Leslie Mean is a 23-year-old single white female who presents to the PA school admissions committee on her second attempt to get into PA school.
She has a 3.68 overall GPA and a 3.61 science GPA. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in biology. She never sat for the GRE, because most PA programs stopped requiring it.
She has two years of hands-on clinical experience working as a CNA and a long history of volunteer work, which exemplifies her desire to help her community.
She is kind and considerate and has reference letters that demonstrate her maturity and strong interpersonal skills.
She was accepted into PA school on her second attempt.
Who is Leslie, and why did she get into PA School?
When asking the question: What do I need to do to get into PA school? You would be smart to talk to Leslie.
Leslie is a hypothetical PA school applicant who went on to become a PA school student, an entirely average PA school student.
She also embodies what PA schools across the country are looking for at this very moment.
How do I know this?
Because PAEA publishes the numbers, and I went and got them. 35,280 people applied to PA school in the 2025–2026 cycle — the most ever. In the cycle before that, 34,625 applied and 13,195 matriculated. Those figures, and the profile of the students who got in, come straight out of PAEA's CASPA applicant and matriculation data files.
So when I tell you what the average admitted student looks like, I am not describing a stereotype. I am describing 13,195 real people who started PA school in the most recent class PAEA has counted.
As much as I like to talk about not being average and differentiating yourself from the pack, it's nice to know what average is. Average provides a baseline by which you can measure your progress, set goals, and develop an application timeline.
Does this mean you have to be just like Leslie to get into PA school?
Absolutely not, first, factors such as race, age, ethnicity, etc., are of no importance, and you certainly don't have to be female to get into PA school (I am living proof).
But it is safe to assume that most schools are looking to keep their graduation and certifying exam pass rates high. They have an incentive to take fewer risks, and because of this, anything below average is considered a risk.
Thus, take a good look at Leslie and focus on factors that you can control to differentiate yourself, like your academic standing, your experience, your volunteer activities, your references, and your essay.
If you set the bar at Leslie and end up being a Mother Theresa, I am fairly sure you will be accepted into PA school, although I have no data on religious preference and PA school acceptance rates. 🙂
What are your chances of getting into PA school?
- 35,280 people applied to PA school in the 2025–2026 cycle — up from 30,049 four cycles earlier. The applicant pool has grown every single year.
- In the last cycle with complete numbers on both sides, 34,625 applied and 13,195 started PA school — 38.1%. Careful with that figure: it is matriculants divided by applicants, not an acceptance rate, and PAEA does not publish it as one. I am doing that arithmetic for you.
- From a program's side of the desk it looks nothing like 38%. Applicants apply to an average of 8.45 programs each — roughly 292,000 applications chasing about 13,200 seats, or 22 applications for every single seat.
- Both pictures are true, and confusing them is the most common mistake I see pre-PAs make. You are not applying once. You are applying eight times. That is the whole reason your personal odds look so much better than any one program's.
- Matriculating students applied to a median of 8 programs and finished the cycle with a median of 1 acceptance. One yes is all you need.
- 29% of this year's applicants were re-applicants, up from 24% four cycles ago. Nearly three in ten people in the pool got told no before and came back anyway. If that is you this year, read that sentence twice.
So, what does an average PA school applicant who is admitted to PA school (i.e., student) look like?
Let's take a look:
In studies, the five most influential noncognitive factors known to have an effect on PA school admissions are faculty interactions, career motivation, knowledge of the PA profession, maturity, and professionalism. - Journal of Physician Assistant EducationClick To Tweet→ The average PA school student is 23 — and getting younger
- The median age of a matriculating PA student is 23, and the average is 23.71.
- 82.9% of matriculants are between 20 and 25. The single biggest misconception about PA school is that it is full of second-career thirty-somethings. It is not.
- But the range runs from 18 to 68. Read that again if you are a career-changer convinced you have aged out. Somebody started PA school at 68.
- The class is getting younger, fast. The average matriculant age has dropped from 25.67 to 23.71 in four cycles — nearly two full years. Pre-PAs are figuring this out earlier and applying sooner.
| Age at matriculation | Matriculants | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 19 | 43 | 0.3% |
| 20–25 | 10,932 | 82.9% |
| 26–30 | 1,517 | 11.5% |
| 31–35 | 378 | 2.9% |
| 36–40 | 150 | 1.1% |
| 41–45 | 68 | 0.5% |
| 46 and older | 38 | 0.3% |
| Did not report | 69 | 0.5% |
Median 23 · average 23.71 · range 18 to 68. Source: PAEA CASPA matriculation data, 2024–2025 cycle (n = 13,195).
→ Four out of five PA students are women
The PA profession skews heavily female, and the gap is widening. 81.45% of matriculating students are women, up from 77.27% four cycles ago.
- Female: 81.45% (10,747 students)
- Male: 18.48% (2,439 students)
- Declined to state: 0.07%
| Cycle | Female | Male |
|---|---|---|
| 2024–2025 | 81.45% | 18.48% |
| 2023–2024 | 80.33% | 19.56% |
| 2022–2023 | 78.52% | 21.39% |
| 2021–2022 | 78.30% | 21.39% |
| 2020–2021 | 77.27% | 22.52% |
Source: PAEA CASPA matriculation data (n = 13,195 in the most recent cycle).
