There is hope!

[jkimee]

Not here to boast but I remember checking this forum out a few years back because I was stressing over getting into school day and night, so I figured I would share the news with those of you that have helped me on my journey with advice or suggestions, and to also give those individuals in a similar position as mine some hope for the future.

 

I was recently accepted to a PA program with an undergraduate cGPA of 2.3 coming out of UC Davis. I retook classes at city college for more than 3 years, and getting straight As in all of them (while doing my pre-reqs as well) to get my GPA up. It took me 3 years to get my cGPA up to a 3.0. During this time and also during my undergrad at UCD i volunteered hundreds of hours because I loved giving back to the community. I was never able to land a healthcare related job but did receive my EMT-B certification and nursing assistant certification. Lastly, I shadowed a PA for 6 months and took some time to shadow both a MD and a NP.

 

As for the rest of my application I had very very strong letters of recommendation because I was able to get really close to one of my professors in my post-bach and the PA that I shadowed for 6 months. My third letter of recommendation came from a supervisor for Kaiser, whom I interned for during the summer.

 

This was my second year applying to PA school and last year I was not even invited to interview at the school I was accepted to. I was also invited to interview really late in the application cycle and was shocked to get the invitation so late.

 

Anyways I hope this gives you all some motivation to keep on pursuing your passions and dreams. I literally had to "Redo" my undergrad and gave up a lot of my life to get these things done, sacrificing a career at Genentech and giving up a lot of my social life. I did anything and everything I could have. There were many days where I felt like calling it quits, but I endured and I am sure that many of you all that really want this will get there sooner or later. I wish the best for all of you!

[cinntsp]

Congrats to you! I remember seeing your occasional posts over the past few years. Let this be a lesson to those of you with a low GPA that come on here whining about not having a chance because you were young and stupid. It takes hard work to make up for past mistakes but it can be done.

[Timon]

Congrats! I know it isn't easy but that feeling of relief and content makes is all worth the sacrifice in the end! What program will you be attending?

[jkimee]

thanks you guys!

 

I will be attending Touro University CA

[UGoLong]

Well done, jkimee!! Good luck!

[uscbigdawg]

Congrats man. Hope to be joining you because with regards to the grades, I was/am in the same boat. 2.2 to 2.93 right now. 3.0 by the end of the summer. >10k hours of hands on and stellar letters of recommendation from my flight surgeon (PA), Emergency Med Doc that I volunteered 3 months of work for and my organic chemistry professor (from Folsom Lake College).

 

I'm just wanting a program to give me a chance because there is NO QUESTION that I'll not just survive, I will truly thrive. Congrats on you amigo!

 

Rich

[whoRyou]

I LOVE reading stories like this. Sometimes we’re so focused on where we’re going that we forget to think about where we came from and the people who made us who are now. We need to be mindful and respectful of the fact that we are a process and we are still in development. Like your story, WE ALL need to feel things that aren’t easy and tackle things that are bigger than us. We ALL need uncertainty—to know what it is to hurt and to be lonely, or we’ll never know how lucky we are when we make it through to the other side. Thank you for reminding me :=D: PS I like your Michael Jordan quote. :wink:

[jkimee]

Your application seems to be a lot stronger than mine with all those hours of experience. In my opinion, you should be able to get an interview somewhere. Just make sure you find a program that matches you. Then once you get to the interview, remember that are pretty much on an even playing field with everyone. Do not be cocky because your application is better, or psych yourself out because you are intimidated by other peoples stats/experience. Just be yourself, be confident and listen carefully. Schools are not looking for the person with the best grades, most experience... blah blah... they are looking for people that will make a good match to their program and their mission.

 

best of luck

 

Congrats man. Hope to be joining you because with regards to the grades, I was/am in the same boat. 2.2 to 2.93 right now. 3.0 by the end of the summer. >10k hours of hands on and stellar letters of recommendation from my flight surgeon (PA), Emergency Med Doc that I volunteered 3 months of work for and my organic chemistry professor (from Folsom Lake College).

