Undergraduate education: The University of Alabama
Overall GPA: 3.92
Science GPA: 3.82
GRE: 309
PA-CAT: Did not take
Total PCE hours: 315 hours. I volunteered at my local hospital and worked as an Optimetrist Assistant at an Eye Clinic.
Shadowing hours: 53. I shadowed multiple PAs in orthopedic surgery, as well as a PA in children’s plastic surgery, and a PA in ENT.
Volunteer hours: 350. I went on two Christian mission trips and volunteered in my local hopsital.
How many times did you apply?: 1
Age: 21
Gender: Female
Why PA? I started out wanting to work in medicine, but could never determine a specialty or even a job. I fell in love with PA after I shadowed an ENT PA and saw how her job varied from day to day, from seeing patients in the clinic to performing surgery, all while collaborating with her physician and fellow PAs and NPs.
How many programs did you apply to? 5
How many programs did you interview with and what were the outcomes? I interviewed with 2 programs. One accepted me and the other waitlisted me.
Where will you be attending? I will attend Emory & Henry College MPAS in Marion, Virginia
Anything you found interesting about interviews? I engaged with current students more than I was expecting. It was a great time to ask about their experiences applying and ultimately choosing their program. I also got to ask about studying habits, lecture styles, and clinical assignments.
Were there any helpful resources (books, websites, webinars, etc) you used to get through prerequisites courses, the application or interview process? The PA Platform Interview Course, My PA Resource Personal Statement review, PA Platform mock interview, university career center mock interview, PA Platform webinars.
Any advice for other pre-PA students? Apply to programs that fit you as a person and a candidate instead of trying to fit yourself (and your application) to specific programs. Get used to asking questions while shadowing, volunteering, interviewing, or even when you randomly meet PAs somewhere. The best advice I ever got (to major in something I liked and was interested in) was from a PA I met at an orchestra camp. Most PAs you meet genuinely want to help you, whether it’s with shadowing, your personal statement, or even just overall advice.
Where can we find you? (Instagram, TikTok, Website, etc) – Instagram @lauren_noodle, TikTok @laurennewell8
