Accepted - Sara from @theadventurouspa

Undergraduate education: Stony Brook University - Double Major: Biology & Psychology

Overall GPA: 3.6

Science GPA: 3.7 

GRE: 313

Total HCE hours: 3000

Shadowing hours: 200 (Orthopedic PA), 220 (Neurological Surgery Research Assistant)

Other volunteer hours: 320 (Veterinary Hospitals), 107 (Animal Care/Rehabilitation Assistant), 85 (CHOICE Peer Health Educator), 60 (Health Psychology Teaching Assistant), 40 (Undergrad TA for Transfer Students)

LORs: Health Educator, Residence Hall Director, Orthopedic PA

How many times did you apply?: 1

Gender: Female

How many programs did you apply to? 5

How many programs did you interview with and what were the outcomes? 2 interviews (1 acceptance, 1 waitlist), 3 rejections

Any red flags on your application? Right after high school, I went to med school in Poland for a year to see if I would be interested in the medical field. Lacking a background in medicine that many of my classmates had (most were college graduates), I performed poorly in 2 classes. I believe that may have deterred programs from accepting me. 

Anything you found surprising about interviews? At the interview at Baylor College of Medicine, I was thrown off by a couple of questions in regards to what the definition of certain words were. 

Were there any helpful resources (books, websites, apps) you used to get through prerequisite courses, the application or interview process? 

DoseofPA, thepalife

I thoroughly researched the school websites in order to get a better understanding of their mission statement and what made them stand out from other programs. This was helpful for both supplemental applications and interview preparation. I also compiled a list of questions to ask the faculty because not only are they interviewing you, but you are also interviewing them. You want to see if the school is a good fit for you as well. 

Any other advice for other pre-PA students?

Don't lose sight of why you want to become a PA. No matter what other people tell you or what you may think, do not be discouraged. I know that I doubted myself for the longest time, but I knew I'd regret it even more if I didn't apply. You'll always wonder, "What if.." I was comfortable where I was in life, working as an Embryologist, but I wanted more patient interaction. Since I was afraid of being rejected, I almost didn't apply. After talking to friends and family members, I tried my best to make up for short-comings in my application, I applied, and expected nothing in return. Seek help from PA students. Have confidence in yourself and try your best. Feel free to reach out to me as well if you have any questions! We're here to help. You got this!! (:

Where can we find you? 

Instagram: @theadventurouspa 

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If you've been accepted to PA school and would like to share your story in an Accepted! post, send an email to savanna@thePAplatform.com or use this link to contact us at The PA Platform now.

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Accepted!: Breanne from Life With Me - PA Bre

Breanne reached out to share her Accepted story, and she has some great advice to share. She's also recently started a blog as she begins PA school to show you what life is really like as a PA student!  You can find her at Life With Me - PA Bre. 

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Undergraduate education: Seattle Pacific University, major: Applied Human Biology 

Overall GPA: 3.45

Overall Non-science GPA: 3.67

Science GPA: 3.29

GRE: verbal: 148, quantitative: 159, analytical writing: 4.5

Total HCE hours: 2328

Total PCE hours: In CASPA, scribing hours are counted as HCE hours rather than PCE hours. 

Shadowing hours: 96 - I spent my weekends shadowing mainly a pediatric orthopedic PA and an emergency department PA. However, I have also shadowed a neurosurgery PA, orthopedic surgeon MD, and registered dietitian RD. 

Other volunteer hours: 174

LORs: 5 total: I received letters of recommendation from a primary care MD (who I scribe for), emergency department PA (who I shadowed), one adviser/professor, collegiate volleyball coach, and the head of Bailey Boushay HIV/AIDS House (where I volunteered ).

How many times did you apply?:  one

Age: 23

Gender: Female 

How many programs did you apply to? 12

How many programs did you interview with and what were the outcomes? 2, declined one interview, accepted to other 

Any red flags on your application? A downfall for me was that I took AP stats in high school. Most PA schools now require statistics as a pre-req and some of the programs that I applied to did not accept AP stats. I took an online stats course the summer and so the transcripts for this class were pending during my applications. I was also always concerned that my GPA was too low. My career path was not decided during my freshman year and so I did not put as much effort into my classes which ended up lowering my GPA. After talking to my adviser he told me not to be concerned about my GPA and work on excelling in my current classes and on other areas of my application. 