 

I'm just wanting a program to give me a chance because there is NO QUESTION that I'll not just survive, I will truly thrive. Congrats on you amigo!

 

Rich

[jkimee]

thanks whoRyou and UGoLong!

[makeithappen]

Hi jkimee.. Congrats!!!!! That's awesome:) can I ask when did you send in ur app there?

[Guest]

That is awesome! Congrats!

[robambreII]

jkimee,

 

Great job, bro! I have a similar story. This was my 2nd year applying. My undergrad cGPA was 2.75 and in business. Since '09 taking classes at night and on weekends to complete the prereq's and raise my GPA. In the end, my GPA was 2.98, but post bacc was 3.9. We had to overcome some financial barriers by paying off debt, and once that was completed, I took a paycut and found a job as an ER Tech in a Level 1 trauma center last August. As of my application date of 4/30 I accumulated 1,300 hours of decent, hands-on, HCE. I received the call for an interview around 2 weeks ago, interviewed a week ago and was accepted 2 days later! It's been a long road and will get steeper in January, but I'm sooo stoked. BTW, I'm going to Mercer University in Atlanta, GA. However, I did apply at Touro-Cali for this past year.

 

Congrats and best of luck to you.

 

Rob II

[Kelciejag]

Jkimee-

Thanks so much for posting this! I love to read these kind of posts! Your post is helping me stay motivated to keep pushing forward...

I have been working as a Nuclear Medicine Technologist full time for about 3 years, single mom, and now going back for PA. It is going to be a long journey ahead. All of you guys make it sound like it is completely worth the wait though...Thank you!!!!

 

Congrats to you and good luck with everything!!!! Keep us updated!

Kelcie Jagodzinski:smile:

[eplaza]

jkimee,

 

Great job, bro! I have a similar story. This was my 2nd year applying. My undergrad cGPA was 2.75 and in business. Since '09 taking classes at night and on weekends to complete the prereq's and raise my GPA. In the end, my GPA was 2.98, but post bacc was 3.9. We had to overcome some financial barriers by paying off debt, and once that was completed, I took a paycut and found a job as an ER Tech in a Level 1 trauma center last August. As of my application date of 4/30 I accumulated 1,300 hours of decent, hands-on, HCE. I received the call for an interview around 2 weeks ago, interviewed a week ago and was accepted 2 days later! It's been a long road and will get steeper in January, but I'm sooo stoked. BTW, I'm going to Mercer University in Atlanta, GA. However, I did apply at Touro-Cali for this past year.

 

Congrats and best of luck to you.

 

Rob II

 

You had mentioned, getting employment as an ER Tech. Please share some info. I'm about to undergo my undergrad journey to fulfill my goal of a PA. I am trying to find the best and most effective way to get HCE with some compensation. Also a mother, with a little bit of flexibility of my financial situation. If any suggestions on how to go about with my undergrad, and ore-recs.

[eplaza]

Not here to boast but I remember checking this forum out a few years back because I was stressing over getting into school day and night, so I figured I would share the news with those of you that have helped me on my journey with advice or suggestions, and to also give those individuals in a similar position as mine some hope for the future.

 

I was recently accepted to a PA program with an undergraduate cGPA of 2.3 coming out of UC Davis. I retook classes at city college for more than 3 years, and getting straight As in all of them (while doing my pre-reqs as well) to get my GPA up. It took me 3 years to get my cGPA up to a 3.0. During this time and also during my undergrad at UCD i volunteered hundreds of hours because I loved giving back to the community. I was never able to land a healthcare related job but did receive my EMT-B certification and nursing assistant certification. Lastly, I shadowed a PA for 6 months and took some time to shadow both a MD and a NP.

 

As for the rest of my application I had very very strong letters of recommendation because I was able to get really close to one of my professors in my post-bach and the PA that I shadowed for 6 months. My third letter of recommendation came from a supervisor for Kaiser, whom I interned for during the summer.

 

This was my second year applying to PA school and last year I was not even invited to interview at the school I was accepted to. I was also invited to interview really late in the application cycle and was shocked to get the invitation so late.

