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Frequently Asked Questions

General Information

  1. What is a PA?

    2. A PA (physician assistant) is a skilled member of the health care team who practices medicine with the supervision of a licensed physician and fulfill a broad range of medical services that would otherwise be provided by the physician. For more information visit the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA).

  2. What types of PA programs are offered at GW?

    3. GW offers two degrees that involve include PA training. The MSHS program is a two-year traditional physician assistant program that upon completion confers a Master of Science in Health Sciences. The MSHS-MPH program is a three-year dual degree program that allows the student to obtain the Master of Science in Health Sciences, and a Master in Public Health degree. In the dual degree MSHS-MPH program, you will be taking Physician Assistant and Masters in Public Health courses concurrently.

  3. Which admissions terms are availabe?

    4. This is a summer-entry only program. Therefore the summer term, which begins in May, is the only admission term that available.

  4. Which academic terms do students attend if they are enrolled in the program?

    5. Students will be required to attend the Summer, Fall, and Spring semesters each year. The program is full-time and outside employment is discouraged. Classes in the academic phase are offered mostly during the daytime between the hours of 8am-5pm. Clinical phase students are expected to maintain the same schedule as their clinical preceptors, which may include working weekends, nights and holidays. Typically, clinical phase students work 45–75 hours per week.

  5. How can I reach the PA admissions office?

    6. Contact the admissions office by calling (202) 994-8528 or emailing ademahy@gwu.edu. Our office fax number is (202) 994-0870.

  6. I will be in the area and would like to meet with an admissions counselor. Is this possible?

    7. Yes. Please call our admissions office to schedule an appointment with a counselor. Because of the volume of applications to our program we may not be able to schedule individual appointments during peak months. We strongly encourage applicants to take advantage of our online or face-to-face information sessions (see the top right side of this page for details).

  7. Do you hold information sessions?

    8. Yes. Information sessions are held in The George Washington University Hospital and the schedule is above on the right.

Deadlines and Application Fees

  1. What is the deadline for CASPA and the Secondary Application?

    2. The deadline for all materials is October 1st. Both the CASPA and secondary applications must be received and fully completed by this date. In addition, results of GRE must be received by October 1st. Incomplete applications or non-receipt of GRE scores by this date will not be referred to the PA program for further review.

  2. Do you have early decision?

    3. No, we do not have an early decision option.

  3. What are the application fees for the CASPA and Secondary Applications?

    4. The CASPA fee is dependent upon how many schools you apply to and the date upon which you submit your application. Please see the CASPA website for specific information regarding the fee schedule. GWU fees for the secondary application are as follows: $60 for the MSHS program and $100 for the MSHS-MPH program. You can submit your application fee online by using a credit card or mailing a check or money order directly to the Health Sciences Admissions Office. Applicants who are GW alumni are exempt from the secondary application fee; indicate "fee waiver" when prompted for payment. In addition, please upload a statement into your application that states the program you attended and the year you graduated. Please note: only GW graduates are exempt from the application fee.

  4. If I am accepted into the PA program, is there a required deposit?

    5. Yes. We require a $1,000 non-refundable tuition deposit to guarantee your spot in the program. Once a letter of acceptance is issued, you will typically have several weeks to return your declaration of intent along with your deposit.

The Application Process

  1. Can I have outstanding prerequisite courses when I apply to the program?

    2. Yes, you can have a maximum of two outstanding prerequisites when you apply. This includes any in-progress or planned courses. At the time you apply, you must have at least four prerequisites completed. For more information about prerequisites, please see the admissions website for program-specific requirements.

  2. When must I take the GRE?

    3. You can take the GRE at your convenience as long as the score is submitted before the application deadline – October 1.

  3. What documents are required to apply to the GW PA program?

    4. The CASPA, GW Secondary applications, and GRE results are required to apply to the program. Your application is not complete until all items are received.

  4. Where can I access these applications?

    5. The CASPA application can be found at www.caspaonline.org. You should submit an application to ONLY one of the programs (MSHS: 2 year OR MSHS-MPH: 3 year.) The secondary application is available online at https://app.applyyourself.com/?id=gwu-smhs. Once you have created an account and are logged into the application system, select "Application for Admission."

  5. If I only want to apply to The George Washington University (GW) PA program, can I apply directly to GW and not through CASPA?

    6. No, all applications to the GW Physician Assistant Program must include both the CASPA and GW Secondary Application. We will not honor one without the other.

  6. Are paper applications available?

    7. No. The CASPA application and the GW Secondary Application are only available online.

  7. Should I write a personal statement (essay) for the GW PA program?

    8. While you will provide a standard essay on your CASPA application, your secondary application will give you an opportunity to write an essay that is specifically tailored towards the GW program.

  8. Where will I send my original transcripts?

    9. All original transcripts should be sent to CASPA. If you are selected for admission, you will be required to submit official transcripts from all institutions previously attended (whether or not degree was earned) to GW prior to matriculation. For transcripts to be considered official, they must be in signed and sealed envelopes that they are originally distributed in from the institution.

  9. Will I be able to send test scores directly to CASPA?

    10. CASPA will accept standardized test scores directly and in many cases, you will be able to use CASPA as a designation when you take the GRE. You can also identify GW as one of the schools to receive your scores. The GW institution code is 5246. No other program or department codes are needed.

