Current-cycle decision support
Turn confirmed information into a first practice
Why the physician assistant profession?
Practise explaining why the PA role fits your experiences and goals. Review whether you distinguish the profession clearly, use specific evidence, and connect your motivation to patient care; then record again with a sharper answer.
Quick facts
- Degree: Master of Science in Physician Assistant.
- Format: on campus, full time, 27 months.
- Location: Murphy Deming College of Health Sciences in Fishersville, Virginia.
- Application window: CASPA opens April 30 and closes October 1.
- Program start: January.
- Accreditation: ARC-PA Accreditation-Continued; next review January 2030 and maximum class size 40.
Mary Baldwin program · ARC-PA accreditation history
Admission requirements
Applicants need a bachelor's degree from an approved regionally accredited institution and a minimum 3.0 overall GPA. Prerequisites must earn C or better and include biology with lab, anatomy and physiology with labs, microbiology with lab, chemistry with lab, organic chemistry or biochemistry, psychology, statistics, and medical terminology.
The current catalog requires a GRE taken within five years, a current-cycle Casper assessment, three references, a CASPA personal essay, and a $45 supplemental fee. Healthcare observation or experience is recommended but not required, and PA shadowing is encouraged. The bachelor's degree and prerequisites must be complete by September 1, except medical terminology may be completed through a certificate program.
Important dates
- April 30: CASPA opens.
- September 1: bachelor's degree and prerequisite coursework must be complete, except the published medical-terminology exception.
- October 1: CASPA closes.
- January: program begins.
Mary Baldwin publishes these as recurring dates and does not attach a cohort year on the current program and catalog pages. Confirm the year directly before relying on the timeline. Mary Baldwin program · Mary Baldwin catalog
How selection works
Applicants submit the verified CASPA application, transcripts, prerequisite record, GRE, current-cycle Casper assessment, three references, personal essay, and supplemental fee. The Admissions Committee selects candidates to interview; not every applicant receives an invitation, and an interview does not guarantee acceptance. The current sources do not publish scoring weights or a final decision formula.
Interview details
Confirmed
The Admissions Committee invites selected candidates to interview. The catalog says candidates are responsible for interview travel expenses, but it does not explicitly label the current modality. An interview does not guarantee acceptance.
Not published
The current sources do not publish cycle-specific interview dates, modality, location, format, duration, evaluator roles, file access, questions, scoring rubric, or decision timing.
Who this program may suit
Mary Baldwin may suit applicants seeking a 27-month, on-campus, cohort-based PA program with interprofessional training and a mission that emphasizes collaboration, service, and underserved communities. ARC-PA currently lists Accreditation-Continued, with the next review in January 2030.
Mary Baldwin program · ARC-PA accreditation history
Practice and next step
Record a 90-second answer explaining why the PA profession fits your goals and how one healthcare, service, or shadowing experience shaped that decision. Review whether your example shows collaboration, reflection, and service without overstating your role. Record the answer again with one clearer example, then compare the two attempts.
Frequently asked questions
When does CASPA close?
Mary Baldwin publishes October 1 as its recurring deadline. The current page does not attach a cohort year, so confirm it before submitting. Official program
When does the program start?
The program publishes a January start. Official program
Are the GRE and Casper required?
Yes. The catalog requires a GRE taken within five years and a Casper assessment completed in the current application cycle. Official catalog
Are healthcare hours required?
No fixed minimum is published. Healthcare observation or experience is recommended, and PA shadowing is encouraged. Official catalog
What is the interview format?
The program confirms an interview for selected candidates but does not publish the current format or schedule. Official catalog
What is the accreditation status?
ARC-PA lists Accreditation-Continued, with the next review in January 2030. ARC-PA history
Sources
Recommended preparation
Physician Assistant Interview Essentials
Build a credible PA interview foundation through four focused spoken responses: profession-specific motivation, interprofessional teamwork, fair clinical decision-making, and reflective use of feedback.
Page history
- Published