How to Get Into PA School With a Low GPA

PA school administrators from ten top-ranking PA programs answer your questions on how to get into PA school with a low GPA.

A low GPA is probably the hardest area to improve.

This makes sense – it was years in the making, and can’t be undone without time. It can take about a year in advanced level science courses to bump a high 2.x GPA over 3.0. The lower your GPA, and the more classes you’ve taken, the longer it will take to reflect improvements in your academic record.

What is your CASPA calculated GPA?

Before you do anything it is important that you have this number in hand. You can view your CASPA GPAs once your application has been Verified. You can read about that here on the CASPA website.

When I applied to PA school I had a cumulative GPA of 2.9, a result, probably like many of you reading this, of some early misdirection. I got my act together in the second half of my undergraduate career, finishing on the Dean's list with a 3.8 GPA. But my overall GPA did not fully recover and was lower than the 3.0 minimum of the school where I was accepted.

Indeed this is not the norm, but you should not let a lower than average GPA stop you from finding a path to PA school if this is truly your passion.

Fortunately, you are not alone. Every year PA programs from across the country come together to answer questions posed by aspiring Pre-PA students like yourself. Not surprisingly, questions regarding PA school admissions and low (or lower than average) GPA topped the list.

Below are the answers to these questions.

Admissions Directors Tell All: Your PA School GPA Questions Answered

This post is part one of a two-part series focused on steps you can take to mediate a lower than desired GPA and the first in a multi-part series of posts exploring questions asked by PA school applicants and answers provided by the PA program admissions directors from seven PA programs.

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What's a competitive undergraduate GPA for PA school? According to the latest PAEA program report of who gets into PA school the average accepted PA school student had a science GPA of 3.5, non-science GPA of 3.6, CASPA BCP (biology, chemistry, and physics) GPA of 3.5, and an overall GPA of 3.6. PA School Applicant Quick Tip: Most schools require 2.7-3.2. The average for acceptance is around 3.5. Focus on science and overall GPA.

PRE-PA Questions are in bold

With answers following each question and a reference to the corresponding PA school admissions director who provided the answer.

Q: Do you have any advice for an applicant who has a low GPA to help set them apart and be considered over someone who has a higher GPA?

Yes, it is best advised to focus on strengthening your last 60 units GPA, accruing more patient care experience hours, and finding community service opportunities in underserved communities. In addition, it can help to aim for A’s and B’s in your science and prerequisite courses. – Michigan State University

Q: What do you suggest if my GPA just barely meets the minimum requirement for acceptance?

If you meet our requirements, then you meet our requirements! – Lincoln Memorial University

Q: If I were to retake classes and get better grades but not yet reach a 3.0, would the upward trend in my grades be considered?

CASPA does not offer grade replacement, so any new grades will average into your GPA. We would look at the improved performance in the courses positively, but it might still be hard to overcome a GPA lower than a 3.0. In this case, you would need significant shadowing, volunteering, leadership, and clinical experience to offset the GPA that much. – A.T. Still University

Q: I am right at the minimum GPA and healthcare experience I was wondering if it would be more beneficial to do a year master program to increase my GPA or to focus more on HCE?

I think it depends on how much one year would help your GPA. And how low the GPA is. Generally, I would say health care. – Duke University

Q: I know going up against others with a GPA of 4.0 or very close to that. That will make it harder for me to get an interview, right?

I would recommend you take the GRE and get it as high as you can. This will help in raising your evaluation scores. A lot of factors play into acceptance. GPA being one, not the only one.

Q: If I got a C in an upper-level Organic Chem course would that lessen my chances at getting in?

One C is not going to be a concern, although a very recent C is not ideal. If all other grades are As that will help. If you have a lot of C’s that is a concern. – A.T. Still University

Q: What is a competitive GPA?

A competitive GPA is a 3.8. Averages for accepted students are – GPA 3.8 and average GRE is 312. – Butler University

Q: How can one make other parts of their application look competitive if their science GPA is on the lower end? More HCE hours? High GRE score?

It’s not quantity, it’s quality…we value a MEANINGFUL HCE experience and we definitely look at the GREs. Beyond that, we are strongly community-oriented so love to see community involvement. We also give a fair amount of weight to the personal narrative and even more to the letters of reference. Know your recommenders! Make sure they know you well! – Case Western Reserve

To boost your GPA means breaking out more than just the books

Angela Duckworth, a Psychology Professor at the University of Pennsylvania, has found through her research that: “Smarter students actually had less grit than their peers who scored lower on an intelligence test. This finding suggests that among the study participants — all students at an Ivy League school — people who are not as bright as their peers ‘compensate by working harder and with more determination.’ And their effort pays off: The grittiest students — not the smartest ones — had the highest GPAs.

