Thomas Jefferson Center City PA Program: Emma's Waitlist-to-Top-Choice Acceptance Story
Thomas Jefferson Center City PA Program: Emma's Waitlist-to-Top-Choice Acceptance Story
By: Savanna Perry, PA-C
Emma dipped her toes in with 6 applications her first cycle, earned one interview, and was rejected. She came back with 15 applications, pulled 5 interview invites, and finished with a rejection, an acceptance, and 3 waitlists — one of which converted into a seat at her top choice, Thomas Jefferson Center City. Her PCE was still climbing while she applied, from 700-800 in May to about 1000 by September.
Last Updated: August 2, 2026
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Why PA?
I knew I wanted to go into medicine but I was really sure what I wanted to do. I first heard about the PA profession when I talked to the president of the pre-PA club at GVSU and I was interested in learning more about it so I shadowed a cardiovascular PA. After shadowing her, I knew this was the profession for me! I loved the autonomy she had but also the relationship she had with the physician she worked with! I also loved the relationships that she had with her patients and how much they really trusted her as their provider. After shadowing her, I felt a sense of purpose that I have never felt before after shadowing other professions.
How many programs did you apply to?
My first cycle I applied to 6 to dip my toes in since I know CASPA can be daunting. I got 1 interview but was sadly rejected. This cycle I applied to 15 school.
In our experience at The PA Platform, Emma’s tutoring habit is the most transferable thing in her story. She signed up for help in organic chemistry before the class even started, rather than after the first bad exam. Preemptive tutoring costs you a few hours a week and protects the science GPA that will screen you at nearly every program. It is far easier than a post-bacc later.
How many programs did you interview with and what were the outcomes?
I got 5 interview invites. I received 1 rejection, 1 acceptance and 3 waitlists. I actually just got taken off the waitlist to my top choice school so that’s where I will be attending!
Every Pre-PA Should Know...
Emma kept updating her CASPA hours after submitting, taking her PCE from 700-800 in May to about 1000 by September. Applications are not frozen at submission — keep logging.
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Where will you be attending?
I will be attending Thomas Jefferson University (Center City)
Anything you found interesting about interviews?
Some of my interviewers really connected with me with some of my answers! I was really surprised. At the end of one of my interviews the interviewer told me that I would make a really great PA one day because she felt like I was really passionate and could tell I had the empathy needed to take care of my patients.
Were there any helpful resources (books, websites, webinars, etc) you used to get through prerequisites courses, the application or interview process?
I used The PA Platform‘s Interview book by Savanna Perry. It was really helpful and most questions that I got asked during my interviews where questions in the book. I also used the mock interview from The PA platform as well. I interviewed with both Peter and Allison and I honesty don’t think I would have done so well on my interview with out them! The really helped hone my interviewing skills and made me feel more comfortable in my abilities!
Any advice for other pre-PA students?
I would tell pre-PA students to enjoy there time in undergrad and make sure to do well in there studies. If you ever feel like you’re struggling, make sure to go to the professor or sign up for tutoring. I signed up for tutoring for all my hard classes like organic chemistry (even before they started) since I knew I might struggle with them and it helped immensely. Also, I would advise pre-PA students to apply even if they feel like some of their stats are low. As long as you meet the minimum requirements for a school, you can still apply and receive an interview invite!
Where can we find you? (Instagram, TikTok, Website, etc)
You can find me on Instagram. My username is @emzkanez
Need to Know:
Undergraduate education: Grand Valley State University (GVSU) in Michigan
Overall GPA: I graduated GVSU with a 3.815 but on CASPA it calculated my overall GPA as a 3.83.
Science GPA: 3.76
GRE: 290
PA-CAT: N/A
Total PCE hours: I gained PCE as a CNA in a nursing home on my summers off from college. Once I graduated I became an uncertified Medical Assistant. I ended up having about 700-800 when I applied but in May but I continuously updated it and had about 1000 hours in September.
Total HCE hours: All of my HCE came from my medical assistant job because I did do some pre-auths for scans and prepared charts. I had about 100 hours.
Shadowing hours: I had 42 hours in person shadowing. I shadowed 2 cardiovascular PA’s and 1 pediatric orthopedic PA! I did cold calls to local hospitals and offices asking to shadow. During COVID-19 I did 3 virtual shadowing hours that I found though the @pre_pa.pals on Instagram.
Volunteer hours: I had about 60 hours of volunteering. During school I volunteered the local food pantry where I helped create food baskets for those in need. I also helped with Christmas donations and created back to school backpacks. In the summers when I was back home, I volunteered at my local animal shelter helping with the cats. I was also a volunteer leader of a beach wide cleanup at Lake Michigan in my hometown. We picked up and collected over 200 pieces of trash on the beach!
How many times did you apply?: 2
Age: 23
Gender: Female
FAQ
Emma was accepted with a CASPA-calculated 3.83 overall GPA and a 3.76 science GPA. [VERIFY] Thomas Jefferson’s current published minimum GPA and most recent accepted class averages.
Yes. Emma was accepted with a 290. A lower score is much easier to absorb when your GPA and experience are strong, but [VERIFY] whether any program on your list enforces a hard GRE minimum before relying on that.
CASPA recalculates using its own rules, including counting all attempts at repeated courses and converting grades to a standard scale. Emma graduated with a 3.815 but CASPA calculated 3.83. Expect a difference and plan around the CASPA figure.
You can update certain sections, including experience hours, during a designated window. Emma continued adding hours between May and September. [VERIFY] the current CASPA rules for what can be updated and when.
Emma cold called local hospitals and offices to ask, landing 42 in-person hours across three PAs, and added 3 virtual hours found through a pre-PA account on Instagram. A direct, polite ask works more often than applicants expect.
Email [email protected] or use the contact form at The PA Platform to share your acceptance story.
CLOSING
Emma applied to six programs the first time just to see what would happen, and to fifteen the second time because she meant it. A waitlist at her top choice opened up, and Center City is where she landed. Her advice: apply if you meet the minimums, and get tutoring before you need it.
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