Undergraduate education: Sophomore Biomedical Science major at Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI
Do you still get a Bachelor's degree in an accelerated program? How does that work?
In order to apply to Marquette’s accelerated program, you need to be a biomedical science major on the pre-PA track in the college of health sciences at Marquette University. You can begin applying after completing your freshman year of undergraduate studies. You are not able to apply as an external undergraduate applicant. Certain prerequisite classes must be completed during your freshman and sophomore year in order to be eligible. As a freshman, you would be admitted directly into the biomedical sciences major as a pre-PA student and have the opportunity to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in biomedical sciences and, if accepted into the program, a master’s in physician assistant studies in as few as five years. Admitted students complete their undergraduate degree in biomedical sciences during the first two years of the physician assistant program. A master of physician assistant studies is awarded upon graduation from the PA program. Marquette also offers a postgraduate emergency medicine fellowship for PAs.
Overall GPA: 3.91
Science GPA: 3.82
GRE: As a sophomore undergraduate applicant I was not required to take the GRE
Total HCE hours: 12 (hospital volunteering)
Total PCE hours: 648 (CNA at a senior memory care facility)
Shadowing hours: 20 (ER Doctor, ER PA, and Dermatology PA)
Other volunteer hours: 1500 (community leadership organization in my hometown), 40 (serving meals to the homeless and volunteering at a food pantry), and I’m involved in a sorority, Pi Beta Phi
LORs: 3 (one from a theology professor, one from my supervisor at my CNA job, and one from the head of my community organization in my hometown)
How many times did you apply? Once
Age: 20
Gender: Female
What made you want to pursue an accelerated program?
I’ve known that I want to pursue a career in medicine from a young age. I first discovered the PA profession in my sophomore year of high school. I talked to a couple of family friends that were enrolled in PA programs and I decided that it was something that I wanted to commit to. I got my CNA certificate during my junior year of high school and began to work on accumulating PCE my senior year of high school. I’ve known for a while that I want to become a PA, so Marquette’s program was a natural choice for me when I started applying to colleges. I am certain that becoming a PA is the correct path for me and I saw no reason to wait to begin pursuing my future career.
Do you feel nervous that you'll be too young or not ready by graduating so early from PA school?
Initially I was a little nervous about this going into my interview with respect to how I would compare to older students. Now that I’ve been accepted into the program, I’m worried about it less. Marquette prepares all students equally well and has an excellent faculty-student ratio, so I feel that I will be just as prepared as my older classmates upon graduation.
What advice would you give to someone considering an accelerated/combined program?
Do research and shadowing to make sure that the PA profession is right for you. Try to start on PCE hours as soon as you can to show your commitment to pursuing the profession. Many technical colleges offer CNA programs for high school students, and it’s a flexible job to have during school while accumulating PCE. If you’re still in high school and serious about pursuing an accelerated PA program, you can find a list of colleges offering them here: https://www.collegetransitions.com/dataverse/accelerated-physician-assistant-programs. If you’re already a student at a university that offers an accelerated program, I would recommend meeting with your advisor. My advisor was extremely knowledgeable and even helped me with CASPA questions and my personal statement during the summer over email!
How many programs did you apply to?
One
How many programs did you interview with and what were the outcomes?
One, and I was accepted!
Where will you be attending?
Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI
Any red flags on your application?
None, besides being a young applicant
Anything you found surprising about interviews?
I was told going into my interview that the interviewers would be looking for maturity especially in sophomore applicants. I was also told, however, that the interviews with Marquette staff would not be very high pressure, since they were just trying to get to know you. I found that my interview personally felt more formal, and that the questions were a bit deeper than I had expected. I still felt that I was well prepared though, since I used Savanna’s book as reference. I found it better to be a bit over prepared so that I wasn’t too surprised by any of their questions.
Were there any helpful resources (books, websites, apps) you used to get through prerequisite courses, the application or interview process?
I used My PA Resource for assistance with my personal statement. I used the PA Platform website and podcast for CASPA tips and help with my personal statement as well. I also used Savanna’s book “Physician Assistant Interview Guide” to prepare for my interview. I recommend going to a mock interview night if you are able to through your university.
Any other advice for other pre-PA students?
Take advantage of online resources! I found them incredibly helpful during my CASPA application and in preparation for my interview. If you’re feeling certain about becoming a PA, I would definitely suggest considering an accelerated program such as the one offered at Marquette University. They allow you to save time and money, and to challenge yourself!
Where can we find you? (website, instagram, etc)
@nicolereitzner on Instagram or Facebook and Linkedin I’m sure I’ll post about my PA journey starting in the fall, and I’m open to answering any additional questions about accelerated PA programs!
