Touro College PA Program: Emily's Acceptance Story (Accepted at 20, 3 for 3 Interviews)

By: Savanna Perry, PA-C

TL;DR

Emily applied to four programs at age 20, interviewed at three and was accepted at all three, choosing her first choice, Touro College School of Health Sciences on Long Island. None of her programs required the GRE. She had a 3.7 overall GPA and roughly 500 patient care hours accumulated only a few months before applying, which she named as her main worry.

Last Updated: August 3, 2026

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Why PA?

I like that the PA field allows me to work collaboratively as both a leader and a team member, something that fits my personality very well. I believe PA’s play a vital role in the health care field in being able to provide more personalized attention to patients and get to know them for more than just their illness—something that I find very important in gaining trust and a positive repour with someone undergoing a medical challenge. I also like the ability to change fields and practice in various different settings throughout my career.

In this post:

How many programs did you apply to?

I applied to 4 programs

In Our Experience

In our experience at The PA Platform, applying at 20 is rare and workable, but it narrows your options in a way worth planning for. Emily applied to only four programs, and part of the reason is that many programs require a bachelor's degree completed before matriculation plus a patient care minimum that is hard to reach as a full-time undergraduate. She found four that fit and went three for three. If you are on an accelerated timeline, build your program list around the requirements you can actually meet rather than around prestige. [VERIFY] Confirm minimum age, degree-completion and PCE requirements at each program.

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

I received and went on 3 interviews. I was accepted to all 3 schools I interviewed at. The 4th school I was waitlisted for an interview.

Every Pre-PA Should Know...

Emily's three interviews used three completely different formats — a four-faculty panel, three group mini-interviews, and a single one-on-one. Her conclusion is that you cannot rehearse for the format, only for yourself. Preparing content rather than choreography is what transfers across all three.

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Where will you be attending?

I will be attending my first choice school, Touro College School of Health Sciences on Long Island

Any red flags on your application?

I was nervous because I started a lot of my health care experience and shadowing only a few months before I applied so I thought it might not be enough time for the interviewers to know I was confident that this was the field I wanted to be in.

Anything you found surprising about interviews?

How different each interview was! I’m a complete people person and have no nerves speaking to important people. However, I feel like everyone practices and rehearses for their interviews, but you really can’t practice because you don’t know what you’re walking into! My first interview was with four faculty members at the same time, my second was three mini interviews in groups with other applicants, and my third was one interview with one faculty member. Just be yourself and be confident in your application and you’ll be prepared for any situation!

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

I used this website/ blog a lot to find helpful tips from other PA applicants! However, I would say the best way to get information and advice is to ask classmates or students who have gone through the process a few years before you. I relied on upperclassmen and alumni from my school for help in prerequisite classes and with CASPA.

Any other advice for other pre-PA students?

Don’t compare yourself to others! Every applicant is different—has different experiences, different set-backs, and different strengths. It’s so easy to get caught up in the process of applying to comparing your GPA, PCE, or shadowing hours to everyone else’s. While yes it is important to be realistic about your chances, a lot of the time we wind up crushing our confidence by not feeling as good as other applicants. It’s important to remember that you have worked hard to get to where you are now and that you CAN do this!

Where can we find you? (website, instagram, etc)

You can find me on my personal Instagram @emilyfontinha. You can also follow my PA school page with my two best friends from my college that are also in the same PA program as me @threepasinapod. If anyone has any questions or needs advice feel free to message me there!

Need to Know:

Undergraduate education: St. Joseph’s College Long Island—Biology Major, Chemistry and Psychology minors
Overall GPA: 3.7
Science GPA: 3.6
GRE: none of the schools I applied to required it!
Total HCE hours: ~1,000
Total PCE hours: ~500
Shadowing hours: ~100
Other volunteer hours: ~500
LORs: 3 letters of recommendation—one from my thesis advisor and professor, another from a professor I took several classes with and TA’d for, the third was from a professor and PA at my college that I shadowed
How many times did you apply?: Just once!
Age: 20 at the time of my application, 21 when I got accepted
Gender: Female

FAQ

Can you get into PA school at 20 years old?

Yes, though it is uncommon. Emily applied at 20 and was accepted at 21 to Touro College School of Health Sciences, with a 3.7 GPA and about 500 patient care hours. Many programs require a completed bachelor’s degree before matriculation. [VERIFY] Confirm minimum age and degree requirements at each program.

Do all PA schools require the GRE?

No. Emily noted that none of the four programs she applied to required it, which is increasingly common. Building a program list of GRE-optional schools is a legitimate strategy if testing is not your strength. [VERIFY] Requirements change annually, so confirm before each cycle.

Is 500 hours of patient care experience enough for PA school?

It can be at programs with lower minimums. Emily was accepted at all three programs she interviewed with despite starting her healthcare experience and shadowing only a few months before applying. This is below the average admitted applicant almost everywhere. [VERIFY] Check each program’s stated minimum.

What are the different PA school interview formats?

Emily encountered three distinct formats across three interviews: a panel with four faculty members simultaneously, three mini interviews conducted in groups with other applicants, and a single one-on-one conversation. Programs vary enormously, so ask about format when you receive your invitation.

Can you get letters of recommendation entirely from professors?

Emily’s three letters all came from her college — a thesis advisor, a professor she TA’d for, and a professor who is also a PA and whom she shadowed. That last one covers the clinical perspective. Most programs want at least one letter from a practicing PA. [VERIFY] Confirm each program’s required letter types.

How can I be featured in an Accepted! post?

Email [email protected] or use the contact form at The PA Platform to share your acceptance story.

CLOSING

Emily went three for three on interviews at 20 years old with roughly 500 patient care hours, which should be encouraging to anyone convinced there is a minimum age or a minimum hour count that gates the whole process. Her advice not to compare yourself to other applicants lands differently coming from someone who was almost certainly the youngest person in every interview room she walked into.

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Touro College PA Program: Emily's Acceptance Story (Accepted at 20, 3 for 3 Interviews)