I’m applying next cycle when should I have my references submit their LOR ? I saw online that they don’t transfer over from cycle to cycle, is it too soon to have them submit if I’m applying next October ?

Hi everyone. I am hoping someone can clarify the PA-CAT score reporting timeline for me. I am not quite understanding their website. This is what it states:

"When and how will I receive my PA-CAT scores? -- Scores are processed on the 20th of each month and posted by the 1st of the following month in your Candidate Score Portal. E.g., if you take the exam between Jan 21st and Feb 20th, your score will be available in your Candidate Score Portal by March 1st."

I took the exam on November 9th. Is it incorrect to assume that my exam score will then be posted by December 1st? Am I misunderstanding this? If not December 1st, when will it be posted then? There are other blurbs on the website that says it could take up to six weeks, but I am not sure what to believe. Anyone have any knowledge about this? I am so confused. Thanks!

I plan on applying next cycle & I currently have around ~6500hours as a pediatric MA at a private clinic and have ~60hr shadowing a pediatric PA. I love the speciality and have become quite close with the two doctors I assist (one is family doctor but I primarily work under the pediatrician). If I get accepted into a program I would want nothing more than to specialize in it as well. I’ve noticed that many applicants work as MAs in several specialties or in hospitals or urgent cares which offer a lot more exposure to different things. I find the work I currently do very fulfilling and the doctors I work under are incredibly knowledgeable with over 50+ years of experience, but if staying makes my application any weaker than it already is I have no choice but to find other options.

For context I am a low GPA applicant (cgpa 3.2, sgpa 3.0), so I’m leaning into my PCE to boost my app although I know it’s not as high in quality or amount as it can be. Would diversifying my PCE improve my chances, even if by a little?

Thanks for reading, I would appreciate any advice !!

So I have a professor writing me a LOR but I don’t have any academic achievements….. I’m going to graduate with a summa cum laude neuroscience degree but I haven’t worked on any labs outside of class and didn’t win any awards or anything like that. Any ideas about what I should tell him to write about ? I just outlined my strengths but I feel like my degree speaks for itself in that I’m a good academic student so I’m a little bit stuck. I feel like I have nothing unique to have him write about unfortunately. Maybe that’s just how it’s going to be but I wanted to see if anyone on here is going through something similar. Thank you.

Hello everyone! I was recently accepted and I'm trying to make sure I'm not forgetting anything since my program begins January 3rd. I will be receiving the Stafford Loan through the school but it's not nearly enough. Do I need to complete the Grad PLUS loan separately from the FAFSA? How do I determine how much to request? Any information is helpful since I'm a first-gen my family doesn't have any familiarity. TIA

I want to avoid private loans

So I am frequently finding that schools require 12 quarter credits for A&P- I got some of my prereqs in Washington where most every school is on the quarter credit system. They literally didn't offer a 3rd quarter in the series only 2 classes that were 5 credits each, with a cadaver lab. Would o have to take both classes again in semester form to meet the requirement for most school or just 1 more semester to then have a total of 14 credits? Any school you guys have seen that don't have a 12 credit minimum?

Hello, so I'm preparing for next cycle's CASPA in advance and just wondering how to go about the PCE experience descriptions. For context, I work as a medical assistant at a mixed specialty office and will have about 3,000 hours PCE at the time of applying. In my office, there are varying duties based on which specialty you are working with (kind of a day-to-day determination of which doctor you will be covering).

If I'm with pulmonology for the day I'll likely be helping with nebulizers and giving out oxygen treatments. If I'm with cardiology, I might be helping patients put on a Holter monitor. If I'm with urology, I'd be setting up for cystos, vasectomies, biopsies, etc. Most of the time, I'm with family/ internal medicine, which involves drawing blood, doing urine dips, swabs, EKGs and everything in between.

In this case, would it be okay to separate my MA PCE into separate listings for cardiology, pulmonology, family/internal med/ urology? Or should I keep this all as one PCE listing, being that it's all from the same job?

Hello everyone,

I need advice so I got into a Pa school. Mount Saint Vincent and that was my only interview and acceptance so far. Most of the other schools I applied to won’t answer anytime soon. Does anyone know someone who attended this program or can advise me form what they know. It being a very new program well it’s been there for like two years. First cohort hasn’t graduated yet so we don’t know their pance is or anything yet.

