Undergraduate education: California Polytechnic State University
Overall GPA: 3.5 with an extreme upward trend
Science GPA: 3.4
GRE: 301
Total PCE hours: 1,000 at time of application
Total HCE hours: 400
Shadowing hours: About 75
LORs: Primary care PA and MD, urgent care PA, Pain management MD, college microbiology teacher/ pre-health club advisor
How many times did you apply?: 1
Age: 23
Gender: Female
Why PA? I come from an underserved area in central California and have seen how lack of healthcare can affect a population. It’s my hope that I can connect rural populations with the healthcare they so desperately need.
How many programs did you apply to? 5
How many programs did you interview with and what were the outcomes? So far just one still waiting on two
Where will you be attending? Touro University California
Anything you found surprising about interviews? It was a very welcoming experience! The director of Touro’s program is extremely down-to-earth and 100% lives the mission of the school. The students were very involved in the interview day with giving us tours around campus. I think it’s important when you go into an interview to realize all the work you’ve done to get there and believe in yourself, that’s half the battle.
Were there any helpful resources (books, websites, apps) you used to get through prerequisite courses, the application or interview process? I completed a mock interview with Sam Berk of The PA Platform which was EXTREMELY enlightening. I also bought the how to ace a PA interview book as well as the PA platforms prep book. I think cross referencing those two books along with multiple mock interviews helped me walk into my interview with confidence.
Any other advice for other pre-PA students? GET INVOLVED! Nothing shows a program that you really want to do this like volunteer work. I once was talking to a PA in the urgent care that I worked at about what I should do to stand out. He basically told me don’t try to get close to the “ideal candidate” with your stats, be the ideal candidate. Basically, go start that club, go volunteer, and work your butt off to stand out.
Where can we find you? @haley_witt
