Admissions I

Case Western Reserve University's Physician Assistant Program is committed to accepting a diverse group of qualified individuals from a variety of backgrounds and experiences. The program uses a holistic process to select students who reflect varied social, economic, ethnic, educational and health care experience backgrounds. We seek students who possess intellectual capacity, personal maturity, leadership, communication and interpersonal skills.

Case Western Reserve University's Physician Assistant Program accepts applications from U.S. citizens and permanent residents and those educated outside the U.S. and Canada as long as applicants can submit the following documentation:

• A baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution in the United States or Canada prior to matriculation into the program. A baccalaureate degree is a minimum requirement. Therefore, a masters or doctorate level degree awarded in lieu of a baccalaureate degree will meet this requirement.
• If educated outside of the U.S. or Canada, a transcript evaluation service documenting the applicant’s baccalaureate degree is required. The academic record must show credits and grades equivalent to those given by U.S. institutions of higher learning.
• Completion of CWRU PA Program prerequisite course work which must be completed at a regionally accredited institution in the United States or Canada
• Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Or PA-CAT scores taken within the last five years.
• Direct patient care experience in the United States.
• The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), taken within the last 2 years, is required of all international applicants for whom English is not their native language. The TOEFL requirement may be waived for applicants with a baccalaureate degree or higher from an accredited US institution. Official scores from ETS for the TOEFL must be received in order for an application to be reviewed. Only the IBT (Internet Based Test) form of the TOEFL will be accepted. A total score of 93 and a speaking score of 26 is required for entry into the PA program.
• Applicants must also meet all other requirements for admission to the CWRU PA Program including the program’s Technical Standards.

PA Program Admission Process

Case Western Reserve University's PA program website is the definitive source of information concerning admission criteria. Please see the Prerequisites page for this information. Admission to the program is highly competitive and meeting minimal program prerequisites guarantees neither an interview nor acceptance to the program.  

Applicants must apply through the centralized application process (CASPA).  The program conducts a holistic review process with specific attention to the following admissions factors:  

• Academic achievement
  • Undergraduate and graduate cumulative GPA 
  • Undergraduate and graduate cumulative science GPA
  • CWRU pre-requisite GPA 
  • GRE or PA-CAT scores 
• Direct patient care experience
• Personal narrative
• Letters of reference
• Personal interview evaluation
• Other non-academic variables that include: 
  • Community outreach and volunteer experience
  • Diversity of life experience 
  • Leadership 
  • Military service 
  • Aptitude for critical thinking 

In-person, on campus interviews are required for admission and are offered to the most qualified and competitive applicants. Interviews are conducted from September through December. All applicants will be notified by April 15 about their admission status.  

Interview day is fairly rigorous and permits a number of the faculty to meet with each applicant in order to determine appropriateness of fit. The Admissions Committee meets immediately following each interview day to discuss the day’s applicants. The admission factors listed above are applied to the selection process to determine acceptances, waitlists, and declines. Decisions of the Admissions Committee are final. Declined applicants will not be reconsidered for acceptance to the program during that application cycle.

The program accepts well rounded individuals who, in addition to completing program prerequisites, show a strong commitment to community, demonstrate professionalism and ambition to be leaders in healthcare, and exhibit the most promise of becoming outstanding PAs in line with the mission of Case Western Reserve University's PA program. The PA program and CWRU as an institution place great value on diversity and seek to construct classes that that reflect this value.

Admissions Timeline