Carissa

Carissa Zhu

Hometown: Fairfax, VA

Major: Physician Assistant

Graduation Year: 2026 (B.S.) 2027 (M.S.)

Why did you choose Daemen University?

I chose Daemen University because of the helpful counselors that helped me apply to this school. I love how supported I felt throughout the whole application process and how understanding they were. The PA program was also known to be outstanding with a high PANCE pass rate. I also liked the location of the school, with it being close to the city as well as Canada.

Why did you choose your present major?

I chose the PA program because I wanted to be a physician assistant. It seemed the best suited for me time-wise and the most direct path for me to achieve what I wanted.

Please briefly describe your Scholar's Day.

My Scholar’s Day was online and I was nervous! I had prepared a lot beforehand, however, when I got interviewed, my interviewer was so nice and we got to connect a lot on a lot of similar topics! It truly did feel like a conversation and I got to learn a lot about her as well.

Please describe your academic experience at Daemen. 

My academic experience is great at Daemen, I believe most teachers are helpful and will work with you as long as you seek the help. Daemen’s education is built around smaller classrooms which I like because it allows me to focus on my classes and gain the perspective that my classes do matter. A lot of my success is contributed to learning outside the classroom, but that should not scare you! I like to study with my friends as we quiz each other back and forth on PowerPoint topics.

What do you like best about Daemen?

I love how friendly the staff is and how it’s really easy to interact with them! The dining hall staff is amazing and I also like how tight knit campus can be.

What piece of advice would you give to prospective students? 

Take a deep breath! If you are joining the PA program, make sure to work hard and not slack off early. There are definitely ways to balance out work, life, play at Daemen, you just have to have a plan! Be sure to reach out to all kinds of people and try new things first year, you never know what new people, ideas, or hobbies you might pick up. Be brave!