Radford University PA Program: Bri's Acceptance Story (3 for 3)

By: Savanna Perry, PA-C

TL;DR

Bri received 6 interview invitations, attended 3, and was accepted to all three — flying between states with the interviews scheduled back to back. She had a 3.68 GPA, 2,000 PCE hours at the time of application growing to 4,000 by matriculation, and shadowing across seven different specialties. She's chosen Radford University in Virginia, and she's honest that finding PAs to shadow was hard until she started working in a hospital.

Last Updated: August 2, 2026

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How many programs did you apply to?

In this post:

Why PA?

for SO many reasons! I love medicine, connecting with others, and I hope to lead people to a healthier lifestyle as a PA. The PA profession is booming, so you never really have to worry about job security, and I love that I can explore many areas of medicine once I'm a practicing PA to discover what I'm most passionate about.

In Our Experience

In our experience at The PA Platform, the most useful line in Bri's application is buried in her shadowing note: she struggled to find PAs to shadow until she started working at the hospital, and then it became easy. That's the answer to the single most common practical obstacle applicants face. Cold-emailing clinics rarely works well; being an employee who already has a badge and knows the staff works extremely well. If shadowing is your bottleneck, getting a patient care job solves both problems at once. Her preparation was also thorough — reading the interview guide two or three times, recording her answers, researching profession-level topics on the AAPA site — and it shows in a 3-for-3 result.

How many programs did you apply to?

I applied to 16, which might have been a bit much, but I was so committed to get in this cycle and wanted to increase my chances as much as possible!

Every Pre-PA Should Know...

Bri had all three of her interviews scheduled back to back and flew between states to make them. If your invitations cluster, ask about alternate dates early; most programs have multiple interview days and will accommodate a reasonable request.

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

I received 6 interview invites but only attended three. I was accepted to all three! It was pretty crazy because I had all of my interviews back to back, so I was flying around the country from one state to the next! It was definitely quite the adventure and I'm so grateful that everything worked out!

Where will you be attending?

Radford University in Virginia

Anything you found surprising about interviews?

I was way less nervous than I anticipated I would be! I think this was because I felt very prepared, and my interviews were all very welcoming and laid-back. Most of the programs want to make you feel comfortable throughout the process since they know how stressful the process is!

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

I read the Physician Assistant School Interview Guide by Savanna Perry 2-3 times and practiced most of the questions! I had coworkers and friends ask me the interview questions and I recorded my answers. I researched about a broad range of topics relating to the PA profession on the AAPA website and watched various practice interviews on youtube.

Any other advice for other pre-PA students?

This may seem like a grueling process, but try to enjoy every step in this journey of actualizing your dreams. You will do wonderful. Getting the acceptance email or call will be one of the most exciting times of your life, and all the hard work you put into this dream will be worth it.

Where can we find you?

feel free to message me on facebook if you need anything! Briana Schulzetenberg

Need to Know:

Undergraduate education: B.A in Biology from the College of Saint Benedict in Minnesota
Overall GPA: 3.68
Science GPA: 3.46
GRE: 310, writing 4.5
Total PCE hours: I had 2000 hours at the time of application, or 4000 hours by the time of matriculation as a cardiac CNA and Clinical Assistant at an ENT/facial plastic surgery clinic
Total HCE hours: ~ 2000 hours as a medical lab technician
Shadowing hours: 55; I shadowed PAs in primary care, cardiology, infectious disease, orthopedics, EM, peds, and surgery. I struggled for a while finding PAs to shadow, but once I started working at the hospital, I met lots of PAs who were happy to let me shadow!
Other Volunteer hours: 350 hours as a wildlife rehabber, animal shelter volunteer, and youth mentor
LORs: I had 3; 1.) biology professor from college whom I took several classes with 2.) manager from my lab technician job 3.) manager from the hospital where I worked as a CNA.
How many times did you apply?: I'm a first time applicant!
Age: 24
Gender: Female

FAQ

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

Bri was accepted with a 3.68 overall GPA and a 3.46 science GPA. [VERIFY] Confirm Radford's current minimum GPA requirements.

Does Radford University's PA program require the GRE?

Bri submitted a GRE score of 310 with a 4.5 on writing. [VERIFY] Confirm whether Radford currently requires the GRE, as many programs have dropped it.

How do you find PAs to shadow?

Bri's answer is the most practical one: get a job in a clinical setting first. She struggled to find shadowing opportunities until she started working at a hospital, where she met numerous PAs who were happy to have her observe. Being a colleague opens doors that cold outreach doesn't.

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

Bri applied with 2,000 PCE hours as a cardiac CNA and clinical assistant, reaching 4,000 by matriculation, plus roughly 2,000 HCE hours as a medical lab technician. [VERIFY] Confirm Radford's current PCE requirements.

Do non-medical volunteer hours count for PA school?

Yes, they're generally reported as community service rather than healthcare experience. Bri logged 350 hours as a wildlife rehabilitator, animal shelter volunteer, and youth mentor, which demonstrates sustained commitment outside of medicine.

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

Three interviews, three acceptances, and a week of flights between states. Bri's cycle worked because she prepared deliberately and because she solved the shadowing problem the practical way — by getting hired somewhere PAs actually work. If you're stuck sending emails to clinics that never reply, that's the move.

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Radford University PA Program: Bri's Acceptance Story (3 for 3)