ADMISSIONS - Frequently Asked Questions
What does "Direct Patient Contact Experience" mean?
We are looking for patient contact experience that include responsibilities
such as taking patient vital signs, administering medication, attending to
patient’s personal hygiene needs, drawing blood, dressing wounds, etc. We
value situations where you have been actively responsible for the care of
an individual/patient. Examples of positions that may provide opportunities
to gain this experience include CNA, PCA, Phlebotomist, or EMT.
What does "service to the underserved" mean?
In keeping with the Augsburg College mission to nurture future leaders
in service to the world, the Physician Assistant studies program favors
applicants whose experience demonstrates a commitment to underserved
communities; disadvantaged, minority, or under-represented populations.
Applicants should have a strong record of commitment to the community
through work with homeless shelters, disabled individuals, inner city
youth organizations, church or civic group missions, minority populations,
rural medicine programs, and other organizations with similar goals.
Do you have a preference as to an applicant's undergraduate
degree major?
We do not have a preference for your undergraduate major. In fact, we
encourage all potential applicants to major in the area that interests
them. As one may expect, a high number of our applicants have science
or health science related majors, but we have a good number of liberal
arts majors as well.
When I send in my transcripts for a review to determine my prerequisite
status, why is it called an "unofficial"
evaluation?
If you submit your transcripts to us for review it is not required that
they be official. You may send us copies or printouts, hence, the evaluation
is not considered "official." CASPA will provide us with
your formal GPA calculation and course record based on the official transcripts
sent to them by your school as part of your application.
Can I still apply if my cumulative GPA is not 3.0?
Your cumulative GPA must be 3.0 or higher in order to be eligible to
apply to the Augsburg College PA Program. It your cumulative
GPA is lower than 3.0, we suggest that you work with an academic counselor
at your school to develop a course plan that will help you increase
your GPA in a timeline that is acceptable to you. An academic
counselor should be able to help you determine the course work you
will need to take, and what grades you will need to earn in order to
reach the required cumulative GPA of 3.0.
How many Augsburg PA graduates pass the national board exam?
Below are the numbers from the NCCPA Board Score Comparison for first-time
test takers over the most recent 5 years:
|
2002 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
National Mean |
491 |
510 |
516 |
504 |
517 |
Augsburg College Mean |
520 |
613* |
560 |
581 |
638 |
National Ranking |
84th |
98th |
93rd percentile |
96th percentile |
98th percentile |
% of Grads Passing |
92% |
100% |
100% |
100% |
98% |
Note that there was no graduating class in 2003 as we transitioned from a Certificate to Master’s Program with the class entering in 2001.
*One of the highest mean scores in the U.S.