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You are here: Home / Pre-Physician Assistant / The PA Advisor Series / Applying with a Low GPA / Applying to PA School with a Low GPA: Admissions Directors Answer Your Questions

Applying to PA School with a Low GPA: Admissions Directors Answer Your Questions

August 22, 2017 By Stephen Pasquini PA-C 30 Comments

How to Get Into PA School With a Low GPA PART 1 ADMISSIONS DIRECTORS ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONSHow to Get Into PA School With a Low GPA

PA school administrators from ten top-ranking PA programs answer your questions on how to get into PA school with a low GPA.

A low GPA is probably the hardest area to improve.

This makes sense – it was years in the making, and can’t be undone without time. It can take about a year in advanced level science courses to bump a high 2.x GPA over 3.0. The lower your GPA, and the more classes you’ve taken, the longer it will take to reflect improvements in your academic record.

What is your CASPA calculated GPA?

Before you do anything it is important that you have this number in hand. You can view your CASPA GPAs once your application has been Verified. You can read about that here on the CASPA website.

When I applied to PA school I had a cumulative GPA of 2.9, a result, probably like many of you reading this, of some early misdirection. I got my act together in the second half of my undergraduate career, finishing on the Dean's list with a 3.8 GPA. But my overall GPA did not fully recover and was lower than the 3.0 minimum of the school where I was accepted.

Indeed this is not the norm, but you should not let a lower than average GPA stop you from finding a path to PA school if this is truly your passion.

Fortunately, you are not alone. Every year PA programs from across the country come together to answer questions posed by aspiring Pre-PA students like yourself. Not surprisingly, questions regarding PA school admissions and low (or lower than average) GPA topped the list.

Below are the answers to these questions.

20 Physician Assistant Programs That Accept Low Overall/Cumulative GPAs or Have No Minimum GPA

  1. University of Saint Francis: 2.0
  2. University of Utah: 2.7
  3. University of Dubuque: 3.0
  4. University of Nevada Reno: 2.75
  5. University of Kentucky: 2.75
  6. South College: 2.75
  7. Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science: 2.75
  8. Keiser University: 2.75
  9. Interservice Physician Assistant Program: 2.75
  10. Rocky Vista University: 3.0
  11. Northwestern Medicine Feinberg School of Medicine: 2.8
  12. Des Moines University: 2.8
  13. Yale Online PA Program: 3.0
  14. Arcadia University: No minimum (recommended 3.0 or better)
  15. Albany Medical College: No minimum (grade of C or better in required prerequisites)
  16. Weill Cornell Medicine: No minimum
  17. Boston University: No minimum (science GPA of 3.0 or better)
  18. Duke University: No minimum (grade of C or better in required prerequisites)
  19. Idaho State University: No minimum (grade of C or better in required prerequisites and cumulative prerequisite GPA of 3.0)
  20. Kettering College: No minimum (grade of C or better in required prerequisites and cumulative prerequisite GPA of 3.0)

**Hint: Use my Perfect PA Program Picker and sort the table by GPA requirements (from lowest to highest) to see which PA schools you can apply to based on your overall and science GPA. Make sure to confirm the latest numbers with the program directly.

Here is an additional table that was provided on the PA forums. Included in this are PA programs that consider the trend of last 30, 45, or 60 credit hours for admissions.

School CGPA SGPA PREREQGPA HCE
Rosalind Franklin 2.75 (Last 60 CH) 2.75 C or better 800 Hrs
South College 2.75 2.75 prereq sci 2.75 N/A
Arcadia Uni 3.0 Recommended N/A N/A 200 Hrs
Charles R Drew 3.0 Preferred 3.0 Preferred 3.0 Preferred 2,000 Hrs
James Madison 3.0 Preferred N/A N/A 1,000 Hrs
Keiser Uni 2.75 3.0 3.0 100 Hrs
MGH N/A 3.0 preferred B- or better 1,000 Hrs
Stephens College 2.75 3.0 3.0 500 Hrs
Wayne State Uni 3.0 (Last 60 CH) N/A 3.0 500 Hrs
UW Medex 3.0 (Last 60 CH) N/A B- or better 2,000Hrs (paid)
University of Utah 2.7 2.7 C or better 2,000 Hrs
Uni of North Dakota 3.0 or recent transcripts showing improvement N/A B or better 6,000 hrs full time experience
Uni of North Carolina 3.0 (Last 60 CH) N/A 3.2 1,000Hrs
Uni of New Mexico 3.0 (last 60 CH) 3.0 C or better 500 Hrs
Uni of Nevada, Reno 2.75 N/A B- or better 2,000 Hrs
EVMS 3.0 (Last 40 CH) N/A B- or better 1,500 AVG
Case Western 3.0 (Last 40 CH) 3.0 (Last 40 CH) N/A 1,000 Hrs
Campbell Uni 3.2 (Last 60 CH) N/A 3.4 Recommended 1,000 Hrs
Adventist Uni 3.0 Requested 3.0 Requested N/A 2,000 Hrs
Lincoln Memorial Uni 2.8 2.8 C or better 150 Hrs
Rocky Vista Uni 2.8 3.0 BCP Preferred N/A 1,000 Hrs
Des Moines Uni 2.8 N/A C or better 750 Hrs
Western Michigan University 3.0 (Last 60 CH) N/A N/A 1,000 Hrs
North Greenville University 3.3 (May request last 60 CH) 3.0 Sci Prereq B or better 3,350 AVG

Admissions Directors Tell All: Your PA School GPA Questions Answered

This post is part one of a two-part series focused on steps you can take to mediate a lower than desired GPA and the first in a multi-part series of posts exploring questions asked by PA school applicants and answers provided by the PA program admissions directors from seven PA programs.

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What's a competitive undergraduate GPA for PA school?

According to the latest PAEA program report of who gets into PA school the average accepted PA school student had a science GPA of 3.5, non-science GPA of 3.6, CASPA BCP (biology, chemistry, and physics) GPA of 3.5, and an overall GPA of 3.6.

Source: The 34'th PAEA program report (2019-2020)

PA School Applicant Quick Tip:

Most schools require 2.7-3.2. The average for acceptance is around 3.5. Focus on science and overall GPA.

PRE-PA Questions are in bold

With answers following each question and a reference to the corresponding PA school admissions director who provided the answer.

Q: Do you have any advice for an applicant who has a low GPA to help set them apart and be considered over someone who has a higher GPA?

Yes, it is best advised to focus on strengthening your last 60 units GPA, accruing more patient care experience hours, and finding community service opportunities in underserved communities. In addition, it can help to aim for A’s and B’s in your science and prerequisite courses. – Michigan State University

Q: What do you suggest if my GPA just barely meets the minimum requirement for acceptance?

If you meet our requirements, then you meet our requirements! – Lincoln Memorial University

Q: If I were to retake classes and get better grades but not yet reach a 3.0, would the upward trend in my grades be considered?

CASPA does not offer grade replacement, so any new grades will average into your GPA. We would look at the improved performance in the courses positively, but it might still be hard to overcome a GPA lower than a 3.0. In this case, you would need significant shadowing, volunteering, leadership, and clinical experience to offset the GPA that much. – A.T. Still University

Q: I am right at the minimum GPA and healthcare experience I was wondering if it would be more beneficial to do a year master program to increase my GPA or to focus more on HCE?

I think it depends on how much one year would help your GPA. And how low the GPA is. Generally, I would say health care. – Duke University

Q: I know going up against others with a GPA of 4.0 or very close to that. That will make it harder for me to get an interview, right?

I would recommend you take the GRE and get it as high as you can. This will help in raising your evaluation scores. A lot of factors play into acceptance. GPA being one, not the only one.

Q: If I got a C in an upper-level Organic Chem course would that lessen my chances at getting in?

One C is not going to be a concern, although a very recent C is not ideal. If all other grades are As that will help. If you have a lot of C’s that is a concern. – A.T. Still University

Q: What is a competitive GPA?

A competitive GPA is a 3.8. Averages for accepted students are – GPA 3.8 and average GRE is 312. – Butler University

Q: How can one make other parts of their application look competitive if their science GPA is on the lower end? More HCE hours? High GRE score?

It’s not quantity, it’s quality…we value a MEANINGFUL HCE experience and we definitely look at the GREs. Beyond that, we are strongly community-oriented so love to see community involvement. We also give a fair amount of weight to the personal narrative and even more to the letters of reference. Know your recommenders! Make sure they know you well! – Case Western Reserve
To boost your GPA means breaking out more than just the books
Angela Duckworth, a Psychology Professor at the University of Pennsylvania, has found through her research that: “Smarter students actually had less grit than their peers who scored lower on an intelligence test. This finding suggests that among the study participants — all students at an Ivy League school — people who are not as bright as their peers ‘compensate by working harder and with more determination.’ And their effort pays off: The grittiest students — not the smartest ones — had the highest GPAs.

