Admission
Requirements
Prerequisite Courses
Application Process
Interview/Selection Process
Technical Standards for Admission
Matriculation Process
Reapplication Process
Admissions
The MWU 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; greater than 700 applications are 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 the applicant’s eligibility for
an interview. Interviews are typically held between September and
February. The PA Program conducts rolling admissions and admissions
decisions are generally made within two weeks following the interview.
Candidates are notified of their status shortly thereafter. Cumulative
and science grade point averages, GRE general test scores, letters
of recommendation, health care experience, knowledge of the profession,
and motivation for wanting to become a PA will all be considered
when reviewing an applicant’s file.
Admission Requirements
- Possess a minimum overall grade point average (GPA) of 2.75
on a 4.00 scale.
- Submit scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) general
test to the Office of Admissions by the October 1st deadline.
The test must have been taken no earlier than January 1, 2004.
The Midwestern University institution code for the GRE is 4160.
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.
- Complete 35 semester hours of prerequisite courses as listed
below from a regionally accredited college or university. All
prerequisite courses must be completed with a grade of a C, C+,
or higher (a C- will NOT be accepted for any prerequisite course)
before matriculation.
- All applicants should complete all aspects of their application
and satisfactorily complete all prerequisite course work by December
31 of the year before they plan to begin class.
- Possess a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college
or university before matriculation.
- Reflect proper motivation for and commitment to health care
as demonstrated by previous work, volunteer, or other life experiences.
- Reflect a people/service orientation through community service
or extracurricular activities.
- Possess the oral and written communication skills necessary
to interact with patients and colleagues.
- Pass a criminal background check.
- Abide by the MWU Drug-Free Workplace and Substance Abuse Policy.
Prerequisite Courses Required for Admission
to the Physician Assistant Program
| Course |
Semester Hours |
Quarter Hours |
Biology / Anatomy / Physiology with lab*
(must have 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 |
*Strongly encourage Biochemistry
|
4-8 |
6-12 |
*All science prerequisites must be courses designed for science
majors. No survey courses will count to fulfill science prerequisites.
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS: Must complete a minimum
of 30 semester hours of coursework in the United States. Of the
30 semester hours, 6 hours must be completed in non-remedial English
composition.
Application Process
- CASPA Application
Applicants are required to submit an application with all required
materials to CASPA
at www.caspaonline.org by October 1, 2008. 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 application 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
(www.caspaonline.org). The Office of Admissions will only
accept letters of recommendation received directly from CASPA.
It is preferred that one letter be from a science professor who
has actually taught the student or a pre-health advisory committee.
The second letter can be from 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.
3. GRE Scores
Applicants are required to submit official GRE general test scores
to Midwestern University. The MWU institutional code for submitting
your scores is 4160. Only test scores earned during the previous
five years (no earlier than January 2004) and sent directly from
the Educational Testing Service (ETS) will be accepted.
4. Completed Applications
Upon receipt of your CASPA application with all required materials,
the Office of Admissions will send all applicants who meet the
minimum overall GPA requirement of 2.75 a letter verifying receipt
of the CASPA application. The letter will also include instructions
on checking your application status online using your Interact
Now account. Applicants must also submit official GRE general
test scores to Midwestern University. It is the applicant's responsibility
to track the receipt of their application materials and 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.
Please 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 information
for the Office of Admissions is listed below.
Midwestern University
Office of Admissions
19555 N. 59th Avenue
Glendale, AZ 85308
888-247-9277 / 623-572-3215
admissaz@midwestern.edu
Interview/Selection Process
After the Office of Admissions receives a CASPA application report,
the applicant’s file is reviewed to determine if the applicant
merits 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 wanting to become
a PA. 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. The applicant’s
file 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. A letter of confirmation will be sent to the
applicant that includes 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, a chance to meet with current Midwestern University students,
a campus tour, and an opportunity to meet with an admissions counselor
and the financial aid office. During each interview session, the
prospective student may be asked about his/her academic, personal,
and professional aspirations and preparedness for admission to the
program. The prospective student will be rated on a standardized
evaluation form. These evaluations are then made a part of the applicant’s
file and forwarded to the PA Admissions Committee.
The PA Admissions Committee meets approximately one to two weeks
after interviews have concluded. The Committee reviews the full
application file for each applicant who was interviewed and then
formulates and submits its recommendation to the Program Director
for action. The CHS Dean—via the Office of Admissions—then
notifies each applicant in writing of the admissions action/decision.
All applicants will receive notification regarding their status
by the end of March, but many will be offered seats following their
interviews and subsequent Admissions Committee meetings.
Technical Standards for Admission
The technical standards for admission set forth by the PA 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: I) observation;
II) communication; III) motor; IV) intellectual, conceptual, integrative,
and quantitative; and V) 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
and 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.
Matriculation Process
The matriculation process begins after an applicant receives notification
of his/her acceptance into the PA Program. The student must return
both a signed matriculation agreement and an initial deposit to
the Office of Admissions. The student must also complete the following:
- Submit deposit monies by the date designated in his/her matriculation
agreement—the entire deposit is applied toward the student’s
first-quarter 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 made by the Office of the Dean of the college. If students
fail to submit all official final transcripts by the stated deadline,
their acceptance or continued enrollment in the college may be
jeopardized.
- Successfully complete all outstanding prerequisites with the
grade of a “C,” “C+,” or higher. A “C-“
will NOT be accepted for any prerequisite course.
- Complete a medical file as requested by the Department of Student
Services.
- Submit proof of medical and disability insurance coverage.
The student may select either a plan offered by an MWU-approved
carrier or a comparable plan offered by an outside carrier of
the student’s choice.
- PERMANENT RESIDENTS: Submit a copy of permanent resident alien
card.
- INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS: 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 has/have
been completed.
- Submit additional documents as required by the Office of Admissions.
- Sign authorization allowing a criminal background check.
- Sign the MWU Drug-Free Workplace and Substance Abuse Policy.
- Complete a physical exam and submit form.
- Sign Credit Policy Statement.
- Provide proof of completed required immunizations.
- Satisfy Technical Standards for the Program.
If the student either fails to satisfy these matriculation requirements
or omits/falsifies information required on official admissions documents,
the student automatically forfeits his/her seat in the program.
Any individual accepted for admission to the PA Program who does
not comply with stated timelines for submission of all required
materials receives no further notification from the College relative
to forfeiture of his/her 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.
