SELECTION PROCESS | Master of Physician Assistant Studies

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1. Application Submission

  • Applicants submit their materials through CASPA.
  • The application must be VERIFIED by CASPA before the application can be screened for review
  • For an application to be reviewed, it must meet the following criteria:
    • Minimum GPA requirements must be met
    • Official GRE scores are required and must be validated, though no minimum score is specified.
    • A minimum of 3 letters of recommendation must be received

    • Degree must be completed prior to matriculation into the program

    • Prerequisite courses must be complete or on tract to be completed before matriculation

2. Initial Scoring based on CASPA Metrics

  • Applications are evaluated based on:
    • Undergraduate Science GPA
    • Cumulative GPA
    • Last 60 Credit Hours GPA (includes graduate courses as well as undergraduate courses)
    • GRE Scores (Verbal, Quantitative, Writing)
  • Each of these metrics is assigned to a point value based on pre-determined thresholds.

Please Note: Undergraduate GPA and GRE scores are heavily weighted in the interview selection process. While academic scores are just one component of our comprehensive review, strong performance in these areas strengthens an application.

3. After CASPA-based scoring, faculty assess:

  • Volunteer Hours
  • Other Healthcare Experience
  • Direct Patient Care Experience
    • Please Note: Direct Patient Care Experience offers more hands-on, clinically relevant learning that contributes significantly to success in the program; therefore, it is weighted more heavily than Other Healthcare Experience.
  • Shadowing Hours
  • Life Experiences (e.g., leadership, military, college student athlete, working while in school)
  • Certifications/Licensure pertaining to the medical field
  • Letters of Recommendation Quality
  • Transcript Review (e.g., number of course withdrawals)
    • Please Note: Meeting all prerequisites is not required to be invited for an interview nor to be offered acceptance into the program. However, documentation that the courses have been completed or will be completed by time of matriculation will be addressed at the interview.
  • Postgraduate Degrees
  • Repeat Applicant Status

Greater involvement in shadowing or volunteer service, while not required, is rewarded with higher point values, reflecting the importance of community service and professional commitment, aligning with our program’s mission. Conversely, completing too few hours (less than 50 hours) in each of these areas may result in a deduction within the scoring system.

4. Applicants are awarded additional points based on personal and socioeconomic adversity, including:

  • First-generation college student
  • Low income/family background
  • Geographic and educational disadvantages
  • Family situation, family responsibilities or personal trauma
  • Cultural/language barriers

5. Ranking for Interview

6. Interview Process

  • Invited applicants complete:
    • Behavioral Aptitude Test
    • Multiple Mini Interviews (MMI)
    • Interviews with faculty

    • Student tour and Q&A session

  • Applicants will be assessed on:
    • Communication skills, including relevance and depth
    • Ethical reasoning
    • Critical thinking/Problem solving
    • Collaboration/Teamwork
    • Professionalism and maturity
    • Insight into PA Role
  • Scores from these assessments are added to each applicant’s cumulative score.

7. Final Ranking and Selection

  • Final applicant rankings are calculated based on total cumulative points (including all aspects of the interview process)

    • In keeping with our program mission, admissions preference is given to Louisiana residents , and the program strives to admit a class comprised of 90% Louisiana residents.

    • One seat per cohort is reserved for an LSUHS Shreveport Cardiopulmonary Science current student or graduate within the past 2 years who fulfills all PA admissions criteria and received a strong recommendation from CPS faculty and the program director.

8. Notification and Acceptance

  • Accepted applicants are notified and must respond within 72 hours due to the proximity of scheduled interviews.
  • A $500 deposit is due within 14 days of acceptance (hardship exceptions are possible).

9. Alternate List

  • A alternate list is created, approved by faculty.
  • Alternates have 5 days to accept if offered a spot.