Saint Louis University PA Program: Ellie's Acceptance Story (2 for 2)

By: Savanna Perry, PA-C

TL;DR

Ellie applied once to 5 programs, interviewed with 2, and was accepted to both. She had a near-perfect 3.98 overall GPA and a 3.97 science GPA, but only 500 PCE hours and 12 shadowing hours — because she did not start patient care work until after she graduated in May and applied that same fall.

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 am interested in the world of healthcare and the ever changing environment of medicine, while also wanting to help others and improve the experience of healthcare for others!

In this post:

How many programs did you apply to?

In Our Experience

In our experience at The PA Platform, Ellie’s file is a clean illustration of how differently programs weight their criteria. A 3.98 GPA opened doors that 500 patient care hours and 12 shadowing hours would have closed at plenty of other schools. Her advice to apply if you meet the minimum requirements is sound, but pair it with honest research: find the programs whose stated minimums you actually clear, and understand that a strength in one column has to be genuinely exceptional to carry a thin one.

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

I interviewed with 2 programs and was accepted into both of them!

Every Pre-PA Should Know...

One of Ellie’s group-style virtual interviews asked applicants only 3 questions all day. Group formats can leave far less airtime than you expect, so make your few answers count.

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Where will you be attending?

Saint Louis University

Anything you found interesting about interviews?

Both of my interviews were virtual. One of them was a group style and applicants were only asked 3 questions by the end of the day! I felt like I didn’t get to share all of the stories and information about myself that I had!

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

I bought and was so thankful for both of your books!! They both provided great tips and insight into the personal statement and the interview processes!

Any advice for other pre-PA students?

Don’t wait to get started! It always helps to do your research and be as prepared as possible. Also, apply if you meet the minimum requirements!! I didn’t start any patient care experience until after I graduated college (May) and was still able to apply in the fall and get acceptances!

Where can we find you? (Instagram, TikTok, Website, etc)

Instagram – ellieprosperi

Need to Know:

Undergraduate education: University of Missouri – Columbia (Mizzou)
Overall GPA: 3.98
Science GPA: 3.97
GRE: 308
Total PCE hours: 500 – patient care associate at mercy hospital (similar to a PCT without having to get prior certification)
Total HCE hours: 720 – worked part time as an office assistant/scheduler in an orthopedic office
Shadowing hours: 12
Volunteer hours: ~200 from sorority involvement with St. Jude and other Greek affiliations
How many times did you apply?: 1
Age: 23
Gender: Female

FAQ

What GPA do you need for the Saint Louis University PA program?

Ellie was accepted with a 3.98 overall GPA and a 3.97 science GPA. [VERIFY] SLU’s current published minimum GPA and most recent accepted class averages, which will be considerably lower than Ellie’s numbers.

Does Saint Louis University require the GRE for PA school?

Ellie submitted a 308. Her post did not record a PA-CAT result. [VERIFY] SLU’s current standardized testing policy directly.

How many patient care hours do you need for PA school?

It varies enormously. Ellie was accepted with 500 PCE hours as a patient care associate, while other applicants in this series had over 6,000. [VERIFY] each program’s minimum, and note that meeting a minimum is different from being competitive.

Can you apply to PA school right after graduating?

Ellie did. She began patient care work in May after graduation and applied that fall, receiving two acceptances. Whether that works depends heavily on the rest of your file and each program’s hour requirements.

How many shadowing hours do you need for PA school?

Requirements range from none to 40 or more. Ellie was accepted with only 12. [VERIFY] each program’s shadowing requirement before assuming a low number is acceptable.

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

Ellie went two for two on interviews with an almost perfect GPA and a patient care job she had only just started. Her advice holds for anyone hesitating on the sidelines: do the research, meet the minimums, and apply rather than assuming you need another year.

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Saint Louis University PA Program: Ellie's Acceptance Story (2 for 2)