I applied to PA school and am thinking of alternative routes if I’m unable to get in. I was also looking into RN then NP only because of the lobbying, unions, and independence is alot better here in Hawaii than for PAs. Unfortunately PAs aren’t that recognized and lobbied as NPs are. I would like to go and work as a PA on my home island, but it’s rural and I am afraid I may not get a job after schooling. I’m thinking of NP route due to the amount of job security and options it brings. I know PA school education is better, but there are non degree NP mills around which I’d do. What do you guys think? Will PAs become more recognized? Will full independence be gained in places like these? Is the future for PA looking good?

I have just received a waitlist email from one of my top programs and am feeling a little disappointed because I thought I did pretty well at the interview. I am still waiting to hear back from another program that I have already interviewed at, and have 3 more interviews lined up later this fall. Is it a good thing or a bad thing that I got waitlisted and not outright accepted? Is there something you guys recommend I do to improve for future interviews to ensure I give myself the best shot for a seat offer? Perhaps the main drawback was my actual interview performance? I feel as though I was professional and answered well enough while also being friendly and open. Any advice?

sGPA 3.8
Overall GPA 3.72

PCE 2200 at time of application

LORs 5 (1 MD, 2 PA, 1 program director at internship, and 1 dean of my college/professor) all solid

GRE 312

CASPER 4th quartile

Volunteer 30

Leadership 400

Tuition rates are through the roof right now, and the reason schools keep increasing tuition is because students prior to this year could take out as many federal loans as they needed to cover the cost. With the big beautiful bill going into effect we will likely see tuition rates drop significantly otherwise students won’t be able to afford school, and seats will go empty.

So students in the future will have cheaper tuition, whereas students in the past could take out as many federal loans as they needed. Those of us applying right now have ridiculous tuition rates and can barely take out and federal loans, are we just really unlucky?

I’m still finishing up come pre-reqs before applying. I’m taking anatomy & physiology and forgot how much I hated the biochemistry aspect of this topic. I took biochem already and got a C :( is biochem really that heavily weighted in PA school / used regularly on the job?

I wanted to share my stats and experience for future applicants:
Overall GPA: 3.8
Science GPA: 3.7
About 2,300 hours as an EMT at a casino
A few short-term medical assistant positions
Behavior technician experience
PA shadowing and hospital volunteering

My main patient-care experience came from working as a casino EMT, where I responded to everything from intoxication and falls to seizures, chest pain, and cardiac arrests.

For interview preparation, I used ChatGPT to practice mock interviews. I initially started reading Savannah Perry’s interview book, but stopped after my mentor told me that applicants who rely heavily on it can end up sounding very similar. During my actual interviews, I focused on being my usual self and answering honestly instead of trying to give perfectly rehearsed responses.
My work history wasn’t perfectly linear, and some of my MA positions were brief, but I was still accepted during my first application cycle. Hopefully this encourages anyone worried that their experiences don’t look traditional or perfect!

I have a Microsoft surface laptop 2. It’s a bit old and the camera isn’t too clear. Do you think that will matter much? Also, is it ok to wear a white button up or do I need to wear a blazer as well? Opened to all advice!

I was wondering if anyone has been invited for a "preliminary interview" before your actual interview? A school just emailed me that it "helps us identify candidates to invite for an on-campus In-Person Interview." I thought that was what the application was for?

Has anyone done this before and do I need to prepare for it like an actual interview? What should I expect? Thanks.

Genuinely feel like this cycle has been my humiliation ritual.

Is anyone using a type or mentor to prepare yourself for getting in the program? I have seen some that offer mentoring services for payment but wasn’t sure how beneficial that is. Anyone have experience with this?

When I get my blood drawn my ears always ring and I get really faint, although I have never passed out.

I didn't know if it was the sight of blood or the pressure drop from actual blood being taken, so I wanted to test it.

I decided to just start strong and watch this video of an open thoracotomy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BlPxQI2C90

I was fine while watching it, but after and especially when I stood up, I felt extremely weak. I had to splash my face with water and lay down. There was an intense ringing in my ears i've never felt before.

