̨ÍåSwag

2027 Application Cycle-̨ÍåSwag will begin accepting applications for the September 2027 enrollment term on
April 30, 2026

The Physician Assistant Department at ̨ÍåSwag participates in an online application service called CASPA (Central Application Service for Physician Assistants). All applicants should go to the  to apply. All extraneous materials, i.e., reference letters, transcripts, will be sent directly to CASPA. Once an application is complete, it takes CASPA four to six weeks to process the application and send it to the designated schools. Please be mindful of processing times when submitting your application.

Applicants will be considered on a rolling basis; however, all applicants must have a verified date on or before January 15, 2027 to be considered for the 2027 application cycle. A verified date is given when an application is e-submitted and all transcripts, payments, and three letters of recommendation have been received by CASPA and attached to the application.

Please note:

Documents should be sent several weeks prior to this date to ensure items arrive on time.

Once CASPA or the ̨ÍåSwag Office has processed your application, it will be reviewed and considered for an interview. All applicants who have been verified in CASPA by January 15, 2027 will be considered.  You will receive contact within a few weeks of receiving your application, to let you know that your application was received, and what stage of the process it is in.  Candidates may be required to submit a supplemental application to further advance in the selection process.  Requests will be made for supplemental materials via email.  If you have satisfied all the necessary prerequisites, you will be placed in a pool of applicants to be considered for an interview. Applicants to the MS program are interviewed between September and February.  Upon invitation, interviews are held in person, on the ̨ÍåSwag campus.

Once you have completed an interview, the timeframe for an admission decision varies. Most successful applicants will be notified within two weeks. However, for applicants placed on the waiting list, a decision may come as late as August.

Candidates who are offered admission and are choosing to enroll in the program must confirm their seat in the class by signing their acceptance letter and a $1,500 non-refundable enrollment deposit by the date listed.

Three-Year Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies

General Admission Information and Deadlines

• Applications must be in verified status by January 15th, 2027
• Only one outstanding prerequisite is allowed at the time of application.  That course must be completed by August 1st, 2027 and the grade earned must meet admission requirements for matriculation into the program
• AP/IB courses are acceptable when documented on an official college transcript for credit
• The GRE is not required
• Candidates may be required to submit a supplemental application to further advance in the selection process.  Requests will be made for supplemental materials via email
• Upon invitation, interviews are held in person, on the ̨ÍåSwag campus

Program Admission Requirements:​

• Baccalaureate Degree (any discipline) from an accredited US college or university
  • Degree can be in process at the time of application, but must be completed by August 1st, 2027 for matriculation into the program
• Three letters of recommendation
• Overall GPA of 3.0 or better (average of accepted students generally > 3.5)
• Overall Science GPA of 3.0 or better
• GPA of 3.0 or better (average of accepted students generally >3.4) in the following four courses:
  • 4 credits of 300 level Anatomy with lab
  • 4 credits of 300 level Physiology with lab
  • 4 credits of 300 level Microbiology with lab (only course that may be taken at the community college level)
  • 4 credits of 300 level Organic Chemistry or Biochemistry with lab
    • It is preferred the above-mentioned courses be taken within a full time semester
    • Online classes/labs are not acceptable for the above-mentioned courses unless completed from Spring 2020-Summer 2021
    • Prefer eight of the above-listed credits are completed within the last twelve months, and all must have been completed within the last five years
• 8 credits of Biology with lab (e.g. Zoology, Botany, General Biology I and II, A & P I and II)
• 8 credits of General Chemistry with lab
• 3 credits of Calculus
• 9 credits of Psychology and/or Sociology (any combination at any college level for a total of nine credits)
• No more than two grades below C in any college level course
• No more than two course repeats
• 120 hours of direct patient contact experience (degree of responsibility during patient care experience taken into consideration-advanced levels of responsibility are highly valued).  May be either paid or volunteer work, including shadowing, in which the individual was exposed to patients in one way or another
• Applicants whose first language is not English must demonstrate their proficiency in the English language by taking the TOEFL test

