Physician Assistant Studies Program: Applying for Admission

Applications to be accepted Late April - October 1 through CASPA

Admission Requirements Technical Standards

Timeline Immunizations FAQ

Attributes that are not required, but receive preference include:

• Oklahoma residents
  • This is defined as: the applicant either has a current address, a permanent address, or went to school in Oklahoma.
• Out-of-state residents with an address in a state that is near Oklahoma will receive preference over out-of-state applicants who are more distant from Oklahoma.
• Applicants who have completed all prerequisite requirements by October 1st of the application cycle.

Admission decisions are based on a holistic review of the entire application and interview. Other attributes which are viewed favorably and would strengthen an application include:

• Strong academic preparation (we consider GPA and difficulty of course load)
• Previous healthcare experience
• Knowledge of the PA profession
• Extracurricular activities
• Professionalism
• Leadership
• Alignment with NSU PA program's mission
• Maturity
• Critical-thinking skills
• Life-enhancing experiences
• Commitment to the PA profession
• Understanding of the rigors of the program
• Strong letters of recommendation
• Applicant is from a health professional shortage area or medically underserved area
• Applicant is from a geographic area that is considered rural
• Applicant’s parent’s family income meets criteria for being economically disadvantaged
• Applicant is a first-generation college student

Applying for admission

All applicants to the NSU Physician Assistant program must apply through CASPA (Central Application Service for Physician Assistants). In addition, applicants will need to pay an application fee to the PA program. The NSU Physician Assistant Program does not require the GRE or other standardized test. If selected for further consideration, an on-campus interview will be required.

Application deadline

Applications are available through CASPA beginning each April. Applicants must submit their completed application to CASPA on or before 11:59 p.m. CST on October 1. All required documents, including transcripts, must be received by CASPA by October 1. There will be a period from October 1 to October 20 during which CASPA will attempt to verify the remaining completed applications (verification isn’t guaranteed during this timeframe). All applications not verified by CASPA by October 20 will not be considered by the NSU PA program and those applicants are ineligible for an interview. The deadline to pay NSU’s supplemental application fee is also October 20. There are no exceptions to the posted deadlines and if any deadlines are missed, the application will be considered incomplete and will be removed from further consideration.

Supplemental application fee

A link for the NSU application fee will be provided after the applicant’s CASPA application has been verified.

Preferences

Preference is given to applicants who have completed all required prerequisites by the October 1 deadline and Oklahoma residents. Highly-qualified, non-resident applicants are strongly encouraged to apply and may successfully compete for admission.

Attributes

Academic

The admissions committee will evaluate each applicant's academic record including the overall GPA, science GPA, and last 60-hour GPA as calculated by CASPA. In addition, the committee will review the complexity of the applicant's undergraduate degree plan and performance. Competitive applicants will demonstrate not only a strong academic record, but the ability to excel in PA curriculum. Applicants should be aware that simply meeting the minimum GPA requirements does not guarantee an interview.

Healthcare experience

Although previous health care experience is not required for admission, it is expected that a competitive applicant would provide evidence of direct hands-on patient care experience. The admissions committee will evaluate the number of hours and type of direct hands-on patient care experience. It is important to note, the more hours of direct patient care experience the stronger the application will be considered for admission. Direct patient care experience includes any position that actively cares for patients in a pre-hospital, hospital, or clinic setting. The program does recognize applicants working as medical scribes as an acceptable type of healthcare experience. The admissions committee examines each application comprehensively and applicants with no patient care experience are strongly encouraged to apply despite the competitive nature of this personal attribute.

Regional

Consistent with the PA program's Mission Statement, applicants with a demonstrated commitment to northeastern Oklahoma, rural communities, and American Indian populations will be viewed favorably.

Knowledge of the profession

Applicants considering a career as a PA, must demonstrate knowledge of the profession. The PA program encourages each applicant to seek out an opportunity to examine the role of the physician assistant within the healthcare system.

Extracurricular activities

The admissions committee will consider each applicant's level of commitment to service within the community and who have demonstrated a commitment to service of rural communities and American Indian populations. Applicants are encouraged to seek out opportunities to volunteer or demonstrate a strong desire to serve.

Professional references

NSU requires three letters of recommendation. The applicant is encouraged to find professional references that can comment on academic standards, professionalism, commitment to the medical profession, leadership abilities, and service. All three references must be received by the application deadline.

Interview and selection process

The admissions committee will carefully review each completed application that is received and verified by the respective deadlines. Other than the preferences identified above, an applicant's attributes will be viewed in a holistic manner by the interview team and the admissions committee.

Applicants selected for an interview will be notified by email in early November. The interview will be conducted in person at the NSU Muskogee campus. Travel accommodations will be the responsibility of the applicant.

Applicants offered a position in the class must also be formally admitted to the NSU Graduate College. Admission to the Graduate College requires online registration and a $25 fee. Students who are admitted to the PA program will be contacted by phone with a follow-up offer letter. The PA program will require a $500 non-refundable deposit to secure the seat. The deposit will be applied to tuition at matriculation. Competitive applicants who are not initially admitted will be placed on an alternate list to fill any vacancies should they occur.

Employment Policy

Due to the challenging nature of the curriculum, employment while enrolled in the program is discouraged.