Q: I am a recent graduate holding a biological science degree, I am currently volunteering at a lab and working at a dermatology office as a medical assistant. I am working on my extra-curricular activities and building on my resume. Unfortunately, I did not do so well in undergrad. My GPA is very low, so my question to you is, is GPA considered as highly valuable? I plan to go above and beyond with my recommendations, HCE, volunteering and personal statement. If I do very well in all of those, will that still give me a chance?

We do a holistic application review process. This means we consider GPA, clinical/shadowing experience, leadership, service, and commitment. You do want to be close to the average for the GPA, but you can offset a slightly lower GPA with other strong experiences. However, if you have a 2.75 GPA, that is not going to be competitive. Again, we also look for an upward trend in grades. – A.T. Still University

Q: I graduated a long time ago. I didn't always do so well in my undergraduate GPA, but it's impossible for me to repeat all the prerequisite courses again. How is the GPA requirement for admissions calculated? I have taken classes since undergrad and have done stellar.

We look for an upward trend in grades. We understand that some students have a hard transition to college, or they do not find focus until later. All of your grades will be averaged together, however, we still look for an upward trend. You do want to be somewhat close to the average GPA though. For example, if your total GPA is a 2.8, that is going to be hard to overcome. If it is a 3.0 or higher, with significant other experiences, we can work with that to an extent. – A.T. Still University

Q: If I took the GRE, can it offset a lower GPA? Or does AT still not factor the GRE at all?

The minimum GPA is a 2.75, however, that is not a competitive GPA (there has to be a line somewhere). – A.T. Still University

Q: My first couple years of college I did very poorly and was eventually dismissed. I did attend another college and ended up graduating with honors(woot-woot!), however, the way CASPA calculates cumulative GPA; despite graduating with a high GPA CASPA reflects it much lower. How much would that affect your review of my application?

You get an averaged GPA on CASPA. This is where the upward trend comes into play. The dismissal will be a serious concern but talk about your recovery (which should be reflected in the grades). – A.T. Still University

Q: Do you consider each GPA individually, the overall GPA, or is the undergrad GPA weighted more heavily in your decision?

We use to total cumulative and science GPA provided by CASPA. We also look for grade trends, academic rigor, and other aspects such as shadowing, leadership, clinical, volunteer, and employment – A.T. Still University

Q: I have a low GPA and plan to retake a few science courses that will boost up my prereqs/science GPA. I was hoping to do this online that way I can work/take classes. Would I still be considered seeing that I am not retaking the lab? Also if I don't meet the overall GPA requirement but do meet the science/prereq GPA will my application still be looked at?

If your cumulative and science GPA is not a 2.75 or higher your application will not be considered. You can take online courses as long as they are regionally accredited US institutions. – A.T. Still University

Q: My undergrad GPA suffered due to extenuating circumstances that will be discussed in my personal statement. Since graduating, I have worked to improve my overall science GPA. This was why I previously asked if you considered each GPA individually, the overall GPA, or if undergrad GPA weighted more heavily in your decision. When speaking with other programs my undergraduate science GPA is the main GPA discussed. In other words, it appears that my post-baccalaureate and new overall science GPA isn’t considered as heavily as my undergrad GPA. Additionally, during interviews this cycle, it was suggested to take master's level science courses instead of continuing to take undergraduate courses. Therefore, I am aiming to improve my chances and overall competitiveness as an applicant by enrolling in master's level science courses. Thank you for your advice in this decision as to which program is best for me!

We consider all of the classes, undergraduate coursework is not weighted more heavily than post-baccalaureate. We like to see an upward trend of grades which it sounds like you have so you would be in better shape than if you had questionable grades throughout both UG and post-baccalaureate/grad. – A.T. Still University

Q: Does post-baccalaureate GPA get weighted if it's significantly higher than undergrad GPAs?

Not specifically. But we do look at trending, so a stronger post-baccalaureate can make up for a weaker undergrad – Duke University

Q: I graduated a long time ago. I didn't always do so well in my undergraduate GPA, but it's impossible for me to repeat all the prerequisite courses again. How is the GPA requirement for admissions calculated? I have taken classes since undergrad and have done stellar

CASPA calculates the entire GPA as a whole. And the entire natural science GPA as a whole. But we do look at trending. – Duke University

Q: If your GPA is not strong but your work experience is, is that taken into consideration?

We look at the entire application and consider everything, but I will say that GPA is a big part of it and if given the opportunity to improve I would suggest taking some extra science classes to improve it. But yes, work experience is highly valued as well. – A.T. Still University

Q: You said that there is no minimum GPA, but how important is GPA when considering applicants?

We look at the application as a whole. GPA is important, but we do look at trending – such as if you did poorly at first and then improved. – Duke University

Q: If my GPA is not the highest, but I volunteer consistently, go on medical volunteer trips, and have leadership positions in on-campus organizations, as well as over 1,000 hands-on patient care hours, could that be enough to still make me a competitive applicant to your program?

Your GPA is only one indicator – all the stuff you mention is great. Try to do well on the GRE to offset your GPA. – Duke University

Q: If I am a candidate, who does not have a competitive GPA what other things can I do? I am involved in research with my chemistry professor, I tutor biology, and I have 2500 clinical hours.

You should continue with your clinical hours – massively important. You should try to take some additional upper-level science courses to show you can do the work now (earn grade of B or better to prove competence), strive for an excellent GRE score, get recommendations from people who can speak well of your patient care, and write amazing, heartfelt essays – Duke University

Q: If I took a non-pre requisite class my freshman year and got a D the first time, the second time a B, I know CASPA calculates both and averages the two. How do you guys view/value someone's application with a D and not so good grades in the beginning of Undergrad?

We look at the overall cumulative GPA. We will look at these grades just like CASPA will. – Butler University

Q: I have a 3.7 science GPA, but Caspa calculation overall GPA 3.2. GRE 320 would I be a competitive applicant?

Your overall CASPA GPA must be 3.4 to be considered. – Butler University

Q: I graduated school with a Biochemistry degree in 2012, but I have not pursued anything related to medicine or science since then other than becoming an EMT-B. Also, my grades were considerably less than stellar for some of the prerequisite classes. However, I have been recently thinking of applying for PA school again. If I decided to enroll in the local community colleges to raise my GPA and reapply, is there a decent chance that I may be accepted?

You can definitely take courses at a community college or any other regionally accredited institution. You will need to make sure you have at least a 3.4 cumulative GPA for your application to be considered. – Butler University

Q: I am curious about how strict the GPA requirement is? I know the website says 3.0 and I have read above that 3.4 is required to be considered? Will an application be reviewed if GPA is 3.37 but other aspects are very strong?

You must have a 3.4 GPA for your application to be considered. A competitive GPA is 3.8. – Butler University

Q: I have the minimum GPA for admissions but I want to be more competitive. Do you recommend that I take a one year masters program to increase my GPA or possibly focusing on more HCE?

If your GPA is on the lower end and you were less than successful in some of the prereqs which lowered your GPA, a post-bac program can help to improve your GPA and show the admissions committee that you can be successful in a rigorous program. – Yale University

Q: How can one make other parts of their application look competitive if their science GPA is on the lower end? More HCE hours? High GRE score?

We look holistically at applicants. As long as you have the minimum science GPA I would not worry. If you have significant weaknesses in your prereqs, retaking them and improving is a way to show the committee that you know the material. – Yale University

Q: I have my bachelor's in Biology from Penn State Berks and all the prerequisites for the PA program. However, My GPA was under 3.0. Is it worth applying, or do you suggest a way increase my GPA in order to apply? I am an OIF combat medic Veteran.

I encourage you working towards improving your GPA before applying as our minimum requirement for full consideration is a 3.0 overall science and 3.0 overall cumulative. – Penn State

Q: If I received poor university grades in 2008-2011, and then gained work experience as a CNA and now have been back at University since 2014 earning a 3.7 average GPA am I still an eligible candidate if my overall GPA is about a 2.9?

We do require a 3.0 cumulative science and cumulative overall GPA for full consideration. You can still apply but I can’t make any guarantees that your file would receive full consideration not having satisfied the minimum requirement. – Penn State

Q: I am a unique candidate with a low undergrad GPA unique degree with significant HCE. I was hoping to get a better understanding of how holistic your application process is. My undergraduate GPA was affected by immaturity, my father having two heart surgeries and missing school. I have been the lead exercise physiologist at Boston Medical Center for 4 years now, with over 4000 HCE hours. I am a medical volunteer at the Boston Athletic Association for the 10k, half, and full marathons for the last 5 years as a medical sweep. I've been a dedicated volunteer at the Salvation Army since November 2016 and I have committed myself through the end of this year before I begin school wherever I get in. I really want to fess up to my poor GPA due to immaturity coupled with significant familial health problems, I show how hard I've worked to overcome those flaws in my academics.  Recently while working 60 hours a week in 2-3 healthcare roles (1 full-time, 2 part-time) I’ve averaged B’s in many courses at BU MET college. My greatest fear is that I submit CASPA and I'm not considered because of my low GPA which was reflective of circumstance w/ immaturity 10 years ago.  I want to show you I'm not a high-risk candidate, but high reward. My current HCE, Leadership, volunteering, and GRE, and strong recommendations are reflective of this. 

