Planteater Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 edwardcarter- Campbell is in Buies Creek, NC. I am no expert, but it seems to me that you need to look for programs which give more weight to your most recent coursework and also value health care experience. You can try searching the forums, using the search function at the top of the page, to find information about those. If that doesn't give you enough info, try starting your own thread to find out more. There are a lot of people on the forum that are happy to help. I am sorry about your dad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southpawmedic PA-C Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 Undergrad Ed School: Lynn University - BS in Psychology CASPA Cumulative Undergrad. GPA: 3.43 CASPA Science Undergrad. GPA: 3.5 Age at application time : 39 GRE: Not taken Healthcare Experience: Volunteer EMT-B for 6 years (520 hours), Full time Paramedic for 8 years (12,600 hours) Extracurricular activities / Community service: None due to spending the last 4 years working on undergrad and pre-reqs for PA school Schools Applied: USD South Dakota Application Submitted Date: e-submitted to CASPA 6-30-11, mailed 08-11 Interview Invites: USD 1-21-12 Denied:n/a Waitlisted: n/a Accepted: USD today!!! Attempts: First Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corpsman2PA Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 Undergrad Ed School: Sac City College/American River College CASPA Cumulative Undergrad. GPA: 3.45 CASPA Science Undergrad. GPA: 3.3 Age at application time : 27 GRE: N/A Healthcare Experience: -FMF Navy Corpsman for 6 years (~13k+ hrs) -Medical Assistant in Urgent Care ~6mos (<1k hrs) -PTSD counseling center assistant (~500hrs) Extracurricular activities / Community service: -Big Brother (Present) -College Veterans Club (2011) -Adults w/disabilities program helper (2010-2011) -Wheel-chair basketball stats and scoreboard operator (2008) -Childrens equine therapy side walker (2008) -Relay for life captain (2009) Shadowing: ZERO Schools Applied: U. of Washington/Medex-Yakima, SJVC, Stanford/Foothill pcap Application Submitted Date: 9/1/11 (SJVC and Stanford are non caspa programs) Interview Invites: U. of Washington Denied: Withdrew from SJVC and Stanford Waitlisted: n/a Accepted: U. of Washington/MEDEX Yakima Class 19! Attempts: First Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IdahoPA Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 ^Wahooooooo! Congrats, corpsman!!! See you in Seattle for the summer course. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edwardcarter Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 does anyone else have any input on my chances? I was thinking about western michigan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southpawmedic PA-C Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 edwardcarter...with your experience and improved gpa, I would guess you have a great chance. I was just accepted to USD with a pretty good gpa and 14 years of EMS experience. I'll be 40 this year during our first semester. I don't know if you are concerned about your previous gpa or your age but I've read in these forums people with either or both of your descriptions have been accepted. Go for it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eam39447 Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 PA Applicant Stats Page Undergrad Ed School: Creighton University - BS in Biology Grad Ed School: Creighton University - MS in Clinical Anatomy CASPA Cumulative Undergrad. GPA: 3.33 CASPA Cumulative Grad GPA: 4.0 CASPA Science . GPA: 3.2 Age at application time : 25 GRE: 1350 Healthcare Experience: Cardiac Technician (4200 hrs) Extracurricular activities / Community service: 450 Volunteer at Ronald McDonald House & Hospital PICU; Representative for CPWLL to National Women's Lacrosse League Schools Applied: Univ of Nebraska Med Center, Univ of Iowa, Des Moines Univ, Augsburg College, USD South Dakota Application Submitted Date: e-submitted to 7/15/11, verified 7/21/11 Interview Invites: UNMC, Univ of IA, DMU, Augsburg College Denied: Augsburg College, USD Waitlisted: Univ of IA Accepted: UNMC !!!, DMU Attempts: First Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southpawmedic PA-C Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 Congratulations eam!! I know you didn't get that interview at USD unfortunately but happy you were accepted at UNMC. We'll be neighbors since I was just accepted to USD. Good luck and stay in touch! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corymedgar Posted February 10, 2012 Share Posted February 10, 2012 Undergrad Ed School: University of Florida Cumulative Undergrad. GPA: 3.89 Science Undergrad. GPA: 3.87 Age at application time : 21-22 1st GRE: 1390 Direct Patient Care : 1600-CNA 300-Abroad Shadowing: 100-Trauma, ER, Transplant, and Family Practice Schools Applied: University of Florida, Duke, Wake Forest, UTSW, Arcadia, Stony Brook, George Washington University(PA/MPH), University of South Alabama Application Submitted Date: July 20 Schools Received Application Date: August 1 Interview Invites: UF, Duke, Wake Forest, UTSW, Arcadia, GWU, USA Denied: Stony Brook Withdrew Application: USA, Wake Forest Waitlisted: N/A Accepted: UF, Duke, UTSW, Arcadia(PA/MPH), GWU(PA/MPH) Will Attend: UTSW!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wenjing Posted February 10, 2012 Share Posted February 10, 2012 Hi laiflove! You're fluent in Mandarin too?? Awesome! If you took Chinese in college, they will obviously see all of your classes, plus I minored in it and there's a place to put your minor. Also, the app has a question about if you are fluent in any other languages, so you should definitely put it there. Most schools asked me about it in the interviews too. Best of luck! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thielen91 Posted February 10, 2012 Share Posted February 10, 2012 edwardcarter-Are you from Michigan? I just interviewed at WMU and they are huge on healthcare experience and they also look at your last 60 credits the most when considering GPA. I would be suprised if you didn't get in with all of your experience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UCFknight Posted February 10, 2012 Share Posted February 10, 2012 Chances? / Recommedations to build resume? Undergrad Ed School: University of Central Florida Major: Molecular Biology and Microbiology Graduated: Burnett Honors College at UCF Cumulative Undergrad. GPA: 3.38 Science Undergrad. GPA: 3.32 Age at application time : 24 1st GRE: 1240 (new format) Direct Patient Care : 150 hours Volunteer (ER front desk and Patient Companion) School planning to apply to: Nova Orlando, Nova Ft. Lauderdal, Nova Tampa, Nova jacksonville I started Volunteering again for Shepherds hope (nonprofit for healthcare to uninsured) and Florida hosptital Shadowed DO Family practice. Any recommendations or comments would be great. How do I compare? Applying next cylce. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DDIAZ028 Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 I know how difficult this whole process can be so I tried to make this as detailed as possible for those of you applying in the future...Good luck! :;-): Undergrad. School: Florida International University, BA Psychology GPA: 3.54 Cumulative Undergrad. GPA: 3.47 (CASPA) Science Undergrad. GPA: 3.27 (CASPA) Age at application time: 24 GRE: 510 V/ 640Q/ 4.5 Direct Patient Care: Dermatology Office- Physician-Patient Liaison (6 yrs/6000+ hrs) •Assist doctors during general and cosmetic dermatologic procedures. •Assist doctors during MOHS surgery and excisions. •Coordinate surgical appointments. •Maintain biopsy and skin cancer logs. •Review and relay pathology/lab results to patients. • Handle FDA regulated IPLEDGE program for prescribing Isotretinoin. Research Experience: Developmental Psychobiology Lab-Research Asst., FIU (2 yrs/1500 hrs) •Conducted comparative behavioral research with an emphasis on learning and development. •Worked on a study aimed at determining the developmental and learning implications of Bobwhite Quail. •Performed data entry/analysis and animal husbandry. Youth Development Project Lab-Research Asst., FIU (3 mos/150 hrs) •Developmental Psychosocial Interaction in Field Settings. •Worked in conjunction with a community based youth development project. •Conducted off site assessments with disadvantaged youth at an alternative high school. •Collected data was utilized by a school-based counseling program as well as an ongoing longitudinal study. Schools Applied: Emory, GWU, SUNY-Stony Brook, Northeastern, Nova-Davie, Barry-Miami, Medex-Seattle Application Submitted Date: CASPA: Submit 7.14.2011/ Verified 07.25.2011/ Mailed 07.29.2011 Emory Supplemental: 07.21.2011 GWU Supplemental: 08.01.2011 Northeastern Supplemental: 08.02.2011 Medex Supplemental: 08.02.2011 Stony Brook Supplemental: 09.09.2011 Nova Supplemental: 09.10.2011 Barry: No Supplemental Interview Invites: GWU: Invited 09.06.2011/ Interview 09.24.2011 Stony Brook: Invited 09.12.2011/ Interview 10.27.2011 Barry: Invited 09.22.2011/ Interview 11.04.2011 Nova: Invited 09.23.2011/ Interview 12.16.2011 (Cancelled) Northeastern: 11.16.2011/ Interview 12.2.2011 (Did not attend) Denied: Emory 12.22.2011 Withdrew Application: Nova, Medex Waitlisted: GWU: Notified 1.20.2012 Accepted: Stony Brook 11.08.2011 Barry 11.09.2011 GWU: 2.15.2012 (This is where I will