So yes — the majority of your future classmates will be women, and more so every year. That mirrors healthcare broadly, where women make up most of the workforce.
I want to be careful here, because this is a place where people love to speculate. The data reports who matriculates. It does not report why. I have seen it claimed that women are "more likely to be accepted" than men — there is nothing behind that, so I am not repeating it.
If you are a man reading this and wondering whether you belong in a class that is four-fifths women: you do. I am living proof, and so are 2,439 of the students who started last year.
→ Two out of three admitted students hold a Bachelor of Science
Almost everyone who starts PA school already holds a bachelor's degree, and it is usually a BS. A small but real slice arrives with a master's already finished.
| Degree held at matriculation | Matriculants | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor of Science | 8,730 | 66.2% |
| Bachelor of Arts | 1,629 | 12.3% |
| Master of Science | 323 | 2.4% |
| Other bachelor’s | 131 | 1.0% |
| Bachelor of Arts and Science | 86 | 0.7% |
| Master of Public Health | 69 | 0.5% |
| Bachelor of Science in Education | 50 | 0.4% |
| Master of Arts | 46 | 0.3% |
| Bachelor of Applied Science | 35 | 0.3% |
| Bachelor of Science in Nursing | 33 | 0.3% |
Source: PAEA CASPA matriculation data, 2024–2025 cycle. Top 10 degrees only, so this does not account for every degree held by all 13,195 matriculants.
→ What do admitted PA students major in?
Biology dominates, but not as completely as people assume. Here are the ten most common majors among students who actually got a seat.
| Undergraduate major | Matriculants | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Biology | 3,602 | 27.3% |
| Health science | 1,503 | 11.4% |
| Psychology | 936 | 7.1% |
| Biological sciences | 762 | 5.8% |
| Biomedical science | 750 | 5.7% |
| Exercise science | 722 | 5.5% |
| Kinesiology | 604 | 4.6% |
| Neuroscience | 538 | 4.1% |
| Public health | 502 | 3.8% |
| Human biology | 378 | 2.9% |
Source: PAEA CASPA matriculation data, 2024–2025 cycle (n = 13,195). Top 10 majors only, so this does not capture every major.
Group the biology-flavored majors together — biology, biological sciences, biomedical science, human biology — and they account for about 42% of the entering class. That makes sense, because a bio degree quietly knocks out most of your prerequisites along the way.
But look at the rest of that list. Psychology is the third most common major in the country. Exercise science, kinesiology, public health, neuroscience. There is no such thing as a "PA major." Programs care that you finished the prerequisites and did well in them. They do not care what your diploma says.
I have said this for twenty years and I will keep saying it: major in something you will actually work hard at. A 3.8 in a subject you love beats a 3.1 in biology you slogged through, every time.
Here are some tips on how to choose the best undergraduate major for PA school.
→ Matriculating PA students had a median of 3,200 patient contact hours
PA school applicants come to the table with a variety of medical experiences, especially if they are strong applicants.
This is the single most misunderstood number in PA admissions, so slow down here. The hours a program requires and the hours the people who actually get in have are two completely different numbers.
| The two numbers people confuse | Hours |
|---|---|
| What programs require — median minimum direct patient care | 500 hours |
| What matriculants actually had — median direct patient contact | 3,200 hours |
Requirement: PAEA Curriculum Report 6 (2021–22); 67.4% of programs required direct patient care, median minimum 500 hours, range 80–2,500. Matriculant hours: PAEA Student Report 6, Table 53.
Meeting the minimum makes you eligible. It does not make you competitive. If a program says 500 and you show up with 500, you are bringing about a sixth of what the median admitted student brought. Aim for 2,000 hours as a floor, and 3,000+ if you can get them.
Experience in one of the following areas is common:
- Nursing
- Registered Nurse (RN)
- Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
- Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
- Allied Health
- Physical Therapist
- Occupational Therapist
- Registered Radiologic Technologist
- Athletic Trainer
- Emergency Services
- Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
- Paramedic
- Emergency Room Technician
- Miscellaneous
-
- Phlebotomist (that was me!)
- Medical Researcher
- Medical Volunteer
-
Medical Experience Statistics for PA School Applicants
96.1% of admitted students had been employed in a healthcare field before PA school. The most commonly reported roles were medical assistant (34.8%), nursing assistant (33.0%), scribe (21.4%), EMT/paramedic (17.8%) and home health aide (10.3%). Students could pick more than one, which is why the column below adds to well over 100% — most people did two or three of these jobs on the way in.
| Health Care Employment Prior to PA School | Percent |
| Medical assistant | 34.8% |
| Nursing assistant | 33.0% |
| Scribe | 21.4% |
| EMT/Paramedic | 17.8% |
| Home health aide | 10.3% |
| Emergency room technician | 8.8% |
| Phlebotomist | 7.8% |
| Clinical research coordinator/assistant | 7.0% |
| Physical therapy assistant | 5.5% |
| Pharmacy technician | 4.0% |
| Medical reception/records | 3.8% |
| Medical technician | 3.7% |
| Ophthalmic technician/assistant | 3.2% |
| Surgical technician/assistant | 2.8% |
| Athletic trainer | 2.7% |
| Healthcare administrator | 2.7% |
| Medical lab technician | 2.3% |
| Dental assistant/hygienist | 1.3% |
| Radiologic technologist | 1.1% |
| Health services researcher | 1.0% |
| Source: PAEA Student Report 6, Table 52 (n = 3,117). Students could select more than one role, so these do not sum to 100%. |
How many patient contact hours do PA students actually have?
