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Physician Assistant Studies in Glendale
Click here to apply online at CASPA
Admission Requirements
Prerequisite Courses
International Students
Technical Standards for Admission
Application Process
Interview / Selection Process
Matriculation Process
Reapplication Process
Related Links
Physician Assistant Studies Program Admission
The Midwestern University PA Program considers applicants who possess the academic and professional promise necessary to become competent, caring members of the health care community. The admissions environment is highly selective with more than 900 applications received each year. The application deadline is October 1st; however, applicants are encouraged to apply early.
Competitive Admissions
Completed applications received on or before the application deadline are reviewed to determine applicant eligibility for interviews. Interviews are typically held between September and February. The PA Program conducts rolling admissions and admissions decisions are generally made within two weeks following an interview. Candidates are notified of their status shortly thereafter. Cumulative and science grade point averages (GPAs), Graduate Record Examination (GRE) general test scores, letters of recommendation, health care experience, knowledge of the profession, and motivation for a PA career will all be considered when reviewing applicant files.
Admission Requirements
Students seeking admission to the PA Program must submit the following documented evidence:
- Minimum cumulative science and overall GPA of 2.75 on a 4.00 scale.
- Scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) general test to the Office of Admissions by December 15th using the Midwestern University institution code for the GRE is 4160. The test must have been taken no earlier than January 1, 2005. Applicants are expected to achieve a score at or above the 50th percentile in each section. For additional information about the GRE, call 866/473-4373, or visit www.gre.org.
- Completion of prerequisite courses (listed below) from a regionally accredited college or university. All prerequisite courses must be completed with a C, or better. Grades of C– are NOT acceptable for any prerequisite course. Life expereince credits do not count toward fulfillment of any prerequisite courses. Courses in which "credit" or a grade of "pass" is earned will be counted only when applicants can provide verification that the earned grades were equivalent to grades of C or better (grades of C- are not acceptable).
- Completion of prerequisite courses prior to matriculation.
- Applicants must determine which prerequisities are missing and which courses must be taken to fulfill any outstanding prerequisites.
- Completion of a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university before matriculation.
- Motivation for and commitment to health care as demonstrated by previous work, volunteer, or other life experiences.
- Demonstration of service and leadership through community service or extracurricular activities.
- Oral and written communication skills necessary to interact with patients and colleagues.
- Satisfactory Midwestern University criminal background check.
- Commitment to a ide by the Midwestern University Drug-Free Workplace and Substance Abuse Policy.
- Successful completion of all required immunizations prior to matriculation.
Prerequisite Courses Required for Admission to the Physician Assistant Program
| Course | Sem Hrs | Qtr Hrs |
| Biology with lab* (must include at least 4 hours of Anatomy) | 8 | 12 |
| General Chemistry with lab* | 8 | 12 |
| Organic Chemistry with lab* | 4 | 6 |
| Math (college algebra or above) | 3 | 4 |
| English Composition | 6 | 9 |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (sociology, psychology, anthropology) | 6 | 9 |
| *Biochemistry (not required but strongly recommended) | 4-8 | 6-12 |
| *All science prerequisites must be courses designed for science majors. No survey courses will count to fulfill science prerequisites. |
An international student must satisfy all of the requirements for admission to the College or Program that apply to a student who has completed all of his/her prerequisite coursework in the U.S. at a regionally accredited college or university. In addition, an international student must demonstrate proficiency in the English language. This may be accomplished by satisfying both of the following requirements:
- The international student has completed a minimum of two full time semesters or three full time quarters of instruction at a postsecondary institution in the United States. Completed coursework must include a minimum of 50% of the prerequisite science coursework for the college or program of interest, 6 semester hours of non-remedial English composition, and 3 semester hours of public speaking/speech.
- The international student must submit official TOEFL scores. A minimum passing score is 550 (paper version, maximum score 677) or 100 (internet version, maximum score 120). The TOEFL scores must be from an exam taken within two years of the anticipated date of matriculation into the college or program.
If the international student wishes to receive credit for prerequisite coursework completed at a college or university outside of the United States, he/she must submit an official, detailed, course-by-course evaluation of this coursework. The student must obtain this evaluation from one of the following services:
- Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE): 414/289-3400 or Fax 414/289-3411 (www.ece.org, e-mail: info@ece.org)
- Josef Silny & Associates International Education Consultants: 305/273-1616 or Fax 305/273-1338
- World Education Service (WES): 212/966-6311 or Fax 212/739-6100 (www.wes.org, e-mail: info@wes.org)
Based on the official foreign transcript evaluation and the grade earned in the course(s), the college or program will decide if it will apply any of these credits toward fulfillment of its prerequisites.
