University of Bridgeport PA Program: Brianna's Acceptance Story

By: Savanna Perry, PA-C

TL;DR

Brianna applied to five programs, interviewed at one, and was accepted before she'd even heard back from the rest. She had a 3.48 GPA in both overall and science, about 1,450 PCE hours as a medical assistant, and she never took the GRE. Her reason for choosing this profession is deeply personal: her mother died from a misdiagnosis during Brianna's freshman year of college.

Last Updated: August 2, 2026

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Why PA?

My mom died when I was a freshmen in college due to misdiagnosis. This got me extremely interested in the methods of diagnosis and treatment in the medical field and ultimately led me to want to pursue a career as a PA.

In this post:

How many programs did you apply to?

In Our Experience

In our experience at The PA Platform, a "why PA" answer rooted in personal loss is powerful, and it also needs care. Brianna's motivation — her mother's death from a misdiagnosis — is exactly the kind of formative experience that makes an application memorable, and she frames it well by moving quickly from the loss itself to what it made her curious about: diagnostic reasoning and treatment decisions. That pivot is the part applicants often miss. Committees want to see that a difficult experience produced professional clarity rather than only grief. Her file is otherwise clean and balanced: matching 3.48 GPAs, no GRE required, roughly 1,450 patient care hours, and four letters from people who had supervised her clinically or academically.

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

I interviewed with one and accepted before I even heard back from the other schools I applied to.

Every Pre-PA Should Know...

Brianna didn't take the GRE at all and it didn't limit her. A large and growing number of PA programs have dropped the GRE requirement entirely, so before you pay for the exam, check whether the programs on your list actually need it. [VERIFY] Confirm current GRE policies for each program you're considering.

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Where will you be attending?

University of Bridgeport, CT

Anything you found surprising about interviews?

How relaxed they were! The admissions committee really wants to get to know you as a person! My advice is to be confident, smile, and give them a reason to remember you!

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

I found Savanna Perry's interview prep book extremely helpful as well as the Pre-PA club Facebook group where I would often post questions I had about the process. I also recommend signing up for the Mock Interview through The PA Platform. It helped me build up the confidence I needed for my first ever PA school interview!

Any other advice for other pre-PA students?

I know this process can be long and daunting, but don't give up! Use your resources, continue to gain experience, and start the process early. I have confidence that everyone who has a passion to become a PA will fulfill this goal with dedication and hard work.

Where can we find you?

Planning on starting an Instragram account prepa_with_bri

Need to Know:

Undergraduate education: Bachelor in Kinesiolgy at The University of Massachusetts Amherst
Overall GPA: 3.48
Science GPA: 3.48
GRE: Did not take it!
Total PCE hours: About 1,450 at the time of application
Shadowing hours: About 40
Other volunteer hours: 360
LORs: 4 total, 2 from Nurse Practitioners I have been a medical assistant for, 1 professor who I had for 2 courses and was a teaching assistant for, and 1 nurse that I work with.
How many times did you apply?: 1
Age: 22
Gender: Female

FAQ

What GPA do you need for the University of Bridgeport PA program?

Brianna was accepted with a 3.48 overall GPA and a 3.48 science GPA. [VERIFY] Confirm the University of Bridgeport's current minimum GPA requirements.

Does the University of Bridgeport PA program require the GRE?

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

How many patient care hours do you need for the University of Bridgeport PA program?

Brianna applied with roughly 1,450 PCE hours as a medical assistant, plus about 40 shadowing hours and 360 volunteer hours. [VERIFY] Confirm the program's current PCE requirements.

Can nurse practitioners write your PA school letters of recommendation?

Often yes. Two of Brianna's four letters came from nurse practitioners she worked for as a medical assistant. What matters most is that the writer has directly supervised your clinical work, though some programs specify they want a letter from a PA. [VERIFY] Confirm each program's letter requirements.

How do you talk about a personal loss in your PA school application?

Be honest and then be specific about what it changed. Brianna names her mother's death from a misdiagnosis and connects it directly to her interest in diagnostic methods and treatment. Committees respond to that link between experience and professional motivation rather than to the difficulty alone.

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

Brianna's cycle ended early in the best possible way — she accepted an offer from her one interview before the other four programs had even responded. Her application is a reminder that you don't need extraordinary numbers or 5,000 hours to be a strong candidate. A solid GPA, meaningful patient care work, letters from people who genuinely know you, and a clear, honest reason for choosing this profession will carry you a long way.

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University of Bridgeport PA Program: Brianna's Acceptance Story