Love For Lauren

"Very happy to have worked with Vince on my GRE prep and Lauren on my personal essay writing. Both were integral to my success in getting accepted to my ideal grad school. Vince had a very straightforward and understandable approach toward taking the test which helped remove the test anxiety I definitely would have otherwise felt. I knew exactly what was coming weeks before I sat down to take it and managed to score about 10-15 points higher than I would have without his help. Lauren was equally helpful in editing my essay - both on the finer details as well as big picture ideas and concepts. I wholeheartedly believe their assistance throughout the GRE and grad school application process is what pushed me over the edge and got me accepted into my ideal program at my ideal school. 5 stars, no question."

- Clifford Grant (see review on Google Maps)

"I worked with Lauren Hammond on my personal statement and she was amazing!! I spent a couple months working with her and it was one of the best decisions that I feel elevated my grad school applications. I came into the first meeting with a draft essay that was basically my resume and was all over the place. Lauren helped me nail down my story and what I am passionate about. I ended up writing an amazing personal statement with great feedback from Lauren that I felt really showed readers who I am. She was super flexible with the times we met and I ended up getting into my TOP choice schools (Johns Hopkins, Brown, etc). I would definitely work with her again!"

- Aster M. (see review on Google Maps)

"I had about 6 sessions with Lauren Hammond to go over my personal statements for PhD/PsyD Clinical Psychology applications. I had different goals for each of my statements (e.g., trim, content development, brainstorm ideas), and she tailored each session to meet my needs. An hour might seem short, but she was very productive and sometimes went over two short statements in one session. She was also available via text for any brief questions or concerns. I am very happy with her service and recommend it to anyone who wants to craft a stand-out personal statement. I thought my writing skills were already good, but the final product, including her revisions, turned out even better than I expected."

- Fiona Wang (see review on Google Maps)

"Lauren Hammond was so incredibly helpful with my personal statements for grad school. I really needed help with organization, staying focused on a coherent narrative and content-building, which she was phenomenal with. She's also a really sweet person and a pleasure to work with! Can't recommend her enough."

- Mira Park (see review on Google Maps)

"As I was applying to PhD programs, I was struggling to write my personal statements. I searched online for hours to try and find something or someone that looked worth spending the money on and I came across Lauren Hammond at Vince Kotchian Test Prep. I was only planning on doing maybe one session to help get me started but Lauren was SO good that I continued working with her for weeks. She gave such valuable feedback and felt like she truly cared about making my work the best it can be. I even recommended her to my other colleagues who were applying to grad school and they felt the same way. I currently have 3 interviews for grad school and I couldn't have gotten those without her help!"

- Mikayla Haas (see review on Google Maps)

"Lauren Hammond was amazing. She provided me with thoughtful feedback that structured and strengthened my graduate school application essays. She was great at asking questions to push me to be a better writer. You can tell she genuinely cares about her students and wants to see you succeed. Additionally she is flexible in scheduling and will make deadlines work with your timeline. I was accepted into my top school choice and appreciate Lauren for her help in the process. If you or someone you know is looking for an essay tutor for graduate applications, Lauren is definitely the best!"

- Renee Begin (see review on Google Maps)

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should I spend writing my PA personal statement?

We generally recommend about 4-8 weeks - 6 weeks is a good sweet spot. It takes time to come up with ideas and get those ideas onto paper in a compelling form.

Where can I find some good examples of personal statements?

Other than Google, I really like the sample admissions essays in Graduate Admissions Essays by Donald Asher. If you're a DIY kind of person, Asher's advice for the entire graduate admissions process is very good.

Note: The above links are Amazon affiliate links and I earn a commission if you purchase things through them. However, any commission I earn comes at no additional cost to you, and you pay nothing extra. My recommendation is based on extensive experience using this book's advice with dozens of people over the years, and I recommend it because it's helpful and useful, not because of the small commission I receive if you choose to buy it.

How can I make my personal statement stand out?

MOST personal statements are BORING! Not because the person writing them is boring, but perhaps because:

1. Their focus is too broad. They try to cover everything they've done, and nothing ends up standing out.
2. They're impersonal. It's a personal statement - the reader needs to get a sense of who you are and what you're actually like - not some sanitized "professional" version of you.
3. They're too safe. Ironically, a statement that takes no risks can be the riskiest thing you can do. We're not applying to a program with the intent of blending in with all the other applicants!

Granted, the above things can be overdone, or done wrong. But most statements make no impact, so it's worth thinking about how yours actually can.

For more personal statement tips, check out Vince's video: 7 Ways to Write a Crappy Graduate School Personal Statement.

What are the basics of applying to a PA program?

Getting into a Physician Assistant (PA) program is a bit like training for a triathlon — it requires a mix of different strengths and skills, all balanced and honed to meet a rigorous set of standards. Here's how the process typically unfolds:

First off, candidates need a bachelor’s degree, often in a science-related field like biology or health science. PA programs are pretty keen on academics, especially in subjects like anatomy, physiology, and microbiology. Good grades in these areas are important because they show you've got a solid foundation in the sciences.

Next up is healthcare experience. Unlike some other medical fields, PA programs usually want candidates with hands-on patient care experience. This could be anything from working as an EMT or nurse to being a medical assistant or a health educator. The idea is to get a real-world feel for healthcare and prove you can handle the pressures and complexities of patient care.

The GRE is often a requirement for PA programs. It’s not just about acing the test; it’s about showing that you've got the analytical and verbal reasoning chops to handle the academic side of the program.

When it comes to the application itself, personal statements and recommendation letters are crucial. The personal statement is a chance to tell your story: why you want to be a PA, what you’ve learned from your healthcare experiences, and how you’ve prepared for this career. Recommendation letters should ideally come from supervisors or professors who can vouch for both your academic abilities and your aptitude in a healthcare setting.

Interviews are pretty common in the PA application process. They're an opportunity to show off your communication skills, your understanding of the PA profession, and your reasons for choosing this career path.

Extra credit goes to candidates who've done some shadowing of practicing PAs. It’s a way to demonstrate your commitment to the PA profession and to show that you know what you're getting into.

In a nutshell, getting into a PA program is about balancing solid academic credentials with meaningful healthcare experience, topped off with a personal commitment to the PA profession and the skills to thrive in a challenging medical environment.