Submit CASPA application

• All applicants to the USF MCOM PA program must apply through the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA).
• CASPA takes no part in the selection of students.

Transcripts/Letters of Recommendation/Application updates

• Transcripts must be sent directly to CASPA.
• Letters of Recommendation must be sent directly to CASPA.
• Do not send additional letters of recommendation, coursework or experience information to the program unless specifically requested.

Interview Selection Process

• Approximately 150 of the most qualified applicants will be invited for a personal interview. From this group, a class of 50 candidates will be selected.
• Applicants are considered for an on-campus interview based on the strength of their CASPA application (meeting or exceeding the Admission Requirements relative to the applicant pool.)
• The Admissions Committee holistically evaluates each applicant’s academic performance (i.e. course load and prerequisite coursework), GRE scores, professional preparation experiences, letters of recommendation, and personal narrative statement.
• Applicants who meet minimum requirements will be considered for an interview. Meeting the minimum requirements is not a guarantee of interview or admission.
• Applicants will be notified by email if they have been selected for interview with instructions on how to schedule their interview date.

Interviews

• Interviews are conducted virtually during a morning or afternoon either from 8:30 am – noon or 1:00 pm – 4:30 pm. Click here for a sample interview day agenda. 
• The interviews are an opportunity for the program to learn more about the applicant than what can be gleaned from the application. The interviews are also an opportunity for the applicant to learn more about our program to determine if the USF Health PA Program is the right fit them.
• During the interview, the applicant’s overall qualities will be considered. Areas of consideration include:
  • Judgment/Problem Solving
  • Insight/Self-confidence
  • Motivation to Become a PA
  • Understanding of the Role of the PA
  • Verbal Communication Skills
  • Professionalism
  • Open House Events – The program will host on campus open house events for applicants who were invited for interview.

Acceptance

The Admissions Committee will meet after each interview session to review each candidate. It is possible that the committee will decide to offer immediate admission to any top candidates. Beginning in early November, the remaining seats in the class are filled by the remaining interviewed candidates. The program matriculates a class of 50 students each year. Candidates offered admission will be notified by telephone of their status. An acceptance packet with the formal acceptance letter and matriculation forms to complete will be emailed. The candidate will be given two weeks to either accept or decline the offer by returning a signed form indicating their decision. The USF Health PA Program requires a non-refundable deposit of $200 to hold a seat in the class. The $200 deposit will be applied to your tuition. If you do not matriculate to the USF Health PA Program the deposit will be forfeited. It is the expectation of the program that accepted candidates will give careful thought to their response on the acceptance form since, by indicating their acceptance of a seat in the class, they deny another qualified applicant the possibility of obtaining a seat.

Waitlist

In addition to accepted candidates, the Admissions Committee will also identify candidates to be placed on a waitlist. Waitlisted and declined applicants will receive an email notification. Each new entering class is limited to no more than 50 students. If an accepted candidate either declines the program’s offer or withdraws from the class, a waitlisted applicant will be offered the available seat. Waitlisted applicants may be contacted as early as December or as late as the week immediately preceding matriculation (May), depending on when an accepted applicant notifies the program of their withdrawal. Candidates offered admission during the waitlist process will be given two weeks (or less depending on the timeframe) to either accept or decline the offer by returning a signed form indicating their decision. The USF Health Physician Assistant Program requires a non-refundable deposit of $200 to hold a seat in the class.