Program Spotlight: University of Alabama at Birmingham

* updated March 2020 *

Location:  Birmingham, Alabama

Number of students:  80 students

Application Deadline: August 1st

Admissions: Non-rolling

Interview dates: October - November

Start date: August - annually

Length of Program: 27 months

Public/Private:  Public

GPA Requirement: Overall: 3.0, Science: 3.0

HCE:  Preferred, but not required (Average 3,446 hrs)

Shadowing:  Preferred, but not required

LORs: Three required, not specific

Seat Deposit: $300

Tuition: In-State: $63,825 Out-of-State: $146,280

The Good Stuff:

• No specific Organic chemistry requirements! This is a big one because that class is pretty ridiculous. My only C in undergrad.

• They offer info sessions about once a month if you are interested in visiting.

• Based on the stats provided on the website, it's about half in-state and half out of state

• While most programs do not allow working, it is strongly discouraged, but still allowed during the didactic year. Not during the clinical year though.

• 5 of the rotations are electives!!

• This is considered specifically a surgical program so there is more focus on surgery

• Offers dual degree MSPAS-MPH program where students begin online MPS courses in the spring and summer prior to PA program matriculation in the fall.

Program Link:  UAB

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Program Spotlight: Augusta University

Formally known as the Medical College of Georgia, and then Georgia Health and Sciences University, then Georgia Regents University, the name is currently Georgia Regents University.  And this particular program is near to my heart because it's where I went to school!

Location:  Augusta, GA

Number of students:  44

Application Cycle:  July 1-October 15 (Rolling admissions = apply early!) and their application is NOT through CASPA

Interview dates:  September - January

Start date:  May

Length of Program:  27 months

Public/Private:  Public

HCE:  100 hours (prefer direct hands on experience)

Shadowing: 100 hours in at least 2 different specialties

The Good Stuff:

• There's also an MPA bridge program for current PAs who finished a program before most became a Master's program.
• Look into going for a "Closer Look" tour if you're interested in more information and meeting some current students and faculty.
• Anatomy course has a cadaver lab w/ 8 students per body, and only 4 working on it at a time.  The lab can be accessed at any time during the first summer for studying.
• The PA program has a simulation lab set up like a real OR for learning skills like scrubbing and suturing.
• There's a PA run clinic for the underserved areas of Augusta that is held monthly.
• There's a new financial assistance program for veterans.
• This program has had a few different names in the past few years.  It may also be referred to as Medical College of Georgia (MCG), Georgia Health Sciences University, or Georgia Regents University

Link to program - Augusta University 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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My Journey to PA School

So a lot of hopeful PAs I meet ask how I got to where I am today.  I was accepted the first year I applied and am now in Dermatology, which is a very desirable field.  Well I'll let you know what worked for me!

I first learned what a Physician Assistant was when I was in high school.  My dad went to his primary care and saw a PA for the first time.  Knowing that I was possibly interested in the medical field, he mentioned to me that it may be something I should look into.  I was a junior at the time, and not too concerned with my future, but when senior year started it was time to make some decisions.

I ended up at the University of Georgia, and declared Biology as my major.  I made this decision really just because it left my options pretty open.  I knew I wouldn't be able to do much with that alone, so I would be forced to make some kind of decision.  The idea of a PA was still in the back of my mind, but I wasn't completely sold yet.  I think during my first year of college, I researched and considered all types of things, including research, medical school, teaching high school, nursing school, PT school, dental school, and who knows what else.  But ultimately, I decided PA was the way I wanted to go.

So I started shadowing, got my CNA license and struggled through O-Chem, while wondering if all of this was going to be worth it.  PA school has become so dang competitive!! I'm a very detail-oriented person and spent a ton of time researching what it takes to catch the eye of these PA programs, so I felt pretty prepared when it came time to apply, but still terrified.

I applied as soon as possible (July 1st!) and I applied to all of the programs in Georgia, even though I clearly didn't have all of the requirements for some of the programs.  (I'll explain more about how I chose the programs I did in a future post.)  Fall of 2011 came, and I ended up getting interviews at the 2 programs I was actually qualified for, MCG and South University.  I prepared by doing a mock interview with a PA I had shadowed, and it was SO helpful!  Interviews came and went, and I actually ended up getting the call that I was accepted into MCG about 15 minutes after my interview ended at South!  That was an amazing feeling!

I graduated from UGA in December of 2011 to give myself a few months to prepare and relax before starting PA school (which I would definitely recommend) and started the program at MCG/GRU in May of 2012!  The rest is history, and by the grace of God, I am now helping patients at a job I love going to everyday (well, most days)!