Midwestern University Glendale PA Program: Finley's Acceptance Story

By: Savanna Perry, PA-C

TL;DR

Finley applied to nine programs, got two interviews, and came away with one denial and one waitlist — then was accepted off that waitlist at Midwestern University in Glendale. He had a 3.79 GPA, a 317 GRE, 1,400 HCE hours from clinical research, and only 345 PCE hours. A PA who mentored him at his research job is the reason he found the profession at all.

Last Updated: August 2, 2026

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Why PA?

I stumbled upon the profession while exploring the healthcare field. All of the normal perks of the job looked nice on paper, but once I shadowed a PA I knew it was right for me. Never before have I met such friendly, caring, confident, and curious people. I was also very lucky to be mentored by a PA where I worked in clinical research. With his help I was able to understand the profession and a PA's role in healthcare.

In this post:

How many programs did you apply to?

In Our Experience

In our experience at The PA Platform, having a mentor inside the profession is worth more than almost any other single advantage, and Finley's story shows why. A PA at his clinical research job taught him what the role actually involves and then wrote one of his letters. That's how you get an application that reads as informed rather than aspirational. His 345 patient care hours are low, and it likely explains why nine applications produced only two interviews — but the waitlist converted. Worth noting for anyone in the same position: a waitlist is a live outcome, not a soft rejection, and movement often continues well into the summer.

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

2 interviews with 1 denial and 1 waitlist where I was later accepted.

Every Pre-PA Should Know...

Finley was denied at one program and waitlisted at the other, and ended up accepted off that waitlist. If you find yourself holding only a waitlist at the end of a cycle, send a letter of continued interest, keep your hours climbing, and wait — seats open up as accepted applicants choose elsewhere.

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Where will you be attending?

Midwestern University, Glendale

Anything you found surprising about interviews?

No matter how hard you prepare there will always be something that catches you off guard. Be ready to adapt and be flexible. Also, you'll be told this so many times, but be honest. They want to know you as a person.

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

In finding schools I found the The Applicant's Manual of Physician Assistant Programs very helpful. In preparing for the interview I would highly recommend using the programs' websites and physicianassistantforum.com for insight to the process. Savanna's book the Physician Assistant School Interview Guide and the PA Platform's mock interview service were also very helpful for my confidence.

Any other advice for other pre-PA students?

If becoming a PA is as important to you as it is to me you are more than capable of getting in. Just remember to do your research, take time to make your application shine, and to try not to get too stressed. Use others' stats only for reference, not as a means to compare yourself. You and your experiences are unique. Use them to your advantage.

Where can we find you?

@finn.shea.the.pa on Instagram

Need to Know:

Undergraduate education: Bachelor's in Global Health from UC San Diego
Overall GPA: 3.79
Science GPA: 3.7
GRE: 317
Total PCE hours: 345
Total HCE hours: 1,400
Shadowing hours: 70
Other Volunteer hours: 110
LORs: 1 from my PA mentor, 1 from my anatomy professor, 1 from my supervisor, and 1 from an internship coach.
How many times did you apply?: 1
Age: 22
Gender: Male

FAQ

What GPA do you need for the Midwestern University Glendale PA program?

Finley was accepted with a 3.79 overall GPA and a 3.7 science GPA. [VERIFY] Confirm Midwestern's current minimum GPA requirements.

Does Midwestern University's PA program require the GRE?

Finley submitted a GRE score of 317. [VERIFY] Confirm whether Midwestern currently requires the GRE, as many programs have dropped it.

Can you get into PA school with 345 patient care hours?

Finley did, though with 1,400 additional healthcare experience hours from clinical research and a strong GPA. His low PCE likely limited how many interviews he received. [VERIFY] Confirm each program's current PCE minimum before applying.

Do people get accepted off the PA school waitlist?

Regularly. Finley was waitlisted at Midwestern and later accepted. Programs admit more candidates than they have seats for and waitlists move as applicants commit elsewhere, sometimes right up until classes start.

Does clinical research experience help a PA school application?

It helps, though it's usually classified as healthcare experience rather than direct patient care. Finley's 1,400 hours in clinical research also connected him with the PA mentor who guided his application and wrote a letter for him.

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

Finley's cycle came down to a single waitlist that converted, and his path there ran through a PA mentor at his clinical research job who taught him the profession from the inside. His observation about interviews is honest and useful: something will catch you off guard no matter how much you prepare, so practice adapting rather than memorizing. And his advice on other people's stats — reference, not comparison — is the right way to read every story on this site, including his.

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Midwestern University Glendale PA Program: Finley's Acceptance Story