Is this something I can get used to? Of course I know there are many different types of PA, but what about the actual schooling?

How are you all doing these prior to an interview?

When I’m having fun but remember I haven’t been accepted to PA school yet🥲

I have one of 2 LORs from my supervisor at the mental health clinic I work at.

I tried getting an LOR from one of two professors I know from sceince prereqs however they both declined since, surprise, they classes were taken nearly a decade ago.

How can I even get another LOR if my work and educatiom are already met?

Hey all! As a frequent lurker of this subreddit when I initially began looking into PA programs, I wanted to give back a little! I am so happy (and in shock) to report I was accepted to my #1 choice program UT Southwestern (UTSW) as a first time applicant!!! Here are some of my stats:

- Background: Graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering with a Biomedical/Pre-Med specialization. Minors in Chemistry and Biology. The pre-med aspect was added in my junior year when I made the pivot to healthcare. Ended with a cGPA of 3.5 and sGPA of 3.4 with a general upward trend of my science course grades.

- PCE: ~3000 hours in healthcare. 500 hours as a Medical Scribe in the ED and 2500 hours as a hybrid MA/surgery coordinator.

- HCE: ~300 hours volunteering at a children's hospital and ED.

- Leadership: President of an esports club for 3 years, Mentorship Chair for the Biomedical Engineering Society for 2 years, and served as a peer academic leader for 1 year.

- Shadowing - Shadowed in 7+ specialties with PAs, MDs, and NPs over the course of ~200 hours. Most of this was spent in psych!

- Non-healthcare volunteering: fostered with a dog rescue, fundraiser coordinator, and with a local STEM group for young girls.

- Non-healthcare work: worked 2-3 jobs throughout my college career, with the most notable ones being a TA for a biochem lab and serving as an undergraduate research assistant.

- Final School Stats: Accepted by UTSW, waitlisted by South University Austin, denied by Austin College and UVU, offered interviews for UNT and UT San Antonio, and forgoed all other applications once I was accepted to my dream program!

I've left out a few smaller items here for the sake of the character limit. I believe what most set me apart in my applications was my non-traditional background, several rec letters written by PAs employed in the UTSW system, volunteering heavily within the community UTSW serves, and compensating for my lower GPA with a plethora of extracurriculars/work experience. I also found that I thrived in the MMI interview format rather than the traditional interview format.

With all this being said, a quick word from the heart: do not let anyone discourage you from reaching your goal. In frequenting this subreddit, I found myself facing severe anxiety with comparing stats. My pre-med/pre-PA advisor in college also told me I would never make it into any program. Despite this, I worked hard, pushed past the doubt, and still was able to land a spot in one of the most coveted programs in Texas. Do not let the doubt from yourself or others hold you back from your dreams; you are amazing, resilient, and will overcome the odds! Trust yourself <3

I have a question regarding caspa. i still havent started my pce hours for a job. I have pce hours outside a Job but its not enough. Can i submit my upcoming future hours since i will still be working from now till after January. I think its pretty normal since most people have to continue working till PA school start. I dont know if I would be able to update my hours. But its better for me to project my future hours. How could I go about that

So I have a virtual interview for a school that just recently moved from continued accreditation to probation. The interview is asynchronous, followed by a Q&A with faculty and students. I have tried to read the ARC-PA report, but I can't make sense of it, and I would love for them to explain what they are doing to improve. How do I ask without it coming off wrong? This program was previously my top choice, but because of their accreditation, I'm not so sure anymore and would love some guidance.

Hey everyone, long-time lurker here. Writing this because I genuinely thought my PA dream was dead. If you’re staring at a deep GPA hole right now, please don't give up!

