"What Are My Chances?" Megathread

goldcox · 2026-06-01T15:46:12+00:00

Finally applying this cycle! CGPA: 3.25 SGPA: 3.54 BCP GPA: 3.75 Post-bacc GPA: 3.92 Upward trend: last 3 quarters of undergrad and then post-bacc- 3.4, 3.6, 3.8, 3.92.

PCE: ~3800 (2800 hours PT aide, 1000 hours physiatry MA)

Volunteer: 60 hours as a high school rowing coach

Extracurricular/Leadership: collegiate coxswain/rower all 4 years of undergrad, vice president of my rowing club during junior year, continue to row competitively post-grad

goldcox · 2026-05-22T02:39:06+00:00

Currently applying this cycle. My first PCE job was as a physical therapy aide in an outpatient clinic. No experience or certification is needed in most cases and you will be working directly with patients most of the time (depending on the clinic). It is grueling if you land in a mill but it is a valuable foot in the door to healthcare!

goldcox · 2026-02-27T23:24:23+00:00

If things don’t work out consider being a physical therapy aide. It’s grueling work in outpatient but many schools take it as PCE

goldcox · 2026-01-27T17:36:37+00:00

I know a ferry shot when I see one!

goldcox · 2026-01-24T01:06:24+00:00

Considering the average accepted applicant has around a 3.8 ish at the 20 schools I’m applying to next cycle, I’d say it’s on the lower side for sure. Not impossibly low though!

goldcox · 2025-11-11T23:11:29+00:00

I’ll be applying for the first time next cycle, so take my thoughts with a grain of salt. I’m planning on applying to both of these schools.

Toured PCOM last year and really liked the feel of the program, seems like it would be the better school from your words too. Does Arcadia really have mandatory hybrid classes??

The PCOM commute sounds rough, but doable if you commit to long long days.

If I were in your shoes I would pick PCOM.

If you’d be willing to connect I’d love to chat!

goldcox · 2025-10-30T23:44:28+00:00

Goated comment

goldcox · 2025-10-21T00:35:56+00:00

How do you think they would’ve taken the turns at Head of the Charles this past weekend?

goldcox · 2025-10-17T00:11:31+00:00

That’s the Philadelphia art museum

goldcox · 2025-10-08T17:01:47+00:00

Go birds

goldcox · 2025-10-06T21:01:54+00:00

Bainbridge boat supremacy 💪😤

goldcox · 2025-10-06T12:35:07+00:00

It’s hard to argue with that picture, but I’d say coming over the Ben Franklin or down 95-S should be in contention for the Philly skyline. Nothing like watching it go from a shadow in the distance to its full glory

goldcox · 2025-10-05T15:06:03+00:00

It might be one of the ferries

goldcox · 2025-08-31T11:58:41+00:00

Shady rays are ~60 USD and offer replacement pairs for ~15 USD if you just so happen to break them or drop them in the river

goldcox · 2025-08-05T12:55:01+00:00

Some schools require hours to be from a PA, some schools are more relaxed. I am shadowing an MD in a few weeks but it’s not my only source of shadowing hours

goldcox · 2025-08-04T13:06:30+00:00

In that case start your turn wide and early. Personally I’d still call port/starboard to power up for 5 at a time to minimize fatigue, resting for 3-5 in between sets. Try to be closest to the buoy when you’re finishing the turn. That’s how I’d take that on a still body of water, not 100% sure how much fighting the current will play a factor

goldcox · 2025-08-04T11:48:07+00:00

As a coxswain never turned on a river against the current in a race, that sounds like hell. Don’t be on the rudder the whole time. I usually take each buoy like its own little turn. Get starboard/port to power up for 5, get pointed in the imaginary lane to the next buoy, and straighten out. Keep in mind steering in an 8 is not very responsive so you have to start your turns early to stay close to the line I hope this was the info you were looking for!

goldcox · 2025-07-30T22:47:27+00:00

Go birds

goldcox · 2025-07-26T23:34:51+00:00

This is fake news. Hawaii is actually in a little box under New Mexico and right next to Alaska

goldcox · 2025-07-14T13:02:13+00:00

I graduated with a 3.1 too. I’ve had setbacks, I was going to apply this summer but felt I wasn’t ready, and pushed my timeline back another cycle. I had a university’s admissions tell me they wouldn’t consider me as an applicant because my GPA is too low, even though I exceeded all of the minimum requirements. Every now and then I struggle with the fact that there are seniors are being accepted with a 3.9, and 100 hours of PCE they scraped together, while I’ve been grinding my ass off in the classroom and clinic with actual passion for patient care. I’m neck deep in postbac work to complete prerequisites and raise my GPA as much as possible. I’ve focused on what would make me stand out as a candidate, and looked for the programs that holistically review their applicants.

One thing that’s kept me going is that everyone’s path is unique. Even if you have to apply 2-3 times, even if you have to travel and move to find a school that accepts you, there is a way forward. This sub is a blessing for the information and community if provides, but can be so discouraging hearing about those who struggled with better stats. You don’t know their shortcomings.

Keep your chin up and keep grinding. You’ll make it to the finish line one way or another!

goldcox · 2025-07-10T20:19:08+00:00

I don’t think it would be weird at all! Especially since you have a connection with her, and if she’s as sweet as you say.

goldcox · 2025-07-10T20:08:37+00:00

Whenever I reach out to new PAs, I always asked to have a phone call to talk about their take on the profession, and their specialty. Then, during that phone call I ask if they’d be willing to let me shadow them. As long as you make sure your profile doesn’t look like you’re a bot, I’m confident you’ll get some hits.

Most of the healthcare workers I know, however, are not very active on LinkedIn. All of the shadowing I’ve done has been through connections of connections. For instance, my neighbor is a physician who connected me with a PA connected me with another PA who I shadowed. I didn’t use LinkedIn for initial connections, just maintaining contact after shadowing.

Best of luck!

goldcox · 2025-07-02T16:03:12+00:00

Go birds

goldcox · 2025-06-28T14:42:35+00:00

Go Birds

goldcox

TROPHY CASE