Mercer University PA Program: Cayley's Acceptance Story

By: Savanna Perry, PA-C

TL;DR

Cayley applied to exactly one program — Mercer in Atlanta — and was accepted. She was 21, with a 3.8 overall GPA, a 314 GRE, and 650 PCE hours accumulated as a surgical assistant at a maxillofacial surgery office and a medical assistant at a free clinic. She served twice on the executive board of UGA's Pre-PA Association, and her four letters came from people across every part of her application.

Last Updated: August 2, 2026

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Why PA?

I love the ability to switch specialties throughout my future career, the teamwork aspect that is so prevalent in the profession, and the flexibility I will be able to have later in my personal life outside of work.

In this post:

How many programs did you apply to?

In Our Experience

In our experience at The PA Platform, Cayley's letters are the most tightly integrated set in this batch, and that's not an accident. Her anatomy professor was also her Pre-PA Association advisor. Her surgeon wrote from the office where she worked as a surgical assistant. The executive director of the free clinic wrote from two years of her volunteering as a medical assistant there. Every writer had a sustained, multi-year relationship with her in a different context. That's what long-term involvement produces, and it's why we push students toward commitments they can stay in rather than a collection of short experiences. She also got caught by a format change — Mercer switched from MMI to group interviews the year she applied, which is a reminder that last year's format is not a promise.

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

1- accepted

Every Pre-PA Should Know...

Mercer changed its interview format from MMI to group interviews the year Cayley applied, and she hadn't prepared for it. Ask the program directly what format to expect when you receive your invitation rather than relying on what previous applicants report.

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Where will you be attending?

YES, Mercer in Atlanta, GA

Anything you found surprising about interviews?

Mercer's interview was very laid back and very low stress. They switched this year from MMI to group interview style which I did not prepare for.

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

The PA School Interview Guide was amazing!

Any other advice for other pre-PA students?

Start getting those patient care hours early! I think having all of the experience as a medical assistant and surgical assistant really set my application apart from other applicants. Also, having been involved with my schools pre- PA association for so long and served on exec twice showed my dedication to the profession, so I encourage everyone to look into joining their own schools chapter!

Where can we find you?

Instagram- @cayleyjohnson

Need to Know:

Undergraduate education: University of Georgia- Health Promotion and Behavior Major
Overall GPA: 3.8
Science GPA: 3.71
GRE: 314
Total PCE hours: 650, though I am still working part time gaining hours every week.
Shadowing hours: 50
Other Volunteer hours: Gained a lot of volunteer hours serving as the Pre-PA President at UGA. I also volunteered as a tutor for around 100 hours and participated in UGA's Shop With A Bulldawg.
LORs: Anatomy professor/ Pre-PA Association advisor, Dermatology PA, Surgeon at the Maxillofacial surgery office I work as a surgical assistant at, Executive Director of Good Samaritan Health Clinic (the office I volunteered as a medical assistant at for two years)
How many times did you apply?: 1
Age: 21
Gender: Female

FAQ

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

Cayley was accepted with a 3.8 overall GPA and a 3.71 science GPA. [VERIFY] Confirm Mercer's current minimum GPA requirements.

Does Mercer University's PA program require the GRE?

Cayley submitted a GRE score of 314. [VERIFY] Confirm whether Mercer currently requires the GRE, as many programs have dropped it.

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

Cayley applied with 650 PCE hours as a surgical assistant and medical assistant, and was continuing to work part time and add hours. [VERIFY] Confirm Mercer's current PCE requirements.

Does Mercer's PA program use MMI or group interviews?

Mercer switched from MMI to a group interview format the year Cayley applied, and she found it laid back and low stress. Formats change between cycles. [VERIFY] Confirm Mercer's current interview format when you receive an invitation.

Does joining a pre-PA club help your application?

It can, particularly with sustained leadership. Cayley served twice on the executive board of UGA's Pre-PA Association and served as president, which demonstrated long-term commitment to the profession and connected her with the faculty advisor who wrote one of her letters.

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

Cayley applied to one program and got in, which is a risky approach that worked because everything in her application pointed the same direction — years of surgical assisting, two years volunteering at a free clinic, repeated leadership in her school's Pre-PA Association, and four letters from people who had watched her do all of it. Her advice to start patient care hours early and get genuinely involved in a pre-PA organization is exactly what produced that coherence.

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Mercer University PA Program: Cayley's Acceptance Story