Southern Illinois University PA Program: Alex's Acceptance Story (9 Interview Offers, 1 Interview)

By: Savanna Perry, PA-C

TL;DR

Alex was offered interviews at 9 of the 12 programs he applied to. He attended exactly one — at his dream school — was accepted the following day, and withdrew everywhere else. At 21 he brought a 3.98 GPA, a 4.0 science GPA, a 325 GRE, and roughly 4,000 PCE hours as a CNA on a cardiac stepdown floor.

Last Updated: August 2, 2026

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Why PA?

I realized I both love the life sciences and being a part of my patients’ healing journeys, but I wasn’t interested in taking on medical school, both debt-wise and timewise. I found that PA school would allow me to learn medicine deeply and practice it at a high level, and of course, I was drawn to the legendary ‘lateral mobility’ of the PA profession. I felt that PA school would actually equip me with the scientific knowledge needed to pursue different areas of medicine if I chose to. Yet, I was also drawn to the idea of working on an interprofessional team as a PA – this was one of my favorite parts about being a CNA; that is, I enjoy seeing and appreciating the roles of each member of the healthcare team and see myself continuing to in the future. Lastly, the PA profession’s commitment to patient-centered care really resonates with me and suggested to me that as a PA, I’d be able to practice a more humanizing type of medicine amidst a healthcare system that seems increasingly commodified.

In this post:

How many programs did you apply to?

In Our Experience

In our experience at The PA Platform, Alex’s answer "toolkit" is the right mental model for interview prep, and it is very different from memorizing answers. You are not predicting questions; you are deciding in advance what you want the committee to know about you, then finding natural places to say those things regardless of what gets asked. Several applicants in this series describe the same technique in different words, and it is consistently what separates a prepared candidate from a rehearsed one.

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

I was offered an interview at 9 of the 12 programs I applied to. I ultimately only took the first interview I was offered because it was at my dream school and I was accepted the day after! I pulled my application soon after being accepted there.

Every Pre-PA Should Know...

Alex deliberately shadowed an OT, a PT, a DO, and an MD alongside PAs — not to fill hours, but to genuinely test whether PA was the right answer. That is what makes a "why PA" credible.

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Where will you be attending?

Southern Illinois University School of Medicine Physician Assistant Program

Anything you found interesting about interviews?

I was interviewed by a panel of 3 faculty members, which was initially daunting. I spent lots of time thinking about ways to answer the questions I expected. I also spent time preparing an answer ‘toolkit’ of things I knew I wanted to include in my answers that would really help me show my fit for the PA profession. Yet, in spite of all of my preparation, my interview was much more of a conversation than an interrogation. The faculty ultimately just wanted to get to know me, to assess my communication skills, and (I assume) see how I might fit in with my classmates and contribute to the class culture. All of this is to say, be prepared for your interview, but don’t let that preparation get in the way of you being yourself! They asked to interview YOU, after all.

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

To begin readying myself for interviews, I read Savannah Perry’s interview prep book (PA School Interview Guide) front to back. I used the Mock Interview service from the PA Platform as I was closer to interviews. I also read the ‘Accepted’ Blog, of course, when I was deciding whether I was ready to apply.

Any advice for other pre-PA students?

Work in a setting where you can really have a role in taking care of patients and can see whether serving people is how you want to live out your life’s work. Research the PA profession in-depth to demonstrate that THIS job is how you want to serve people. Ideally, find a pre-PA job that allows you to do both, like mine did. These jobs are all over, and they are very rewarding and insightful!

Need to Know:

Undergraduate education: Augustana College, Rock Island, IL
Overall GPA: 3.98
Science GPA: 4.0
GRE: 325 (163 W, 162 Q, 6.0 Analytical Writing)
PA-CAT: Did not take
Total PCE hours: I had about 4,000 hours of PCE as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA). I gained the majority of my experience working at a large medical center on the Cardiac Stepdown Floor, but prior to that I worked at a Rehab hospital and in a couple nursing homes in the rehab setting as a CNA. On the Cardiac Stepdown Unit, I perform tasks like obtaining vitals, changing dressings, conducting EKGs, checking blood sugars, transferring patients, and other basic nursing functions. Our patients are typically very sick so I really get to know them for a couple of weeks as I take care of them and be part of their healing journeys. I love this! It is so cool to see a patient who came in with debilitating, complex medical conditions walk out of the hospital a few weeks later. I also get to participate in codes and emergency management on my floor.
Total HCE hours: I had about 400 hours of HCE, which I gained by virtue of the administrative tasks associated with my job as a CNA. This included me ordering supplies, charting, taking phone calls, and monitoring cardiac telemetry.
Shadowing hours: ~60 hours (Orthopedic Surgery PAs, Emergency Medicine PA, Physiatry DO, Family Practice MD, Occupational Therapist, Physical Therapist). I shadowed a variety of areas, specialties, and professions to really help me discern ‘Why PA?’, and see what I could do as a PA.
Volunteer hours: I had about 300 hours volunteering with a local church congregation as a piano accompanist, as well as a Cultural Partner for a refugee social services organization called World Relief. I was partnered with families from Myanmar and tasked with guiding them through their assimilation into the US.
How many times did you apply?: 1
Age: 21
Gender: Male

FAQ

What GPA do you need for the Southern Illinois University PA program?

Alex was accepted with a 3.98 overall GPA and a 4.0 science GPA. [VERIFY] SIU School of Medicine’s current published minimum GPA and most recent accepted class averages, which will be well below his.

Does Southern Illinois University require the GRE for PA school?

Alex submitted a 325 with a 6.0 in analytical writing and did not take the PA-CAT. [VERIFY] SIU’s current standardized testing policy directly.

Should you shadow professions other than PA?

Alex shadowed occupational therapy, physical therapy, a DO, and an MD alongside PAs specifically to test his choice. Comparative shadowing makes your answer to "why PA and not something else" concrete rather than theoretical.

How should you prepare for a panel interview?

Alex faced a panel of 3 faculty members and prepared an answer toolkit — a set of points he wanted to convey — rather than scripted responses. He found the panel far more conversational than expected.

Is CNA work good patient care experience for PA school?

It is one of the strongest and most widely accepted PCE roles. Alex logged about 4,000 hours, primarily on a cardiac stepdown unit doing vitals, dressings, EKGs, and participating in codes. [VERIFY] each program’s minimum PCE requirement.

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

Nine interview offers and Alex used exactly one of them, because it was the school he wanted. His advice is the practical version of everything else in this series: find a job where you actually take care of people, and find out whether this is how you want to spend your working life. Then go prove it.

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Southern Illinois University PA Program: Alex's Acceptance Story (9 Interview Offers, 1 Interview)