I only a couple days to accept and idk what to do.

Thank in advance

Hi friends! I am putting together a list of schools to apply to next year since I’m not super confident about the rest of this cycle.

For those with lower GPA’s (3.5 and below) where’d you end up getting accepted? I am putting together a list of schools that are more likely to actually do holistic review.

Hey guys, so I'm applying to some schools that say "address any identified deficiencies in your application"

I have a pretty poor GPA for an app: 3.29 total, 3.24 science.

Other stats: "327 & 5" GRE, 4th quartile casper, 1950 PCE, 100+ shadowing

I think the rest of my application is fine, but...my GPA is really embarassing. 47 credits attempted (all E's/fails) on the same 3 classes. There were extenuating circumstances and i eventually did pass them with A+, A, and B+ respectively, but I think those are what tanked my GPA the most. If my grades were recalculated without those 47 credit attempts, I think my overall would be close to a 3.7.

Even with my extenuating circumstances, how do i explain that i attempted the same 3 classes for 47 credits, and didn't manage to drop them early, nor drop them late and get a W, but instead completely fail them?

I don't know how to go about explaining it without being woe-is-me. I don't want to make excuses for my situation but I'm sure any adcom who looks at my app is going to have big questions, so it's definitely something I should explain if the app gives me space to do so.

Can anyone give me advice about how to move forward? I am in your debt.

So, thinking ahead I was curious as to if an RN program would be a solid post-bacc if needed and I get nothing but rejections when the time comes? Has anyone done it?

competing in this cycle is so dang tough! just got a rejection from my top school and preparing to re-apply with how things are going, it’s frustrating seeing all the money i spent gone and all those hours of typing answers to 50 billion questions ://// i need advice on if it’s worth applying to an EMT program that would start in january and end in april/may. i work as a PCA on a progressive care unit and have been for the past 2+ years (almost 4k hours) and have 2.5k non-PCE hours. i can’t find another patient care tech job in another unit and thinking about becoming a EMT to be more involved and have a new experience… with the 2026 cycle opening in April is it worth doing the course?? also know that i may have a chance in getting another interview but i feel devastated and mentally beat up with this process. i have little hope another program will shoot me an offer atp.

my stats: first cycle, first gen student, 24 y/o female cGPA: 3.4 sGPA: 3.3 post-bacc, 15 creds: 3.8sGPA 3,400 PCE, 2,500 non-PCE at time of application 0 HCE 750 volunteering hours (food bank, tree planting, teaching refugees english) 212 shadowing hours with PAs and MDs 500 leadership (VP for a health partnership club, president of PA-club, extracurriculars like that) no research 2 PA LORs, 1 charge RN, 1 academic professor

I started volunteering for an organization that does mobile clinic for the unhoused population in my area. The thing I am confused on is whether I should start documenting this experience as volunteer hours or if I can document it as PCE.

The organization found out I have my phlebotomy license so I draw blood from the patients we visit, along with other things like taking vitals. I’m not paid for it, it’s still voluntary. I documented my actual paid phlebotomy job as PCE, but since this is a volunteer position, is it just that or can I use these hours as PCE?

Hi everyone,

In my third year of undergrad. I know I need numerous PCE, HCE, Volunteer hours, etc. My question is, do I need HCE if I have a lot of PCE? This summer, I worked as a MA this summer and currently have 349 hrs. If i build that number to 1-2k, do I need HCE?

Also, does volunteer experience need to be medical related? Can it be general community improvement?

Thanks!

Hi, im currently a 2nd year undergrad working as a patient care coordinator. I speak with doctors and family’s from an office and schedule PSWs to go into homes to provide care. I work for the palliative unit. Would this count as PCE

Hi guys!

For this cycle I only had mostly rejections and a few interview waitlist that ended up being rejections in the end. (Most of the schools that interview waitlist me are rolling)

My question is that should I see interview waitlists as a positive sign that my application is strong enough for a chance to receive an interview? Or is it weak to the point where my application isn’t strong enough for an interview?

I keep reading online that interview waitlist are considered a “soft rejection” so I wanted to get everyone’s opinion.

Thank you!

