Natalie's Hybrid PA Program Acceptance Story: Career Changer and Mom of 3

By: Savanna Perry, PA-C

TL;DR

Natalie came to the PA profession after time in the corporate world and as a stay-at-home mom. She applied to only 2 programs at age 31, interviewed at both, was waitlisted at one and offered a seat at the other — a nearby hybrid program. Her 3.35 overall GPA is well below her 3.9 science GPA, which she built through post-undergraduate prerequisites at two other schools.

Last Updated: August 2, 2026

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

Why PA?

After learning a lot about myself while working in the corporate world and as a stay at home mom I realized that the PA profession aligned best with my natural strengths and interests and has a wonderful purpose built right in- it truly fit who I am in so many ways.

In this post:

How many programs did you apply to?

In Our Experience

In our experience at The PA Platform, career changers consistently underrate how much a strong recent science GPA matters relative to an older undergraduate record. Natalie’s 3.9 in prerequisites taken across two institutions is the number a committee reads as current evidence of academic readiness, and it sits well above her 3.35 overall. If you are returning to school after years away, that recent coursework is where to concentrate your effort.

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

2- waitlisted at one and offered a seat at the other.

Every Pre-PA Should Know...

Natalie found two of her shadowing PAs simply by being their patient. Your own providers are the most accessible shadowing contacts you have.

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Where will you be attending?

A nearby hybrid program- pending provisional status being granted in the fall

Anything you found interesting about interviews?

They were both SO different. One was a chill conversation with no formal questions and the other was a three part interview and incorporated very formal interview aspects.

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

Following pre-pa accounts on instagram gave me some good things to think about along the way.

Any advice for other pre-PA students?

Do everything to the best you can and don’t try to rush through things! An extra year with better grades or more experience is worth it in my opinion.

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

@pre_pa_mom_of_3

Need to Know:

Undergraduate education: Undergraduate at Abilene Christian and science pre-reqs at Ohio Dominican and several community college
Overall GPA: 3.35
Science GPA: 3.9
GRE: 310
Total PCE hours: 625- My hours came from working as a nurse aid in memory care but mostly as a Patient Care Assistant at a childrens hospital.
Total HCE hours: ~30- I volunteered as a clinic tech at a local free clinic.
Shadowing hours: 30- I met the PAs through either being their patient (urgent care) or they worked at the same clinic my doctor is at (derm)
Volunteer hours: 60
How many times did you apply?: 1
Age: 31
Gender: Female

FAQ

What is a hybrid PA program?

Hybrid programs deliver some didactic coursework online while keeping hands-on labs and clinical rotations in person. Natalie was accepted to one pending provisional accreditation. [VERIFY] any hybrid program’s current ARC-PA accreditation status before enrolling.

What does provisional accreditation mean for a PA program?

It is the status ARC-PA grants a new program that has not yet graduated a class. Natalie’s acceptance was contingent on provisional status being granted. [VERIFY] the current status and what it means for financial aid, PANCE eligibility, and your graduation timeline.

Can you go to PA school as a career changer with kids?

Yes. Natalie applied at 31 after working in the corporate world and as a stay-at-home mom, using post-undergraduate prerequisites to build a 3.9 science GPA.

Does your science GPA matter more than your overall GPA for PA school?

Many programs weight it heavily, and recent coursework often carries extra credibility. Natalie’s 3.9 science GPA sits well above her 3.35 overall. [VERIFY] how each program calculates and weighs each GPA, and whether prerequisites have a recency limit.

How many patient care hours do you need for PA school?

Natalie applied with 625 PCE hours from memory care and children’s hospital work, which is on the lower end for this series. [VERIFY] each program’s minimum PCE requirement.

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

Natalie applied to two programs, got into one, and did it while raising three kids and rebuilding an academic record from scratch. Her advice is refreshingly unhurried: do not rush. An extra year with better grades or more experience is worth it.

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Natalie's Hybrid PA Program Acceptance Story: Career Changer and Mom of 3