Admissions Information and Criteria for the M.M.S. in Physician Associate Medicine

四色AV of New Haven is holding seats in the inaugural cohort for previously accepted candidates. Applicants should consider that although we hope to seat a 50-student cohort, there are not 50 seats available. We will announce the exact number of seats available by September 1, 2025.

All applications must be submitted to Graduate Admissions at the University of New Haven. The program is not participating in CASPA for this cycle of admissions. Please enter the application process through the Apply button on the home page of this website.

Admissions Policies and Overview

四色AV of New Haven Physician Associate (PA) Program is committed to a holistic review of each applicant. There is no minimum GPA requirement for application. Selection for interview and admission is influenced by multiple factors, including evidence of perseverance in prior endeavors, clinical work experience, and personal and professional attributes that demonstrate potential for success both academically and as a practicing Physician Associate.

Ideal Candidate

An ideal candidate aligns with the University of New Haven PA Program鈥檚 mission and values, demonstrating a commitment to service and patient-centered care. This candidate shows fortitude and resilience, evidenced by overcoming challenges and balancing multiple responsibilities. They possess a clear desire to train as a person-centered PA committed to compassionate, team-based healthcare with a focus on service to others. Demonstrated academic preparation through rigorous coursework and relevant clinical experience supports their ability to succeed in the program鈥檚 rigorous academic and clinical environment. This is assessed through questions on the admissions application (Appendix B).

Minimum Requirements for Candidacy

While these are the minimum requirements, successful applicants often exceed them:

  • Bachelor鈥檚 degree from a regionally accredited institution (degree must be verified prior to matriculation).
  • Completion of all prerequisite courses with a grade of 鈥淐鈥 or better by the time of application:
    • Microbiology with Lab (minimum 4 credits)
    • Human Anatomy and Physiology I & II with Lab; completed on campus (minimum 8 credits)
    • Upper-Level (200-level or higher) Human Biology (minimum 3 credits)
    • Chemistry with Lab (Inorganic or Organic, minimum 5 credits)
    • Organic or Biochemistry (minimum 3 credits)
    • Statistics or Calculus (minimum 3 credits)
    • Human Psychology (minimum 3 credits)
  • Minimum of 750 hours of paid direct patient care experience in the U.S. healthcare system at the time of application (to be verified upon acceptance; failure to provide verification will result in revocation of admission).
  • Three letters of recommendation, one of which must be from a licensed healthcare professional.
  • Completion of program-specific supplemental questions and a personal statement (no additional cost).
  • U.S. citizenship or permanent resident status at the time of application (pending citizenship or temporary residency is not considered).
  • GRE not required.
  • No acceptance of graduates of foreign or domestic medical school programs.
  • No advanced placement granted.

Holistic Review and Evaluation Criteria

Applications are reviewed holistically, evaluating:

  • Academic Capacity 鈥 Performance in prerequisites and other science courses
  • Personal Resilience 鈥 Evidence of perseverance in application materials.
  • Healthcare Experience 鈥 Breadth, depth, and relevance of direct patient care.
  • Mission Alignment 鈥 Consistency with program values and goals.

Additional Considerations / Program Preferences

Applicants possessing any of the following qualities or experiences will receive up to 8 additional points (maximum of 2 points per category) in their application review:

  • Residency in Connecticut or graduation from the University of New Haven.
  • Status as a U.S. veteran (honorably discharged) or active-duty military member.
  • Demonstrated resilience (e.g., full-time employment during undergraduate study, collegiate athletics participation, recommendation letters or narratives evidencing perseverance).
  • Possession of a graduate degree (excluding PA preparatory post-baccalaureate programs).

Qualified Healthcare Experience

ARC-PA Standard A3.13c: Advanced Placement

The UNH PA Program does not award or grant advanced placement under any circumstance. All students must complete the entire curriculum, regardless of prior coursework or experience.

Application Review Rubric

The UNH PA Program does not award or grant advanced placement under any circumstance. All students must complete the entire curriculum, regardless of prior coursework or experience.

  1. Minimum Qualifications 鈥 Degree, prerequisites, required hours, citizenship/residency, recommendations, essays, and compliance with program criteria. Applicants who do not meet these are not advanced for review.
  2. Holistic Scoring 鈥 Academic performance (BCP GPA), personal statement quality, letters of recommendation, mission alignment, and healthcare experience are scored as high, medium, or low achievement.
  3. Special Considerations 鈥 Additional points for Connecticut residency, UNH graduates, veterans, resilience indicators, and advanced degrees (non-prep).

