Undergraduate Education: Marquette University
Overall GPA: 4.0
Science GPA: 4.0
GRE: 320
PA-CAT: Did not take
Total PCE hours: 1600- I worked at a summer camp for children with disabilities for 4 summers, a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) in an assisted living facility for 1 summer, and a Patient Care Technician (PCT) in a hospital for 1 summer.
Total HCE hours: 450- I volunteered in hospitals once a week for 5 years.
Shadowing hours: 80 hours- in high school, I completed a 3 week, full time internship at a local hospital where I was able to observe all units of the hospital. This was such a fun experience that made me realize I wanted to be a Physician Assistant (PA) when I followed one on a post-surgical floor. I was also able to scrub in to observe surgery and watch a C section!
Volunteer hours: 100- In college, I volunteered in various soup kitchens and homeless shelters throughout Milwaukee, WI.
How many times did you apply?: 2 times (once into my school’s direct admit program as a sophomore, and once as a senior while completing my undergraduate degree).
Age: 22
Gender: Female
Why PA? My dream of becoming a Physician Assistant (PA) was sparked when I was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease in middle school and solidified during a hospital internship I participated in during high school. I hope to support patients both physically and emotionally like my healthcare providers have for me throughout the years. I have always been a person with many passions, so I appreciate that as a PA I will have lateral mobility. Additionally, I have observed how PAs consult with their attending physicians. As a collaborative person who enjoys studying with my peers, I envision myself thriving in this relationship. Although the nurse practitioners have similar authority to PAs, I learned they are educated in the nursing model. Since I am fascinated by the biological and pathological aspects of health, the disease-centered model, which the PA curriculum is built on, is a better fit for me.
How many programs did you apply to? 11
How many programs did you interview with and what were the outcomes? 3 interviews- 2 acceptances!
Where will you be attending? Rosalind Franklin University
Anything you found surprising about interviews? I had no “traditional” interviews. I completed two MMI interviews and one group interview. Although preparing is necessary, some of the questions they ask are just to see how you react and can adapt in unique situations. Most interviewers were more friendly than I had expected, as well!
Were there any helpful resources (books, websites, webinars, etc) you used to get through prerequisites courses, the application or interview process? Yes- the PA Platform podcast was a great resource for all things PA.
Any advice for other pre-PA students? Everyone’s journey looks a little different. You might be accepted right out of undergrad, you might need to take a gap year or two… But just take the next little step every day and all of your hard work will add up when you are finally accepted to PA school! Also no experience is bad experience!
Where can we find you? (Instagram, TikTok, Website, etc) - TikTok- @lynds.fit.pa Instagram- @lyndsey.bassett
