Midwestern University PA Program: Carly's Acceptance Story

By: Savanna Perry, PA-C

TL;DR

Carly applied to 12 programs, received 9 interview invitations, attended 4, and finished with two acceptances and two waitlists — choosing Midwestern University in Glendale. She had a 3.90 overall GPA, a 3.86 science GPA, and over 2,000 PCE hours as a respiratory therapist, all at age 22. Her advice: don't over-rehearse.

Last Updated: August 2, 2026

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

Why PA?

So that I can be a better advocate for the patients that trust me with their health, and provide the best patient care possible.

In this post:

How many programs did you apply to?

In Our Experience

In our experience at The PA Platform, Carly's warning about over-rehearsing is one interviewers raise constantly. A memorized answer delivered word-for-word reads as performance, and it undermines exactly what programs say they're assessing — how you actually interact with people. The fix isn't less preparation; it's preparing the substance of your answers rather than the wording, so you can have a real conversation about them. Her file is also a clean illustration of how a licensed clinical degree functions in this process: a respiratory care degree gave her a 3.90 GPA, over 2,000 hours of RT patient care, 700 hours of student clinical rotations, and letters from her RT manager, a shift supervisor, and a program professor — all by 22.

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

9 interview invites, I interviewed at 4. I had two acceptances, and two waitlists (still waiting to hear).

Every Pre-PA Should Know...

Carly used the PAEA program directory to research schools before deciding where to apply. Filtering for programs whose prerequisites and hour requirements you actually meet is the cheapest possible improvement to your application list. [VERIFY] Confirm directory listings against each program's own website, as requirements change between cycles.

****INSERT FREE LEAD MAGNET FORM OR HTML BLOCK AND DELETE TEXT BOX*****

Where will you be attending?

Midwestern University in Glendale, AZ

Anything you found surprising about interviews?

How conversational many of the interviews were- they really wanted to talk and get a genuine understanding of how you interact with others. I was shocked at how much fun I actually had during the process!

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

The PA platform interview guide and online interview course! I also used PAEA to research schools before deciding where to apply.

Any other advice for other pre-PA students?

Don't over rehearse your answers and be confident in what your passions are. Everyone has their own timeline so don't worry if you're on a different path than others! Have fun with the process and know that it will be worth it in the end!

Need to Know:

Undergraduate education: Boise State University: Respiratory Care
Overall GPA: 3.90
Science GPA: 3.86
GRE: 314, 4.5 writing
Total PCE hours: 2000+ as a Respiratory Therapist.
Total HCE hours: 700+ hours of student clinical rotations.
Shadowing hours: 66
Other Volunteer hours: 200+ hours volunteering through Tri Delta!
LORs: My RT manager, a shift supervisor, Trauma PA, and a professor from my Respiratory Care program.
How many times did you apply?: Once
Age: 22
Gender: Female

FAQ

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

Carly was accepted with a 3.90 overall GPA and a 3.86 science GPA. [VERIFY] Confirm Midwestern's current minimum GPA requirements.

Does Midwestern University's PA program require the GRE?

Carly submitted a GRE score of 314 with 4.5 on writing. [VERIFY] Confirm whether Midwestern currently requires the GRE, as many programs have dropped it.

Does respiratory therapy count as patient care experience for PA school?

Yes. Respiratory therapy is direct hands-on patient care and is widely accepted as PCE. Carly logged over 2,000 hours as an RT plus 700 hours of student clinical rotations.

How do you avoid sounding rehearsed in a PA school interview?

Prepare the substance of your answers rather than memorizing wording. Carly's advice is not to over-rehearse, and she found her interviews were genuinely conversational — programs wanted to see how she interacts with people, which a scripted answer actively hides.

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

Carly applied with more than 2,000 PCE hours as a respiratory therapist, plus 700+ HCE hours and 66 shadowing hours. [VERIFY] Confirm the program's current PCE requirements.

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

Nine interview invitations from 12 applications at age 22 is an excellent result, and Carly's respiratory care background explains most of it — a strong GPA and thousands of hours of real clinical responsibility arriving at the same time. Her advice about not over-rehearsing is worth heeding precisely because her interviews turned out to be conversations, and she enjoyed them.

***INSERT HTML SERVICE BLOCK CTA****

Midwestern University PA Program: Carly's Acceptance Story