University of Kentucky PA Program: Jenna's Acceptance Story (D1 Athlete, 2,000+ PCE Hours)

By: Savanna Perry, PA-C

TL;DR

Jenna ran Division I track at Mercer University while working through a science-heavy course load, which she believes explains her 3.24 science GPA and which she thinks programs took into account. She applied once to six programs, retook the GRE to move from 299 to 309, and was accepted to her top choice, the University of Kentucky. She also turned down a waitlist spot because the interview atmosphere felt discouraging.

Last Updated: August 3, 2026

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A Note From Savanna

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.

In this post:

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!

In Our Experience

In our experience at The PA Platform, applicants treat an interview as a one-way evaluation, and Jenna's story is a useful correction. She sat through a session of pointed challenge questions about her science GPA, read the room as unsupportive, and then declined that program's waitlist offer. Programs are choosing you, but you are also choosing where you will spend two-plus intense years. If the faculty tone in an interview feels adversarial rather than rigorous, that is real information worth weighing.

Any red flags on your application?

GPA, but I believe PA schools took my D1 running schedule into consideration with my difficult classes.

Every Pre-PA Should Know...

Jenna's 30 HCE hours are unusually low, but her 2,000+ PCE hours as a Patient Care Assistant on an Ortho/Neuro PCU floor and then a Stroke ICU are exactly the kind of high-acuity, hands-on experience programs value. She also noted how hard it was to find PAs to shadow in Louisville because it is an NP-heavy market — a real regional constraint worth planning around early.

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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

Need to Know:

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

FAQ

Can you get into PA school with a 3.24 science GPA?

Yes. Jenna was accepted to the University of Kentucky with a 3.24 science GPA and a 3.52 overall, supported by 2,000+ patient care hours. She believes her Division I running commitment provided context for her grades. [VERIFY] Confirm the University of Kentucky’s current minimum science GPA requirement.

Should you retake the GRE for PA school?

Jenna scored 299 on her first attempt, studied harder and retook it for a 309 — a ten-point jump that moved her comfortably above common informal benchmarks. If your first score is near or below 300 and you have time before submitting, a retake is usually worth it. [VERIFY] Check whether your programs still require the GRE at all.

Does being a college athlete help a PA school application?

It can. Jenna listed her GPA as her only red flag and believes programs weighed her Division I running schedule alongside a difficult course load. Athletics also demonstrates time management, coachability and teamwork, and it gave her leadership experience as President of the Student Athlete Association Committee.

What should you do if a PA school interview feels hostile?

Jenna faced mostly challenge questions at one program and felt the interviewers did not believe in her. She answered them anyway, then declined that program’s waitlist offer because the atmosphere was not encouraging. Answer professionally in the moment, but record your impressions afterward and factor them into your decision.

How do you find PAs to shadow in an area with few PAs?

Jenna found shadowing difficult in Louisville because it is an NP-heavy market, and finished with 50 hours across orthopedics and family medicine. Widening your radius to nearby cities, asking PAs you already work with for referrals, and contacting specialty clinics directly are the approaches that tend to work.

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

Jenna applied to six programs, heard back from two, and got the one she wanted most. The through-line in her answers is self-advocacy — asking professors for help, retaking a test she was not happy with, practicing answers out loud with family, and trusting her read on a program that did not feel right. Those are all things you control regardless of what your transcript says.

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University of Kentucky PA Program: Jenna's Acceptance Story (D1 Athlete, 2,000+ PCE Hours)