Pre-Physician Assistant

PA Early Assurance Track

To maintain your Early Assurance status, you must:

• Maintain a minimum cumulative semester GPA of 3.0 at D’Youville.
• Maintain a minimum cumulative overall GPA of 3.0.
• Maintain a minimum cumulative science GPA of 3.0.
• Earn a minimum grade of B- in all science courses and a minimum grade of C in all other coursework at D’Youville.
• During your junior year, complete a successful interview process with the PA Department, including:
  • A personal essay,
  • Three (3) letters of recommendation, and
  • Documentation of direct patient interaction hours, if applicable.
• You will not need to submit a CASPA application, as your pathway is internal to D’Youville.
   

Please Note: If a student’s GPA falls below the stated requirements or they are not successful in their interview, their Early Assurance seat will be forfeited. However, they may still apply to the Physician Assistant (MS) program through the standard admission process at the end of their undergraduate studies.

It’s important to note that Early Assurance does not guarantee automatic admission to the graduate PA program at this stage. Instead, it provides a clear and supportive route toward your goal — combining strong academics, professional preparation, and personal growth.

Pre-PA Advisory Track

Students who are not accepted into early assurance (or lost their early assurance seat) can still take PA prerequisites in our pathway degree programs. Curriculum requirements for this program can be found in the Academic Catalog. Students on a Pre-PA Advisory Track can then apply into the Physician Assistant (MS) program at the end of their undergraduate degree. D’Youville students on this track are guaranteed an interview if departmental minimum standards are met, and they do not have to apply through CASPA. The following are the PA Department's minimum standards required for a guaranteed interview:

• Must maintain a cumulative science grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0.
• Must maintain an overall semester and cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0.
• A minimum grade of a B- for all science courses (C for all other coursework) specified as a PA prerequisite. However, students must be aware of the 3.0 minimum semester and cumulative GPA requirements and 3.0 minimum cumulative science GPA.

Careers

The Pre-Physician Assistant Pathway provides the foundational studies in biology, chemistry, anatomy, and physiology needed to pursue a master’s degree in physician assistant studies and build a rewarding career diagnosing illness, developing treatment plans, and providing high-quality, patient-centered care across a wide range of medical specialties.