Anything you found surprising about interviews? My interview was designed as MMIs (multiple mini interviews). I was nervous for this experience as I was told that there was no good way to prepare for this as there are standard interview questions, role play, and ethical questions. However, I really enjoyed this interview style. There was a total of 5 MMIs then a group interview. In each MMI, I got to interview with a different member of the PA Program's staff. It was reassuring because if I felt I didn't excel with one interviewer, then I could make up for it with the next interviewer. My greatest advice for interviews is to prepare a few stories about your healthcare of life experiences that have shaped and impacted you.

Were there any helpful resources (books, websites, apps) you used to get through prerequisite courses, the application or interview process? (Amazon affiliate links)

When Breath Becomes Air-Paul Kalanithi

The Applicant's Manual of Physician Assistant Programs-Mark Volpe, PA-C; Brittany Hogan, PA-C

aapa.org

multiple PA instagrams and blogs :) 

Any other advice for other pre-PA students?

1. Don't get discouraged if you run into a bump in the road! The journey can be difficult and stressful at times, but it is so worth it. Keep your head up and keep pushing and you will eventually get to your destination. 

2. Show your qualities rather than tell. By this I mean when you are writing your personal statement tell stories about how you portrayed compassion, teamwork, etc. instead of just saying "I'm compassionate". Also, with personal statement have multiple eyes review it! 

3. Maintain relationships! Whether this means relationships with providers you shadow or advisers, it is great to have people on your team. This becomes important for letters of recommendation and maybe eventually a job!

4. Lastly, be yourself! :) 

Where can we find you? 

Instagram: lifewithme_pabre

website: lifewithmepabre.blogspot.com

youtube:lifewithmepabre

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If you've been accepted to PA school and would like to share your story in an Accepted! post, send an email to savanna@thePAplatform.com or use this link to contact us at The PA Platform now.

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Accepted!: Hailey from @haileyblunt

Undergraduate education: BSHS in Physiology from the University of Arizona

Overall GPA: 3.28 (yikes)

Science GPA:3.10 (double yikes)

GRE: 318

Total HCE hours: Roughly 500 hours as an EMT Program Director.

Total PCE hours: 3600 with experience as an EMT.

Shadowing hours: 60 (Ortho, Emergency, Dermatology)

Other volunteer hours: 1500 hours as a volunteer EMT.

LORs: Two from doctors I worked with and one from a physiology professor.

How many times did you apply?:  Once!

Age: 22

Gender: Female

How many programs did you apply to? 14 (my bank account did NOT like this)

How many programs did you interview with and what were the outcomes? 2 interviews, 2 acceptances, and still waiting for initial responses from a few schools!

Any red flags on your application? My GPA! It was so low that I thought I would need to retake classes and apply multiple times. I even had a D on my transcript! However, I've pointed it out as a weakness at both of my interviews and the faculty didn't seem concerned. One interviewer even laughed and pointed out that she had been through the process herself with a lower than average GPA. Don't use this as an excuse to slack off on your grades though! My low GPA was balanced out with a higher GRE, a unique background in healthcare, and the fact that my degree program was incredibly difficult.

Anything you found surprising about interviews? I was surprised at how calm I was once the process began. I was so nervous going in and thought I would be nervous every second of the interview, but the faculty really went out of their way to make all the applicants feel comfortable and all of the applicants were super supportive of each other.

Were there any helpful resources (books, websites, apps) you used to get through prerequisite courses, the application or interview process? I loved the book "How to Ace the Physician Assistant School Interview" (Amazon Affiliate Link)

Any other advice for other pre-PA students? Don't be afraid to be yourself! You are a real person and the faculty interviewing you are also real people! You are very likely to have something in common with faculty aside from your interest in medicine. Look for ways to form real bonds and stick out from the crowd. One of the most memorable parts of my first interview was bonding with a member of faculty over our mutual love of Express clothing, we even had the exact same suit! Those little anecdotes will help the faculty remember you and will make the whole process feel more comfortable. Once you have a good rapport, it feels more natural to talk about your interest in PA school.

