Undergraduate education: University of Connecticut, B.S. in Medical Laboratory Science
Overall GPA: 3.86
Science GPA: 3.8
GRE: 325
Total PCE hours: 2,100+ Patient Care Associate on a Med Surg floor
Total HCE hours: 2,500+, Medical Technology Generalist
Shadowing hours: 130 – Shadowed different PAs in Ortho, Neurology, OB/GYN, Internal Medicine, and Vascular Surgery
Other Volunteer hours: 100+ – Red Cross Blood Drives, Children’s Hospital Fundraising, Women’s Center
LORs: 4- Nurse Manager, Lab Manager, PA Mentor, Undergrad Program Director
How many times did you apply?: 1
Age: 23
Gender: Female
How many programs did you apply to? 19; way too many, my thought was that I didn’t want to risk going through the application process a second time, but I definitely went overboard
How many programs did you interview with and what were the outcomes? Invited to interview at 17 schools and I attended 7. 4 acceptances (Yale, Duke, Tufts, Sacred Heart), 1 waitlist, 1 rejection, and 1 that I haven’t heard back from.
Where will you be attending? Yale School of Medicine (On Campus)
Anything you found surprising about interviews? My first interview was rough! It was my only interview that had an MMI session and it was a really long 8-hour process. I was rejected but I used that experience to improve myself for future interviews. I did a mock interview with the PA Platform and used the Physician Assistant School Interview Guide to sharpen up my skills. They were both amazing resources!
Were there any helpful resources (books, websites, apps) you used to get through prerequisite courses, the application or interview process? Physician Assistant School Interview Guide, How to “ace” the Physician Assistant School Interview, PA Platform mock interview, CASPA application review service, ect
Any other advice for other pre-PA students? Don’t be afraid to take your time to get all your ducks in a row before you apply. I took 2 years off after undergrad to pay off my undergrad loans and gain experience before submitting my CASPA and it was worth it for a better financial situation and an acceptance at my dream school. Keep up the hard work!
Where can we find you? Feel free to message me on instagram for any advice! @laurenmasay
