University of Washington PA Program: Amanda's Acceptance Story (Army Medic, 10,000+ Hours)

By: Savanna Perry, PA-C

TL;DR

Amanda applied once to 11 programs with more than 10,000 patient care hours from her work as an army medic and EMT. She interviewed at 2, was waitlisted at one and accepted at the other. Her 3.0 science GPA and 293 GRE sat well below most applicants in this series, and her experience carried the file.

Last Updated: August 2, 2026

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Why PA?

Lateral transferability

In this post:

How many programs did you apply to?

In Our Experience

In our experience at The PA Platform, military medics are among the most experienced applicants any committee will read, and Amanda’s 10,000+ hours are the clearest illustration of why depth of experience can outweigh a 3.0 science GPA. We would push back gently on one thing, though: you can prepare for interviews. What you cannot do is predict the questions. Preparation is about having your stories ready and being able to think out loud, not about scripting answers to a list you hope appears.

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

2 interview, one waitlist one acceptance

Every Pre-PA Should Know...

Amanda earned volunteer hours by being BLS certified and staffing marathons and races — a straightforward way to convert an existing certification into service hours.

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Where will you be attending?

Medic- u of Washington

Anything you found interesting about interviews?

You really can’t prepare. Neither of my interviews asked the questions I prepared.

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

YouTube for chemistry! Paforum for application process

Any advice for other pre-PA students?

If you never apply- the answer will always be no.

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

Instagram

Need to Know:

Undergraduate education: Concordia university Wisconsin
Overall GPA: 3.4
Science GPA: 3.0
GRE: 293
Total PCE hours: 10,000+ army medic and emt
Shadowing hours: 80 army PA
Volunteer hours: 100+ being BLS certified for marathons and other races
How many times did you apply?: 1
Age: 28
Gender: Female

FAQ

Can you get into PA school with a 3.0 science GPA?

Amanda did, with a 3.0 science GPA and a 3.4 overall, supported by more than 10,000 patient care hours. Exceptional experience can offset a GPA near a program’s floor, but [VERIFY] each program’s published minimum before applying.

Do military medic hours count for PA school?

Military medic experience is generally counted as strong direct patient care. Amanda combined army medic and EMT work for 10,000+ PCE hours. [VERIFY] how each program wants military experience documented on CASPA.

Does the University of Washington MEDEX program require the GRE?

Amanda submitted a 293 and was accepted. [VERIFY] the program’s current standardized testing policy directly, as requirements change by cycle and by campus.

Can you prepare for PA school interview questions?

Amanda found that neither of her interviews asked what she had prepared for. Preparing specific stories from your experience, rather than scripted answers to predicted questions, is the approach that survives an unexpected format.

How many patient care hours do you need for PA school?

Requirements range widely, from none to 2,000 or more. Amanda applied with over 10,000. [VERIFY] each program’s current minimum and which roles it accepts.

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

Amanda gave the shortest "Why PA" in this entire series — two words — and backed it with a decade of medic work. Her advice is just as economical and just as true: if you never apply, the answer will always be no.

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University of Washington PA Program: Amanda's Acceptance Story (Army Medic, 10,000+ Hours)