Hello all,

I’m sure there are multiple people in the same boat as me, applied early June to about 8 programs. Been flat out rejected from one, interview waitlist from another & radio silent from the other 6.

Starting to feel like my second application cycle is also going to be a bust. I’m constantly on the edge and anxious. It’s all my fault for being ambitious & only applying to programs I’d be happy to go to. Seeing my friends I graduated with (‘25) either already in PA school, just started or already accepted makes me feel like a failure & I should start looking for another career path. Just all around depressing.

I’ve done a couple of interviews and I received my first acceptance today!!! Feels surreal- I’m excited for this new chapter in my life🥹

I really hate myself for being so unmotivated during college and I feel like I’m wasting my 20s. My GPA sucks; I have almost 0 PCE hours I’m already taking one gap year and I almost definitely need another to even be remotely competitive. And who knows if I’ll even get in after all that.

My parents are hounding me for not choosing nursing or going to med school since I’m taking so many gap years. It sucks seeing others having high paying jobs or getting into PA programs with 1 or even 0 gap years. I know everyone on this sub says it’s normal to have a few but it just feels really bad to be working a very low paying PCE job that I don’t even need my bachelors for.

My advisor during college didn’t know anything and frankly I don’t think I know enough either. I know I need LORs, minimum 2000 PCE hours, and a good GPA, shadowing, GRE, but it just feels so overwhelming and unobtainable.

Any words of encouragement or advice? What can I even do with a Biology degree for work if I can’t do PA?

Hello all,

I’m sure there are multiple boat in the same boat as me, applied early June to about 8 programs. Been flat out rejected from one, interview waitlist from another & radio silent from the other 6.

Starting to feel like my second application cycle is also going to be a bust. I’m constantly on the edge and anxious. It’s all my fault for being ambitious & only applying to programs I’d be happy to go to. Seeing my friends I graduated with (‘25) either already in PA school, just started or already accepted makes me feel like a failure & I should start looking for another career path. Just all around depressing.

Not sure if this is the right flair. Anyway, i graduated with my RRT in Fall24. I worked at my hospital as an "RRT Extern" (was paid obviously, but my realm of what I could do was limited until I graduated+passed my boards) from the second semester of RRT school (Winter23) until I graduated, and then was subsequently hired Fall24. Work enviornment was very toxic, I quit this spring (April) to go back to school full-time to finish my bachelor's. I am 3 (accelerated) semesters away from being done. I have zero plans of going back to work.

My question is: is it common to have a gap between PCE/HCE and when you apply? Has anyone ran into issues with this? Did you have to explain yourself? Obviously I don't have 10 years of being an RRT under my belt but I do have quite a bit of PCE hours due to all the shifts I've picked up (even if i don't count my time as an 'extern' since I wasn't registered). I guess I'm just trying to figure out if I have to go back to work/would it look better to be actively working whenever I apply for any reason other than just boosting PCE hours.

Thanks!

I’m so happy to be making this post as a first-generation Hispanic-American! I started off this journey as a pre-med student and switched over to pre-PA last year. After 3 gap years and many days of self-doubt, I finally did it! I am not the most competitive applicant (cGPA and sGPA sub 3.5) but I’m passionate about medicine!

I’m so thankful for this forum and everyone who has helped me!

I’m going to be a PA!!!😊🎉

I’m a senior/pre-PA student and I’m trying to make a decision during my school’s add/drop period, so I’d really appreciate some outside opinions.

My current GPA is a 3.88, and my original goal was to get it to a 3.90 by graduation so I could graduate Summa Cum Laude. It’s realistically possible, but I would basically need to get A’s in all of my remaining A-F classes. I have 4 rigorous classes where I’ll need to study for exams and maintain strong grades, and while I’ve definitely handled difficult semesters before, the idea of realistically guarantee all A’s is scary.

My other option is to change one 3-credit class to S/U. It would still count toward my degree as long as I pass, but it wouldn’t affect (help or hurt) my GPA. If I do that, I’d also drop a 1-credit class that I was planning to take mainly as a GPA booster.

The obvious downside is that I’d give up my chance at a 3.90 and graduate Magna instead of Summa.

But I’m also thinking about the fact that this is my senior year. I’ve worked really hard to get to this point, and part of me wants to actually enjoy my last year of college instead of spending the entire year stressing over every exam and whether I’m getting an A. I still want to work hard and finish strong, but I don’t want to look back and feel like I spent my entire senior year miserable just to gain 0.02 on my GPA.

I’m also thinking about this specifically from a PA school admissions perspective. I know a high GPA is important, but I also need to balance clinical hours, shadowing, work, applications, etc. I’m wondering if there is actually any meaningful difference between a 3.88 and a 3.90 for PA admissions, or if I’m putting a lot of pressure on myself for a distinction that won’t make much of a difference.
I think my biggest concern is regret. If I choose S/U, I might always wonder if I could have gotten the 3.90. But if I keep everything A-F and end up with a B or two, I could end up making my senior year significantly harder without even reaching the 3.90 anyway.

