Undergraduate education: Kansas State University
Overall GPA: 3.74
Science GPA: 3.69
GRE: 309
PA-CAT: N/A
Total PCE hours: 2054, various CNA jobs. I worked in assisted living, home health for people with disabilities, and in a neurology clinic. I also was trained as a EEG tech at the neurology clinic.
Total HCE hours: I only worked PCE positions.
Shadowing hours: I had 133 shadow hours. Due to the pandemic, much of this was online. I shadowed a wide variety of healthcare professionals, mostly in a hospital setting and some in a clinic setting.
Volunteer hours: I had 150 volunteer hours. I currently volunteer as a Big with Big Brothers Big Sisters and volunteered at COVID vaccination sites as well.
How many times did you apply?: 1
Age: 22
Gender: Female
Why PA? Being a PA is one of the most dynamic positions available within healthcare. The range of care one is able to provide as a PA is incredible, and I love that there are growing job opportunities each day. As a PA I feel confident that I will be able to spend quality time with patients and work with my colleagues to treat as effectively as possible.
How many programs did you apply to? 5
How many programs did you interview with and what were the outcomes? 3 (denied one interview due to an acceptance). Wichita State – waitlisted, Creighton – denied after interview, College of St Mary – ACCEPTED, Oklahoma State – did not attend interview due to acceptance.
Where will you be attending? College of St Mary PA Program
Anything you found interesting about interviews? The range in how much the interview processes varied between schools!
Were there any helpful resources (books, websites, webinars, etc) you used to get through prerequisites courses, the application or interview process? Mock interviews! My undergraduate school provided this for free and also practicing with trusted family/friends. So much of the content from PA Platform was a huge help, as well as many other websites/instagrams. Talking with older friends who had already applied was also very beneficial.
Any advice for other pre-PA students? Be well rounded! There were so many questions in interviews about volunteering, your passions, “tell us about yourself”, etc. Keep working hard but don’t put everything besides school and work on pause to achieve this goal.
Where can we find you? (Instagram, TikTok, Website, etc) – Instagram: @julia.howey