Here is the full spread of direct patient contact hours among students who started PA school in 2022. Notice how enormous the range is — the top 10% arrived with nearly ten thousand hours, while the bottom 10% got in with 840.
| Direct patient contact hours | Hours |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile | 840 |
| 25th percentile | 1,750 |
| Median | 3,200 |
| 75th percentile | 5,600 |
| 90th percentile | 9,600 |
| Mean | 4,994 |
Student self-reported hours, derived from weeks worked × hours per week — which is why the mean (4,994) runs far above the median. A handful of second-career nurses and paramedics with 20,000+ hours drag the average up. The median is the number to plan against.
Admissions directors Q&A: What are some of the points that are extremely impressive to you in the application?
Commitment to community, overcoming adversity, a WELL written narrative, great letters of reference from someone that REALLY knows you, ability to juggle many responsibilities simultaneously, and activities that show a particular passion for something are what we look for in a PA school applicant - Penn State University PA ProgramClick To Tweet→ Do you still need to take the GRE for PA school?
For most applicants in 2026, no — and this is the biggest change in PA admissions since I first wrote this post.
The last time PAEA formally counted, reviewing program websites in 2021–22, 52.2% of PA programs required the GRE. Today it is a minority requirement. Our own running list of PA schools that don't require the GRE puts it at 92 of 338 programs (about 27%) as of July 2026, and an independent prerequisite tracker counted 86 of 318 (27.0%) in April 2026. Two people counting separately landed in the same place.
| Share of PA programs requiring the GRE | Percentage |
|---|---|
| 2021–22 — PAEA Curriculum Report 6 | 52.2% |
| July 2026 — program-by-program trackers | about 27%, or roughly 1 in 4 |
The 2021–22 figure is PAEA's own count. The 2026 figure comes from program-by-program trackers, not PAEA, which has not published an update — I am labeling it that way rather than dressing it up as official. Note too that "requires" and "accepts" are different things: another ~70 programs will look at a GRE score if you have one but do not ask for it.
So what does this mean for you? It means the GRE is now a targeting decision, not a rite of passage. Build your program list first, then find out whether anyone on it wants a score. Plenty of applicants never take it.
If you do need one: among the programs that published a GRE expectation in PAEA's last count, the average total was about 307 — roughly 153 verbal, 152 quantitative, and 4.1 on analytical writing. A composite around 300 is workable, and above 310 is genuinely strong.
A note on what I am not telling you. You will find tables all over the internet listing "mean GRE scores of matriculated PA students," often down to a decimal. PAEA's student survey does not ask matriculants for their GRE scores at all — the only GRE data in it is how much people spent on prep books. Any national matriculant GRE average you see, including the one that used to sit in this post, is not coming from where it claims to.
| Admission exam | Share of programs requiring it (2021–22) |
|---|---|
| TOEFL (international applicants only) | 97.0% |
| GRE | 52.2% then; about 27% in 2026 |
| CASPer | 17.2% |
| PA-CAT | 5.6% |
| MCAT | 4.9% |
Source: PAEA Curriculum Report 6 (February 2023; review of 273 accredited program websites, October 2021–February 2022, of which 268 had usable admissions data). This is the most recent national count PAEA has published.
Percentiles matter more than raw scores. Every GRE administration differs slightly in difficulty, which is exactly why the percentile exists. If your score sits above the 50th percentile, treat it as competitive and put your energy somewhere it will move the needle more — like your hours, your grades, and your personal statement.
→ What GPA do you need for PA school?
Students who got into PA school last cycle had a 3.68 cumulative undergraduate GPA and a 3.61 science GPA. Both have climbed every year for four straight cycles.
But here is the number almost nobody publishes, and it is the most useful one on this page. Compare the people who applied with the people who got in, in the same cycle:
| GPA, 2024–2025 cycle | Everyone who applied | Everyone who got in | The gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cumulative undergraduate | 3.47 | 3.68 | +0.21 |
| Science | 3.36 | 3.61 | +0.25 |
The science gap is bigger than the overall gap. That is the whole ballgame. Admissions committees are not just reading your cumulative number — they are pulling out your science coursework and reading that. A quarter of a grade point is the difference between the average applicant and the average admit.
| Cycle | Applicant GPA (cum. undergrad) | Matriculant GPA (cum. undergrad) | Matriculant science GPA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024–2025 | 3.47 | 3.68 | 3.61 |
| 2023–2024 | 3.47 | 3.67 | 3.60 |
| 2022–2023 | 3.45 | 3.64 | 3.57 |
| 2021–2022 | 3.43 | 3.62 | 3.55 |
Source: PAEA CASPA applicant and matriculation data files. Applicant GPAs for the 2025–2026 cycle are already in: 3.48 cumulative undergraduate, 3.37 science — the pool keeps getting stronger.
| What programs set as a minimum | Value |
|---|---|
| Median minimum overall GPA (97.4% of programs state one) | 3.0 |
| Range of stated overall minimums | 2.5 – 3.5 |
| Median minimum prerequisite GPA (94.1% state one) | 3.0 |
| Range of stated prerequisite minimums | 2.0 – 3.5 |
Source: PAEA Curriculum Report 6. A 3.0 gets your file read. A 3.68 gets you admitted. If you are sitting below the median right now, the fix is an upward trend and a strong recent science block — not despair. Programs read the trajectory, not just the number.