We are quite holistic but the minimum GPA requirement is a 3.0 – as this is required of our students within our program to make academic progress. The only GPA’s that we technically review our a candidate’s cumulative science (this includes the whole thing – undergrad courses, graduate courses, postbac courses) so while the upward trend is a positive note and will benefit you in our review, the GPAs are calculated through CASPA and we look at cumulative overall data. – Penn State

Q: You mentioned you look at all admissions criteria holistically say early on in my college career I had no direction and my grades suffered because of that, but for the last several years my grades have been all As do you take that into consideration when looking at my application or just look at my overall GPA?

We require a 3.0 for overall GPA and 3.0 for science course GPA. The full transcript is reviewed in-depth, but if these listed requirements are satisfied, then this criterion is satisfied. Keeping in mind that the program is highly competitive, and there are limited seats. – Marist College

Q: If there is a chance of not meeting the 3.0 GPA, what do you recommend doing to make up for that?

The 3.0 is required but if you do fall just short, you are welcome to continue moving forward with the process. – Marist College

Q: I will be graduating from undergrad in May with a GPA of a 3.3. I am considering retaking a class over the summer. Would you recommend retaking a prerequisite course, like Biology which I got a B in or OCHEm which I got a C in, or an upper-level course in Physiology which I got a B in but is very important for PA level classes?

I would retake any classes you got a “C” in. “Even if I got a C in Ochem I and improved it to a B in Ochem II?”  Yes. Any C’s I would retake. – Marist College

Q: I come from a system where GPA was never used, hence a low GPA, but I have a lot of clinical experience as an International Medical Graduate, what are my chances?

As long as you fit the prereq’s, we will review your application, and everyone is considered on a case by case basis. – Case Western Reserve

Q: Does the admissions committee look at applicants from a holistic perspective or is GPA weighted as the most important factor?

We certainly look at applications holistically but as with most programs GPA plays a substantial role. – Case Western Reserve

Q: Will my application still be considered with a low GPA? This is the only thing I am lacking on my resume. I plan to excel in my HCE, volunteering, personal statement, and recommendations.

Not knowing what your personal record looks like, I can say that as long as you meet the prerequisites, we will review your application. We do like to review applicant’s background. Please still apply. – Case Western Reserve

Q: If I obtained a 1-year masters degree while working, would that change how my GPA is evaluated during the program as opposed to someone who just went to school?

If that Masters includes pre-requisite courses it will be added to the composite GPA. Remember, we also look at ascending transcripts i.e. improving GPAs over the course of study. A lot of people have rough freshman experience but then improve steadily from there and we value that. – Case Western Reserve

Q: I would like to start by explaining my background: I have thousands of hours of phlebotomy experience, I have been a phlebotomist for four years. I have completed over 200 hours of shadowing under an internal medicine PA. My science GPA is a 3.5, however, I have a cumulative GPA of about a 2.8; due to my grades while completing my associate's degree being factored in. During this time I was not very dedicated to academics. Would my GPA derail my acceptance?

We do require a prereq GPA of 3.0 or higher OR in the last 40 hours of classwork. We very much respect the ‘ascending transcript’ i.e. someone who had a rough start but then improved. – Case Western Reserve

Q: My undergraduate GPA through CASPA is a 2.8 cumulative and science. I am currently completing a Master's degree in Basic Medical Sciences where I have completed 20 credits so far with a cumulative and science GPA of a 3.6. Will this be looked at on my CASPA application or are admissions decisions based solely on the cumulative undergraduate GPA's?

CASPA lets us know your GPA for your masters as well as undergrad and we look at both and would be delighted to take them both into account. – Case Western Reserve

Q: Through CASPA my undergraduate GPA is a 2.8 cumulative and science. I am currently working on my Master's in Basic Medical Sciences where I have completed 20 credit hours so far with a cumulative and science GPA of a 3.6. How will my last 40 credit hours be calculated? I want to ensure that my application will meet the 3.0 GPA requirement in order to be reviewed.

We do require a minimal GPA of 3.00/4.00 due to the rigors of the program. However, we do look at the last 40 hours since we realize that some applicants may have struggled academically early on in their career. A cumulative and science grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 (4.0 scale) during the final 40 credit hours/final 2 years of completed coursework. This is based on taking a minimum of 9 credit hours of coursework per semester. – Case Western Reserve

Q: My overall GPA is not great, haven’t taken the GRE yet "currently studying", but I served in the Navy as a Corpsman with the Marines for 8 years, so I exceed all requirements for patient care, Letters of Recommendation are excellent, planning on scoring high on the GRE, but I was working 3 jobs while going to school full-time, probably not the best idea, but I got through it. But my fear is that I won’t get the "sympathy" vote. What advice could you give a person who will have everything else but a low GPA 3.0?

If you are able to demonstrate that you have an ascending transcript then you might be in better stead, other people who have been in the same boat have taken additional courses to demonstrate that they can do the work and that their GPA was due to working full-time, etc. – Case Western Reserve

Q: If you do not make the minimum grade requirement in a prereq course, is it still worth applying?

Thanks for that question, if you don’t make the required prerequisite grade, you might consider retaking the course. – Case Western Reserve

Admission Directors Summary and Recommendations

Here are some of the key messages:

1. Upward trends are the rule downward trends will likely lead to a rejection:

We look for an upward trend in grades. We understand that some students have a hard transition to college, or they do not find focus until later. All of your grades will be averaged together, however, we still look for an upward trend. You do want to be somewhat close to the average GPA though. For example, if your total GPA is a 2.8, that is going to be hard to overcome. If it is a 3.0 or higher, with significant other experiences, we can work with that to an extent. - A.T. Still University PA program

2. One low grade is not going to be of much concern, but if you have a lot of them, Houston, you're going to have a problem:

One C is not going to be a concern, although a very recent C is not ideal. If all other grades are As that will help. If you have a lot of Cs that is a concern. - A.T. Still University

3. In the face of a low GPA, the GRE may become your ally:

GRE's tend to be lightly weighted but in the presence of a low GPA it can be of service: Candidates with a lower GPA can benefit by submitting competitive GRE scores. Certainly, high levels of work and volunteer experience can help as well. - Carroll University PA program

4. Recommendation letters matter:

It's not quantity, it's quality. We value a MEANINGFUL HCE experience and we definitely look at the GREs. Beyond that, we are strongly community-oriented so love to see community involvement. We also give a fair amount of weight to the personal narrative and even more to the letters of reference. Know your recommenders! Make sure they know you well! - Case Western Reserve PA program

Read more: Secrets of Successful PA School Letters of Recommendation

5. Postgraduate work can be used to build up a low GPA:

CASPA lets us know your GPA for your masters as well as undergrad and we look at both and would be delighted to take them both into account. - Case Western Reserve.

6. Postgraduate work is not weighted higher:

Postgraduate work is not weighted higher. But we do look at trending, so a stronger post-baccalaureate can make up for a weaker undergrad - Duke University

7. If you fall short often you can still apply, but you better be pretty impressive:

The 3.0 is required but if you do fall just short, you are welcome to continue moving forward with the process. - Marist College.

We do require a 3.0 cumulative science and cumulative overall GPA for full consideration. You can still apply but I can't make any guarantees that your file would receive full consideration not having satisfied the minimum requirement. - Penn State PA program

8. Even if you have excellent work and volunteer experience this may not be enough to counter a low GPA. You may still need to retake some classes:

We look at the entire application and consider everything, but I will say that GPA is a big part of it and if given the opportunity to improve I would suggest taking some extra science classes to improve it. But yes, work experience is highly valued as well. - A.T. Still University

9. You can retake a course but remember it's the average that matters:

You can retake a course but CASPA will average the two grades to come up with a number:  If you don't make the required prereq grade, you might consider retaking the course. - Case Western Reserve PA program

10. The personal statement can be the deciding factor

When I applied to PA school I received more than a few rejection letters. So I went back to the drawing table and rewrote my personal statement, this was the only thing I changed on my entire PA school application. That single difference got me an interview and with a GPA of 2.9, I stepped ahead of many other 4.0 applicants who were placed on the waitlist. I am not bragging, I am simply trying to point out the importance of not just your personal statement but the entirety of your application + an extremely well-written personal narrative.  It can make all the difference in the world. If I can do it, you certainly can.

You have some decisions to make

  • Are your stats so low you should push off applying to PA school for a few more years while you work on improving your profile?
  • Should you alter your list of schools? Apply to developing programs or apply to programs with lower average GPA stats?
  • Should you retake some classes or apply to a postgraduate program to show the admissions committee you mean business?

We will address the answers to these and many other questions in part two of this post series, so stay tuned!