 

Anyways I hope this gives you all some motivation to keep on pursuing your passions and dreams. I literally had to "Redo" my undergrad and gave up a lot of my life to get these things done, sacrificing a career at Genentech and giving up a lot of my social life. I did anything and everything I could have. There were many days where I felt like calling it quits, but I endured and I am sure that many of you all that really want this will get there sooner or later. I wish the best for all of you!

 

I appreciate your spirit! Attitudes such as yours will keep me motivated throughout this exciting journey!!!

[TrevInTampa813]

Not here to boast but I remember checking this forum out a few years back because I was stressing over getting into school day and night, so I figured I would share the news with those of you that have helped me on my journey with advice or suggestions, and to also give those individuals in a similar position as mine some hope for the future.

 

I was recently accepted to a PA program with an undergraduate cGPA of 2.3 coming out of UC Davis. I retook classes at city college for more than 3 years, and getting straight As in all of them (while doing my pre-reqs as well) to get my GPA up. It took me 3 years to get my cGPA up to a 3.0. During this time and also during my undergrad at UCD i volunteered hundreds of hours because I loved giving back to the community. I was never able to land a healthcare related job but did receive my EMT-B certification and nursing assistant certification. Lastly, I shadowed a PA for 6 months and took some time to shadow both a MD and a NP.

 

As for the rest of my application I had very very strong letters of recommendation because I was able to get really close to one of my professors in my post-bach and the PA that I shadowed for 6 months. My third letter of recommendation came from a supervisor for Kaiser, whom I interned for during the summer.

 

This was my second year applying to PA school and last year I was not even invited to interview at the school I was accepted to. I was also invited to interview really late in the application cycle and was shocked to get the invitation so late.

 

Anyways I hope this gives you all some motivation to keep on pursuing your passions and dreams. I literally had to "Redo" my undergrad and gave up a lot of my life to get these things done, sacrificing a career at Genentech and giving up a lot of my social life. I did anything and everything I could have. There were many days where I felt like calling it quits, but I endured and I am sure that many of you all that really want this will get there sooner or later. I wish the best for all of you!

 

 

Thats awesome man, congrats!

 

I'm a similar story...

 

I graduated with under a 2.7 GPA. When i decided to do this i knew it'd be almost impossible.

 

I went back to school for 63 credit hours post bacc at 3 different schools constantly dealing with administration issues trying to take all the pre-req's, and i held a 3.7 GPA Acing Organic, Micro, Biochem, A&P's, ect. I volunteered with the rehab department at a local hospital for 200+ hours in Physical Therapy. I worked as a Mental Health Tech for 2646 hours, got promoted to Intake Specialist for another 2,000 hours of Payed HCE. I shadowed a close family friend MD and he took me in his OR once a week for spinal surgery for about 50 hours. I shadowed a PA for another 25 hours.

 

After bringing my GPA up to a 2.99 (Grrrr) i applied to 4 schools, interviewed at 1, and was denied.

 

I was destroyed. 2.5 years i put in to this AFTER graduating and i was denied. I picked myself up, worked harder at it, retook the GRE, took more classes and got my GPA over a 3.0, continued working/shadowing/volunteering in HC, and i reapplied literally the first day they would let me at the school that had just denied me 3 months earlier.

 

I was in the first group interviewed, i walked in and told them i'd be the first one interviewed next year too if need be. They said i'd hear in 2-4 weeks.

 

13 days later i was accepted. I start Janduary 6th :)

[jtmathew]

Love reading these stories as mine is so similar. I agree with all previous posters. Dont get bogged down staring at others statistics. It is those that start from the bottom and fight there way to the top that gain the most from their respective educational and HC excperiences. Undergrad cGPA of 2.47 raised to 3.09 with post bacc of 4.0. Countless hours of volunteering and shadowing to finally getting my foot in the door at a fantastic teaching hospital has a transporter and just recently as an ER tech. Now I wait for someone to take notice and give me a shot. Cant wait. Persist and be calm.