Q: I am a recent graduate holding a biological science degree, I am currently volunteering at a lab and working at a dermatology office as a medical assistant. I am working on my extra-curricular activities and building on my resume. Unfortunately, I did not do so well in undergrad. My GPA is very low, so my question to you is, is GPA considered as highly valuable? I plan to go above and beyond with my recommendations, HCE, volunteering and personal statement. If I do very well in all of those, will that still give me a chance?

We do a holistic application review process. This means we consider GPA, clinical/shadowing experience, leadership, service, and commitment. You do want to be close to the average for the GPA, but you can offset a slightly lower GPA with other strong experiences. However, if you have a 2.75 GPA, that is not going to be competitive. Again, we also look for an upward trend in grades. – A.T. Still University

Q: I graduated a long time ago. I didn't always do so well in my undergraduate GPA, but it's impossible for me to repeat all the prerequisite courses again. How is the GPA requirement for admissions calculated? I have taken classes since undergrad and have done stellar.

We look for an upward trend in grades. We understand that some students have a hard transition to college, or they do not find focus until later. All of your grades will be averaged together, however, we still look for an upward trend. You do want to be somewhat close to the average GPA though. For example, if your total GPA is a 2.8, that is going to be hard to overcome. If it is a 3.0 or higher, with significant other experiences, we can work with that to an extent. – A.T. Still University

Q: If I took the GRE, can it offset a lower GPA? Or does AT still not factor the GRE at all?

The minimum GPA is a 2.75, however, that is not a competitive GPA (there has to be a line somewhere). – A.T. Still University

Q: My first couple years of college I did very poorly and was eventually dismissed. I did attend another college and ended up graduating with honors(woot-woot!), however, the way CASPA calculates cumulative GPA; despite graduating with a high GPA CASPA reflects it much lower. How much would that affect your review of my application?

You get an averaged GPA on CASPA. This is where the upward trend comes into play. The dismissal will be a serious concern but talk about your recovery (which should be reflected in the grades). – A.T. Still University

Q: Do you consider each GPA individually, the overall GPA, or is the undergrad GPA weighted more heavily in your decision?

We use to total cumulative and science GPA provided by CASPA. We also look for grade trends, academic rigor, and other aspects such as shadowing, leadership, clinical, volunteer, and employment – A.T. Still University

Q: I have a low GPA and plan to retake a few science courses that will boost up my prereqs/science GPA. I was hoping to do this online that way I can work/take classes. Would I still be considered seeing that I am not retaking the lab? Also if I don't meet the overall GPA requirement but do meet the science/prereq GPA will my application still be looked at?

If your cumulative and science GPA is not a 2.75 or higher your application will not be considered. You can take online courses as long as they are regionally accredited US institutions. – A.T. Still University

Q: My undergrad GPA suffered due to extenuating circumstances that will be discussed in my personal statement. Since graduating, I have worked to improve my overall science GPA. This was why I previously asked if you considered each GPA individually, the overall GPA, or if undergrad GPA weighted more heavily in your decision. When speaking with other programs my undergraduate science GPA is the main GPA discussed. In other words, it appears that my post-baccalaureate and new overall science GPA isn’t considered as heavily as my undergrad GPA. Additionally, during interviews this cycle, it was suggested to take master's level science courses instead of continuing to take undergraduate courses. Therefore, I am aiming to improve my chances and overall competitiveness as an applicant by enrolling in master's level science courses. Thank you for your advice in this decision as to which program is best for me!

We consider all of the classes, undergraduate coursework is not weighted more heavily than post-baccalaureate. We like to see an upward trend of grades which it sounds like you have so you would be in better shape than if you had questionable grades throughout both UG and post-baccalaureate/grad. – A.T. Still University

Q: Does post-baccalaureate GPA get weighted if it's significantly higher than undergrad GPAs?

Not specifically. But we do look at trending, so a stronger post-baccalaureate can make up for a weaker undergrad – Duke University

Q: I graduated a long time ago. I didn't always do so well in my undergraduate GPA, but it's impossible for me to repeat all the prerequisite courses again. How is the GPA requirement for admissions calculated? I have taken classes since undergrad and have done stellar

CASPA calculates the entire GPA as a whole. And the entire natural science GPA as a whole. But we do look at trending. – Duke University

Q: If your GPA is not strong but your work experience is, is that taken into consideration?