Where can we find you? (website, instagram, etc) @haileyblunt on Instagram

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If you've been accepted to PA school and would like to share your story in an Accepted! post, send an email to savanna@thePAplatform.com or use this link to contact us at The PA Platform now.

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Accepted: Amanda from @thisPAadventure

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Meet Amanda. She reached out to share her story of how she was accepted into PA school this year with a low GPA. This is such a common concern with Pre-PA students, and it can be done! You still have to meet the minimums and make sure your application shines in as many ways as possible, but a few bad grades (or a lot) won't completely disqualify you. 

Make sure to follow Amanda as she starts PA school on Instagram by following @thisPAadventure

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Undergraduate education: Central Washington University, BS: Paramedicine

Overall GPA: 3.17

Science GPA: 3.38

GRE: 309 (Verbal:157 Quantitative: 152 Writing:5)

Total HCE hours: 520 hours

Total PCE hours: 8,000+ hours (Paramedic, EMT, ER Tech)

Shadowing hours: 30 hours (Emergency and family practice)

Other volunteer hours: 215 hours (Homeless and at-risk youth)

LORs: Chief of Emergency MD, Emergency PA, Paramedic preceptor

How many times did you apply?:  First time

Age: 27

Gender: Female

How many programs did you apply to? 17

How many programs did you interview with and what were the outcomes? 2 interview offers, accepted after my first interview and declined the other interview. Withdrew all my other applications.

Any red flags on your application? Low GPA, academically disqualified from my first University, 7 F’s and a few W’s

Anything you found surprising about interviews? The school that I interviewed at, and was accepted to, was incredibly welcoming and made an effort to put the candidates feel at ease. I practiced hundreds of potential questions; but, when it came time for the interview, I didn’t use my rehearsed answers and just went with genuine gut feeling answers.

Were there any helpful resources (books, websites, apps) you used to get through prerequisite courses, the application or interview process? The PA Platform, YouTube, Physician Assistant Forum, Facebook groups: The Pre-PA Club and pre-pa rockstars. Book: How to “Ace” the Physician Assistant Interview, by: Andrew Rodican. (Amazon Affiliate Link)

Any other advice for other pre-PA students? Don’t be discouraged if you have a LOW GPA or some bad grades. Make your application shine in other ways with stellar patient care hours or an amazing personal statement. Be true to yourself and show your passion. Remember, it only takes one!

Where can we find you? Instagram @thisPAadventure

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If you've been accepted to PA school and would like to share your story in an Accepted! post, send an email to savanna@thePAplatform.com or use this link to contact us at The PA Platform now.

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Accepted!: Daniela from @d_nicopike

Daniela is a true example of not giving up and how persistence pays off. She has a really unique story of how she gained acceptance to PA school, and while it may not work for everyone, creativity can work in your favor. Here is Daniela's story, followed by her stats:

I applied for the first time last year and did not get any interviews. I was only waitlisted for interviews to later be removed from that list as well. I gave myself a "deadline hope" until mid spring because one of the schools I had applied to had interviews from about March to April. I followed the that school's thread on physicianassistantforum.com and some time in April people were saying they were the last interview group, so I knew that opportunity had also gone right out the window for me.

I went through my grieving process and eventually accepted the fact that I would be out of school for another two years since I didn't want to apply for this year's cycle because I hadn't done anything to improve my application, so I'd be applying next cycle. One day, early May I received an email from Pace notifying me they were opening a PA program at their Pleasantville campus that would be starting this Fall. I gave it a shot and applied and a few weeks later I landed an interview. I felt I had done pretty well on my interview and was told I'd hear back in 7-10 days. Days passed and I didn't hear anything from them and I began getting so discouraged. I thought, what was the point of this opportunity knocking at my door after I had accepted my fate to only be turned down again?

