Program Spotlight: Loma Linda University

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** 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: Northwestern University

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Location:  Chicago, IL

Number of students:  30

Application Cycle:  CASPA and supplemental by October 1st (rolling admissions)

Interview dates:  August - January

Start date:  June

Length of Program:  24 months

Public/Private:  Private

HCE:  Not required, but recommended to have a minimum 6 months full time HCE (1000 hours)

GPA:  Minimum 2.8 with at least a C in prerequisites

Shadowing:  Encouraged

The Good Stuff:

  •  Problem Based learning - learning occurs in small groups with an emphasis on self learning when tackling a problem
  • Labs are not required for any prerequisites
  • Basic Prerequisites - Biochemistry, Microbiology, Statistics, Medical Terminology, Anatomy & Physiology
  • No expiration date on coursework

Program Link:  Northwestern University PA Program

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)

Program Spotlight: Duquesne University

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Location: Pittsburgh, PA

Application Cycle:  December 1st 

Length of Program:  3 years of undergraduate and 27 months of PA education

Class Size: 40 students

GPA:  Minimum 3.0

HCE: No requirement

Shadowing: Recommended, but not required

 

The Good Stuff:

  • This program is unique because it is a 5-year program that you start as college freshman with 3 years of prerequisite coursework, and then completion of the PA program.  
  • Service learning is incorporated into the curriculum. 
  • Must take SAT or ACT
  • The program has agreements set up with LaRoche College, St. Vincent College, and Westminister College that allow students to start at their schools and then transfer into the PA program after the third year.  

Program Link:  Duquesne University PA Program

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)

Program Spotlight: Eastern Virginia Medical School

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Location: Norfolk, VA

Number of students:  Around 85

Application Cycle:  CASPA and supplemental due by April of the previous year - March 1st for the following January, NOT rolling admissions

Interview dates:  July 

Start date:  January

Length of Program:  28 months

Public/Private:  Both!  

HCE:  No specific requirement, but recommended to have at least 1,000 hours of paid direct clinical experience

GPA:  Minimum 3.0 with a minimum B- in required courses

Shadowing:  Not required, but recommended to learn about the profession

The Good Stuff:

  • Must have all pre-requisites completed before your application will be complete
  • They offer consultations with admissions if you are not actively applying 
  • Interviews in the past consisting of 2 one-on-one interviews and a group interview with individual questions and a group scenario (no writing)

Program Link:  Eastern Virginia PA Program

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)

Movie Review: You're Not You

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I have never actually heard of this movie, and only watched it because it had 5 stars on Netflix, so I really didn't even know it was medically interesting, but it was a great surprise.  

Hilary Swank is the main character, who at the age of 35, finds out she has Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).  According to the ALS Association's website,  the definition of this disease is: 

A progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain
and the spinal cord.  

If you remember the "Ice Bucket Challenge" from last year, the goal was to raise money for ALS research, not just making people dump water on their heads.  Anyways, ALS is a tough disease.  Individuals with ALS go from being completely independent and functional to slowly losing functions, starting with muscle use, which progresses to the loss of speaking and breathing.  Brain function and awareness is one of the last things that's lost, which is very difficult on patients because they are still aware of their surroundings, yet unable to communicate their needs and thoughts.  

In the movie, Swank plays Kate who starts as an amazing piano player and slowly loses her ability to function individually.  She has a somewhat unconventional caretaker, Beck, who does everything possible to help Kate and keep her as independent as possible.  They form an unexpected friendship, and of course, end up helping each other to grow.  

I think the movie did a really great job of showing the decline that occurs in ALS, and the difficulties a patient faces while trying to maintain their independence.  At one point, Kate state, "I'm a grown woman who needs help to go to the restroom," which really puts things into perspective.  What is necessary is also humiliating, and when it comes down to it, Kate really just wants to be treated as a person, and not as a patient.  

Kate also shows the depression that can accompany a diagnosis like ALS.  She feels like a burden at times, and questions whether her loved ones would be better off without her there.  She blames herself for ruining other's lives, when this disease did not give her a choice and was in no way self-inflicted.  There are some great interactions between Kate with her husband, friends, Beck, and other friends with ALS that show all of the dynamics of how people respond to people with debilitating illness.  