→ What is the racial and ethnic makeup of PA students?
Most matriculating PA students are white — but that is changing faster than almost anyone realizes.
White matriculants have fallen from 66.8% to 59.1% in four cycles. Every other group grew. This is one of the fastest demographic shifts in health professions education right now, and it is happening quietly.
| Race / ethnicity | Matriculants | 2024–2025 | 2020–2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 7,801 | 59.1% | 66.8% |
| Asian | 1,998 | 15.1% | 12.3% |
| Hispanic | 1,734 | 13.1% | 11.0% |
| Black or African American | 690 | 5.2% | 4.5% |
| Two or more races | 576 | 4.4% | 3.2% |
| American Indian | 23 | 0.2% | 0.2% |
| Native Hawaiian | 8 | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| Did not report | 365 | 2.8% | 1.9% |
Source: PAEA CASPA matriculation data, 2024–2025 cycle (n = 13,195). Unlike PAEA's student survey, these categories are mutually exclusive and sum to 100%.
The direction of travel is genuinely encouraging. PAEA also reports that applicants from groups underrepresented in medicine grew by about 35% over the same stretch, rising from 21.4% to 25.5% of all applicants. That matters — patients do better when the people caring for them reflect the communities they come from.
→ How many PA programs should you apply to?
- Matriculating students applied to a median of 8 programs (mean 8.6).
- They received a median of 1 acceptance (mean 1.8). Most people who get in, get in once.
- Across the whole applicant pool the average is 8.45 programs — so eight is genuinely the national habit, not a rule of thumb somebody made up.
My honest advice: eight to twelve well-chosen programs, where "well-chosen" means you actually meet the prerequisites and the mission fits you. Firing off twenty applications to schools whose minimum coursework you have not finished is expensive and does nothing. Build your list first, then count it.
→ Pucker up, baby. Most PA students are single!
80% of matriculating students are single (including engaged), and 20% are partnered.
91.4% have no legal dependents. For the 8.6% who do, the average is two dependents, with a maximum of five. If you are applying with kids at home, you are not alone, and you are not disqualified — roughly one in twelve of your classmates is doing exactly the same thing.
| Legal dependents | Percentage of matriculants |
|---|---|
| Without dependents | 91.4% |
| With dependents | 8.6% |
→ Where do PA students grow up?
Not where you would guess. Six in ten matriculants grew up in a town or small city of fewer than 50,000 people, and only 5.6% came from a metro area of over a million. PA education has deep small-town roots, and a lot of programs are actively looking for students who intend to go back.
| Size of the community where the student spent most of their life | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Isolated rural (under 2,500) | 8.0% |
| Small town (2,500–9,999) | 22.6% |
| Large town (10,000–49,999) | 30.1% |
| Mid-size city (50,000–99,999) | 18.1% |
| Large city (100,000–1 million) | 15.6% |
| Urban (over 1 million) | 5.6% |
→ Do you need money and connections to get into PA school?
I get some version of this question constantly: everyone applying seems to come from a medical family with money, and mine doesn't. The data says otherwise, and it is not close.
CASPA asks every applicant a set of questions about disadvantaged background. Here is how the students who got in answered them.
| Among students who started PA school last year… | Matriculants | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Went to a high school where many students got free or reduced-price lunch | 4,774 | 36.2% |
| Come from a Health Professional Shortage Area or Medically Underserved Area | 2,681 | 20.3% |
| Come from a family that receives public assistance | 2,021 | 15.3% |
| Went to a high school where few seniors earned a diploma | 448 | 3.4% |
| Took part in a Health Careers Opportunity Program | 148 | 1.1% |
Source: PAEA CASPA matriculation data, 2024–2025 cycle (n = 13,195). Students could answer yes to more than one.
More than one in three admitted PA students came from a high school where hunger was common enough to be measured. One in five came from a place without enough clinicians. Those students got in. Read that again if you have been quietly wondering whether people like you get into PA school.
And here is the part I care about most: those are exactly the PAs the country needs. Students who come from underserved places are far more likely to go back and practice in them. If that is your story, it is not a weakness in your application. It is the strongest thing you bring.
Admissions directors Q&A: Who is the perfect PA school applicant?
Our program will look to utilize a holistic approach to admissions. We look at academic success, life experiences, and community activities to evaluate all candidates. There is no one mold to fit the PA profession. However, PAs need strong communication skills, leadership, grit, and a willingness to support the community - Michigan State University PA ProgramClick To Tweet Students need to be well organized, know how to manage their time and outside influences, and have a genuine desire to help and care for people. PA school is rigorous, so we recommend honest conversations with family and friends ahead of your start. - CWRU PA ProgramClick To Tweet→ PA school students don't smoke pot and are not drug dealers or part of the Italian Mafia
Assume yes to both. Every PA program I am aware of requires a criminal background check, and the large majority require drug screening before you can start clinical rotations — hospitals demand it of the program, so the program demands it of you.
I am giving you that as my read of the landscape rather than a statistic, because the percentages that used to sit here were attributed to a PAEA student report that does not measure this at all. Check the program's own admissions page — that is the only source that binds them.