I discussed my situation with the doctor and PA I worked with and they both encouraged me to be persistent with Pace, to call and tell them how very interested I was in the program, why I was a good choice for them, and to consider me if any spots opened. The PA also called them and argued my case and put in a good word for me. I planned on going to Pace in person to try to speak with one of the admissions people to put a face to my name while I promoted myself for the program. However, the week I intended to do that, I received a call from the program offering me a spot.

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Undergraduate education: Queens College    

Overall GPA: 3.6

Science GPA: 3.2

GRE: N/A

Total HCE hours: 3,870

Total PCE hours: 1,470

Shadowing hours: 840

Other volunteer hours: 994

LORs: Internal medicine doctor, dermatology doctor, dermatology PA, orthopedic PA, chemistry professor

How many times did you apply?:  1

Age: 25

Gender: Fermale

How many programs did you apply to? 15

How many programs did you interview with and what were the outcomes? 1. Accepted

Any red flags on your application? Low science GPA and C+ in chemistry II

Anything you found surprising about interviews? The admissions committee were all extremely nice which eased my nerves. They clearly wanted to make the interviewees more relaxed and feel accomplished that we had made it to that interview.

Were there any helpful resources (books, websites, apps) you used to get through prerequisite courses, the application or interview process? How To "Ace" The Physician Assistant School Interview by Andrew J. Rodican (Amazon Affiliate Link), The PA Platform Mock Interview, physicianassistantforum.com, So You Want To Be A Physician Assistant by Beth Grivett

Any other advice for other pre-PA students? Be more persistent than you have ever before. I learned that persistence is a wisdom and it will also lead you to learn that it's not over until it's over. I did not lose faith on being invited to an interview until I found out the last interview group had been selected for the latest interviewing program I had applied to. Then, after not hearing back from my only interview, I persisted and had the PA I worked with call the program and put in a good word for me. I also planned on going in personally to speak with an admissions committee to argue my case and put a face to my name in case a spot opened up. 

Where can we find you? @d_nicopike (instagram)

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If you've been accepted to PA school and would like to share your story in an Accepted! post, send an email to savanna@thePAplatform.com or use this link to contact us at The PA Platform now.

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Accepted! - Jenna from @jennagipperich

Any college athletes out there? Jenna is a great example of how to incorporate different interests into your admissions process for PA school. I also love her advice about taking the vibe you get at interviews into your consideration when choosing a program. 

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Undergraduate education: Mercer University in Macon, GA

Overall GPA: 3.52

Science GPA: 3.24

GRE: 309 (I took this test 2 times. I got a 299 first try, and then studied harder and took it again.)

Total HCE hours: 30 (Macon Volunteer Clinic)

Total PCE hours: 2,000+ (Worked as a Patient Care Assistant on the Ortho/Neuro PCU floor for 7 months, and then 1 year on the Stroke ICU)

Shadowing hours: 50 (Orthopedics and Family) It was super difficult to find PA’s to shadow in my city of Louisville, KY because it is a NP heavy area.

Other volunteer hours: 170 (President of Student Athlete Association Committee at Mercer University, Macon Volunteer Clinic, University of Louisville Hospital)

LORs: Nurse Manager on the ICU where I was a PCA, Organic Chemistry professor, Family PA I shadowed

How many times did you apply?:  1

Age: 24

Gender: Female

How many programs did you apply to? 6 programs

How many programs did you interview with and what were the outcomes? So far, I have heard back from 2 programs. 1 waitlist, 1 acceptance. Happy to say I got accepted to my #1 choice, University of Kentucky! GO CATS!

Any red flags on your application? GPA, but I believe PA schools took my D1 running schedule into consideration with my difficult classes.

Anything you found surprising about interviews? At one interview I noticed that the questions given to me were mostly “challenge” questions. The 2 interviewers asked why my science GPA was low (my running schedule) and why I think I could handle their program. It caught me off guard because I felt like they didn’t believe in me. I didn’t end up accepting their waitlist offer because I didn’t feel like they had an encouraging and friendly atmosphere.

