Admissions Criteria

Applications to the ARC-PA accredited Physician Assistant at the Program of Pennsylvania College of Optometry, for the entering Class of August 2008 will be accepted through Central Application Service for Physician Assistant (CASPA) www.caspaonline.org.

Qualified candidates will be interviewed on an ongoing basis until the class is filled. Following the on-campus interview, candidate files are reviewed on a regular basis by the admissions committee. Candidates meeting the entrance requirements are then admitted until the class capacity is reached. Therefore, it is to your advantage to apply as early as possible to ensure full consideration for admission.

Our Physician Assistant Program was granted accreditation status in March, 2007 by ARC-PA. Our graduates are eligible to sit for the National Certification Examination for Physician Assistants, a credential required for state licensure. For more accreditation information.

Although all applications are carefully evaluated, it is generally recommended that an applicant have a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.8 on a 4.0 scale. It is recommended that students with less than a 2.8 grade point average consult the Admissions Office prior to applying.

The selection process for the Physician Assistant program is based on essentially two criteria:

Does the candidate meet all the academic requirements set forth by the College?
Will the candidate make a good physician assistant?

The Physician Assistant Admissions Committee uses a process to evaluate the above criteria. This process is based on a "Candidate's Profile" which is comprised of three indices:

Academic Index which evaluates the candidate's academic performance and ability.
Personal Index which evaluates non-cognitive factors and is derived from a review of the candidate’s letters of evaluation, essays, healthcare experience and extracurricular activities, and
Interview Index which evaluates the candidate's knowledge, interest, and motivation regarding the profession.

The Admissions Committee reviews all aspects of the candidate's profile in order to make its final decision.

A student will be invited for on-campus interview based on a review of his/her academic record, letters of evaluation, GRE scores, and healthcare/ research experience by the PA Program Admissions Committee.

Acceptance of candidates by the Physician Assistant Admissions Committee will be based on the above criteria and the applicant’s on-campus interview.

Notification of Acceptance

Upon receipt of acceptance, an applicant is required to pay $1000 to the College prior to the start of classes, payable as follows:

Return the matriculation form within 14 days of the date of the acceptance letter along with a $500 deposit.
Due June 1 – the balance of $500.
All monies received above will be applied toward the first session fees.
Refund Policy