PAES 1-10

Dear friend,

After many, many requests I’m going to crack open the vault for a VERY limited time. As a member of Physician Assistant Exam Review community, I’m going to give you the rare (as in never before seen) opportunity to get access to the first ten issues of the newsletter. Not only that, but you’re going to be able to access those issues at a an unbelievable price. We’ll get to all of that in a minute. But first…

I’ve been getting more and more emails from people who’ve failed their exams. Like this fine fellow who has failed multiple times and closes his email to me with this

I'm looking for anything at this point. I've done Rosh Review, I've done Hippo, I do a question a day from Kaplan (free), I've done the CME... I just need a freakin' pass!

or this lass

This time has been incredibly difficult for me trying to process through what I did wrong and how to go forward. I felt that I prepared and took all the necessary steps to ensure that I would be successful and unfortunately that was not the outcome I received. I cannot explain or express the emotions that I am feeling right now… This is an incredibly difficult time for me as I have most likely lost my job offer on top of this. I am reaching out to see if there are any tips or resources that you recommend… I know that the majority of my issues come down to the fact that I am a terrible test taker.

or this from another young would be PA-C who has failed the PANCE multiple times

ANY SUGGESTIONS OR HELP WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.

I have plenty of suggestions. Tons of suggestions. Elephants full of suggestions.

There are plenty of ways to get better at everything you need to do, from studying, to test taking, to crushing your rotations, to mastering test questions, to finding your dream job and acing your interviews and more.

Here’s the problem. I can’t write up a tip sheet that will be of any value. I can’t have a ten minute conversation and make it all better. The way that I do things, the way that I recommend you do them takes time to learn. It’s a process. It will get you there, but a lot of the things I teach are philosophies that fly in the face of everything you’ve been doing for the better part of twenty years. Even if I could write up a tip sheet you’d toss it in the waste bin and think nothing of it.

The ideas take time to sink in, to marinate. The philosophies and ideas that I teach work better than anything you’ve been doing, but they’re different. Which is the conundrum. People don’t like change. They’d rather stay stuck, stay failing rather than change, rather than try something different.

That’s the whole reason I created The Physician Assistant Exam Scholar’s Newsletter. I knew I couldn’t teach this stuff in one course. I knew it wouldn’t get through. The people who wanted to get better would have to absorb it slowly over time. Revisit and reread issues to implant and utilize the philosophies and techniques over time. It wouldn’t be quick fix. On the up side all of the things we cover are amazingly easy to implement, if you can get your head around change. The ideas and strategies covered in the PAES newsletters are guaranteed to save loads of time and frustration.

The only people who have seen these issues are members of PAES. I have never made them availbel to the gerneral community before and I may never do it again. The back issues get locked away in the vault. I'm considering building some even higher level training out of them, but that hasn't happened (and may never happen)

But, seeing how it's PA week I thought I would do something extra special to help everyone who's been asking for more, asking for how to pass, asking for how to get it done. Well, in these issues you'll get it all. It took me year to write them and... well let me just show you what's inside.

The four levels of knowledge. A major flaw in studying is thinking we are at the wrong level and then being disappointed with our resuts.
The stages of competence and how they can move you light years ahead if you understand them.
The difference between the first time you place a catheter and the 100th time and how it can help you in practice and in test taking.
Why you forget things and how you can stop that process
The number one tactic for memorization that I’ve used for every test I’ve ever taken and the reason I wrote The Final Step
Research from the head of the Cognition and Memory in Education & Learning lab that proves the most powerful techniques in memory research and how you can use them to impress your preceptors and professors alike.
A simple and easy to implement memory technique that helped students retain 30% more information even a month after learning it. (The study showing this was published in the Psychological Bulletin and is a meta-analysis of 839 testing session.)
What the testing effect is, how you can use it to ace your exams and how to maximize it’s potential with a few simple tweeks.
Another super secret video that explains it all.
How to use a proven batting practice technique to make sure you really have all the data in your brain. (It’s the reason there’s a Volume 2 included with The Final Step)

