University of Pittsburgh PA Program: Geena's Acceptance Story

By: Savanna Perry, PA-C

TL;DR

Geena applied to 14 programs, was offered 7 interviews, attended 5, and had 3 acceptances before she committed to Pitt — her own undergraduate institution. She brought 2,900 PCE hours from three years at a trauma hospital, a 3.53 GPA, and five letters of recommendation spanning chemistry, neuroscience, research, clinical supervision, and a PA.

Last Updated: August 2, 2026

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

Why PA?

I have worked for 3 years at a trauma hospital and have fallen in love with the role of a PA. PAs are able to talk with the patients and make decisions regarding diagnosis/care/etc. I love the autonomy of the profession and the flexibility!

In this post:

How many programs did you apply to?

In Our Experience

In our experience at The PA Platform, three years in one setting beats scattered hours across many, and Geena's 2,900 PCE hours at a trauma hospital is a good example of why. Depth in a single environment means she saw the same team operate under pressure repeatedly, which gives her specific, credible material for interview answers about stress, communication, and the PA role. Her five letters are also well constructed — two science professors, a research principal investigator, her hospital supervisor, and a PA. That covers academic ability, research capability, work performance, and professional insight without redundancy. Seven interview offers out of 14 applications reflects a file that held together.

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

7 offered. Attended 5. Accepted to 3 so far. Declined other interviews because I committed to Pitt

Every Pre-PA Should Know...

Geena's science GPA (3.4) sits below her overall (3.53), a common pattern for applicants who did well in non-science coursework. If that's your profile, strong recent science grades and heavy patient care experience are the most effective counterweights.

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Where will you be attending?

University of Pittsburgh

Anything you found surprising about interviews?

They really wanted to get to know me

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

The Physician Assistant Interview Guide and How to Ace the PA Interview

Any other advice for Pre-PA students?

Get that experience and absorb every bit of information you can from everyone!!

Where can we find you?

On Instagram @geenie_ina_bottlex

Need to Know:

Undergraduate Education: Psychology & Neuroscience at the University of Pittsburgh
Overall GPA: 3.53
Science GPA: 3.4
GRE: 304
Total HCE Hours: 400
Total PCE Hours: 2,900
Shadowing Hours: 55
Other Volunteer Hours: 435
LORs: 5: one Chemistry professor, one research PI, one PA, one from boss at hospital, and one Neuroscience professor
How many times did you apply? 1
Age: 23
Gender: Female

FAQ

What GPA do you need for the University of Pittsburgh PA program?

Geena was accepted with a 3.53 overall GPA and a 3.4 science GPA. [VERIFY] Confirm Pitt's current minimum GPA requirements.

Does the University of Pittsburgh PA program require the GRE?

Geena submitted a GRE score of 304. [VERIFY] Confirm whether Pitt currently requires the GRE, as many programs have dropped the requirement.

How many patient care hours do you need for the University of Pittsburgh PA program?

Geena applied with 2,900 PCE hours accumulated over three years at a trauma hospital, plus 400 HCE hours and 55 shadowing hours. [VERIFY] Confirm Pitt's current PCE requirements.

How many letters of recommendation should you get for PA school?

Most programs require three, but extra letters from meaningfully different perspectives can help. Geena submitted five: a chemistry professor, a neuroscience professor, a research PI, her hospital supervisor, and a PA. [VERIFY] Confirm each program's maximum, since some will not review more than the required number.

Is it better to get patient care hours at one job or several?

Depth at one site is generally more useful. Geena spent three years at a trauma hospital, which gave her sustained exposure to how PAs actually practice and concrete examples to draw on during interviews. Variety has value too, but a long tenure signals reliability.

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

Geena converted 14 applications into 7 interview offers and 3 acceptances, then chose the program at her own alma mater. The most repeatable parts of her approach are the three-year commitment to one clinical setting and the deliberate spread of her letter writers. If you're planning ahead, find a patient care job you can stay in and build real relationships with the people who supervise you — those two things solve most of the application at once.

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University of Pittsburgh PA Program: Geena's Acceptance Story