Marshall B. Ketchum PA Program: Aubrie's Acceptance Story

By: Savanna Perry, PA-C

TL;DR

Aubrie applied to four programs — she calls it risky herself — interviewed at one, and was accepted. One and done. She had a 3.75 GPA, never took the GRE, roughly 1,600 PCE hours, and about 1,200 volunteer hours built largely through serving as a pre-PA peer mentor and president of her pre-PA organization. She credits networking on Instagram and her campus pre-PA club more than any book.

Last Updated: August 2, 2026

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Why PA?

I have always been interested in anatomy and science, but I didn't really consider using that interest to help others until my last year of high school. After I started my first PCE role, interacted with patients and networked with PAs through our pre-PA club, it just felt right. Also, I have an interest in becoming a travel PA and I really loved that this career will let me do that AND change specialties without extra schooling while doing so.

In this post:

How many programs did you apply to?

4…risky, I know!

In Our Experience

In our experience at The PA Platform, the spreadsheet Aubrie recommends is the single most useful organizational tool in this process, and almost nobody builds one early enough. A row per program with prerequisites, minimum grades, PCE and HCE minimums, GRE policy, deadlines, and supplemental requirements turns an overwhelming search into a checklist — and it prevents the auto-rejections that come from missing one requirement. Her four-program list worked, though she flags the risk herself. What made it defensible is that her volunteer and leadership record is unusually deep for a 22-year-old: peer mentor and president of her pre-PA organization, which is where she met the PAs who guided her and wrote for her.

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

One and done!

Every Pre-PA Should Know...

Aubrie recommends having at least one pre-health friend to study with and vent to. This is not soft advice — the timeline is long, the rejections are demoralizing, and having someone who understands the specifics is what keeps people in the process.

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Where will you be attending?

Marshall B. Ketchum University

Anything you found surprising about interviews?

My interview was very causal and we got off topic quite a bit. It really just felt like a conversation with other adults in a more professional setting. They truly just wanted to know who I was as a person!

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

Of course, @thepaplatform's interview book was extremely helpful! But honestly, just networking on Instagram helped me SO much. I would also get involved in your pre-PA club on campus.

Any other advice for other pre-PA students?

The path to getting into PA school is not an easy one. You will have to put in a lot of hard work and sacrifice a lot as well, however, it is SO worth it when you see those words, "Congratulations! You've been accepted". I highly recommend having at least one pre-health friend so you have someone to vent to and study with, especially since they'll really understand the dedication you need to have to get into school. Also, I recommend creating a spreadsheet of schools you'd like to apply to early on so you can focus on those schools and what they're looking for! It can get overwhelming to prepare for school if you don't have your school choices narrowed down.

Where can we find you?

YouTube: Aubrie Jones and Instagram: @whitecoatchasing

Need to Know:

Undergraduate education: San Diego State University – Kinesiology Pre-PT and Honors Minor in Interdisciplinary Studies
Overall GPA: 3.75
Science GPA: 3.63
GRE: Did not take
Total PCE hours: ~1,600
Total HCE hours: 70
Shadowing hours: 52
Volunteer hours: ~1,200 – Pre-PA Peer Mentor, Pre-PA Organization president, MDA Summer Camp, misc
LORs: 4 – PA, clinical director of the clinic I volunteered at, advisor and music professor from my school abroad
How many times did you apply?: 1
Age: 22
Gender: Female

FAQ

What GPA do you need for the Marshall B. Ketchum PA program?

Aubrie was accepted with a 3.75 overall GPA and a 3.63 science GPA. [VERIFY] Confirm Marshall B. Ketchum's current minimum GPA requirements.

Does Marshall B. Ketchum's PA program require the GRE?

Aubrie did not take the GRE and was accepted. [VERIFY] Confirm the program's current GRE policy before assuming it is optional.

How many patient care hours do you need for the Marshall B. Ketchum PA program?

Aubrie applied with roughly 1,600 PCE hours, 70 HCE hours, 52 shadowing hours, and about 1,200 volunteer hours. [VERIFY] Confirm the program's current PCE requirements.

How do you organize your PA school application list?

Aubrie recommends building a spreadsheet early with the schools you're interested in and what each one requires. Include prerequisites, minimum grades, PCE and HCE minimums, GRE policy, deadlines, and supplemental requirements so nothing gets missed.

Is it risky to apply to only four PA schools?

Yes, and Aubrie says so herself. It worked for her — she interviewed once and was accepted — but a short list means a single unfavorable outcome can end your cycle. Most applicants should build a wider list of programs whose requirements they verifiably meet.

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

Aubrie applied to four programs, interviewed at one, and got in — a result she acknowledges was risky to attempt. The parts worth copying are structural: build the spreadsheet early so you only apply where you actually qualify, get genuinely involved in your campus pre-PA organization, and find at least one friend on the same path. Her leadership in that club is what connected her to the PAs who shaped her application.

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Marshall B. Ketchum PA Program: Aubrie's Acceptance Story