Were there any helpful resources (books, websites, apps) you used to get through prerequisite courses, the application or interview process? Any other advice for other pre-PA students? 

My biggest advice is don’t be afraid to ask for help! If I was struggling in a prerequisite class I always went to the professor or other students and discovered ways to help me succeed. Whether that was tutoring, studying with students in the class who excelled, or looking online for tips. For example, I found Khan Academy super helpful for Organic Chemistry.

For the interview process I practiced common interview questions in my head and got a general answer for each. I practiced these with family and friends. I remember I was so nervous for my first interview, but my second interview I knew what to expect and was so much more comfortable! My biggest advice for interviews is to be confident in yourself and all the work you’ve done to get to this point.

Throughout the application process I followed @thepaplatform and blog. Savanna is great about discussing common pre-PA topics and questions. The blog is full of information for the whole process from start to finish!

Where can we find you? Follow my upcoming PA journey on Instagram @jennagipperich

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If you've been accepted to PA school, and would like to share your stats and advice with other students, shoot me an email at savanna@thePAplatform.com 

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Accepted!: Nicole from @NicoleRuttke

Big thank you to Nicole for sharing her stats today! She's had a very successful first application cycle, and she also shares some great advice for interviews. Nicole does a great job of answering questions in our The Pre-PA Club Facebook group, so make sure you're a member too. 

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Undergraduate education: Biological Sciences degree- Arizona State University

Overall GPA: 3.79

Science GPA: 3.85

GRE: 307

Total HCE hours: 2,000

Total PCE hours: 700

Other volunteer hours: 100

LORs: 4: 2 PAs, 1 science professor, 1 employer

How many times did you apply?:  1

Age: 22

Gender: Female

How many programs did you apply to? 9

How many programs did you interview with and what were the outcomes? 5 interview invites- 3 interviews- 1 acceptance, waiting to hear back from other 2 programs 

Any red flags on your application? I fell in the lower range of PCE, but didn't let that stop me from applying and putting my stuff out there!  

Anything you found surprising about interviews? One program invited me to interview 5 days prior to the scheduled interview date! Faculty members at one program were extremely relaxed and personable, while faculty at the second program were extremely stoic and non-receptive of my responses. I figured out quickly which program would be the best fit for me.

Were there any helpful resources (books, websites, apps) you used to get through prerequisite courses, the application or interview process? I used PA forums and spoke with PAs I worked with daily to get the best idea of what to expect for interviews and how to prepare.

Any other advice for other pre-PA students? BE YOURSELF DURING INTERVIEWS. You will hear (and see) it time and time again, but it couldn't be more true. This is the time to figure out if you are a good fit for the program and vice versa. Relax, breathe, and give yourself time to answer the questions to avoid rambling. Also, don't forget to smile throughout this whole process :) The entire process can be a bit exhausting and daunting at times, but in the end it is all worth the sweat and tears. Don't give up! 

Where can we find you?  Instagram: @NicoleRuttke

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If you've been accepted to PA school and would like to share your story in an Accepted! post, send an email to savanna@thePAplatform.com or use this link to contact us at The PA Platform now.

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Accepted! - Emily from @emilylynstreet

A huge thank you to Emily from @emilylynstreet on Instagram for sharing her stats and experience with getting into PA school today! I think her story is a great example of just going for it and applying, and also shows that people still get accepted on the first attempt. Enjoy! 

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Undergraduate education: Indiana University-Bloomington

Overall GPA: 3.8

Science GPA: 3.9

GRE: 307, 5 writing score

Total PCE hours: ~1500. I have been a CNA since my sophomore year of college at a long term care and rehab facility.

Shadowing hours: Right around 80 hours (shadowing 2 orthopedic PAs, and 1 Family Medicine PA)

Other volunteer hours: 50 hours- I attended a medical brigade in Nicaragua this past summer. 

