Hi guys,
I am a 2011 graduate from a prestigious university with an overall GPA of 3.7. I have a 3.9 GPA in terms of the pre-reqs for PA programs with 2 B+ in English/Chemistry. My major was neuroscience.
Regarding my extracurricular activities:
-1500 hours of clinical service where 900 are from a retirement home (assistant living with incredibly high demand in terms of work/efforts), and the other 600 from personal care of a girl with paraplegia.
-6 months of research experience in neurology
-6 months of work in clinical research where I assisted in recruiting patients into the study and managed the patient profiles.
-Participated in various healthcare related clubs throughout college (including the red-cross, volunteering at the University hospital).
-Phlebotomy/CPR certification.
-Roughly 20 hours of shadowing experience
I have a few concerns with my application at this point and they are mostly attributed to getting good LORs. Unfortunately, the retirement home that I worked in, which I feel is the greatest contributor to my healthcare experience, is unable to give me a professional letter...this is apparently unacceptable to PA schools? Also, as I have not spent a great deal of time with the PA I am currently shadowing, I am not sure if he will be able to write a strong letter. In terms of my GREs...I have yet to take them.
So, here is the big question that I have: Am I ready for this application cycle?
I feel like I will need to spend some more time with the PA I'm currently shadowing...and with the amount of time I will need to prep for the GRE, I won't be able to complete my application until late June/early July.
Do you guys think the weak LORs will make or break my application to Northwestern (or any school for the matter)? In terms of GREs, will getting a mediocre score hurt me? (I am not the best standardized test taker) How do they look at re-applicants if things don't workout this cycle?
I am prepared to do what it takes to make myself a stronger applicant but would really like to go on with my professional life (for personal reasons).
Thank you so much for any help in advance!
I am a 2011 graduate from a prestigious university with an overall GPA of 3.7. I have a 3.9 GPA in terms of the pre-reqs for PA programs with 2 B+ in English/Chemistry. My major was neuroscience.
Regarding my extracurricular activities:
-1500 hours of clinical service where 900 are from a retirement home (assistant living with incredibly high demand in terms of work/efforts), and the other 600 from personal care of a girl with paraplegia.
-6 months of research experience in neurology
-6 months of work in clinical research where I assisted in recruiting patients into the study and managed the patient profiles.
-Participated in various healthcare related clubs throughout college (including the red-cross, volunteering at the University hospital).
-Phlebotomy/CPR certification.
-Roughly 20 hours of shadowing experience
I have a few concerns with my application at this point and they are mostly attributed to getting good LORs. Unfortunately, the retirement home that I worked in, which I feel is the greatest contributor to my healthcare experience, is unable to give me a professional letter...this is apparently unacceptable to PA schools? Also, as I have not spent a great deal of time with the PA I am currently shadowing, I am not sure if he will be able to write a strong letter. In terms of my GREs...I have yet to take them.
So, here is the big question that I have: Am I ready for this application cycle?
I feel like I will need to spend some more time with the PA I'm currently shadowing...and with the amount of time I will need to prep for the GRE, I won't be able to complete my application until late June/early July.
Do you guys think the weak LORs will make or break my application to Northwestern (or any school for the matter)? In terms of GREs, will getting a mediocre score hurt me? (I am not the best standardized test taker) How do they look at re-applicants if things don't workout this cycle?
I am prepared to do what it takes to make myself a stronger applicant but would really like to go on with my professional life (for personal reasons).
Thank you so much for any help in advance!
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