Rosalind Franklin University PA Program: Lyndsey's 4.0 GPA Acceptance Story

By: Savanna Perry, PA-C

TL;DR

Lyndsey applied twice — once to her school’s direct admit program as a sophomore and again as a senior — and finished with a 4.0 overall and science GPA, a 320 GRE, 1600 PCE hours, and 3 interviews that turned into 2 acceptances. Notably, none of her interviews were traditional: two MMIs and one group interview.

Last Updated: August 2, 2026

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Why PA?

My dream of becoming a Physician Assistant (PA) was sparked when I was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease in middle school and solidified during a hospital internship I participated in during high school. I hope to support patients both physically and emotionally like my healthcare providers have for me throughout the years. I have always been a person with many passions, so I appreciate that as a PA I will have lateral mobility. Additionally, I have observed how PAs consult with their attending physicians. As a collaborative person who enjoys studying with my peers, I envision myself thriving in this relationship. Although the nurse practitioners have similar authority to PAs, I learned they are educated in the nursing model. Since I am fascinated by the biological and pathological aspects of health, the disease-centered model, which the PA curriculum is built on, is a better fit for me.

In this post:

How many programs did you apply to?

In Our Experience

In our experience at The PA Platform, applicants who face an MMI for the first time are often thrown by how little the stations resemble a traditional interview. Lyndsey’s point is the one we make constantly: many MMI prompts are not testing knowledge at all, they are testing how you think out loud and adapt when there is no obvious right answer. Practicing that skill is very different from rehearsing answers to common questions, and it is worth building into your prep once you know a program uses the MMI format.

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

3 interviews- 2 acceptances!

Every Pre-PA Should Know...

Lyndsey never sat a single traditional interview. Two MMIs and one group interview were all it took — a good reminder to research each program’s interview format rather than preparing for one style.

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Where will you be attending?

Rosalind Franklin University

Anything you found surprising about interviews?

I had no “traditional” interviews. I completed two MMI interviews and one group interview. Although preparing is necessary, some of the questions they ask are just to see how you react and can adapt in unique situations. Most interviewers were more friendly than I had expected, as well!

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

Yes- the PA Platform podcast was a great resource for all things PA.

Any advice for other pre-PA students?

Everyone’s journey looks a little different. You might be accepted right out of undergrad, you might need to take a gap year or two… But just take the next little step every day and all of your hard work will add up when you are finally accepted to PA school! Also no experience is bad experience!

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

TikTok- @lynds.fit.pa Instagram- @lyndsey.bassett

Need to Know:

Undergraduate Education: Marquette University
Overall GPA: 4.0
Science GPA: 4.0
GRE: 320
PA-CAT: Did not take
Total PCE hours: 1600- I worked at a summer camp for children with disabilities for 4 summers, a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) in an assisted living facility for 1 summer, and a Patient Care Technician (PCT) in a hospital for 1 summer.
Total HCE hours: 450- I volunteered in hospitals once a week for 5 years.
Shadowing hours: 80 hours- in high school, I completed a 3 week, full time internship at a local hospital where I was able to observe all units of the hospital. This was such a fun experience that made me realize I wanted to be a Physician Assistant (PA) when I followed one on a post-surgical floor. I was also able to scrub in to observe surgery and watch a C section!
Volunteer hours: 100- In college, I volunteered in various soup kitchens and homeless shelters throughout Milwaukee, WI.
How many times did you apply?: 2 times (once into my school’s direct admit program as a sophomore, and once as a senior while completing my undergraduate degree).
Age: 22
Gender: Female

FAQ

What GPA do you need to get into Rosalind Franklin University’s PA program?

Lyndsey applied with a 4.0 overall GPA and a 4.0 science GPA. [VERIFY] Rosalind Franklin’s current published minimum GPA before applying — minimums change by cycle, and the average GPA of an accepted class is usually well above the stated floor.

Does Rosalind Franklin University require the GRE for PA school?

Lyndsey submitted a 320. [VERIFY] whether the GRE is currently required, optional, or not accepted at Rosalind Franklin, since many programs have changed their GRE policy in recent cycles. She did not take the PA-CAT.

How many patient care hours do you need for PA school?

Lyndsey had 1600 PCE hours from four summers at a camp for children with disabilities plus CNA and PCT work, along with 450 HCE hours from five years of weekly hospital volunteering. [VERIFY] the program’s current minimum PCE requirement and which roles it counts.

What is an MMI interview for PA school?

The multiple mini interview is a circuit of short, timed stations, each with its own prompt or scenario. Lyndsey completed two MMIs and one group interview and had no traditional one-on-one interview at all. [VERIFY] each program’s current interview format before you prepare.

Can you get into PA school straight out of undergrad?

Yes. Lyndsey applied twice — first to her undergraduate school’s direct admit program as a sophomore, then as a senior while finishing her degree — and started PA school at 22 without a gap year.

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

A 4.0 is impressive, but the part of Lyndsey’s story worth copying is the steadiness — five years of weekly hospital volunteering, four summers at the same camp, and a willingness to apply a second time after the direct admit route did not work out. As she puts it, no experience is bad experience. If you are building your own timeline, our free application resources are a good place to start.

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Rosalind Franklin University PA Program: Lyndsey's 4.0 GPA Acceptance Story