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 Studies.
- School: Stanford School of Medicine.
- Entry: August 2027.
- Deadline: CASPA Complete by July 15, 2026.
- Interview: autumn 2026; format varies by cycle.
- Accreditation: ARC-PA Accreditation-Continued.
Admission requirements
Stanford's only minimum is a qualifying bachelor's degree completed by July 1 of the matriculation year. Science preparation, 500 or more clinical hours, research, teaching, volunteering, professional letters, and standardized tests are recommended rather than required; no test is mandatory. Applicants should distinguish recommendations from prerequisites. Official admissions FAQ
Important dates
- April 30, 2026: CASPA opened.
- Spring and summer 2026: semi-rolling review.
- July 15, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern: CASPA Complete deadline.
- Autumn 2026: interviews.
- August 2027: orientation and classes begin.
How selection works
Review considers academic preparation, health-care experience, research or scholarship, service, and mission alignment. Stanford says approximately ten percent of applicants are invited to interview. Accepted and waitlisted candidates are notified after interviews; numerical weights are not public. Official admissions page
Interview details
Confirmed
Interviews occur in autumn 2026. Stanford explicitly says the interview format may vary by cycle. Official admission timeline
Not published
Stanford does not publish the 2026 dates, modality, location, number or duration of encounters, exercises, prompts, interviewer roles or file access, rubric, or weighting. Do not import a prior cycle's format.
Who this program may suit
This program may suit applicants with a strong record of service, scholarship, clinical exposure, and mission alignment who can tolerate a selective process whose interview mechanics are deliberately not fixed in advance. Official admissions page
Practice and next step
Practise explaining why the PA profession fits your goals without relying on a guessed interview format. Use one concrete experience, explain what it taught you about PA practice, and connect it to your future contribution. Review whether the answer is evidence-based and personal, adjust one weakness, record a second attempt, and compare the two responses.
Frequently asked questions
When was Stanford's August 2027 deadline?
CASPA had to be Complete by July 15, 2026. Official timeline
What is the interview format?
Stanford says it may vary each cycle and does not publish the 2026 format.
Is a standardized test required?
No. Tests are recommended evidence, not a minimum requirement.
Sources
Source check: August 22, 2026. Stanford explicitly identifies August 2027 entry and says interview format varies by cycle. The distant ARC-PA review-month discrepancy is omitted; current status is Continued.
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