Program Spotlight: Dominican University of California

** updated March 2020 **

Location: San Rafael, CA

Accreditation Status: Provisional

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Number of students: 30

Application Deadline: November 1

Admissions: Rolling

Read this blog post about When to Apply to PA School

Start date: August

Interviews: September-November

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Length of Program: 28 months

Public/Private: Private

Tuition: $107,154 (including fees)

Read this blog post about How to Pay for PA School

HCE: 500 Hours

Read this blog post about HCE

GPA: Overall: 3.0, Science: 3.0 (last 30 hours)

Required Standardized Testing: None

Shadowing: 8 hours

LOR: Three required, one from a PA or NP, MD or DO, or PhD, One from an employer/supervisor and one from a professor

Listen to this podcast about requesting a Letter of Recommendation

The Good Stuff:

• Anatomy and Physiology must be taken in the last 5 years

• The program boasts extensive use of high fidelity medical simulation technology throughout the curriculum

• Students start seeing patients in clinic in the 2nd semester of didactic year

Program Link: https://www.dominican.edu/academics/graduate-programs/physician-assistant-studies

** All information is from The Applicant’s Manual of Physician Assistant Programs 2020 and the Program’s website. For corrections and comments, please fill out this form.

Program Spotlight: Touro University - California

Location:  Mare Island, California

Number of students: 44

Application Cycle:  CASPA by November 1st and supplemental application (if invited); rolling admissions

Interview dates: September - May

Start date: August

Length of Program:  33 months

Public/Private: Private

HCE:  500 required hours

GPA:  Minimum 2.75 overall and science (recommended 3.0 to be competitive) and C or better in all prerequisite courses; will focus primarily on the last 30 hours of coursework

Shadowing: Preference given to >20 hours shadowing 

The Good Stuff:

• The program is actually a joint PA and Master's of Public Health program
• Information sessions are held monthly
• GRE is NOT required
• Can choose between the Community Track or Global Health Track if desired.  
• All requirements must be completed at time application is submitted. 
• Interview is "mixed format with both one-on-one and group interactions"

Program Link:  Touro University - California PA Program

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For the most up to date information on PA programs in one place, check out The Applicant’s Manual of Physician Assistant Programs. (Affiliate link)

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Program Spotlight: University of California - Davis

Location:  Sacramento, California

Number of students:  80-90 (including PA and NP students)

Application Cycle:  CASPA April - July 15th, then a supplemental application is sent. 

Interview dates: October

Start date:  Summer

Length of Program:  27 months

Public/Private:  Public, but no preference to California residents or UC Davis students and tuition is the same

HCE:  Minimum 1000 hrs in clinical setting

GPA:  Minimum overall of 3.0, minimum science/prerequisite 2.7.  

Shadowing:  No specific requirement

The Good Stuff:

• Graduate with an MHS degree
• A&P within the last 5 years by application deadline/review (desired).  If a practicing clinician, it is recommended that you do a refresher course.  
• Classes are 4 days a week from 8-5
• No preference to California residents or UC Davis students
• No GRE requirement
• All lab courses for prerequisites must be done in person and not online
• Dual Track Program for students in the NP program to be able to become both NP and PA. 

Program Link:  UC Davis PA Program Website

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For the most up to date information on PA programs in one place, check out The Applicant’s Manual of Physician Assistant Programs. (Affiliate link)

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Up and Coming: University of the Pacific

Location: Sacramento, CA

Number of students:  45

Application Cycle:  CASPA September 1 - March 1

Interview dates:  February - August

Start date:  January

Length of Program:  27 months

Public/Private:  Private

HCE:   Minimum 1,000 hrs

GPA:  Minimum Science and Overall GPA of 3.0

Shadowing:  No specific requirement

The Good Stuff:

• Program is currently applying for Provisional Status, and will know in September 2016
• Preference given to veterans, Pacific alumni, residents of geographic area, educationally or socioeconomically disadvantaged applicants
• Online courses will NOT fulfill science prerequisites.  AP credits do not count either. 
• No Organic Chemistry requirement
• No timeline limit on courses
• Information sessions are available
• No GRE requirement
• Cadaver lab in Stockton

Program Link:  University of the Pacific PA Program Website

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For the most up to date information on PA programs in one place, check out The Applicant’s Manual of Physician Assistant Programs. (Affiliate link)

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Program Spotlight: Western University of Health Sciences

Location:   Pomona, California

Number of students:  98

Application Cycle:  April-November 1st for CASPA, and December 1st for supplemental application

Interview dates:  January-March, with decisions going out at the end of March.  

