UC Davis PA Program: Wei's Acceptance Story

By: Savanna Perry, PA-C

TL;DR

Wei applied to 19 programs, interviewed at six, sat on four waitlists and was admitted to one — UC Davis. With a 3.3 GPA, C’s in both general chemistry courses and no GRE, his acceptance rests on eight years of hands-on patient care. His stats and advice follow, exactly as he shared them with us.

Last Updated: August 2, 2026

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

Why did you choose PA?

because I want to learn to treat the whole human body instead of specializing in the lungs. I often feel limited with my capabilities on taking care of my patients as a respiratory therapist

In this post:

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

19 applied. 6 interviewed. 4 waitlisted and only 1 admitted. 14 rejections

In Our Experience

In our experience at The PA Platform, Wei's numbers show how much deep patient care experience can absorb. A 3.3 GPA with C’s in both general chemistry courses worries most applicants, and it clearly cost him — 14 rejections is a punishing cycle by any measure. But more than 16,000 hours across two clinical roles gave him something no applicant can manufacture in a single year, and it was enough to turn one of those six interviews into a seat.

Where will you be attending?

I will be attending UC-Davis PA program

Every Pre-PA Should Know...

Wei never took the GRE. A growing number of PA programs have dropped the requirement entirely, which can widen your list considerably if testing is a weak point for you [VERIFY current GRE requirements for every program on your list — these change year to year]. Filter on it early rather than assuming a score is mandatory.

Free Application Timeline → https://www.thepaplatform.com/services/free-application-timeline/

Any red flags on your application?

GPA of 3.3 is on the low side. And there were multiple C’s on my transcript including General Chemistry 1 and 2.

Anything you found surprising about interviews?

I found that everyone is so nice, both the interviewers and the interviewees. And I saw a couple of same people in different interviews. That was surprising.

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

I used 2 books for the interviews. 1st one and also my favorite and most helpful is the Physician Assistant School Interview Guide by Savanna Perry, and How to “Ace” The Physician Assistant Interview” by Andrew Rodican. I also did the mock interview with the PAplatform website and listen to the podcasts. I also watch PA-S you tubers who shared their journey into PA school.

Any other advice for other pre-PA students?

Take this seriously. It’s harder than you think. I learned it the hard way. Use the services from thePAplatfom.com. They are extremely helpful. Watch the YouTube videos by James Kim. I also had help to edit my essay. Don’t get discouraged easily, don’t give up. If you really want it, you can do it. Always be openminded and use all the opportunities that are available. People always say to be yourself for the interview. I completely disagree with this. I say be the best version of yourself. Don’t compare yourself to others because you are the pilot of your own life. The author of your own life novel. Not them.

Where can we find you? (website, instagram, etc)

You can find me on Instagram @wahwahwei. I usually post my dog’s photos and my cookings, but I am about to post my journey into PA school too.

Need to Know:

Undergraduate education: Rutgers University, Newark, NJ
Overall GPA: 3.3
Science GPA: 3.5
GRE: Didn’t take it
Total HCE hours: more than 16,000 hours as an ER tech for 4 years and Respiratory Therapist for 4 years
Total PCE hours: same as above
Shadowing hours: 90 hours
Other volunteer hours: 200 hours
LORs: 1 PA, 1 MD, 2 professors, 1 supervisor from work
How many times did you apply?: 2
Age: 30
Gender: Male
How many programs did you apply to? 19

FAQ

What GPA do you need for the UC Davis PA program?

Wei was accepted with a 3.3 overall GPA and a 3.5 science GPA, including C’s in General Chemistry 1 and 2. Confirm current minimums directly with the program [VERIFY].

Does UC Davis require the GRE for its PA program?

Wei was accepted without taking the GRE. Requirements change year to year, so check the program’s current admissions page before you plan around it [VERIFY].

How many patient care hours did Wei have?

More than 16,000, built over four years as an ER technician and four years as a respiratory therapist.

Did Wei get into PA school on his first try?

No. UC Davis came on his second application cycle.

How many PA programs should I apply to?

There is no single right number, but Wei applied to 19 and received a single acceptance. If your GPA is on the low side, applying broadly gives you more chances to reach an interview where your experience can speak for itself.

How can I be featured in an Accepted! post?

Email [email protected] to share your acceptance story and advice with other PA hopefuls.

CLOSING

Wei’s cycle was not a clean sweep. Fourteen rejections and four waitlists came before a single yes, and one yes was all he needed. If you are working with a GPA you cannot go back and change, his path is worth studying closely: build the experience, apply broadly, and keep going.

If you’ve recently been accepted to PA school and would like to be featured in an “Accepted!” post, send an email to [email protected].

Pre-PA Counseling — start your own acceptance story → https://www.thepaplatform.com/services/pre-pa-counseling/

UC Davis PA Program: Wei's Acceptance Story