Just after the deadline to get the February issue of Physician Assistant Exam Scholars went by, I got an email from a student who has been struggling.
I use XXXXXX to remove any, let’s say… identifying information.
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Brian
Hi. I hope all is well. Reading this email hit home (unfortunately I am too late reading it). I graduated from PA school in XXXXXX. Shortly after, I took my boards and failed. Fortunately, the physician looking to hire me still really wanted me. She hired me with the expectation that I would pass the second time. I took it a second time and failed, again. I took it for a third time at the end of XXXXXX. My score only increased a few points from the second to the third attempt. Again, I was devastated and utterly shocked. I felt like I had done all that I could to prepare. Clearly, my approach to studying and test taking ability is not working for me. Naturally, there is a ton of anxiety related to the PANCE now. I truly do not know how to approach this thing differently!!
I know that I am too late responding to this email. However, is there any advice or anything that you feel you could share with me, so that I can move past this hurdle and begin working in this career that I have worked so hard for? I am willing to do whatever it takes, but I feel like I am missing something major here.
Thank you for taking the time to read. I appreciate it. Have a great week.
Sincerely,
XXXXXX
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I reached out to this person in private, so let’s set that aside. I want you to understand what this person is saying and what they are struggling with. Do you really think they don’t know enough content? No freakin’ way. I’d be SHOCKED out of my shoes if that were the case. No way.
They’re missing something. I cover content in the podcast, but that thing this person is missing… that gets covered in Physician Assistant Exam Scholars. Last month, I covered a whole new approach to test-taking that will blow the doors of what you’re doing now. Sorry if you missed it; it was a doozy. (I am making old issues available to PAES members in March so keep that in mind if you’re not already a member)
The March issue is all about that age-old questions, “How do I know how much detail to study?” Knowing the answer to that makes studying easier and test-taking easier. And that answer, my fine friends, is what the March issue of Physician Assistant Exam Scholars is all about.
This is the stuff our friend at the beginning is missing. Do not hesitate, do not saunter. Issue #24 goes to the printer on Leap Day and you’d better be in.
Brian Wallace