Christian Brothers University PA Program: Morgan's Second-Cycle Acceptance Story

By: Savanna Perry, PA-C

TL;DR

Morgan applied twice. Her first cycle produced one interview and a rejection. Her second cycle produced three interviews, one rejection, one waitlist at the same school that rejected her, and a waitlist at Christian Brothers University that turned into an acceptance just one month before classes began. She describes herself as being on the lower end of the applicant scale and worked around it deliberately.

Last Updated: August 2, 2026

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Why PA?

I love that PAs can treat patients in many specialities. I believe PAs are an extension of healthcare that is desperately needed now more than ever. Schooling is shorter but there are more requirements to get into school. This appealed to me because I’m ready to get out there and start impacting patients lives. I love the teamwork aspect of the profession and having a physician to consult with if you don’t know about a certain disease or diagnosis. PAs are the glue of healthcare!

In this post:

How many programs did you apply to?

In Our Experience

In our experience at The PA Platform, applicants with a GRE in the low 290s often benefit enormously from simply removing the GRE from the equation. Morgan noticed this herself — her acceptance came from a program that did not require it. Building part of your list around test-optional programs is a legitimate strategy, not a workaround, and it lets the strongest parts of your file do the talking.

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

I interviewed for one school my first cycle and was rejected. Second cycle was much more successful. I interviewed at the same school and was waitlisted but received two other interviews, one in which was a rejection. I was waitlisted at my current school and then accepted one month before the start! Thankfully they did not require the GRE

Every Pre-PA Should Know...

Morgan was accepted off a waitlist one month before classes started. Late movement is real, so keep your housing and finances flexible until the cycle is genuinely closed.

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Where will you be attending?

Christian Brothers University in Memphis TN

Anything you found interesting about interviews?

Their interview was very relaxed. I was surprised at how friendly the faculty were and it helped with the nerves!

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

Savanah Perry’s books are incredibly helpful, especially the questions at the end of the interview book. Practice your responses out loud! Practice with a family member or friend. PA Platform also really helped me navigate the personal statement and read other applicant stories.

Any advice for other pre-PA students?

Do not give up. If this is what you want, you cannot take no for an answer. Look at what you can improve on. Focus on what you can change and do just that. Get more experience in a different area. Retake some courses. Retake your GRE. Take every opportunity you have to improve especially during covid. More importantly, do not compare your stats to others. I am on the lower end of the applicant scale, but I wasn’t going to let that keep me from living my dream. I worked harder as a CNA to show my dedication and kept focused on my goal: PA-S.

Where can we find you? (Instagram, TikTok, Website, etc)

morgandenisewood on instagram Morgan Wood on facebook.

Need to Know:

Undergraduate education: University of Arkansas
Overall GPA: 3.4
Science GPA: 3.38
GRE: 295, 4 writing (took the GRE twice)
PA-CAT: Did not take
Total PCE hours: 5000 hours between a long term care facility as a CNA and med surg unit as a nurse tech
Shadowing hours: About 20 hours, covid made my shadowing hours very difficult to obtain. I got my foot in the door with my job at the hospital with a cardiology PA that I mostly shadowed for my hours!
Volunteer hours: 170 hours at a cancer support home
How many times did you apply?: 2
Age: 26
Gender: Female

FAQ

What GPA do you need for the Christian Brothers University PA program?

Morgan was accepted with a 3.4 overall GPA and a 3.38 science GPA. [VERIFY] Christian Brothers University’s current published minimum GPA and most recent accepted class averages.

Does Christian Brothers University require the GRE for PA school?

Morgan noted that her program did not require the GRE, which she considered a significant advantage given her 295. [VERIFY] the program’s current testing policy, as this can change from cycle to cycle.

Can you get into PA school with a low GRE score?

Yes, particularly at programs that do not require it. Morgan took the GRE twice and scored a 295 with a 4 in writing, and was accepted at a program with no GRE requirement.

Is CNA work good patient care experience for PA school?

It is one of the most widely accepted PCE roles. Morgan built 5000 hours across a long-term care facility as a CNA and a med-surg unit as a nurse tech. [VERIFY] each program’s minimum PCE requirement.

How do you get shadowing hours when opportunities are limited?

Morgan got roughly 20 hours by leveraging the hospital job she already had, shadowing a cardiology PA she met through work. Using an existing clinical workplace is often the fastest route when outside access is hard to arrange.

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

Morgan calls herself lower on the applicant scale and then lists exactly what she did about it: retake courses, retake the test, get different experience, work harder where she already was. Two cycles later she got the call a month before classes started. PAs are the glue of healthcare, she says, and Memphis is getting a good one.

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Christian Brothers University PA Program: Morgan's Second-Cycle Acceptance Story