destinationpas

I set my heart on PA school approximately 4 months after graduating with my bachelors. So, I scrambled to find hours. I don't recommend this, but it's what I thought I had to do. Looking back, I would have taken my time finding hours through a role I was passionate about. However, when you try finding jobs and you keep getting denied, you take what you can get. I didn't have a whole lot of great hands on experience (about 1,500 hours of taking vitals and doing EKGs at a small occupational clinic) , but I gained experience on how to interact with patients through volunteering and other hands-off opportunities for the past 8 hours. I was honestly REALLY nervous when interviewing at first because I knew that other candidates were nurses, therapists, paramedics, and just phenomenal professionals. If you're browsing through this forum and are looking for someone with little not-so-great experience, I DID TOO. I learned after a few interviews that the committee was really trying to get to know me, my ability as a potential student, and my intentions as a perspective PA, NOT how amazing I was as a current medical professional. I was just myself, and I made sure that I chose words and experiences that reflected my compassion for people and my passion for medicine. Undergrad Ed School: University of South Florida Cumulative Undergrad. GPA: 3.8 Science Undergrad. GPA: 3.65 Age at application time : 24 GRE: V: 156 Q: 155 AW: 4.0 Direct Patient Care : (type & hours) CNA at a rehab hospital (800 hours) Medical assistant, back of office: 1,500 hours (2 years as a medical assistant but I had half front/back roles) Volunteer/Community Service: Volunteer at a children's SNF, children's hospital, and the VA hospital. About 150 hours HCE: Front desk medical assistant, front desk receptionist for part time while in undergrad for a year, and pharmacy technician student for a year while in high school Shadowing: Family med PA: 12 hrs Ortho PA: 8 LOR: 1 from an MD and owner of practice, 1 from a NP I worked with, and 1 from a PA I worked with and shadowed Schools Applied (12): NSU (Jax, Ft. Myers, Orlando and Davie/Ft. Lauderdale), USF, FIU, Barry, FGCU, South University (Georgia, Richmond, and Tampa), Keiser CASPA submitted: June 07 CASPA Verified: June 08 Interview Invites: All the schools listed but FIU Denied: FIU (denied me an interview) Withdrew Application: NSU Jax and Ft. Myers, USF, FGCU, South University Georgia once I had gotten an acceptance Waitlisted: South University Richmond Accepted: NSU Orlando, NSU Davie, Barry, South University Tampa, and Keiser Attempts: First Attending: NSU Davie:)