Warmly,

Stephen Pasquini PA-C
www.smartypance.com
www.thepalife.com

The PA Advisor Series

The GRE For PA School

The GRE and PA School: The Pre-PA Advisor Series

Posted: March 10, 2019

The Pre-PA Advisor Series Welcome to the PA Advisors Series – a special series of posts where PA school applicants like yourself ask the tough questions and admissions directors from top-ranking PA schools provide the answers. This post is also included as part five of our five-part series “The 5 steps to PA school.” Today We […]

30 comments
PA SCHOOL ADMISSION ADVICE PATIENT CONTACT HOURS

The Pre-PA Advisor Series: Patient Contact Hours and Healthcare Experience

Posted: April 2, 2018

The Pre-PA Advisor Series Welcome to the PA Advisors Series – a special series of posts where PA school applicants like yourself ask the tough questions and admissions directors from top-ranking PA schools provide the answers. Today We Will Discuss: Patient Contact Hours and Healthcare Experience Requirements for PA School Here are some of the questions […]

30 comments
Admissions Directors Tell All PA School Prerequisites

PA School Prerequisites: Admissions Directors Answer Your Burning Questions

Posted: December 18, 2017

As you probably know by now, if you want to get into PA school, you must complete the necessary prerequisite coursework. I have discussed this in detail in a previous post Prerequisite Coursework: How to Design the Perfect Pre-PA School Curriculum. Today, we are going a step further by giving you answers to some of the […]

30 comments
How to Get Into PA School With a Low GPA PART 1 ADMISSIONS DIRECTORS ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS

Applying to PA School with a Low GPA: Admissions Directors Answer Your Questions

Posted: August 22, 2017

How to Get Into PA School With a Low GPA PA school administrators from ten top-ranking PA programs answer your questions on how to get into PA school with a low GPA. A low GPA is probably the hardest area to improve. This makes sense – it was years in the making, and can’t be […]

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View all posts in this series
  • Applying to PA School with a Low GPA: Admissions Directors Answer Your Questions
  • PA School Prerequisites: Admissions Directors Answer Your Burning Questions
  • The Pre-PA Advisor Series: Patient Contact Hours and Healthcare Experience
  • The GRE and PA School: The Pre-PA Advisor Series

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About Stephen Pasquini PA-C

Stephen has been a family practice PA since 2004 and is the creator of The PA Life and Smarty PANCE Board Review websites. A National Health Service Corps Scholar and a graduate of The University of Medicine and Dentistry of NJ (Rutgers) PA Program and the University of Washington in Seattle, WA. Stephen's goal is to provide one-of-a-kind online resources for those interested in or practicing in the PA profession, to promote better access to healthcare for all, and foster universal recognition/awareness of the PA profession. Read more about Stephen.

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Comments

  1. Jordan Fletcher says

    October 25, 2022 at 8:19 am

    I received a gut punch when caspa verified my application. I thought my cumulative was north of 3.2 only to discover it was below 2.7

    I’m non traditional and have spent the last 5 semesters completing the pre reps and have no completed prerequisite for AA, PA school.

    My science GPA is over 3.8 and GRE is 303 (I took the test the week I started accelerated Calc and Physics, so I def could have done better)

    I have excellent HCE working in recovery from EP and Cath Lab as well as working in OR with Anesthesia.

    My cumulative GPA is now at 2.75.

    I really wanted to get into FSU as I’m older with kids (I live in Tallahassee).

    However I’ve gotten this far and don’t want to let this hurdle derail me.

    This article has given me hope.

    Reply
    • Jordan Fletcher says

      October 25, 2022 at 8:47 am

      So I’ve completed the combined pre reqs for PA and AA. Since Spring 2021 to present, I’ve completed 33 hours of science prereqs with a 3.85 GPA and 9 hours of gen electives to raise my GPA.

      I have made the Deans List 4 times and and the Presidents List 1 time.

      I graduated with a Business degree in 2009.

      My cumulative sits at 2.75. My GPA is terrible because 20 years ago I had zero direction and catered towards work instead of academics. I didn’t realize taking Withdrawals in early 2000s would haunt me in 2022.

      I’m 41 and used to work as a consultant for speech device and eye tracking company for non verbal population. My job was to train clinician and more importantly patient and caregiver.

      Currently I work as a Hemostasis Tech in recovery from Cath and EP lab and also work with Anesthesia team in OR.

      I have around 2000 hours in a hospital direct patient setting and with my consulting experience over 5000.

      Reply
    • Stephen Pasquini PA-C says

      October 27, 2022 at 6:30 am

      Hi Jordan, maybe you have already seen this, but there are many (I like to call them “big picture schools” 😀) that only look at the last 60 credits or have lower GPA requirements. Here is a link to the forum topic on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/prephysicianassistant/comments/hlt1zz/can_anyone_give_a_list_of_schools_that_look_at/

      Stephen

      Reply
  2. Kandy Ochaita says

    April 29, 2021 at 9:57 pm

    Hello, I am currently in my last year of undergrad. I have several C’s and D’s and one F on my transcript. I had to help my family during undergrad and pay out of pocket, so it was not an easy road. However, I do not want to give up on my goal of becoming a PA. Because I had to work so much, I never got the chance to do research or shadow a PA. I started volunteer work, but due to COVID, I had to stop going. Could you please give me some advice, on what I should do? Thank you for your time!

    Reply
    • Stephen Pasquini PA-C says

      May 3, 2021 at 1:11 pm

      Hi Kandy! I admire your grit and determination… it is what had gotten you this far and if you tap into it with confidence, a clear vision, and strong values it is what will also get you into PA school. You will need to correct some of these C’s, D’s, and the F (especially if they are in the sciences) by retaking some of these courses and demonstrating to the admissions committee that you are up for the challenges and hardships of PA school. They just want to know that if they accept you that you can handle the rigors of the program and pass the PANCE. So you need to prove to them that not only are you a hard worker (who was able to overcome many obstacles) but also that you are academically “awesome” :-). So the first thing to do is find which classes you need to retake and take them. 9/10 community college courses are perfectly fine (although some PA schools won’t accept them). There is no good excuse for not having shadowing, volunteer, or PCE/HCE hours in the eyes of the admissions committee. You have to realize that there 100’s of applicants (more likely in the 1000’s) that they are sifting through and the ones that find a way to make this happen will look very good in the eyes of the PA program. While you’re trying to figure out what to do, somebody else is already doing it. So find a way to shadow, work, and volunteer. It’s a must for anyone (like myself) who isn’t applying with a stellar GPA. Try to do great on the GRE – this will help offset a lower GPA. Have strong references through shadowing, volunteering, and working in healthcare. Show that you can retake these classes and get straight A’s…. in the words of the Mandalorian “This is the way.” 🙂

      I hope that helps.

      Stephen Pasquini PA-C

      Reply
  3. Tati Gilbert says

    January 6, 2021 at 8:19 pm

    Hi. I recently graduated with a 2.950 GPA and I am worried about applying to PA schools with such a low GPA. I just started on my pt hours as an EMT and am hoping to have in the 2000 range before I apply. Do you think this will be enough?

    Reply
  4. Jen says

    November 8, 2020 at 5:16 pm

    My GPA is 2.3 and I am taking more classes which could bring it up to 2.4. I want to go to PA school. I am an immigrant and started undergrad with minimum knowledge of english in US which affected my gpa. I am very passionate about orthopedics PA and shadowed 4 PAs, 1 MD, 1 NP for more than 40 hours. I have 2 years of direct patient care experience and currently working in the hospital. what are my chances to get accepted into the PA school? Any suggestions and honest answer will be appreciated.
    Thank you

    Reply
    • Stephen Pasquini PA-C says

      November 12, 2020 at 7:58 am

      Everyone’s chances of acceptance to PA school are based on more than just GPA, but you want to make sure you are as competitive as possible. A 2.4 GPA, in most cases, will not be competitive. Without access to your transcripts, it is difficult to make recommendations. If you are interested, we do offer one-on-one consulting. We could evaluate your transcripts (and your experience) holistically and provide you with detailed guidance and a plan/timelines for application: https://www.thepalife.com/pre-pa-consulting/.

      Please let me know if you have any questions. I am happy to help!

      Stephen

      Reply
  5. Don Phan says

    September 13, 2020 at 9:05 am

    I have taken some courses at a community college, specifically a college that only does A,B,C,D, and F. No plus or minuses. When it transferred over to my university, the university accepted the credits, but they will not be accounted for in my university GPA. I was wondering when I apply to PA school, will they look at the grade I cumulated at the community college? Or will they only look at the university GPA? Also, although it is just an A, will it be counted as a A+ or A.

    Reply
    • Stephen Pasquini PA-C says

      September 17, 2020 at 6:59 pm

      Great questions Don! I wish I could answer your questions but I am not entirely sure of the answer and I don’t want to mislead you. Have you created a CASPA account yet? If not I would recommend it. There is no penalty to creating a CASPA account early, it’s free, and they have an excellent help section with live chat: https://caspa.liaisoncas.com/applicant-ux/#/login

      I would love to hear what you find when you discover the answer.

