Choosing an MPH\/PA Program and Moving for PA School

I'm Mansi, a recent University of Georgia graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Health Promotion from the College of Public Health. I went into college as a biology major like everyone else, interested in medicine and healthcare. Then I took a sociology course with a section on medical sociology focused on public health, and even though it was only about two weeks, I was hooked. I didn't even know UGA had a School of Public Health because it was so small. That class convinced me to switch my major going into sophomore year.

During my gap year, I worked as the lead medical assistant at a pediatric and primary care office, where I did training, worked with different people, and handled a lot of administrative tasks. I decided on the PA track between sophomore and junior year, so it took me some time to get into the mindset of everything I needed to check off for my application.

I took my GRE in November 2018, during the fall of my senior year. [VERIFY] A time-consuming clinical research internship that spring meant I applied really late, submitting my CASPA in early July, which was stressful. I spent about a month to a month and a half on my personal statement, and once it was done, the rest of the CASPA, including transcript entry, took about two weeks. I received my interview invite around the end of October, interviewed in mid-November, and was accepted 10 days later.

I applied to 22 schools, which was against most advice, but I was applying so late and really did not want to apply twice. I was offered 11 interviews, declined 3, and was accepted to 5 programs. I genuinely enjoyed interviews. It was probably the most enjoyable part of the cycle for me, getting to meet new people and talk with faculty.

The main thing I focused on during interviews was the feel of the school. My very first interview, I was a nervous wreck and only paid attention to my own performance, but as I went on I got a better sense of the faculty, campus, and resources. Location mattered to me, since PA school is only about 2 to 2.5 years and I wanted to explore a new city with access to multi-specialty hospitals for rotations. I also looked at the alumni outlook, PANCE pass rate, class size, and student to faculty ratio.

I had two weaknesses I addressed head on. My organic chemistry grades were not strong, so I brought it up myself during interviews, and everyone received it well and appreciated that I owned it. My patient care hours were around 1,200, so I applied to schools that count forward hours and avoided ones with averages of 4,000 to 5,000. [VERIFY] I turned it into a positive by talking about the quality and variety of what I did as a medical assistant in a small practice.

I'll be attending George Washington University for a PA/MPH dual degree, which takes three years. There was an extra part of the application to opt into the MPH, and the interview was the same for everyone. The MPH adds a full first year, then comes the PA didactic year, and finally the PA clinical year. I chose GW largely for its D.C. location near the policy making capital, which is ideal for public health. I also got accepted to Nova Southeastern, which offers an MPH option you can choose as a student.

For the move from Georgia to D.C., I networked a lot, talking with people who had made the same move, including a girl a year ahead of me in the program who also went to UGA. We discussed cost of living, since D.C. is expensive, and the culture shock of moving from the South. I also found a roommate and connected with classmates to make my circle feel smaller and more familiar before arriving.

Mansi's cycle shows that even a late, stressful application can end in multiple acceptances when you play to your strengths and own your weaknesses. If you are weighing dual degrees, building your school list, or preparing to move for PA school, our counseling sessions can help you map it all out.