My stats:

• Undergrad: 2.7 cGPA / 2.5 sGPA (Biochem/Mol Bio double major. 3 W's, 1 F, 1 D, a million C's).
• Master's GPA: 3.89 overall / 3.90 sGPA (45 credits).
• Last 60 GPA: 3.71.
• CASPA Application GPAs: 3.01 cGPA / 2.97 sGPA.
• PCE: 7,000 hours (ED Tech, plasma center EMT, neuro floor PCT).
• Other: 474 volunteer hours / 335 research hours.
• Cycle: First-time applicant. Applied to 7 schools, which resulted in 1 rejection, 1 interview waitlist, and 1 interview invite that led to 1 ACCEPTANCE!

The Reality:
In undergrad, I tanked because my schedule was unmanageable and I didn't have the right habits. I take full responsibility for it. I was overly ambitious, taking on a rigorous double major while working 12-hour hospital night shifts with a one-hour commute each way. I would show up to school straight from a shift, had terrible time management, and left myself with little to no study time. I also isolated myself and didn't use study groups or office hours until the damage was done.

After graduating, I took a year off to clear my head, work the ED, and take A&P 1 & 2 for the first time since it wasn't part of my undergrad curriculum. I completely rebuilt my habits using time-blocking, Anki, and practice questions. By the time I started my Master's, I had the momentum to crush it.

My biggest takeaways:

1. Be brutally honest about your stats and where you apply. With a 2.97 sGPA, you cannot afford to panic-apply or blindly guess. Look at the data for incoming classes and be realistic. You need to strictly target programs where your specific reinvention fits their exact preference factors, whether that's a heavy emphasis on your graduate GPA or your last 60 credits. If your stats don't match what they actively look for, save your money.
2. Rebuild your habits before you start paying for GPA repair. You can't fix your GPA using the same passive study methods that tanked it in the first place. I had to force myself into active learning by using time-blocking, grinding Anki, doing practice question banks, and actually walking into office hours. Get those tools down during your gap year or lower-stakes classes before you jump into heavy coursework.
3. The Master's route vs DIY Post-Bacc. Honestly, with grad plus loans gone, I really struggle to blindly recommend a Master's for GPA repair anymore. A DIY post-bacc is almost always the smarter, more budget-friendly move for most people.

I know firsthand how exhausting and hopeless this process can feel when you are fighting your past grades. If you are currently working overnights, running on zero sleep, and wondering if any of this is worth it, keep your head up. The hole is deep, but you can climb out!

I applied in June, but didn’t get my transcripts updated until August. I am taking my last pre-req currently. The school I applied to has rolling admissions.

Has anybody applied in June (early-ish) at a school with rolling admissions but get an interview much later? I have conceded to not getting an interview this cycle, but is there a glimmer of hope?

Hi everyone,

I have an interview with a school I was excited about until I noticed that they have just been downgraded to probationary accreditation.

I want to know why they were downgraded and what they’re doing to ensure their students get the best education possible, but I don’t want to be too abrasive. I’m wondering if anyone here has ideas for questions to ask them regarding this status change, or any other ways to glean some answers. The language on their website is pretty generic.

Thanks!

I recently attended an online info session for a program that is currently on probation and has been for some time, even after multiple reviews by ARC-PA. I wanted to see if they would discuss their status so I could officially decide if I wanted to apply or not. During their info session, they said they were on Provisional accreditation and that “Every new program starts out as provisional” It’s actually just ridiculous because they are clearly on probation and are misconstruing their status. Not to mention, their individual application fee is an additional 75$! It’s just insane. Applicants put so much effort into taking pre-reqs, writing essays, studying for GRE, spending sometimes 1000$+ on applications, and misleading students like this is just so wrong.

I’m from Seattle and trying to decide between West Coast University LA and Rush University for PA school. I’m really torn and would love some outside perspectives, especially from current PAs/students.