      Stephen

      Reply
  6. Alex Arellano says

    January 31, 2020 at 12:59 pm

    Hi Stephen, I have recently graduated from undergrad studies for PA, but do not have any “meaningful” HCE hours. So my plan is to take a Medical Assistant course. If I do stellar on this course, does the board take what I do here into consideration of my GPA as far as an upward trend?

    Reply
    • Stephen Pasquini PA-C says

      January 31, 2020 at 7:23 pm

      As you know having PCE/HCE is very important. Even more so as the application cycles become ever more competitive. The MA course material will most likely NOT weigh into your GPA considerations although this may be school-specific. I would assume most schools will only look at your college-level science courses as they are a much better predictor of the rigors of PA school.

      Stephen

      Reply
      • Alex Arellano says

        February 5, 2020 at 6:11 pm

        Thanks for your help! I did not do as well on O-Chem as I wanted, I got a C+. So to bring my science GPA up, would I take a higher course, such as Advanced Genetics? Let’s say I do really good and get an A, would that help the board overlook that C+ for O-chem?

        Reply
        • Stephen Pasquini PA-C says

          February 5, 2020 at 11:55 pm

          Any upward trend in your grades is going to help. I also got a C in freshman O-Chem but I made up for it with strong grades in my upper level science classes in my 3’rd and 4’th years. BUT I also had a-lot of HCE and PCE. This in combination with strong marks is what can really help your application shine.

          Reply
  7. Loni S. MacKinnon says

    September 5, 2018 at 2:00 pm

    I would also like to have your email too just because I also fit into this situation. Thank you so much and I look forward to speaking with you soon!

    Reply
    • Stephen Pasquini PA-C says

      September 6, 2018 at 7:51 am

      Hi, Loni feel free to reach out to me through the contact form: https://www.thepalife.com/getting-a-pa-life-contact-me-if-you-have-questions-or-comments/

      Reply
  8. Adam Weisman says

    June 19, 2018 at 8:35 pm

    This is very untrue. The majority of schools will weed out applicants not meeting their minimum even without looking at the rest of their application.

    Reply
    • Stephen Pasquini PA-C says

      June 26, 2018 at 8:01 am

      Yes, many schools will weed out applicants not meeting their minimum GPA requirement this is very true. But schools have different minimums, some have no minimums, and others will overlook a low stat if your application is strong in other areas. You just never know. This doesn’t mean it’s always going to be an easy road. But as an applicant with a 2.93 overall GPA who go into a school with a minimum of 3.0, I can tell you it is possible. And I almost didn’t send the application at the last minute. I am glad I did.

      Reply
  9. K says

    May 7, 2018 at 10:12 am

    I recently found out one of the colleges I attended for 2 semesters is withholding my transcript because I owe.

    I remember seeing everything was caught up before I left and relocated back home due to family emergency. I didn’t receive any notice about a bill, so I had no idea that I owed anything. Otherwise I would have taken care of it.

    Anyway, will they accept without that transcript when it has nothing to do with prerequisites or my major? The school won’t release unail I pay full debt.

    I understand though if there are no exceptions. I’m just irritated about this.

    Thank you.

    Reply
    • Stephen Pasquini PA-C says

      June 26, 2018 at 7:56 am

      This is a good question K. I would definitely suggest reaching out to several of the programs you are applying to and ask them directly. Given they are outside of your major and are not required to fulfill any prerequisite it will likely be of little importance.

      Reply
  10. Joshua hunter says

    December 16, 2017 at 1:12 pm

    hey I’m sorry to bother you guys with this but I just took my statistics class and my final grade was a C+ I was wondering should take it again

    Reply
    • Stephen Pasquini PA-C says

      December 16, 2017 at 10:29 pm

      Hi Joshua, it really depends on how far along you are with your studies and what the rest of your grades look like. Only then can you decide if it is necessary to retake a course.

      Stephen

      Reply
  11. Sierra says

    August 28, 2017 at 5:47 pm

    Thank you for the article and for podcasting it too, it was nice to get to listen to it on my drive to work this morning. For those of us in the less than stellar GPA camp, do you have any ideas for resources to help determine which programs are a better bet to apply to with a lower GPA being factored in as the most significant weakness in an application (other than looking at the averaged stats of the GPAs of accepted students of each program of interest)?

    Reply
    • Stephen Pasquini PA-C says

      August 29, 2017 at 8:08 am

      Hi Sierra,

      A good place to start is by searching the PAEA directory and sorting by GPA. They have two criteria 2.5 + http://directory.paeaonline.org/programs?utf8=%E2%9C%93&state=&degree=&caspa=&gre=&health_xp=&bach_required=&min_gpa=2.5&start_month=

      and no minimum: http://directory.paeaonline.org/programs?utf8=%E2%9C%93&state=&degree=&caspa=&gre=&health_xp=&bach_required=&min_gpa=none&start_month=

      You can do a more specific search as well on my paschoolfinder site: https://www.paschoolfinder.com/pa-program-match/

      The next thing to do is to attend online forums. There is one every year offered through PAEA https://www.careereco.com/Fair/EventDetails?fairId=bfc92a00-3ff2-4a3a-bcba-a7000147028b

      During the fair, you can find what each PA school prioritizes. You are looking for schools who really take a holistic approach. Some schools say they do, but sometimes it is just all about the GPA. Contact schools directly, and speak with the admissions team, they are a wonderful source of info.

      Stephen

      Reply
      • Sierra says

        September 3, 2017 at 7:14 pm

        Wonderful. Thank you!

        Reply
  12. Katie says

    August 22, 2017 at 8:41 pm

    Thank you so much for this article! I am now in PA school and only had a 3.2 GPA and less than 3.0 science GPA. It took me 3 times to get into school but eventually my HCE started to outweigh my GPA. If being a PA is what you want, DONT GIVE UP. If I can do it, anyone can.

    Reply
    • Stephen Pasquini PA-C says

      August 22, 2017 at 9:15 pm

      Thank you, Katie, for sharing your story. I hope it inspires others to do the same!

      Stephen

      Reply
    • Destinie Bradford says

      August 23, 2017 at 5:44 am

      Thank you Katie for the inspiration! Where did you end up getting in?

      Reply
    • Manahil says

      February 9, 2018 at 11:33 am

      Hi Katie, I know you’re not allowed to display your school you got into on here, but I’m kind of in the same boat you were on and was wondering if you could email me? My email is [email protected]

      Thank you

      Reply
    • Pascal bui says

      May 6, 2018 at 1:00 am

      Hey Katie, I was wondering if you can email me the school you went to for physicians assistant school
      My email is [email protected]

      Reply

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If you are reading this you might have been like me skeptical and trying to find a way to write a stellar essay for your PA application.  I want to share with you my exceptional experience using this service.  First, do yourself a favor and BUY the eBook, “How to Write Your Physician Assistant Personal Statement.”  I read it twice. Once before I started my essay draft and then again during.  I cannot stress how helpful the book was in clearly stating what the Admissions Directors are looking for in an application essay.  Next, the book reviews how to formulate a proper essay with clear instructions, easy reminders of the writing process, and excellent examples of good and bad writing choices.  After several drafts of my essay, I made an appointment to work with Duke Pasquini, one of the authors of the guide, through the internet and via phone to help with editing and my length issue.  Duke’s professional experience and kind and straight forward demeanor allowed me to create a winning essay that was an authentic representation of me.  Not only did I receive an interview from my top choice of PA school I was accepted a week later into their Physician Assistant Program, Class of 2019.  Thank you, “PA Life” for being a part of my journey.

Michele Williams, PA-S

I am writing this because I wanted to share with you that I have been accepted to the University of Iowa PA program.  I would like to once again thank you for your insight and guidance while writing my personal statement, it came at just the right time.

Eugene V.PA-S

My editor thoroughly went through my essay and provided exactly what I was looking for to bring my essay to the next level.

Matthew, Pre-PA

Your services have eased the stress and anxiety that results from guessing whether or not your essay contains the content that many PA programs are looking for. Your services were prompt and genuine. It is clear that you have the applicants success at heart. Thank you!

Madison Holtz

I used the personal statement editing service through The PA Life, and I worked with Sarah. She was AMAZING and made such a difference in both the quality of my personal statement and in my confidence as an applicant. That said, I’m so grateful to say I’ve been accepted into two out of the three programs I applied to and have an interview with the third on Friday of this week. I couldn’t be more excited!

Nikki, PA-S

This was just what my essay needed. I am confident that I have answered all the questions without sounding too “braggy”.

Kelsey, Pre-PA

I am extremely pleased with this service. It is exactly the kind of constructive criticism I was hoping to receive. I had my essay reviewed by “myparesources” and was not very satisfied with their general comments. Sue put a lot of time and effort and gave me concrete examples of how to change my essay for the better. I WILL recommend this service over all others. Thank you so much!