LORs: I submitted my application with 3 LORS- one from a Family Medicine PA, a Chemistry Professor, and a RN

How many times did you apply?:  This is my first time applying

Age: 22

Gender: Female

How many programs did you apply to? 12 programs

How many programs did you interview with and what were the outcomes? 

I am currently an applicant in the 2017-2018 CASPA cycle, so thus far I have gotten 1 acceptance, 4 interview invitations, and 1 interview waitlist spot

Any red flags on your application? As a younger applicant and a full-time student the past four years, I would have liked to have more time for patient care related experiences at the time of my application. I would not call this a red flag per se, just something I will continue acquiring during my time off before beginning PA school next May.

Anything you found surprising about interviews? 

The applicant pool really is as diverse as you think. I interviewed with people who were athletic trainers, NICU nurses, and even someone who was a doctor previously in India. Despite the variety of healthcare experience among us, we bonded over our love of the profession. Everyone was so encouraging and non-competitive, which helped with my nerves. After joking about making it through organic chemistry, we all wished each other luck and hoped we’d see each other next May. It was surprisingly refreshing to be reminded we were all in the same boat so to speak.

Were there any helpful resources (books, websites, apps) you used to get through prerequisite courses, the application or interview process? I recommend getting to know both your science professors and your Pre-PA advisors. They are only there to help you! My advisors were there to help me brainstorm ideas for my personal statement, as well as do mock interviews with me when I received my first interview invitation. Of course, I also love reading current PA and PA-S blogs and hearing their experiences.

Any other advice for other pre-PA students?

Don’t get discouraged with the average amount of patient care hours you see on PA program websites! I remember looking at those stats and feeling like I was not competitive just because I had 1000 hours less than the average admitted applicant. I almost did not even apply to the PA program I was accepted to because of this. While patient care hours are SO important, just keep doing your best to get as many hours that you possibly can. If you are a full-time student, even working 10 hours a week adds up. Everyone has something different to offer to the PA profession so just keep grinding and remember you won’t be Pre-PA forever!

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If you would like to share your stats and story of acceptance to PA school, please shoot me an email at savanna@thepaplatform.com 

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Accepted - Annie from Student/Survivor

Undergraduate education: Grand Canyon University

Overall GPA: 3.66

Science GPA: 3.57

GRE: 311 and 4.5 written

Total HCE hours: --------

Total PCE hours: 1000 (as a CNA on a med-surg floor of a hospital)

Shadowing hours: 50 (Pediatrics, ED/Trauma, Orthopedic Surgery)

Certifications: CNA and EKG Technician

Volunteer hours: 240 (Medical Mission, Hospital Volunteer, etc.)

LORs: 3 (one from a professor, one from my RN manager at the hospital, one from a PA I shadowed)

How many times did you apply?: Once 

Age: 22 at the time of application

Gender: Female

How many programs did you apply to? 8

How many programs did you interview with and what were the outcomes? 

• Program #1: This was my first interview. I had recently been told that there was a 95% chance of my having cancer, and because of the anxiety I was facing from that, I almost cancelled my interview. I was waitlisted for this program.
• Program #2 (Midwestern-AZ): The day of this interview was the day they were supposed to call with my biopsy results. Again, I almost didn’t show up to the interview because I felt awful and nervous. I was placed on the “Alternate” list, and was later accepted to the program at the beginning of May 2017! This is where I will be attending in 2018 after a one-year deferral as I finish treatment.
• Program #3: This interview was the day before my first round of chemotherapy. Again I was nervous beyond belief, but managed to put forth a good interview effort. I was waitlisted at this program.
• Program #4: I had completed chemotherapy at the time of this interview and was awaiting the surgery that would change my life—physically and emotionally. I was bald and sick, so there was no way to hide the fact that I was undergoing treatment. But the faculty was so kind and in the interview offered me a year’s deferral. I was immediately accepted into the program, but declined admission for a couple reasons: 1. I didn’t want to move away from my wonderful doctors in Arizona, and 2. I wasn’t a huge fan of the program after visiting the campus (they didn’t have cadaver labs, etc.)

Any red flags on your application? 

