Northwestern PA Program

Class of 2017 Applicant Pool: U of I Specific

2016: Applicants: 85
2017: Applicants: 73
Interviewed Applicants: 12
Enrolled Applicants: 4

Prerequisites:

Anatomy &Physiology I & II

Microbiology
o Molecular or Cell Biology not a substitute
Biochemistry
o Organic chemistry not a substitute
Statistics
Med Terminology
o
o
o
o
o

Online and community college courses accepted

no expiration date
must be completed with a C or higher
labs not required
can apply prior to completing all prerequisites, but better to wait to submit
CASPA after grades are finalized

Admission Requirements:

CASPA Application: submit and receive Oct. 1st

Supplemental application + $50 fee: submit and receive Oct 1st.
GRE Scores: must be received Oct. 1st
o school code: 4879
o Competitively 50th percentile or higher on each section
Baccalaureate degree
Overall GPA: 2.8 minimum, 3.0 or higher competitive
3 letters of reference
o At least 1 from a healthcare provider, preferably a supervisor
o No family, personal friends
o Look at first 3 submitted on CASPA
Recommended 20 hours of shadowing a PA

Hallmarks of Northwesterns Program:

2/9/16

1. Organ system approach

2. Problem-based and team-based learning (vs. lecture-based)
a. Real life cases
b. Problem-solving
c. Practical skill
Interviews:

On campus interviews are required and conducted on a rolling basis between Aug.-Jan.
PBL demo
About half a day in length
Includes 2 individual interviews, group interview, campus tour

Clinical Experience:

Direct patient care experience is required, but there is no minimum hourly requirement
o Competitive applicants have a minimum of 1,000 hours
o Often accrued by working a maximum of six months full-time in healthcare role
Hours are calculated for the point of matriculation not submission
Preference given to applicants having experience that requires a period of training (CNA,
EMT, medical assistant, etc.)
Can update hours up until Nov. 15th, email paprogram@northwestern.edu

Rotations:

7 Required
o Family medicine
o Internal medicine
o Surgery
o Pediatrics
o Psychiatry
o Womens health
o Emergency medicine
4 electives

Clinical Sites (in Chicagoland, set up for you):

Jesse Brown VA Medical Center

Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital
Northwestern Memorial Hospital

Contact Info:
Kevin Zalanowski (Admissions and Student Affairs)

Kevin.zalanowski@northwestern.edu
paprogram@northwestern.edu
312-503-1851