Joe, Pre-PA

Carly did an absolutely amazing job editing my essays. From my personal statement to my supplementals, she was thorough and methodically made them into stronger essays. I am glad I was able to work with her. With her edits, I am more confident about the essays I am submitting. I would gladly recommend her to anyone!

Jacob, PRE-PA

This was an extremely helpful process! I still have work to do on my essay but Sue was very helpful by giving me criticism I needed to hear from an unbiased source as well as being very fast responding! I think this will help me moving forward and having a strong application!

Morgan Rial, Pre-PA

I absolutely love the way my essay sounds! I truly appreciate all of your help. I will definitely recommend prospective PA students your way! It’s been a pleasure.

Natalie, Pre-PA

Sue was great! She edited my essay in a short time frame and the comments and feedback were very informative. She helped link all of my main ideas and gave great advice regarding appropriate information for the essay. I highly recommend this service.

Michelle, Pre-PA

This is just a great service overall, because not only is it an editing service, it is specific to the PA personal statement. Sue did a wonderful job editing my essay, and pointed out important flaws in it that I otherwise might not have noticed. Her edits highlighted the main points that I was trying to get across in a much better way than I had originally written. Overall, very satisfied with the results, and will have to keep you updated about the interviews. Thanks so much!

Sabrina L. Pre-PA

I had a great experience with The PA Life essay revision service. They were very professional and made revisions in a timely manner. My editor was very understanding about my schedule and when it would take me longer to reply to emails. I would recommend this service to any new grad PAs!

Sandy, Pre-PA

Great feedback and turn around time. Utilizing this feature gave me even more confidence that I was trying my best to be the top candidate.

Kristopher, Pre-PA

Sarah Schultz was a great editor and was easy to communicate with. She answered my emails very promptly and made great suggestions while also helping me cut down and condense my essay to be in the character limit. She made me feel more confident in my work and helped me develop an essay that I am proud of. I would definitely use this service again!

Katie, Pre-PA

I was accepted into PA last cycle and am currently in my second semester! I am a part of the inaugural class at Keck Graduate Institute. Your services really helped me during the application process. I enjoyed working with Sarah on my personal statement. She helped me view my experiences from a different perspective, making my personal statement more unique and stand out amongst other applicants. The mock interview was also very helpful and prepared me for my one and only interview. I was given great pointers and feedback on how to refine my answers. Thank you again for your services!

Michelle Chen, PA-S

The edit that I received from Sue was exactly what I was hoping for. She was able to tighten up my draft beyond my personal skill level and made edits that I was would have never thought to make. She has definitely made my personal statement stronger. Thank you, Sue!

Ethan, Pre-PA

I LOVED the suggestions Carly made for my essay. Not only was she thorough with her edits, but she also provided a lot of quality feedback that really made my essay shine. Carly took my unedited, messy essay and helped me better convey what I was trying to say. I have nothing but positive things to say about this experience and feel this service was worth every penny.

Rachel, Pre-PA

I am happy to provide an update. I received 5 acceptances for this cycle and will be attending Rush University PA Program starting in May 2022. Of course, I definitely have Sarah Schultz and Deanna Matzen from The PA Life to thank for their incredible help with my personal statement, instilling confidence in my ability to interview, and providing me with a lot of advice in this very difficult cycle.

Bristi (Future PA)

Sue was great to work with. Very prompt in responding to my submission. Asked good questions and incorporated my responses into my essay nicely. I appreciate the work.

Mary Peterson, Pre-PA

Susan did a fantastic job of editing my essay! She guided me and gave me suggestions for strengthening certain sections and equally took out weak parts. After I followed her recommendations, I really felt like I had an essay where every sentence mattered and reflected who I was. Thank you so much Susan for your help. I feel that I have a stronger essay because of your honest feedback and your help!

Amanda, Pre-PA

This past June, you helped me formulate my personal statement for my PA school applications. After our video chat and countless hours editing my CASPA information, I submitted my application and was then given the opportunity to interview at five PA programs. To prepare for my interviews, I would read my personal statement over and over again to remind myself of why I wanted to be a PA. This helped me succeed in my interviews. I was accepted to a few schools, but have I have made my final decision to matriculate into the University of Texas Medical Branch PA program in July! I wanted to follow up after I made my final decision to thank you for helping me with an important step to achieve this amazing life goal. Several of my friends are applying this upcoming cycle, and I will definitely be passing along your information. Again, thank you so much!

Kylie, Pre-PA

Sarah was super helpful and flexible in my schedule. Her editing really turned my essay around, and made me a much more confident applicant! I am so glad I utilized this service. I will keep you updated on my results for this round 🙂

Mollie, Pre-PA

I wanted to tell you that I interviewed with MEDEX on Friday, got the call yesterday that I’m accepted! I also interviewed with Pacific University on and I felt that went VERY well too. I should hear from them any day now. I will keep you in the loop. I appreciate all your help and support!

Norah, PA-S

Excellent service! The editor did a great job of working with me to write my personal statement as I wanted. They also provide some pointers and tips on how to write which is good for supplemental essays and writing prompts.

Ryan, Pre-PA

This is my third time applying to PA programs. With my first two attempts, I only had close friends, family, and peers help me with my personal statement. I never even thought about going through a professional personal statement review service until after I had failed to get into PA programs my second time around. My prerequisites are expiring soon and the thought of going through the entire process of applying a fourth time terrifies me. I was hesitant to purchase the one-on-one service but after going through it, I am so glad that I did. Sarah was my editor and she is incredible. She genuinely understands how frustrating yet exciting this process is. I submitted my initial personal statement to her and within a day, she had already gotten back to me with detailed feedback. She even goes as far as telling you how many characters she wants you to add in different parts of your essay – this was extremely helpful for me because I tend to be a little wordy sometimes rather than succinct. Sarah helped me to highlight my strengths, experiences, and reasons for why I have spent so many years pursuing the PA career. This is an incredible service and I highly recommend that you take advantage of it! I am still in the process of completing my supplemental applications but I am more confident now than I have been with my first two attempts!

Christian S. Pre-PA

Sue was amazing! She was very quick at replying to my emails and looking over my paper and application. She was so helpful and has a way with words. I know I will continue to use her services throughout my application process!

Miranda, Pre-PA

I just wanted to send you a quick email, letting you know that I finally got accepted into PA school! I will be attending Sacred Heart University in Connecticut and will be starting this fall. I could not have made it this far without your help! This was my third time applying and during my first two cycles, I didn’t think that I needed outside help. But this time around, I decided that I needed to change my tactic and I am so freaking happy that I did. Your guidance and advice on my personal statement absolutely made a difference. I had 6 interviews and got accepted into 4! You have helped changed my life and I am forever grateful. I have several friends who will be applying this cycle so I will be referring them to you!

Christian, Pre-PA

Deanna was professional, prompt, and easy to talk to. I truly enjoyed working with her one-on-one for my personal statement. Her suggestions elevated my writing, and I appreciate all the work she put in my essay.

Jamie, Pre-PA

I am amazed by what Deanna was able to do in helping me get my supplemental essays in shape. I had hit a serious roadblock and she was able, and in an incredibly quick manner, help me remove those blocks. I am very grateful!

Lily, Pre-PA

My editor was Beth, and she blew my expectations out of the water. She got back to me within 24 hours of submitting my request for edits and helped me so much with the edits she made. If I receive an interview, I am excited to use PA Life to help me with mock interviews.

Haley, Pre-PA

Deanna was very opening to helping me with my essay. Although I had the material, the way she edited gave it a very nice and easy flow for the reader. She gave me her critical suggestions and comments that I would have otherwise missed. I am so glad I chose The PA Life revision services for my personal statement for PA school.

Yana, Pre-PA

I am so happy to have gone through this editing process! I did not think you would take so much time to not only give me great feedback but also to edit and revise my paper like you did. I am so happy with my new revised paper and will definitely tell my friends!

Eric, Pre-PA

I absolutely loved working with Sarah! I could not be any happier with how my personal statement turned out. She was incredibly encouraging, sensitive to my needs, and insightful. There is not enough praise that I could give her for the amazing work she did for me.

Vanessa, Pre-PA

I just wanted to reach out an let you that I actually got into PA school this year! Out of the 10 programs I applied to, 4 offered me interviews. The first interview wound up being my top choice and they offered me a spot. I accept and declined all my other interviews. So I am absolutely overjoyed!! I wanted to let you know though. Your editing and help, no doubt, helped me get through the initial phase. Thank you so much! I am truly grateful.

Deanna, Pre-PA

I hope this email finds you well. I would like to thank you for your help with my PA school personal statement. I’m glad to share that I did get into my top choice – Drexel!

Ashley, Pre-PA

I had an overall great experience working with Duke. He was open to my suggestions and provided great feedback on my essay. So far I haven’t gotten any interviews yet, but it is still early in the process. I will keep you updated when I get interviews. Steve

Steve Koehler, PA-S

I just wanted to update you that I got waitlisted for Drexel but accept to Dominican University of California. I still have other interviews coming up. Thank you for your help!

