Loma Linda University PA Program: Lena's Acceptance Story (9 Interviews, 3 Acceptances)

By: Savanna Perry, PA-C

TL;DR

Lena applied to seventeen programs on her first cycle, was offered nine interviews and finished with three acceptances, landing at Loma Linda. She had C grades in core science courses and retook them to show academic maturity. Her stat block is one of the most detailed in the series, breaking out PCE, HCE, shadowing, teaching, research and extracurriculars separately.

Last Updated: August 3, 2026

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

I was offered 9 interviews and 3 acceptances!

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Any red flags on your application?

I had C’s in my core science courses, but this experience helped me learn how to study. It refined how I approached material in the future. I ended up retaking my classes to show academic maturity.

In Our Experience

In our experience at The PA Platform, retaking a science course you earned a C in is one of the few GPA interventions that reliably pays off, and Lena's nine interview offers from seventeen applications suggest it worked. CASPA averages both attempts rather than replacing the old grade, so the arithmetic gain is modest — the real value is showing a committee a recent A in the exact subject they were worried about. [VERIFY] Some programs use only the most recent attempt, and some cap how many times a prerequisite may be repeated.

Anything you found surprising about interviews?

I actually met a lot of great friends at interviews. It was an awesome opportunity to meet people from across the country. I kept in touch with a few people from every interview and overall the experience was really welcoming and warm at every program!

Every Pre-PA Should Know...

Lena's stat block separates research and non-healthcare volunteering from clinical hours, and even lists extracurriculars — meditation, yoga, backpacking through Central America. Programs increasingly ask about wellness and resilience, and having genuine answers ready is worth more than another fifty hours of anything.

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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 found awesome resources on YouTube, Instagram, ThePAPlatform.com, How to Ace the PA School Interview book by Andrew Rodican, PA-C, and PhysicianAssistantforum.com. This application cycle showed me how collaborative the PA community is. I found a community online that helped with revisions, mock interviews, and more!

Any other advice for other pre-PA students?

Be proactive in everything you pursue. Planning ahead will definitely help you in the long run. Don’t be afraid to take that step to ask. The worst thing that can happen is someone can say no, but there are so many opportunities waiting if you just ask politely and stay proactive.

Where can we find you?

Instagram: @lenainmedicine

Need to Know:

Undergraduate education: UCLA
Overall GPA: 3.5
Science GPA: 3.4
GRE: 312 (V153/Q159/4.5)
PCE: 2000+ (MA, EMT, Optometric Assistant)
HCE: 1800+ (MA, Scribe, Community Health Fairs)
Shadowing: 174 (Family/Sports Medicine, Emergency, Urgent Care, Pediatrics)
Teaching/Non-healthcare volunteer: 220 (CPR/BLS, Geriatrics, High School, Orphanage, Community Nature Restorations)
Research: 110 (Nephrology, Neurology)
Extracurricular: Meditation Classes, Yoga, Backpacked through Central America
LORs: MD, PA, PA, Microbiology Professor
How many times did you apply?: 1
Age when applied: 24
Gender: Female
How many programs did you apply to? 17 programs

FAQ

Should you retake science classes you got a C in before applying to PA school?

Often yes. Lena retook her core science courses specifically to demonstrate academic maturity and went on to receive nine interview offers. CASPA typically averages both grades rather than replacing the original, so the benefit is mostly about showing recent mastery. [VERIFY] Confirm each program’s repeat policy and prerequisite recency requirements.

How many PA school interviews can you get from 17 applications?

Lena was offered nine from seventeen, an unusually strong rate, with a 3.5 overall GPA, 312 GRE and 2,000+ patient care hours. A broad application list combined with solid across-the-board numbers is what produces multiple options.

Does optometric assistant or medical assistant work count as patient care experience?

Medical assistant work is almost universally counted as PCE. Optometric assisting is more variable and depends on how hands-on the role is. Lena grouped MA, EMT and optometric assistant work into 2,000+ PCE hours. [VERIFY] Confirm classification with each program before relying on it.

Does research experience help a PA school application?

It can differentiate you, particularly at programs with a research component in the curriculum. Lena listed 110 hours across nephrology and neurology separately from her clinical hours. Research does not substitute for patient care experience, though.

Can you get into PA school with a 3.4 science GPA?

Yes. Lena was accepted at Loma Linda and two other programs with a 3.4 science GPA and 3.5 overall, having retaken the science courses where she earned C grades. [VERIFY] Confirm Loma Linda’s current minimum GPA requirements.

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

Nine interview offers from seventeen applications is about as good as a first cycle gets, and Lena got there after C grades in core sciences. She retook them, kept building hours across three different clinical roles, and applied widely. Her advice reduces to one habit: ask for things. The worst outcome is a no.

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Loma Linda University PA Program: Lena's Acceptance Story (9 Interviews, 3 Acceptances)