Wayne State University PA Program: Rachel's Acceptance Story

By: Savanna Perry, PA-C

TL;DR

Rachel applied to two programs at 31, interviewed at one, and was accepted. She brought roughly 9,800 PCE hours and 2,500 HCE hours — one of the largest clinical records we've published — along with a 3.62 GPA in both overall and science coursework and five letters of recommendation. She also prepared for her interview continuously from the day she submitted CASPA in July until the invitation arrived in October.

Last Updated: August 2, 2026

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Why PA?

My story is very layered and my path has been non-traditional, but, PA has been my end goal since I realized what a PA is. This has been my dream for a decade! Medicine is my passion and my goal is to provide a safe place for patients and to instill relationships with trust.

In this post:

How many programs did you apply to?

In Our Experience

In our experience at The PA Platform, Rachel's answer about interview surprises is the one we'd point applicants to. She wasn't surprised by anything, and she explains exactly why: she prepared continuously for three months between submitting her application and receiving her invitation. Most applicants wait for the invitation and then scramble for two weeks. Starting the moment you hit submit turns interview prep from a sprint into something you've genuinely absorbed. Her clinical record is also enormous at roughly 9,800 PCE hours, which is what makes a two-program application list less reckless than it sounds — though we'd still generally advise more. Note her shadowing and volunteer hours are both low, at 32 and 31, and it didn't prevent an acceptance.

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

1 interview (other school's deadline hasn't hit yet), acceptance to school interviewed at.

Every Pre-PA Should Know...

Rachel also mentions Wayne State provided an outline of what to expect at the interview. Many programs send this and applicants skim past it. Read whatever the program gives you closely — it's the most reliable information you'll get about the format.

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Where will you be attending?

Wayne State University

Anything you found surprising about interviews?

Not really- I say this because I prepared for months from the time I submitted my CASPA in July until I received my interview invitation in October. Also, Wayne State provided a basic outline of what to expect at an interview.

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

YES! The PA Platform Instagram page, the Pre-PA Club podcast, Pre-PA Facebook group, several YouTube videos, and Savanna's Interview book!

Any other advice for other pre-PA students?

Never give up if this is your goal! Put in the work now and it will pay off if you believe in yourself and give this your heart and soul!

Need to Know:

Undergraduate education: Bachelor of Science in Health Care Administration
Overall GPA: 3.62
Science GPA: 3.62
GRE: 299
Total PCE hours: ~9800 upon submission
Total HCE hours: ~2500 hours upon submission
Shadowing hours: 32
Other Volunteer hours: 31 upon submission
LORs: 1 PA, 1 MD, 1 Supervisor, 1 Undergraduate Professor, 1 Clinical Coordinator
How many times did you apply?: 1
Age: 31
Gender: Female

FAQ

What GPA do you need for the Wayne State University PA program?

Rachel was accepted with a 3.62 overall GPA and a 3.62 science GPA. [VERIFY] Confirm Wayne State's current minimum GPA requirements.

Does Wayne State University's PA program require the GRE?

Rachel submitted a GRE score of 299. [VERIFY] Confirm whether Wayne State currently requires the GRE, as many programs have dropped it.

How many patient care hours do you need for the Wayne State PA program?

Rachel applied with roughly 9,800 PCE hours and 2,500 HCE hours, far above typical minimums. [VERIFY] Confirm the program's current PCE requirements.

When should you start preparing for PA school interviews?

As soon as you submit your application. Rachel prepared from July, when she submitted CASPA, until her invitation arrived in October, and reports nothing about the interview surprised her as a result.

Is 31 too old to apply to PA school?

No. Rachel was accepted at 31 on her first application cycle. Older applicants typically bring far more patient care experience, which is a substantial advantage — hers totaled roughly 12,300 hours across PCE and HCE.

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

Rachel applied to two programs at 31 with about 9,800 patient care hours and got into the one that had reached its interview stage. The transferable lesson isn't the hours, which took a decade to accumulate — it's the three months of interview preparation she started the day she submitted, and the fact that she actually read the material the program sent her about what to expect.

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Wayne State University PA Program: Rachel's Acceptance Story