èßäapp

Admissions Requirements

Candidates for the M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies must have completed a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university or equivalent, with a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 and a minimum GPA of 3.0 in all science courses as calculated by CASPA. GPAs are calculated utilizing ALL college level courses completed by the applicant. In addition, candidates must have completed each prerequisite course, listed below, with a grade of B (3.0) or better, and an overall prerequisite GPA of 3.0 or better. Prerequisite courses must be taken within 10 years of the time of application. Candidates must also demonstrate the technical standards indicated below. 

A CASPA application must be complete and verified to be evaluated by the PA program’s admissions committee. The link to the CASPA application is  

Please note that the university requires its students to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Students attending a program with a clinical training component are subject to this policy. Medical and religious exemptions generally are not available for students in a university clinical training program due to the requirements of external clinical sites and other circumstances which would place an undue burden on the university to provide the accommodation. You should bear this in mind when applying to the program. The university will not refund any fees or other payments if you are unable to enroll or otherwise complete the program.

Application Requirements

The following must be received through CASPA:

• Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
• Three (3) professional references (one must be from a professor; one must be from an employer/supervisor)
• Personal statement (CASPA personal statement)
• Student CV
• TOEFL or IELTS scores (for candidates whose bachelor's degrees were earned at a non-English-speaking institution)
  • Minimum TOEFL score on tests taken within the last two years: 100 (internet-based test)
  • Minimum IELTS score on tests taken within the last two years: 7 

Admission to the PA program is very competitive. Only the most competitive applicants will be invited for an interview with the PA program’s admissions committee. A successful interview is required for admission to the PA program. For admissions-related questions, contact katzgrad@yu.edu.

Prerequisite Coursework

All prerequisite courses must be taken no more than 10 years prior to the time of application with a grade of B (3.0) or better in each course, and an overall prerequisite GPA of 3.0 or better. Two prerequisite courses may be outstanding at the time of application but must be completed prior to beginning the program if the applicant is accepted for admission.

• Two semesters of general chemistry with lab (or two higher-level chemistry courses with lab)
• Two semesters of general biology with lab (or two higher-level biology courses with lab)
• One semester of statistics (or biostatistics)
• One semester of microbiology
• One semester of human anatomy with a lab
• One semester of human physiology (at least three credits) (Anatomy and Physiology I and II cannot substitute for the human physiology requirement.)

Technical Standards 

View the PA Program Technical Standards.

Student Selection

The program accepts applications on a rolling basis. Selection of students is a multi-step process. The process includes an initial review of the application to ensure it is complete and meets the minimum requirements. Students who meet the minimum requirements are eligible for an interview. Applications are scored and ranked by GPAs and letters of recommendation by the program to determine the interview order on a rolling basis. Meeting the minimum academic requirements does not guarantee an interview. 

Admission to the PA program is very competitive. Admission is based on an applicant's academic achievement and individual character traits. The admissions committee recognizes its responsibility to present candidates for PA certification that have the maturity, integrity, knowledge, fortitude and generosity, as well as communication and leadership skills, to function in a broad variety of clinical situations. 

Applicants will receive preference for the following:

• Higher overall GPA, CASPA designated science course GPA, and prerequisite GPA (rated on a scale with higher GPAs awarded more points)
• Superior personal statement (reviewed for content, organization, and development)
• Superior letters of recommendation (holistic review; ranked accordingly)
• Demonstrated service to underrepresented populations
• Commitment to practicing in primary care and/or with underserved populations
• Demonstrated leadership positions/skills
• Life experience to include military service, travel and exposure to other countries/cultures, patient care experience/PA shadowing, overcoming adversity. 

During the interview, applicants will be evaluated on the following: Critical thinking/decision-making skills, understanding the role of a physician assistant, communication skills, non-verbal skills, professional presentation, and teamwork, interpersonal skills, and leadership skills. 

Highly competitive èßäapp undergraduates (minimum overall GPA of 3.5, and minimum GPA of 3.5 in CASPA designated science courses and prerequisite courses; grade of B or higher in the prerequisite courses; 7 of 8 prerequisite courses completed at the time of application) receive guaranteed early interviews regardless of their ranking during the rolling admissions process. An interview does not guarantee admission. No more than 10% of the maximum class size or 5 applicants, whichever is greater, will be considered for admission through priority interviews. èßäapp students who are not eligible for a priority review are still encouraged to apply and will be considered during the regular admission cycle. 

Students who were admitted, deposited, and set to matriculate into the Fall 2024 semester will receive guaranteed early interviews for the Fall 2025 intake regardless of their ranking during the rolling admissions process. Applicants will not be required to reapply; however, if they have additional materials they wish to be reviewed (e.g., coursework, clinical experiences, etc.), they should email katzgrad@yu.edu. Applicants selected for an interview will be notified by email. If the applicant accepts the interview invitation, an interview schedule and agenda will be emailed to the applicant. 

Offers of interviews and acceptance into the PA program are made on a rolling basis. All acceptances are provisional based on successful completion of all requirements prior to matriculation in the program. Applicants offered a seat in the PA program will receive notification via email.

Admission to the Current Cohort

Acceptances to the PA Program are binding for the current cohort in which the student is accepted. There are no deferrals of acceptance.
 

Transfer Credit & Advanced Standing 

Transfer credit, and advanced standing and placement, are not accepted. All students must complete all the didactic and clinical elements of the PA program.