Undergraduate education: Baylor. University
Overall GPA: 3.62
Science GPA: 3.6
GRE: 306
PA-CAT: Did not take
Total PCE hours: I had 3080 PCE hours that I gained by working as an ophthalmology technician during undergrad
Total HCE hours: I had 1056 HCE that I gained by being a medical scribe in an allergy and immunology clinic
Shadowing hours: I had 48 shadowing hours from shadowing a dermatology PA
Volunteer hours: I had 30 volunteering hours that were received from a medical mission in the Dominican Republic
How many times did you apply?: 1
Age: 23
Gender: Female
Why PA?I chose PA because I applied and was accepted to medical schools in the 2019-2020 cycle, but as I read my acceptance emails and got the acceptance calls, I did not feel the excitement in my chest the way I do when I talk about being a PA. I had applied to medical schools because it was my parents’ dream to have a doctor as a daughter, but it was not my dream. My dream has always been to have continuity of care, have a relationship with patients, spend ample time in exam rooms, and work collaboratively with others to ensure the best quality of care is being given to each and every person. I felt that these goals would be fulfilled and achieved by becoming a PA, so I declined my medical school acceptances and started the path of applying to PA school.
How many programs did you apply to? 6
How many programs did you interview with and what were the outcomes? I received 5 interview invitations. 3 resulted as acceptances and 2 of them I declined due to being accepted to my top program
Where will you be attending? Duke University Medical Center Physician Assistant Program
Anything you found interesting about interviews: The interviewers were a lot more gracious, understanding, and truly wanted to get to know me as an individual no matter the structure of the interview. I did both virtual and in-person interviews with the in-person being MMI, one of the virtual being MMI, and the other virtual interview was two 15 minute interviews and one group activity. I will say the MMI are intense but once you do one or two the rest come easier and you feel more confident.
Any advice for other pre-PA students? Do not give up!!! I remember crying on the ground in the library after my organic chemistry final sophomore year because I truly felt like I was never going to succeed in getting into any graduate programs after graduation. Keep on pushing forward and keep your head held high. Also, ask for help when you start feeling overwhelmed sooo many people are willing to help give advice or help your through the hard times.
Where can we find you? (Instagram, TikTok, Website, etc) Andreaa_passarella on instagram
