Selection Criteria
Per our accreditation criteria, our maximum number of students per cohort is 55. Due to the limited number of available seats, the selection process for admission to the PA department is extremely competitive. The Program considers graduate applicants with a prior earned bachelor’s degree for admission into the Program.
The admissions committee selects interview candidates based on academic rigor, personal essay, three letters of recommendation, undergraduate overall GPA and undergraduate science GPA, motivation to enter the PA profession, and commitment to social justice and community engagement.
Interview Day Information
Interviews for qualified applicants are conducted virtually. Evidence of academic potential, knowledge of the PA role in the health care system, maturity, self-assurance, strong intrapersonal and interpersonal communication skills, and motivation will be assessed during the interview process.
Each student interview will be conducted by a member of the PA Department Faculty. Applicants may be interviewed individually or in groups of up to four, at the discretion of the faculty member. Prior to the interview, a brief overview of the program as well as the interview day process will be given by the faculty member. Please note, applicants interviewing in a group are not competing against one another. The interview session is designed to be collegial and informative, rather than competitive.
Admissions Notification Process
The D’Youville PA Program offers admission on a rolling basis. Candidates selected for an interview are not automatically granted admission into the Program.
Qualified applicants for admission are determined based on several criteria:
- Interpersonal and intrapersonal, verbal and written communication skills
- Written application materials
- Results of personal interview
- Ability to master the rigorous academic content of the Program
- Understanding and knowledge of the PA role within an interprofessional healthcare team
- Emotional maturity and understanding of and motivation to enter the profession
- Commitment to social justice and community engagement
Applicants are notified of the department’s decision following the final scheduled interview day. Candidates will be notified, in writing, of the decision.
Depending on seat availability, some candidates may be placed on our waitlist for entry. Students can remain on our waitlist until a spot becomes available, up until the start of classes. Once classes start, anyone left on the waitlist will be denied admission for that cycle and will have to reapply to the Program during the next admissions cycle in order to be considered for admission in the next application phase.
Admitted Applicant Profile
For students who matriculated in May 2025, the average cumulative undergraduate GPA was 3.73, and the average cumulative undergraduate science GPA was 3.61.