Applicants can submit their application as soon as the CASPA portal opens at the end of April. The program’s Admission Committee will start reviewing applications and sending interview invites in May. Interviews start in the summer (June/July) and conclude in September. Since we have rolling admissions, we encourage those interested to apply as soon as they are able. All interviewed applicants will know their final status in October (denied, wait list, or accepted). Applicants who have deposited will receive instructions on fulfilling pre-program requirements (listed in admission requirements tab). Didactic orientation is usually conducted in the week prior to the first day of classes in January.

CASPA charges $184 for the first program you apply to and $61 for each additional program. CASPA does offer a fee waiver program for more details please visit CASPA Fees and Fee Waivers.

As of 2/1/2024 the program no longer requires the GRE for program application. The program also does not require other standardized tests, such as CASPER or PA-CAT at this time.

No, medical terminology is included in the program curriculum. Students will not obtain advanced standing in the program if they have previously completed a Medical Terminology course.

No, but you may satisfy this pre-requisite by taking a CLEP test. Please visit their website at https://clep.collegeboard.org/. This requires you to correctly answer 50 out of 90 questions to pass.

We evaluate the cumulative and science GPA of every applicant. GPA’s will be recalculated to represent the highest grade in every course retaken; the lower grade(s) will be excluded from the calculation. There is no limit on how many times a candidate may retake a course.

Yes! Applicants are often offered an interview with incomplete or in-progress prerequisite course work. We prefer applicants to have no more than three prerequisite courses outstanding during the semester prior to starting the program. Applicants must have all prerequisite course work completed by December before matriculation in January.

Yes, a list of preferences can be found at https://www.msj.edu/academics/graduateprograms/physician-assistant-program/pa-admission-requirements/index.html.

Yes, you may apply. Please explain in your application your plan to meet all our requirements prior to matriculation. Applicants must have an undergraduate degree confirmed by transcript before they can matriculate into the program in January. The latest an applicant can graduate to be considered for the current cycle is December in the year before January matriculation. (ex. Can graduate in December 2024 and start PA program in January 2025.) An applicant would be applying too early if they don’t graduate until spring. (ex. An applicant can’t start the PA program in January 2025 with an anticipated undergraduate graduation date in spring of 2025).

No, an applicant may still be gaining their health-related experience hours when they submit their application. Within the application, one should clearly specify how they intend to complete this pre-requisite by the deadline of September 1st. Please note candidates with than 200 hours related to direct-patient-care are given preference (see applicant requirement page for more details).

CASPA does not notify the PA program when an application is updated after verification. We recommend contacting our Admissions Office about any additional supportive documents that have been submitted to CASPA after verification.

Applicants who have been dismissed from, or discontinued their participation in, a health professional program due to any academic deficiency or non-academic policy violation(s) will NOT be considered for admission. If there are other life circumstances that led to withdrawal or non-completion of the degree, the Admissions Committee will consider this on a case-by-case basis.

No, but we do have some additional questions within the CASPA application. There is no additional cost.

International applicants may apply; please note that pre-requisite courses need to be completed through a regionally accredited institution. All candidates need to have a Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution. All foreign transcripts from an institution in any country other than the United States must have a course by course evaluation, plus determination of letter grade equivalence. Either of the following agencies may be used for foreign transcript evaluation: World Education Services or Education Credentials Evaluators. TOEFL iBT Requirement is for international students or those students who did not attend a high school where English is the primary language. Information can be accessed at https://www.ets.org/toefl.

A minimum score of 104 is required with at least a 26 in each of the following: Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing.

The interview format allows opportunity for applicants to interact with program faculty, staff, students, community PAs, and other applicants through one-on-one interviews and group activities. Various stations allow applicants to show off multiple aspects of themselves including their personality and life experience. All interviews are conducted on campus and the entire interview lasts approximately 4 hours.

The classes during didactic year are in close alignment with the task areas identified on the NCCPA PANCE content blueprint with instruction in all medical content categories. The students complete a 12-month didactic phase followed by 15-month clinical phase.

Our program is 27 months. Matriculation occurs in January and graduation happens 27 months later in May.

Yes! Please see our graduate admissions website for more details at: https://www.msj.edu/admission/visit-the-university/index.html.

Please join us at one of our information sessions, we always have current students available at each session for Q&As. Register at www.msj.edu/gradinfo.

During the didactic (classroom) phase of the program, students are typically in class on campus from 8:30-4:30 M-F from January to December. Previous students have reported studying between 10-30hrs per week in addition to class time depending on exam schedule.

A student will complete 11 clinical rotations (8 core rotations, and 3 electives) during clinical phase, each lasting 5 weeks. During this time, a student is expected to work in tandem with the preceptor and follow their schedule. This could (and likely will), include weekends, holidays and call. Students still spend many hours studying during clinical phase, as they prepare to take an exam at the conclusion of each non-elective rotation.

The program recognizes that every PA student has different financial needs. During the time in the program students are allowed to work however, the program reserves the right to discourage this activity if there are academic or professional concerns. Students must be available to follow the schedule of the assigned preceptor in their clinical phase. Students are still held accountable to the academic standards (linked) throughout their time in the program despite their personal workload.

The program has availability for clinical rotations in several affiliated health networks in and around the Tri-State area. We also have individual agreements with many independent and smaller healthcare systems throughout Ohio and surrounding states. Most students will be required to travel outside Cincinnati for some of their required clinical experiences. The program does not provide housing or travel allowances, and students must be prepared to cover their transportation and living expenses during these clinical rotations.

No, students are NOT required to provide or solicit clinical sites or preceptors. The program will place students on clinical rotations with qualified preceptors. Students are always welcome to make suggestions if they are interested in a particular location or specialty.

There are a few options available on campus in the dorm. The program shares other local resources with our incoming cohort of students.

No, the tuition is the same for all students in the cohort.