Physician Assistant Program Admissions

Official Transcripts must reflect:

• All undergraduate, post-baccalaureate, and graduate coursework taken.
• All required prerequisite coursework with final grades.
• An official, final transcript indicating completion of the bachelor's degree (Applicants must request official transcripts from their Registrars' offices that include a date of graduation/degree conferral date).
• Overall 3.0 GPA for Science and Prerequisite requirements. The program uses CASPA’s calculated GPA for Science GPA requirement. The program will calculate the prerequisite GPA, including the original grade and repeated prerequisite course grade.

ALL official, final transcripts from all undergraduate, post-baccalaureate, and graduate institutions attended (degree and non-degree) should be sent to:

CASPA - P.O. Box 9108 - Watertown, MA 02471

Applicants are strongly encouraged to use the Transcript Request Form provided by CASPA, which will be available once attended institutions have been listed. PDFs, unofficial and/or photocopied transcripts will not be accepted. Applicants should NOT send any transcripts or evaluations directly to the PA Program.

Note that CASPA will not update transcripts after an application is submitted so applicants should NOT send:

• Transcripts with in-progress coursework to CASPA. If an application is received without all prerequisites complete or final grades listed, it may not be reviewed for admission.
• Updated transcripts to CASPA after verification. Any grades reported as part of Academic Update will NOT be verified and CASPA GPAs will NOT be updated.

International/Study Abroad

International transcripts (except English-speaking Canadian) will not be accepted, but CASPA will accept a foreign transcript evaluation report (Tufts requires WES evaluation). An applicant should report study abroad on CASPA if they:

• Studied via an overseas U.S. institution
• Studied via another U.S. institution
• Studied via a study abroad company, directly via your undergrad institution or any other method

A WES evaluation of foreign transcripts is necessary ONLY if the applicant took a Tufts PA Program prerequisite course during their study abroad and if the CREDITS AND/OR GRADES for these courses DO NOT APPEAR on their undergraduate transcript. Send all WES evaluations to CASPA for verification of courses.

Get directions on entering study abroad information properly in CASPA.

A minimum of one thousand (1,000) hours of direct patient care experience must be completed and documented in the application at the time of submission. ALL direct patient care experience should be added in the "Experience" section of the application. Please request references to verify direct patient care performance and responsibilities. Applicants are NOT required to provide an official document stating completion of the experience.

The purpose of this document is to capture the types of hands-on patient care experiences candidates have performed in their clinical work. The committee does not expect candidates to have had the opportunity to perform all of the listed experiences.

The link to the Patient Care document can be found in the CASPA application (Qualtrics link). Candidates are required to complete and upload this document in the clinical/professional section in CASPA. If an error is made in generating the Patient Care Document, the link may be reused to redo the survey to generate a new document.

View directions to generate Patient Care Document

The first two letters of recommendation should be received by July 1 at 11:59pm ET, and the third recommendation (required by Tufts) MUST be received by CASPA no later than August 1 at 11:59pm ET. Applications will not be reviewed until at least three letters of recommendation have been received by CASPA.

All letters must be completed via CASPA's online evaluator portal. An electronic request from CASPA Messenger will be sent immediately to each reference once the applicant saves the references’ information into the CASPA system. The evaluator will be asked to complete a skills rating and then attach their letter of reference to the evaluation. Applicants will be able to check on the status of electronic letters via the CASPA applicant portal. Up to five references can be submitted through CASPA in this manner, even after application submission and verification. Letters of recommendation will not be accepted by any other method.

These letters of recommendation should reflect the applicant’s ability to perform graduate-level work, and address the individual’s professionalism, integrity, and motivation. Prior employers, professional colleagues, and academic advisors are acceptable references. References from shadowing experiences will not be accepted as one of the three required recommendations.

At least one reference should be from a supervisor of a direct patient care experience to substantiate the applicant’s experience and performance in that capacity. Please note that all direct patient care experiences are subject to verification by the program.

A Committee Letter of Reference may be submitted electronically and will be considered as one reference.

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) are not required for admission to the Tufts University School of Medicine Physician Assistant program. However, applicants may choose to submit GRE or MCAT scores as an optional component of their application. If submitted, GRE and MCAT scores will be considered as part of our holistic admissions review. GRE scores can provide additional context for the admissions committee, particularly in cases where academic metrics such as undergraduate GPA may not fully reflect a candidate’s potential for success in a rigorous graduate-level program. Submitting GRE or MCAT scores is entirely optional and will not disadvantage applicants who choose not to include them.