International Applicant Packet
Technical Standards for Admission
The technical standards for admission set forth by the Physician Assistant Program establish the expectations and requisite abilities considered essential for students admitted to this Program to achieve the levels of competency stipulated for graduation by faculty, the professional program accrediting agency (ARC-PA), and the State of Arizona.
A candidate must have abilities and skills in five areas: 1) observation; 2) communication; 3) motor; 4) intellectual, conceptual, integrative, and quantitative; and 5) behavioral and social. Technological compensation can be made for some limitation in certain of these areas, but a candidate should be able to perform in a reasonably independent manner.
I. Observation: The candidate must be able to accurately make observations at a distance and close at hand. Observation necessitates the functional use of the sense of vision and somatic sensation and is enhanced by the functional use of all of the other senses.
II. Communication: The candidate must be able to communicate effectively, efficiently, and sensitively in both oral and written form and be able to perceive nonverbal communication.
III. Motor: Candidates must be able to coordinate both gross and fine muscular movements, maintain equilibrium, and have functional use of the senses of touch and vision. The candidate must possess sufficient postural control, neuromuscular control, and eye-to-hand coordination to perform profession-specific skills and tasks.
IV. Intellectual, Conceptual, Integrative, and Quantitative Abilities: The candidate must be able to problem solve, measure, calculate, reason, analyze, record, and synthesize large amounts of information in a timely manner. The candidate must be able to comprehend three-dimensional relationships and understand spatial relationships.
V. Behavioral and Social Attributes: The candidate must possess the emotional health required for full utilization of his/her intellectual abilities; the exercise of good judgment; the consistent, prompt completion of all responsibilities; and the development of mature, sensitive, and effective relationships. Candidates must be able to tolerate physically, mentally, and emotionally taxing workloads and to function effectively under stress. The candidate must be able to adapt to changing environments, to display flexibility, and to learn to function in the face of uncertainties. Compassion, integrity, concern for others, effective interpersonal skills, willingness and ability to function as an effective team player, interest and motivation to learn are all personal qualities required during the educational process.
Candidates are required to certify that they understand and meet these Technical Standards. Candidates must provide such certification prior to matriculation. Candidates who may not meet the Technical Standards must inform the Director of Admissions, who will then contact the Dean of Students. The Dean of Students, in consultation with the academic dean (and program director), will identify and discuss what accommodations, if any, the College(/Program) would need to make that would allow the candidate to complete the curriculum. The College(/Program) is not able to grant accommodations that alter the educational standards of the curriculum. Students must meet the Technical Standards for the duration of enrollment in their professional program.
Application Process and Deadlines
1. CASPA Application
Completed applications with all required materials to the Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA) by October 1, 2009. Please refer to the CASPA application instructions for specific details about completing the application, required documents, and processing time. CASPA applications are typically available beginning in June of the academic year preceding the year in which the applicant plans to matriculate. Due to the large number of applications and the limited number of seats available, applicants are strongly encouraged to complete their CASPA applications early in the cycle. Applications are reviewed continuously throughout the admissions cycle.
2. Letters of Recommendation
Applicants are required to submit two letters of recommendation from professionals to CASPA. The Office of Admissions will only accept letters of recommendation received directly from CASPA. It is preferred that one letter be written by a science professor who has actually taught the student or a pre-health advisory committee. The second letter can be written by any one of the following: pre-health advisory committee, pre-health advisor, college professor, or healthcare professional (preferably a PA) who knows the applicant well. Please refer to the CASPA application instructions for specific guidelines and requirements for submitting letters of recommendation. Letters of recommendation must be received by the Office of Admissions no later than December 1st, 2009.
3. GRE Scores
Applicants are required to submit official GRE general test scores to Midwestern University. The MWU institutional code for submitting scores is 4160. Only test scores earned during the previous five years (no earlier than January 2005) and sent directly from the Educational Testing Service (ETS) will be accepted. Official GRE scores must be received by the Office of Admissions no later than December 15th, 2009.
4. Completed Applications
The Office of Admissions will send letters verifying receipt of the CASPA application to all applicants who meet the minimum cumulative science and overall GPA requirement of 2.75. Letters will also include instructions on tracking application status online. Applicants are responsibile for tracking the receipt of their application materials to ensure the submission of all required documents. Only applicants who submit all required application materials will be considered for potential entrance into the Program. Applications will only be considered when all required application materials have been received by the Office of Admissions no later than December 1st, 2009. In-progress prerequisite courses must be completed prior to matriculation.