Karmen Wu, Pre-PA

A couple of months ago you worked with me on improving my personal statement. I wanted to reach out and let you know that it worked out! I got 5 interviews and so far have been accepted to 2. I am so so thankful for all your help as I don’t think it would have worked out without your amazing editing skills. Thank you for all you do! Not just me but for all the applicants you helped get accepted this year!

Matthew B. PA-S

This service was very helpful. My essay was edited and returned to me within a few days of me submitting it. The feedback was thorough and detailed. I am already planning on sending my essay for a second edit!

Sabrina, Pre-PA

Thank you so much for your assistance with perfecting my personal statement. This service is truly helpful. They were able to easily edit and help to convey exactly what was in my heart onto paper. I was accepted to my first choice PA program this week!!

Vincent, PA-S

Very helpful. I needed help figuring out what to cut and Sue was great at showing me what could go without sacrificing what I was trying to convey.

Dave, Pre-PA

Sarah was absolutely wonderful. She not only helped take my personal statement to the best level, but she also made it easy to understand why certain changes were better. In the end, she went through and used a highlighting method to show how we connected things to PA and skills that were good. This made it easier to visualize everything. I’d recommend Sarah to anyone applying to PA school that needs that extra push on their personal statements.

Taylor, Pre-PA

Sue was a huge help with my essay. Her edits made my essay sound much better grammatically and she pointed out some content problems I completely missed. She prompted me to write a few more paragraphs before her edit and added the information into my essay. That made a big difference. She was very knowledgable about what PA programs were looking for. I am really happy with your service. Worth every penny, THANKS!

Megan Stephenson, Pre-PA

Thank you for taking the time to edit my paper! The feedback was constructive and very helpful. I liked how you highlighted all the strong points in my essay. It made me feel reassured that my essay was heading in the right direction. I also liked how you told me exactly what I needed to add to make it stronger.

Juliana, Pre-PA

It was wonderful to work with The PA Life once again. I appreciated all of my editors’ feedback and creative writing style which was needed to keep the essay within the allowable character limit. I also appreciated how my editor, Sarah, took the time to discover more about me and worked to show those parts which I was unable to reflect myself. With Sarah’s help, the essay really came to life and was a true reflection of my work, personality, and aspiring goals. I’m grateful for all the work she put into helping me with this project!

Jacob, Pre-PA

Duke made some important modifications to my essay and offered several helpful suggestions. I appreciated his insight and a keen eye.

Ilina K. Pre-PA

I just want to thank you again so much for being so awesome and helping me perfect my statement. I promised you that I would let you know if I got into any programs, and I was offered interviews at all the five universities I applied to. And I got offered positions at my top two school choices shortly after I interviewed. I am so ecstatic to say that I will be going to my number one school choice. I know multiple factors contributed to this opportunity being offered to me and the personal statement was surely a big one. Thank you so much for all that you do. It was really a great investment to have you edit my paper. I hope you have a fantastic rest of your day!

Elisa, PA-S

The comments and edits made by Sue are exceptional! They’ve helped a lot in terms of helping me express my thoughts more clearly and effectively. It felt as if she was there with me, reading my thoughts and helping me with the entire process in person!

Amy, Pre-PA

I just want to follow up and let you know that I have been so fortunate enough to have conducted 3 interviews and received 3 acceptances, and I have decided to continue my educational journey at the OHSU PA program. I can’t thank you enough for all the help you’ve provided me, from helping me with my personal statement to mock interviews. I couldn’t have done this without your help, thank you.

Yomiyu Gafesu, PA-S

I just wanted to share that I got into USC! Woohoo!!! They just called me to share the good news. I’m feeling pretty shocked since that interview did not go as well in my head. I can’t believe I got into school during my first round of applications. This would not have been possible without you, and I really appreciate all the support you gave me throughout this process. ?

Tiffany, PA-S

Sarah was so helpful, accommodating my needs, and I would highly recommend her to a friend/peer. I love this company and the people that work here!

Erin Felter, Pre-PA

Ms. Edmondson was incredible! She provided great feedback and answered all of my follow up questions. I will keep in touch as to my interview offers.

Ashley, Pre-PA

We worked on my essays back in summer and oh, how much work it was! But it all paid off because I just got accepted into the school of my first choice! Thank you so much for your time and dedication to my success. I will also be glad to recommend your services to other pre-PA students at my school!

Jennifer, H Pre-PA

I came into this with a half written personal statement and not a lot of time left. I am beyond pleased with the work Sarah and I were able to accomplish together, and I’m so grateful to have gotten the chance to work with her. She has helped me so much with getting my writing to where I wanted it to be, and has instilled in me a great sense of confidence in myself and my abilities. I highly recommend this service to anyone going through the stress of applying! Keeping my fingers crossed as I submit my applications!

Celine, PRE-PA

Thank you so much for editing my essay and for your kind words. Your edits have definitely made it a stronger PS and I am proud to have it as a part of my application. Thank you for alleviating my stress on arguably the most nerve-wracking part of the CASPA app. You are incredibly talented and well-spoken, and any person that has you edit their essays is incredibly lucky! I will let you know if I have any questions, but I think each one of your edits are meaningful and super clear. I appreciate you shortening it and making it flow better. Thank you again!!!

Karina Kapani, Pre-PA

I wanted to take a moment to thank you for helping me with my personal statement. I have been accepted at Cornell, and will most likely be entering their program in March 2017. I have also received interview offers from Wake Forest, Duke, Pitt, Quinnipiac, Oregon Health Sciences, and Chatham so far. I am happy to share my success up to this point, because I would not be in this position without your guidance, wisdom, and talent.

I thoroughly enjoyed working with you, and I am profoundly grateful for your help. I wish you all the best in the future.

Stephanie Dwyer, PA-S

I had an excellent experience with this service. Deanna was thorough, attentive to my essay, and very easy to contact. She did a great job and I would highly recommend this service to anyone.

Grant, Pre-PA

Sue Edmonson has been a great help in ensuring my personal statement made sense and fit what information I was trying to convey. Her ability to find the pertinent parts in an essay and gain more information about me to make the essay seem relative to my pursuits was truly a Godsend. Would recommend her and your company to others. Thanks!

Christopher Ohsie, Pre-PA

I am so happy with the service Sarah provided! My personal statement turned out exactly how I was hoping it would!

Jennifer, Pre-PA

I was at a point where I kept reading my essay over and over again and not knowing what to change. After Sue looked over and thoroughly edited the essay, I had a completely new focus! I knew exactly what to tweak and her service really cleared up any uncertainty I had with my essay. I’m now much more confident as I finish up my CASPA applications!

Julia Spalding, Pre-PA

I really appreciated Carly’s attentiveness to my writing style and working to keep my message and content but working it in a way that reads easier. I appreciate her turnaround time, as well as priority deadlines for programs, are quickly approaching!

Jacob, Pre-PA

I just wanted to let you know that the majority of my interviews have gone really well! So far, I’ve received six interview invites and have interviewed for five schools. Midwestern (AZ) just got back to me a bit ago, and they sent me an acceptance email! I am beyond thrilled! I just wanted to thank you so much for your help! Your mock interview gave me a lot of confidence that I was able to carry into my interviews! I appreciated having the opportunity to practice my interview skills with you. I wanted to let you know just how much you’ve helped me with my application process (with my interviews, personal statement, and just my confidence in general)! Thank you so much for all of the advice over the past few months!

Sneh, PA-S

Carly did a fantastic job helping my personal statement create fluid and concise writing to help convey my experience! I highly recommend using this service even if you think your statement is solid because they will help make it better than you could have imagined! Thank you for everything.

Kelsey, Pre-PA

I am mind-blown by my editor Carly’s work. My original essay is like an ill-fitting suit. She hemmed and adjusted it in all the right places and now it looks perfect. I don’t think I’m a bad writer, but I don’t write often and I have spent the past 10 years of my life focused on health sciences. I may have never been able to do this on my own. Thank you thank you, I consider this essay service a bargain.

Rebecca, Pre-PA

The ease, frequency, and promptness of communication were some of the best aspects of this service. I found the review and revisions to be very thoughtful and explained in a way where I knew exactly how to apply them to my essay. I would 100% recommend the PA Life PS review to any applicant, and especially enjoyed working with Carly. I am hopeful my personal statement will gain the attention of PA programs I am applying to.

Charlie, Pre-PA

Sue is so incredibly kind! I needed so much help on cleaning up my personal statement and overall flow of the writing. She provided great insights and explanation.

Laila, Pre-PA

Just found your site today while trying to update my resume. Also, I have to recertify next year so your tests are great for a refresher course. I was in a specialty area of medicine so I now realize how much I forgot in the past 5 years. Thank you very much and I will pass on to other PAs.

Pattie Solomon PA-CNorTh Miami Florida

So far, I’ve received 3 interview invites from Chapman, Drexel, and Tufts!!! I just wanted to say a big THANK YOU to Sarah for polishing my PS, supplemental essays and giving me lots of awesome tips for my upcoming interviews!!!