Hello! This is kind of an unorthodox question and one I feel like I could answer myself but figured it was worth the support of others who may know better than I. I held a shift supervisor position at a very popular coffee chain last summer and accrued some 500 hours there, while I think this should count towards any leadership experience I can add to my application, Im curious if anyone has any prior knowledge on whether or not this serves as acceptable leadership experience for pa school apps!

Hi all!

Silent follower of the thread. I just wanted to come on here and see if I could get some advice.

I have received my first and only acceptance thus far earlier this month, and the program starts in January! While I am absolutely thrilled, ecstatic, and grateful to have an acceptance, I am faced with some conflicts.

Some context and information: This school is about 10 hours away from home (so I would obviously have to move), it is an accredited-provisional program and this upcoming class will be its third cohort, and my next closest support system is about 2 and a half hours away. I have interviewed at 5 schools closer to home, but I have been waitlisted for 3 of them. For the remaining 2 programs, I won't hear back from them regarding a decision for another 4-6 weeks (close to or after the start of January program). I have also put my deposit down for the accepted program as well.

My mom and my boyfriend are incredibly supportive of me and support whatever decision I make, but my dad is a little more complicated. My dad wants me to decline this offer because he believes that I will get into a program closer to home. My dad and I are very close and he does not want me to move so far away from home. He is ultimately worried that if I move away I will never come back. He also wants me to have more time to work and save up more personal money for school. I am very close with both of my parents in general, so I understand each of their stances, but it doesn't make this decision any easier.

I am torn.

Some Pros: Having a definitive acceptance to PA school (LOL), program starts soon - so the sooner I start the sooner I get done, getting to experience a new part of the country, getting to experience some independence by living on my own, seemingly very supportive faculty at the program, small campus, lots of clinical opportunities close to campus, and 2 other branches of this college have accredited-continued status, so a good sign that this college knows how to run a PA program.

Some Cons: Program starts so soon - so not much time to weigh other options, new program - lots of room for hiccups and trial/error, far from my immediate family and from next closest support system, completely new environment where I don't know anyone or the area, expensive living on my own as opposed to commuting from home, no housing accommodations or funding for students having clinical locations far from campus, no cadavers, and no PANCE stats since the program is so new.

I have been asking for advice from friends, coworkers, various providers, etc. but I don't feel like I'm having much clarity on the situation. I'm getting further conflicting advice! Like I said, I am torn.

In short, I was hoping to possibly get some advice or insight from others on this thread who maybe understand what I am going through, or maybe relate in some way. Should I take this opportunity at this program, or gamble on the potential of getting into somewhere closer to home? I am open to any and all comments! Please be kind, thank you!

I was just placed on the waitlist for a program after interviewing last week! I’m excited nevertheless and hopeful 🥹 anybody have success with being taken off the waitlist and accepted??!

Anyone have any experience with Inspira Advantage PA advising? I had a free consultation with them this morning and although it’s expensive. If I do the payment plan it might be worth it in the long run (~$135 for 36 months) they state they have a 95% acceptance rate for people that use their program so it might be worth it! Let me know if you guys know of any or if any better ones because my advising program through my school isn’t responding.

I have been getting a lot of interviews but no acceptances. After a lot of reflection I started to pinpoint my (lack of) personality as the problem - I was not standing out as a unique individual. So I decided to stray from the expectations I had for myself as an interviewee. I was "professional" but I also acted in the way I would with coworkers or classmates. I went from being rejected and waitlisted to getting an acceptance 3 business days later.

I started to feel "desperate" that I wouldn't get in so I decided I'd let myself loose a little. I was already getting rejected so what did I have to lose? I let myself make silly jokes and ask goofy questions (read the room / your interviewers). Even if nearby students weren't shaking the interviewer's hand, I still did. It was a little anxiety provoking sometimes being the only one shaking hands or making a joke for a particular occasion, but that's who I am in general. So I did what I'd do regardless of the other interviewees. I also showed one of my interviewers how to dance the dabke so that was a little nerve wracking but pretty cool.

I still had to set boundaries for myself. For example, when I start talking I can get excited and forget to give other people a turn to speak. So I allowed myself to be talkative but aware that I do not dominate the room. One of the interviewers did swear but I would definitely not go THAT far. Just in case.

