What Your Email Address Says About You on a PA School Application (and Why It Might Be Time for a Change)
When it comes to your PA school application, every single detail matters. You know the obvious ones—your GPA, your PCE hours, your personal statement. But what about something as tiny (and seemingly harmless) as your email address?
Yep, we’re going there. Because that quirky or outdated email address you’ve had since high school? It might be sending the wrong message to PA programs before they even open your app.
Why Your Email Address Actually Matters
PA schools aren’t just looking at your stats. They’re looking at YOU. The whole package. And your email address is often the very first impression they get. It’s what pops up in their inbox, it’s what you type into the CASPA system, it’s what they use to contact you for interviews.
Think of it like the digital version of a handshake.
If your email is something like:
…it might be time for a rebrand.
What a “Bad” Email Can Say About You
Okay, so we’re not judging (we’ve all had some cringey emails in our day), but let’s look at what these kinds of addresses might signal to a PA program:
- Lack of professionalism
- Poor attention to detail
- Not taking the application process seriously
- Outdated tech habits (hi, AOL)
And while these things might not be true about you at all, why even risk giving off the wrong vibe?
What a Professional Email Looks Like
Professional doesn’t mean boring—it just means clean, simple, and reflective of the grown-up, future PA you are.
Here are some great formats:
Can’t get your name? Try adding your graduation year, a simple number, or even your CASPA cycle.
Bonus tip: Always use a provider like Gmail, Outlook, or iCloud—something current and reliable.
AND ALWAYS ALWAYS CHECK YOUR SPAM FOLDER EVERY DAY – if would be awful to miss an interview invite or acceptance email that landed in your spam and that you didn’t see until it was too late.
Quick Fix Checklist
Before you hit submit, ask yourself:
- Does my email look like I’m applying for a professional graduate program?
- Will this email age well and still make sense if I get accepted in 6 months?
- Can a PA program director say it out loud without cringing?
Bonus Pro-Tip: Make Sure It Matches
If you’re linking to a LinkedIn profile or have a professional website or Instagram page that you’re using to showcase your journey, make sure your email matches. It builds trust and consistency.
The Takeaway
Your email address is like your outfit for your application—it should be clean, appropriate, and make you feel confident.
So if you’re still rocking an email you made in middle school? No shame. Just take two minutes today and create a new, professional one that shows PA programs you mean business.
Tiny tweak. Huge first impression.