Selection Criteria & Procedures

Criteria

Selection for the PA Program is based on a variety of criteria including the applicant's overall strength relative to the applicant pool. The Admission Committee, made up of all full-time PA Program faculty, assesses a combination of academic background, type and amount of previous clinical experience, community service experience, knowledge of the physician assistant’s role in health care, and personal and professional qualities including knowledge of and sensitivity to multicultural issues relevant to the organization and distribution of medical care services. Applicants are also expected to have a realistic plan for managing the financial requirements of the Program (including tuition and living expenses).

Specifically, the Admissions Committee has approved the following admission criteria for the 2009-2010 selection cycle:

Mission
--non-health care community/volunteer service, especially in support of a medically underserved community

Cumulative GPA
--USC Graduate School requests at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA. Interviewees in the USC PA Program averaged a 3.38 cumulative GPA.

Clinical Experience (Paid, patient care experience is not required, but most candidates have it, and it is highly recommended)
--paid patient care experience. (Interviewees' average: 2000 hours.)

Interview (After review of the Supplemental Application, CASPA Report, and test scores, a portion of the applicants are invited for an interview.)
--knowledge of the PA profession
--communication/interpersonal skills
--professionalism
--leadership potential
--personal attributes
--program fit

Science Prerequisites
--Interviewees averaged a 3.25 in general biology, general chemistry, anatomy, physiology, and microbiology. A minimum GPA of 2.75 is required for the science prerequisites.

Related Health Care Experience
--PA Shadowing (At least one significant shadowing experience is expected; several experiences in varied settings are recommended.)
--Research experience
--Laboratory experience
--Any health care volunteering experience

GRE or MCAT (Examinations must be taken within 5 years of enrollment in the PA Program.)
--Interviewees averaged 1110 (510V and 600Q) on the GRE.  Only a few MCAT scores were submitted with an average score of 26.  USC's institutional code for the GRE is 004852.  No department code is needed.  MCAT verification codes should be emailed to the USC PA Program.

Procedures

1. CASPA information is screened for completeness (i.e., to determine if the application has been filled out properly and submitted/postmarked no later than the December 1, 2009 deadline). Please note: the PA program highly recommends submitting the CASPA application by October 1, 2009. CASPA notifies the PA Program regarding the date the application and supporting documents are received and provides the Program with a summary of applicant data.


2. Applicants are required to submit the USC PA Program Supplemental Application. The Supplemental Application can be downlaoded from the "Application Procedure" page on this website. Please note: the PA program highly recommends submitting the Supplemental Application by October 1. It is required no later than December 1, 2009. It is the responsibility of applicants to submit the Supplemental Application. To be considered for an interview, applicants must submit the Supplemental Application.


3. Applications that have met these criteria are evaluated to determine eligibility for admission (i.e., if a Bachelor's degree has been granted and all PA prerequisites completed by the deadline of Spring term 2010).


4. Applicants are rated on the following factors: Cumulative grade point average, science prerequisite grade point average, paid clinical experience, community/volunteer service, related health care experience, CASPA/ Supplemental essays, GRE/MCAT scores, and the three letters of recommendation.


5. A select portion of the applicants are invited to interview with Program faculty, alumni and PA students. Interviewees are required to submit a (non-returnable) passport-size photo I.D.


6. The PA Faculty Admission Committee and admissions staff review the files of all interviewed applicants and select the incoming class.


7. Initially, please complete only the CASPA report and the Supplemental Application. The USC PA Program does utilize the USC Online Graduate School Application. However, only admitted candidates need to complete that application. Instructions will be given at the time of admission.
   

Applicants are notified by email of their status as the PA Admission Office and the Faculty Admission Committee progress through the selection procedures. Travel costs related to the interview are the responsibility of the candidates. The class is selected on a rolling basis from late Fall through early Spring. Applicants offered admission must accept a seat by submitting a formal reply and deposit, usually within 2-3 weeks of the offer. Those who accept a position will be required to submit official transcripts, if necessary, to the USC PA Program prior to enrollment. Classes begin in mid- to late- August for those who accept the Program's offer to be a part of the graduating Class of 2013 (Fall 2010 entry).