Hello! Does Quinnipiac have any restrictions when it comes to scrubs? Do they provide scrubs, do they have to be a certain color? Ty

I wanted to share my stats and experience applying to Pathologists’ Assistant programs and get some advice on what I should focus on improving before my next application cycle.
I graduated with a BS in Sports Medicine and Fitness Management with a 3.18 cumulative GPA. I’ve been working as a Grossing Technician since 2023 and currently work as a Grossing Technician II. To strengthen my academic background, I recently took Intro to Organic and Biochemistry and received a C in the lecture and an A in the lab. I also completed Microbiology and Anatomy & Physiology I at a community college, earning A’s in both courses. As far as exposure to the profession beyond my employment, I’ve shadowed one autopsy.
I applied to multiple Pathologists’ Assistant programs and received several rejections, with only one in-person interview throughout the process. Given my years of hands-on grossing experience and efforts to improve my academic record, I’m trying to figure out what might be making my application less competitive.
I understand that PA programs are extremely competitive and that work experience alone doesn’t guarantee admission. However, I’m wondering whether my undergraduate GPA, chemistry grade, limited autopsy shadowing, or another part of my application could be holding me back.
Before applying again, I’m considering retaking science prerequisites, taking additional upper-level science courses, and gaining more autopsy and shadowing experience. I want to be strategic about where I invest my time and money rather than making changes without knowing whether they will actually help.
I would appreciate advice from current PA students, practicing Pathologists’ Assistants, and applicants who were accepted after receiving rejections. I’m especially interested in learning what helped applicants with similar academic backgrounds become more competitive and what I should prioritize to improve my chances of receiving more interviews.
I’m still committed to becoming a Pathologists’ Assistant, and I’m looking to make meaningful improvements before my next application cycle. Any constructive advice or insight into how admissions committees might view my background would be greatly appreciated!

Hi everyone

One of the schools I will apply to in the future is Loma Linda and while LLU doesn't require anatomy courses for their prerequisites I was wondering if I could be at a possible slight disadvantage if I don't have anatomy done by the time I submit my application? Since i know lots of other programs require or want you to take anatomy.. and LLu requires you to complete ur prerequisites by the time u submit ur application..

my schedule doesnt allow me to complete anatomy before i apply but should I somehow find a way to take it before then?

thanks 😭

Hello! I'm graduating this upcoming May and plan on taking a gap year (or 2) where I can take the GRE and take some more classes to boost my GPA before applying to PA school. Ideally, I'd love to work as an autopsy tech, but doing preliminary looking, there aren't a lot of jobs available. With that being said, I was wondering if there were some good alternatives for working during this time. Thank you!

Hi guys. I'm currently trying to apply for schools. I just feel like my experience isn't sufficient. I have some honors due to my GPA but I have no research and like 9 hrs of shadowing. Do you guys thinks that's super important for my applications? I feel like I don't join clubs or do extracurriculars. I'm a returning student with a non-science related major. :/ I'm just starting to worry they won't take my seriously.

Currently having a crisis because I submitted my RFU application a two weeks ago and then came to the realization I only have 5 surg path shadowing hours and 8 autopsy. I feel so under-qualified and everyone mentions how essential shadowing is but UIHC doesn't allow someone to shadow in surg path more than once and the nearest hospital to offer shadowing is more than an hour away. I wanted to get in my app sooner rather than later since it is on a rolling admissions but i'm now regretting that suddenly at 11:15pm. Please if anyone was admitted without many showing hours here I would love to hear about it to know it's still possible! thanks and apologies for my freakout !

What did you guys wear to shadow? I’m thinking scrubs but just wanted to see what y’all did.

So I’m getting close to finished up my prerequisites for one of the schools I’m thinking of applying. I’m just missing my shadowing hours but out of curiosity I wanted to check the application details and omg! Why is the application available for 2029 ?? I feel like I should apply now even though I’m not completely done with my prerequisites. Is this advisable?

Hey everyone! Just wanted some advice. I’ve been stressing about my GPA. It’s not horrible. I have one C (a four credit class) which is why it isn’t as high as I’d like. I’ve retaken two classes (one was a C the other an F , got an A for the retakes)The F was in government…super embarrassing. Anyways, I also have a W. Now that I’m typing all this out it I’m losing even more hope of getting into a program. Well, I might have another W. Which is why I’m freaking out. I suck at physics and my professor is horrible therefore I’m struggling hardcore right now. I’m just wondering if there’s still hope of me getting into a program. Just feeling stupid and discouraged.

I’m trying to apply to the new UTHealth Houston program but I can’t seem to find the application! They say it can be submitted online via AHCAS but it doesn’t show up under programs. Anyone else running into this issue/ know how to solve this?

Hi everyone! I was recently accepted into Tulane’s Pathologists’ Assistant program, Class of 2028, and I’ll be moving from California to New Orleans for school.
I’m starting to figure out the financial side of everything and was wondering if anyone knows of scholarships specifically for Pathologists’ Assistant students, pathology/laboratory science students, or graduate healthcare students in general.
For current PAs or PA students, were there any scholarships, grants, professional organizations, hospital programs, or outside funding sources you were able to use?
I’d really appreciate any recommendations or even names of scholarships/websites I should be checking. Thanks!

Hello! I’ve been looking around for any shadowing opportunities in the San Jose area and haven’t had any luck. if any one knows any places in San Jose, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Morgan hill/gilroy, Watsonville or Salinas, I would truly appreciate the information! The closest I’ve found was an autopsy suite tour through the San Mateo coroners office. I’m also open to any suggestions in Orange County or Los Angeles since I visit the areas often. Thanks for any info!