ALS can be genetic, and in that case there is a 50% chance that a child may be affected if the parent has ALS.  If it is known that the trait runs in the family, that can make the decision to have kids a very difficult one.  That was not addressed specifically in the movie, but is something that these patients must deal with.  This movie reminds me of the book, Me Before You, by JoJo Moyes, which addresses similar topics.   

Program Spotlight: Yale University School of Medicine

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Location:  New Haven, Connecticut

Number of students: 36 

Application Cycle:  April - October 1st through CASPA with supplemental application (rolling admissions)

Interview dates:  Mid-October through November

Start date:  August

Length of Program:  28 months

Public/Private: Private

HCE:  No specific requirement, recommended to have minimum 6 months or 1,000 hours

GPA:  Minimum science GPA of 3.0

Shadowing:  Encouraged

The Good Stuff:

  • Suture practice in live animal labs 
  • Full anatomy cadaver dissection lab
  • Options for electives abroad in either Peru, Spain, or Uganda
  • Elective option of Spanish for Health Care Professionals
  • PA/MPH program can be done in 39 months
  • There's a required thesis paper 
  • Check out the "Virtual Fair" on their website if you are interested in the program
  • Can only have 1 prerequisite course in progress at time of application
  • They do not accept applications from physicians who have finished medical school but will accept students who were unable to finish medical school
  • They have already assumed the name of "physician associate" for the program

Program Link:  Yale PA Program

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)

Program Spotlight: University of Southern California

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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

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)

TED Talk Tuesday!

I'm a big fan of TED Talks.  If you aren't familiar with these, they are short lectures from brilliant people on whatever they are an expert at.  The videos are free, and I don't think I've ever watched one and then thought it was a waste of time.  I want to share some of these that I've found helpful, and they're short enough for a study break and a snack! 

This talk is from Amy Cuddy, and she addresses body language and how we can actively use it to our advantage.  This talk is perfect for interview season, and should help you to build up the confidence you need.  She talks about "Power Posing," which I fully support!  The whole idea that taking on the posture of someone powerful and successful can increase testosterone (more confidence) and decrease cortisol (less stress) is amazing to me.  I definitely don't want to miss out on something because I'm slouching all the time and I don't want my patients to feel disconnected because of my body language.  I also love her idea of "fake it until you make it" because so many of us go through school and life feeling like we aren't ready to be where we are, but everyone feels like that so just own it!  Let me know what you think of this TED talk or if there are any that you love in the comments!



Program Spotlight: Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine

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Location:   North Chicago, Illinois

Number of students:  70

Application Cycle:  April - December 1st through CASPA (rolling admissions)

Interview dates:  September - February

Start date:  Late May

Length of Program:  24 months

Public/Private:  Private (no preference for Illinois students)

HCE:  Strongly recommended (average of students is 800 hrs)

GPA:  Minimum overall and science of 2.75 with minimum C is all prerequisite

Shadowing:  Strongly recommended

The Good Stuff:

  • Prerequisites are pretty basic - Biochem, anatomy/physiology, Psych, Microbiology.  And that's it!  There are some other recommended courses as well, but no biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, or any of that. 
  • There's an option to a diversity statement, separate from your personal statement, to tell them more about yourself and why you would be a good fit for the program. 
  • On the quarter system
  • Interviews are MMI style (Multiple Mini Interviews)

Program Link:  Rosalind Franklin University PA Program

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)

Top 100 Interview Questions for PA School

Interview Questions for PA School:

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Here are my top 100 interview questions that I have come up with from personal experience and research.  During Mock Interviews, we run through some of these questions and any others that may be specific to your application, and then discuss your answers to determine any flaws or weaknesses.  It's also important to identify any bad habits you may have.  Comment below with your answers to these questions and we can evaluate your answers!

For more questions and interview advice, check out the Physician Assistant School Interview Guide and the Physician Assistant School Interview Course.

 

PA School Interview Worksheet Download

Tips and tricks to ace your PA school interview!

