Question 1: Do I need to have a bachelor’s degree to apply?
No, a bachelor’s degree may be in progress at the time of application. HOWEVER, the degree must be earned by the end of the spring term or June 15th (whichever is later) of the planned year of matriculation.
Question 2: Do you require a minimum GPA to apply?
Yes. Candidates must have a minimum overall, prerequisite, and science GPA of 3.00 to apply. You must meet the minimum GPA requirements at the time of application and maintain the minimum through matriculation. Non-prerequisite courses in which Credit or Pass was earned will be calculated into your overall/cumulative GPA as a “C.” NOTE: Due to COVID-19, pass grades will be calculated as a “B” grade for courses taken in 2020 and for which a “pass” was earned. All courses completed prior to and after 2020 will be calculated as a “C” grade. Pass will only be accepted for prerequisite courses taken in 2020 (Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer terms).
Question 3: How many hours of work experience are required prior to application?
None. However, a history of ongoing community service/involvement is an essential consideration for admission to our program, and the more hours you have, the more competitive your application will be. Those without community service/involvement will not be eligible for consideration.
Question 4: Can I transfer into your physician assistant program from another physician assistant program?
No, we do not accept transfer students.
Question 5: Can I defer to the next entering class if I am unable to matriculate as originally planned?
No, the program does not allow candidates to defer. If you are unable to matriculate in the fall as originally planned you must withdraw and re-apply for the next entering class. Due to COVID-19, deferments will be considered on a case-by-case basis only after the candidate has accepted the offer of acceptance and paid the full $1,000 tuition deposit. An additional deposit of $500 will be required in the Spring to confirm intent prior to the Fall term in which matriculation will occur.
Question 6: Do you give preference to California residents?
No. Although a significant portion of our student body is from California, this is merely a reflection of our overall applicant pool.
Question 7: Can international students apply?
Yes, we consider international applicants for admission. International applicants follow the same application procedures as domestic applicants, but must also have their foreign transcripts evaluated by a World Education Services.
Question 8: Is tuition the same for in-state and out-of-state residents?
Yes. We are a private institution, so the tuition rate is the same for all students. Visit the financing my education for more information on tuition, scholarships, and loans.
Question 9: Can I turn in more than the required number of recommendation letters?
Yes. However, it is advisable to limit the number to one-two extra since a total of three-four well-chosen recommendations will usually paint a clear picture of the candidate, and additional recommendations will only add to the committee members’ reading time.
Question 10: Do you have an early decision process?
No. There is not an early decision process in place for the MSPA program.
Question 11: How and when will I know if I’ve been invited for an interview?
Interviews are held monthly October through February. If you are selected for an interview, you will be notified by email beginning August and through early February.
Question 12: How does the committee decide which applicants are offered seats?
The admissions committee works hard to select the best candidates for the program. To make this decision they consider a range of information including academic credentials, community service background, preparedness to complete the MSPA curriculum, and information gleaned from the personal interview. Visit the competitive candidate profile page for additional insights.
Question 13: When are acceptance letters and final notifications mailed?
Letters are typically mailed and emailed by the end of March of the planned year of matriculation.
Question 14: Will I be required to complete a background check?
Complete confidence in the honor and integrity of the health professions student and health care professional is essential, and students must exhibit honesty and integrity in all aspects of their life. Any prior criminal record of an applicant will be evaluated by the University as part of its determination that the applicant meets the Standards of Professional Conduct. In addition, a prior criminal record may negatively impact a student’s ability to participate in the University’s curriculum. To meet State regulations and hospital accreditation requirements, hospital facilities are requiring students to complete criminal background checks prior to beginning rotations/clinical experiences. Some rotations require a urine drug test as well. Certain convictions may prevent students from entering hospital facilities, which may hinder their ability to successfully complete the MSPA program. If a criminal conviction or other relevant sanction is shown on the background check, hospital facilities may choose not to allow a student to utilize their facilities. If applicable, we encourage you to check with the appropriate State licensing board(s) to determine whether your background may be a barrier to future licensing.
Question 15: Does the MSPA program require drug screening tests?
Urine drug screens may be required for clinical rotations or any sentinel acts. Procedures and costs for obtaining background investigations and urine drug screenings will be disseminated by the Physician Assistant Clinical Education Staff.
Question 16: Am I required to have certain immunizations or health screening procedures completed before matriculation?
As students will have some exposure to patients during the first year, no students will be allowed to matriculate until they have supplied proof that they are current on the required immunizations and health screenings consistent with current CDC recommendations. See catalog for a listing of specific health clearance requirements.
Question 17: How can I submit an application to the program?
The application consists of a primary application. Primary applications are available electronically from the Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA). Primary applications must be completed and submitted electronically to CASPA and in complete status on or before the application deadline.
Question 18: I am a re-applicant. How can I improve my application or my chances to get in?
Take a critical review of the information that you submitted to the admissions office and see if there are any obvious voids. For example, maybe you had one or two low grades that lowered your overall and/or prerequisite GPA, or maybe you were not involved actively in community service, or merely forgot to include it on your application. You would be surprised at how much you can learn about the strengths and weaknesses of your application simply by looking at it from an admissions perspective.
If you had a low grade, especially in a science course, you should consider retaking that class, since we will recalculate your GPA with the new higher grade when we receive the new transcript. It is important to realize that sometimes it is not something obvious that you can change to be admitted. Every case is different and every year the competition is different. Above all else, it is important to realize that we receive applications from many highly qualified applicants each year and are only able to offer acceptances to 98. If this is the path you are committed to, then keep trying! Visit the competitive candidate profile page for additional insights.