Prospective Student Advising

Considering a career as a Physician Assistant? Let our advisors help you assess your potential for our PA Program and provide direction on preparing for admission.

Preparing for Admission

Students should prepare for an advising session by first reading the information on our program's Web site and by attending a general information session.

The video link to the August 19th, 2010 General Information session is now available - please click here.

While our advisors will provide helpful direction and information about enrolling in our physician assistant program, the final responsibility for assuring that all prerequisites, requirements, and deadlines are met rests with the student.

General Information Session Schedule for Summer/Fall 2011:

Due to space limitations you must to reserve your spot by registering for the General Information Session online

PLEASE NOTE* DUE TO ADMISSIONS INTERVIEWS THERE WILL NOT BE A GENERAL INFORMATION SESSION IN FEBRUARY

General Information Sessions are typically scheduled monthly throughout the year, typically on the third Thursday of the month from Noon-1pm, unless otherwise indicated. These sessions are given by a faculty member and provide a comprehensive overview of the PA profession and program. These sessions are intended to provide information to those looking into a PA career as well as those who want more detailed information about our program and application process.

General Information Sessions last approximately 60-90 minutes and take place at the Health Sciences Learning Center adjacent to the UW hospital. All applicants to the PA program are strongly encouraged to attend one of these sessions before applying. Please register online to reserve your place.

Individual Advising Appointment Schedule

Please note: All advising appointments are scheduled in 30 minute sessions. Appointments are assigned on a first come, first served basis. Please submit your appointment request form online. After submitting your request, we will reserve a 30 minute time slot for you. You will receive an email confirmation within 24-48 hours with your scheduled appointment time. In order for your appointment time to be held, you must confirm your scheduled appointment time by responding to the email. If you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment, please contact the PA Program office immediately. Please check your "spam" or "junk" mail folders for confirmation emails.

The UW-Madison Advising Compact

UW-Madison recognizes that both students and advisors have responsibilities regarding advising. Although each school and college on the UW-Madison campus provides advising to students in its own way, the following responsibilities on the part of advisors and students are understood.

Students are responsible for:

• Being prepared for advising sessions (for example, reading online program information in advance, bringing a transcript, having a list of questions or concerns, having a tentative schedule in mind, and/or being prepared to discuss interests and goals with the adviser).
• Knowing the requirements of their particular academic program, selecting courses that meet those requirements in an appropriate time frame, and monitoring their progress toward graduation;
• Scheduling and keeping academic advising appointments in a timely manner.

PA Program Advisors are responsible for:

• Helping students clarify their potential for the PA program and profession and setting reasonable goals;
• Providing information about educational options, requirements, policies, and procedures;
• Helping students plan educational programs consistent with the requirements of their degree program and with their own goals, interests, and abilities;
• Assisting students in the continual monitoring and evaluation of their educational progress; and
• Helping students to locate and integrate the many resources of the university to meet their unique educational needs and aspirations.