Traditional Questions

  1. Tell me a little bit about yourself.

  2. Why do you want to be a PA? (as opposed to a doctor or NP?)

  3. What is the difference in the nursing model and medical model for teaching?

  4. What does a PA do?

  5. What makes you a good candidate for our program?

  6. What qualities or skills do you have that you think would make you a valuable student and classmate?

  7. What would you bring to the class?

  8. How have you prepared to be an effective PA?

  9. What do you think is the biggest challenge facing PAs?

  10. Why do you think you would be successful in PA school?

  11. How do you study best?

  12. How do you deal with stress?

  13. How are your time management skills?

  14. What was your most challenging course of undergrad and why?

  15. Why do you want to go to this specific school?

  16. What is appealing about “location” of school?

  17. What are you looking for in a PA program?

  18. Have you applied elsewhere?

  19. What is your biggest weakness?

  20. What is your biggest strength?

  21. Do you work better by yourself or with others?

  22. Is there a specific specialty or ideal job that you see yourself in as a PA?

  23. What qualities make a successful PA?

  24. How do you feel Obamacare will influence PAs?

  25. How do you see the role of PAs changing in the future?

  26. What are some difficulties that you feel like PAs are facing?

  27. Do you feel like you would be limited by any of the regulations on PAs either nationally or in the state you plan to work in?

  28. Are there any laws that you feel like limit the PA profession unfairly?

  29. Are there any laws that you feel should be passed to further the progression of the PA profession?

  30. How would having a family/children affect your performance in PA school?  (This is a valid question if you mentioned anything about this in your personal statement, or if you bring it up.)

  31. How do you think being a younger/older applicant may affect your performance in the program?

  32. Tell me about your support system?

  33. What are your plans if you are not accepted to a PA program this year.  

  34. What are your thoughts on the newer online PA programs?

  35. What are your thoughts on the new bridge programs from PA to MD?

  36. What are your thoughts on the name “physician assistant,” and the push for a name change to "physician associate." 

  37. Tell me about your support system

  38. Reassure me that you are not going to fail out

  39. What do you know about the history of the PA profession.

  40. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

  41. Can you explain your….lower grade/low GRE/lack of shadowing or HCE?

  42. If you could do anything differently in undergrad, what would it be?

  43. Who is the most important member on a healthcare team?

  44. What are your goals in medicine?

  45. Tell me about the last physician you worked for.  

  46. What are some possible negative parts of being a PA?

  47. When did you decide to pursue PA school?

  48. Was there anything unique you observed while shadowing?

  49. Define professionalism.  

Behavioral Questions

  1. What is the most selfless thing you have done?

  2. Describe a time when you have had to overcome adversity.

  3. If a student fails a test, is it the student’s fault or the teacher’s fault?

  4. Describe a situation you have had with a difficult patient.

  5. Describe a situation with a patient that had a significant impact on you.  

  6. How do you deal with high stress situations.  Give an example

  7. Describe a time that you have struggled academically, and how you dealt with it.

  8. Your supervising MD asks you to go administer a medication to a patient.  You do not agree with his decision and feel it could harm the patient.  What do you do?

  9. You see a co-worker taking medication from the dispense cart and putting it in their bag.  What do you do?  

  10. You are at a baseball game and the woman in front of you has a very suspicious mole that you suspect could be melanoma.  What do you do?

  11. You are in a surgery and the anesthesiologist starts making inappropriate comments about the patient once they are asleep.  What do you do in this situation?

  12. A patient you are seeing insists on seeing an MD.  How do you handle this?

  13. Describe a situation you have had with a patient who made an impact on you.  

  14. You have a patient who is not proficient in English, and you do not know their language.  What can you do to assist with their difficulties?

  15. Describe a time you had to make an ethical decision.  

  16. You’re in an OR and have suspicions that the surgeon may be intoxicated.  What do you do?

  17. You are about to leave for the day and realize that you gave a patient medicine they are allergic to.  What do you do?

  18. You are seeing a Jehovah’s Witness patient that does not accept blood transfusions due to religious reasons, but it would be life saving.  What do you do?

  19. Your patient is diagnosed with HIV, but doesn’t want to tell their partner.  What do you do?

  20. A classmate offers you an old exam they have before the test.  What do you do?

  21. Tell me about a time you’ve had to use teamwork to solve a problem.  

  22. Do you think it’s more important to get patients seen or spend time with patients?

  23. You prescribed a 13 year old birth control, and the pt’s mother calls and is angry.  What do you say?

  24. Sometimes you may disagree from others in instances that you think they may be making a mistake.  Talk about a time when you had to disagree with someone else to get a positive outcome.  

