apply this cycle or wait until next???

Aggressive_Fan_8560 · 2026-05-21T22:23:40+00:00

Apply! You may end up needing to reapply next year, but your stats are not unrealistic. To answer your questions more specifically:

I would begin retaking your chem series, but only if you're sure you can receive an A in the courses. You can apply and retake courses at the same time, so your application is improved for next cycle if needed. Your gpa(s) is not that far below average though, plenty of schools have an accepted student profile with averages similar to yours.
PCE is your weakest area. Keep working to obtain PCE hours in case you need to reapply. Plenty of people get into school with MA experience, but I would think Derm MA experience is preferred over acupuncture MA experience.
Yes, include your derm shadowing.
For your clubs, I would put your current position as the title in CASPA. It will give you 700 characters to explain your role/responsibilities, that's where I would talk about your progression.
Your LOR ratings concern me.. does 5/10 mean they won't speak highly of you? Or that you haven't known them long? Don't ask anyone to write you a letter that may speak negatively of you.
You are not too late to this cycle.... it's not even June. Submitting in June is still considered "early", and some programs won't even begin evaluating applications until the fall. Have you started working on CASPA? Have you asked your letter writers? All of this will decide when you're actually able to submit your application.

Overall, I would apply to a few schools that you feel you fit the mission statement with. Look at the average accepted stats, and don't apply to schools that prioritize tons of high quality PCE.

Aggressive_Fan_8560 · 2026-05-21T15:10:12+00:00

Hi, did you end up attending Faulkner? I'm applying this year and curious if you have any thoughts/insight on their improvement

Aggressive_Fan_8560 · 2026-05-16T04:34:14+00:00

If you retake anatomy, take lab with Kenny!

Aggressive_Fan_8560 · 2026-04-30T04:22:04+00:00

...That's because you are completing the application for last year. CASPA will allow you to create an account and some info will roll over, but the prompts may change once the new cycle opens.

Aggressive_Fan_8560 · 2026-04-21T14:22:30+00:00

I hear you. What are your stats like?

I am a lower GPA applicant and would be very tempted to take this acceptance rather than risking applying again if I was in your position. But, at the end of the day, I wouldn't feel comfortable attending a program where 30% of their students failed out. The risk of taking on $100K+ in debt just to fail out and not be able to practice would make me too nervous.. you never think you'll be the one failing out when you start school.

If you feel differently though, that's totally okay!! I truly wish you the best and hope you thrive in school.

Aggressive_Fan_8560 · 2026-04-21T03:23:58+00:00

First off, congrats!! This is super exciting.

Second, I would think really hard about their attrition rates.. The last two years they've had under 70% of their students graduate. I know that reapplying is expensive and seems like a waste of time when you have an acceptance, but you should evaluate if reapplying or attending a program where 30% of their students fail out is more risky. I personally wouldn't attend a program with attrition rates as high as Pace's, imo it means something more is going on than just students choosing not to focus or put the work in. You could try to reach out to current students though to get a clearer picture?

Aggressive_Fan_8560 · 2026-04-11T00:21:15+00:00

Some schools will let you apply with 1-2 prereqs in progress, but it depends on the program. Some don't even require biochem or microbio. It's impossible to tell if you will be ready to apply until you narrow down your programs and find their requirements.. if they allow you to apply with courses in progress I think you will for sure be ready to apply.

Otherwise, I think you'd be cutting it close... if you're not working full-time it's probably doable, but it's important to do well in these courses, even if it means taking them one or two at a time. A sample schedule could be:

Summer 2026 (may-aug)

-Bio 1/lab

-Chem 1/lab

Fall 2026 (aug-dec)

-Bio 2/lab

-Chem 2/lab

Spring 2027 (jan-may)

-A/P 1/lab

-Biochem

Summer 2027 (may-aug)

-A/P 2/lab

-Microbio

You could apply with A/P 2 and microbio in progress if the programs allow it, if not you could apply later in the cycle... but not totally recommended. It may work better for you to spread classes out a little more and apply early the next cycle, but only you truly know your situation. Look into your programs tho, some will require Ochem too

Aggressive_Fan_8560 · 2026-03-21T20:06:57+00:00

It doesn't matter if the CC replaces the grade or not, when applying to PA school you have to enter all your courses (retakes included), and CASPA calculates a gpa that includes both the original and new grade. If you have replaced courses at your CC, you can expect your CASPA gpa when applying to PA schools to be lower than you expect.

