Undergraduate education: Texas A&M University
Overall GPA: 3.69
Science GPA: 3.63
GRE: N/A
Total PCE hours: I was a junior when I applied and had approximately 540 hours at the time. I gained my experience working as a student worker nursing assistant at A&M’s clinic and now work as a medical assistant at an electrophysiology practice.
Total HCE hours: I had 116 HCE hours that I gained through my job training. I also gained some hours through TAMECT (emergency care team), an organization that provided emergency care alongside EMTs.
Shadowing hours: I had 90 hours of shadowing. Only 40 of these hours were in person with a orthopedic surgery PA-C. The other hours were with a wide range of specialties virtually.
Volunteer hours: I had 164 volunteering hours. I was a crisis text line counselor and peer note taker. I also had some other opportunities to volunteer through my organizations.
How many times did you apply?: 1
Age: 22
Gender: Female
Why PA? Growing up as a first-generation Asian-American and college student, I noticed my family members encounter many cultural barriers when seeking care. As a result, I developed a passion for closing gaps and helping those in underserved/rural areas. I knew that being a PA would help me achieve this goal. It also appealed to me as it provides the perfect balance of autonomy and collaborative care. Overall, I just love how diverse the career is and how well equipped the PAs I’ve met have been.
How many programs did you apply to? 7
How many programs did you interview with and what were the outcomes? I had 4 interview invites and am still waiting to hear back from 1. I attended 2 out of the 4 and declined the rest after my first acceptance.
Where will you be attending? UNT Health Science Center
Anything you found interesting about interviews? All the preparation in the world can’t completely prepare you for interviews, so do not burn yourself out in the process or worry about things out of your control. I really do think the cliche advice of being yourself is the best advice out there! These interviewers genuinely want to get to know you and whether or not you’re a good fit for their program.
Were there any helpful resources (books, websites, webinars, etc) you used to get through prerequisites courses, the application or interview process? The Savanna Perry interview guide helped me so much and I made sure to take advantage of all the resources my school had to offer. I also did a mock interview with The PA Platform which I think helped release all of my nerves!
Any advice for other pre-PA students? It’s a long and daunting process but it’s so incredibly worth it! You are more than capable and need to remember that your goals are within reach.
Where can we find you? (Instagram, TikTok, Website, etc) - IG: @medicallyangie