Additional Admission Considerations

• Number of withdrawals taken into consideration
• Preferable that all science courses and labs are taken in person
• Pass/Fail course grades are strongly discouraged, especially for science and math courses.  If submitted, an applicant may be required to submit further documentation regarding their actual numerical performance in the course  
• Quality of writing on essay component
• An evaluative interview demonstrating a candidate's potential for success in the program

Upon acceptance to the PA program, students are required to pass a medical terminology exam by July 1st, 2027 for matriculation into the program. Accepted candidates will be offered multiple examination dates in the late spring/summer and will have two attempts to pass the exam. Students will be provided with textbook information to prepare for the exam. Failure to pass the medical terminology exam results in disqualification from the program.

Admission Preferences

Students applying for the MS track who have graduated from ̨ÍåSwag with a 4 year degree will be guaranteed an interview if they meet the minimum requirements. This does not guarantee admission.

BS/MS and MS students who are verified as having lived in a Health Professional Shortage Area in Primary Care or in a Medically Underserved Area through the age of 18 will be awarded preference. 

To address the workforce needs in the WNY and Rochester area, in some cases candidates who currently reside, have previously resided, or attend college in the area will be given preference.

Requests to defer admission may be considered under limited circumstances. Deferrals are not guaranteed and are reviewed on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of the program.

Requests for deferral will be considered for the following reasons:

• Documented personal illness or medical condition that would prevent successful matriculation
• Military deployment or required military service obligations
• Visa application or approval delays that prevent enrollment by the program start date
• Other extenuating circumstances may be considered if requests are submitted before March 1st.

Deferral Limitations

• An admitted applicant may be granted only one deferral.
• Deferrals are approved for one entering cohort only (max of 1 year).
• Approval of a deferral does not guarantee admission beyond the approved deferred cohort.

Request and Documentation

• Requests must be submitted in writing to the PA Department ̨ÍåSwag Coordinator
• The program may require supporting documentation (e.g., medical documentation, military orders, or official visa correspondence).
• Failure to submit required documentation may result in denial of the request.
• Determinations will be communicated in writing to the applicant
• Applicants will be asked to respond to determination letters within 10 days of receipt, indicating their plans (ex: withdraw acceptance or maintain the seat if the request for deferral is not granted, accept deferral if granted).

Financial Obligations

• Applicants granted a deferral must comply with all program deposit requirements.
• Additional deposits may be required during the subsequent admissions cycle to maintain the deferred seat.
• All deposits are subject to the program’s published refund policy.

Conditions of Deferred Admission

• Deferred admission applies only to the next matriculating cohort.
• Applicants must meet all institutional and program requirements in effect at the time of matriculation, including but not limited to health, technical, and Medical Terminology exam requirements.
• Failure to enroll in the approved deferred cohort will result in forfeiture of the admission offer, and the applicant must reapply through CASPA for future.

The physician assistant (PA) degree is recognized as an undifferentiated professional degree that requires the development of entry level knowledge and skills in multiple domains of health care.  PA education requires the development of judgment through a wide range of learning activities and supervised clinical practice experiences in preparation for making appropriate, autonomous clinical decisions while practicing on interprofessional health care teams directed by physicians.  

The purpose of this document is to ensure that all students entering the ̨ÍåSwag Physician Assistant Program (the PA Program) are aware of and understand the requirements of our program and the profession, so that informed decisions can be made regarding pursuit of this profession. Nothing in this document is meant to deter the application or participation of any student who is able to complete the requirements of the PA curriculum with or without reasonable accommodations.

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PASS is a group of PA students dedicated to community service and outreach while maintaining high academic standing. Through volunteering, health education, and charity events, PASS members gain real-world experience while making a positive impact in their communities.

Information regarding joining PASS will be provided during your class lectures.