There's a million things that go into the interview process, for me personally this is what was mostly holding me back. If you're someone in a similar boat I hope this post could help! Be aware of personality "flaws" but otherwise be yourself and use those flaws to your advantage. I do also want to mention however that this program gave me the space to do that, and not every program will. For example, if they had been uptight and overly "professional" I would not have had the opportunity to be myself as much. In which case I suppose we must improvise and find creative ways to shine.

What this interview showed me is that the admissions teams want colleagues, not just students to instruct. They don't want a "white sheep" for a student just as much as you wouldn't want a white sheep for a professor. Fit in with the crowd when appropriate, but otherwise let your black sheep out.

I will not answer pms about the name of the university.

Thank you and good luck!

First off my family thinks I'm crazy for pursing a PA degree - I am a masters level psychologist in MI and make anywhere from 160 - 180k a year with my private practice I own before S corp taxes (so minus about 30K) and am wondering if its worth pursuing going back to school and becoming my dream which is doing psychiatry PA.

I want to continue doing my own practice and working with patients long term. I know NP's I've worked with currently and in the past make about 300 - 400k doing OP psychiatry so it may be worth it financially but if I don't succeed in OP psychiatry then I would have made a very poor lateral move.

Thoughts?

Hey everyone,  

I am very grateful to have been admitted into two PA programs -and- am currently experiencing some anguish / tears/ lost sleep over which program to go with. I would really appreciate any insight. I would especially love to hear from any current students of these programs, recent alumni, or anyone who really struggled making their own decision about what program + an update about how it turned out for them.  

SMU: makes more sense for me to go to. This is because I live close by with my fiancé and we currently have free rent; both of our families are here (though maybe worth mentioning we are not intending to stay in the Bay Area indefinitely) and the program seems to check all the boxes (cadaver lab, around national average PANCE pass rate, around national average attrition rates, good job placement rates). The only negative is that I have heard rumors that that the school has poor clinical placements. I do not know whether these rumors are true. But I will say that having a bad experience with clinical year is one my biggest PA program fears. 

UPAP: makes less sense for me to go to. I would have to move out of state with just my dog and I and no support system (I don’t know anyone there, and my fiancé would not come with me. This last part is by far the hardest part. It has created some relationship conflict). Despite these negatives, I feel way more drawn to the program. On paper the program outcomes are similar, but I feel a meaningful alignment of values with UPAP & their curriculum in terms of centering work with marginalized community; I got an unshakable good feeling from being there for my interview; and for whatever it's worth (maybe nothing) it is ranked way above SMU.

I keep trying to convince myself I need to pick SMU but for whatever reason, I am struggling to feel solid about that decision. So: should I go with my head and what seems to make more sense and be more convenient, or should I go with the program I feel more drawn to, even though it's somewhat against my better judgement in knowing that it creates some relationship problems for me and that I would have to move?

(I know people also always talk about how $$$ should be an important deciding factor, but the two programs basically come out to be a wash when you factor in rent cost or lack there of.)

I’m thankful to have this problem of choice, but also am truly struggling with this and any kind words are really appreciated. 

Edit to add the specific stats since someone asked:

*Both programs have continuing accreditation, have a cadaver lab, and are 27 months long*

SMU

Class size: 44

Attrition rates: 3 year average: 7.3%

PANCE pass rate averages last 5 years: 90.6% (first time) - 99.6% (ultimately)

Tuition + housing ($0): $142,000

"Rank": #96

UPAP

Class size: ~45 for the campus I would be at

Attrition rates: 3 year average: 0.9%

PANCE pass rate averages last 5 years: 88.2% (first time) - 99.2% (ultimately)

Tuition ($104,000)+ housing for 28 months : ~$145,000?

"Rank": #8

I’m graduating soon and plan on taking a gap year to apply for PA school. In the meantime, I’ve been looking into getting a medical assistant job. Recently, I actually got an interview for one, and I thought it went really well. But later on, they informed me that they decided to move forward with another candidate.

I was sitting there reflecting on it because, during the interview, I was asked by the physician about my long-term goals. I was honest and said that I want to become a PA. Then he asked how long I planned on working with them, and I told him I could guarantee at least a year or more.

Honestly, I didn’t even like my answer when I said it. I was trying to be upfront because I hope to eventually get a letter of recommendation from wherever I end up working. But looking back, I understand why they didn’t move forward with me, it probably sounded like I was just there for the experience and was going to leave right after.

