Campbell University PA Program: Taylor's Dual MPA\/MPH Acceptance Story

Campbell University PA Program: Taylor's Dual MPA/MPH Acceptance Story

By: Savanna Perry, PA-C

TL;DR

Taylor applied to just two programs, was offered interviews at both, and chose Campbell University's dual MPH and MPAP track — at age 20. She had 2,112 PCE hours, 70 shadowing hours, and letters from two cardiology PAs she'd shadowed extensively. She's unusually clear about why she wanted the public health degree alongside the PA degree: rural, underserved care in North Carolina.

Last Updated: August 2, 2026

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Why PA?

I love the extra time that we get to spend with patients and the chance to build relationships with them. I also love the ability to switch between specialties because medicine has so many interesting areas.

In this post:

How many programs did you apply to?

2, Campbell University and East Carolina University

In Our Experience

In our experience at The PA Platform, dual-degree tracks like Campbell's MPH/MPAP are a good fit for a narrow group of applicants — and Taylor is exactly that applicant. She can articulate a specific plan for the second degree rather than treating it as a credential to collect. She wants to practice in rural, underserved communities, Campbell's public health program is built around those populations, and she connects the coursework to understanding the non-clinical factors that shape a patient's health. That's the answer a committee wants for "why this program." Applying to only two schools is risky, but she was applying to her own undergraduate institution and got interview offers at both, so her read on her own competitiveness was accurate.

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

I received interview offers from both schools but only went to Campbell's.

Every Pre-PA Should Know...

Taylor calls "tell me about yourself" harder than it sounds, and she's right — it's the most commonly asked and most commonly fumbled interview question. It isn't an invitation to recite your resume. Prepare a tight, ninety-second answer that connects who you are to why you're in the room.

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Where will you be attending?

Campbell University, dual MPH and MPAP

Why did you choose a program that also has a public health component?

I chose to do the public health dual component because I know it will allow me to better understand my future patients' background. There's so much more to a person than their physical health, and I want to be able to see each patient as a whole. Public health will provide that extra information on what my patients go through in their daily lives that they may not outright tell me.

How do you plan on using an MPH in the future?

While I know that I will learn so much in PA school, I want to use the MPH to be better equipped to work in a rural area. Campbell University's public health program focuses on underserved, rural populations, which will prepare me as a PA to serve patients that may not have access to everything that they need to live a "healthy" life. I also strive to be an advocate for disease prevention and lifestyle changes that can improve one's health long before they acquire an illness, and public health will teach me the best ways to do this.

Anything you found surprising about interviews?

Campbell University had such a relaxed and welcoming interview process! The question of "tell me about yourself" is harder than it sounds.

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

Savanna Perry's Interview book and mock interview!!

Any other advice for Pre-PA students?

Apply early and have most everything ready to input into CASPA when it opens! Get multiple people to do mock interviews with!

Where can we find you?

On Instagram @taylor.dw

Need to Know:

Undergraduate Education: Campbell University
GRE: 309, 4.5
Total PCE Hours: 2,112
Shadowing Hours: 70
Other Volunteer Hours: About 400 throughout undergrad career
LORs: 1 Professor , 2 Cardio PAs that I had shadowed the most
How many times did you apply? 1
Age: 20
Gender: Female

FAQ

Does Campbell University offer a dual MPH and PA degree?

Yes. Taylor was accepted into Campbell's dual MPH and MPAP track, and the university's public health program emphasizes underserved and rural populations. [VERIFY] Confirm the current structure, length, and admission process for the dual degree.

Is a dual MPH worth it for a PA?

It depends entirely on your plans. Taylor wants to practice in rural areas and sees the MPH as preparation for understanding social and environmental factors affecting her patients, plus advocacy for prevention. If you can't articulate a specific use for the second degree, the added time and cost are hard to justify.

Does Campbell University's PA program require the GRE?

Taylor submitted a GRE score of 309 with a 4.5 on writing. [VERIFY] Confirm whether Campbell currently requires the GRE, as many programs have dropped it.

How many patient care hours do you need for Campbell's PA program?

Taylor applied with 2,112 PCE hours, 70 shadowing hours, and about 400 volunteer hours. [VERIFY] Confirm Campbell's current PCE requirements.

How young can you be when you start PA school?

There's no minimum age, only prerequisite and experience requirements. Taylor was accepted at 20 with over 2,000 patient care hours already logged, which is what made a young application viable.

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

Taylor's story is the strongest case in this batch for knowing exactly what you want. At 20 she had 2,112 patient care hours, deep shadowing relationships with two cardiology PAs who wrote her letters, and a specific, defensible reason for choosing a dual public health track. She applied to two programs and got interviews at both. That kind of focus isn't available to everyone, but where it is, it's very effective.

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Campbell University PA Program: Taylor's Dual MPA\/MPH Acceptance Story