Admissions Process
It is vital for student success and contentment that a good fit exists between students, faculty, and the Program. We take great effort in the student selection process to ensure that our students are both committed to our mission and able to withstand the rigors of PA education, and can do so with as much contentment as possible.
CASPA Application and Our Rolling Admissions Process
We utilize the Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA). CASPA is a national, web-based application system that allows students to apply to multiple programs with a single online application. Admissions will occur via a rolling admissions process, allowing us to review completed applications as they are received, invite selected candidates for an on-campus interview, and subsequently make admission decisions.
The CASPA application includes submission of transcripts, biographic and contact information, academic history and standardized test scores, supporting information, and three letters of reference.
Our CASPA Application process opens on April 27, 2023.
-
Required Application Fee
All applicants must submit a supplemental registration fee of $30. The program will not review any application until this fee is submitted.
The supplemental application fee can be paid via check, money order or credit card as follows:
By Mail: You can mail a check or money order to Emory & Henry College (please make sure to put your CASPA ID# on the check). Mail checks to:
Emory & Henry College
Office of Admissions
PO Box 947
Emory, VA 24327By Phone: You can call our Centralized Student Assistance (CSA) office at 276-944-6113 and pay by debit or credit card.
On-Line: You may also pay your fee online by visiting our Health Science Application Fee Web Page
Once an applicant’s CASPA application has been fully completed and verified and the applicant has submitted their application fee, the application will be reviewed by our admissions committee.
-
The Onsite Interview
The Program’s Admissions Committee reviews applicants only after an individual’s application is fully completed, has been verified, official GRE scores have been received, three appropriate references have been received, and the applicant has submitted their application fee.
- Selected applicants will be invited to join us for an interview.
- Non-selected applicants will be informed by email.
Learn more about our Candidate Interview Days
Applicants are welcome and encouraged to have family members accompany them to the interview session. Family members accompanying applicants are encouraged to attend the Program presentation and tour, but will not be able to otherwise participate in the interview process.
-
Selection Processes & What Makes an Applicant More Competitive
Selection Processes
It is important to understand that acceptance into any PA program is a highly competitive process. Meeting our entrance requirements in no way guarantees acceptance. Most competitive students will meet and exceed our entrance requirements.For both the completed application and the completed interview processes, candidates will be evaluated based on both their CASPA application and On-Site Interview to determine their relative competitiveness to other candidates.
All applicants who meet our admissions requirements will be considered for inclusion in an on-campus interview. However, not all applicants who meet the minimum standards for admission will be invited for an interview. Each applicant is evaluated on the basis of her or his relative competitiveness to other applicants.
The most competitive applicants will not only meet but exceed our admission requirements and have one or more of the following characteristics:
- Completed their undergraduate coursework at two or fewer academic institutions
- Completed their prerequisite science coursework at a regionally accredited 4-year college/university in mostly ‘face-to-face’ classes
- Completed their prerequisite coursework within the last 10 years
- Exceed the minimum required total cumulative, cumulative science, and cumulative prerequisite GPAs
- Received quantitative, qualitative, and verbal GRE score percentiles at or above 50th percentile
- Exceed the minimum required community service-related volunteer experience hours
- Exceed the minimum required direct patient-care hours
- Have three excellent letters of reference from appropriate sources highlighting adaptability, intellectual ability, reaction to criticism, interpersonal relations, reliability, and team skills.
- Have one or more Admission Preferences (as noted below)
- Not have attended a medical school
- Not have attended another PA program
It is important to note that not having such characteristics does not preclude an invitation for interview or acceptance into the program. It is equally important to note that having such characteristics in no way guarantees an interview, acceptance into the program, or success in the program.
-
Admission Preferences
The Emory & Henry College School of Health Sciences’ Master of Physician Assistant Studies Program does provide admission preferences to individuals in the following categories:
- Emory & Henry College Alumni
- Individuals who have served their country via service in the Armed Forces, Public Health Service, AmeriCorps or with the Peace Corps (in order to receive a point award, candidates in this category must have served under honorable conditions and must provide documentation of service).
- Long-term (>10 years) residents of Southwest Virginia *
- Students from environmentally and economically disadvantaged backgrounds (as determined by CASPA)
- Minority applicants
- Candidates will be awarded points for up to two of the above categories; these points will be added to the candidate’s application score (see Selection Processes). All candidates, regardless of admission preferences, must meet the same admission requirements.
_________________________________________________________________
*Emory & Henry PA Program defines Southwest Virginia as the following counties:
Alleghany County, Bedford County, Bland County, Botetourt County, Buchanan County, Carroll County, Craig County, Dickenson County, Floyd County, Franklin County, Giles County, Grayson County, Henry County, Lee County, Montgomery County, Patrick County, Pulaski County, Roanoke County, Rockbridge County, Russel County, Scott County, Smyth County, Tazewell County, Washington County, Wise County, and Wythe County
If you live in one of these counties and wish to request the admission preference as a long-term (>10 years) resident of Southwest Virginia please denote on your CASPA application.
It is important to note that the above preferences in no way guarantee an admissions interview or acceptance into the program.
It is equally important to note that all competitive applicants, including those who do not fall into one of the above categories, will be considered for an admissions interview and acceptance into the program.
-
Traveling to and Staying in Marion, VA
Marion, VA is located right off Hwy 81 in Southwest Virginia, between Roanoke, VA and Bristol, VA/TN. The School of Health Sciences is located at 565 Radio Hill RD, Marion, VA 24354.
- Our closest airport (60 miles away) is Tri-Cities Airport (TRI)
- Airlines include: Allegiant Airlines, Delta and American Airlines
- Car rental companies include: Alamo, Avis, Budget, Hertz, National and Enterprise
- Another airport option (100 miles away) is Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport (ROA)
- Airlines include: Allegiant Airlines, American Airlines, Delta and United
- Car rental companies include: Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz and National/Alamo
- There is a third option of an airport which is three hours away, Charlotte-Douglas International Airport (CLT).
Marion has an active downtown with multiple great restaurants and places to stay, including the historic General Francis Marion Hotel that offers significant discounts for Emory & Henry visitors.
- Our closest airport (60 miles away) is Tri-Cities Airport (TRI)