• In all honesty, I had not one, but TWO C+s on my application. One was in Physics 1 and the other was in a freshman year Intro to Sociology class that I had bombed (I lacked motivation as a freshman). I ended up re-taking the Sociology class my junior year and received a much higher grade. The Physics grade I could do nothing about, except work as hard as I possibly could to raise my grade for Physics 2. I wanted to show initiative and that I could learn from my mistakes.

Anything you found surprising about interviews? 

• I was surprised in the group interviews by some of the activities we were asked to do. One program asked us to create a TV commercial that would be aired during the Superbowl. We were given no direction as to what it was supposed to be about. It was not something I was prepared for, and required a lot of teamwork from the 4 of us interviewees. 

Were there any helpful resources (books, websites, apps) you used to get through prerequisite courses, the application or interview process? 

• Andrew Rodican, PA-C’s book “How to Ace the Physician Assistant School Interview” was the best interview preparation tool! (Amazon affiliate link) It gave great examples of questions and strong, mediocre, and poor responses to each question.

Any other advice for other pre-PA students?

• If you’re going through something difficult during your application cycle (like my being diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer) don’t just give up! Talk to your programs about a possible one-year deferral. Or if you have to reschedule an interview, be honest about that something major that’s happening in your life and see if they’ll work with you. (Note: One-year deferrals require some major, legitimate excuse to be approved. I had to write a letter and provide a note from my oncologist.)
• During undergrad, really make the effort to build good relationships with your professors. Later on when it’s time to apply, you’ll feel comfortable asking them for a letter of rec and they will feel prepared to write a detailed, personalized letter. One of my favorite professors became my mentor throughout undergrad, wrote me a strong letter of rec, and helped motivate me to keep going through the tough and discouraging moments. I truly feel I would not have been accepted to PA school without their guidance!

If you want to follow Annie and learn more about her story and follow her journey, you can follow her on Instagram @anns.binnans and check out her website Student/Survivor. 

If you would like to share your stats and story of acceptance to PA school, please shoot me an email at savanna@thepaplatform.com

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Accepted! - Sarah from @SarahandherStethoscope

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My name is Sarah and I’ll be starting PA school in just a few weeks at Western Michigan University! I’m SO excited to finally be able to learn and practice medicine. I love all things make up and enjoy mentoring and guiding pre-PA students along their journeys, so please send me a DM if you’ve got questions! You can find me on Instagram at @sarahandherstethoscope

Overall GPA: 3.41

Science GPA: 3.45

GRE: I received a 291 combined score (yikes!). Quantitative: 142, Verbal: 149, Analytical: 5.5

Total HCE hours: ~6,000 hours as an urgent care medical assistant. ~50 hours as a clinical volunteer leader at the HUDA Clinic which is a free clinic located in Detroit, MI

Shadowing hours: ~50 hours shadowing urgent care and internal medicine PAs

Other volunteer hours: ~30 hours volunteering through pre-PA society, ~100 hours volunteering at the HUDA Clinic as a clinical volunteer leader and outreach coordinator, 35 hours volunteering as an ESL tutor, 4 years as a youth camp counselor

LORs: Microbiology professor, PA, and MD

How many times did you apply?:  Once!

Age: 23 at the time I applied and I’m 24 now

Gender: Female

How many programs did you apply to? Six. WMich, EMich, Toledo, Marquette, Rush, and Northwestern.

How many programs did you interview with and what were the outcomes? I only interviewed with WMich. I unfortunately got rejected elsewhere. I thought my interview at WMich went well! I was thrown for a loop when I found out they started holding MMI style interviews and I had been practicing for a traditional interview the entire time. Luckily, I had a friend who interviewed at several medical schools and she told me about her MMI experiences and I think that definitely helped shape my answers to the scenarios they gave at my interview! 

Any red flags on your application? The only red flag I can think of is that I was placed on academic probation for a semester back in sophomore year of undergrad. I don’t think that was the reason I was rejected at the majority of the schools I applied to, however. My rejections mostly came from my subpar GRE score. But, yes, you can still get into PA school with bad grades! You just have to be able to explain what you learned from your mistakes and how you plan on doing better!

