Indiana University PA Program: Umamah's Acceptance Story

By: Savanna Perry, PA-C

TL;DR

Umamah applied to three programs, got one interview — at her top choice — and was accepted. She was 21, with a 3.71 GPA, over 2,000 PCE hours at submission, and 100 shadowing hours split across PAs, NPs, and physicians. She interviewed in the last group of the day and had to actively fight the assumption that her interviewers were too tired to be impressed.

Last Updated: August 2, 2026

Your Pre-PA Bestie Blog - everything you need to know to become a PA in one place.

Why PA?

It perfectly fit all aspects of my life both for now and the future, and it just felt like a calling, I didn't try hard before I fell head over heels in love!

In this post:

How many programs did you apply to?

In Our Experience

In our experience at The PA Platform, the most instructive line in Umamah's story is that she answered her behavioral and scenario questions using her shadowing experience. That's exactly what shadowing hours are for. When an interviewer asks what you'd do as a PA in a difficult situation, the applicants who struggle are the ones answering hypothetically, while the ones who succeed describe something they actually watched a PA navigate. Her 100 hours across PAs, NPs, and physicians gave her that material. Applying to three programs is a thin margin, though it worked here — she got one interview, and it happened to be the school she wanted most.

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

1. My first interview was my top choice, and I was accepted (YAY!)

Every Pre-PA Should Know...

Umamah interviewed in the final group of the day and assumed her interviewers were worn out. It's a reasonable worry and not one you can control. What you can control is walking in with energy, which is precisely why a late slot can work in your favor.

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Where will you be attending?

Indiana University

Anything you found surprising about interviews?

I was surprised by how laid back it was. They didn't grill me about anything and I felt that I was able to speak about my experiences with ease, but there were two scenarios/behavioral questions of things I would consider/do as a PA. Those made me nervous, but I was able to use my shadowing experience to answer.

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

PA Platform/ Physician Assistant School Interview Guide.

Any other advice for other pre-PA students?

I'm a hypocrite for saying it but BE CONFIDENT. Being in the last batch of students interviewing for the day, I'm sure my interviewers were tired. I just thought "great, how am I going to stand out when they've probably heard a million things by now". I just remembered fighting with that voice of doubt in my head and going into the room with a bright smile and a positive attitude, ready to prove why I was worth it.

Where can we find you?

Instagram: phleb.to.pa

Need to Know:

Undergraduate education: Psychology B.S. Biology minor
Overall GPA: 3.71
Science GPA: 3.51
GRE: Verbal & Quantitative: 301; Writing: 3.5
Total PCE hours: 2,000 + when I submitted
Shadowing hours: 100 (PA, NP &MD)
Other volunteer hours: Approximately 60-70
LORs: 4: one from Cardio PA, one from office manager, two from professors.
How many times did you apply?: 1
Age: 21

FAQ

What GPA do you need for the Indiana University PA program?

Umamah was accepted with a 3.71 overall GPA and a 3.51 science GPA. [VERIFY] Confirm Indiana University's current minimum GPA requirements.

Does the Indiana University PA program require the GRE?

Umamah submitted a combined verbal and quantitative GRE score of 301 with 3.5 on writing. [VERIFY] Confirm whether Indiana University currently requires the GRE.

How many patient care hours do you need for the Indiana University PA program?

Umamah applied with more than 2,000 PCE hours at the time she submitted, plus 100 shadowing hours and roughly 60-70 volunteer hours. [VERIFY] Confirm the program's current PCE requirements.

How do you answer behavioral questions in a PA school interview?

Draw on what you've actually observed. Umamah says the two scenario and behavioral questions made her nervous, but she answered them using her shadowing experience. Concrete examples from real clinical settings are far more convincing than hypothetical reasoning.

Does it matter what time of day your PA school interview is?

Less than applicants fear. Umamah was in the last group of the day and was accepted. Interviewers are trained to evaluate consistently, and arriving with genuine energy late in a long day can help you stand out rather than hurt you.

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

Umamah got one interview out of three applications and converted it into an acceptance at her first-choice program at age 21. What made that possible was more than 2,000 patient care hours before she'd finished undergrad and enough shadowing to answer scenario questions from experience rather than imagination. Her advice about confidence is honest — she admits she was fighting her own doubt — and that's more useful than pretending the nerves aren't there.

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Indiana University PA Program: Umamah's Acceptance Story