be going!!!) Attempts: First Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edwardcarter Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 Since I seem to be the "low GPA PA student poster child" (LOL!) I'll go first. These are the numbers on my CASPA record: ***************************************************************** Undergrad Ed School: Furman University (Greenville, SC) Cumulative Undergrad. GPA: 2.57 (Fr: 2.13 --- So: 1.84 --- Jr: 2.07 --- Sr: 3.35 --- 5th year: 3.54) Science Undergrad. GPA: 3.13 (2.0 freshman year, 3.5 senior years) Age at application time: 31 1st GRE: 730 V, 680 Q, 4.5 AW (2050 cummulative by previous standards) Direct Patient Care: 2.5 years full-time EMT/ER tech, small military hospital .5 years full-time EMT, small community EMS 3 years full-time EMT/medic, inner-city EMS ~1.5 years volunteer first responder (24-36 hours/month) Extracurricular/Research Activities: 1 summer paid research assistantship 2 volunteer research assistantships 1 publication, coauthorship (name is #5 of 6) 1 presentation at nat'l undergrad research conference adjunct EMT instructor PA shadowing Schools Applied: 1 Application Submitted Date: August 18 Schools Received Application Date: postcard from school dated September 29 Interview Invites: 1 Denied: 0 Withdrew Application: 0 Waitlisted: 0 Accepted: 1 ************************************************************************** It's been a few years since I posted this... I went to PA school, served as student member on the ad comm, graduated and am now in my second year of practice. I get quite a few people asking me questions about getting in with a low GPA, so here are a few thoughts about what helped me: The most important thing I did was talk to an admissions counselor at every program I was interested in attending. I concentrated my efforts on the programs that seemed enthusiastic about me despite my low GPA. You could ask which programs these were, but it wouldn't matter. After being on an adcomm and participating in this forum, I can tell you that admissions criteria can be in flux... so get on the phone and find out who is interested in YOU! My overall GPA was low, but I had a high science GPA and an upwards trend. I was a lousy student ages 18-20, when I changed majors every 1-2 semesters... I was a great student after several years off, then going back and obtaining a science degree. I did post-bacc work and got all As while working ful-time and being married - demonstrating an ability to manage a challenging schedule with success. I had strong, HANDS-ON patient care experience for many years. I had strong LORs. I participated in a variety of activities, showing I was a well-rounded person. If your GPA is low, you have a harder, longer path to PA school. There probably isn't a shortcut. But, in my experience, it can be done. Feel free to PM me with more specific questions. What PA School did you get into? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KelseyO Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 Undergrad Ed School: Syracuse University B.S in Psychology, UCONN for 1 year to finish prereqs post grad Cumulative Undergrad. GPA: 3.92 Science Undergrad. GPA: 3.95 Age at application time : 23 1st GRE: 670 Verbal, 750 Quantitative, 4.5 Writing Direct Patient Care : EMT on University Ambulance, Pediatric Medical Assistant, Psychiatric Technician... together totaling slightly over 2,000 hours Extracurricular/Research Activities: Syracuse University Cheerleading, Syracuse University Ambulance, coaching gymnastics, various community service activities Schools Applied: Yale, Quinnipiac, Northeastern, Cornell, Stonybrook, UMDNJ, PCOM, DeSales, Arcadia, Philadelphia Univ., Albany, NYIT Application Submitted Date: June 20, 2011 Schools Received Application Date: (approximate date) August 3, 2011 Interview Invites: All programs Denied: Quinnipiac Withdrew Application: Northeastern, Cornell, Stonybrook, UMDNJ, Philadelphia Univ., Arcadia, NYIT Waitlisted: Albany Accepted: Yale, DeSales, PCOM Will be attending Yale- my top choice program! