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: MS in PA Studies; Williamsport; 30 seats; August 2027 start.
- ARC-PA status: Accreditation-Continued; next review October 2027.
Official selection criteria · ARC-PA history
Admission requirements
Applicants need an accredited U.S. bachelor’s degree, U.S. science prerequisites, at least a 3.0 prerequisite-science GPA, Casper z-score of at least minus one, and 500 recent experience hours including 16 in-person PA-shadowing hours. Two letters and an essay are required by CASPA but not scored by Penn College. Official program
Important dates
- July 1, 2026: CASPA route opens.
- January 15, 2027 at 11:59 p.m. EST: completed application deadline.
- January 2027: selection.
- August 2027: programme starts.
How selection works
Published scoring is 70% prerequisite-science GPA, 15% bachelor-granting institution cumulative GPA and 15% Casper. Required experience contributes zero additional selection points. Official program
Interview details
Confirmed
No admissions interview is published for the Fall 2027 selection process.
Not published
Tie-breaking, rescoring, waitlist mechanics and the exact August start date are not public. Official program
Who this program may suit
Penn College may suit applicants whose strongest evidence is science coursework and Casper performance rather than interview performance. Official program
Practice and next step
Record a first response explaining why the PA profession fits your goals. Review whether your example is specific and evidence-based. Record it again and compare.
Frequently asked questions
Deadline?
January 15, 2027.
Interview?
No interview is published.
How is selection scored?
70% science GPA, 15% institution GPA and 15% Casper.
Sources
Source check: August 22, 2026. The dated selection contract controls the Fall 2027 claims. ARC-PA's current history confirms the standalone MS, Continued status and October 2027 review.
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