The secret to what you should really be “learning” on your rotations that will set you up to be a GREAT practitioner.
What to do so that you’ll never, ever have to complain that “No one will hire a new grad.” You’ll be able to land a job with ease.
The embarrassing story of my very first day in the clinic and what not to do.
Ten questions to ask your preceptor that will get suturing and putting screws in bones so you can gloat to your classmates.
Why being aggressive and obnoxious on your rotations is the very last thing you should be worried about. I’ll tell the first thing inside.
The number one way, easiest most foolproof way to get a job and start making some money
The one thing that will get you kicked out of a rotation for sure.
7 rules for rotations that will have them eating out of your hand. ( I know I’m a preceptor now.)
The unbelievably important secret to get the MOST out of every single rotation. It’s so easy and so few students do it.
How one of my students, after just meeting a spine surgeon got to put TWO SCREWS IN A PATIENTS NECK. Her methods made her the best student we’ve had to date.
How to get a GLOWING recommendation from your preceptors every time.

A step by step process for considering what field to go into. (Hint: Your dream job may not be all it’s cracked up to be. Mine wasn’t)
Why job postings are for suckers and what to do instead
How to get a job at the place you want in three easy steps. This process will put ahead of 98% of all other candidates.
Exact scripts for how to approach a new position. Just swap out your name and the name of your potential employer.
A copy of my first PA resume and cover letter. (I landed that job by the way)
The WORST thing that everyone puts in a letter to a potential employer. It makes you look so weak an uninteresting.
What MUST go in your resume to make the interview process a breeze.
How to easily access the 87% of all jobs that are found on the “hidden” job market. (It’s easy if you know how)
The story of one PA who executed this plan perfectly and found her dream job
What to do if you don’t get to the interview (Hint: it ain’t over till it’s over)
This issue is all about how to get the interview lined up. That’s goal #1.
Exactly what to say on the phone to get what you want. (I’ve included detailed scripts for you)

How to ace your interview and make sure you get your dream job.
The best way to demonstrate that you’re the best candidate for the position.
All the homework you MUST do BEFORE the interview to look like a ROCK Star.
The three things you need to get across to the interview as quickly as possible.
How to easily set yourself up in the top 5% of interviewees.
The two words you're going to use in an interview that will ruin your chances of getting the job.
Nine difficult interview questions and scripts on how to handle them.
Six questions you need to ask the interviewer.
How to change the entire context of the interview with a few simple tricks and walk out the door with the offer in hand.
The one question you absolutely must NOT ask during your interview.
Interviewing tips directly from the docs who are INTERVIEWING

An explanation the super power you’ve been honing for years and that you’ll use to crush your exam.
On test day you have to make thousands of decisions. It’s exhausting. I’m going to show you how to take the strain out of it.
Secrets to energy management, which is the secret to passing the exam.
How to avoid the HUGE mistake I made.
Exactly what to do the week and days before your exam to have your most important assets working for you on test day.
The two most important things for test day and how to make sure well in advance those are taken care of.
Some important advice from Barbara Corcoran (real-estate GIANT and featured star on Shark Tank) on how to be at your best.
How to avoid and escape from dreaded Panic Loops.
The best way to get a good night sleep the night before your exam. (Hint: sleep is a major key to your success on test day)
My favorite tactic for crushing your nerves and building a wall of confidence around yourself.
What to do when you walk into the testing center that will put you way ahead of everyone else. It only takes five minutes.
What I recommend you do on your breaks to make sure you’re ready to rock and roll when you go back into that test.