Audrey, Pre-PA

This review is long overdue, but my gratitude for how much The PA Life has helped me will never fade. Ms. Schultz went above and beyond to help me tailor my personal statement to my unique stories and qualities. She was open to my suggestions and often thought from my perspective instead of imposing her thoughts on my essay. I appreciate the time she took to help me create a personal statement that expressed my thoughts clearly and concisely. I am happy to report that I have been invited to interviews, and I’m on the waitlist for one of my top schools. If I don’t get in this cycle, I will be using the editing services again. Big shout out to Ms. Schultz!! Thank you for all your encouragement, patience, and support! I am honored to have the chance to work with you. 🙂

Amy, Pre-PA

Sarah did such an excellent job editing my personal statement that I wanted her expertise for my supplemental essays. I’ve had multiple interview invites so far. I’m so glad I used this service, and I’m so glad I had Sarah’s help! She really took my essays to a whole new level and had good suggestions. I’m recommending her to my peers.

Emily Crenshaw, Pre-PA

Kelly M. provided an exceptional experience with detailed recommendations. I am upset that I did not find The PA Life editing service sooner! I will be referring anyone I know applying to pa school to this platform!

Manny, Pre-PA

Sue was very quick to edit my essay and give feedback. Any questions were answered very promptly. I am very pleased with the service provided.

Brandon, Pre-PA

Duke helped me with my personal essay writing for PA school. He was very patient and helpful with me. I made lots of mistake on my Essay, but with Duke’s help I was able to write a sensible essay which was good enough to get Interview calls. I highly recommend his service.

Rajni M, Pre PA

Carly was extremely prompt and helpful! She helped edit my personal statement into something that I am extremely confident applying with!

Danielle, Pre-PA

I want to say thank you, first off for providing such a service. It was difficult having to write a personal statement and then have others critique it, when there is not a clear rubric to follow. I think having to write a personal statement is such an emotional process, and then having others edit it, can be a very harsh pill to swallow. Thank you for your edits, I have no doubt that this process will make my personal statement more compelling and hopefully a more competitive applicant.

Stephanie, Pre-PA

It was an absolute pleasure working with Sarah. She was prompt to respond, professional, and kind. Sarah is an excellent writer. I was consistently impressed with her edits and suggestions for my personal statement. After working with Sarah I feel confident that my final essay will be well-received schools and help me stand out as a candidate.

Leah, Pre-PA

Sue was extremely prompt and thoughtful in providing her comments, edits, and revisions. My essay had a good start but she helped me write it with admissions committees in mind. I will keep you updated on if I get interview invitations.

Kirsten, Pre-PA

I am so thankful that this editing service exists. The personal statement is incredibly important which is why I was so nervous about it. It took me two weeks to even get started because I was so nervous about writing the wrong thing. After Carly helped me with my essay, I am now so much more confident in it. Her edits were very thorough and showed that she had a really good understanding of what is important for a PA personal statement. Her email detailing her overall impression of my essay also showed she understood every single point I was trying to make and what kind of feeling I was trying to give to people reading my essay. This has been the most reassuring thing.

Angela, Pre-PA

Thanks to the PA life and Deanna I was accepted to ECU PA program this cycle. I’m starting my program next fall. I have been part of the PA life community and a member of the leadership team at the virtual pre-PA club with Deanna and others. I’m preparing a video presentation about how to become a PA for IMG. I’m a nontraditional app and abnormally normal applicant 😆. The video will be posted on the IMG space of the community. I’m so happy to share my experience and help pre-PA like me.

Shynar Johnson, PA-S

I was very pleased with this service. Writing has never been my strongest area. While I had the ideas that I wanted to convey I wasn’t able to articulate them as well as I’d hoped. Carly provided comments and suggestions without altering my central thesis. Any questions that I had were answered quickly and thoroughly. Any grammatical mistakes were also addressed which put my mind at ease. I would recommend The PA Life personal statement essay revision service to anyone applying.

Keith G, Pre-PA

I can’t begin to explain how thrilled I am to have stumbled on this service. Like many other PA applicants, I was unsure of whether I was on the right track with my personal narrative. Reading Stephen’s two different PA school application essays showed me how to come up with something unique and creative, but the private personal statement review really made my essay shine.

Duke was so kind and helpful in helping me understand what admissions committees look for in a strong essay. Our phone conversations were so thorough, as we read through and discussed every word in my essay. Sue’s guidance helped me cut out the fluff to reach the character limit.

Melissa T. Pre-PA

The feedback that I received through The PA Life editing service was more detailed than I expected! It gave me a clear idea of what direction I need to take in regard to my personal statement. I absolutely loved the edits!

Crystal, Pre-PA

Mr. Pasquini was very patient, accommodating and direct in his editing/advice. He was honest, in a way that I needed due to the importance of the letter. I even picked up a few tips to enhance my writing from our meetings. Great experience and will definitely recommend him to others!

Alana P. Pre-PA

Very prompt response and turnaround time. While I did not speak with Duke over the phone, his team’s edits were thorough, clear and very helpful. Highly recommended.

Dave H. Pre-PA

Duke really pushed me to write from the heart and explore my true reasons for applying to PA school.  I was very pleased with the outcome.  I haven’t yet received an interview, but my fingers are crossed!

Emily P. Pre-PA

Sarah is amaaaaaaaaaaazing!! She is super kind and helpful. My original essay was very long at about 9,000 characters and I had no idea how to trim it down. Sarah helped me decide what to include and eliminate from my personal statement while correcting many of my grammatical errors. She was a complete professional and very easy to work with. I would recommend Sarah and The PA Life personal statement revision service to everyone, they are absolutely wonderful!

Fariha, Pre-PA

Having my essay edited proved extremely helpful. I was having trouble connecting my thoughts, and the edit helped so much. I haven’t found out about acceptance yet. I’m just now about to submit my application!

Amber, Pre-PA

I worked closely with Duke and Sue for the revisions on my personal statement. They must have edited my original version half a dozen times before they felt it was good enough to send off and never made it seem like an inconvenience. They always responded to my e-mails within a 24-hour time frame but usually got back to me within a few hours. I am very pleased with how my personal statement turned out thanks to all of their time, ideas and direction. The service the PA Life provides is well worth the money spent!

Personal Statement Collaborative

Michelle Murphy, Pre-PA

Hi, I am beyond words to express how I feel, I got accepted, contingent on background check which I think is a formality. I want to say boldly that I am going to be a PA, thanks to you. You will be always blessed for the wonderful service you provide.  You were very kind and worked beyond what I thought could be offered. Thanks again!

Pavithra, Pre-PA

My experience with the PA Life personal statement collaborative was simply remarkable. My editor did an outstanding job making sure that my personal statement reflected my BEST work and addressed all of my concerns regarding the essay and other questions I had about my application. I can’t thank you enough for all the help I received during this process. Thank you!

Erika, Pre-PA

I wanted to share exciting news with you – I got accepted to UT Health San Antonio’s Physician Assistant program!!! I am so thankful for ALL of your work and talent that was put into my personal statement and supplemental essays. I could not have gotten through this process without you. I extend a thank you from my mother, Tammy, as well. We were so blessed to be paired with you. Your hard work and dedication to helping me as a Pre-PA student-led to success during the application process. I hope 2021 is treating you well and you have a blessed year!

Aubrey, PA-S

Carly blew away all my expectations. She not only suggested edits to refine the content, but she also made grammatical and structural changes that fine-tuned my essay and allowed it to flow. I came into the editing process feeling hopeless about my personal statement, but with her edits, I feel confident that it will stand out. On top of all that, Carly was very timely in editing and returning my essay – I got it back within a few days! I’m very pleased with her service and recommend it to anyone out there who needs a fresh, professional set of eyes on their personal statement.

Stephanie, Pre-PA

I am pleased to tell you that I have been accepted to PA school, starting in 2-weeks.? I appreciate everything you have done for me, from helping with my personal statement to preparing me for interviews. You have been with me since the beginning of the application process and I really wanted to thank you.

Shane, Pre-PA

This was my third time applying to PA school and I wanted it to be my last so I figured getting help with the essay would make a difference in my application. Paying for the one on one service was the best idea I’ve had to date. Sarah was great in that she literally combined three different essays I had written into one phenomenal essay! I literally have no idea how she did it. Sarah helped me focus all of my thoughts and experience down into one concise, yet personal essay. I truly think this will help me get into PA school!

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101 PA School Admission Essays

Admissions Directors Know What They Want. Shouldn't You? You’re slaving away at your personal statement, but can’t help wondering if anyone will read past the first line. A troubling thought, isn’t…

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How to Write Your Physician Assistant Personal Statement

What Makes This Book Unique? We have worked with 1000’s of applicants through our Personal Statement and Essay Collaborative and have interviewed PA school faculty and Admissions Directors from 12…

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