Touro University California PA Program: Haley's Acceptance Story

By: Savanna Perry, PA-C

TL;DR

Haley applied to five programs, interviewed at one while still waiting on two others, and was accepted at Touro University California. She had a 3.5 GPA with what she describes as an extreme upward trend, 1,000 PCE hours at the time she applied, and five letters from clinicians across primary care, urgent care, and pain management. She's from an underserved area of central California and wants to practice there.

Last Updated: August 2, 2026

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Why PA?

I come from an underserved area in central California and have seen how lack of healthcare can affect a population. It's my hope that I can connect rural populations with the healthcare they so desperately need.

In this post:

How many programs did you apply to?

In Our Experience

In our experience at The PA Platform, Haley's application demonstrates something we see repeatedly with mission-driven programs: alignment matters. Touro University California has an explicit social justice and underserved care orientation, and Haley grew up in an underserved part of central California and wants to return to rural practice. She noticed during her interview that the program director genuinely lives that mission — and committees are equally alert to whether an applicant's stated goals match what the program is built to do. Her "extreme upward trend" note is the other thing worth flagging. If your transcript improved substantially over time, say so explicitly, because a 3.5 that started at 2.8 and ended at 3.9 tells a much better story than the number alone.

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

So far just one still waiting on two

Every Pre-PA Should Know...

The advice Haley got from a PA she worked with is worth repeating exactly: don't try to get close to the ideal candidate with your stats — be the ideal candidate. Start the club, do the volunteering, build the record rather than trying to approximate someone else's numbers.

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Where will you be attending?

Touro University California

Anything you found surprising about interviews?

It was a very welcoming experience! The director of Touro's program is extremely down-to-earth and 100% lives the mission of the school. The students were very involved in the interview day with giving us tours around campus. I think it's important when you go into an interview to realize all the work you've done to get there and believe in yourself, that's half the battle.

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

I completed a mock interview with Sam Berk of The PA Platform which was EXTREMELY enlightening. I also bought the how to ace a PA interview book as well as the PA platforms prep book. I think cross referencing those two books along with multiple mock interviews helped me walk into my interview with confidence.

Any other advice for other pre-PA students?

GET INVOLVED! Nothing shows a program that you really want to do this like volunteer work. I once was talking to a PA in the urgent care that I worked at about what I should do to stand out. He basically told me don't try to get close to the "ideal candidate" with your stats, be the ideal candidate. Basically, go start that club, go volunteer, and work your butt off to stand out.

Need to Know:

Undergraduate education: California Polytechnic State University
Overall GPA: 3.5 with an extreme upward trend
Science GPA: 3.4
GRE: 301
Total PCE hours: 1,000 at time of application
Total HCE hours: 400
Shadowing hours: About 75
LORs: Primary care PA and MD, urgent care PA, Pain management MD, college microbiology teacher/ pre-health club advisor
How many times did you apply?: 1
Age: 23
Gender: Female

FAQ

What GPA do you need for the Touro University California PA program?

Haley was accepted with a 3.5 overall GPA, which she describes as reflecting an extreme upward trend, and a 3.4 science GPA. [VERIFY] Confirm Touro California's current minimum GPA requirements.

Does an upward GPA trend help your PA school application?

Substantially. A transcript that improves markedly over time demonstrates you've developed as a student, and many programs weight your most recent coursework. Haley notes her upward trend explicitly alongside her 3.5 cumulative.

Does Touro University California's PA program require the GRE?

Haley submitted a GRE score of 301. [VERIFY] Confirm whether Touro California currently requires the GRE, as many programs have dropped it.

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

Haley applied with 1,000 PCE hours, 400 HCE hours, and about 75 shadowing hours. [VERIFY] Confirm the program's current PCE requirements.

Does volunteering matter for PA school applications?

Haley believes it's what shows a program you genuinely want this. Her advice is to get involved substantively — start a club, commit to volunteering — rather than trying to match someone else's statistics. Sustained involvement also produces the relationships that become letters.

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

Haley applied to five programs and got into one that matches her goals almost exactly — a mission-driven school for someone who wants to bring care back to rural central California. Her 3.5 came with a steep upward trend she was right to name, and her strongest advice came secondhand from a PA she worked with: stop trying to resemble the ideal candidate and go be one.

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Touro University California PA Program: Haley's Acceptance Story