Anything you found surprising about interviews? I was surprised that PA schools were starting to hop on the MMI bandwagon. I thought only medical schools interviewed students this way! I really enjoyed the MMI style interview because I had to think on my feet and because of that, I think my answers were a lot more genuine.

Were there any helpful resources (books, websites, apps) you used to get through prerequisite courses, the application or interview process? When I studied for the GRE, I made sure to go back to the basics because I’m really bad at math. So, I used CliffNotes Math Review. (Amazon Affiliate link) It gives you step-by-step instructions on how to solve easy, medium and hard math problems that you’ll find on standardized tests. I also used the Magoosh flashcard app to practice for the verbal section. When I applied, I used the Getting Into the Physician Assistant School of Your Choice book by Andrew Rodican and it helped to show me what a well-rounded application should look like. For interviews, I used the How to Ace the Physician Assistant School Interview book by Andrew Rodican. It gives you three different answers to frequently asked interview questions and it explains which are good answers and which are bad answers. I wrote my answers down to each question in my copy. Also, shout out to mypatraining.com for having an ultimate PA school checklist! It helped to keep me organized before and after I applied!

Any other advice for other pre-PA students? I would highly recommend getting involved with underserved communities, especially medically. Working at a free clinic humbles you and gives you the opportunity to connect with people you are different from in every aspect. It pushes you out of your comfort zone, keeps you grounded, and you’ll develop great bedside manner! Also, it’s important to not to beat yourself up over your stats. Your experiences are unique and they’ve shaped you to be the person you are today. Not every school will accept you, but it only takes that one interview and one acceptance to make it! 

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If you've been accepted to PA school and would like to share your stats and advice, please email me at savanna@thePAplatform.com to be featured. 

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Accepted! - Jazmine (@jazminek_pa on Instagram)

I'm so excited to share Jazmine's stats with you guys!  Jazmine has just recently started PA school at Western University, and she's been sharing all kinds of insight and amazing information on Instagram.  You can find her @jazminek_pa and she gives great updates, so follow along if you want to see what PA school is really like. Something interesting is Jazmine applied to PA school 3 times! She didn't give up, and now she's making her dream a reality.  Thanks for sharing with us Jazmine! 

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Undergraduate education: University of Southern California

Overall GPA: 3.43

Science GPA: 3.33

GRE: 305

Total PCE hours: 3200 (EMT, MA, ER Tech)

Shadowing hours: 608 (Orthopedics, Dermatology, Oncology/Hematology, Pulmonology and Pediatrics)

Other volunteer hours: 800 (Medical Mission to Africa, Skid Row, Spanish Translator, Elementary School Educator)

LORs: Orthopedic PA, MD, Anatomy Professor and Oncology/Hematology PA

How many times did you apply?:  Three cycles!

Age: 25

Gender: Female

How many programs did you apply to? 12 programs

How many programs did you interview with and what were the outcomes? 5 interviews, 2 waitlist, 2 rejections, 3 acceptances!

Any red flags on your application? Low GPA

Anything you found surprising about interviews? At a few interviews, I was exhausted from the all day interview that included essays, one on one interviews, group interviews, MMI and medical terminology tests. I realized I rambled quite a bit at my first one so I practiced mock interviews for the upcoming ones.

Were there any helpful resources (books, websites, apps) you used to get through prerequisite courses, the application or interview process? ThePAPlatform.com, How to Ace the PA School Interview book by Andrew Rodican, PA-C (affiliate link), DoseOfPA Blog, and PhysicianAssistantforum.com

Any other advice for other pre-PA students? Seek advice from PAs and PA-S and ask many questions. Start on your patient care experience early on and retake prerequisites if your GPA is low like mine. Keep working at your passion, let the fire inside you burn brighter than the fire around you! 

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If you've been accepted to PA school and would like to be featured in an "Accepted!" post, please email me at savanna@thePAplatform.com or comment below with your contact information.  

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