Admission Procedure

The initial screening will ensure the CASPA application is complete, verified, and all minimum program admission requirements were met at the time of CASPA submission deadline. (March 1, 2024)

The Program will verify the following through CASPA:

• Bachelor’s degree completed.
• Prerequisite courses completed.
• Overall GPA 3.0 on 4.0 scale, Overall Science GPA 3.0 on 4.0 scale.
• 3 Letters of Recommendation (LORs) received.
• Minimum of 2,000 hours of qualified PCE hours documented

**Applications not meeting the minimum requirements will be removed from further consideration and receive a denial notification via electronic communication **

All applications that satisfy the Step 1 initial screening requirements progress to Step 2.

In Step 2, applications are evaluated and scored on Academic Preparation and PCE:

1. Preferences Acknowledged

• Northwest University (NU) graduates who complete all application materials and meet all minimum admission requirements will be guaranteed an interview during the admission process.
• Qualified veterans who complete all application materials, meet all minimum admission requirements, have served in the military, and are in good standing will be guaranteed an interview during the admission process.

2. Academic Preparation

The following GPAs will be scored: (Minimum = 4 points, Maximum = 10 points)

• Overall Science GPA
• Prerequisite GPA
• Last 60-hours GPA
• Each GPA, as determined by CASPA, is multiplied by a predetermined modifier and becomes the GPA score. Each calculated GPA score will be added to a total applicant score and ranked. Applicants with higher GPAs receive a higher score.
• Applicants who demonstrate consistent academic success in science coursework, prerequisite coursework, and particularly in their most recent 60 credit hours of coursework, are more likely to be extended an invitation to interview.

3. Patient Care Experience (PCE)

Qualifying PCE hours are direct, hands-on paid positions, except for work as a paramedic or EMT when all emergency services are provided on an all-volunteer basis. Internships, clinical time as a student, shadowing, or volunteer experience (apart from exceptions) do not meet this requirement.

Minimum of 2000 hours PCE completed at time of application

• Maximum of 20,000 hours may be scored

• Quality of experience(s) and the number of qualifying hours are evaluated and scored
  • The number of qualifying PCE hours is multiplied by a predetermined quality modifier
    • High quality modifier = 0.20
    • Medium quality modifier = 0.15
    • Low quality modifier = 0.10
  • This calculation is then divided by 1000 and becomes the applicants total PCE score

Calculate Your Patient Care Experience (PCE)

To assist you, we have compiled a Patient Care Experience Information Sheet with examples of types of positions to assist you with determining your potential scoring.

Applicants will be ranked based on the Academic Preparation and PCE calculated scores. The top-ranking applicants, as well as the qualifying preferences awarded a guaranteed interview, will be notified electronically of their selection for an on-campus interview and provided with additional information regarding the next step in the process.

Step 3 consists of evaluation and scoring of the following:

1. Applicant Interview (MMI) – Maximum points = 7
2. Professionalism – Maximum points = 1
3. Leadership - Maximum points = 1.5
4. Mission Alignment – Maximum points = 2
5. Letters of Recommendation (LORs) – Maximum points = 1

Selected applicants will be invited for an on-campus interview via electronic communication and provided an opportunity to select from available dates and times.

If you are not able to appear during the selected interview date and time, please contact the PA program immediately. The PA program cannot guarantee another date and time would be available but will make every effort to accommodate any unforeseen circumstances. Declining an invitation or failing to appear for a scheduled interview will result in rejection of the application.  The travel costs associated with the on-campus interview will be at the expense of the applicant.

At the completion of the interview, applicants will have a chance to tour the facilities, meet with a financial aid representative, and ask questions. The applicant can expect to spend approximately 4 hours on campus.

1. The interview will follow a Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format.

MMI Interview Process:

• Applicants will rotate through a series of “stations,” each evaluating the applicant in a different domain
• Completion of each station is time-limited
• Evaluators score the applicant at the completion of each MMI by summing the applicant’s scores using a predetermined rubric

Important To Note - at ALL times during the interview, you are expected to conduct yourself in a professional and respectful manner that is courteous to other PA applicants, students, faculty, and staff. The entire time you are on campus, you ARE being evaluated consistent with the key attributes outlined in the Applicant Selection Factors.

2. Mission Alignment

Mission alignment is evaluated and scored by several means, including content within the application, letters of reference, the scope and nature of experiences, i.e., volunteerism/service/leadership.

3. Letters of Recommendation (LORs)

• LORs will be evaluated and scored during Step 3
• The following types of references are encouraged, but not required:
  • Professor, Supervisor, Physician Assistant, Healthcare Provider (APRN, MD, DO)
  • Letters from friends and family will not be accepted
• Only three letters (submitted in CASPA) will be reviewed.
  • If more than three letters are submitted, you must indicate in the Questions section of our CASPA page, which three you want the admissions committee to review
    • If no indication is provided, the committee will choose the first 3 from the CASPA list

Upon completion of the interview process, PA candidates will be ranked based on the combined results of Steps 1-3. After final review by the admissions committee and the dean of the PA program, formal offers will be extended to the top interviewees for admission to the program. 

Candidates that are not offered an initial seat will be notified electronically and given one of the following results:

Waitlist: High Alternate – This ranked list will be utilized first to fill any vacancies as they arise to ensure the complete cohort is filled. This list will remain active until the selected cohort has started the program.

Waitlist: Alternate – This ranked list will be utilized second to fill any vacancies as they arise to ensure the complete cohort is filled. This list will remain active until the selected cohort has started the program.

Denial – Interviewees that are denied admission to the program will be notified by electronic communication from the PA program.

 **Interviewees that are denied admission to the program, are invited to contact the program and schedule a time to meet with the dean to review their application individually. **