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VERY low GPA hopeful to get into PA school


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Hello!

I have an average of a 2.5 commutative GPA. I have a bachelors in Biology with a 2.4 commutative GPA from that school and a 3.4 commutative GPA from a community college where i took some more Pre-requisite classes and retook some I had done bad in the first time around. I have As and Bs in all my pre-requisite classes and a few Cs in other biology/math courses like physics and calculus, working as a EKG tech and have REALLY good recommendations...The question is...what are my chances of actually getting into PA school? Any advice? I am 28 years old and would like to start within the next two years...

Thank you for your advice and help...I am very discourage right now, but this is my dream and I would do whatever necessary...

Also, any recommendations on schools that are a bit lenient?

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Honestly? At this moment your chances are basically non-existent even if your last 45/60 hours are killer 3.9+ good and you apply to the few schools that care mostly about that. As an EKG tech (i was too!) your hce is only OK and will not make people ignore your gpa.

Your total gpa is too low to even be allowed apply to 99% of schools.

If this is your dream and are willing to go to any lengths, you will likely need to go back and get a second BA and get close to straight As. There are lots of us on this forum who got into school after similar failings... (i had 21 hours of F my first year in school....) so you have hope, but you need to ask yourself if you can do it. You might consider DO school as they take grade replacement (all but 1 pa school i know of do NOT take it.....) So you need to calc gpa with all your grades.


Good luck! It is a hard road ahead of you, but not an impassable one.

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Just had a discussion about this with someone else who is in the same position as you. Please see this post:

 

http://www.physicianassistantforum.com/index.php?/topic/17832-help-guidance-needed-asap-low-gpa/

 

I am 28 years old and would like to start within the next two years...

 

 

I'd like to add that I was 28 when I realized I wanted to be a PA. I started PA school at 33 years old and I had a similar GPA as you. So just know its possible, it'll just take some time.

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I will echo what everyone else has already said that this will be a "long-term" journey...not something you can expect in the next couple of years. The problem right now for the folks who have subpar or even "good" gpa's is that the field is undergoing a lot of growth and there are record numbers of applicants. Even if you meet the minimum requirements for admission, there could be hundreds of people also applying with much higher qualifications.

 

Not trying to dissuade you in any way, just want to be realistic. I got subpar grades myself in my general education coursework some 10 years ago. I ended up going to school for radiography and working for 8 years in various modalities while continuing to get my bachelors degree and doing all the prereqs for school.

I'm now 30 and in my second didactic semester of PA school.

 

So my suggestion...continue whatever program to get that gpa up to something that is competitive. Not only get more healthcare experience but the more advanced the better....think emt, paramedic or something along those lines. Think long term strategy...

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  • 2 weeks later...

I feel that these type of students are better off going to medical or osteopathic schools that honor grade replacement.  The years it will take to fix your GPA for PA school... you are getting close to just putting in that time for med school, in which you can retake a year worth of classes that you bombed, relatively quickly fix your GPA, and these schools are actually less competitive than PA school (exception being you must take MCAT) to begin with, and they accept grade replacements.

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