If you have something in your history, disclose it early and honestly. I have watched applicants with old convictions get into PA school. I have also watched applicants get pulled from a class over something small they tried to hide. The offense is almost never the thing that ends it. The nondisclosure is.
Some Important Points
It's Not Rocket Science: It is important that a candidate demonstrates reasonable aptitude in the hard sciences such as anatomy, physiology, chemistry, and biology. It is more likely that the committee may overlook a grade of C in U.S History or Spanish I. They will be less tolerant of a marginal grade in the sciences.
Show compassion: Your GPA is stellar, and you've amassed an impressive amount of medical work experience in the little spare time you have while keeping your grades pristine, but you still get that dreaded rejection letter. Why?
You didn't do enough volunteer work. Volunteering exemplifies your desire to help your fellow man—the attribute identified by schools as one of the most integral to becoming a successful PA.
Students who have had experience in working with underserved populations, rural or diverse populations, performing volunteer service or disaster relief, or other experiences that illustrate a drive and compassion for others often stand out to the admissions committee!
The view from the top isn't that crowded
It's an easy race to the bottom, so set your sights on the top.
People deflate when they read that only about a third of applicants get in each year. I think that is exactly backwards. Being in the top third of any field is not nearly as hard as it sounds — because most of the competition is not doing the work you just did by reading this far.
You have just read the whole thing. You know what the median actually is on hours, on GPA, on how many programs to apply to — and you know which "statistics" floating around the internet are made up. That already puts you ahead of most of the people you are competing with.
If you aim high, you will be competing with a much smaller minority, and your odds of getting an acceptance letter will increase dramatically. It also helps if you apply to 12 programs. 😉
What is new for the 2026–2027 CASPA cycle
- The cycle opened April 30, 2026 and closes April 1, 2027.
- The COVID-19 impact essay is gone. In its place is a new situational question asking how future PAs should use emerging technology — AI, telemedicine, wearables — while keeping care patient-centered.
- There is now an AI attestation. You confirm the application is your own work. Write your own essay. I mean it.
- Fees are $185 for the first program and $65 for each additional one. Fee waivers are available at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines, cover your first two programs, are first-come first-served, and the submission window is now 21 days.
- There are 330 ARC-PA accredited PA programs as of May 2026, and eight more were granted provisional accreditation at the April 2026 meeting. The number of places to apply keeps growing.
Sources — so you can check my work:
- Applicant counts, applicant GPAs and re-applicant share: PAEA CASPA Applicant Trend Numbers, cycles 2021–2026 (posted May 2026). This is where the 35,280 applicants for 2025–2026 comes from.
- Matriculant counts, GPA, science GPA, age, gender, race, majors, degrees and disadvantaged-background data: PAEA CASPA Matriculation Data, 2020–2025 (posted March 2026), covering the 2024–2025 entering class (n = 13,195).
- Programs per applicant and URiM growth: PAEA, "PA Program Applications Show Growth, Persistence."
- Admission exams, minimum GPAs and minimum patient-care hours: PAEA Curriculum Report 6, a review of 273 accredited program websites.
- Patient contact hours, prior healthcare roles, programs applied to, marital status, dependents and where students grew up: PAEA By the Numbers: Student Report 6, PAEA's most recent national student survey. CASPA's data files do not measure these, so this is the only national source for them.
- Accredited program counts: ARC-PA, Currently Accredited Programs.
- Cycle dates, fees and application changes: PAEA 2026–2027 CASPA Applicant Guide.
Where a number is my own arithmetic on PAEA's figures rather than something PAEA publishes directly — the 38.1% matriculation rate, the 22-applications-per-seat figure — I say so in the text. Where a number simply does not exist, I say that too instead of filling the gap. Numbers on this page were last verified in July 2026.
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Stephen,
I am 25 years old white male, first generation American by way of Cuba. I have been in health care since 2010 as an EMT and 4 years as a firefighter. Through college I worked full time EMS and always maintained employment with at least one paid agency as well as one volunteer agency. I have 7000+ Contact hours from “911” to specialty teams such as neonatal critical care. I hold a BS in Exercise Science from College of Charleston. I speak Spanish. So here is my big concern… my GPA was not as competitive (just under 3.0)… primarily due to my employment through college and perpetually being exhausted. My plan now is to take a few extra classes this year that are still required for most PA schools thus showing my commitment and ability to achieve higher grades. Do you think it is possible for me to get in to a PA program with a lower GPA? And what should I do?
Thanks for your thoughts
Hi J.D,
The field is certainly competitive and unfortunately when researchers compared all components of the PA school application GPA had the greatest predictive value in terms of applicants receiving an interview. This of course is too bad, but I think now in 2017 because there are so many applicants it has lifted the bar a bit higher and schools are using these types of metrics much more frequently. So, I think what you are doing is smart. With your background and experience if you can hit that 3.0 GPA mark for your overall and 3.2 for science GPA you will be extremely competitive. It doesn’t hurt to apply this year and give it a try.. with excellent letters of recommendation, your background and qualifications you may still have a shot.
