EXPERIENCE!

Having some experience in the health care field is a true benefit and will likely improve your chances of admission.  Many programs set a minimum requirement of health care experience as a criteria for admission.  Even if there is no stated minimum requirement, any experience will be a benefit and will make you more competitive.

There may be strict guidelines on the type of health care experience your program will accept in order to meet this critieria.  Make sure you know what these guidelines are so that you can focus your efforts on experience which "counts". 

Experience can come in a variety of ways.  Working as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), athletic trainer, EMT, etc is excellent, hands-on experience.  Other ways to gain experience may be to volunteer at a hospital or nursing home, shadow a practicing PA or physician, help out at local health fairs...the list goes on and on.

Just remember...the MORE, the BETTER!!  Well-rounded experience is a good idea, too.  Getting a look at health care from a number of different perspectives will give you a better view of how the health care system works, and how the members of the health care team work collaboratively to provide the best care for patients.