  25. Give an example of a situation in which you did more than was expected of you.  

Multiple Mini Interviews (MMI)

  1. If you were a tree, what kind would you be and why?

  2. If you were a color, what color would you be and why?

  3. If you were dressing up to go on a halloween party for kids, what would you dress up as and why?

  4. Who, living or dead, would you invite to dinner and what would you serve them?

  5. What kind of car would you be?

  6. What would you do if you hit your neighbor’s dog?

  7. Give directions to someone for how to put on gloves

  8. Help this student complete the following task…

  9. Interpret the graph shown in the room.

  10. You discover that one of your classmates has become romantically involved and moved into a house with her community-based clinical preceptor in your health professions training program. What should be done, if anything? Enter the room and discuss your position with the interviewer. (Jones, et al., 2011)

  11. A friend in your class tells you his mother was recently diagnosed with breast cancer.  He is overwhelmed by his studies and may drop out of the program to spend time with his mother.  How do you counsel your friend?

  12. Joe is a pizza delivery worker. The pizza shop he works for has a 30 minutes or less delivery guarantee or else the customer does not have to pay. On Joe’s most recent delivery, he spots a woman bleeding on the street. There is no one else around and the woman seems to be unable to move by herself. However, Joe knows that if he returns empty handed again, he will be fired from this job which he most desperately needs. What do you think Joe should do? Justify your solution in terms of practical and ethical considerations.

  13. “Liberation Therapy” (LT), a vascular operation developed to potentially cure multiple sclerosis (MS) in certain patients, has recently come under very serious criticism - delaying its widespread use. Among other experimental flaws, critics cite a small sample size in the original evidence used to support LT. As a healthcare policy maker, your job is to weigh the pros and cons in approving novel drugs and therapies. Please discuss the issues you would consider during an approval process for LT.

  14. Because of federal and provincial subsidy policies and return-of-service agreements, international medical graduates (IMGs) now make up an increasingly large proportion of rural doctors. As a consequence, the shortage of doctors in rural areas has prompted many family medicine residencies to increase their quotas for IMGs in their programs. Effectively, this development is leading to a relative reduction in spots available for Canadian medical graduates. Please discuss the pros and cons of such a development.

  15. Discuss one of your pastimes outside of school and how the skills you acquired from this activity will help you in your career.

  16. You are a family physician seeing Jane, a 67 year old woman with a recent history of multiple fragility fractures. You diagnose her with osteoporosis and prescribe some bisphosphonate drugs and other pharmacological treatments. Jane tells you that she has heard some good things over the internet about alternative medicine treatments such as Chinese medicine, and she is adamant on trying these as well. You are concerned about the use of these alternative medicine treatments and the possible negative effects they could have on Jane’s health. How would you handle the situation and what would you recommend Jane do? Discuss any ethical considerations that are present.

  17. You are on the committee for selecting a new Dean of Science. What characteristics and/or qualities would you look for when selecting an effective dean?

  18. In June 2011, the infamous Vancouver riots took place after their hockey team lost in the Stanley Cup Finals. Stores were ransacked and cars were burned. Hundreds of people were injured and sent to overcrowded hospitals. As the police chief in Vancouver, what measures or policies would you put in place to make sure this does not happen again?

  19. Clostridium Difficile (C. difficile) is a type of bacteria that increases its activity with most antibiotic use, and is therefore very difficult to treat. Research shows that the most effective way to prevent the spread of infection is frequent hand washing. However, many people have flat-out refused to wash their hands in hospitals. The government is contemplating passing a policy to make it mandatory for people entering hospitals to wash their hands or else risk not being seen by doctors and being escorted out of the building against their will. Do you think the government should go ahead with this plan? Consider and discuss the legal, ethical or practical problems that exist for each action option and conclude with a persuasive argument supporting your decision.

  20. Discuss an experience that allowed you to learn something important about yourself. How will this lesson help you succeed in your career?

Random Questions

  1. If you could have any other job, besides being a PA, what would you do.

  2. If you were to win the lottery for 100 million dollars.  What would you do? Would you still want to be a PA?

  3. What is the last book you read.

  4. What is your life saying?

  5. What are your hobbies outside of school?

  6. Is there anything else I need to know about you?

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Now that you have an idea of the questions your interview is going to ask, put yourself on the spot with a mock interview! These interviews are conducted by practicing PAs who have been right where you are now.