Stephen
Thanks for all the great advice so far! I’m strongly considering applying to PA schools, but will need to get some of science prerequisites done. I currently have a masters in clinical mental health counseling and for the past 5 years, I’ve worked as an emergency services clinician, assessing people (mostly in hospitals) who are a danger to themselves and others and determining if they need to be in a psych facility against their will. I also worked in a facility as a psych tech for about a year and a half and was certified to administer patients prescribed medication.
I plan to either become an EMT or scribe as I finish up the prereqs I didn’t take when I got my bachelors. I’m curious to know if I’d be able to count my work history as HCE, or if it would just be kind of a “bonus.”
Thanks!
Hi Stephen,
I am currently a sophomore in college and I have very recently decided that I am interested in the PA field. However, I just finished up my first semester of my sophomore year and I have not yet taken any prerequisites and feel as though it would be very difficult for me to catch up at this point. I was wondering if you had any advice on how to go about this. Also, I really want to get a head start on my hours but I do not really know how to go about this. Do you have any recommendations for any specific jobs or volunteer opportunities and how I could get them? Thank you so much for your time and blog posts, they help me so much to better understand the application process!
Okay so, I am applying for PA school for the next cycle. I am 22 and will be getting my B.S. in Biology with a Psychology minor in the Spring. I have not taken the GRE yet (I will once I graduate). I currently have:
-a GPA of 3.9, 3.86 in my major
-2.5 years doing Type I Diabetes Research in a clinic/lab setting
-2000 hours of CNA experience on an inpatient/med surge Pulmonary floor at University of Colorado Hospital
-about 400 hours of volunteer experience in an ER/teaching children/working with foster children
-3 months doing human clinical trial research at Children’s Hospital
I do not have any PA shadowing experience though! I can’t find any PA’s to shadow (on the Pulmonary floor there are only MDs.) Also, there are absolutely no PAs at my doctor’s office (only MDs and NPs). Do you know any PAs in Colorado or any resources that would connect me to PAs that are willing to let me shadow? This is like the one aspect that is lacking for my current application, do you have any tips?
Hi Susan,
It certainly isn’t an easy task and it seems to be getting harder and harder as the PA profession grows and there are more people looking for shadowing opportunities. There is no secret that I can give you to ease this process other than commencing a relentless search, picking up the phone, or getting into your car and finding anybody who will be willing to let you shadow for even a couple of hours. Calling PA schools in your area and asking for suggestions can help, also referencing the pashadowonline website to see if they have any leads in your region. Search community clinics and hospitals in your area to find PAs and scout them out. Plead your case. Bring coffee and chocolate :-). I know it is hard but if you search hard enough and are willing to put yourself out there something will come up. Even if that means crossing state lines 🙂
Stephen
Hi Stephen!
I am a 24 year old female and I applied to 3 PA schools this summer for the 2017 start date. I got turned down by all 3, not even an interview!
I graduated from the University of Iowa with a BA in Health & Human Physiology and my GPA was 3.75. Currently, I have 1,200 patient contact hours that I gained by working as a medical assistant to an ENT doctor. I am very active in the volunteer community. I have volunteered as a pediatric cuddler, pet therapy, in the Emergency Room, and in cardiac rehab.
I have not yet taken the GRE, so the 3 schools I applied to are the ones that don’t require it.
I was shocked when I didn’t even get an interview at a school. So, currently I am enrolled in classes to enhance my prerequisite work: Genetics, Cell Biology, and a chemistry lab starting in January.
I am also applying to nursing assistant jobs at the hospital to continue adding to my patient contact hours. And I am studying to take the GRE this spring so that I can apply to more schools next application cycle.
Can you tell me what you think my biggest weakness was as an applicant this past cycle? What do I need to focus on the most before the next application cycle for PA school?
I appreciate your blog so much. I’m just feeling very disappointed right now!
Also, I meant to add that I have shadowed two PA’s. This spring I will be looking to add more shadowing as well.
Hi Taylor,
As you can tell by both my own experience with PA school rejection and the many others who comment on this blog the PA school selection process is a bit grueling (to say the least). One thing you could do this year is consider taking the GRE and applying to more schools this next round. Statistically 12 is the magic number to give you the best odds. I know it is costly but it is probably worth it to cast a wider net. Beyond that you are doing everything right. As you accumulate more healthcare experience you gain insights and patient care hours that will help you not only as an applicant but through the interview process. It will also make you a more competitive candidate. So my advice would be to keep up the great work and try to cast a wide net this next round. Somebody is sure to snag you up… as I always say anything worth doing involves some risk and hard work. This is something worth doing so don’t give up. Also, take a look at your personal statement and make sure it represents all that you have done and all that you bring to the table.
Stephen
Hi Stephen,
I have a BA in Studio Art and a BS in Dental Hygiene and I am a Registered Dental Hygienist who is also licensed to give injections. I worked for 2 years in a practice and accumulated over 3500 hours of patient care. I started having back pain and the office let me go because I had to cut back hours and I managed to get a job at a medical device company shortly thereafter. Long story short, my back pain resulted in a spinal fusion and I am now fully recovered after two years. During those two years, I realized that I missed working with patients and decided to go for PA because I can no long practice in dentistry. I retook organic chem and A&P 1 and 2 and got all A’s. I have 60 hours of shadowing and took the gre. I have a 3. 2 from my BA and a 3.56 from my BS. This is my first cycle applying and I only applied to 2 schools. I made it to the interview process for the first one but didn’t get in and I am on the waitlist for my second school waiting to hear back. It doesn’t look like I will get in on my first try, but I know that I have gotten very far with only applying to 2 schools on my first try. I plan on applying to more schools around the country for my second cycle. My question is: how important is it to have a current job working in the medical field or in a hospital. I am 29 and have expenses and can’t afford to make anything less than what I am doing now. Should I do more volunteering and shadowing? Should I continue to retake classes? I know I will be a great PA because I can empathize with patients and understand not only the frustration of being in physical pain, but I can also understand the financial, psychological and mental issues as well when your going through a medical condition. Does it really matter to a school on what your current job is even if you are doing extra things on the side to improve your application? What are your thoughts?
