MEDEX Northwest PA Program: SarahRose's One-Application Acceptance Story

By: Savanna Perry, PA-C

TL;DR

SarahRose applied to a single program — MEDEX Northwest — and was accepted. She was 36, with 6,700 PCE hours as a volunteer firefighter/EMT, mobile urgent care MA, and emergency department tech, plus 3,000 volunteer hours. Her approach was deliberately narrow and exhaustively prepared: months on the personal statement, a mock interview, and a PA mentor at every step.

Last Updated: August 2, 2026

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Why PA?

I am at a place in my life where the intersection of my past experiences and future goals align for me to achieve the most significant impact on others. My previous work has prepared me to be compassionate and connect with my patients. My patient care experience has allowed me to practice and sharpen my clinical skill set to facilitate change. I believe I have been unconsciously training to become a physician assistant without even realizing it. I have years of practice building relationships and helping others become healthier and stronger, and it wasn’t until I discovered the PA profession that I could put a name on what I wanted to be. I’ve been searching for a greater purpose and meaning in my life; it was only a matter of time until I found becoming a PA.

In this post:

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

I applied to 1 program, interviewed at 1 program, and I was accepted!

In Our Experience

In our experience at The PA Platform, a one-program application only makes sense when you can honestly answer why that program and no other. SarahRose could: she is a UW graduate, she worked in a UW Medical Center emergency department, and she attended the program’s own info session to learn precisely what it wanted. That is not a gamble, it is a targeted campaign. For most applicants a broader list is still the right call, but her preparation model — months on the essay, an info session, a mock interview, and a PA mentor — applies no matter how many programs you apply to.

Every Pre-PA Should Know...

SarahRose taught meditation and yoga at an addiction treatment facility before healthcare. Prior careers are not detours; they are the thing that makes your Why PA specific.

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Where will you be attending?

University of Washington-Medex Northwest

Anything you found interesting about interviews?

At least for Medex, they truly wanted to make sure that everyone in the cohort not only was a good fit for each other, but that we were going to benefit from the program. They really wanted to get to know us as candidates, and it made the experience less stressful.

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

I used ALL the available resources on the PA Platform (mock interview, webinar all access pass, worksheets, Physician Assistant School Interview Guide), and also attended an info session through the University of Washington that outlined the application and interview process and prerequisites they prefer. I also have an amazing mentor who is a PA and she has helped me throughout every step of the process.

Any advice for other pre-PA students?

I was very targeted in my approach to applying to PA school. I only applied to one school, and really went out of my way to make sure that I would get in my first time. I had amazing support from my family and friends and worked full time, volunteered, and attended all my pre-recs online so I could achieve this goal. I spent months on my personal statement, and made sure my application was perfect before hitting submit. Once I found out I had an interview secured I did a mock interview with the PA platform, and also met with my PA mentor to go over my approach to the interview. I don’t think you can be overprepared for this undertaking, and I encourage all prospective PA students to make sure they take the process seriously and really dedicate themselves to getting in!

Where can we find you? (Instagram, TikTok, Website, etc)

N/A

Need to Know:

Undergraduate education: University of Washington
Overall GPA: 3.73
Science GPA: 3.86
GRE: N/A
Total PCE hours: 6,700. I gained my experience as a Volunteer FF/EMT, working as a MA at a mobile urgent care, and ED Tech/MA for University of Washington Medical Center Northwest in the Emergency Department .
Total HCE hours: 208. Prior to going into healthcare I worked at an addiction treatment facility as a meditation and yoga teacher and wellness coach.
Shadowing hours: 45 hours. I shadowed three different PA’s: one in urgent care, one in gynecology oncology (both in clinic and in surgery), and one in a short stay unit at the hospital.
Volunteer hours: 3,000. I was a volunteer FF/EMT, and also did volunteer work as a medic for a local running company, for various events in my city (4th of July Parade, vaccination events) , and through the alumni network for University of Washington.
How many times did you apply?: 1
Age: 36
Gender: Female

FAQ

Is it risky to apply to only one PA program?

It is, for most applicants. SarahRose applied to one and was accepted, but she had deep local ties to the institution, 6,700 patient care hours, and had attended the program’s own info session. Without that alignment, a broader list is safer.

What GPA do you need for the MEDEX Northwest PA program?

SarahRose was accepted with a 3.73 overall GPA and a 3.86 science GPA. [VERIFY] MEDEX’s current published minimum GPA and most recent accepted class averages for the Northwest campus.

Does MEDEX Northwest require the GRE?

SarahRose listed her GRE as N/A and was accepted. Her post did not record a PA-CAT result. [VERIFY] MEDEX’s current standardized testing policy directly, as it can vary by campus and cycle.

Do volunteer firefighter and EMT hours count as patient care experience?

They are generally accepted as direct patient care. SarahRose combined volunteer FF/EMT work with mobile urgent care MA and ED tech roles for 6,700 PCE hours. [VERIFY] how each program categorizes volunteer clinical work.

Can you go to PA school in your thirties?

Yes. SarahRose was accepted at 36 after a career as a wellness coach and meditation teacher, then years in emergency care. Non-traditional applicants bring maturity and depth of experience that committees value.

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

One application, one interview, one acceptance, at 36. SarahRose says she does not think you can be overprepared for this, and her outcome is the argument. She spent years building toward a single door and then made absolutely certain it would open.

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MEDEX Northwest PA Program: SarahRose's One-Application Acceptance Story