University of Charleston PA Program: Kelsie's Acceptance Story

By: Savanna Perry, PA-C

TL;DR

Kelsie applied to PA school across three cycles — eight programs — and received two interviews on her successful attempt: one rejection and one waitlist that converted to an acceptance at the University of Charleston in West Virginia. Her GPA was her weak point at 3.36 overall and 3.21 science, offset by an extraordinary 10,170 patient care hours as a phlebotomist, blood gas technician, and exercise specialist. Her regret is not asking for help sooner.

Last Updated: August 2, 2026

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

2 – one rejection, one waitlist to acceptance!

In this post:

Where will you be attending?

University of Charleston in West Virginia

In Our Experience

In our experience at The PA Platform, 10,170 patient care hours is among the highest totals we've published, and it demonstrates something important: volume of experience genuinely can offset a below-average GPA, but it took Kelsie three cycles to find the programs that weighted it that way. Her real insight is about asking for help. Applicants who work in isolation tend to repeat the same mistakes across cycles because nobody has reviewed their file critically. Her interview observation about programs that claim to be student-focused versus those that demonstrate it is also worth remembering — you are evaluating them too.

Any red flags on your application?

Low GPA (I tried to offset this with my high PCE and solid volunteering.)

Every Pre-PA Should Know...

One of Kelsie's interviews lasted about two hours with an orientation night beforehand; the other kept candidates on site for nearly nine hours. Ask about the schedule before you book travel. [VERIFY] Confirm University of Charleston's current PA program requirements.

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Anything you found surprising about interviews?

I didn’t expect to feel as welcome as I was. At the two programs I interviewed at, one was very student focused and showed it in how the interview was conducted. The other one said they were student focused, but I didn’t feel as comfortable there. I was also surprised at the different lengths of the interviews. One program had an orientation night to help us feel more relaxed and answer questions, then the next day we interviewed for about 2 hours. The other had us show up early and kept us there for almost 9 hours. I also definitely feel like I built the interviews up to be much more nerve-racking than they actually were. Admissions committees truly just want to get to know who you are and see what you’re like outside of your application.

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

Physician Assistant Interview Guide by Savanna Perry, How to Ace the Physician Assistant Interview (affiliate link) and The Ultimate Guide to Getting into Physician Assistant School by Andrew Rodican, and The PA Platform Blog & Podcasts.

Any other advice for other pre-PA students?

Don’t give up! It took me three application cycles to figure everything out, and I think it would’ve taken me less time and frustration had I not been so stubborn and asked for help earlier. I was a classic case of trying to do everything on my own but I found success this year by using all of my resources. Talk to advisors, PAs, PA students, other health care professionals, people you trust to give you unbiased feedback, etc. While incorporating all these resources, it is also important to believe in yourself and go with your gut. Keep trying to improve a little bit every day… You can do this!

Where can we find you?

@_kelsiemarie_ on Instagram

Need to Know:

Undergraduate education: BS in Exercise and Sport Science from the University of Utah
Overall GPA: 3.36
Science GPA: 3.21
GRE: 306, Analytical Writing 4.0
Total PCE hours: 10,170 as a phlebotomist, blood gas technician, and exercise specialist
Shadowing hours: 117 (MD’s and PA’s)
Other volunteer hours: 96 (Leadership), 234 (Service)
LORs: 3 (PA, professor, and supervisor at work)
How many times did you apply?: 3
Age: 25
Gender: Female
How many programs did you apply to? 8

FAQ

What GPA do you need for the University of Charleston PA program?

Kelsie was accepted with a 3.36 overall GPA and a 3.21 science GPA. [VERIFY] Confirm the University of Charleston's current published minimum GPA requirements directly with the program.

Does the University of Charleston PA program require the GRE?

Kelsie submitted a 306 GRE with 4.0 analytical writing. [VERIFY] Confirm the current testing policy before registering for the exam.

Can a high number of patient care hours make up for a low GPA?

It can help significantly. Kelsie had 10,170 PCE hours as a phlebotomist, blood gas technician, and exercise specialist against a 3.21 science GPA. It still took three cycles, so treat high hours as a strengthening factor rather than a substitute for meeting academic minimums.

Does phlebotomy count as patient care experience for PA school?

Yes, phlebotomy is generally accepted as PCE because it involves direct hands-on patient contact. Kelsie combined it with blood gas technician and exercise specialist roles to build her total.

How do you improve a PA school application between cycles?

Get outside input. Kelsie's biggest regret across three cycles was trying to do everything alone. She recommends talking to advisors, PAs, PA students, and people you trust for unbiased feedback on your file rather than resubmitting the same application.

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

Kelsie logged more than 10,000 hours of patient care and still needed three cycles, largely because she was doing it all on her own. If you're heading into a repeat application, the cheapest improvement available is asking someone knowledgeable to read your file honestly.

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University of Charleston PA Program: Kelsie's Acceptance Story