Wake Forest University PA Program: Akshara's Acceptance Story (11 Interview Invites)

By: Savanna Perry, PA-C

TL;DR

Akshara turned 18 applications into 11 interview invitations, attended 7, and was accepted to 5 programs — landing at Wake Forest off the waitlist. She built her experience across CNA and medical assistant roles, medical brigades in Ecuador and Guatemala, and shadowing on two continents. Her interviewers asked more about her time in Poland than about her main patient care job.

Last Updated: August 2, 2026

Your Pre-PA Bestie Blog - everything you need to know to become a PA in one place.

Why PA?

My PA journey began while shadowing a PA on a medical brigade in rural Ecuador. Prior to that I wanted to go into healthcare but was unsure of whether to pursue research or medicine. After my experience in Ecuador, I realized I wanted to pursue a profession that allowed me to work with underserved populations. Later that year, I enrolled in a CNA course in order to accrue PCE. Additionally, I started shadowing and doing more research on the profession. Lateral mobility appealed to me as I would have the flexibility in pursuing different specialties, updating and expanding my knowledge base not only for myself, as a future provider, but also for my communities. I also really liked the idea of working in profession that allows you to be autonomous but also collaborative when it comes to diagnosing and treating patients. These reasons solidified my desire to go not just into healthcare, but specifically pursue the PA path!

In this post:

How many programs did you apply to?

In Our Experience

In our experience at The PA Platform, Akshara’s interview observation is one of the most practically useful in this series. She was asked more about her study abroad in Poland than about her primary patient care job. Committees already have your hours in writing; what they cannot get from the application is what you are like to talk to. The unusual, specific, human parts of your file are frequently what an interviewer picks up, so be ready to talk about all of it — not just the clinical parts.

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

I received 11 interview invites and attended 7 of those. I ended up being accepted to 5 programs and rejected by 2 programs post-interview. In fact, I was originally on the waitlist before being accepted to the program I will be attending!

Every Pre-PA Should Know...

Akshara recommends a spreadsheet tracking every program’s prerequisites, minimum GPA, and deadlines. With 18 applications, that is not organization for its own sake — it is the only way to avoid a missed requirement.

****INSERT FREE LEAD MAGNET FORM OR HTML BLOCK AND DELETE TEXT BOX*****

Where will you be attending?

Wake Forest University

Anything you found interesting about interviews?

I was not expecting to get as many non-healthcare related questions as I did. I remember being asked more about my study abroad/shadowing experiences in Poland over my main form of PCE in some interviews! Programs are really trying to get to know YOU as an applicant and not as a specific statistic or number to rank.

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

myPAresource and myPAlife for personal statement reviews, the CASPA website, and Savannah Perry, PA-C’s PA school interview prep guide 🙂 I also highly recommend using a spreadsheet to keep track of all the programs you’re applying to (what pre-reqs are required, minimum GPA, application due dates, etc)

Any advice for other pre-PA students?

My advice to pre-PA students is to have at least 1 hobby unrelated to healthcare. At times, it may seem like everything in your life revolves around getting to PA school, however having extracurriculars/interests outside of healthcare are important for those times where you may feel burnt out or unmotivated. Having non-healthcare related hobbies can also help with keeping a healthy balance between school, work, and social life and building on time management skills!

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

@anatomically.akshara on instagram!

Need to Know:

Undergraduate education: NC State University
Overall GPA: 3.7
Science GPA: 3.63
GRE: 310
Total PCE hours: 2,600+ hours I’ve worked as a CNA, MA (primary/urgent care, dermatology, pulmonary/sleep specialties), and as a medical brigade volunteer
Total HCE hours: 1,500+ hours, I was a hospital volunteer, optical assistant, and remote medical scribe in orthopedics
Shadowing hours: 100+ hours, I shadowed 2 PAs in-person (addiction medicine and dermatology) and virtually shadowed multiple PAs (orthopedics, oncology, primary care). I also got shadowing hours from shadowing two MDs abroad in Poland (cardiology and internal medicine departments)!
Volunteer hours: 450+, I volunteered through my college’s service fraternity (Alpha Phi Omega) and pre-health fraternity (Alpha Epsilon Delta). I also volunteered on 2 medical brigades (Ecuador and Guatemala) and for the Crisis Text Line.
How many times did you apply?: 1
Age: 23
Gender: Female

FAQ

What GPA do you need for the Wake Forest University PA program?

Akshara was accepted with a 3.7 overall GPA and a 3.63 science GPA. [VERIFY] Wake Forest’s current published minimum GPA and most recent accepted class averages.

Does Wake Forest University require the GRE for PA school?

Akshara submitted a 310. Her post did not record a PA-CAT result. [VERIFY] Wake Forest’s current standardized testing policy directly.

Do medical brigades count for PA school applications?

Akshara counted medical brigade work toward both PCE and volunteer hours across trips to Ecuador and Guatemala. Programs vary in how they treat short-term international medical trips. [VERIFY] how each program categorizes brigade experience, and be prepared to describe your specific role.

What questions do PA schools ask in interviews?

Not always the ones you expect. Akshara was asked more about her study abroad and shadowing in Poland than about her primary patient care role. Be ready to discuss every part of your application, including non-clinical experiences.

How many PA programs should you apply to?

Akshara applied to 18 and received 11 interview invitations. A broader list costs more but can produce more options; she recommends tracking each program’s requirements in a spreadsheet to keep a large list manageable.

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

Eleven interview invitations, five acceptances, and a waitlist that turned into Wake Forest. Akshara’s advice is the one most driven applicants need to hear: keep at least one hobby that has nothing to do with healthcare. It is what carries you through the stretches when this process stops being fun.

***INSERT HTML SERVICE BLOCK CTA****

Wake Forest University PA Program: Akshara's Acceptance Story (11 Interview Invites)