We look at the entire application and consider everything, but I will say that GPA is a big part of it and if given the opportunity to improve I would suggest taking some extra science classes to improve it. But yes, work experience is highly valued as well. – A.T. Still University

Q: You said that there is no minimum GPA, but how important is GPA when considering applicants?

We look at the application as a whole. GPA is important, but we do look at trending – such as if you did poorly at first and then improved. – Duke University

Q: If my GPA is not the highest, but I volunteer consistently, go on medical volunteer trips, and have leadership positions in on-campus organizations, as well as over 1,000 hands-on patient care hours, could that be enough to still make me a competitive applicant to your program?

Your GPA is only one indicator – all the stuff you mention is great. Try to do well on the GRE to offset your GPA. – Duke University

Q: If I am a candidate, who does not have a competitive GPA what other things can I do? I am involved in research with my chemistry professor, I tutor biology, and I have 2500 clinical hours.

You should continue with your clinical hours – massively important. You should try to take some additional upper-level science courses to show you can do the work now (earn grade of B or better to prove competence), strive for an excellent GRE score, get recommendations from people who can speak well of your patient care, and write amazing, heartfelt essays – Duke University

Q: If I took a non-pre requisite class my freshman year and got a D the first time, the second time a B, I know CASPA calculates both and averages the two. How do you guys view/value someone's application with a D and not so good grades in the beginning of Undergrad?

We look at the overall cumulative GPA. We will look at these grades just like CASPA will. – Butler University

Q: I have a 3.7 science GPA, but Caspa calculation overall GPA 3.2. GRE 320 would I be a competitive applicant?

Your overall CASPA GPA must be 3.4 to be considered. – Butler University

Q: I graduated school with a Biochemistry degree in 2012, but I have not pursued anything related to medicine or science since then other than becoming an EMT-B. Also, my grades were considerably less than stellar for some of the prerequisite classes. However, I have been recently thinking of applying for PA school again. If I decided to enroll in the local community colleges to raise my GPA and reapply, is there a decent chance that I may be accepted?

You can definitely take courses at a community college or any other regionally accredited institution. You will need to make sure you have at least a 3.4 cumulative GPA for your application to be considered. – Butler University

Q: I am curious about how strict the GPA requirement is? I know the website says 3.0 and I have read above that 3.4 is required to be considered? Will an application be reviewed if GPA is 3.37 but other aspects are very strong?

You must have a 3.4 GPA for your application to be considered. A competitive GPA is 3.8. – Butler University

Q: I have the minimum GPA for admissions but I want to be more competitive. Do you recommend that I take a one year masters program to increase my GPA or possibly focusing on more HCE?

If your GPA is on the lower end and you were less than successful in some of the prereqs which lowered your GPA, a post-bac program can help to improve your GPA and show the admissions committee that you can be successful in a rigorous program. – Yale University

Q: How can one make other parts of their application look competitive if their science GPA is on the lower end? More HCE hours? High GRE score?

We look holistically at applicants. As long as you have the minimum science GPA I would not worry. If you have significant weaknesses in your prereqs, retaking them and improving is a way to show the committee that you know the material. – Yale University

Q: I have my bachelor's in Biology from Penn State Berks and all the prerequisites for the PA program. However, My GPA was under 3.0. Is it worth applying, or do you suggest a way increase my GPA in order to apply? I am an OIF combat medic Veteran.

I encourage you working towards improving your GPA before applying as our minimum requirement for full consideration is a 3.0 overall science and 3.0 overall cumulative. – Penn State

Q: If I received poor university grades in 2008-2011, and then gained work experience as a CNA and now have been back at University since 2014 earning a 3.7 average GPA am I still an eligible candidate if my overall GPA is about a 2.9?

We do require a 3.0 cumulative science and cumulative overall GPA for full consideration. You can still apply but I can’t make any guarantees that your file would receive full consideration not having satisfied the minimum requirement. – Penn State

Q: I am a unique candidate with a low undergrad GPA unique degree with significant HCE. I was hoping to get a better understanding of how holistic your application process is. My undergraduate GPA was affected by immaturity, my father having two heart surgeries and missing school. I have been the lead exercise physiologist at Boston Medical Center for 4 years now, with over 4000 HCE hours. I am a medical volunteer at the Boston Athletic Association for the 10k, half, and full marathons for the last 5 years as a medical sweep. I've been a dedicated volunteer at the Salvation Army since November 2016 and I have committed myself through the end of this year before I begin school wherever I get in. I really want to fess up to my poor GPA due to immaturity coupled with significant familial health problems, I show how hard I've worked to overcome those flaws in my academics. Recently while working 60 hours a week in 2-3 healthcare roles (1 full-time, 2 part-time) I’ve averaged B’s in many courses at BU MET college. My greatest fear is that I submit CASPA and I'm not considered because of my low GPA which was reflective of circumstance w/ immaturity 10 years ago. I want to show you I'm not a high-risk candidate, but high reward. My current HCE, Leadership, volunteering, and GRE, and strong recommendations are reflective of this.