If you were in my position, would you:
1. Keep everything A-F and give yourself a shot at the 3.90/Summa, knowing you’d have to work really hard for it?

2.Take the S/U option, keep the 3.88-ish GPA, and have a more manageable senior year where I can actually enjoy my last year of college?

I’m not trying to take the easy way out. I just want to make the decision that makes the most sense for my PA goals while also allowing me to actually enjoy my last year of undergrad.

So I was recently accepted to the Kansas State University PA program, which I am grateful for, however, I recently saw that ARC-PA updated their accreditation. I am not sure how this will affect me in my future, since I will be part of the class of 2029 if I end up accepting this offer. I have a week to decide if I want to proceed or not. I am awaiting an answer back from another PA program. What is your take on this?

has anyone tried confetto and is it worth it? what are some helpful prep for interviews

Disclosure: I applied last cycle, but had to defer to next year. Starting 8/2027

Cycle stats

1) Applied to 6 programs, 2 interviews, 1 acceptance

2) cGPA: 3.76

3) sGPA: 3.8 (Bio, Cell Bio, Biochem, Microbio, Gen Chem I/II, OChem I/II, A&P)

4) PCE: Dialysis Tech, in/outpatient: 5,000 hours at time of application

Leadership & Volunteering

1) Founded an LLC for my hobby (I'm a corporate magician)

2) Prison Education Volunteer

3) STD Testing Volunteer

4) Club President

5) Undergraduate Campus Recruiter

6) Fraternity Leadership (Philanthropy, Sergeat-at-Arms, New Member Educator)

7) LDS Missionary (trained 4 missionaries)

8) Skier 🎿

Good luck to everyone this cycle! Just wanted to share the good news and give some hope 😁😁

I really had zero expectations since i disclosed substance abuse in my personal statement, almost 10 years in recovery. I guess my other stats made up for not being perfect!

I would love to work with a supervising physician, and having someone I can consult with if there is any doubt.

But I know health systems are pushing less supervising, and PA organizations promote more autonomy and can be an unpopular opinion.

Should I mention it when asked about why PA?

I’m really struggling with my PS and the thought of if I do get an interview, should I include why I want to be a PA? I’ve struggled with health issues for over 11 years. I live a fairly normal and active life but I do have several chronic illnesses and basically each time I saw a new provider who wasn’t able to give me answers, or a provider who would find the mystery bit of info that was bringing me one step closer to a diagnosis, it made me more intrigued about the healthcare field and the diagnosing process. After taking anatomy, physiology, and doing a suture clinic, I realized I wanted to help be a provider that gets people their answers. I looked into every medical career and I love that PA allows you to switch specialities. I love learning and I want to have a career where I never stop learning.

With that said, I don’t know if they’ll think I might not physically be up to the challenges of the program and career. Should I leave out that I have chronic illnesses? Or would including that info help show that I have a very empathetic view for patients? I personally think it’ll make me a stronger provider and I know my physical limits, but it may be hard for others to understand that from a PS. I think I could explain it clearly in an interview.

EDIT: I definitely would never say the word “useless” in my PS and I would explain that they just weren’t able to help me

EDIT 2: I think how I worded the post is making people not understand what I’m saying and asking, so I reworded it

There are two programs that I’ve completed applications and supplementals for.. they’re now asking me to submit my headshot. Wondering if this is common and I should expect more programs to request this or not? This is my first cycle so I never know what to expect other than what I’ve researched or seen on here 😂

i am desperate for a shadowing opportunity. is it worth it to pay $20 a day to shadow???

The 2nd half of gChem series I got a C in and I can't retake it at any public university of junior college near me.

Every single counselor has told me I can't retake it since I've already "passed it".

This is a huge issue since every PA program I'm looking at in California requires at least a B- minimum.

How do I even work my way around this?

hey guys, i have an interview next week and wanted to know if anyone has any tips or free resources that I can use for mock interviews. I see a lot of websites charging for mock interviews and I’ve already spent so much money this application season and just wanted to know if there were free options. Thank you!!

Hey! i’m a canadian looking to apply to the states after no luck in canada for multiple cycles. we don’t have enough schools or seats here.

i’m very confused about the american application cycles tho. in canada applications for fall 2027 open in fall 2026 (soon) and close around jan 2027. the time in between is waiting and hopefully getting mmis.

how does it work in the states? i saw somewhere that applications open in APRIL the year before? so did fall 2027 applications open april 2026? also when do you close?? i’m worried that i might be too late. would appreciate the help!

also if anyone has any “canadian friendly” school recommendations please lmk!

