How to Apply: UW-Madison PA Program

ATTENTION APPLICANTS:

IMPORTANT NOTICE: If your CASPA application has already been mailed to the UW-Madison PA Program, due to technical issues it will not be downloaded until the week of July 25th. Once your application is downloaded, you will receive an email from uwmadpa@hslc.wisc.edu which will give you access to the supplemental application. Content of the supplemental application is outlined under Step III of "How to Apply" on our website. We apologize for any delay.
Please note: the UW-Madison PA Program does NOT participate in rolling admissions.

STEP I: Please review the PA Program prerequisites and requirements before applying.

1. Prerequisite courses may be in progress/planned for all or spring semesters at the time application. All prerequisite courses must be completed successfully with a grade of C or better by the time the program begins in the summer session.

• NOTE: Beginning with the 2011-2012 admissions process, all prerequisites courses must be completed with a C or better by the end of the fall semester prior to planned matriculation. For example, if you are applying for the class entering in May 2012, all prerequisites must be completed by the end of the fall 2011 semester.
• All applicants must complete all prerequisites.

2. Candidates must successfully meet all the Admissions Requirements.

3. The admissions committee considers the following criteria: academic performance, health care experience, service, references and interviews.

For questions regarding prerequisites, transcripts, the application process and/or admissions requirements and criteria please make an appointment with:

Erin McCarthy Orth
Instructional Program Manager
Physician Assistant Program
University of Wisconsin-Madison
750 Highland Avenue, HSLC 1278
Madison, WI 53705
608-263-5620 / 800-442-6698
emmccarthy@wisc.edu

STEP II: Submit a completed CASPA application by the September 1st, 2011 deadline.

The CASPA application for the 2011-2012 admissions cycle will be available in mid-April. All official transcripts and references must be sent directly to CASPA. Please go to the CASPA website for detailed information: https://portal.caspaonline.org/

• APPLY EARLY! Submitting your materials early will ensure timely processing and help avoid delays. Once your application has a complete date, it can take 4 to 6 weeks to verify and mail to your designated programs. Your application is considered complete when CASPA has received all of the following:
  • Electronic Application
  • All Official Transcripts
  • Three Letters of Recommendation
  • Payment
• CASPA must receive all of your official transcripts, three letters of recommendation, and your payment before your application is considered complete and can be processed.

STEP III: Submit the UW-Madison PA Program supplemental application by October 15th, 2011.

IMPORTANT: Applicants will not get access to the supplemental application until after their CASPA application has been submitted and verified by CASPA. Once an application is verified, CASPA sends an electronic version to our program, we download your application into our admissions portal, which then automatically generates an email to you containing a username and password allowing you to access the supplemental application.

• Please remember, verification of your submitted CASPA application can take up to 4-6 weeks. You must submit your CASPA application in a timely manner so that you will be able to access and submit the supplemental application by the October 15th, 2011 deadline.
• The supplemental application is made up of the following components:
  • General demographic information
  • How the applicant has completed or plans to complete prerequisites
  • Listing of health care experience anticipated during the admissions process
  • English skills/TOEFL (if applicable)
  • Optional Academic Record Statement (700 word limit)
  • Optional Personal Essay (700 word limit)
  • Distance Education Essay – Required only if you are applying for the DE option (700 word limit)

Deadlines & Timeline

Admission timeline for the class starting in Summer Session 2012: