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Â鶹´«Ã½ Overview

The University of New Haven Physician Associate Program uses a holistic admissions process to evaluate each applicant. There is no minimum GPA requirement to apply. Selection for interview and acceptance is influenced by:

• Perseverance in academic and professional experiences
• Clinical work experience
• Personal and professional attributes aligned with success in PA practice

We are especially interested in applicants committed to compassionate, person-centered care in accordance with the .

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate demonstrates:

• A strong alignment with our mission and values
• A deep commitment to service, cultural humility, and patient-centered care
• Evidence of resilience and fortitude through life challenges or responsibilities
• Motivation to become a compassionate, team-based Physician Associate
• Strong academic preparation and meaningful clinical experience

Minimum Requirements for Candidacy

While these are the minimum requirements, successful applicants typically exceed them:

• Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution
• All prerequisite coursework completed by the time of application:
  • Biology
  • Microbiology with Lab (min. 4 credits)
  • Human Anatomy & Physiology (min. 5 credits, on-campus only)
  • Upper-Level Human Biology (min. 3 credits)
  • Chemistry with Lab (Inorganic or Organic, min. 5 credits)
  • Organic or Biochemistry (min. 3 credits)
  • Statistics or Calculus (min. 3 credits)
  • Human Psychology (min. 3 credits)
• Minimum 750 hours of paid, direct patient care experience in the U.S. healthcare system
  • Must be in-person and compensated
  • Experience is verified upon acceptance
• Three letters of recommendation, including one from a licensed healthcare provider
• Completed supplemental questions and personal statement (no fee required)
• U.S. Citizenship or Permanent Resident status
• GRE not required
• No acceptance of foreign or U.S. medical graduates
• No advanced placement offered

Holistic Review & Evaluation Criteria

We evaluate every applicant based on four core domains:

1. Academic Capacity
   • o Strength and rigor of science and prerequisite coursework
2. Personal Capacity
   • Resilience, emotional intelligence, and perseverance
3. Healthcare Experience
   • Depth, relevance, and setting of clinical roles
4. Mission Alignment
   • Service orientation and cultural humility

Additional Considerations & Program Preferences

To support a diverse, mission-driven cohort, applicants may receive up to 10 bonus points during the application review if they possess any of the following:

• Residency in Connecticut or a University of New Haven graduate
• Veteran status (honorably discharged) or active-duty military
• Membership in underrepresented populations in the PA profession (per AAPA), including:
  • Black, Hispanic/Latino, Native American/Alaskan Native, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
  • Disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds
  • Individuals with disabilities
  • Sexual and gender minorities
• Demonstrated resilience, such as:
  • Full-time work during undergraduate study
  • Participation in collegiate athletics
  • Recommendation letters or personal narrative reflecting perseverance
• Possession of a graduate degree (excluding PA preparatory/post-bac programs)
• Other attributes aligned with the program’s mission and values

Policy Note: The program consistently awards these additional points during application review, reflecting our commitment to building a resilient, inclusive, and patient-centered PA workforce.