What are my chances of getting into a PA program?

Greetings!

I am a recent college graduate from FIU and i just recently applied to MDC PA program and get denied. I went all the way to the interview, and did not get accpeted.

My overall G.P.A is a 3.7
My Science G.P.A. is around 3.6
I have over 10 years of volunteering at a hospital
Worked at an doctors office for 2 years

What can i do to make myself look more attractive as an applicant, oh and i just turned 21.
I will apply to Nova, Barry, Uf, and MDC in december.

I feel as if though i need to do more, i have tried looking for PA's to shadow in miami but it is very hard.

If there is any advice/personal experiences anyone can offer it is greatly appreciated

thank you in advance

How have you been volunteering for 10 years? You just turned 21.

My best friends mom is one of the heads of the volunteering office at our local hospital, so whenever there were holidays, days off, and summer break i used to go with her to volunteer ever since i was 10 or 11, i didnt actually started documenting it in 2000 but in 2001 so that is why i say ten years. So i have volunteering hours since the sixth grade and i continue to volunteer till this day, and its well in the thousands.

i posted this for advice, not for criticism. Thank you.

In your case, my guess is that the school was very impressed with your academics and healthcare experience, otherwise they would not have called you to interview (most people don't even get interviewed). The interviews are tough, and most people don't prepare enough for them; my guess is that you may have been denied based on your interview alone. Your exp/grades are great!!

The best tips I can give you are:
1. Be familiar with that particular P.A. program's "purpose" or "mission" - some programs focus on primary care, some on medically underserved, some on surgery. They want you to know what their mission is and be interested in that field after graduation, otherwise they won't think you're the right fit for their program.
2. Check and see if your school favors "local" applicants - some schools give preference to students who plan on staying and practicing in that area; they are trying to fill the local healthcare shortage. If you're not local, this could be a factor.
3. They want you to be THOROUGHLY knowledgeable about every aspect of the P.A. profession, and why you want to be one. NEVER say you want to become a P.A. because it's "easier", "costs less", "takes less time" than becoming a doctor; they want to know you chose that profession entirely for the sake of becoming a P.A.

Shadowing a P.A. will really help impress schools and help you learn more about the profession and arm yourself w/knowledge for the interview. If you can't, I'd suggest reading everything you can get your hands on about the profession, and ask around on P.A. message boards for more interview tips.

I also recommend calling the school you're interested in, speaking w/an admissions counselor, and asking what they look for in an ideal applicant; they'll give you lots of info, even tips for the interview. This is what I did, and it helped IMMENSELY!!

Good luck! :)

So I am senior and will be graduating in the spring with a degree in chemistry. I originally planned on going to Pharmacy School. However, recently, I have been really interested in the PA program, and I am thinking about pursuing that instead.

My problem is, I have absolutely NO healthcare expericence in the past. I noticed that almost all of the schools require this.

What should I do? How can I get experience ASAP? I don't really want to take a break from school. I'd like to graduate in the spring and start grad school in the fall of next year.

Any suggestions would be nice! Thanks!

Nicole in Radford, Virginia said: So I am senior and will be graduating in the spring with a degree in chemistry. I originally planned on going to Pharmacy School. However, recently, I have been really interested in the PA program, and I am thinking about pursuing that instead.

My problem is, I have absolutely NO healthcare expericence in the past. I noticed that almost all of the schools require this.

What should I do? How can I get experience ASAP? I don't really want to take a break from school. I'd like to graduate in the spring and start grad school in the fall of next year.

Any suggestions would be nice! Thanks!

GET A YEAR OF EXPERIENCE. GET A MEDICAL CERTIFICATION AND WORK FOR A YEAR.

MARK in Escondido, California said: GET A YEAR OF EXPERIENCE. GET A MEDICAL CERTIFICATION AND WORK FOR A YEAR.

Hello everyone, I just got offered an interview at Western University in either November or January. I chose November because I felt the earlier the better right? Can anyone give me information on what to expect for the interview or advice on what Western U is looking for during interview day? Thank you

I'm 19 and I'm completing my AA in biology and transferring to FIU this fall for my bachelors and i was interested in the PA program at Miami Dade College. I have completed all the Pre requisites and the only thing I'm missing is to shadow a PA where can I start doing that? Is there a specific requirement to do it? Or any online websites to find information about it?