Should I apply to Duke?

[pa_2020]

Hey Everyone! I am about to start my junior year at NCSU and I am planning on applying to the CASPA cycle 2017-2018 and would like to attend Duke's PA program, though I am applying to all of the in-state (NC) PA schools as well. I am concerned that my stats won't be good enough as the highest my GPA could be before the application cycle is 3.57 (considering I make As in Microbiology, Adv. Anatomy and Physiology, and Genetics.) I think I can reasonably get between 1500-1800 hce hours at the time of application volunteering in a free clinic doing patient intake and I also work as a Medical Assistant. I am planning on taking the GRE for the first time next month. I am not sure if my stats measure up or if I would make a better applicant for other schools. Thanks!

[fflores98]

A quick check on their average class stats reveals that for the class that matriculated in 2015 had an average of 16-43 months of full time PCE. With only 1500-1800 that's well below a full year (12 months) which averages about 2080 hrs.

 

You haven't taken the GRE, you're only a junior and don't have a definitive GPA yet, only an estimate based on the best case scenario. I would suggest to slow down and not rush this. Right now you don't have enough information to tell much. What I would suggest is to take the GRE and continue accruing PCE. 

 

Also consider taking a gap year to continue accruing PCE, maybe do some shadowing. When you apply to CASPA you want to make sure you're as competitive as you can. Applying can cost several hundreds if not thousands of dollars so you want to make sure you make it count. 

[MT2PA]

Duke has the pick of the litter, so to speak.  Like mentioned above, your stats are low for their matriculating class  =- HCE and GPA.  It might be worth applying, but please don't get your hopes up.  Many an applicant has had even better stats than yours and not been accepted or not even interviewed.  Consider Duke a reach school based on what you've told us here.

[anewconvert]

You'll have a tough run of it straight out of undergrad in most of the schools in NC. I'd take the gap year and get HCE. I know it feels like you have to do this RIGHT NOW, but you are young, and the schools are going to see that. You'd need to have a pretty stunning application to get in with that amount of HCE

[pa_2020]

What other schools would I have a better run at then that are not in NC?

[anewconvert]

You are going to have a tough run at it period, NC or not.

 

Students that come straight out of undergrad into a PA program typically are stellar candidates who have a GPA that out weighs their lack of experience. You are a strong candidate if you had 3000+ hours of HCE, you are a mediocre candidate with 1500 hours. I had a student of mine come out of undergrad with a 3.8 and 1100 hours who got one interview at ECU on the very very last day of the interview cycle. She got wait listed. She worked a year and got an interview everywhere she applied. Experience matters at most schools almost as much as the GPA

 

So you could apply to new programs that aren't on CASPA yet, and hence receive fewer applications, or you could find some programs that have lower standards (Gardner Webb in NC being one of those, also Lenoir-Rhyne. There is nothing wrong with these schools, they are just newer and hence have little to no history to judge the programs on)

 

Or, and this is the smart thing to do, you could take a gap year, get some experience in health care and apply to strong programs with strong regional reputations and a history of producing good PAs.

 

 

You are surrounded by good schools. You are surrounded by hospitals and doctors offices to get experience at. You are in a position to be a strong applicant if you show a little patience and realize that, even though it feels like you NEED to be getting on because you are 22 when you graduate, you are still incredibly young and have tons of time.