There are approximately 300 accredited physician assistant (PA) schools in the United States. In the 2024-2025 application cycle, these schools received more than 34,000 applications. The matriculation rate for PA schools hovers near 36%, compared to the approximate 40% matriculation rate for medical schools. To stand out in this crowded applicant pool, you need to …
Recent data published by the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) indicate a 6% increase in applications to PharmD programs from 2024 to 2025. With interest in the pharmacy profession growing, applicants must thoughtfully craft a prerequisite course plan to cultivate a competitive pre-health portfolio. This holistic portfolio – which should include not only …
The average age for a first-year medical student (known as an M1) is 24. This means that if you are currently a 15-year-old high school freshman and are an aspiring doctor, you have approximately nine years to learn, explore, and discover as much as you can about the field of medicine! So, if you are …
In this episode of Admissions Straight Talk, host Dr. Valerie Wherley speaks with Dr. Jonathan Tolentino about the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine’s innovative three-year Accelerated Pathway to Residency Program. Designed for students with a clear specialty focus, this program allows participants to earn their MD in 36 months while maintaining rigorous academic …
The University of Connecticut School of Medicine (UConn SOM), founded in 1961, is a public medical school located in Farmington, Connecticut. Located at the University of Connecticut Health Center, the UConn SOM also includes the School of Dental Medicine, graduate programs in Biomedical Science and Public Health, the UConn John Dempsey Hospital, research buildings, and …
In this episode of Admissions Straight Talk, Dr. Valerie Wherley welcomes Dr. Glenn Cummings, associate dean and director of health professions advising at Bryn Mawr, for an in-depth look at one of the nation’s oldest and most respected career-changer post-bac pathways. Dr. Cummings explains the distinctive mission and history of the Postbaccalaureate Premedical Program – …
The Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA) is an online platform where prospective students can apply to multiple physician assistant (PA) programs with one application. Competitive CASPA applications highlight both hard skills and soft skills learned, applied, and demonstrated in a variety of settings. For many PA applicants, showcasing hard skills – or skills …
Choosing the right physician assistant (PA) program can feel overwhelming. There are more than 300 accredited programs in the United States, each with different strengths, cultures, and expectations. According to data provided by the Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA), the acceptance rate in the 2024-2025 cycle was roughly 36%. With medical schools boasting a 42.9% …
In this episode of Admissions Straight Talk, host Dr. Valerie Wherley sits down with Dr. Reynold Jaglal, program director of the Sacred Heart University Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (MSPAS) program, for an in-depth look at Sacred Heart’s values-focused approach to physician assistant (PA) education. Dr. Jaglal breaks down the program’s 27-month curriculum, …
Rush Medical College (RMC) is the medical school of Rush University, located in Chicago, Illinois. In 2025, RMC received more than 13,000 applications and matriculated 144 students. What makes the school interesting to such a vast number of applicants? RMC’s mission emphasizes developing “empathetic, proficient physicians” committed to clinical practice, research, education, and service. The …
In this episode of Admissions Straight Talk, host Dr. Valerie Wherley sits down with Accepted Admissions Consultant Alicia Nimonkar, an expert writing coach with a background in composition and rhetoric, to unpack one of the most important – and often most intimidating – parts of the medical school application: the personal statement. Alicia explains how …
Founded in 1891, Washington University School of Medicine (WashU Medicine) is a top-ranked leader in research, education, and patient care. With world-renowned faculty, groundbreaking research (ranked number two in the nation for research funding from the National Institutes of Health in 2024), and nationally recognized clinical programs, WashU Medicine drives bold discoveries that transform health …
In this 30-minute session, one of our admissions consultants will review your profile, assess your chances of acceptance at your target programs, and tell you exactly where you stand.
