School of Health Promotion & Human Performance

The admissions process for the EMU PA program is highly competitive. More than 700 applications were received for 30 seats of the class that matriculated in 2022.

Required Applications and Deadline

The Eastern Michigan University PA program requires a completed Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA) application. If you wish to begin the program in Sept. 2023, the application must be submitted and completed between September 1, 2022 and January 15, 2023 or it will not be considered.

Application deadline: January 15.

• CASPA Application Requirements 

  In order to be considered complete, all of the following must be received by CASPA by January 15:

  • Complete and properly submitted application*
  • Application fee paid to CASPA
  • Two letters of reference
  • Official GRE scores
  • Official transcripts for all colleges/universities attended
  • If you are an international or foreign degree applicant, all necessary documents and evaluations must be received

  Applicants are expected to be aware of all pre-admission course requirements and complete their application in accordance with admission requirements.

  *For further information about a "complete" CASPA application, visit CASPA.

• Final Application Submission

  Once your application has been submitted to CASPA, we will not accept revisions. (i.e., updated GPA, clinical hours, GRE scores, etc.) The only exception to this is if you have one or two planned or in-progress pre-admission courses that are specifically designated as such on your CASPA application. We will accept updated grades for these courses up until the deadline of June 1 of the year you are applying for entry into the program. Updated official transcripts should be sent to CASPA. GPAs will not be recalculated based on grades from courses completed after application submission. 

  Clinical hours logged must be completed prior to application. Clinical experience/health care hours obtained after submitting the CASPA application may not be used.

  Once the CASPA application is verified with an official GRE score report attached, the application is screened and scored. Updated GRE score reports are not considered after application verification.

Application Review and Timeline

The EMU PA program admission committee reviews applications and selects the most qualified candidates for interviews based on a program-specific evaluation rubric. Due to the highly selective admissions process, not all applicants will be granted an interview.

• Interviews for Top Applicants

  A successful interview is a requirement for admission.

• Admission Decisions

  After interviews, the committee chooses the top 30 candidates to start in the fall semester (September). If you are not accepted, you are welcome to repeat the admissions process in the following year to re-apply.

Evaluation Criteria

Candidates applying for admission are evaluated on a number of cognitive and non-cognitive measures, seeking to assemble a class of students who are highly intelligent, well-rounded, work well with others and bring a wealth of varied life experiences.

Once your completed application is screened and found to have met (or have an appropriate plan to meet) all of the minimum admission requirements, the application is fully reviewed and evaluated. There is no advanced placement or advanced standing for anyone chosen to join the EMU PA program. The specific applicant areas assessed include:

• Academic Background

  Large Impact

  • Highest/best GPA: The program evaluates the highest/best of the following CASPA GPAs: overall undergraduate or last 60 undergraduate semester credits. The last 60 undergraduate semester credit GPA is taken into consideration only after all minimum admission requirements are met (including a minimum 3.0 cumulative undergraduate GPA). 
  • Science GPA: Your CASPA-generated GPA includes all science courses ever taken at the college/university level, such as biology/zoology, inorganic and organic chemistry, biochemistry, other science and physics.
  • GRE scores

   Small to Moderate Impact

  • Additional health care and science-related courses; the program determines the number of health care and science-related courses completed beyond the pre-admission requirements with a grade of "B-" or better.
  • Graduate degree(s): You will be awarded additional points if you hold a graduate degree.

• Clinical Experience/Health Care Hours (large impact)

  The type(s) and amount of clinical experience/health care hours are evaluated. These are not a requirement, but preference is given to candidates with direct patient care experiences, particularly those requiring specific training, a high level of medical decision-making and/or registration/licensure and those with a higher number of clinical experience hours. Find out more.

• Life Experiences (small to moderate impact)

  • Overcoming challenges: Economically and/or educationally/environmentally disadvantaged as noted by indicators on the CASPA application.
  • Community service/involvement: Determination of the number and extent of community service and involvement in extra-curricular activities as noted on CASPA application.
  • Leadership and awards: Determination of the number and type of demonstrated leadership, honors and awards as noted on CASPA application.
  • Research experience: Involvement in research. High-level involvement in research directly related to humans is favored.

• Letters of Reference (small to moderate impact)

  • Letters of reference submitted to CASPA may be evaluated (more letters are not necessarily better; minimum of two). We evaluate the quantitative and qualitative information in the letters. It is recommended that those supplying the references are qualified to evaluate your interpersonal skills, professionalism and ability to meet the demands of an academically rigorous program. Examples of those who commonly supply them include: health care professionals (physicians, PAs, nurses, etc.), employment supervisors, science instructors or other college professors.

• Interview (large impact)

  • Only select applicants are invited for an interview.
  • The interview includes prepared questions and specific evaluation rubrics.

• Other (small to moderate impact)

  • Exceptionalities: Rarely, possible candidate qualities or accomplishments not addressed elsewhere and found to be exceptional will warrant additional evaluation.