RMT to PA: Switching Careers & Turning ‘No’ into PA Acceptance | Sarah, McMaster PA-S2
What happens when your first PA school application ends in heartbreak, but you still know you’re meant for this path?
In this episode, I’m joined by Sarah Floyd, a second-year PA student at McMaster University and former registered massage therapist, who opens up about her powerful journey from rejection to acceptance. Sarah shares how she navigated a “no” the first time she applied, the personal loss that shaped her mindset, and what she did differently the second time around to walk into her interviews fully prepared and walk out with an offer.
We dive into how she transitioned careers, what it’s really like being an older student in PA school, and how she’s managing to plan a wedding while completing clinicals. Her story is honest, motivating, and packed with wisdom for anyone wondering if it’s too late to start over.
If you’ve been feeling discouraged, uncertain, or stuck—this episode is your reminder to keep going.
What if the right career path isn’t the one you first imagined? In this episode, Saif shares his journey from undergrad kinesiology student to first-year Physician Assistant student at McMaster University.
We talk about what helped him choose the PA profession with clarity, how self-reflection shifted his goals, and what he learned about himself through burnout, military service, and the admissions process. If you're exploring a future as a PA, this episode will give you a grounded, honest look at what it takes to find your fit.
Follow Saif on Instagram @saifenous
Journaling to Build a Strong PA School Application
In this inspiring episode, Hannah Keith shares the full arc of her journey from aspiring pre-med to pre-PA, to being accepted to both the University of Toronto and McMaster’s Physician Assistant programs.
Now a first-year PA student at U of T, Hannah walks us through the real decision-making, mindset shifts, and strategies that helped her build a standout application while staying grounded throughout the process.
She speaks openly about navigating uncertainty, comparing career paths, and why journaling became one of her most valuable tools. It supported her self-reflection, strengthened her supplementary application, prepared her for the Kira Talent interview, and helped her connect her experiences to the CanMEDS roles that define PA practice in Canada.
Topics we cover in this episode:
How Hannah decided between medical school and the PA profession
The self-reflection process that clarified her goals and values
Tips for writing your supplementary application and mapping your experience to CanMEDS
Building a story bank for interviews using journaling
Her experience as a U of T PA student and how it compares to her expectations
Choosing between multiple PA school acceptances
Areas of clinical interest including geriatrics, primary care, and international health
Advocating for the profession through social media and mentorshi
Learn how Aurthi, a 1st year PA Student at the University of Toronto’s BScPA program, she built a competitive PA school application, gaining multiple PA school acceptances, and what to expect as a first year PA student.
From volunteering at local clinics to finding her first kinesiology job after undergrad, Aurthi shares how she pieced together meaningful healthcare experience. She also walks us through UofT’s distributed learning approach, how residential blocks work, and what helped her stay grounded in a demanding program.
If you’re exploring PA programs or preparing to apply, you'll gain a practical insight on what the PA application journey actually involves.
Topics Covered:
Finding and building healthcare experience
What to expect from UofT’s online and in-person learning structure
How residential blocks and LCEs are scheduled
The role of mentorship and group study in first year
Tips for choosing a PA program based on your learning style
Connect
No Blueprint, No Problem: A First-Gen PA Applicant's Journey
Nawal Arshi didn’t plan to become a PA. But when she learned about the profession late in her undergrad, it clicked. Today, she’s part of the first ever MPAS class at the University of Calgary, helping pave the path for PAs in Alberta.
From building patient care experience without traditional connections to preparing for Casper and the MMI with reflection-heavy strategies, Nawal’s story is a great guide for first-generation, first-time applicants navigating a competitive process without a blueprint.
Learn how she made her application stand out, what life is like inside Canada’s newest PA program, and what advice she has for future applicants.
What You’ll Learn:
How Nawal built her health care experience without connections
Smart prep tips for Casper and MMI interviews
Her process for staying grounded during PA school
What life is really like as part of Calgary’s first PA cohort
Advice for first-time and first-gen PA applicants
Sonya, a first-year PA student at the University of Calgary, shares her honest journey to getting into PA school in Canada after 3 application attempts. She opens up about the challenges, mindset shifts, and practical steps that helped her build a stronger application each time. We also talk about what life is like inside the Calgary's MPAS program, how she studies, and how she stays grounded while living far from home.
Whether you're reapplying or just starting out, Sonya’s story is a reminder that the path to becoming a PA doesn’t have to be perfect to be powerful.