A One-on-One Mock Interview includes:

  • 60 minutes total with a practicing PA

  • Personalized interview experience based on your application

  • Tips and techniques for your specific interview

  • 20-30 minutes of questions

  • Feedback following Q&A session

  • Written report with questions, answers, and feedback

  • Instructions to record session on Windows or Mac

Program Spotlight: Northeastern University

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Location:  Boston, MA

Number of students:  40

Application Cycle:  April - August 1st on CASPA (not rolling admissions)

Interview dates:  mid-October to mid-December

Start date:  Late August

Length of Program:  24 months

Public/Private:  Private

HCE:  Preference for >2,000 hours

GPA:  Overall and science GPA of 3.0 minimum.  Must have at least a B in all prerequisite courses

Shadowing:  Not required, but highly recommended

The Good Stuff:

  • All requirements must be done BEFORE applying 
  • GRE is NOT required
  • Biology and chemistry are not accepted from community colleges 
  • Biology and Chemistry must have been taken within 7 years of applying.  Anatomy must be taken within 5 years of applying. 
  • Must have a grade of B or better in prerequisite courses 
  • Lab is NOT required with anatomy and physiology 
  • 2-day interview with interactions with other students and faculty, tour, 3 one-on-one interviews

Program Link:  Northeastern University PA Program

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)

Program Spotlight: University of Kentucky

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Location:  Lexington, KY or Morehead, KY

Number of students:  40 at Lexington; `6 at Morehead

Application Cycle:  April - July 15th through CASPA with a Graduate School application through University of Kentucky

Interview dates:  First or second week of August

Start date:  January

Length of Program:  29 months

Public/Private:  Public

HCE:  In the past there has been a minimum 1000 hours, but for the upcoming 2016 cycle, there will be NO minimum requirement.

GPA:  From a source other than the UK website, 3.0, but this is not verified. 

Shadowing:  Minimum 50 hours

The Good Stuff:

  • There are opportunities for short term international trips to Ecuador and Mexico
  • Opportunities for international rotations to Kenya, Swaziland, and England (never heard of one in Europe, so that's kind of awesome)
  • Morehead is considered a more rural site.  There are times when Morehead students must attend the Lexington campus. 
  • You must meet the requirements for both the PA program and the University of Kentucky graduate school

Program Link:  University of Kentucky PA Program

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)

Program Spotlight: South University (Tampa)

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Location:  Tampa, FL

Number of students:  24 (rumors of this increasing for 2016 cycle)

Application Cycle:  April 1st - August 1st through CASPA

Interview dates:  July-November

Start date:  January

Length of Program:  27 months

Public/Private: Private

HCE:  Recommended, but no specific requirement

GPA:  Minimum 2.8 overall; recommended science GPA of 3.0

Shadowing:  Recommended, but no specific requirement

The Good Stuff:

  • Quarter system
  • Working is not recommended, but allowed up to 15 hours during the didactic year
  • Interview consists of 3 individual interviews, Behavioral style interviews, 10 people per interview session

Program Link:  South University - Tampa PA Program

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)

Program Spotlight: Midwestern University

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Location:  Downers Grove, Illinois or Glendale, Arizona

Number of students:  86 at Downers Grove and 90 at Glendale

Application Cycle:  April - October 1st through CASPA(Separate for each program)

Interview dates:  September - January

Start date:  June

Length of Program:  27 months

Public/Private:  Private

HCE:  Preferred, but not required

GPA:  Minimum 3.0 science and overall GPA.  Must have at least a C in all coursework.  

Shadowing:  No requirement

The Good Stuff:

  • Coursework must be completed by December of the year before matriculation
  • For the interview, be prepared to do a writing sample and have a small group interview with faculty, and no individual interviews

Program Link:  Midwestern University - Downers Grove PA Program  // Midwestern University - Glendale PA Program

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)

Program Spotlight: Stony Brook University

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Location:    Stony Brook, NY

Number of students:  44

Application Cycle:  April - by October 1st through CASPA with supplemental application (rolling admissions)

Interview dates:  3 separate dates with one in September, one in October, and one in November with invites going out pretty early (June/July)

Start date:  Late June/early July

Length of Program:  24 months

Public/Private:  Public (but no preference to NY residents)

HCE:  1,000 hours of direct patient care (up to 500 of these hours can be from clinicals done for a healthcare certification)

