University of Manitoba PA Program: Carmen's Acceptance Story

By: Savanna Perry, PA-C

TL;DR

Carmen applied twice to a single program, the University of Manitoba in Canada, and was accepted a week after her interview on the second attempt. Manitoba evaluates applicants on the most recent 60 credit hours rather than a cumulative science GPA, and her 3.8 in that window carried her application. Between cycles she gained experience working with people who have neurological motor disabilities, which she credits as the difference.

Last Updated: August 2, 2026

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

I interviewed with the one and was accepted a week later!

In this post:

Where will you be attending?

University of Manitoba in Canada

In Our Experience

In our experience at The PA Platform, Canadian PA programs operate differently enough from US programs that applicants should not assume the same rules apply. Manitoba uses a recent 60 credit hour GPA rather than a cumulative science GPA, does not require the GRE, and Carmen reported grades on a 4.5 scale. If you are applying in Canada, read the admissions criteria carefully rather than benchmarking against American norms. Her reapplication strategy is also worth noting: rather than simply resubmitting, she spent the intervening year building a genuinely different kind of experience.

Any red flags on your application?

I was most concerned about my lower GPA

Every Pre-PA Should Know...

One of Carmen's three letters of recommendation came from her restaurant manager of three years. A long-term supervisor who can speak credibly to your reliability and character can be more valuable than a clinician who barely knows you. Confirm the University of Manitoba PA program's current LOR and GPA requirements.

YOUR TURN

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Anything you found surprising about interviews?

I actually had a lot of fun interviewing and it truly was just them getting to know me as a person.

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

I read Doing Right by Philip C. Hébert which was a book on medical ethics that helped with interviews. (Affiliate Link) I also used many blogs and forums focused on PA/Medicine for interviews and MMI’s.

Any other advice for other pre-PA students?

I think gaining experience is not only important because the programs require it but it also makes you a well-rounded person and gives you vital life experiences that anyone going into a healthcare profession needs. Between my first year applying (and not getting an interview) and my second year (getting accepted) I gained experience by working with people who had neurological motor disabilities. I found that I learned so much from the experience not only about working with people but also about myself and I feel more prepared and equipped to enter the PA profession because of it.

Need to Know:

Undergraduate education: 4-year honours B.Sc degree majoring in Biology
Overall GPA: 3.6/4.5 scale
Science GPA: n/a
Recent 60 credit hour GPA: 3.8 (this is the GPA our program uses)
GRE: n/a
Total HCE hours: 400 hours
Total PCE hours: 1500 hours
Shadowing hours: 16 hours
Other volunteer hours: 400 hours
LORs: 3: One from my manager at the restaurant i work who I’ve known for 3 years. One from a PA I shadowed and who has been my mentor through this process over the past few years. One from my honours project lab supervisor.
How many times did you apply?: Two
Age: 24
Gender: Female
How many programs did you apply to? One

FAQ

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

Carmen reported a 3.6 on a 4.5 scale overall and a 3.8 in her most recent 60 credit hours, which is the figure the program uses. Confirm current admissions criteria directly with the University of Manitoba.

Does the University of Manitoba PA program require the GRE?

Carmen listed the GRE as not applicable. Canadian PA programs generally do not require the GRE. Confirm the current requirement before assuming this applies to your cycle.

How do you apply to PA school in Canada?

Canadian PA programs use their own application systems rather than CASPA, and admissions criteria differ meaningfully from US programs: Manitoba, for example, evaluates a recent 60 credit hour GPA. Research each Canadian program's requirements individually.

Does a recent GPA matter more than cumulative GPA for PA school?

At some programs, yes. Manitoba explicitly used Carmen's most recent 60 credit hours. Several US programs also weight recent or last-45-credit GPAs. If your cumulative number is dragged down by early coursework, look for programs that evaluate recent performance.

What should you do between PA school application cycles?

Build something new. Carmen received no interview her first year and spent the next one working with people who had neurological motor disabilities, which strengthened both her application and her readiness for the profession. Adding hours in a meaningfully different setting is more persuasive than resubmitting the same file.

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

Carmen applied to one program, twice, and got in. Her story is a useful counterweight to the assumption that more applications always means better odds, sometimes the right move is to understand one program's criteria deeply and spend a year becoming the applicant it is looking for.

University of Manitoba PA Program: Carmen's Acceptance Story