Hi Erin,
Congrats on all your success of the first application cycle. You have a lot of experience and shadowing and I think you will be fine working in any capacity during the next application cycle. I am very impressed by your ability to persevere and overcome these obstacles and you will make an excellent PA because of them!
Stephen
Stephen, I love what you are doing; helping pay it forward is what it is all about. I hope you reply to my comment.
I am a 23 year old African American Male that has been working as a fireman/EMT for the last 3 years here in Houston. I for sure have my eyes set in stone on going to PA school and taking the steps now to make that happen. I am in paramedic school and will finish that soon. I currently do not have a degree, associates nor bachelors, due to me doing the fire academy and EMS, but I have most of my basics out of the way. I currently have a 3.3 GPA. I am trying to decide what to do my undergrad in, either Spanish, Biology, Sociology or Psychology. So I would be around 27 until I can apply to PA school and at that time I will have 7 years in as a fireman and EMT.
What do you recommend for my undergrad and any other helpful tips?
Hello Stephen,
I see you have posted this blog awhile back but I am really hoping for a response. I need someone to be very honest with me. My GPA is a 3.22 and I need to know if this is too low to apply. I’m working as a CNA in a hospital receiving my patient contact hours. I have volunteering and shadowing experience already and will be taking my GRE in the spring. With my low GPA in mind…am I dreaming too big? Please let me know because I need to start thinking of other options if I am not on the correct path. Don’t want to be discouraged but at this point I want someone to be honest with me!
Thanks,
Natalia
Hi Natalia,
Of course you have a reasonable chance to get into PA school. It starts with a strong conviction and a belief in yourself and your future purpose as a PA. GPA is a factor but by no means the only factor. Also, a GPA of 4.0 in an applicant who did the minimum amount of work is much different than even a 2.9 GPA in an applicant who challenged themselves or is a disrupter. Keep the end goal in sight, do all that you can to push yourself and try to find ways to stand out. Take online courses, start a community project, learn Spanish, spend a few months working overseas etc. etc. etc. The truth is you will go as far as you believe you can and as far as you are willing to see this through. It sounds cliche, but you truly can accomplish anything you put your mind to… But nothing worth doing in life is every easy. Remember that and embrace that.
Stephen
Hey Stephen
I was wondering how important is your pre-requisite GPA in getting accepted into PA school? I have a Pre-requisite GPA of about a 3.7. My only concern is if I have a chance of getting into a school with an overall GPA of a 3.4 and a science GPA of a little over a 3.2.
I was also wondering that if my undergraduate program required me to take two classes for two degree, for example organic chemistry 1 & 2,if PA schools take the average of the two grades or the higher of the two grades if they only require say O chem 1?
Thank you!
Hey Stephen,
I am a sophomore at a college and planning to pursue a PA career. I must tell you that your blog has been very very helpful to me. From the university listings, to their updated tuition costs and the volunteering and hands on clinical experience advice that you have given, all have tremendously helped me get a better picture of the kind of things I gotta do to get a better stand as a future PA school student.
Thank you so much.
With kind regards,
Kahani
Does graduating from PA school mean you have a masters degree??
Hi Mykala,
Yes, all schools are now required to offer a master’s degree although there are still a handful of graduates who will earn a bachelor’s degree in their program as they enrolled prior to the new requirements. This will be phased out very shortly..
Stephen
Hey Stephen,
I am 23 years old and earned B.S in Biochemistry with double minor in Health and Chemistry. I worked as a scribe at ER for past two years and volunteered in several hospitals. However in my senior year my gpa took a hit due to personal issues. My current GPA is 3.45 and GRE is 299. I applied to PA program via CASPA for 2016-2017 cycle. I applied to 11 schools around beginning of August through middle of September. But I have only interviewed in one school around October. I feel frustrated and was wondering where am I going wrong and what can I do to improve my chances. Can you give me some advise please!
My story is very similar to yours. I applied to 10, interview at 1 (found out today that I didn’t get in) and rejected from another one. I still have 8 “chances” left. I’m still waiting to hear from the rest! My stats are similar to yours.
I’m close to the point of frustration and desperation 🙁
Hi! I read your comment and have a suggestion to your problem. You don’t have much health experience (specifically hands-on patient care). Most of the PA schools I’ve talked to don’t consider basic hospital volunteering/scribing as patient care experience –but they’re very good to have additionally.
Hi Stephen, I have a bit of bad academic history (a 2.4) GPA but that is on an upward trend. I am starting to get healthcare experience as a volunteer and continue on with shadowing. I put myself through college as a waiter so I couldnt repair my GPA as high as I wanted to but my last semester is in the spring (bachelors degree) but I am worried that no amount of experience can overcome my bad GPA from before. Do I have any chance of getting in anywhere? I have done a lot of growing up and taking my future seriously. But I just want to be sure that there is still a chance. I could really use your input. What would you recommend I do at this point?
