Florida International University PA Program: Ananya's Acceptance Story

By: Savanna Perry, PA-C

TL;DR

Ananya applied to 18 PA programs in her first cycle, interviewed at six, and was accepted at two — including Florida International University — with waitlist offers at the other four. She carried a 3.4 overall GPA, roughly 3,000 PCE hours, and an unusual red flag: a year spent at a Caribbean medical school. She also added six late applications in November after an interview drought, and three of her six interviews came from that later batch.

Last Updated: August 2, 2026

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

6; I was accepted to 2 and on the waitlist at the other 4 (also 3 of the schools were ones that I applied to earlier on in the cycle, and the other 3 were schools that I applied to later on)

In this post:

Any red flags on your application?

I spent a year in medical school in the Carribbean, so I’m sure that was a red flag; Also had Cs in 2 classes (but I retook them and received As)

In Our Experience

In our experience at The PA Platform, prior medical school attendance is a real conversation to prepare for, not a disqualifier. Programs want to understand why you left and why PA is the right fit now — answered directly and without defensiveness, it becomes a strength. Ananya's late-cycle strategy is also instructive: half of her interviews came from six programs she added in November. If you have no interviews by late fall, checking which programs still have open deadlines is a legitimate move rather than a sign of desperation. She also retook two C's and earned A's, which is exactly the kind of documented correction reviewers look for.

Anything you found surprising about interviews?

I was more nervous before going into the room than I was during the actual interview. I think the way the conversation evolved really gave me insight for whether I was a good match for the program. The schools I was most comfortable with were the ones in which it seemed like I was having a conversation rather than being interviewed. Also, I participated in one MMI style interview and it wasn’t as bad as I was expecting it to be. I think it’s best to get rid of preconceived notions and truly showcase who you are as a person in all of your interviews – In the end, I believe that’s what matters the most.

Every Pre-PA Should Know...

Ananya applied to 18 programs and explicitly says she doesn't necessarily recommend it — the number grew out of anxiety rather than strategy. Applications are expensive, so build your list around fit and eligibility first. [VERIFY] Confirm Florida International University's current PA program prerequisites.

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

I followed and connected with pre-PA, PA-S, and PA-C instagrammers 🙂 For GRE prep, I used Magoosh (and LOVED it) & for interview prep I used The 100 Interview Questions from The PA Platform (thanks Savanna!).

Any other advice for other pre-PA students?

YES – STAY POSITIVE! It is so easy to get bogged down with trying to get everything done right, making sure you’re competitive and then waiting to hear back about interviews and acceptances. Remind yourself of all of the great things you’ve accomplished, continue working hard and know that in the end, it will all pay off.

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

Instagram: @livingthatPAlife is where I am documenting my journey through school and eventually in the field.

Need to Know:

Undergraduate education: B.A. in Sociology from Spring Hill College in Mobile, AL
Overall GPA: 3.4
Science GPA: 3.3
GRE: 316 – Verbal: 156 Quantitative: 160 Writing: 4.5
Total HCE hours: ~1500 – Worked in medical records for a physician’s office in summers from 11th grade through sophomore year in college; went on medical missions trips twice
Total PCE hours: ~3000 – Worked as a medical assistant in the summers at a physician’s office from junior year through graduation and then full time through my gap year, in my senior year of college I worked as a triage specialist for a clinic that served patients without insurance
Shadowing hours: 200+ – I shadowed in Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Family Medicine, Critical Care and ER
Other volunteer hours: I was involved in a lot of extracurricular volunteer opportunities through clubs I was in and organizations on campus
LORs: I had one from the physician whose office I worked in from 11th grade – my gap year; one from my mentor who’s an internist, one from a teacher I had when I was in medical school (for a year), and one from a PA who I shadowed
How many times did you apply?: This was my first cycle
Age: 24 (almost 25!)
Gender: Female
How many programs did you apply to? 18. (I don’t necessarily recommend this – I was told to apply to more schools due to the idea that some schools might reject me right off the bat for having attended medical school previously. Then, I got nervous in November because I didn’t have any interviews at that point so I applied to 6 other schools whose deadlines hadn’t passed and weren’t on my radar before)

FAQ

What GPA do you need for the Florida International University PA program?

Ananya was accepted with a 3.4 overall GPA and a 3.3 science GPA. [VERIFY] Confirm FIU's current published minimum GPA requirements directly with the program.

Does FIU's PA program require the GRE?

Ananya submitted a 316 GRE (156 verbal, 160 quantitative, 4.5 writing). [VERIFY] GRE requirements have changed at many programs — confirm the current policy before registering.

Can you get into PA school after attending medical school?

Yes. Ananya spent a year at a Caribbean medical school and still received six interviews and two acceptances in her first PA cycle. Be prepared to explain the transition clearly and to articulate why the PA role fits your goals.

Is it too late to apply to PA school in November?

Not necessarily. Ananya added six programs in November whose deadlines hadn't passed, and three of her six interviews came from that group. Applying early is still the stronger strategy, but late applications to programs with open deadlines can work.

Should you retake classes you got a C in for PA school?

It can help. Ananya retook two courses where she'd earned C's and received A's, which strengthened her science GPA and demonstrated growth. Note that CASPA averages both attempts rather than replacing the original grade, so factor that into the decision.

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

Ananya's path had two things most applicants fear — a nontraditional detour and a quiet fall with no interview invitations. She handled both by staying in motion: retaking the classes, adding programs with open deadlines, and preparing to talk honestly about her history. Six interviews later, she had her acceptance.

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Florida International University PA Program: Ananya's Acceptance Story