Top 5 Physician Assistant (PA) Mentors & Admissions Consultants (2026)

A Physician Assistant career has never been more in demand. With more people trying to get into a handful of programs, proper mentorship can help get you a coveted acceptance offer.

Between maintaining a high GPA, asking the right mentors for letters of recommendation, and getting all your shadowing hours done, it can be challenging to manage the entire application process without knowing what schools are really looking for. This is where having the guidance of a mentor can be so important.

In this guide, we have hand-picked the 5 best PA Coaches of 2026 to help mentor you while applying. With a mix of coaches who’ve worked with thousands of students applying to PA school, this list has the perfect coach for what you are looking for.

Ashley M.

Pre-PA Advisor at Brigham Young University | Career Advisor to over 1000+ pre-PA students | Former Clinical Social Worker

Ashley M. has spent her career as a Pre-PA mentor, helping students turn their goals into program acceptances. For over three years, she served as the lead Pre-PA Advisor at BYU, helping more than 1,000 students navigate the PA school application process. During that time, she reviewed hundreds of CASPA applications and helped students identify the programs that best fit them. Her extensive hours of working with students and families, translated into a 90% acceptance rate among her mentees.

What sets Ashley apart is sheer volume and depth of experience. Not many people have worked with as many aspiring PAs or spent as much time contacting and building relationships with admission teams. Ashley is a mentor who will keep you on track with her institutional knowledge that applicants will never see on programs’ websites. Combined with her background as a clinical social worker, she brings the empathy and passion to make this stressful process feel doable.

Krysta F.

Associate Director of Career Services at Michigan State University | Career Advisor to over 400+ pre-health students | Former Director of Alumni Relations

Krysta F. has spent over a decade guiding aspiring healthcare professionals toward their grad school goals, with a special focus on Physician Assistant programs. For the past 5 years, she’s worked as the Associate Director of Career Services at Michigan State University. In this role, she’s completed thousands of one-on-one advising sessions with STEM students seeking to work in a variety of medical professions. She’s done everything from helping pre-PA students enroll in the right courses to reviewing their personal statements and providing key guidance in the often-overwhelming PA admissions process. Her extensive career in education and career guidance reflects her belief that students should have early access to mentorship.

What makes Krysta’s coaching stand out is its deep personalization and research-informed approach. Krysta brings a holistic coaching lens, built on her extensive experience helping thousands. She can be especially helpful for first-gen and underrepresented students who are worried about how to afford the hefty price tag of PA school. If you want someone who knows how to help craft your best story, Krysta is a coach who will get you into the schools of your dreams and guide you on how to tackle the cost.

Lauren C.

NYC Dermatology PA and certified PA C| University of Pittsburgh Physician Assistant Graduate | Acceptances to 10+ competitive PA programs

Lauren C. is a practicing dermatology PA in New York City who attended the University of Pittsburgh’s top-ranked PA program. When she applied during her cycle, Lauren earned acceptances to more than 10 competitive schools thanks to an application that closely aligned with each program’s mission and goals. Now, she helps other aspiring PAs do the same. Whether she’s reading your personal statement or walking you through interview prep, Lauren brings a cohesive understanding of what many top schools are looking for.

What makes Lauren’s coaching especially effective is how she turns her own success into a repeatable process for others. She works closely with applicants and their families to ensure they make smart enrollment plans and submit standout materials that don't just meet expectations, but exceed them. Students appreciate her ability to support them through every stage of the process, from providing resources to start drafting a personal statement at the start of the cycle to giving advice on which school to ultimately enroll in at the end of the year.

Chelsea J.

Surgery PA C at Kaiser | Stanford University Physician Assistant Graduate | Former Orthopedic Surgery Medical Assistant

Chelsea J. is a practicing Surgery PA at Kaiser Permanente who earned her degree from the Stanford University PA program. With over ten years of clinical work spanning ENT and interventional radiology, Chelsea brings a rare, firsthand understanding of what it takes to succeed as a PA and how to get into the top programs and hospitals.

What sets Chelsea mentorship apart is the combination of clinical depth and admissions insight she brings to the table. She’s guided students through the full cycle of the application year, from identifying shadowing opportunities to securing standout letters of recommendation from those very program mentors. Her mentorship is rooted in real-world experience and a genuine desire to help applicants get into their dream programs. For anyone looking to zoom out and find the reasons that set apart good PAs from the best, Chelsea is the guide who can help get you started.

Alfonzo A.

12+ Years of PA Experience | Current APP Specialist at Tampa General Hospital | Former Adjunct Professor at the University of Washington

Alfonzo A. brings over a decade of experience as a professor and certified PA. He currently serves as an APP Specialist at Tampa General Hospital and has worked in top medical centers like Seattle Children’s and Hartford Hospital. His years as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Washington uniquely position him to mentor aspiring PAs on how to maintain a strong GPA and develop clinical competencies that will help them stand out after they have enrolled in PA school.

What makes Alfonzo’s coaching stand out is his ability to teach students what schools and hospitals are actually looking for. He’s trained PA students on the fundamentals of clinical reasoning and has guided many through completing essays and acing interviews. With his deep knowledge of clinical training programs, Alfonzo is an ideal coach for students looking to build a competitive profile for many schools.

Finding the best Physician Assistant Mentor to get into the PA Program of your dreams

Choosing the right Physician Assistant mentor can help you submit the best application. Whether you're looking to learn more about what a PA does or want help with refining your personal statement, the right Coach will meet your needs.

When looking for which mentors to use, focus on:

• Coaching Expertise: Each PA coach has specialized in something different. Some have worked as admission counselors who have expertise in helping you figure out how to pay the cost of PA school, while others are Certified PAs who understand the clinical skills it takes to succeed as a Physician Assistant. Seek out the coaches whose expertise matches the niche you're looking for mentorship in.
• Past Outcomes: Take advantage of past reviews. They can help you understand what PA coaches have helped other candidates with in the past. They might also give you insight into the types of programs these mentors have helped candidates get into. If a coach doesn't have many reviews, book a free first call to first learn more about them.

When you are ready to start, book a free intro call to get matched with a coach by a Leland advisor. If you want to explore more profiles, feel free to browse PA coach profiles and reviews.

FAQs about PA Mentors

What does a PA admissions coach actually help with?

• PA mentors support every stage of the admissions process. Many will help you with everything from selecting programs to preparing for interviews. The best coaches tailor their advice to your background, whether you're applying for the first time or reapplying with a new strategy.

How early should I start working with a PA coach?

• It’s ideal to begin working with a coach at least 4 months before you plan to apply. This gives you time to gather shadowing hours and complete strong application materials. However, even last-minute applicants can benefit from targeted coaching to polish essays.

How can a PA coach help my family feel more confident in the process?

• Applying to PA school is a major decision, both academically and financially. Our coaches have worked with students and families to understand costs and navigate tough decisions. This guidance can ease the financial pressure and help your family support you confidently throughout the cycle.

Interested in PA School or a Pre PA program? Check out these articles

• PA School Acceptance Rates – Breakdown & Analysis
• Physician Assistant Salary by Specialty: Which PA Specialties Pay the Most?
• The 10 Best Accelerate Physician Assistant Programs (3+2)
• The Most Common Physician Assistant (PA) School Interview Questions – and How to Answer Them
• Becoming a Physician Assistant: What You Need to Know About Physician Assistant School
• Comprehensive List of Physician Assistant Programs in California