Campbell University PA Program: Paige's Acceptance Story (3 Acceptances)

By: Savanna Perry, PA-C

TL;DR

Paige applied twice. Her second cycle produced 8 applications, 3 interviews, and 3 acceptances — one immediate at the University of Pittsburgh and two waitlists that converted at Campbell University and Milligan College. She chose Campbell. She had a 3.5 GPA, 2,000 PCE hours across five different roles, and 70 shadowing hours across seven specialties. One of her interviews happened because she called the program and pitched herself.

Last Updated: August 2, 2026

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

Why PA?

I think the PA profession is really valuable in its ability to help close the gap with physician shortages and provide excellent, competent care to underserved areas. Aside from that – I love the collaborative nature of the profession while still being able to remain relatively autonomous! I also love that you never have to remain in one specialty your whole life and can explore so many areas of medicine.

In this post:

How many programs did you apply to?

In Our Experience

In our experience at The PA Platform, Paige's phone call is the most actionable thing in this batch. She had a 3.36 science GPA, knew her file might not survive a numbers screen, called a program to make her case directly, and got an interview out of it. That works more often than applicants expect — admissions staff are people, and a brief, professional call or email with a genuine update gives them a reason to look again. Her caution matters too: don't overdo it. One thoughtful contact is advocacy; five is a nuisance. Her other observation is one every applicant should internalize — each interviewer knew nothing about her going in. They often haven't read your file. Assume you're introducing yourself from scratch.

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

3- 1 immediate acceptance (University of Pittsburgh) and two waitlists that turned into acceptance (Campbell University and Milligan College)

Every Pre-PA Should Know...

Paige shadowed seven different specialties in 70 hours and says it gave her a lot to talk about. Breadth is efficient here — a handful of hours across many settings produces more interview material per hour than the same time in one office.

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Where will you be attending?

Campbell University

Anything you found surprising about interviews?

I did a lot of research about each program that I interviewed at beforehand so that I wouldn't be overwhelming surprised by anything. The only thing was that each interviewer truly knew nothing about me or my application.

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

Physician Assistant School Interview Guide by Savannah Perry and How to Ace the Physician Assistant School Interview by Andrew Rodican

Any other advice for other pre-PA students?

Don't be afraid to bug the programs you're interested in! Don't over do it but it's okay to call them/email them to give them updates. They get thousands of applications, since I didn't have a strong GPA I still wanted them to read my application because I knew I had a lot to offer in other areas. I ended up having to pitch myself to a program over the phone and that's how I got an interview!

Need to Know:

Undergraduate education: Rehabilitation Science at the University of Pittsburgh
Overall GPA: 3.5
Science GPA: 3.36
GRE: 307 (156 verbal and 151 quant)
Total PCE hours: 2,000 – I did a lot of jobs: the bulk of my hours was as a patient care technician on a trauma and toxicology unit but I was also a sitter, personal care assistant for a man with quadriplegia, worked as a NA at a nursing home, and attended a medical mission trip in Honduras through Global Brigades.
Total HCE hours: 920 – volunteering in a hospital and studying comparative healthcare abroad
Shadowing hours: 70 – I shadowed 7 different specialties which gave me a lot to talk about!
Volunteer hours: 204
LORs: 1. Study Abroad Professor 2. Professor I did research with who is also a PA 3. Peds PA 4. Clinician at work
How many times did you apply?: 2
Age: 23
Gender: Female

FAQ

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

Paige was accepted with a 3.5 overall GPA and a 3.36 science GPA on her second application cycle. [VERIFY] Confirm Campbell's current minimum GPA requirements.

Should you contact PA programs directly about your application?

A brief, professional call or email with a genuine update is generally fine and can help. Paige pitched herself to a program over the phone and that's how she got an interview. Her caveat is not to overdo it — one meaningful contact, not repeated calls.

Does Campbell University's PA program require the GRE?

Paige submitted a GRE score of 307 (156 verbal, 151 quantitative). [VERIFY] Confirm whether Campbell currently requires the GRE, as many programs have dropped it.

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

Paige applied with 2,000 PCE hours across several roles — patient care technician on a trauma and toxicology unit, sitter, personal care assistant, and nursing assistant — plus 920 HCE hours and 70 shadowing hours. [VERIFY] Confirm the program's current PCE requirements.

Do PA school interviewers read your application first?

Often not in detail. Paige noticed that every interviewer knew essentially nothing about her or her application. Prepare to introduce your background and motivation from scratch rather than assuming they've read your personal statement.

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 turned 8 applications into 3 acceptances on her second cycle, and she got one of those interviews by picking up the phone and making her own case. If your GPA is the weakest part of your file, that's a genuinely useful move — professional, brief, and aimed at getting a human to actually read what you wrote. Her other reminder is free and important: the person interviewing you probably hasn't read your file, so tell them who you are.

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Campbell University PA Program: Paige's Acceptance Story (3 Acceptances)