Early Acceptance Opportunity| Physician Assistant

In addition, transfer students who have committed to Lake Erie College for the remainder of their undergraduate education will be considered for the opportunity. These students will be given an opportunity to have a reserved, tentative acceptance into the PA program given that they meet ongoing prerequisites and requirements set forth by the Program.

Qualified applicants will initially apply for the seats two years before the anticipated matriculation date. Students must apply to the program by the end of the spring term two years prior to the desired matriculation as described in the process below.

Process:

• Any student interested in the Early Acceptance Opportunity (EAO) is encouraged to meet with the Admissions Coordinator of the PA Program as early in their academic career as possible.

• Student writes a letter of interest to the Dean of Natural Sciences and Mathematics (NSM) and their Academic Advisor that includes the anticipated undergraduate graduation date and entry year into the PA Program.

• The NSM Dean and Academic Advisor will review the letter and potentially discuss the candidate to be sure that the candidate is qualified for the EAO.

• If the candidate is qualified, the letter of interest will be forwarded on to the PA Program Admissions Coordinator for review by the Academic Advisor or the NSM Dean.

All letters of interest will begin to be accepted on March 1st and are due by May 1st two years before the anticipated matriculation date.

• Students may not apply earlier than two years or later than two years from the anticipated matriculation date.

• For example, if an undergraduate student anticipates that they will matriculate into the May 2025 cohort, they must send all application materials in between March 1, 2023 and May 1, 2023.

After the letter is reviewed:

The candidate will receive an email from the PA Admissions Coordinator with the list of qualifications and standards for the EAO.

A request for additional materials, with a due date, will be made for the following:

• Unofficial transcript from all colleges attended.

• Three letters of recommendation as outlined in the PA main Admissions page.

• Resume

• Proof of any shadowing hours and healthcare experience.

Student must have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 to be considered for an interview.  This is the combined GPA from credits obtained from all college undergraduate courses.

The student will be notified if they are offered an interview for the EAO. Interview will be scheduled for the Fall of the next academic year.

The student, the Academic Adviser, and the NSM Dean will be notified of the student’s EAO status by the PA Program Admissions Coordinator after the interview.

If accepted into the EAO, Students will need to also comply with the following:

• Submission of an official CASPA application in accordance with the requirements and deadlines for matriculation. The PA Program Admissions Coordinator will discuss which CASPA cycle to submit their application to.

• Successfully complete the formal interview with outside applicants after the CASPA application.

• Students must have an updated EAO Academic Progress Form filled out and signed by their Academic Advisor before all meetings or interviews with the PA department.

• If a student is not accepted into the EAO, they may still apply through CASPA and the conventional application pathway.

Requirements

• Maintain a minimum 3.5 cumulative GPA.

• Maintain a “B” or better in all prerequisite classes (except O Chem)

• Maintain a “C” or better in Organic Chemistry

• If the student receives a below standard grade for a course, that course may be repeated once for a better grade.

• No course shall be repeated more than once and no more than one course can be repeated for a better grade.

• As an undergraduate, the student must work or volunteer in the healthcare field for a minimum of 750 hours and shadow a Physician Assistant for a minimum of 100 hours (undergraduate career total by the time of matriculation).

• Student must maintain the utmost standards of personal and professional conduct to maintain acceptance. Any violation of this should be immediately reported to the Admissions Coordinator and may result in dismissal from the EAO.

• Criminal or academic conduct violations will be taken into account and may result a loss of enrollment in the EAO.

• The student will need to participate in at least two PA department events yearly, such as lunch and learns and/or PA student organization events upon acceptance.

• Student must also meet all other Program requirements for traditional applicants.

• If a student fails to maintain standards of acceptance, they may still apply through CASPA and a conventional application pathway.