  10. When can I use CASPA?

    11. CASPA will be accessible beginning mid-April of each year. Please visit the CASPA website for the exact date.

  11. If schools have different deadlines, how will I know when to apply through CASPA?

    12. You should apply to CASPA by the earliest deadline of those schools you are applying to. Deadlines are the latest date you can submit your CASPA application and your GW Secondary Application. Our application deadline is October 1, which may not coincide with the deadline of other schools. Make sure to submit your application as early as possible prior to the deadline. Keep in mind that it generally takes between 3-4 weeks to receive a completed application from CASPA once they have received all of your required documentation. We will start reviewing as soon as we have received your completed application (both the CASPA and GW Secondary applications).

  12. Can I be accepted at more than one school?

    13. Yes, the CASPA is part of the application process, not the admissions process. If you are accepted at more than one school, you will have to make a decision about which school to attend.

  13. Does CASPA require me to include a CV or resume?

    14. No, however, CASPA will allow you to fill in your work experience, which will be forwarded to the participating schools along with your application. You will provide a resume as part of your GW Secondary Application. It is not necessary for you to bring a CV with you if invited for an interview.

  14. When will I hear whether I have been admitted to the program?

    15. Applicants will be notified on an ongoing basis about the status of their applications. All decisions are typically finalized by late January. Decision letters will be sent throughout December and January.

The Interview Process

  1. Is an interview required to obtain admissions to the program?

    2. Yes, an interview is necessary. Students who are not offered interviews have been denied from the program. If you are chosen for an interview, you will be notified immediately by e-mail and, in some cases, phone.

  2. What occurs on interview day?

    3. Interviews are typically held on Saturdays during the fall semester prior to intended entry date. The interview process grants selected applicants the opportunity to meet prospective classmates, current students, alumni, faculty, and staff. Each interview day includes: a tour of the GW Foggy Bottom campus, two interviews with a combination of faculty, alumni, and current students, and a panel discussion with current students and alumni.

  3. If I am chosen for the interview process, what documents will I be asked to bring to interview day?

    4. You will not need to bring anything to the interview. We will not accept any materials brought to the interview.

  4. What criteria does GW use during the interview process?

    5. The interview process is designed to evaluate each candidate's communication skills, maturity level, match to the GW mission, and his or her understanding of the role of the PA in today’s healthcare environment. A behavioral interview style is used. It is highly suggested that an applicant research behavioral interviewing and prepare.

  5. How many interviews will be conducted?

    6. In general, GW will conduct 3–4 interview sessions per admission cycle in the fall semester. Interview days are usually on Saturdays in September, October, November, and December.

Tuition and Financial Aid

  1. What is the cost of tuition?

    2. Tuition for the 2012-2013 academic year is to be determined. This will not be available until late February. Tuition for the PA program is capped at 11 credits per semester hour. This means that, although a student may be enrolled in more than 11 credits during a semester, they will only be charged for 11 credits.

  2. Should I submit the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)?

    3. Yes. Whether or not you have heard back from all of the programs you have applied to, it is recommended that you complete the FAFSA if you plan to take out loans to finance your education.

  3. Are there any programs that will finance my tuition?

    4. The GW PA program is able to offer a limited number of scholarships to students demonstrating financial need. These renewable scholarships require students to maintain a 3.0 GPA and range from $3500 – $7000 per year.

    In addition to university scholarships and grants, there are a number of other scholarships available through the Physician Assistant Foundation, PA Veteran's Caucus, local state chapters of the AAPA and local and national philanthropic organizations.

    The federally funded National Health Service Corps is a competitive scholarship program that also has generous loan repayment opportunities for health professionals who agree to serve in medically underserved primary care settings. If you are interested in programs such as these, we encourage you to research them to see if they may be applicable for you.

Competitive Applicant Profile

  1. What does GW consider to be a competitive applicant?

    2. The competitive applicant demonstrates the core values of the GW PA program: Respect, Integrity, Accountability, Compassion, Dedication, Tolerance, Flexibility, and Self-reflection. In addition, the applicant has superior communication skills, a high level of maturity, reflects the mission of the GW PA Program, and understands the role of the PA in today’s healthcare environment.

  2. What is the typical GPA of a competitive applicant?

    3. The average undergraduate cumulative GPA of applicants that became MSHS students in the Class of 2012 is 3.48 with a science GPA of 3.41. For those applicants who were admitted to the dual degree MSHS-MPH program, the average undergraduate cumulative GPA was 3.53 with a science GPA of 3.34. GPAs vary from one class to another as the applicant pool varies.

  3. What is the average number of science hours completed by a competitive applicant?

    4. The average number of science credit hours completed by students in the latest classes was between 65-85 hours. In general, the more competitive applicants have more science hours completed.

  4. What is the average GRE score of a competitive applicant?

    5. A competitive GRE score is over 1100 combined verbal and quantitative with a 4.0 or greater writing score.

  5. What is the average amount of health care experience of a competitive applicant?

    6. Six months of direct patient care are required with an additional six months of health-related experience recommended. The more competitive applicant will exceed these requirements and recommendations.

NCCPA Pass Rate and Technical Standards

  1. What is the NCCPA Pass Rate for the GW Physician Assistant Program?

    2. Class Students GW Program (First-Time Takers) Pass Rate NCCPA National (First-Time Takers) Pass Rate GW Mean (First-Time Takers) NCCPA National Mean (First-Time Takers)
    Class of 2011 58 97% 91% 651 574
    Class of 2010 64 100% 94% 612 558
    Class of 2009 59 100% 92% 601 535
    Class of 2008 59 100% 94% 601 528
    Class of 2007 49 100% 93% 582 517
  2. What are the technical Standards required to successfully complete the GW PA program?

    3. Download the Technical Standards for review.