GRE

GRE scores must be sent electronically to CASPA using Designated Institution Code 0438 (Tufts U Sch Medicine CASPA). This code is specifically for the Tufts School of Medicine PA Program and ensures that scores are properly directed.

To meet the August 1 application deadline, applicants should request their scores be sent at least three weeks in advance, as GRE scores are not sent in real time. The Educational Testing Service (ETS) transmits new GRE scores to CASPA up to twice per week, typically 10–15 days after the test date.

Do not send scores directly to Tufts, as they will not be matched to your CASPA application.

If an applicant indicates on their CASPA application that they are submitting GRE scores, the application will not be reviewed by the admissions committee until the scores have been received. If the GRE scores are not received by August 1 at 11:59 p.m. ET, the application will be reviewed without the GRE.

How to send your official test scores to CASPA

MCAT

Scores are sent to CASPA electronically from AAMC. PAPER COPIES ARE NOT ACCEPTED. Applicants must contact AAMC to have MCAT scores released to CASPA, and then can self-report the MCAT score in the “Standardized Tests” section along with the individual AAMC ID#.

An applicant's name, date of birth, and AAMC ID# are used to match the information on the MCAT exam. If the NAME or DATE OF BIRTH appears differently on the MCAT than it does on CASPA, the scores will NOT post automatically to the applicant's account. If the name is different on the test, contains punctuation, or the applicant made an error entering their date of birth information, they must wait the 10-12 day processing time and call CASPA customer service. CASPA can look up the name and manually connect the test score to the desired application.

Within the CASPA application, you will have two short essay prompts:

• Short Essay 1 (1,000 character limit): Describe what positive contributions you can make to the PA profession and to Tufts University School of Medicine's PA Program.
• Short Essay 2 (1,500 character limit): Please tell us about your journey to PA school and how your background and experiences will positively impact your future as a medical provider. If you have experienced personal circumstances or hardships that have helped you develop qualities that you believe will allow you to better serve your future patients and the medical community as a whole, please share those experiences in your response.

Applicants are required to upload a resume to CASPA (under the Documents section > "CV/Resume" section).

IMPORTANT: The Tufts School of Medicine PA program reserves the right to verify any experiences listed in the application and/or resume, especially all direct patient care experiences listed.

Students who are set to graduate from their undergraduate institutions in May will likely not have their final official transcripts at the time of application. Please note the following:

E-submit an official final transcript to CASPA before July 1. Even if your transcript may not yet include the degree conferral date, you must e-submit an official final transcript to CASPA before July 1. This allows the application verification process to begin. Please call CASPA customer service to confirm whether the received transcript includes the date of degree conferral.

If your first transcript does not include the date of degree conferral, you must request a second, updated transcript with the degree conferral date to be sent to CASPA no later than August 1. This updated transcript will be added to your application. The PA Admissions Office will then verify that the degree has been conferred, allowing you to move forward to the prerequisite review process.

Note: All prerequisite courses must be completed at the time of application submission in CASPA.

International applicants are those who are citizens of any foreign country (including Canada) who do not hold a United States permanent resident visa (green card). Permanent resident visa status is equivalent to U.S. citizenship for the purposes of our admission process and U.S. federal student loan programs.

International applicants are eligible to apply to the Tufts University School of Medicine Physician Assistant Program. The international students admitted to the Tufts PA Program are usually students who have earned bachelor's degrees in the United States.

Please note that any coursework completed outside of the United States or English-speaking Canada must be evaluated by World Education Services (WES). We will only accept evaluations done by WES. Evaluations performed by other companies will NOT be accepted. WES reports should be submitted to CASPA.

Please note: Graduates of foreign medical schools will not be considered for this program.

The Tufts University School of Medicine Physician Assistant Program welcomes applications from undocumented individuals who qualify for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). These applicants will be considered with U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents for admission to the Tufts School of Medicine Physician Assistant Program. The PA Program does not consider an applicant’s financial circumstances in the selection process. However, DACA students must be prepared to absorb the cost of US physician assistant education, and have a full understanding that DACA students are not eligible for traditional US educational funding including federal and/or institutional loans and scholarships. DACA applicants who are accepted to the PA Program will join a supportive community that strives to produce socially and culturally competent physician assistants who will care for a diverse and ever evolving patient population.

