LMU-SMS's PA Program is a participant of CASPA (Central Application Service for Physician Assistants) (https://portal.caspaonline.org/). The CASPA application deadline is December 1, 2023, for the class that will begin in May 2024. Applications will not be processed until the program has received the CASPA application. Applicants should apply early. Consult the application checklist to ensure that all required admissions documents are submitted in a timely manner.
All candidates must submit official transcripts from the regionally accredited universities and/or colleges where the candidate earned a bachelor's degree and completed any of the prerequisite courses required for admission to the PA Program.
Applicants who wish to use coursework completed outside the United States must submit their transcripts for evaluation to one of the following services:
World Education Services
P. O. Box 745, Old Chelsea Station
New York, NY 10113-0745
212.966.6311
https://www.wes.org
Josef Silny & Associates
7101 SW 102 Avenue
Miami, FL 33173
305.273.1616
https://www.jsilny.com
A course-by-course evaluation is required, and all coursework must be designated as undergraduate, graduate, or professional. LMU-SMS will honor evaluations from one of the above services. The evaluation must be sent to CASPA by the applicant after the course work has been evaluated by either one of the above services mentioned.
Applicants are required to submit two letters of reference. References should be as follows: At least one letter/reference must be from a physician assistant (PA). A second letter must be from a physician assistant, physician, dentist, podiatrist, optometrist, academic advisor, science/mathematics professor, or current/recent employer. Letters of reference should be submitted to CASPA online.
All applicants are asked to read and adhere to the CASPA Admissions Code of Cooperation.
Following receipt of the application from CASPA, the Admissions Committee will then review the application file. (The Admissions Committee is composed of members of the PA Program) The Committee will then decide which applicants to invite to campus for an interview.
Interviews will be conducted between September and February. Those applicants selected for an interview will be contacted by telephone and/or email to schedule the interview. The applicant will be given pertinent information about the schedule of events for the interview day, which will include meeting with an interview panel.
Following the interview, the applicant's file will again be reviewed by the Admissions Committee regarding the extension of an offer of admission. Applicants will be notified in writing of the decision of the committee. Applicants who are offered admission will be notified of the deadline for accepting that offer and other pertinent information, some of which will be time-sensitive. Applicants are advised to note all applicable deadlines.
The Admissions Committee will select students for admission based on a variety of factors. When reviewing application files, the committee will consider the applicant's overall grade point average (GPA), the applicant's science grade point average (GPA), grades in individual courses, curriculum, prerequisite courses, any advanced-level science courses taken, interpersonal communication skills, previous experiences, and other pertinent information. The committee will also consider the applicant's desire to practice medicine in underserved areas. The preceding factors are not, and should not be considered, exhaustive.
No one piece of evidence presented by an applicant will, in and of itself, determine whether or not the committee extends an offer of admission. The decision to extend an offer of admission will be based on the totality of the evidence presented by the applicant to the committee.
The level of competition for a seat in the class will be determined by the number of applications received during the academic year and the specific qualifications of the applicant pool. The admissions process is fluid and changes from year to year. Successful applicants usually surpass a cumulative and science GPA of 3.0.
We look forward to working with you in this process. Please feel free to contact us should you have any questions.
LMU-SMS PA Admissions Office
800.325.0900, ext. 6691 (toll-free)
423.869.6691 (direct)
paadmissions@lmunet.edu