We are quite holistic but the minimum GPA requirement is a 3.0 – as this is required of our students within our program to make academic progress. The only GPA’s that we technically review our a candidate’s cumulative science (this includes the whole thing – undergrad courses, graduate courses, postbac courses) so while the upward trend is a positive note and will benefit you in our review, the GPAs are calculated through CASPA and we look at cumulative overall data. – Penn State

Q: You mentioned you look at all admissions criteria holistically say early on in my college career I had no direction and my grades suffered because of that, but for the last several years my grades have been all As do you take that into consideration when looking at my application or just look at my overall GPA?

We require a 3.0 for overall GPA and 3.0 for science course GPA. The full transcript is reviewed in-depth, but if these listed requirements are satisfied, then this criterion is satisfied. Keeping in mind that the program is highly competitive, and there are limited seats. – Marist College

Q: If there is a chance of not meeting the 3.0 GPA, what do you recommend doing to make up for that?

The 3.0 is required but if you do fall just short, you are welcome to continue moving forward with the process. – Marist College

Q: I will be graduating from undergrad in May with a GPA of a 3.3. I am considering retaking a class over the summer. Would you recommend retaking a prerequisite course, like Biology which I got a B in or OCHEm which I got a C in, or an upper-level course in Physiology which I got a B in but is very important for PA level classes?

I would retake any classes you got a “C” in. “Even if I got a C in Ochem I and improved it to a B in Ochem II?” Yes. Any C’s I would retake. – Marist College

Q: I come from a system where GPA was never used, hence a low GPA, but I have a lot of clinical experience as an International Medical Graduate, what are my chances?

As long as you fit the prereq’s, we will review your application, and everyone is considered on a case by case basis. – Case Western Reserve

Q: Does the admissions committee look at applicants from a holistic perspective or is GPA weighted as the most important factor?

We certainly look at applications holistically but as with most programs GPA plays a substantial role. – Case Western Reserve

Q: Will my application still be considered with a low GPA? This is the only thing I am lacking on my resume. I plan to excel in my HCE, volunteering, personal statement, and recommendations.

Not knowing what your personal record looks like, I can say that as long as you meet the prerequisites, we will review your application. We do like to review applicant’s background. Please still apply. – Case Western Reserve

Q: If I obtained a 1-year masters degree while working, would that change how my GPA is evaluated during the program as opposed to someone who just went to school?

If that Masters includes pre-requisite courses it will be added to the composite GPA. Remember, we also look at ascending transcripts i.e. improving GPAs over the course of study. A lot of people have rough freshman experience but then improve steadily from there and we value that. – Case Western Reserve

Q: I would like to start by explaining my background: I have thousands of hours of phlebotomy experience, I have been a phlebotomist for four years. I have completed over 200 hours of shadowing under an internal medicine PA. My science GPA is a 3.5, however, I have a cumulative GPA of about a 2.8; due to my grades while completing my associate's degree being factored in. During this time I was not very dedicated to academics. Would my GPA derail my acceptance?

We do require a prereq GPA of 3.0 or higher OR in the last 40 hours of classwork. We very much respect the ‘ascending transcript’ i.e. someone who had a rough start but then improved. – Case Western Reserve

Q: My undergraduate GPA through CASPA is a 2.8 cumulative and science. I am currently completing a Master's degree in Basic Medical Sciences where I have completed 20 credits so far with a cumulative and science GPA of a 3.6. Will this be looked at on my CASPA application or are admissions decisions based solely on the cumulative undergraduate GPA's?

CASPA lets us know your GPA for your masters as well as undergrad and we look at both and would be delighted to take them both into account. – Case Western Reserve

Q: Through CASPA my undergraduate GPA is a 2.8 cumulative and science. I am currently working on my Master's in Basic Medical Sciences where I have completed 20 credit hours so far with a cumulative and science GPA of a 3.6. How will my last 40 credit hours be calculated? I want to ensure that my application will meet the 3.0 GPA requirement in order to be reviewed.