All TOEFL scores must be RECEIVED by CASPA by August 1st at 11:59pm ET. School code is 3889.

Official TOEFL scores are provided to CASPA directly from the ETS in electronic format. PAPER COPIES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. Applicants must contact the ETS to have their TOEFL scores released to CASPA.

PLEASE NOTE: For the Tufts School of Medicine PA Program, the TOEFL requirement is waived for students who have attended a U.S. university/institution for two or more years.

Additional considerations will be given to the following:

• Successful applicants who demonstrate a commitment to the Tufts PA Program mission and value statements in their application.
• Candidates who graduated from Tufts University.
• Candidates with a science and pre-requisite GPA of 3.4 and above.
• Candidates with 2500 or more patient care hours.

CASPA performs a course and degree verification process once all official transcripts are received. All complete applications (e-submitted, payment received, transcripts received, and two letters received) verified by August 1st will be sent to Tufts PA Admissions Office.

Once the Tufts PA Admissions Office has a verified and complete CASPA record for the applicant as well as the third letter of recommendation and test scores, the application will be under review. Meeting minimum admission requirements does not guarantee an interview or admission to the program. The program interviews approximately 200 applicants per admissions cycle.

The Tufts University School of Medicine Physician Assistant (PA) Program enrolls students in January of each year. Decisions are made on a rolling basis.

Competitive candidates will be selected for a virtual interview day. This day is comprised of a two-hour program overview with student Q &A, and two separate interviews (25 minutes each) with a principal faculty member and then either a clinical preceptor, alumni, or admissions staff. Interviewed candidates who are interested in coming to campus for a tour of the facilities with an admissions ambassador, may email the admissions office to place a request. Requests are filled based on availability.

Applicants will receive an email from the PA Admissions Office if they are invited for an interview.

Candidates are notified of their admissions decision via phone call, email, and through the admissions portal. Admitted candidates will have two weeks to respond to their offer and submit a non-refundable $1,000 deposit. Candidates admitted from the waitlist will have a shorter reply and deposit window depending on the time of offer. Deposits are submitted electronically to ensure receipt of the deposit by or before the designated reply deadline.

All candidates who enroll are advised that their matriculation is conditional, pending a successful outcome of a criminal background check and compliance with health immunization requirements. The university reserves the right to rescind offers of admissions for candidates with criminal histories.

Once students are admitted and enroll in the program, they are required to:

• Submit documentation verifying their license (EMT, RN, PT, etc.) history and standing
• Participate in a criminal background check processed through the Registrar's Office
• Have and maintain American Heart Association Basic Life Support for Healthcare Professionals (BLS) Certification at matriculation in January and for the duration of their time in the PA program
• Have access to a car for the duration of the program
• Have a laptop that is compatible with the ExamSoft test-taking system
  • Learn about laptop specifications
• Prepare for the medical terminology exam to be given at Orientation
• Submit required immunization documentation and insurance information to the Student Advisory and Health Administration
• Follow additional instructions provided in the welcome packet

For information about the estimated full cost of the PA Program, including tuition, room & board, fees, etc., see:

• Cost of Attendance by Semester
• Student Health Insurance Rates* (see rates)

*The Commonwealth of Massachusetts and Tufts University Health Sciences Schools require all matriculated students of higher education to participate in a health insurance plan. Students may enroll in the student insurance plan offered by Tufts University, or maintain private coverage as long as it meets or exceeds the minimum state requirements set forth by the Commonwealth.

Tufts School of Medicine primarily provide financial assistance in the form of federal loans.

Students that will be utilizing financial aid are encouraged to submit their FAFSA early in the application process.  This will ensure the Office of Financial Aid has time to provide eligibility information before an admissions decision is required.

View Financial Aid Information

PA Funding Resources

• PA Foundation

Veterans Resources

Veterans may be eligible for additional financial assistance through the Post-9/11 GI Bill^®.

GI Bill^® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.

View the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website for more information

Tufts University offers limited scholarships for incoming PA students of up to 25% of tuition. They are merit- and/or need-based and are available to students who have submitted their deposit. No additional materials are necessary to be considered.

Please note awards will be determined in September, prior to the January program start, and fewer than 10% of the incoming class may receive them. If you are selected for a scholarship, you will be notified directly by the Admissions Office.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the GRE has been test-optional since 2021 and thus is not listed as a reported statistic.