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MassPA-C Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 Undergrad Ed School: Stetson University- Sociology Major Graduate Ed School: University of Chicago- MA in Social Science Cumulative GPA: 3.67 Science GPA: 3.78 GRE: 650V 680Q 4.0 Direct Patient Care : 1,200 hrs Other Healthcare experience: 5,000 hrs + (I recruit patients for clinical trials so a lot of my job isn't "hands on" but is working with patients/PAs/nurses/Docs) Extracurricular/Research Activities: 2000 + volunteer hrs at various places, 8 peer reviewed publications, 40+ poster presentations Shadowing: 1000 + hrs (PA: 200, Nurse 300, Docs 500) Letters: 1 nurse, 1 physician, 1 chair of the department of EM Schools Applied: Samuel Merrit, Midwestern, NYIT, Rosalind Franklin, Rush, UF, Nova-Orlando, Northwestern, Wake Forest, MCPHS-Boston, Touro-Mare Island, U of Washington, UMDNJ, Long Island University, Davis Application Date: Early June Schools Received:Late June Interview Invites:Samuel Merrit, NYIT, Rosalind Franklin, Rush, Nova-Orlando, Northwestern, Wake Forest, MCPHS-Boston, Touro-Mare Island, UMDNJ, Long Island University Denied: UF and Davis Withdrew: Midwestern, U of Washington, Samuel Merrit, NYIT, Rosalind Franklin, Nova-Orlando, Touro-Mare Island, UMDNJ, Long Island University Waitlisted: None Accepted: Northwestern, Rush, MCPHS-Boston, Wake Forest Attending: Wake Forest! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mnpa14 Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 Love this site! I used it a lot when applying to PA school and it really helped me in my application/interview. Undergrad Ed School: North Dakota State University Cumulative Undergrad. GPA: 3.9 Science Undergrad. GPA: 3.8 Graduate Ed School: (if applicable) Cumulative Graduate GPA: (if applicable) Science Graduate GPA: (if applicable) Age at application time : 22 1st GRE: 1100 (500 Math; 600 Verbal; 4.5 Writing) Direct Patient Care : (type & hours) ~ 1800 hours of CNA at a hospital, chiropractic assistant, rehabilitation attendant, Direct Support Professional, Respite Worker - 18 hours of PA Shadowing Extracurricular/Research Activities: ~1200 hours of paid and volunteer jobs in research in the following fields: plant pathology, insect physiology, and fish ecology <---i.e. dork ~250 hours of volunteering at a spay/neuter clinic (where I neutered my own cat - I told the admissions committee that and they loved it. Lol) Schools Applied: University of Wisconsin - Madison; University of Nebraska Medical Center; University of Idaho (kind of a joke application - didn't really have an interest in the school); University of South Dakota; Rocky Mountain College - Montana Application Submitted Date: June 2011 Schools Received Application Date: (approximate date) Interview Invites: 5 Denied: 0 Withdrew Application: 1 (Idaho) Waitlisted: 1 (SD) Accepted: 3 (Montana, Nebraska, Wisc) Decided to attend WISC! Soooo excited Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bdub Posted March 1, 2012 Share Posted March 1, 2012 Undergrad Ed School: North Dakota State University B.S. Biotechnology Minor Chemistry Cumulative Undergrad. GPA: 3.5 Science Undergrad. GPA: 3.3 Age at application time : 22 1st GRE: 1100 4.0 writing Direct Patient Care : (type & hours) ~ 800 CNA ~200 Dermatology Assistant ~30 Emergency Room Volunteer Extracurricular/Research Activities: -1600 Hours Research in Plant Science -NDSU Academic Honor Commission -Biotech/Micro Club -400 Hrs Academic Tutor Schools Applied: University of Wisconsin-Madison; University of Nebraska Medical Center; Des Moines; Augsburg (Minnesota); University of South Dakota; Carroll University; St Catherine University (provisional, Minnesota); Union College (Nebraska) Application Submitted Date: August 2011 Schools Received Application Date:mid August 2011 Interview Invites: Union College, Des Moines, St Catherine, Augsburg Accepted: Union College!!!!! Woo!!! Attempts: 2nd This site is awesome!!! To all of you with not the highest GPA and not a lot of HCE, a good Personal Statement and References can go a long way!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
burke0d Posted March 1, 2012 Share Posted March 1, 2012 Undergrad Ed School: Salem State University, BS Psychology minor-Human Biology Cumulative Undergrad. GPA: 3.6 Science Undergrad. GPA: 3.5 Age at application time: 35 1st GRE: 1050 Direct Patient Care : 1500 –Cardiology Tech, 250 – Medical Lab Assistant Shadowing: Urgent Care PA –25hrs, Cardiology PA – 60hrs Extra curricular/Research Activities: Habitat for Humanity – 1 weekend a month for 3 years. Schools Applied: UNE, Nova- Jax, Nova- Ft Myers, University of Toledo, Samuel Merritt Application Submitted Date: Sept 2011 Schools Received Application Date: October 3rd Interview Invites: Nova- Jax, Nova-Ft Myers, University of Toledo Declined: ****Apply Early**** – UNE told me if I appliedearlier I would have gotten an interview. Samuel Merritt – never heard from them at all. Accepted: Nova-Jax(Attending), Nova- Ft Myers Attempts: 1st ***** A BIG thank you to PA Forum and all of its participants ******* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Natacha Posted March 2, 2012 Share Posted March 2, 2012 Undergrad. School: University of Florida, BA Health Science GPA: 3.8 Cumulative Undergrad. GPA: 3.61 (CASPA) Science Undergrad. GPA: 3.76 (CASPA) Age at application time: 25 GRE: 