How to quickly turn transient knowledge into durable knowledge.
Just like in Golf, it’s all about the approach (I’ll show you exactly what to do)
How to avoid transient knowledge and create durable knowledge (so you’re not relearning things over and over)
Why your IQ doesn’t matter anymore (it got you into PA school, but we’re gonna take you further)
A foundational studying technique from a Georgetown University computer science professor who spends his free time thinking about thinking.
How to deal with even the most annoying people around you so that they’ll leave you alone and let you get your work done AND they’ll feel good about it.
How to build a study “program” yourself that will have you dominate your exams
How to get through your most important work like it’s easy
The three key characteristics of a good study space and how to turn any study space into a good one
The two apps I use every single day to get more done
Why you should be increasing the pressure while you study (and how to do it every time)
A new study habit that will have you cool as a cucumber on the big day (but you have to start practicing now)
A way to get your brain to put the important stuff in the keep pile instead of wondering why everything you studied yesterday is in the garbage heap
How to get your brain to work for you instead of against you (Simple: takes 8 seconds to do)
14 action steps to get you home and in bed before everyone else (Nine and ten are my favorites)

How (and what) to steal from a Boy Scout to get more done
The “magic” bag to build your success around
A key to victory over your exams that has been passed down for over 2,000 years
A clear plan of attack for those days when you absolutely can not get yourself to do ANY work. We’ll walk through exactly how to handle it, so you get it done and feel good about it
How to stop fighting the current and start swimming downstream. It’s easy when you're heading the right direction
The biggest problem with action is that there are usually 359 wrong choices. I’m going to show you how to make the right one. (And more importantly how to STOP making all the wrong ones)
The 12 things you NEED to have with you at all times
The answer to your terrible memory (Hint: it has nothing to do with your memory)
The three reasons why 85% of PA students spin their wheels instead of making the progress they should
A powerful technique for outwitting the monkey brain that keeps you from getting your work done. ( I guarantee you haven’t seen this one before, and I use it every single time I sit down to do work.)
How your brain sabotages you when it knows YOU can’t be trusted. And how to fix it forever.
The #1 thing, according to world-renowned mentalist and speed reader Jim Kwik, that slows down readers. Once you know it, you can easily stop doing it.
The one thing I can not study without and how to make sure you always, always have it
A scientifically proven way to beat depression and anxiety that takes less than 5 minutes a day and you can do in the comfort of your own home (Good thing PA school doesn’t make you anxious or depressed)
A way to set up a new notebook that will save you time AND build your confidence.
How to crush even the best excuses YOU can come up with not to study
Two simple mind tricks to create any new positive habit you want
What goes into my personal journal every morning
A technique demonstrated by Harvard researches that boosted test scores by 22.8% on final exams. It had the test subjects studying LESS than the control group. It's hard to implement only because it's so counterintuitive. If you can get over that it’ll save you time and get you higher grades.

The one thing the NCCPA gives you that’s like handing you a passing grade on a silver platter, but everyone ignores.
A look over my shoulder as I show I you exactly what to do when hit a question you cannot answer (and why I’m thrilled to see these questions)
Exactly what this test is all about (and it has nothing to do with being a good PA)
The secret weapon that they do let you bring into the room on exam day (and a trick for how to access it)
A method we teach my fourth grader that will save you from making multiple dumb mistakes
A lesson I learned from a TOP speed reading and memorization coach to help you get those answers right.
The superpower you were born with (we all were) and how to unleash it.
The parts of a question and how that works for you every time.
The single biggest test taking problem and how to fix it just a few seconds
The problem test writers have and how you can exploit that for higher grades.
There very first thing to do when you read a question (this will make the answers much easier to find in that brain of yours)

Why I decided to take my test in 2018 instead of 2019
The difference between my definition of success and yours (and why mine will help you succeed)
Why memorizing entire blocks of text, diseases, their presentations and their symptoms is the wrong approach (I’ll tell you what how I narrowed it way down and got a score well above passing)
The anatomy of test question and why it matters to your adrenal glands
Two distinct types of test questions and how to handle each one like a pro
The parts of the test to enjoy, yes that’s right enjoy. These spots can be like someone who sees a rose and doesn’t pause to appreciateit. The rose might as well not have been there. It could have provided a refreshing reprieve from the world, but you didn’t bother to take advantage. I’ll show you where to stop and smell the roses and maybe even break for a Snoopy Dance.
How to “see” key terms in the exam (After taking my PANRE again I’m more convinced than ever, key terms are everywhere)
What to do when you get down to two good answer choices. (Surprise, it isn’t get mad and pound the desk)
A few seconds you can take that can tip the odds of passing well into your favor during the exam.
The most important part of any game (yes this test is just another game)
To master the key term loop for fun and higher scores. (I never realized that I even did this or how important this trick was until I started writing about it)
The most important thing I do AFTER I’ve answered a question
A sneaky way to crawl into the mind of the test writers, so you know what they think when they write the test questions

