George Washington University PA Program: Karla's Acceptance Story

By: Savanna Perry, PA-C

TL;DR

Karla applied once, to 10 programs, and is headed to George Washington University. She knew her 3.49 GPA was the weakest part of her file, so she built everything around it instead: dermatology medical assistant and Johns Hopkins ED technician experience, 221 shadowing hours including a trip to Ecuador, 490 volunteer hours, and a clear mission around care for minority and disabled patients.

Last Updated: August 2, 2026

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

Why PA?

I want to be a PA because I want to make a difference in the medical care that minorities receive. My goal is to advocate for disabled patients rights, reduce racial disparity, and use my understanding of cultural differences to establish a good rapport with patients.

In this post:

How many programs did you apply to?

In Our Experience

In our experience at The PA Platform, the applicants who do best with a mid-range GPA are the ones who stop apologizing for it and start building around it. Karla names her weakest number out loud and then describes exactly what she did instead — diversify the experience, get into a high-acuity setting, and let the rest of the application carry weight. Her instinct not to enroll in another master’s program purely to move a decimal point was also sound. That is an expensive fix that often does not deliver what applicants hope.

Where will you be attending?

George Washington University

Every Pre-PA Should Know...

Karla traveled to Ecuador, where her parents are from, to shadow a physician and see how medicine is practiced there. Shadowing that connects to your own story is worth more in an interview than hours logged anywhere convenient.

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

Savanna Perry’s book, it was such a smooth and easy read that perfectly laid out the do’s and dont’s of an interview. There is absolute GOLD advice in that book that makes me super glad to have read it before my interviews!

Any advice for other pre-PA students?

Do not compare your GPA to everyone else. Worst mistake I ever made and I’m glad I didn’t apply to another masters program to raise my GPA! The truth is, you are being looked at all over. Your application can shine bright in one area but not the other. I knew going into this application cycle that my GPA was the weakest point but that I had to find my strengths. I wanted to prove to the admissions that I wasn’t going to let that define me and instead focused on diversifying my experience. I strongly suggest Pre- PA’s to take a short CNA course at their local community college and work in the ED as a technician. This is such a rewarding, humbling, and challenging job that gave me so much growth as an individual and future provider. I was able to really have an understanding of what collaboration looked like in pressuring moments. Lastly, be proud of yourself. You have worked so hard to get to this point so take a moment to let that sink in.

Where can we find you? (Instagram, TikTok, Website, etc)

@karlaurgilezz

Need to Know:

Undergraduate education: Towson University
Overall GPA: 3.49
Science GPA: 3.43
GRE: 307
PA-CAT: Did not take
Total PCE hours: 32,250. I worked as a dermatology medical assistant at a private office. I worked as an ED technician at Johns Hopkins Hospital
Total HCE hours: 685. I worked as a Spanish interpreter and caregiver for adults with disabilities during the pandemic.
Shadowing hours: 221. For an entire summer, I shadowed a PA and MD that were hand specialists. I was really able to sit down and compare the differences between a physician and a PA and learned how they collaborated with one another. I shadowed a PA in dermatology, an MD in brain and spine, and went to Ecuador (where my parents are originally from) to shadow a physician. I was able to learn how medicine was practiced in a third world country
Volunteer hours: 490. I was super involved in my sorority’s philanthropy Autisms Speaks, I volunteered in hospitals, Spanish organization camp counselor, math tutor for title 1 middle school
How many times did you apply?: 1
Age: 23
Gender: Female

FAQ

What GPA do you need for George Washington University’s PA program?

Karla was accepted with a 3.49 overall GPA and a 3.43 science GPA. [VERIFY] GW’s current published minimum GPA and the most recent accepted class averages, as both change each cycle.

Does George Washington University require the GRE for PA school?

Karla submitted a 307 and did not take the PA-CAT. [VERIFY] whether the GRE is currently required, optional, or not accepted at GW.

Should you get a master’s degree to raise your GPA for PA school?

Karla decided against it and says she is glad she did. A graduate degree is costly and often does not change the undergraduate science GPA that many programs weigh most heavily. Strengthening experience and prerequisite retakes is frequently a better use of a gap year.

Is being an ED technician good experience for PA school?

Karla recommends exactly this path — a short CNA course at a community college followed by work as an emergency department technician. She credits it with teaching her what real clinical collaboration looks like under pressure. [VERIFY] that your target programs count ED tech hours as PCE.

Do you need to speak a second language for PA school?

It is not required, but it can strengthen an application. Karla logged HCE hours as a Spanish interpreter and built her Why PA around using cultural understanding to build rapport with patients.

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

Karla is going to George Washington with a mission she can articulate in a single sentence — better care for minority and disabled patients. That clarity, plus a deliberate strategy to outbuild a GPA she could not change, made her a first-cycle acceptance. Her last line is worth keeping: take a moment to let it sink in.

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George Washington University PA Program: Karla's Acceptance Story