480 V/ 640Q/ 4.0 Direct Patient Care: 1800 Hours at Retina Specialist's Office Research Experience: 1.5 years as RA in the Department of Clinical Neuropsychology at UF Conducted research and wrote thesis on sleep impairment related to Parkinson's disease Certifications: CNA License CPR Volunteer & Community Service Hours: 75 Volunteer hours in ER 10 Volunteering at local food bank PA Shadowing: 15 hours w/ primary care/clinic PA Schools Applied: Duke, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Chatham, Seton Hill, UF, Nova-Orlando, Nova-Ft. Lauderdale, & Barry-Miami Application Submitted Date: CASPA: Submitted 9-26-11 Mailed 10-21-11 For all schools except: Nova- Ft. Lauderdale: Submitted 10-28-11 Mailed 11-04-11 Seton Hill: Submitted: 02-18-12 Mailed 02-24-12 Interview Invites: UF, Duke, Chatham, Nova- Ft. Lauderdale, Barry (Declined Interview), Seton Hill (Declined Interview) Denied: None Withdrew Application: Nova- Orlando, Nova-Ft. Lauderdale, Chatham, Barry, Seton Hill Waitlisted: UF, Duke Accepted: Nova Ft. Lauderdale, Chatham Attempts: First Attending: UF (Taken off the waitlist) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brane Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 Ooof. Great thread. Congrats to all on your hard work and success. So many of you have excellent qualifications. Competition is fierce, and I worry being mid-40's in age that I might be "priced out of the market." :) Currently researching PA-C vs ANP route (RN for twenty years here). This forum in general is quite helpful in that regard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
life.is.grand. Posted March 6, 2012 Share Posted March 6, 2012 How are there so many people with 3.7+ science GPAs? I went to UNLV, and it seems like only 5% of all the students in any of my science classes got As. About half the class gets Bs and Cs, and everyone else fails. I don't understand how so many of you can get a straight line of As. How??? Perhaps we are the 5%??? Sorry but you set yourself up for that one! Haha. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosh77 Posted March 6, 2012 Share Posted March 6, 2012 hi saltydog482, I am also a Knight! I'am applying to PA schools this year and had some questions. Is there anyway I can contact via e-mail? Thanks! RS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosh77 Posted March 6, 2012 Share Posted March 6, 2012 Hi HEENT I see that you applied to DO schools first. How did that affect applying to PA schools? as in do they see you applied to Med school before and did you have to explain yourself? I am in the same path, and I wanted to know if I have to explain myself to them. Thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theswordfish Posted March 8, 2012 Share Posted March 8, 2012 Undergrad. School: UC Davis, BS Biological Sciences GPA: 3.35 Cumulative Undergrad. GPA: 3.41 (CASPA) Science Undergrad. GPA: 3.33 (CASPA) Age at application time: 24 GRE: 670V/ 750Q/ 5.0 Direct Patient Care: ~900 volunteer as EMT ~100 clinical research recruiter Research Experience: 1 years as RA in the immunology lab at UCSF 1 years RA at pathology lab at UCSF (mostly admin work) Certifications: EMT CPR Volunteer & Community Service Hours: volunteer emt 10 hours at RAM free clinic PA Shadowing: 6 hours with orthopedic pa Schools Applied: [TABLE=width: 124] [TR] [TD]midwestern[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Drexel[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]GW[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]northwestern[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]sam merritt[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Duke[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]nebraska[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]baylor[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]wake forest[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]stony brook[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Rosalind Franklin[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Touro ca[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]UMDNJ[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Rush[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]western[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]nova southeastern[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] Application Submitted Date: CASPA: October 1 Interview Invites: Northwestern Midwestern Rush GWU Nova- Ft L (declined) Western (declined) Drexel Duke Denied: None Withdrew Application: Nova Ftl, WesternU Waitlisted: Rush, Midwestern Accepted: GWU Attempts: First Attending: GWU Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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