First-Cycle PA School Acceptance: Hailey's Story (3.28 GPA, a D on Her Transcript, 3,600 EMT Hours)

By: Savanna Perry, PA-C

TL;DR

Hailey applied to fourteen programs expecting to need multiple cycles — her 3.28 overall and 3.10 science GPA included a D — and got two interviews and two acceptances on her first attempt. A 318 GRE, 3,600 hours as an EMT, 1,500 volunteer EMT hours and a stint as an EMT Program Director carried the file. She raised her GPA as a weakness at both interviews and found faculty unbothered.

Last Updated: August 3, 2026

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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!

In this post:

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.

In Our Experience

In our experience at The PA Platform, naming your own weakness before the committee does is almost always the stronger play. Hailey raised her GPA at both interviews and found faculty untroubled — one interviewer volunteered that she had been admitted with below-average grades herself. Raising it yourself lets you control the framing and move immediately to what you did about it. Pair the admission with evidence: in Hailey's case a 318 GRE, 3,600 EMT hours and a demanding physiology degree.

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.

Every Pre-PA Should Know...

Hailey applied to fourteen programs and noted her bank account did not like it. At roughly $175 for the first CASPA program and about $55 for each additional one, plus supplemental fees, a fourteen-program cycle runs well past a thousand dollars before travel. [VERIFY] Current CASPA fees and the CASPA Fee Assistance Program, which waives costs for eligible applicants.

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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

Need to Know:

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)

FAQ

Can you get into PA school with a D on your transcript?

Yes. Hailey had a D on her transcript alongside a 3.28 overall and 3.10 science GPA, and received two acceptances on her first cycle. She offset it with a 318 GRE and 3,600 EMT hours. [VERIFY] Many programs require a minimum grade of C in each prerequisite, so a D in a prerequisite specifically may need to be retaken.

Can a high GRE score make up for a low GPA in PA school admissions?

It can help. Hailey credits her 318 GRE, her healthcare background and the difficulty of her physiology degree with balancing a 3.28 GPA. A strong test score gives a committee a recent, standardized data point suggesting you can handle graduate coursework. [VERIFY] Many programs no longer require the GRE at all.

Should you bring up your own weaknesses at a PA school interview?

Hailey pointed out her GPA as a weakness at both interviews and the faculty were not concerned. Addressing a visible weakness proactively lets you control the narrative and demonstrates self-awareness, provided you follow it immediately with what you learned or changed.

How many EMT hours do you need for PA school?

There is no universal number. Hailey had 3,600 paid EMT hours plus 1,500 volunteer EMT hours and roughly 500 hours as an EMT Program Director. EMT work is almost universally accepted as patient care experience. [VERIFY] Confirm each program’s PCE minimum and whether volunteer EMT hours count.

How much does it cost to apply to 14 PA programs?

Well over a thousand dollars once CASPA fees, supplemental application fees and interview travel are included — Hailey joked that her bank account did not like it. [VERIFY] Check the CASPA Fee Assistance Program, which can waive fees for a limited number of programs if you qualify.

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

Hailey went into the cycle assuming she would need to retake classes and apply more than once, and came out with two acceptances from two interviews. The lesson is not that grades stop mattering — she is explicit that they do — but that a genuinely deep clinical background, a strong test score and the willingness to talk openly about a weak transcript can carry an application further than the GPA alone suggests.

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First-Cycle PA School Acceptance: Hailey's Story (3.28 GPA, a D on Her Transcript, 3,600 EMT Hours)