“I’ve been a subscriber to PAES for over 7 months now and can say that it has tremendously helped me build confidence and succeed during PA school. I felt lost during the first half of didactic and was playing catch-up with how to handle “drinking from a fire hydrant” of information, but after following Brian’s advice with PAES, I saw a complete 180 with how I was handling everything. All of Brian’s materials are phenomenal and build a great foundation, but PAES has directed me in the right path towards not only how to face PA school, but also what to plan for the future as a PA-C someday. I appreciate how the newsletter applies to all aspects of being a PA (studying, clinicals, finances, etc.). Reading these newsletters, I feel as if Brian is my mentor guiding me through the twists and turns that PA school throws at you. I would highly recommend PAES to any PA student who struggles with PA school, and let’s be honest, everyone struggles during PA school at one point or another. The price is well worth it, and you won’t regret your subscription!" -Corey Hill

Clinical rotations was very much navigated by mistakes and the hindsight and learning that come with them. I truly believe if I had read some of Brian’s tips and tricks, I could have been just as prepared going into my very first rotation as I feel starting my 8th and final rotation.

With the amount of medical knowledge to be learned during PA school, things like job hunting, networking, standing out as a PA student on rotations, etc often get overlooked. The newsletter is a great supplement to me as I finish up clinical year and begin my search for a job.

Thanks, Neicy W

Hi Brian,

First, I am a very big fan of yours. I have been listening to you in my car/ on walks/ during any free time since the end of my didactic year and all through rotations, and I absolutely love the podcast. Not only is it great information, but you somehow make me laugh and feel better at the same time! I recently joined PAES because I trust your content so much, and I love that also. I completely agree with your philosophy on test-taking in the Dec./Jan. issues.

I am very thankful for you and all that you do for the PA community! Thank you! Meghan

“The biggest hesitation to subscribing was always the $$. You've already bought the books, the scrubs, the stethoscope and the reflex hammer and now you're contemplating a monthly subscription too? You think, aren't I already paying for this information via lectures with my PA school tuition? Can I really justify another study material purchase? I can understand your thought process fully, as I've been there. I can also attest to the quality of the PAES newsletter and how it played a vital part in my success when it came to passing my PANCE on the first try. With the PAES newsletter, Brian readily embraces the challenging and daunting task of prepping for the PANCE/PANRE and transforms it into a feasible goal. Over the course of a few months, you'll gain pearls, techniques and study tips- just to name a few- all bringing you step by step closer to your goal. The Physician Assistant Exam Scholars Newsletter isn't for those looking for a quick fix when it comes to study tips but rather the individual who recognizes the value in continuously building on such study skills and challenging the way they do things.” - Brooke M. Southerland

Issue No 01 - Hours and Hours of Studying Down the Drain: A scientifically proven way to end the depressing and demoralizing spaghetti strainer brain

Issue No 02 - Work Smarter, not Harder: Cognitive Psychologists Want to Show You How

Issue No 03 - Rock Your Rotations: How to Graduate with a Job

Issue No 04 - Land Your Dream Job With No more Work than Ordering a Pizza

Issue No 05 - Reel That Fish in and Start Getting a Paycheck

Issue No 06 - What to Expect When Your Expecting: The Big Day

Issue No 07 - Study Hacks: Part One

Issue No 08 - Study Hacks: Part Two

Issue No 09 - Test Questions

Issue No 10 - Answer Questions Like a PRO

Only Available Until 6/12 (the end of PA WEEK)

A Few Words From some PAES members

Only Available Until 6/12 (the end PA WEEK)