Do you have to complete a Master’s program in another subject for the GPA to be used

[Satwood]

I was wondering , if I don’t get in this cycle, if I need to fully complete a Masters’s degree in order for the PA schools to accept the graduate over the undergrad GPA. I have two undergrads in forensics and criminal justice (2011) but my overall undergrad GPA is 2.96, sGPA 3.4, last 60 hours 3.52. I worked as a death investigator for the state medical examiner for 6 years and just finished my prerequisite courses over the last 2 years. I have volunteer experiences in a methadone clinic and other places and shadowing experiences. I fear I won’t get into the schools I apply to due to just my overall undergrad GPA that I had over 9 years ago. If I declare a Masters’s in another subject, do I have to finish it before I apply to anymore PA programs in order for them to accept the new GPA? Sorry, this is a long and drawn out question , but any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. 

[Janie55]

-When CASPA calculates your GPAs, it will include all of your college education, no matter if you are working on/attained a bachelors or masters degree. So no, you don’t declare a masters degree unless you completed it. Some schools will focus on your last 60 hours despite what you are working on, so no need to focus solely on getting a masters degree-work on upper division science courses to boost your gpa.

 

[Satwood]

I’ve been applying to schools with lower overall requirements and ones that look at the last 60 hours and science GPA. Just sucks not feeling good enough and not knowing what else I can do to improve my chances . Thank you for your input ! 

[DelaneyR44]

I believe that some schools only take undergraduate GPA into account. But if they count a master's GPA, I don't think it matters whether you finished it - similar to taking prereqs outside of an actual bachelor's degree, I think they would count the classes regardless.