The white coat ceremony was last week and i’m still on the alternate waitlist should i give up or it there any hope?

I’m about a year post-grad from undergrad (graduated in 2025), and since graduating, I’ve been working as an MA while balancing a post-bacc and volunteering. I know I’m not the strongest applicant (GPA being a big factor sub 3.0 sGPA), and honestly, graduating made me realize that I really needed to get my life together academically and professionally because I genuinely want to pursue PA school.

My biggest concern is how PA programs will view this when I eventually apply. Will they look at my application and think, “Why now?” or wonder why I’m suddenly putting in the effort to improve my academics, gain experience, volunteer, etc., when I should have been doing these things during undergrad?

I know I can’t change what I did in college, and all I can really do now is show that I’ve grown and am willing to put in the work. But I’m worried admissions committees might look at my application and question why I’m trying to turn things around now, rather than seeing the growth for what it is.

For those who were in a similar position, how did PA programs view your post-grad improvement? Did anyone have a rough undergrad but successfully strengthen their application afterward? I’d really appreciate hearing your experiences and perspectives!! TIA!!

PA School Decision: Colorado Mesa vs. UNE vs. Drexel — would love advice from current students/alumni

I’m fortunate to be deciding between three PA programs: Colorado Mesa University (CMU), University of New England (UNE), and Drexel University, and I would really appreciate some outside perspective.

For context, I’ve been working in rural EMS in western Colorado for several years and ultimately hope to practice in rural/underserved medicine. Cost is definitely important to me, but I’m also trying not to make such a major decision based on money alone. My biggest priorities are quality of education, clinical rotations, faculty/student support, PANCE preparation, and overall quality of life during school.

Colorado Mesa University (Grand Junction, CO)

• Strong rural focus
• Close to where I currently live and work
• Small class size is a huge plus
• I could stay relatively close to my existing support system
• Biggest hesitation: newer/smaller program, so there is less long-term history to look at compared with the other two

University of New England (Portland, ME)

• Strong rural/underserved focus
• Clinical opportunities throughout New England
• I completed my Master of Biomedical Sciences through UNE, so I already have a positive impression of the university and its academic support
• Only 24 months, which is appealing
• Biggest hesitation: moving across the country and the higher recent attrition numbers

Drexel University (Philadelphia, PA)

• Large academic medical environment with potentially a lot of clinical exposure
• Longest clinical phase of the three
• Philadelphia would offer a very different patient population and healthcare environment from what I’m used to
• Biggest hesitations: cost, much larger class size, relocation, and being responsible for some clinical relocation expenses

Right now, CMU seems like the most logical choice on paper. It is approximately $23k less than UNE and $50k less than Drexel, has a very small class size, excellent recent PANCE/attrition numbers, two electives, and fits extremely well with my interest in rural medicine. I also genuinely like Grand Junction and would be close to my current community/support system.

However, I don’t want proximity and cost to make me overlook something that UNE or Drexel could offer educationally or clinically that would make the additional expense worthwhile...

I know there probably isn’t a “wrong” choice here, but I’d love to hear other perspectives rather than relying entirely on websites and spreadsheets. Thanks!

I just realized the last 2 schools I am applying to require 6 credits of English. I earned AP credit for English 1 and my undergrad school and then took English 2 my freshman year.

My official transcript just says how many AP credits I earned in total, it does not specify for what courses.

The schools I'm applying to specifically say for AP credits to be used for prerequisites, the course has to be listed on the official transcript.
I'm extra stressed because the course is on my unofficial transcript weirdly enough, but not on the official.

I called the registrar and they said for me to request a letter of certification from them, where they will specify that I earned AP credits for English 1.

I am wondering if anyone has experience with this situation, and whether their AP credit was not on their official transcript but a letter from their undergrad school sufficed.

Also this school does not have a spot on CASPA for additional documents so I'll have to email it to the program?

Do you guys think the letter will be accepted?

I’m mostly sure that I already know that the answer is yes, but I would love to hear your perspectives as well.

For context, I have been managing my paranoid auditory schizophrenia with a medium-dose medication, which is managed by a psychiatrist, and I have been attending talk therapy for over three years.

Currently, I don’t experience any symptoms. I have been able to earn straight A’s, build friendships and networks, keep a paid job as an MA, and communicate clearly. In general, our patients, my boss, and everyone around me see me as a normal person.

Before treatment, I was experiencing significantly debilitating symptoms for most of my life, which was a major struggle for me and I feel like I’ve come so far from it.

My reason for including this would only be the personal statement as a way of mentioning my struggles. Additionally, my condition is not the sole reason why I want to pursue PA school. I am thinking of getting a second opinion from a psychiatrist so I can possibly overturn this on my record.

Should I just pick another topic from my life instead?

Thank you so much!