Resources to Prepare for Physician Assistant Programs

These resources are for students and alumni preparing to apply to PA programs after completing their degrees at UCSC. Please note that UCSC does not have a PA program.

Explore

There is a wide variety of career options in healthcare. Patient care involves contributions from professionals with a wide variety of specialties that work together as a team. You should take time to explore the careers that are available to you and find the one that is the best fit with your strengths, goals, and interests. 

There are many ways to learn about the different health professions, including website research, shadowing health professionals, attending talks, taking classes, and general self-reflection.

About Physician Assistants

• What is a PA?
• Become a PA
• PAEA Annual Reports

Reflection Questions

As you are exploring healthcare careers, allow yourself to take the time to reflect and answer the reflection questions on the worksheet provided.

• Worksheet: Health Professional Careers Reflection Guide

---

Prepare

Application Process

• Learn about the application process for PA schools.
• Learn more about the PA process for undocumented students in California.

Core Competencies

There are 17 core competencies applicants should be able to demonstrate. These were developed for students applying to medical school but are still applicable to all health professions.

• Learn about the 17 core competencies.
• Worksheet: Self-Assessment Guide of 17 Core Competencies

PA Programs

The requirement and training for each program will vary. We recommend that you begin identifying programs that you want to apply to and get familiar with their requirements.

• Search for PA programs.
• See programs to which previous UCSC students applied.

Academics

Prioritize academics as your overall GPA and science GPA will be important metrics in your applications.

Science GPA is calculated using the following course subject categories by CASPA.

• Biochemistry, Biology/Zoology, Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physics, Other Science

• Use the GPA Calculator to see how CASPA will calculate your GPA. We recommend having one worksheet for your overall GPA and another for your science GPA.
  • Worksheet: GPA Calculator

Prerequisites

We recommended that you seek counsel from individual PA program admissions offices, as requirements for each program will vary.

• View UCSC courses that can fulfill common prerequisites. 
• View common prerequisites for PA programs.
• View prerequisites FAQs for more information.

Standardized Exam

Many programs don't require standardized exams, but some may require Graduate Requirement Exam (GRE) scores and/or other exams.

• Check with each program to see if they require you to submit a score for a standardized exam.

Experiences

It is important to get familiar with the experience requirements for each program. Note that programs may have different definitions for healthcare and patient care experiences.

• Learn about all the experience types that you can use for your application.
• Learn more about getting experiences.
• Worksheet: Pre-Health Activities & Work Tracker

---

Apply

Which Year Should You Apply?

You should apply when you feel you are a strong candidate. Many students consider taking experience year(s) to help confirm that this is the profession they want to pursue and to have enough experience to be a strong candidate. Some programs may have a minimum number of hours of clinical experience.

Application Year

The centralized application system is open once a year, typically in late April. Deadlines for each program will vary. Some programs may require you to submit supplemental materials in addition to the application submitted via CASPA.

Application Portal

Most PA programs use a centralized application system (CASPA) to collect applications. Some programs don't participate in CASPA and you must apply directly to those programs.

• Learn about the CASPA fee assistance program.

Personal Statement

The personal statement is where you can write a brief statement expressing why you are interested in being a Physician Assistant. We recommend you start drafting your personal statement in January of the year you plan to apply.

• Read the instructions for your personal statement.

Letters of Recommendation

The number of letters of recommendation needed will vary by program, but 3-5 letters are typical. We recommend asking for letters at least 3 months before you need them submitted to allow writers enough time to write strong letters. Before asking people for letters, we recommend completing a reflection guide to help determine the best people to write you strong letters. Once you identify the ideal letter writers, you can share with them your reflection guide and guidelines for writing your letter.

• Worksheet: Letter of Recommendation Reflection Guide for Medical/Health Professional School

Transcripts

You will have to submit transcripts from all colleges and universities you attended.

• Learn how to submit transcripts to CASPA.
• Learn how to request transcripts from UCSC.

---

Get/Stay Connected With Us

Newsletter & Upcoming Opportunities

• Subscribe to our monthly pre-health newsletter.
• See upcoming events and enrichment opportunities.

Pre-Health Career Coaching

• Visit our virtual drop-in pre-health hour every Wednesday from 1–2 PM.
  • This is a great opportunity to ask quick questions about preparing for health professional schools and the resources available at UCSC.
• Schedule a 30-minute one-on-one coaching appointment.
  • Within Handshake, select Career Coaching > Pre-Health to talk about the application process for health/medical schools and how to prepare to be a strong applicant.