GPA:  Minimum 3.0 overall and science with a minimum C

Shadowing:  Up to 200 shadowing hours can count towards HCE requirement

The Good Stuff:

  • There are options for medical mission trips to Guatemala, Ecuador, Kenya, Nicaragua, or Haiti.  
  • Full cadaver dissection lab
  • Information sessions are held every other month
  • Interviews are two 20 minute interviews with 2 faculty in each.  
  • GRE is NOT required
  • Preference is given to students who have already met all of the requirements at time of application
  • They have a board review program 
  • Option for current PAs to complete an online program to obtain their Masters
  • During the didactic year, there are optional review sessions offered after class once a week. 

Program Link:  Stony Brook University PA Program

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)

Program Spotlight: South University (Savannah)

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Location:  Savannah, Georgia

Number of students:  70

Application Cycle:  CASPA April - August 1st

Interview dates:  June-October

Start date:  January

Length of Program:  27 months

Public/Private:  Private

HCE:  No specific minimum

GPA:  Overall 2.8 (required)/Science 3.0 (preferred)

Shadowing:  No specific minimum

The Good Stuff:

  • No minimum GRE requirements
  • They are on the quarter system
  • No preference to GA residents
  • Working is not encouraged, but students may work up to 15 hours/week
  • 2-day interview.  1st day is a tour and dinner with current students.  2nd day is the formal interview with a group session with the director of the program and 2 one-on-one interviews with faculty.  Really laid back.  They do a "behavioral style" interview.

Program Link:  South University, Savannah

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)

Program Spotlight: Shenandoah University

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Location:  Winchester, Virginia

Number of students:  42

Application Cycle:  CASPA April - January 15th with rolling admissions

Interview dates:  October - March

Start date:  July

Length of Program:  30 months

Public/Private:  Private

HCE:  Highly recommended, with no minimum requirement

GPA:  Minimum 3.0 overall and science, with minimum C in all courses

Shadowing:  Highly recommended, with non minimum requirement

The Good Stuff:

  • There is a plan to expand to Leesburg, Virginia in summer of 2016 for a starting class of 12 students
  • There are information sessions available, which are highly recommended.
  • Part of the technology fees include a laptop and an iPad
  • An "Admissions Booklet" is available through the SUPA website that provides everything you need to know if thinking of applying to this program

Program Link:  Shenandoah University PA Program

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)

Program Spotlight: Rutgers University

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Location:  Piscataway, New Jersey

Number of students:  50

Application Cycle:  April - September 1st through CASPA and supplemental app (rolling admissions)

Interview dates:  June-December

Start date:  August

Length of Program:  3 years

Public/Private:  Public, but no preference to New Jersey residents

HCE:  Required, but no minimum hours

GPA:  Minimum overall and science GPA of 3.2; recommended to take courses within the last 10 years

Shadowing:  Required, but no minimum hours

The Good Stuff:

  • "3+3" programs - Rutgers works with many different universities in New Jersey to allow undergraduates to do 3 years of undergraduate work and gain their bachelors, and then complete the 3 years of PA school, for a total of 6 years of school. Students apply during their 2nd year and then must maintain a 3.2 GPA, finish their undergraduate degree, and successfully interview.
  • MPH/PA program - There is a 4 year joint Masters of Public Health and PA program available as well.
  • Part-time option - The part-time option is 4 years with part time classes for the first 2 years and then 2 years of full time clinicals.
  • GRE not required (unless applying to MPH program)
  • iPads are used in the clinical years
  • They have a live and online option of a PANCE/PANRE review that can be done for continuing education

Program Link:  Rutgers University PA Program

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)

What is CASPA?

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The word "CASPA" gets thrown around a lot when the topic of applying to PA school comes up, so today we'll look at what it is exactly, and what that application entails.

CASPA stands for the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants.  So basically, it is an online application service that schools use to have students complete their applications.  The majority of programs use CASPA, but here is a list of who is currently participating.  It also shows all of the deadlines for particular programs.  In addition to the CASPA application, some programs will require a supplemental application as well, so it's important to check with the programs you're applying to.  The supplemental application is sometimes required with the CASPA application, or it can be done after submitting CASPA.  Occasionally, you will not have to do a supplemental until you are given an interview. The application opens during April, and stays open until the following March, but each program has a different deadline for submission that you need to pay attention to.

