Can I Get Into PA School?

[samd2saint]

Hey there, so I'm here like everyone else wondering if I can get into PA school.

 

Undergrad GPA: 2.6 (horrible I know)

Majored in Psych (3.1), Eng (3.6) & Soc (3.4)

Since then I retook Bio & Chem, A&P, MicroBio, Orgo I/II, Immunology & Histology

- lowest grade was a B+ sharp upward trend

Science GPA is 3.6

GRE: 324

Worked as a medical scribe, EMT-B & Paramedic: about 2500hrs

Volunteer: 1000hrs

Shadowing: 30hrs

And for fun.... I am fluent in Haitian Creole, French, Spanish and ASL

 

I still need to take Biochem & Genetics which could possible bring my science GPA to 3.7

 

In the winter I'll be on an international volunteer excursion and I'm currently working as a Paramedic......

 

There's really nothing else I can do for my undergrad, I'm hoping that when I use CASPA it factors in my post grad courses, EMT & paramedic courses to boost my overall GPA. I'm not sure if that's how it works......

 

My goal is to apply in the next round, so summer 2017. I plan on gaining more volunteer and shadowing hours, and currently working on my recommendation letters. Aside from my personal statement (which I plan on starting in Jan) I feel like I've done everything I could possibly do.

 

I'm really interested in Emory, George Washington, Rutgers, Duke, Wake Forest & some schools in Pennsylvania.

 

Am I reaching too far? I know my undergrad GPA is bad, but at one point it dropped to 1.8, I already had over 130 credits so it was really hard to bring it up any higher.

 

What other schools should I consider? I know ppl suggest speaking to admissions counselors at PA schools, but what do I say? Would visiting a school make a difference?

 

I'd appreciate any words of encouragement or advice on what I can do to increase my chances and prove to schools I am a competitive candidate for their program. I'll be 27 next year and this will be my first attempt at applying.

 

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[QCEMPA]

If your overall GPA is 2.6, your application probably won't even be looked at for the schools on your list. You need to bring it up to at least a 3.0. You have a variety of extracurriculars, which can help you if you can get your GPA up. It will take work, but it can be done with time. With these stats and that list of programs, would not apply this year tho as it would likely be a waste of money.

[samd2saint]

Like I said it's really hard to bring up my cumulative GPA being that I've acquired soooo many hours. How would you suggest I bring up my GPA? I'm not longer in college, and idk what classes to take?

[QCEMPA]

There are other posts on the board of people who had low GPAs and overcame it to get into PA school. Look around and see what you can find.

 

The only ways to be more competitive on applications is to continue to get hours and raise your GPA. Is pretty much a truism for all applicants.

[MT2PA]

You need to calculate your cumulative (unless that IS your undergrad GPA).  Your cumulative undergrad (those for your undergrad degree as well as other random courses like biochem, etc) will count towards your cumulative.  THAT'S the number that needs to be 3.0

 

At this point, almost all of the schools on your list are reaching.  Applicants that get interviews and accepted to those programs have cumulative and science GPAs 3.5+ as well as much more HCE.

 

If you don't have a 3.0 cumulative, you will get auto rejected from almost every school, especially the ones on your list.

 

Literally the only way to raise a GPA is to take more courses (and get A's).  Take any science courses that are relevant to PA school.  Most programs have a list of 'recommended courses'; start there and just keep going.

[optimistic3]

If your lowest grade is a B+, how is your GPA 2.6? Doesn't make sense.

 

I would search through different school websites and look for schools that focus on your last 60, 45, or 30 credits. I don't remember any off the top of my head but I've seen a few that do say that.

[fflores98]

Your GPA isn't where it needs to be now especially for some schools mentioned. I agree with the above, calculate your GPA and plan from there. If it isn't above a 3.0 you're going to be automatically rejected, application won't make it to adcom.

 

Your best bet would be to contact programs that count the last 30-60 credits over your cGPA. Your GRE score is also good to where you may be able to secure interviews with these schools.

 

I think you're definitely over reaching with some schools mentioned given your current situation.

[Asclepius]

*French Creole

 

Got to get that cGPA over 3.0 to be even considered for contention.

[samd2saint]

*French Creole

 

Got to get that cGPA over 3.0 to be even considered for contention.

*Haitian Creole

I am Haitian American; I speak my mother tongue and French

[samd2saint]

If your lowest grade is a B+, how is your GPA 2.6? Doesn't make sense.

 

I would search through different school websites and look for schools that focus on your last 60, 45, or 30 credits. I don't remember any off the top of my head but I've seen a few that do say that.

My undergrad college GPA is a 2.6

Since then I've been taking science courses to fulfill prereqs, and from those the lowest I have gotten is a B+

[samd2saint]

You need to calculate your cumulative (unless that IS your undergrad GPA). Your cumulative undergrad (those for your undergrad degree as well as other random courses like biochem, etc) will count towards your cumulative. THAT'S the number that needs to be 3.0

 

At this point, almost all of the schools on your list are reaching. Applicants that get interviews and accepted to those programs have cumulative and science GPAs 3.5+ as well as much more HCE.