We do require a minimal GPA of 3.00/4.00 due to the rigors of the program. However, we do look at the last 40 hours since we realize that some applicants may have struggled academically early on in their career. A cumulative and science grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 (4.0 scale) during the final 40 credit hours/final 2 years of completed coursework. This is based on taking a minimum of 9 credit hours of coursework per semester. – Case Western Reserve

Q: My overall GPA is not great, haven’t taken the GRE yet "currently studying", but I served in the Navy as a Corpsman with the Marines for 8 years, so I exceed all requirements for patient care, Letters of Recommendation are excellent, planning on scoring high on the GRE, but I was working 3 jobs while going to school full-time, probably not the best idea, but I got through it. But my fear is that I won’t get the "sympathy" vote. What advice could you give a person who will have everything else but a low GPA 3.0?

If you are able to demonstrate that you have an ascending transcript then you might be in better stead, other people who have been in the same boat have taken additional courses to demonstrate that they can do the work and that their GPA was due to working full-time, etc. – Case Western Reserve

Q: If you do not make the minimum grade requirement in a prereq course, is it still worth applying?

Thanks for that question, if you don’t make the required prerequisite grade, you might consider retaking the course. – Case Western Reserve

Admission Directors Summary and Recommendations

Here are some of the key messages:

1. Upward trends are the rule downward trends will likely lead to a rejection:

We look for an upward trend in grades. We understand that some students have a hard transition to college, or they do not find focus until later. All of your grades will be averaged together, however, we still look for an upward trend. You do want to be somewhat close to the average GPA though. For example, if your total GPA is a 2.8, that is going to be hard to overcome. If it is a 3.0 or higher, with significant other experiences, we can work with that to an extent. - A.T. Still University PA program

2. One low grade is not going to be of much concern, but if you have a lot of them, Houston, you're going to have a problem:

One C is not going to be a concern, although a very recent C is not ideal. If all other grades are As that will help. If you have a lot of Cs that is a concern. - A.T. Still University

3. In the face of a low GPA, the GRE may become your ally:

GRE's tend to be lightly weighted but in the presence of a low GPA it can be of service: Candidates with a lower GPA can benefit by submitting competitive GRE scores. Certainly, high levels of work and volunteer experience can help as well. - Carroll University PA program

4. Recommendation letters matter:

It's not quantity, it's quality. We value a MEANINGFUL HCE experience and we definitely look at the GREs. Beyond that, we are strongly community-oriented so love to see community involvement. We also give a fair amount of weight to the personal narrative and even more to the letters of reference. Know your recommenders! Make sure they know you well! - Case Western Reserve PA program

Read more: Secrets of Successful PA School Letters of Recommendation

5. Postgraduate work can be used to build up a low GPA:

CASPA lets us know your GPA for your masters as well as undergrad and we look at both and would be delighted to take them both into account. - Case Western Reserve.

6. Postgraduate work is not weighted higher:

Postgraduate work is not weighted higher. But we do look at trending, so a stronger post-baccalaureate can make up for a weaker undergrad - Duke University

7. If you fall short often you can still apply, but you better be pretty impressive:

The 3.0 is required but if you do fall just short, you are welcome to continue moving forward with the process. - Marist College.

We do require a 3.0 cumulative science and cumulative overall GPA for full consideration. You can still apply but I can't make any guarantees that your file would receive full consideration not having satisfied the minimum requirement. - Penn State PA program

8. Even if you have excellent work and volunteer experience this may not be enough to counter a low GPA. You may still need to retake some classes:

We look at the entire application and consider everything, but I will say that GPA is a big part of it and if given the opportunity to improve I would suggest taking some extra science classes to improve it. But yes, work experience is highly valued as well. - A.T. Still University

9. You can retake a course but remember it's the average that matters:

You can retake a course but CASPA will average the two grades to come up with a number: If you don't make the required prereq grade, you might consider retaking the course. - Case Western Reserve PA program

10. The personal statement can be the deciding factor

When I applied to PA school I received more than a few rejection letters. So I went back to the drawing table and rewrote my personal statement, this was the only thing I changed on my entire PA school application. That single difference got me an interview and with a GPA of 2.9, I stepped ahead of many other 4.0 applicants who were placed on the waitlist. I am not bragging, I am simply trying to point out the importance of not just your personal statement but the entirety of your application + an extremely well-written personal narrative. It can make all the difference in the world. If I can do it, you certainly can.

You have some decisions to make

Are your stats so low you should push off applying to PA school for a few more years while you work on improving your profile?

Should you alter your list of schools? Apply to developing programs or apply to programs with lower average GPA stats?

Should you retake some classes or apply to a postgraduate program to show the admissions committee you mean business?

We will address the answers to these and many other questions in part two of this post series, so stay tuned!

Warmly,

Stephen Pasquini PA-C

www.smartypance.com

www.thepalife.com

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