An analysis of theme content in CASPA personal statements

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Health Professions Education

Background:

• Personal statements are crucial for Physician Assistant (PA) program applications via the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA).
• Previous studies indicate a lack of diversity in graduate and professional program application essays.
• This research investigates themes within PA program applicant personal statements.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and quantify the major content themes in personal statements submitted to a Midwestern PA program.
• To assess the frequency of these themes among applicants.

Main Methods:

• Personal statements from 63 consenting students were randomly assigned identification numbers.
• Two independent reviewers manually coded content themes.
• A consensus was reached among reviewers and the primary investigator to define major content categories.

Main Results:

• Seven major content themes were identified across the personal statements.
• Four themes appeared in 70% or more of the statements: healthcare experience, altruism, patient interaction, and the medical profession.

Conclusions:

• Applicant personal statements for PA programs exhibit thematic homogeneity, aligning with prior research on application essays.
• This similarity may indicate applicants believe these themes effectively demonstrate their qualifications for admission.
• Further investigation is needed into how PA programs utilize personal statements in their admissions decisions.