Admission Requirements

Students seeking admission to the PA Program must submit the following documented evidence:

1. Minimum cumulative science and overall GPAs of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale. Competitive applicants typically have science and overalls GPAs of 3.3 or higher.
2. Completion of prerequisite courses as listed below from regionally accredited colleges or universities.
   • All prerequisite courses must be completed with a grade of a C or better.
   • Grades of C- are NOT acceptable for any prerequisite courses.
   • If advanced placement (AP) credit has been granted by an outside institution, this credit will automatically be considered for the following prerequisite courses: Math, Statistics, English Composition, and Social and Behavioral Science courses.
   • For AP credit earned in Biology and Chemistry, MWU may request the submission of appropriate documentation (as determined by MWU) to verify the AP credit earned meets the program's admission standards.
   • Life experience credits do not count toward fulfillment of any prerequisite courses.
   • Courses in which grades of "pass" are earned will be counted only when applicants can provide verification that the earned grades are equivalent to grades of C or better (grades of C- are not acceptable).
3. Completion of prerequisite courses by December 31st of the year which precedes the year of anticipated matriculation.
   • No exceptions will be made.
   • Applicants must determine which prerequisites are missing and which courses must be taken to fulfill any outstanding prerequisites.
   • Students invited to interview must show documentation on the day of their visit that they are enrolled in or registered for any outstanding prerequisites.
4. Completion of a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university before matriculation.
5. If applicable, completion of required non-cognitive assessments (e.g., situational judgment testing).
6. Motivation for and commitment to healthcare as demonstrated by previous work, volunteer work, or other life experiences.
7. Demonstration of service and leadership through community service or extracurricular activities.
8. Oral and written communication skills necessary to interact with patients and colleagues.
9. Passage of Midwestern University criminal background check.
10. Commitment to abide by the Midwestern University Drug-Free Workplace and Substance Abuse Policy.
11. Submission of documentation that demonstrates completion of or progress towards completing tuberculosis screening and all required immunizations.  Students are required to complete tuberculosis screening and all required immunizations prior to beginning their clinical phase of training.

Prerequisite Courses

*All science prerequisites must be courses designed for science majors. No survey courses will fulfill science prerequisites. Courses with an online laboratory component will not meet any biology or chemistry prerequisite. The Midwestern University-Downers Grove Physician Assistant Program is aware that many universities and colleges across the country had to modify their curriculum in reaction to the Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. One modification was offering coursework, including laboratory components, online. Currently, the PA Program policy is that courses with an online laboratory component will not meet any biology or chemistry prerequisite. This policy will be amended to accept prerequisite coursework with a laboratory component completed during Spring 2020, Summer 2020, Fall 2020, Spring 2021, Summer 2021, or Fall 2021 which was only offered online. In these circumstances, MWU may request appropriate documentation to verify that the institution was not offering in-person laboratory components for prerequisite courses the applicant completed during the above time period(s). In addition, advanced placement credit received at the undergraduate level may not satisfy biology or chemistry prerequisites. For advanced placement (AP) credit earned in biology and chemistry, MWU may request the submission of appropriate documentation (as determined by MWU) to verify the AP credit earned meets the program's admission standards.

**Courses accepted for the English Composition prerequisite include rhetoric, composition, technical writing, and courses designated as writing intensive by the institution.

Pass/Fail coursework during COVID-19
The Midwestern University-Downers Grove Physician Assistant Program is aware that many universities and colleges across the country had to modify their curriculum in reaction to the Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. One modification included awarding Pass/Fail final grades instead of traditional letter grades for completed coursework. According to the admissions requirement of the Midwestern University-Downers Grove PA Program, prerequisite courses in which grades of "pass" are earned are counted only when applicants can provide verification that the earned grades are equivalent to grades of C or better (grades of C- are not acceptable). This requirement will be waived for all prerequisite coursework completed during Spring, Summer, or Fall 2020 in which only pass/fail grades were awarded. In these circumstances, MWU may request appropriate documentation to verify that the institution was not awarding letter grades for prerequisite courses the applicant completed during the above time period(s).