I guess my question is: how do you usually respond to these kinds of questions? Should I even bring up that I’m planning to apply to PA school? And if they ask about my long-term goals, what should I say?

Would this be a “high level” or “significant” leadership experience?

I recently was elevated in one of my leadership experiences and im curious whether this qualifies as a “significant” leadership position. I’ve been a long-time participant and volunteer for an organization similar to DECA, but with a global reach—it spans 36 countries, 15 provinces, and 48 states, culminating in an annual international finals competition.

Over the years, I’ve held various leadership roles at the regional and state levels, but recently, I was accepted to a seat on the organization’s international DEI Board of Directors. In this role, I collaborate with leaders from other countries, represent the organization on an international scale, and conduct outreach to expand the program into more communities worldwide. This work focuses on bridging cultural gaps and providing more kids access to the program.

Hi, I actually am in podiatry school right now and I’m realizing it’s really not for me. The specialization is not actually the right fit for me and I think PA is because in the future there’s opportunity to move specialties easily if you feel like switching. I’m in my second year though and I know for most PA schools they require a lot of clinical hours. Unfortunately because I’ve been in school I haven’t really been able to get that. Is that a must at all schools? I’m worried that the time it’ll take me to gain those hours will be a lot, because even the number of years for PA being so short is also enticing in comparison to podiatry where we also have to do residency. Looking for any guidance or advice

i’m a senior finishing my bachelors in neuroscience. My gpa and sgpa are both gonna be around 2.7. I’ve been talking to doctors who advise me to go for it. but my academic advisors are telling me to give up and go for nursing since it has more routes like associates. i don’t know what to do anymore, please help. I currently have around 600 clinical hours as a scribe and some time as an aid at PT, but that’s about it

I’m very grateful and fortunate to get acceptances to 2 programs, but I really don’t know which to go with. What other factors should I consider?

PROGRAM #1 (PROVISIONAL)

I would be entering as part of the 5th cohort. They will be getting reviewed in a couple of months.

• LOCATION: few hrs away from home in a small town

• PROJECTED COST: $225k

• LENGTH: 28mo. starting 1st quarter of 2025

• ROTATIONS: 3 electives, majority are w/n 30mins., 1-2 may be up to 50 miles away

• PANCE: only 2 years have been posted

    Year 1: 92% 1st try, 97% ultimately passed
    Year 2: 84% 1st try, 92% ultimately passed

• BONUS: hospital simulation in conjunction w/ nursing program & cadaver lab

I’ve also reached out to multiple students. They all mention supportive faculty, new resources, and that they feel confident in their education.

PROGRAM #2 (ACCREDITED)

I would be part of their 7th cohort.

• LOCATION: out of state, FL. More activities around but traffic is ridiculous.

• PROJECTED COST: $240k

• LENGTH: 24mo. starting 3rd quarter of 2025

• ROTATIONS: 1 elective, supposedly local but 1-3 may be within a 100mile radius.

• PANCE: last 3 years, 100% ultimately passed. 1st attempt % is about national avg.

Students of this program have mentioned very supportive faculty. However, one con is that resources are not as nice, and they only have modeling blocks for anatomy.

Thought I knew exactly what I wanted to do, after finding the PA profession and have been taking the steps to get my courses done (was in grad school for a completely different career and found out about the PA profession and was immediately inspired). I have a few more courses left, and I have been talking to a PA that’s on the Medical board of our state… she asked me a few questions I couldn’t grasp about some of the application requirements and eventually asked me “what wasn’t clicking”… when I answered, she asked me “why?” To which I told her that I have a processing disorder. My grades are fine (3.4s GPA 3.5 cum), but she told me that this might not be the field for me because of my processing disorder; I have had an LD (dyscalculia) and processing disorder since kindergarten… but now I don’t really know what to do? I left the conversation crying and very confused— I don’t really want to be a PA in an ER or anything to that extent which might make it ok? But during clinicals it might be tricky? I do have anxiety and depression, which might make the whole thing hard, but I know being a PA is only thing I really care about doing! I’m also 27 and I left a grad program because I found the PA profession and it felt like a much better fit for me… anyone deal with LDs, neurodivergence, processing disorders? If so, did you struggle with certain things (besides the typical didactic rigor?)… any honesty, advice or encouragement would be greatly appreciated… thanks:(