Undergraduate education: Saint Louis University
Overall GPA: 3.79
GRE: 309
PA-CAT: N/A
Total PCE hours: I had completed 1248 hours at the time that I submitted CASPA, although I was still working throughout my gap year. I worked as a dental assistant at an office specializing in TMJ disorders and sleep apnea.
Shadowing hours: I spent 34 hours shadowing in several specialities including OB/GYN, maternal-fetal medicine, and sleep neurology.
Volunteer hours: I volunteered in an emergency department as an ambassador in the waiting room for a semester, but the majority of my hours came from my heavy participation in Dance Marathon. I also did various one day volunteering events through various clubs/organizations including my sorority.
How many times did you apply?: I was lucky enough to be accepted on my first application cycle!
Age: 22
Gender: Female
How many programs did you apply to? 13
How many programs did you interview with and what were the outcomes? 3 interviews, 2 waitlist, 1 acceptance! (I was also on a couple interview waitlists that I never came off of)
Where will you be attending? Marquette University
Anything you found interesting about interviews? They did not ask about my patient care experience!
Were there any helpful resources (books, websites, webinars, etc) you used to get through prerequisites courses, the application or interview process? I listened to a lot of podcasts as I was going through the application and interview process. Pre-PA Club, Scrubbed Out Podcast, and The Making of a Physician Assistant were some of my favorites!
Any advice for other pre-PA students? Be yourself in interviews! Interviewers can tell if you seem too rehearsed/unnatural. Prepare, but don’t over-prepare!
Where can we find you? (Instagram, TikTok, Website, etc) – @mypadiaries @mckenziewalz
