How Many Extracurricular Experiences Should I Include?

Include 3-5 experiences that genuinely reflect who you are and what you bring to the table beyond academics and healthcare.

Does Part-Time or PRN Work Matter if it's not Healthcare Related?

Definitely. Non-clinical jobs show responsibility, reliability, and time management—all qualities PAs need.

Can I Include Experiences I Only Did for a Short Time?

Ideally, focus on long-term commitments rather than one-off or very brief experiences, as sustained involvement shows dedication and growth.

How Do I Track My Hours?

Use a spreadsheet or document to log extracurricular and employment hours, including dates, your role or task, and a short reflection on what you learned. CASPA requires detailed logs for verification, so it's crucial to retain this information.

Extracurriculars & Employment

Extracurriculars & Employment

Why These Experiences Matter for Future PAs

Admission committees want to see more than just grades and clinical experience. Your extracurriculars and non-clinical employment highlight your personality, work ethic, and the skills you've developed through everyday life and personal pursuits. Including them in your application helps show that you are a well-rounded, resilient, and capable future PA.

What are Extracurriculars?

Extracurriculars are activities that show who you are outside of academics and patient care. They highlight personality, interests, and skills that help you thrive as a PA but don't fit into the other categories specified by CASPA.

What to Include

Include activities that reflect long-term commitment rather than one-time or scattered events. For example:

If you've participated in dance classes for years and accumulated significant hours, include it.
If you've only attended a class once or twice without continuing, don't include it.

Examples of Extracurriculars

Playing on a sports team (club, intramural, or varsity).
Participating in theater, music, or other artistic endeavors.
Personal projects, like running a blog, podcast, or small business.
Hobbies that demonstrate commitment or growth, like martial arts or writing.

What is Non-Clinical Employment?

Non-clinical employment includes jobs outside of healthcare that demonstrate your work ethic, professionalism, or transferable skills. These experiences can help to show how you handle responsibility and manage real-world challenges.

Tips & Considerations

CASPA and PA programs only consider hours earned after high school. If you started a job in high school and continued it afterward, only include the hours completed since graduating.
Focus on transferable skills: Highlight teamwork, communication, problem-solving, leadership, and time management. Admissions committees want to see qualities that will make you a successful PA.