Trine University PA Program: Paige's Acceptance Story

By: Savanna Perry, PA-C

TL;DR

Paige applied to nine programs, got one interview, and was accepted. She was 21, with a 3.6 overall GPA, a 3.75 science GPA, 1,500 PCE hours as a direct care worker and medicine passer, and 400 shadowing hours with a single internal medicine PA who went on to write one of her letters. Her cousin's osteosarcoma diagnosis during her senior year of high school is what set her on this path.

Last Updated: August 2, 2026

Your Pre-PA Bestie Blog - everything you need to know to become a PA in one place.

Why PA?

My cousin was diagnosed with osteosarcoma my senior year of high school. I knew I had to help patients like doctors, PAs, nurses, etc. helped her!

In this post:

How many programs did you apply to?

In Our Experience

In our experience at The PA Platform, 400 shadowing hours with one internal medicine PA is a more valuable arrangement than 400 hours spread across twenty providers. Paige effectively apprenticed. She saw the same clinician handle the full range of a practice, built a relationship strong enough to produce a letter of recommendation, and gained the kind of specific detail that makes interview answers concrete. Her science GPA is also higher than her overall, which is the favorable version of that split — programs weighting science coursework will read her file more generously than the 3.6 suggests. Her volunteer hours are low at 15, and that's worth noting if you're assembling a comparable application.

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

1 interview, 1 acceptance!

Every Pre-PA Should Know...

Paige's science GPA (3.75) exceeds her overall GPA (3.6), meaning her non-science coursework pulled the average down. If that's your pattern, it works in your favor at programs that emphasize science GPA, and it's worth pointing out in your application.

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Where will you be attending?

Trine University

Was there anything you found surprising about interviews?

It was a long day, but a lot less stressful than I was anticipating. It was fun! I loved meeting so many people passionate about the same thing as me.

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

The pre-PA club at my undergrad university was great at giving us all the resources we needed! I used the interview guide for my interview.

Any other advice for other pre-PA students?

Be yourself always. I compared myself to everyone during the application process. Once it came to the interview, I was ready to shine. Our stats didn't matter anymore, they wanted to see us for who we are!

Where can we find you?

instagram – @paigejonites

Need to Know:

Undergraduate education: Allied Health Science
Overall GPA: 3.6
Science GPA: 3.75
GRE: I don't remember totals but 4.5 on writing
Total PCE hours: 1,500 as direct care worker and medicine passer
Shadowing hours: 400 with internal medicine PA
Other Volunteer Hours: 15 at various orgizations
LORs: 3 (one from internal medicine PA, one from chemistry professor, and one from supervisor at assisted living facility)
How many times did you apply?: Once!
Age: 21
Gender: Female

FAQ

What GPA do you need for the Trine University PA program?

Paige was accepted with a 3.6 overall GPA and a 3.75 science GPA. [VERIFY] Confirm Trine's current minimum GPA requirements.

Does Trine University's PA program require the GRE?

Paige took the GRE and recalls a 4.5 on the writing section but not her total score. [VERIFY] Confirm whether Trine currently requires the GRE, as many programs have dropped it.

How many patient care hours do you need for the Trine PA program?

Paige applied with 1,500 PCE hours as a direct care worker and medicine passer, plus 400 shadowing hours. [VERIFY] Confirm Trine's current PCE requirements.

Is it better to shadow one PA for a long time or many PAs briefly?

Depth has real advantages. Paige spent 400 hours with a single internal medicine PA, which gave her a thorough view of one practice and a relationship strong enough to yield a letter of recommendation. Some breadth across specialties helps too, but sustained shadowing is often more useful than a tour.

Does being a medication passer count as patient care experience?

Often yes, particularly in assisted living and long-term care settings where the role involves direct patient contact. Paige counted her direct care worker and medicine passer hours as PCE. [VERIFY] Confirm how each program classifies the role.

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

Paige got one interview from nine applications and turned it into an acceptance at 21. The standout feature of her application is the 400 hours she spent with one internal medicine PA — that's the kind of sustained exposure that answers "why PA" without effort and produces a letter from someone who genuinely knows your work. Her closing thought is a good one: by interview day the stats have done their job, and what's left is whether they like who you are.

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Trine University PA Program: Paige's Acceptance Story