Journaling as a PA Admissions Strategy | Hannah, UofT PA-S1
From Pre-Med to Pre-PA
How Journaling Helped Hannah Build a Competitive PA School Application
When you’re navigating the road to becoming a Physician Assistant in Canada, there are a lot of unknowns. This is especially true when you're choosing between different career paths, managing self-doubt, and trying to stand out in an increasingly competitive applicant pool.
In this episode of the podcast, we sit down with Hannah Keith, a first-year PA student at the University of Toronto, who shares her honest and thoughtful journey to PA school. Hannah was accepted to both McMaster and U of T and what helped guide her was something simple but powerful: journaling.
“The moment I stopped aiming for medical school and started choosing what actually aligned with my values, everything became clearer—and I got in.”
HANNAH, PA-S1, University of Toronto BScPA Program
3 Key Takeaways from Hannah:
1. You Don’t Need to Know Everything Right Away. Hannah didn’t commit to PA school overnight. Her clarity came through conversations, research, and reflective journaling over time.
2. Journaling is a Strong PA Admissions Strategy. She mapped her experiences to CanMEDS roles, practiced for the Kira Talent interview, and strengthened her essays using simple, consistent writing prompts.
3. Choose a School That Matches Your Learning Style. After getting accepted to both McMaster and U of T, Hannah chose the program that fit her strengths, lifestyle, and long-term goals.
Watch the Episode
Resources Mentioned
Follow Hannah’s PA journey on Instagram @hannah.the.pa
Use the PA Professional competencies listed on CanMEDS-PA to help you reflect on your previous experiences for PA Admissions
