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Let’s jump into the agenda quickly and touch on some housekeeping. We'll be talking about the role of PAs in healthcare, PA school application components and requirements, the timeline for PA school application submission, tips for successfully navigating PA school applications, and we’ll have a Q&A at the end. If you have any questions, please hang on to them until the Q&A section and then type them in the chat box. Taylor will answer those for you.
My name is Taylor Hayes. I am an Inspira Advantage counselor. I'm also an advanced practice provider and physician assistant at Every Healthcare in Atlanta, Georgia, and I also serve as faculty at a local program. I have a lot of experience in this area, and it’s something I love to do. Again, thank you for having me. I’m looking forward to this.
PAs are important to the healthcare system. We work alongside physicians and other healthcare professionals, playing a crucial role in healthcare accessibility, efficiency, and high-quality care. PAs are highly trained to perform various medical evaluations and procedures under the supervision of a licensed medical doctor. PA training typically lasts between 2 and 2.5 years, so it’s fast-paced, but you become an efficient and high-quality provider.
Next, let’s talk about application components and requirements to get into PA school. Many of you have probably heard of CASPA, the centralized application service most PA programs in the U.S. use. This service streamlines the application process. Instead of applying to multiple schools, you submit one application through CASPA, which is sent to your selected schools. CASPA collects documents like transcripts, test scores, personal statements, and letters of recommendation.
So, there are four main parts of the CASPA application:
Each school will require a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. Prerequisites vary by school, so it’s important to check. Common prerequisites include anatomy and physiology with lab, general biology with lab, general chemistry with lab, organic chemistry with lab, biochemistry, microbiology with lab, statistics, psychology, and medical terminology. You can major in anything as long as you have these prerequisites. The admissions committee really wants to see someone who has interest outside of just being a PA; they want to see your hobbies and what you're interested in. I know people who went the accounting route or engineering route as undergrads, and then for various reasons and life experiences, they decided to pursue PA school.
A good GPA for PA schools is typically 3.0 or higher, but with increasing competition, many schools have raised their minimum GPA to 3.5. It’s important to check the requirements of each school. Most programs will require the GRE with a minimum combined score of 300 for verbal and quantitative sections. Some schools are also starting to look beyond standardized tests, focusing on soft skills and professionalism, and may require the CASPer test. That really helps the admissions committee see just how well routed you are as an applicant. It really shows how well you will end up working with patients.
Your clinical experience is huge. Most schools nowadays are looking for some degree of health care experience, whether you work as a medical assistant, an athletic trainer, a dietician, or have various experiences. Experience is working with patients and that can be either paid work or unpaid work. Some schools have minimum hour requirements and that could be upwards of 2000 or 3000 hours, whereas other schools may have no minimum requirement.
You’ll need 2-3 letters of recommendation from people who know you well, such as healthcare professionals, professors, or advisors. I encourage you guys to really start thinking about this stuff now, even if you're not planning to apply for a couple years.
Your personal statement is the thing that can kind of make it or break it. You can imagine that PA schools are receiving hundreds and thousands of applications.
So your personal statement is critical to the success of your application. It's typically a one-page essay, and it basically just gives you the opportunity to showcase your unique qualities, experiences, and motivations. Overall, it's a chance to make a strong first impression. It should evoke a lot of emotion; if you make an admissions committee member cry a little bit from hearing your story, that’s perfect. They want to be able to see your personality and your abilities just jump off the page.
The PA school application cycle through CASPA typically opens in late April or early May, with submission deadlines between September and December. Some programs have rolling admissions, so it’s beneficial to submit your application as early as possible to increase your chances of being reviewed and invited for an interview.
Yes, you can take a similar approach, but MMI interviews are more scenario-based. They might ask about situations involving ethics or professionalism, so it’s important to think about how you would naturally react in these scenarios.
Yes, and this is where you need to read the fine print. But you can use your personal statement to explain any academic challenges and show growth. Most schools look at your application holistically, so explaining why your GPA is lower and highlighting other strengths can help. There are also specific sections in CASPA where you can address challenges like COVID-19 or personal circumstances that affected your grades. Life happens and they understand that. Some supplemental applications also allow space for you to explain a lower GPA.
PA schools, they want to see that you're resilient. If you've had a hard time, if you had difficulties, they want to see that you know how to pick yourself up, you know how to work through it, and you know how to learn and do better next time.
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