Start date:  August

Length of Program:  2 years

Public/Private:  Private

HCE:  Preferred, not required

GPA:   Minimum overall, science and prerequisite GPA of 2.7.  Prerequisites must be completed w/ a C or better

Shadowing:  No specific requirement

The Good Stuff:

•  Although the minimum GPA is 2.7, it sounds like to get an interview you need a good bit higher.  Rumor has it, they rank applicants based on lowest GPA (overall or science) and then offer interviews from the top.  They usually do not go below 3.2 for invites 
• MMI style interview - 4 mini sessions with 2 interviewers (faculty or students), with 2 minutes to prepare and 6 minutes for each station.  
• 7 year deadline for prerequisites
• No organic chemistry requirement

Program Link:   Western University of Health Sciences PA Program Website

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For the most up to date information on PA programs in one place, check out The Applicant’s Manual of Physician Assistant Programs. (Affiliate link)

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Program Spotlight: Stanford University

Location:  Palo Alto, California

Number of students:  Up to 50

Application Cycle:  CASPA April - October 1st w/ supplemental application

Interview dates:  January-February (they call these validation sessions)

Start date: June/July

Length of Program:  21 months

Public/Private:  Private

HCE:  3000 required direct patient care hours  (Average is 8791 hrs)

GPA:  A&P w/ labs and Microbiology GPA must be 3.0 or higher.  Prerequisites must be complete when application is submitted.  

Shadowing:  No specific requirement

The Good Stuff:

• Primary care focus - The program is actually called the Primary Care Associate Program. It is offered as a certificate program, but there is an option to do an additional online program to obtain your Masters, which can be completed during the clinical year.  
• 40% of class is minority groups
• A degree is not required to apply, but you must have a BA to complete the Master's program
• GRE is not required
• No organic chemistry requirements
• Interview/validation session - 2-on-1 with faculty, writing portion

Program Link:  Stanford PA Program Website

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For the most up to date information on PA programs in one place, check out The Applicant’s Manual of Physician Assistant Programs. (Affiliate link)

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Up and Coming: Charles R. Drew University

** updated March 2020 **

Location: Los Angeles, CA

Accreditation Status: Provisional

Listen to this podcast to see how accreditation status can affect you

Number of students: 26

Application Deadline: January 15

Admissions: Rolling

Read this blog post about When to Apply to PA School

Start date: August

Order your copy of The PA School Interview Guide here

Length of Program: 27 months

Public/Private: Private

Tuition: $100,324 (including fees)

Read this blog post about How to Pay for PA School

HCE: 2,000 Hours

Read this blog post about HCE

GPA: No minimum (sciences and prerequisite GPAs of 3.0 are preferred)

Required Standardized Testing: None

Shadowing: Preferred, Not Required

LOR: Three Required, no one specific

Listen to this podcast about requesting a Letter of Recommendation

The Good Stuff:

• Students complete a medical nutrition therapy course, which provides them with knowledge to manage enteral and parenteral nutrition from pediatrics to geriatrics and allows students to sit for the Certified Nutrition Support Certification Exam and become a Certified Nutrition Support Clinician

• Students can take seminars to become Certified Diabetes Self-Management Leaders and Certified in Culturally Relevant Urban Trauma.

Program Link: https://www.cdrewu.edu/cosh/PA/

** All information is from The Applicant’s Manual of Physician Assistant Programs 2020 and the Program’s website. For corrections and comments, please fill out this form.

Program Spotlight: Loma Linda University

** updated March 2020 **

Location: Loma Linda, CA

Accreditation Status: Continuing

Number of students: 36

Application Deadline: October 1

Admissions: Rolling

Read this blog post about When to Apply to PA School

Start date: September

Order your copy of The PA School Interview Guide here

Length of Program: 24 months

Public/Private: Private

Tuition: $98,476

Read this blog post about How to Pay for PA School

HCE: 2,000 Hours

Read this blog post about HCE

GPA: Overall: 3.0, Science GPA: 3.0

Required Standardized Testing: None

Shadowing: Not Required

LOR: Three Required, one must be from a currently practicing MD, DO, or PA with whom the applicant has worked in a paid patient care position.

Listen to this podcast about requesting a Letter of Recommendation

The Good Stuff:

• Option for international electives in Honduras, Nepal or Malawi

• As a religious university, students are required to attend chapel weekly and abide by the lifestyle requirements of the university (no drinking, no smoking, no illegal drugs)

• Preference given to Seventh-day Adventists, graduates of Loma Linda University, applicants of under-represented populations, applicants with a history of meaningful, continuous involvement in community service consistent with the mission and values of Loma Linda University

• GRE is NOT required

Program Link:   Loma Linda PA Program

** All information is from The Applicant’s Manual of Physician Assistant Programs 2020 and the Program’s website. For corrections and comments, please fill out this form.

Program Spotlight: University of Southern California

Location:  Alhambra, CA

Number of students:  60

Application Cycle:  April - November 1st through CASPA with supplemental application; recommended to apply by September 1st due to rolling admission

Interview dates:  Early fall-early spring

Start date:  Fall

Length of Program:  33 month

Public/Private:  Public, but no preference for California resident

HCE:  Preferred

GPA:  Minimum 3.0 overall; minimum 2.75 science

Shadowing:  Preferred

The Good Stuff: 

• Information sessions are available
• No class the first summer semester
• At least one year of Spanish is required, but no organic chemistry requirement
• GRE or MCAT can be submitted

Program Link:  USC Keck PA Program

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For the most up to date information on PA programs in one place, check out The Applicant’s Manual of Physician Assistant Programs. (Affiliate link)

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