Weill Cornell PA Program: Jessica's Acceptance Story (6 Acceptances)

By: Savanna Perry, PA-C

TL;DR

Jessica applied to 13 programs, was offered 12 interviews, attended 8, and was accepted to every program she interviewed at except two where she was waitlisted. She chose Weill Cornell. Her GRE scores were genuinely poor — and inconsistent enough across two attempts that she stopped taking them seriously — and it made no difference. Her main regret is applying to programs she wouldn't actually have attended.

Last Updated: August 2, 2026

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How many programs did you apply to?

In this post:

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

I was offered 12 interviews and attended 8 of them. I interviewed at: Northeastern, Northwestern, Johnson and Wales, Drexel, Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, Mass General and Cornell. I was waitlisted at Northeastern and Northwestern and was accepted to every other program.

In Our Experience

In our experience at The PA Platform, Jessica's GRE story is worth sitting with. Her two attempts produced almost mirror-image results — 35th percentile verbal and 70th math the first time, then 35th math and 70th verbal the second — which is exactly the kind of noise that shows how little a single test administration tells anyone about a candidate. She listed low GRE scores as a red flag and still converted 12 of 13 applications into interview offers. The rest of her file did the work: 3,200 hours as a medical assistant in internal medicine, a 3.7 GPA, and 100 shadowing hours. Her regret about applying to programs she didn't actually want is the more actionable lesson, because supplemental applications cost real money and real time.

Where will you be attending?

Weill Cornell College of Medicine PA Program

Every Pre-PA Should Know...

Jessica was offered 12 interviews and declined 4 of them. Once you have acceptances in hand, you are allowed to withdraw from interviews at programs you no longer want — and doing so early releases that seat to someone on the waitlist. It is both practical and courteous.

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Any red flags on your application?

Low GRE scores and a Withdrawal on my transcript from freshman year

Anything you found surprising about interviews?

They are a lot more relaxed than I thought and they are all very similar. There are several questions that you are always asked at every interview. Overall, faculty are very nice and want to get to know you and your true self.

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

To get through the application and interview process I highly recommend these two books: PA school interview guide by Savannah Perry and How to Ace the PA school interview by Andrew Rodican. Read both of these through and make flashcards with your own responses and practice them out loud before interviews.

Any other advice for other pre-PA students?

Only apply to programs you would actually attend. Looking back, I applied to several programs that I would have not wanted to attend but applied anyway. It is a lot of money and a waste of time completing all of the supplements so really focus on what schools are important to you. Also, start everything in advance. You can start filling out the application before it opens, and writing your personal statement ahead of time is crucial. Sending your applications earlier is much better than later in the process.

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

My instagram is: jess_bonet

Need to Know:

Undergraduate education: Graduated in 2017 from Boston University. Major was Health Science and I was on the pre-medical track.
Overall GPA: 3.7
Science GPA: 3.6
GRE: I took the GRE twice. I got 35% verbal and 70% math and 5 on writing the first time. The second time, I got 35% math and 70% verbal and 5 on the writing. This just proved to me that standardized testing is not a reliable measure and did not affect me at all through the application process.
Total HCE hours: 200
Total PCE hours: 3200 (Medical Assistant at an Internal Medicine Practice)
Shadowing hours: 100
Other volunteer hours: 300
LORs: Three letters
How many times did you apply?: Once
Age: 23
Gender: Female

FAQ

What GPA do you need for the Weill Cornell PA program?

Jessica was accepted with a 3.7 overall GPA and a 3.6 science GPA. [VERIFY] Confirm Weill Cornell's current minimum GPA requirements.

Does Weill Cornell require the GRE for its PA program?

Jessica submitted GRE scores from two attempts and describes them as low, noting they did not affect her application process at all. [VERIFY] Confirm whether Weill Cornell currently requires the GRE, as many programs have dropped it.

Can you get into PA school with low GRE scores?

Yes. Jessica scored in the 35th percentile on one section each time she took the GRE and was still accepted to six programs including Weill Cornell. Strong patient care experience, a solid GPA, and good interviews carried far more weight.

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

Jessica applied with 3,200 PCE hours as a medical assistant at an internal medicine practice, plus 200 HCE hours and 100 shadowing hours. [VERIFY] Confirm Weill Cornell's current PCE requirements.

How many PA schools should you apply to?

Jessica applied to 13 and says her mistake was including programs she would not actually have attended. Between application fees, supplemental essays, and interview travel, a padded list is expensive. Build your list from programs whose requirements you meet and whose location and format you would genuinely accept.

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

Jessica's cycle is close to a best-case outcome — 12 interview offers from 13 applications and acceptances at six programs — and the thing she'd change isn't her stats or her essays, it's the size and focus of her list. Take that seriously when you're building yours. Apply early, apply only where you'd actually enroll, and don't let a disappointing standardized test score talk you out of applying at all.

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Weill Cornell PA Program: Jessica's Acceptance Story (6 Acceptances)