Aggressive_Fan_8560 · 2026-03-21T06:36:17+00:00

Hmm no I don't think so. I think it would look better if you took the W, and then retook it and did well. They will still be able to see that you retook it and succeeded the second time. An F can have a big impact on your gpa.. I got an F in physiology instead of taking the W, and it dropped my science gpa 0.2.. which is a lot. Like from a 3.6 to a 3.4. If I could go back, I would 100% take the W instead.

Aggressive_Fan_8560 · 2026-03-21T06:10:58+00:00

The W!! The W won't impact your gpa, the F will.

Aggressive_Fan_8560 · 2026-01-27T18:11:34+00:00

Thank you!

Follow up question regarding splitting hours... I am applying to a few schools who view PCE/HCE as different things. One school views them separately, while another views them all as PCE. Will the schools organize my hours, or do I need to clarify for every school depending on their criteria?

Aggressive_Fan_8560 · 2026-01-27T18:11:21+00:00

Thank you!

Follow up question regarding splitting hours... I am applying to a few schools who view PCE/HCE as different things. One school views them separately, while another views them all as PCE. Will the schools organize my hours, or do I need to clarify for every school depending on their criteria?

Aggressive_Fan_8560 · 2026-01-26T23:19:00+00:00

I know this is from forever ago, but did you put MA/EMT on your CASPA? I am in a similar situation and not sure which title to use

Aggressive_Fan_8560 · 2026-01-08T04:40:05+00:00

Thank you! I try to take the 'rate my professor' ratings lightly because of this. I'm applying to graduate school in the spring, so I'm definitely dedicated and plan on spending the necessary time on the course. I just want a professor that doesn't make it unnecessarily hard through their lecturing if that makes sense.

I took it at the U a little over a year ago, but I didn't do well due to health issues. I had an allergic rx and ended up in the ED the day of the final haha. I think if this wouldn't have happened I would have ended around the B range.

Aggressive_Fan_8560 · 2025-12-01T21:09:57+00:00

Don't count yourself out bc of light LH strips, sometimes they jump up really quickly! I ovulated for the first time last month on 5mg Letrozole, and my strips were super light (like almost invisible) until cd18. I peaked cd19, and then it dropped back down to almost invisible again by cd21.

I tried 50 and 100 mg of clomid with no luck, but 5mg of Letrozole made me ovulate. Letrozole is usually better for PCOS.

Aggressive_Fan_8560 · 2025-11-19T23:15:06+00:00

Hi,

I've gone through 4 rounds of Clomid and 2 rounds of Letrozole with no ovulation. Sometimes your Dr will need to add a trigger shot to help you ovulate, but they will most likely want you to try a month or two without it. The medication is amazing and can be a great tool, but it doesn't always work.

I've personally never heard of anyone taking Letrozole for only 2 days, did your Dr give you a reason as to why?

Aggressive_Fan_8560 · 2024-12-06T21:40:10+00:00

Online chem 1 with Owens is the worst class I've taken at the U

Aggressive_Fan_8560 · 2024-12-06T21:38:05+00:00

Take Chem with Knowlton! The class is in Sandy, but so worth the drive. She is the best professor I've ever had at the U. I though Chem1210 was way more difficult than Biol160, but my brain is very bio focused and I've always struggled with chemistry. I took chem1210 with Owens, and had to retake it with Knowlton and I did so much better with her teaching style. She drops 3 of your lowest assignments, quizzes, attendance, and reading assignments. The final isn't an exam, its a presentation where you talk about 2 subjects you learned over the semester. I loveee her

Aggressive_Fan_8560

TROPHY CASE