Because of the limited number of students who will be enrolled each year, enrollment in D'Youville's Physician Assistant (PA) program is highly-competitive.
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Selection Criteria
Due to the limited number of available seats, as our accredited maximum cohort size is 55 seats, the selection process for admission to the PA department is extremely competitive. We accept applications for admission from first time in college and undergraduate transfer students, as well as graduate students into the professional portion of the program (didactic and clinical phases).
The admissions committee selects interview candidates based on academic rigor, personal essay, three letters of recommendation, undergraduate overall and undergraduate science GPA (for transfer applicants), motivation to enter the PA profession, and commitment to social justice and community engagement.
Interview Day Information
Interviews for qualified applicants are conducted virtually. Evidence of academic potential, knowledge of the PA role in the health care system, maturity, self-assurance, strong intrapersonal and interpersonal communication skills, and motivation will be assessed during the interview process.
Each student interview will be conducted by a member of the PA Department Faculty. Applicants may be interviewed individually or in groups of up to four, at the discretion of the faculty member. Prior to the interview, a brief overview of the program as well as the interview day process will be given by the faculty member. Please note, applicants interviewing in a group are not competing against one another. The interview session is designed to be collegial and informative, rather than competitive.
Admissions Notification Process
The D’Youville PA Program offers admission on a rolling basis. Just because candidates are selected for an interview, does not automatically grant admission into the program.
Qualified applicants for admission are determined based on several criteria:
- Interpersonal and intrapersonal, verbal and written communication skills
- Written application materials
- Results of personal interview
- Ability to master the rigorous academic content of the program
- Understanding and knowledge of the PA role within an interprofessional healthcare team
- Emotional maturity and understanding of and motivation to enter the profession
- Commitment to social justice and community engagement
Applicants are notified of the department’s decision following the final scheduled interview day. Candidates will be notified, in writing, of the decision. If admitted, candidates will be notified of their placement in a class year. Should students qualify, acceleration may be possible into an earlier graduation class.
Some candidates may be placed on our waitlist and will remain there until a spot becomes available, up until the start of classes. Once classes start, anyone left on the waitlist will be denied admission for that cycle and will have to reapply to the program during the next admissions cycle.
Admitted Applicant Profile
Admitted Applicant Profile
For students who matriculated in August 2023, the average cumulative undergraduate GPA was 3.5, and the average cumulative undergraduate science GPA was 3.3. For freshman applicants, the average SAT score was 1160, the average ACT score was 24, and the average grade point average was 97.9.