Interviews, Offers, and Candidacy Status

Candidates are invited to interview based on a holistic review of their application, considering academic achievement, healthcare experience, personal qualities, and alignment with the program鈥檚 mission as assessed through the program鈥檚 standardized rubric. Selected applicants will be invited for an in-person interview on campus. The day includes:

  • Two traditional interviews (two interviewers each) assessing preparation, communication skills, motivation, problem-solving, and empathy
  • A written exercise assessing ethical reasoning, professional boundaries, patient advocacy, and written communication.
  • A team-based activity assessing collaboration, problem-solving, and professionalism.

Scoring: Each component is scored using defined criteria. Combined interview and application scores inform admissions decisions (Appendix A).

Assessment Domains

Interview #1 focuses on:鈥

  • Academic and Professional Preparation, including knowledge of the PA role, academic readiness, and healthcare experience.鈥
  • Communication Skills, evaluating clarity, active listening, and professionalism.鈥
  • Motivation and Commitment, exploring reasons for pursuing the PA career and understanding of the profession鈥檚 demands.鈥

Interview #2 assesses:鈥

  • Problem Solving and Critical Thinking, measuring analytical and clinical reasoning through situational and scenario-based questions.鈥
    • 鈥
  • Empathy and Compassion, evaluating sensitivity to patient needs, and emotional intelligence.鈥
  • Written Exercise: Ethical Reasoning鈥
    • Candidates respond to a realistic clinical ethics scenario, addressing peer misconduct. This exercise assesses:鈥
      • Ethical insight and integrity鈥
      • Professional boundaries and duties鈥
      • Ability to navigate peer conflict鈥
      • Commitment to patient safety and advocacy鈥
      • Writing quality and clarity鈥
    • Evaluators use a standardized scoring system to rate the candidate鈥檚 response on these dimensions.鈥
  • Team Activity: Collaboration and Professionalism

    Candidates participate in a group exercise requiring teamwork and communication to complete a creative task within a limited timeframe. Observers assess:鈥
    • Communication effectiveness鈥
    • Collaboration and task sharing鈥
    • Respect for team roles and input鈥
    • Group problem solving鈥
    • Professional demeanor and leadership qualities鈥

Scoring and Interpretation鈥

Each component is scored using defined criteria with numerical values assigned to different performance levels. Scores from all activities contribute to a comprehensive evaluation of the candidate鈥檚 overall suitability for admission. Final interview scores are considered alongside academic metrics and application materials to make holistic admissions decisions.鈥

This multi-faceted interview process aligns with the program鈥檚 mission to select candidates who not only demonstrate academic preparedness but also embody the interpersonal skills, ethical standards, and professional behaviors essential for success as Physician Associates.鈥

Final Admissions Decisions

  • Offer of Admission 鈥 Must be accepted within 14 calendar days with a $1,000 non-refundable deposit (refundable only if the cohort cannot matriculate for accreditation-related reasons).
  • Waitlist 鈥 Ranked list; offers made on a rolling basis until the start of the cohort. Waitlist offers must be accepted or declined within 48 hours, with the $1,000 deposit due within 14 days.
  • Denial 鈥 Applicants not selected will be notified in writing after full review.

  • Experiences gained in the following roles do not count towards the minimum 750 hours of healthcare experience required

    • Lifeguard
    • Ski Patrol
    • Personal Care Aide for a Family Member
    • Personal Attendant
    • Pharmacy Technician
    • Healthcare Instructor
    • Medical Unit or Practice Clerk or Secretary
    • Group Home Leader or Worker
    • Dental Assistant
    • Fitness Instructor
    • Beautician
    • Interpreter
    • Patient Transport
    • Recreation Therapist
    • Camp First Aid

    Experiences gained in the following roles count towards the requirement at a 50% decrease. (1500 hours required to meet the 750 requirement)

    • EMT
    • Paramedic
    • Optician Assistant
    • Hospice Worker
    • Phlebotomist
    • Medical Lab Scientist/Tech
    • Pathology Assistant
    • Operating Room Scrub Tech
    • Dietitian/Nutritionist 鈥 Licensed
    • PT Aide
    • OT Aide
    • Radiology Tech
    • ECG Tech

    The following count 100% (need only 750 hours)

    • Military Medic
    • Physical Therapist
    • Occupational Therapist
    • RN
    • LPN
    • Certified Nursing Aid
    • Medical Assistant
    • Emergency Room Scribe
    • Respiratory Tech
    • Speech-language Pathologist

    The program will review requests for evaluations of job descriptions to determine in healthcare experience qualifies, and to what degree. Applicants interested in such a review should reach out to graduate admissions with the request.