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The Midwestern University PA Program considers applicants who possess the academic and professional promise necessary for development as competent, caring members of the healthcare community. The admissions environment is highly selective with approximately 1,400 applications received each year for 86 seats. The application deadline is October 1, 2020, however, the PA Program uses a rolling admissions process in which applicants are continuously accepted until all seats are filled, so applicants are encouraged to apply early.
Completed applications received on or before the application deadline are reviewed to determine applicant eligibility for interviews. The following criteria are used to select the most qualified candidates: science and cumulative grade point averages (GPA), rigor of undergraduate and prerequisite courses, Graduate Record Examination (GRE) general test scores, letters of recommendation, healthcare experience, knowledge of the profession, and motivation for a career as a PA. Competitive candidates are typically invited to campus for interviews during the months of August through January.
Students seeking admission to the PA Program must submit the following documented evidence:
Course | Sem Hrs | Qtr Hrs |
Biology with lab* | 4 | 6 |
Anatomy* | 4 | 6 |
General Chemistry with lab* | 8 | 12 |
Organic Chemistry with lab* | 4 | 6 |
Math (college algebra or above) | 3 | 4 |
Statistics | 3 | 4 |
English Composition** | 6 | 9 |
Social and Behavioral Sciences (Sociology, Psychology, Anthropology, etc.) | 6 | 9 |
*All science prerequisites must be courses designed for science majors. No survey courses will count to fulfill science prerequisites. Courses with an online laboratory component will not meet any biology or chemistry prerequisite. In addition, advanced placement credit received at the undergraduate level may not satisfy biology or chemistry prerequisites. For Advanced Placement (AP) credit earned in biology or chemistry, MWU may request the submission of appropriate documentation (as determined by MWU) to verify the AP credit earned meets the program's admission standards.
**Courses accepted for the English Composition prerequisite include rhetoric, composition, technical writing, and courses designated as writing intensive by the institution.
Online labs:
The Midwestern University-Downers Grove Physician Assistant Program is aware that many universities and colleges across the country had to modify their curriculum in reaction to the Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. One modification was offering coursework, including laboratory components, online. Currently, the PA Program policy is that courses with an online laboratory component will not meet any biology or chemistry prerequisite. This policy will be amended to accept prerequisite coursework with a laboratory component completed during Spring, Summer, Fall 2020 or Spring 2021 which was only offered online. In these circumstances, MWU may request appropriate documentation to verify that the institution was not offering in-person laboratory components for prerequisite courses the applicant completed during the above time period(s).
Pass/Fail Coursework:
The Midwestern University-Downers Grove Physician Assistant Program is aware that many universities and colleges across the country had to modify their curriculum in reaction to the Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. One modification included awarding Pass/Fail final grades instead of traditional letter grades for completed coursework. According to the admissions requirement of the Midwestern University-Downers Grove PA Program, perquisite courses in which grades of "pass" are earned are counted only when applicants can provide verification that the earned grades are equivalent to grades of C or better (grades of C- are not acceptable). This requirement will be waived for all prerequisite coursework completed during Spring, Summer or Fall 2020 in which only pass/fail grades were awarded. In these circumstances, MWU may request appropriate documentation to verify that the institution was not awarding letter grades for prerequisite courses the applicant completed during the above time period(s).
An international student must complete a minimum of 30 semester hours of coursework from a regionally accredited college or university in the United States, or from a recognized post-secondary Canadian institution that uses English as its primary language of instruction and documentation. Of the 30 semester hours, 15 hours must be in the sciences, 6 hours in non-remedial English composition, and 3 hours in speech/public speaking.
Applicants who wish to receive credit for prerequisite coursework completed outside the U.S. or at a Canadian institution that does not use English as its primary language of instruction and documentation must submit an official, detailed, course-by-course evaluation obtained from one of the following evaluation services:
International applicants who do not provide documentation of acceptable U.S. or Canadian course/degree equivalency will not receive credit, and will be required to complete all prerequisite courses at an accredited college or university in the United States, or at a recognized post-secondary institution in Canada that uses English as its primary language of instruction and documentation.
For clarification about recognized post-secondary institutions in Canada that use English as a primary language of instruction and documentation, international applicants should contact the Midwestern University Office of Admissions.
International Applicant Packet
The Technical Standards set forth the nonacademic abilities considered essential for students to achieve the level of competence required by the faculty to obtain the academic degree awarded by the college.
Candidates 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 candidates should be able to perform in a reasonably independent manner.
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 College 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 at the College.
Completed applications with all required materials must be submitted to the Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA) by October 1, 2020. Please refer to the CASPA application instructions for specific details about completing the application, required documents, and processing time. CASPA applications are available beginning in April 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 application early in the cycle. Completed applications are reviewed continuously throughout the admissions cycle.
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 is written by a science professor who has actually taught the student or a pre-health advisory committee. The second letter may be written by any one of the following: a pre-health advisory committee, a pre-health advisor, college professor, or a healthcare professional (preferably a PA) who is well-acquainted with the applicant's academic and professional qualifications. Please refer to the CASPA application instructions for specific guidelines and requirements for submitting letters of recommendation
Applicants are required to submit official GRE general test scores to Midwestern University. The MWU institutional code for submitting scores is 1769. Only test scores earned during the previous five years, no earlier than January 1, 2016 and sent directly from the Educational Testing Service (ETS) to the Office of Admissions are acceptable. Test scores must be received by the MWU Office of Admissions no later than December 1, 2020. Note: GRE scores taken from the at-home version and testing centers will be accepted for the 2020-2021 admissions cycle.
The Office of Admissions will send letters verifying receipt of completed CASPA applications with all required materials to applicants who meet the minimum overall and science GPA requirements of 3.00. Letters will also include instructions on tracking application status online. Applicants must track the receipt of their application materials to ensure the submission of all required documents. Only applicants who submit all required application materials by the published deadlines will be considered for acceptance into the program.
Please Note: Applicants are responsible for notifying the Office of Admissions of any changes in their mailing address or e-mail address. All requests for application withdrawal must be made in writing via e-mail, fax, or letter to the Office of Admissions:
Midwestern University
Office of Admissions
555 31st Street
Downers Grove, IL 60515
630/515-7200 or 800/458-6253
Fax: 630/971-6086
admissil@midwestern.edu
Completed applications are reviewed to determine which applicants merit invitations for on-campus interviews. The following criteria are used to select the most qualified candidates for interview invitations: science and cumulative grade point averages (GPA), rigor of undergraduate and prerequisite courses, Graduate Record Examination (GRE) general test scores, letters of recommendation, healthcare experience, knowledge of the profession, and motivation for a career as a PA. Interviews are typically scheduled during the months of August through January. Applicants selected to interview will be notified by e-mail or telephone of available dates. Interviews are required before final admissions decisions are made. Also, new to the interview process this year, invited candidates are now required to take and submit results from the situational judgement test CASPer. Only candidates who are invited to interview are required to submit their CASPer test results.
At the time of application, students enrolled in another Midwestern University program are guaranteed an admission interview with the Physician Assistant Program if they meet the requirements outlined in the Articulation Agreement Between Midwestern University Programs of this catalog.
Applicants who have been invited to participate in a required on-campus interview will be evaluated on verbal communication skills, understanding of the profession, commitment to patient care, and other elements as determined by the program. The interview day will also provide applicants with an opportunity to learn more about the Physician Assistant program, financial aid programs, and student services. A campus tour and lunch will also be provided.
The PA Admissions Committee reviews the complete applications of candidates who were interviewed and then submits recommendations to the Program Director for action. The CHS Dean, via the Office of Admissions, then notifies applicants in writing of admissions decisions. All applicants with complete applications will receive notification in writing regarding their status by the end of March.
Please Note: Applicants who interview before December 31 are required to bring documentation verifying any outstanding coursework in progress (by providing a copy of a class schedule or a transcript listing the coursework). Applicants must submit documentation of satisfactory completion of prerequisites no later than the December 31st deadline. Applicants who fail to submit this proof by the designated date will not be considered for admission into the Program.
The matriculation process begins after applicants receive notification of their acceptance. To complete the matriculation process, applicants must:
Applicants who fail to satisfy these matriculation requirements or who omit or falsify information required on official admission documents automatically forfeit their seat in the program. Any individual accepted for admission to the College/Program who does not comply with stated timelines for submission of all required materials will be notified by the College/Program regarding missing materials and the potential forfeiture of his/her seat.
After receiving either a denial or an end-of-cycle letter, prospective students 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, prospective students must complete and submit new applications through CASPA and proceed through the standard application process.