CASPA is solely a place to input information, so it does not provide the various requirements for each program, like prerequisites or healthcare experience requirements.  These are things you'll have to look at yourself for each program because you don't want to waste your money applying somewhere that you don't have the qualifications.   Most programs use "rolling admissions," which means that as soon as your application is complete it will be reviewed by the program, which means the sooner you get your application in the better!  It can take a few weeks for "processing," so don't wait until the last minute and communicate with your references the importance of getting their part in as soon as possible.

Information you will need for CASPA:

  • References - Programs have different requirements as far as the number of references and who they need to be from. The choices typically include a supervisor from a healthcare setting, a PA you have shadowed, or a professor. Sometimes they don't really care, but make sure to check each separate program to see if they are particular about this. The references are done electronically, so you will need the e-mail address of your reference. It's a good idea to let them know to expect the e-mail so they can check their junk mail and it won't get lost in their inbox. You are able to have 3-5 references.

  • Transcripts - You will need to have a transcript sent from anywhere that you have done undergraduate coursework. It's also helpful to have a copy of these for yourself to fill in that information on CASPA. If you are still working on prerequisites, you will have to send another copy when you have completed them to the actual program.

  • Personal Statement- 5,000 character limit (about 650 words). This is your chance to tell the programs about yourself, so they can find out if they want to know more about you or put a face to those words. It needs to tell a story and paint a good picture of who you are and why you want to be a PA. If you need help with writing your personal statement or editing, please let me know!

  • Experience - And the categories are Patient Care Experience, Health Care Experience, Shadowing, Employment, Research, Volunteer. This is why it's a good idea to keep very detailed records of where and when you did any of these, along with how many hours and any supervisors you may have had, as well as a description of what you actually did.

Although it was not working for the current 2015-2016 cycle, for the next cycle, if you were to have to reapply, CASPA will save all of your information so it will be a lot easier.  But we'll just stay positive about not having to reapply!

The fee for CASPA is $175 for the first program you apply to, and then $50 for each additional program during that cycle.  That can add up quickly, so make sure you have the qualifications for a program before you apply.  (**My only caveat for that is if there is a program you are extremely interested in, but don't quite have the requirements yet, it may be worth it to apply and then when you reapply the next year, you'll be a much more competitive candidate and a reapplicant.  Just my personal opinion though.)  There are some fee waivers available that are based on income, but they typically run out quickly.  This gives you a $175 credit for the first application.  If you are given a waiver, your application must be completed within 14 days of receiving it.

There's an extremely thorough site that goes through basically everything you need to know to set up a CASPA account and then all of the information you will need to fill out your application, so I would definitely recommend checking this site out at some point.  The earlier the better, because then you'll know a little better what to expect.

A blog post with some tips on completing CASPA.  

There's even a Twitter account and Facebook page you can follow if you want updates on CASPA.  I would love to hear about your experiences with CASPA and any tips you have for making it a smooth process!

Program Spotlight: UT Southwestern

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Location:  Dallas, Texas

Number of students:  48 in 2016; 54 in 2017; 60 in 2018

Application Cycle:  April - September 1st through CASPA

Interview dates:  September - January

Start date:  May

Length of Program:  30 months

Public/Private:  Public with preference to Texas residents

HCE:  "Strongly recommended"

GPA:  Minimum 3.0 overall and science

Shadowing:  Encouraged

The Good Stuff:

  • Impressive pass rates - 100% first time pass rate for the past 8 years
  • Full cadaver dissection lab
  • GRE must have been taken within the last 5 years
  • Interview process - 2-day interview with 10 mini-interviews
  • <10% of the class is out of state
  • Prerequisite courses must be completed before you matriculate, and must have been completed within the last 10 years
  • Encouraged to have experience volunteering with underserved populations
  • This program has by far the best and most thorough website I've seen for a PA program.  They seem extremely organized.
  • The tuition rates for this school are awesome.  In-state total is estimated around 33,000 and out of state is 76,000.
  • A blog post with an interview from a UTSW student.  And another one as well!  There are some others on this site as well.  
  • Here is a blog post from a previous student at UT Southwestern, and so if you're interested in this program, his site may provide some insight

Program Link:  University of Texas Southwestern PA Program

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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