Duke University PA Program: Mariah's Acceptance Story

By: Savanna Perry, PA-C

TL;DR

Mariah applied to PA school across four cycles — 28 applications total — and was accepted to Duke University. Her undergraduate transcript included ten C's and a D+, many in PA school prerequisites, leaving her with a 3.03 science GPA. She built 4,400 patient care hours and finished her successful cycle with four interview invitations, three interviews, two acceptances, and one waitlist. Her advice includes something most applicants resist hearing: it's okay to skip a cycle.

Last Updated: August 2, 2026

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

4 invitations, 3 interviews, 1 waitlist, 2 acceptances

In this post:

Where will you be attending?

Duke University! By the grace of God

In Our Experience

In our experience at The PA Platform, the most valuable and least popular piece of advice in this post is Mariah's regret about not skipping a cycle. Reapplying immediately with an essentially unchanged application costs money and produces the same result. Taking a year to retake coursework or add hours is not falling behind — it's the fastest route to an acceptance if your file has a genuine deficiency. Her four-cycle progression shows this: two applications, then nine, then two, then fifteen with real improvements behind them. Ten C's and a D+ in prerequisites is a serious academic history, and Duke still said yes.

Any red flags on your application?

Undergrad science/prerequisite GPA. I went into college with almost no study skills and very little of the self discipline needed to succeed in my pre-med biology program. I earned Cs (10! to be exact, plus one D+) in almost every major course, many of which are prereqs for PA school.

Every Pre-PA Should Know...

Mariah reported zero healthcare experience hours and 4,400 patient care hours — all of her clinical time was hands-on. She found the MMI format at OHSU genuinely fun. [VERIFY] Confirm Duke's current PA program prerequisite and GPA requirements.

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Anything you found surprising about interviews?

Duke’s interview process was all day but surprisingly laid back. I felt very comfortable there because they went out of their way to make students feel at home instead of purposely stressing them out. I absolutely loved that! I was also surprised by how fun I found the MMI interviews at OHSU to be. It was my first time doing an MMI interview but it was much less scary than I thought it would be! To me it felt a little like a game that challenges you in how quickly you can adapt and intelligently respond to different scenarios. I knew I didn’t do everything perfectly but I actually enjoyed it!

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

Physician Assistant School Interview Guide by Savanna Perry was an absolute lifesaver! This book stood apart from everything else I read relating to interviews because it helped me to think about the “why” behind each question that could be asked. Once I started thinking this way, I felt ready to answer any question thrown my way!

Any other advice for other pre-PA students?

Never, ever, ever give up! I know it’s discouraging to receive rejection after rejection. I know what it’s like to feel like you’re not good enough or smart enough to get into PA school. But I am a living testimony that if becoming a PA is truly your life’s path, and if you refuse to be deterred, then you can and will get in! If you don’t get any interviews or acceptances this cycle, then sit down and try to take an objective approach to your application. Get others to look at it too, and see what you can do to improve every part that is lacking. If you need to take a year of from applying to take more classes or get more hours, THAT’S OKAY! Do not feel like you have to apply again right away. It may be better for you to take more time to work on things, both financially and practically. I honestly wish I had done this because it would have saved me so much money, effort, and disappointment. At the end of the day, you have to do what’s best for you. Don’t compare yourself to others in this process, don’t let a rejection letter define who you are, and most importantly, don’t ever give up!

Where can we find you?

Instagram @missmariahdee, YouTube Mariah Dee, Future PA-C

Need to Know:

Undergraduate education: Berry College – Biology major, Chemistry minor (2013)
Overall GPA: 3.11
Science GPA: 3.03
GRE: 163 Verbal/147 Quant/4.0 Writing (310 total)
Total HCE hours: 0
Total PCE hours: 4400
Shadowing hours: 101
Other volunteer hours: 120
How many times did you apply?: Four!
Age: 27
Gender: Female
How many programs did you apply to? 15 this cycle. 2 in the 2015-2016 cycle, 9 in the 2016-2017 cycle, and 2 in the 2017-2018 cycle.

FAQ

Can you get into PA school with a 3.0 science GPA?

Yes. Mariah was accepted to Duke with a 3.03 science GPA and a transcript containing ten C's and a D+, many in prerequisite courses. It took four application cycles and 4,400 patient care hours, but the academic history was not disqualifying.

What GPA do you need for the Duke PA program?

Mariah was accepted with a 3.11 overall GPA and a 3.03 science GPA. [VERIFY] Confirm Duke's current published minimum GPA requirements directly with the program, as Duke is highly competitive and stated minimums differ from accepted-student averages.

Should you skip a cycle instead of reapplying immediately?

Often yes. Mariah's clearest regret across four cycles is that she reapplied right away instead of taking a year to retake classes and add hours. If your application has a real deficiency, a year of targeted improvement usually beats another round of the same file.

Does Duke's PA program require the GRE?

Mariah submitted a 310 GRE (163 verbal, 147 quantitative, 4.0 writing). [VERIFY] Confirm the current testing policy directly with the program before registering.

What is an MMI interview like?

An MMI moves candidates through short timed stations with scenarios rather than traditional questions. Mariah found her first one at OHSU surprisingly enjoyable, describing it as a game testing how quickly you adapt and respond thoughtfully to different situations.

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

Mariah's transcript would convince most people to give up, and four cycles of rejection nearly did. She got into Duke. Her honest advice is worth more than the encouragement: look at your application objectively, get someone else to look at it too, and give yourself permission to take a year if that's what it needs.

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Duke University PA Program: Mariah's Acceptance Story