NOTE: Applicants are responsible for notifying the Office of Admissions of any changes in their mailing address or email address. All requests for withdrawing an application must be done in writing via email, fax, or letter.
Contact the Office of Admissions at:
Midwestern University
Office of Admissions
19555 N. 59th Avenue
Glendale, AZ 85308
888/247-9277; 623/572-3215
admissaz@midwestern.edu
Interview and Selection Process
After the Office of Admissions receives CASPA application reports, applicant files are reviewed to determine whether applicants merit an interview. The following criteria are used to select the most qualified candidates for interview invitations: GPA, GRE general test scores, letters of recommendation, health care experience, knowledge of the profession, and motivation for a PA career. Evaluation of completed applications will begin in September and continue until all seats in the class are filled. Eligible candidates are typically invited to interview during the months of September, October, November, December, January, and February. Applicant files may also be placed on an interview wait list pending possible openings toward the end of the interview cycle. Applicants selected to interview will be notified by letter or telephone of available dates and asked to contact the Office of Admissions to confirm one of the dates offered. Letters of confirmation will be sent to applicants that include travel information for visiting the MWU campus (i.e., directions to campus and local lodging information).
A typical day on campus involves participation in the following activities, which are coordinated by the Office of Admissions: a presentation by the PA Program Director, interaction with faculty members, meetings with current Midwestern University students, a campus tour, and meetings with an admissions counselor and the financial aid office. During each interview session, prospective students may be asked about their academic, personal, and professional aspirations and preparedness for admission to the Program. Prospective students will be rated on a standardized evaluation form, which are included with applicant files and forwarded to the PA Admissions Committee for review.
The PA Admissions Committee meets approximately one to two weeks after interviews have concluded. The Committee reviews complete application files for all applicants who were interviewed, formulates recommendations, and then submits recommendations to the Program Director for action. The CHS Dean, via the Office of Admissions, notifies applicants in writing of their admissions status. All applicants receive notification regarding their status by the end of March, but many will be offered seats following their interviews and subsequent Admissions Committee meetings.
Matriculation Process
The matriculation process begins after applicants receive notification of their acceptance into the PA Program. Students must return both their signed matriculation agreement and their initial deposit to the Office of Admissions. Students must also:
- Submit deposit monies by the date designated in their matriculation documents. Deposits are applied toward the first quarter's tuition.
- Submit official final transcripts from all colleges attended post-high school by the deadline of two weeks (14 calendar days) prior to the first day of classes. For students who are accepted to MWU less than one month prior to the first day of classes, they will have 30 calendar days from the date of their acceptance to submit all official transcripts to the Office of Admissions. Any special circumstances or requests for exceptions to this policy must be sent to and approved by the Office of the Dean of the College. Students who fail to submit all official final transcripts by the stated deadline may jeopardize their acceptance or continued enrollment in the college.
- Successfully complete all outstanding prerequisites with the grade of a C or better. Grades of C–are NOT acceptable for prerequisite courses.
- Submit completed medical files as requested by the Department of Student Services.
- Submit proof of medical and disability insurance coverage. Students may select either a plan offered by an MWU-approved carrier or a comparable plan offered by an outside carrier of their choice.
- If an international student, provide documentation verifying that sufficient funds have been deposited in a U.S. bank to cover all expenses while attending CHS (for F-1 visa students only).
- Provide documentation that any additional coursework or service requirements stipulated by the PA Admissions Committee have been completed.
- Submit additional documents as required by the Office of Admissions.
- Authorize and pass Midwestern University's criminal background check.
- Sign and submit the Midwestern University Drug-Free Workplace and Substance Abuse Policy.
- Complete a physical exam and submit form.
- Sign and submit a Credit Policy Statement.
- Provide proof of completed required immunizations.
- Satisfy the Technical Standards for the Program.
Students who either fail to satisfy these matriculation requirements or omits or falsifies information required on official admissions documents automatically forfeit their seat in the program. Individuals accepted for admission to the PA Program who does not comply with stated timelines for submission of all required materials receive no further notification from the College regarding forfeiture of their seat.
Reapplication Process
After receiving either a denial or an end-of-cycle letter, a prospective student may reapply for the following year's admissions cycle. Before reapplying, however, individuals contemplating reapplication should seek the advice of an admissions counselor.
To initiate the reapplication process, the prospective student must complete and submit a new application and proceed through each step of the entire application process.
Related Links
Graduate Record Examination (GRE) / Educational Testing Service