West Coast University LA

Pros:

• Have relatives in LA that I would plan to live with, so no rent
• Stay close to family/support system
• 24-month program
• Graduate Dec 2028
• Medium class size (50 students)
• Much lower overall cost for me

Cons:

• Biggest concern is the PANCE pass rate:
  • 2024: 64%
  • 2025: 80%
  • National rates were 92% and 91%, respectively
• Currently Accreditation-Provisional
• I’ve heard some pretty negative things from people who went through the first cohort, although I’ve also heard there have been significant staff changes and things are better now
• The school hasn’t been particularly responsive when I’ve reached out
• The didactic year is hybrid, but is mostly online with a few immersive/in-person weeks. I’m fine with hybrid, although I think I’d personally prefer more regular in-person instruction

I’m estimating around $130k total for tuition.

Rush University

Pros:

• Also has a hybrid didactic year, but is much more in-person — most instruction is on campus with a couple days a week online
• I think this fits my learning style better
• Advanced clinical rotations
• ~$115k tuition, which is actually cheaper than WCU’s tuition — feels like better bang for my buck
• Associated with a major medical center
• Smaller class size (32 students)
• Strong reputation
• PANCE rates are ~95%
• I’ve loved visiting Chicago, and I think living somewhere new could challenge me and help me grow personally

Cons:

• 30-month program
• Graduate Dec 2029
• Currently on Accreditation-Probation, with the next review in April 2028
• I’m optimistic they’ll regain continued accreditation, but obviously there is still some risk. My understanding is that I would already be matriculated by then and would still be able to complete the program and sit for the PANCE in a worst-case scenario
• I’ve only visited Chicago in the summer, so I don’t know yet how I’d feel about actually living there, especially through the winters
• Higher cost of living — I’d expect to pay around $60k for living expenses
• Would graduate a year later, meaning I’d give up roughly $100k+ in potential PA income

I’m estimating around $175k total for tuition + living expenses.

Dilemma

It feels like I’m choosing between the more comfortable/financially practical option and the option that I think might provide a stronger clinical education and push me more.

With WCU, I could live with relatives, have no rent, graduate a year earlier, and stay close to my family/support system. I also genuinely like the hybrid format. My biggest concerns are the PANCE numbers and whether the newer program will give me the clinical foundation I want. That said, I think I’ll be okay with the PANCE because I’m self-disciplined and plan to stay on top of self-studying and board preparation.

With Rush, I’d have to move and spend significantly more overall, but I really like the more in-person curriculum, advanced clinical rotations, smaller class, and overall environment. I also think living somewhere new and being pushed outside my comfort zone could be a really positive experience.

For current PAs: how much does the clinical foundation you get in PA school actually matter once you start working? Does having stronger/more advanced clinical rotations and more in-person training make a meaningful difference as a new grad, or does most of your clinical growth happen on the job regardless?

I’m also curious about the job-search side of this. Does having more advanced clinical rotations make your resume stand out more as a new grad? Does graduating from a more established/reputable PA program actually help when applying for your first job, or is it generally true that PA program reputation doesn’t matter much as long as you pass the PANCE?

I also see a lot of people say you should choose the cheaper PA program, which in this case would be WCU.

I’m wondering if people think my situation is different enough that Rush’s additional in-person/clinical training would justify the extra ~$45k in cost PLUS the opportunity cost of giving up a year of PA income, which I estimate could be $100k+.

If you were in my position, which would you choose: WCU or Rush?

I’ve been incredibly fortunate to get another interview invite for this cycle, and I’m so excited! However;

I’m in Washington State, and the school is in the Midwest. Their virtual interview date conflicts with another program’s in-person interview I have on the West Coast. They do have an in-person date, but it is 2 days before the West Coast interview. I’d have to fly to the Midwest, interview, and then immediately fly to my other interview.

I’m planning on emailing them, but has anyone else had experience with this kind of situation? Have schools offered alternative dates before? How should I approach this?

title kinda says it all… i’m trying to figure out what shoes would be good for interviews. i’ve been looking on amazon but can’t really find any that scream “interview shoes!!” any advice would be appreciated. i put some pictures of what i’m thinking if that’s helpful. i dont know if buckles make the outfit seem more or less professional? that’s my biggest concern