Natalie is an incoming University of Toronto BScPA Student. You can follow her journey at @midwifetopa.
Natalie’s Pre-PA Stats
Accepted:
- University of Toronto, PA Consortium
Education:
- BHSc. Human Kinetics from University of Ottawa (2001)
- BHSc. Midwifery from McMaster University (2007)
GPA:
- Cumulative GPA 3.65 out of 4.0 on the OMSAS scale
Health Care Experience Hours:
- Registered midwife in Ontario and Alberta >10,000
My Interests and Hobbies:
- My interests include knitting (and anything crafty), photography, hiking, camping, riding my vintage Vespa, exploring new restaurants/cuisines, and definitely spending time with my family!
Fun Facts:
- I’m a mature applicant (turning 43).
- I’m a Mom of a 10-year-old daughter
- I currently live in Calgary, Alberta
Why I decided to pursue the PA profession
I’ve had the pleasure of being a Registered Midwife for the past fourteen years. While this profession has been extremely rewarding it also comes with its own challenges.
I really wanted to be able to stay in a primarily patient-focused role while having the option of lateral mobility and a better work-life balance. PA seemed like a perfect fit for me!
What I think helped me stand out on PA Admissions
I definitely think my health care experience as a primary care provider worked in my favour and also a reason why I choose to apply exclusively to the University of Toronto PA program. I also think I had a strong referee who was able to strengthen my application. I just tried to be genuine and thoughtful in all my responses – hopefully, that helped as well.
My tips for Canadian Pre-PA Applicants
I don’t think you have to have it all figured out right from the very beginning. The application process allows for a lot of preparation as you move through the steps. Just take it one step at a time and it won’t be so overwhelming. I would encourage applicants to do a lot of research. My starting point was always the Canadian PA website but I also found many great YouTube, Facebook and Instagram accounts of people who have gone through the process and have had sage words of advice.
Connect with Natalie! (@midwifetopa)
Don’t be afraid to reach out and ask questions. The PA and student PA community is very welcoming and usually very eager to help!
Now it’s your turn!
Thank you Natalie for sharing your incredible journey to gaining acceptance into PA School!
Have questions? Leave it in the comments below.
