Admissions Criteria for the Physician Assistant Program
OHIO’s Physician Assistant Program’s Admissions Committee reviews each applicant’s experiences, attributes, and metrics as related to the Competencies for the Physician Assistant Profession and New PA Graduates as defined by PAEA:
- Knowledge for practice
- Interpersonal and communication skills
- Patient-centered care
- Interprofessional collaboration
- Professionalism and ethics
- Practice-based learning and quality improvement
- Systems-based learning
- Society and population health
The Admissions Committee determines whether the applicant will be granted a secondary application, interview, and ultimately acceptance to OHIO’s PA Program. Committee members perform a holistic assessment of each applicant that includes but is not limited to the following experiences, attributes, and metrics (in no particular order of importance):
Attributes
- Motivation for a medical career
- Intellectual curiosity
- Communication skills, including listening and empathy
- Languages spoken, particularly by underserved patient populations
- Critical thinking skills including problem-solving
- Professional responsibility and accountability
- Professional appearance
- Values and ethical beliefs
- Self-assessment and improvement skills
- Altruism and compassion
- Appreciation for diverse perspectives and patient populations
- Ability to work in inter-professional teams
- Honesty and integrity
- Resilience
- Geographic origin (Appalachia, urban, rural, or medically underserved area)
- Military (active duty or retired)
- Ohio University graduate
Metrics
- Undergraduate GPAs (CUM and Math / Science) and course load
- Most recent GRE scores
- Verified healthcare / patient care hours
- Environmental / Socioeconomic indicators as reported in the CASPA application