Hello! I have family who are involved in admissions, so I thought I could give some pointers. What I would suggest is taking prerequisite science classes over again at a community college. If you take 4-6 science classes and get all A’s, this could show your resolve and current work ethic. You can take them one at a time of course if you have a job. Also, what volunteer work are you specifically doing? Most volunteering (even if you are handling patients) won’t qualify as hands-on patient care. Schools are looking for experience with higher medical autonomy. Additionally, are you shadowing a PA or a doctor? If it’s a PA, you’re already on the right track.
Hello! First, I must admit, I am your run of the mill optimism advocate with never ceasing demtermination. Reading your articles truly inspire me. However, I am concerned since I am in my freshman year of college, what jobs in the medical field can I obtain with little to no medical experience. Can you give me insight on how you got your start into the medical realm and first med jobs? Thanks for your consideration Steve!!
Hi Sydney,
One sunny day while in Seattle I washed behind my ears; laced up my shoes and took a trip down to the campus health center. I walked in the doors and presented myself to clinic administration office and said – my name is Stephen, I am a pre medical student, I want more than anything to be a healthcare provider and patient advocate someday, I work extremely hard, I am willing to do anything and oh, by the way, I work for free! The last part is the one you don’t want to leave out ?. I did the same thing at the university hospital. Over the next few weeks I began volunteering as a patient transport tech and the student clinic offered me a paid student position in medical records. I spent the next three years working my way through the ranks… this is where I met my first PA, this is where I would receive 3 out of 4 of my recommendation letters and this is where I would get a chance to volunteer and work in different setting all over the hospital. It all started with the word FREE! ?
Stephen
Really great post! Thank you for writing it and putting it all together. I’m a mother of two, I was raised by a single mom of 6, and have had quite a challenging experience getting to this point in my career. I have a strong GPA both overall and in the science classes, acute care experience as a Clinical Registered Dietitian, and volunteer experience in underserved areas for school districts with high obesity rates in low income areas close to where I live. My major concern is the GRE, I’ve taken it twice and my scores are barely hitting the 50% ile for each section. Given the variety of the other aspects of my application and background, do you think the GRE scores will hard-filter my application out of the pool of qualified applicants? Appreciate your input and expertise. Thanks again for the great information!!
Hi! I met a dietitian who is currently in PA school who made it in from her first year of applying. They absolutely love the experience that comes from it (extremely high medical autonomy is great). If you have a strong GPA, I wouldn’t worry much about the GRE, especially if you’re reaching mid-percentile. I’ve heard from different PA admissions that they typically don’t focus too much on GRE scores UNLESS they are amazing or horrible. If the school doesn’t have a strict minimum GRE score, you should be totally fine.
Hi I have 4 years experience in medical research, I do blood draws, intubation, sedation, anesthesia recovery, injections, fluid administration, etc but my patients are mostly pigs though our devices are used in people. Do you think that this would count as health care experience or do I need human experience before considering pa degree? Thanks
Hi Lin,
As PAs we tend to work in the realm of Homo sapiens so it is best that your experience also involves direct, hands on, patient care experience in this manner. Not that pigs aren’t smart (and lovable) but a year, or at least 1000 hours of people medicine along with you background will probably be more than enough.
Stephen
Hello Stephen,
I know there still a possibility for me to get into PA school one day. My over all GPA is not that great … pretty much the avg GPA that doesn’t get into PA school 3.12, which was the GPA that described in the post. My issue is that I have to many units to even raise my GPA. My last 3 years over all GPA is 3.5 with a positive trajectory… will CASAP screen out my application because it doesn’t fall within competitive range? Do the colleges look at the individual’s transcripts record… I’m sure they do for those that gets interview. Do the applications screeners look at such?
Hi Stephen –
I graduated 5 years ago with a degree in sociology with a slightly less than average GPA. Much to my embarrassment, my focus was not on academics. The last several years I have been working in commercial real estate as a broker assisting non-profits. I have had a pull on me for a long time to get into the medical field, specifically working towards becoming a PA. I have a deep passion for helping others and practicing medicine runs in my family. At this point, I am 27 years old and would be starting a new career and lack confidence in my academics. Any recommendations for me as I continue to explore this passion as well as work to overcome my weak academic performance?
Hi Stephen,
Great post- thanks for sharing! Do you know by how much chances of being accepted are increased for a Hispanic applicant, assuming the student is a “Leslie”?
Hi Stephen!
Really appreciate your site! Do you know any stats on non-traditional students being accepted into pa school? I have 9 years of experience as a paramedic, prehospital and hospital, however I have been a stay at home mom now for 1 year. The countdown is on for me to go back to school and get my bachelors when my youngest goes to school. Would I need more current work history before applications? Thankyou so much for your input!
Hi Jessica,
In my experience, after working with 100s of “non-traditional” students through our essay collaborative, I have found these applicants to be our very best and brightest. Also, because of the years of experience (both life and work) you bring to the table, you will likely stand out. I feel confident that your work experience will be plenty. I would suggest obtaining letters of recommendation early and obtaining some shadowing experience. I am sure you will do great!!!
Stephen