 

If you don't have a 3.0 cumulative, you will get auto rejected from almost every school, especially the ones on your list.

 

Literally the only way to raise a GPA is to take more courses (and get A's). Take any science courses that are relevant to PA school. Most programs have a list of 'recommended courses'; start there and just keep going.

Thanks for your help.

The 2.6 is just from college. I'm not sure what my cumulative GPA is after I factor in the almost 96 credits I'll have from science classes I've been taking. And I'm not sure if my EMT & paramedic courses can also be factored in. I've looked at recommended courses and I'm not sure what other science I should take that I haven't already, aside from Physics.

[samd2saint]

Also by the I apply next year I should have btwn 5000-6000 HCE

[Asclepius]

*Haitian Creole

I am Haitian American; I speak my mother tongue and French

I'm Haitian American as well and have discussed this many times over lol. Haitian is not a language; French is. Our creole is a derivative of the French language.

 

But I digress.

 

Pm me...I would like to converse with more Haitians in the PA community.

[lanime]

I suggest taking a gander through the CASPA guidelines and faq... It will tell you how to calculate your GPA as it will be done when applying, as well as provide guidelines for what each course counts as. Here is the website:

 

https://portal.caspaonline.org/caspaHelpPages/about-caspaoverview/

[optimistic3]

My undergrad college GPA is a 2.6

Since then I've been taking science courses to fulfill prereqs, and from those the lowest I have gotten is a B+

 

ah, I see. Well the first step is to calculate your cGPA and sGPA using every class you've ever taken. Use the CASPA FAQ website to see if your EMT or other classes count as science or not. If it doesn't say there, then email then.

 

But I agree with the others. Many schools will not even look at your application if your GPA is below a 3.0 or sometimes 2.75 so let's see where you are in that aspect first of all.

[fakingpatience]

Thanks for your help.

The 2.6 is just from college. I'm not sure what my cumulative GPA is after I factor in the almost 96 credits I'll have from science classes I've been taking. And I'm not sure if my EMT & paramedic courses can also be factored in. I've looked at recommended courses and I'm not sure what other science I should take that I haven't already, aside from Physics.

 

 

If you took your EMT and medic classes at somewhere where you received college credits for them, then they will be factored in for CASPA, as part of your sGPA.  

Also, while you're working on raising your GPA, another volunteer thing you might look into doing is volunteering as a translator at Emory's farmworkers clinics.  I'm not sure how they choose volunteers to go, but have heard there is a large population of creole speaking patients that are treated in these clinics.  If you want more information PM me and I can point you in the right directions there.   

 

Are you currently working as a paramedic?  2500 hours is low to have as an EMT, scribe, and medic combined.    

[samd2saint]

I'm Haitian American as well and have discussed this many times over lol. Haitian is not a language; French is. Our creole is a derivative of the French language.

 

But I digress.

 

Pm me...I would like to converse with more Haitians in the PA community.

Lol I know Haitian isn't a language, but there are other countries and areas with their own version of creole.... But yep I'll pm you [emoji5]

[samd2saint]

Are you currently working as a paramedic? 2500 hours is low to have as an EMT, scribe, and medic combined.

I guesstimated low lol since I was mostly working part time while taking classes and volunteering. And I just started out as a Paramedic and should be full time for the next year

[cop to pa]

So, when you start a thread asking for an evaluation based on the data you supply, the data needs to be accurate. Old GPA without dozens of credits, estimates of experience, whatever else: what answer do you want? Bad data in, leads to bad data out.

 

Why not reevaluate where you are and provide the info from your first post, with real, accurate and up to date info?

[DukePAS]

Like I said it's really hard to bring up my cumulative GPA being that I've acquired soooo many hours. How would you suggest I bring up my GPA? I'm not longer in college, and idk what classes to take?

Genetics

Medical/Clinical Genetics

Biochemistry

Biomolecular Chemistry

Histology

Pathology

Virology

Clinical Chemistry

Embryology

Human Embryology

Medical Spanish

Kinesiology

Nutrition

Hematology

Microbiology

Physics

Organic Chemistry

Pharmacology

History of Medicine (surgeons love to pimp on history)

 

There are a million (maybe I'm exaggerating) classes that are relevant to PA school that aren't requirements. Find a course catalog and browse.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Petunia]

You really need to figure out what your CASPA cGPA is. If it isn't at least a 3, then I wouldn't waste my money applying to any of the schools you listed.  They are really great programs and you are up against thousands of us with 3.5+ GPA and <5,000 PCE.

 

If your CASPA GPA is at least a 2.8... there are a few schools that you can apply to that don't have minimums- or the minimum is 2.8, but don't be surprised if you don't get an interview at any

 

Most schools list their averages of applicants they accept on their websites.  Check this out, or you will be wasting money on applications

 

You may want to focus on non-CASPA schools so you can try to really emphasize your recent GPA... but be careful there... MUSC has an average GPA of a whopping 3.8-3.9!