South University Savannah PA Program: Bailey's Acceptance Story

By: Savanna Perry, PA-C

TL;DR

Bailey applied to seven PA programs in one cycle, received an interview invitation from a top choice just 15 days after submitting her CASPA, and was accepted exactly one month later at South University in Savannah. She had a 3.92 overall GPA, about 1,200 PCE hours, and worried her experience totals were too low. Her advice runs against the grain: protect your GPA first, because experience can be added after graduation.

Last Updated: August 2, 2026

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

I received an interview invitation from one of my top choices 15 days after submitting my CASPA. Exactly 1 month later, I was accepted. I received another interview invite about 1 week after the first and attended that interview as well. The programs that start in January move fast!!

In this post:

Where will you be attending?

South University, Savannah

In Our Experience

In our experience at The PA Platform, Bailey's timeline is the strongest argument for applying early that we can point to. Fifteen days from CASPA submission to interview invitation, and an acceptance a month after that, is only possible because rolling admissions rewards early complete applications. Programs with January starts move especially fast. Her GPA-first philosophy is also worth weighing carefully: it is genuinely easier to accumulate patient care hours after graduation than to repair a damaged transcript. That said, most programs have PCE minimums you cannot skip, so the goal is sequencing, not skipping.

Any red flags on your application?

I worried that my patient care and volunteer hours were too low, but I hoped that the admissions committees would notice the quality of my hours rather than the raw numbers.

Every Pre-PA Should Know...

Bailey's letters of recommendation came from a physician, an anatomy professor, her college advisor, and her boss at the boxing gym where she coached fitness classes. A non-clinical supervisor who genuinely knows your work ethic can be a stronger letter than a clinician who barely knows you. [VERIFY] Confirm South University Savannah's LOR requirements.

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Anything you found surprising about interviews?

I was pleasantly surprised by how comfortable the faculty members made the candidates feel! Both of the interviews that I attended were two days long. The first day consisted of a presentation, meet and greet, student Q&A, tour, etc., while the actual interviews took place on the second. On the inside, I was super anxious, but once I was one-on-one with my interviewer, I was extremely calm. I could tell that the faculty genuinely cared about their current students, and wanted to explore my personality to determine if I’d be a good fit.

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

I read and annotated “How to Ace the Physician Assistant Interview” by Andrew Rodican (Affiliate link). One of my friends was also kind enough to set up a mock interview in a coffee shop. We pretended to not know each other, and it really helped my confidence in my answers.

Any other advice for other pre-PA students?

In my opinion, the most important part of your application is your GPA. Focus on your classes in undergrad and maintain a high GPA. It’s easy to jump at patient care opportunities while taking classes, but there’s time after graduation to gain experience. It’s hard to raise your GPA once it starts dropping. Also, once you have an interview invite, set the tone for your interview by walking in the room with confidence, smiling a lot, and even cracking a joke!

Where can we find you? (website, instagram, etc)

I’m happy to talk to pre-PA students and help them in their journeys! My friend, Skyler, is in her first year of PA school and together, we run an Instagram account about our pre-PA strategies and programs that we chose! Find me on Instagram @pa.pals

Need to Know:

Undergraduate education: The University of Georgia; Nutritional Sciences- B.S.F.C.S.
Overall GPA: 3.92
Science GPA: 3.90
GRE: 311; 156 Verbal, 155 Quantitative, 4.5 Writing
Total HCE hours: 84 (EMT ride-along clinicals)
Total PCE hours: ~1,200 (~900 as a full-time medical assistant in a family practice, ~300 as a personal care aid for a college student with spinal muscular atrophy)
Shadowing hours: 164 (130- Orthopedics, 15- Dermatology, 19- Gastroenterology)
Other volunteer hours: ~50
LORs: 4 (1 from the physician who I worked with as a medical assistant, 1 from my junior year anatomy professor, 1 from my boss at the boxing gym where I coached fitness classes, and 1 from my college advisor)
How many times did you apply?: 1
Age: 22
Gender: Female
How many programs did you apply to? 7

FAQ

What GPA do you need for the South University Savannah PA program?

Bailey was accepted with a 3.92 overall GPA and a 3.90 science GPA. [VERIFY] Confirm South University's current published minimum GPA requirements, which are typically lower than accepted-student averages.

Does South University's PA program require the GRE?

Bailey submitted a 311 GRE (156 verbal, 155 quantitative, 4.5 writing). [VERIFY] Many PA programs have changed their testing policies recently — confirm the current requirement before registering.

How soon can you hear back after submitting CASPA?

Faster than most applicants expect. Bailey received an interview invitation 15 days after submitting and an acceptance one month after that. Programs with rolling admissions and January start dates review applications as they arrive, which is why submitting early in the cycle matters.

Should you focus on GPA or patient care hours in undergrad?

Bailey's position is GPA first, because hours can be earned after graduation while a damaged GPA is very difficult to repair. Most programs do have PCE minimums, so the practical approach is to protect your grades during heavy course loads and build hours during breaks and after you graduate.

How long are PA school interviews?

It varies widely. Both of Bailey's interviews were two full days — the first with a presentation, meet and greet, student Q&A, and tour, with the actual interviews on day two. Other programs run half-day or virtual formats. Check the schedule your program sends in advance.

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

Bailey's acceptance came fast because her application was complete, early, and academically strong. If you take one thing from her story, make it the calendar: submitting your CASPA early in the cycle can compress months of waiting into weeks, especially at programs with rolling admissions.

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South University Savannah PA Program: Bailey's Acceptance Story