have said that it would hurt me because I haven' proven myself as a medical professional on any level. None of those people were actual graduates from IPAP, so I took their advice with a grain of salt.
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CPT (Join to see)
I would suggest you spend some time in a medical field (internal med, family practice, GI, emergency med) and then get some time in a surgical field (general surgery, cardiothoracic, trauma/critical care, ortho) so you can get the whole breadth of medicine. I would help with the application but it has changed even since I completed it about 3 years ago.
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MAJ (Join to see)
It has been over 10 years since I attended IPAP, but these answers look solid. A LOR from a PA who is well respected and known within the PA world goes a long way.
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Agreed with Randles.
Also if you are Guard or Reserve and have some time, don't quit at the prerequisites. Take the rest of what you need to finish the degree. If you don't know what you want to major in, then major in biology. Take the hard/important bio classes (Biochem, immunology, micro, parasitology, O. chem, genetics, etc.) If you get good grades then it helps in the over all packet. Having these classes, while not required to pass IPAP, sure made some of the basic science courses in IPAP a lot easier and less stressful for me. Already knowing the cranial nerves, basic genetics, and basic O. Chem really helped me.
Also if you are Guard or Reserve and have some time, don't quit at the prerequisites. Take the rest of what you need to finish the degree. If you don't know what you want to major in, then major in biology. Take the hard/important bio classes (Biochem, immunology, micro, parasitology, O. chem, genetics, etc.) If you get good grades then it helps in the over all packet. Having these classes, while not required to pass IPAP, sure made some of the basic science courses in IPAP a lot easier and less stressful for me. Already knowing the cranial nerves, basic genetics, and basic O. Chem really helped me.
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Letters of recommendation from PAs who went through IPAP. It's a smaller Corp than people realize and a letter from someone who knows what that program takes means something.
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