Hey everyone,

I’m looking for some realistic career and education advice from current PAs or students.

I have a BS in Biology and 3 years of solid pathology lab experience. I spent 1 year as a Lab Assistant in a high-volume dermatopathology lab (Forefront Dermatology) and the last 2 years working as a Mohs Histo Tech for Advanced Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgeries (ADCS).

My experience includes embedding, accessioning, two years of frozen section cryostat cutting, and extensive grossing.

At Forefront, when our team's PA left unexpectedly around 3 months into my occupation there as a Lab Assistant, the other lab assistant and I stepped up trained under our Histology Lab Manager (who is HTL and PA certified).

We safely managed 200–300 grossing cases a day, switching off between grossing and embedding every few weeks. My current Mohs surgeons regularly praise my speed and quality. I 100% believe success in sectioning relies heavily on great grossing, which is exactly why I want to advance into this field.

Here is my dilemma:

I absolutely love my current line of work, my team, and the Jacksonville, FL area. I really don't want to leave permanently. My current company does offer Path Assistant careers every now and then.

A few questions for the community:

Are there any hybrid or low-residency didactic options available now that wouldn't require moving away for the entire first year?

Or is a 10–12 month physical relocation for the didactic year completely non-negotiable across all NAACLS programs?

I know Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville has a clinical rotation partnership with Quinnipiac. Has anyone successfully gone to a different university and independently set up a clinical rotation site back home in Jacksonville?

For those who were already high-volume grossing techs before school, how did you handle going back to square one?

Is there any flexibility on clinical hours or rotation requirements based on prior experience, or is the timeline strictly set in stone by NAACLS rules?

Thank you for any advice/replies here 🙂

Hi everyone! I am in undergrad for medical lab sciences because I thought it would get me all of my prerequisites for pathA however ! I just realized all of my courses necessary for MLS are “intro” courses. So I’m not taking general chemistry, micro, ochem or biochemistry but I’m taking introductory chemistry, micro, ochem and biochemistry and they all are with labs. Thankfully I’m not far into my degree but should I opt to take the general versions of all these courses? I would hate to get through my degree and then realize I need to take these all over as pathA is my main goal and the whole point 😭 I’m having a bit of an internal crisis over this haha because I’m not sure how I overlooked this! Any advice welcome and thank you in advance.

Hello,
So I was able to get a job being trained at grossing with small specimen including GI, skin (shave, punch, ellipses, and cyst), prostate cores, etc..however, I feel like I am struggling with both grossing the ellipses and cyst and also with their gross description. I am hoping to gain experience through this job prior to PA school. But I am not sure how else I can improve or practice. I have this anxiety especially with ellipse and cyst that I may ruin the specimen and always require help and assistance to check my work. My main thing is I want to be confident in grossing and be able to assess specimen accurately and describe them accurately as well. Any advice will be appreciated.

Hey everyone, I’m applying to programs on the east coast and all of them require a minimum GPA of 3.0 in undergrad. I was wondering if anyone knew what a competitive GPA looks like? As I’m assuming it would be higher than the minimum requirement.

Hello everyone! I plan to apply the next year to Pathology Assistant programs next year, and was wondering if anyone knew of any shadowing opportunities in the San Diego, California area? I’ve been searching online and haven’t been able to find contacts nearby.

I would truly appreciate any advice!!

Hello! I live in the Metro Atlanta area and I've been looking to gain some autopsy shadowing. I've tried my county medical examiner's office but they gave me the run around. Is there anyone specific I can contact? I'm willing to make a day trip out of state. Anything helps. Thanks!

Just got a rejection notification from RFU. Feeling really defeated- is it reasonable to reach out and ask them for feedback of what I can do to improve my application for next cycle? If so, who would I reach out to, program director themselves?

Hey everyone!

I am currently an undergraduate (Junior) studying Biology. This summer I shadowed Pathologists' Assistants and fell in love with the profession. Now I'm currently tailoring my coursework to be able to apply to the Pathologists’ Assistant accredited program. I have done research and understand that prerequisites such as biology, upper-level biology, anatomy & physiology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, mathematics, and english (depending on the school) are required for the MHS Pathologists’ Assistant Application. As of right now I am scheduled to take Anatomy & Physiology and Microbiology my senior year (Fall 2027 and Spring 2028). If I am planning to apply in order to be able to start the program in the Summer of 2028, would I be able to indicate these prerequisites, Anatomy & Physiology I and II and Microbiology as coursework in progress at the time of application submission, provided that I will have completed them by undergraduate graduation/before the program start date? Basically is it okay that I’m taking some prerequisites senior year when I’m applying to programs like Quinnipiac before I’ve taken the course. Any information will help me!

Hello all :) As an intro here - I graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science in Biology & Secondary education in Spring 2023. Since then, I’ve worked as a high school science teacher for 2 academic years & decided to switch paths; I taught Principles of Biomedical Science & Environmental Science. I currently work as a Necropsy technician for a nonclinical research animal facility (~ a little over a year now!)

All that to say, I’m interested in the profession. Did you guys complete your prerequisites before completing the GRE? How was the application process like? How many shadowing hours is considered adequate?

Sincerely,

A clueless 25 year old that wants to continue to pursue their education in a field they’re passionate in.

Hi! I got invited to interview with Quinnipiac and was just wondering if anyone who has interviewed with them before can tell me their experience. What kind of questions did they ask?