Thomas Jefferson PA Program: Amanda's Acceptance Story (4 for 4)
Thomas Jefferson PA Program: Amanda's Acceptance Story (4 for 4)
By: Savanna Perry, PA-C
Amanda interviewed at four programs and was accepted to every one of them, choosing Thomas Jefferson's Center City campus. She had a 3.84 GPA, never took the GRE, and — notably — only 300 PCE hours at the time she applied. Her advice is aimed squarely at anyone talking themselves out of applying because their hours or GPA don't look good enough.
Last Updated: August 2, 2026
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How many programs did you apply to?
6
How many programs did you interview with and what were the outcomes?
4- accepted to all
In our experience at The PA Platform, Amanda's file is a genuine outlier and worth understanding rather than copying. Four interviews, four acceptances, with only 300 hours of direct patient care experience — that is well below what most programs consider competitive, and it worked because the rest of her application was strong: a 3.84 GPA from the University of Florida, 1,200 healthcare experience hours that grew to 2,000 by matriculation, and four letters. Several programs would have screened her out on PCE alone, which is likely why six applications produced four interviews rather than six. If your hours are thin, her outcome shows it isn't automatically disqualifying, but you should build a list that includes programs with low or flexible PCE minimums.
Where will you be attending?
Thomas Jefferson Center City
Every Pre-PA Should Know...
Amanda distinguishes between HCE and PCE in her numbers, and the gap is large: 1,200 healthcare experience hours versus 300 patient care hours. Programs treat these very differently, and some set minimums only on PCE. Track them separately from the start so you know where you actually stand.
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Anything you found surprising about interviews?
I was very nervous going into my interviews but at almost every place I interviewed the staff was very relaxed and easy going!
Any other advice for other pre-PA students?
If you are on the fence about applying because you do not think you have enough hours or a high enough GPA just give it a shot because you might be surprised at what can happen!
Where can we find you?
instagram: @amandaclemyy PA-S insta account coming soon!!
Need to Know:
Undergraduate education: University of Florida
Overall GPA: 3.84
Science GPA: 3.80
GRE: Did not take
Total HCE hours: 1,200 at time of application and 2,000 at time of matriculation
Total PCE hours: 300
Shadowing hours: 50
LORs: 4
How many times did you apply?: 1
Age: 22
Gender: Female
FAQ
Amanda was accepted with a 3.84 overall GPA and a 3.80 science GPA. [VERIFY] Confirm Thomas Jefferson's current minimum GPA requirements.
Amanda did not take the GRE and was accepted to all four programs she interviewed with. [VERIFY] Confirm Thomas Jefferson's current GRE policy before assuming it is optional.
Amanda did, but it's unusual and it limits your options. Many programs set PCE minimums well above 300 hours and will screen applications that fall short. Her strong GPA and 1,200 additional healthcare experience hours offset the shortfall. [VERIFY] Confirm each program's current PCE minimum before applying.
Patient care experience generally means hands-on responsibility for patients, while healthcare experience covers roles in a medical setting with less direct patient responsibility. Amanda reported 1,200 HCE hours and 300 PCE hours separately, and programs weigh them differently.
Amanda's answer is to apply anyway, and her result supports it — though she also had a 3.84 GPA. The practical version is to apply while targeting programs whose stated minimums you actually meet, and keep accumulating hours during the cycle.
Email [email protected] or use the contact form at The PA Platform to share your acceptance story.
CLOSING
Four for four is about as good as a cycle gets, and Amanda did it with a strong transcript, no GRE, and fewer patient care hours than most people would consider viable. Her encouragement to apply even when your numbers feel insufficient is well taken — just pair it with a school list built around the requirements you genuinely meet, so your applications reach the humans who can weigh the whole picture.
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