Up and Coming: University of North Carolina

Location:  Chapel Hill, NC

Accreditation Status: Provisional
Learn more about what provisional accreditation status means for you.

Number of students: 20 students

Application Cycle: CASPA and supplemental due by August 1st (recommended by July 1st)

Interview dates: 1 week in the fall (previously October)

Start date: August

Length of Program: 24 months

Public/Private:  Public - less expensive for in-state residents

HCE: 1000 hours required at time of application

GPA: Minimum cumulative of 3.0, or will evaluate last 60 hours; minimum 3.2 in prerequisites with a minimum C in courses

Shadowing: No specific requirement

The Good Stuff:

• Currently under Provisional Status

• No time limit on recommended courses, but recommended within the last 7 years

Program Link: UNC PA Program Website

Programs in North Carolina

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For the most up to date information on PA programs in one place, check out The Applicant’s Manual of Physician Assistant Programs. (Affiliate link)

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Program Spotlight: Campbell University

Location:  Buies Creek, NC

Number of students: 44 students

Application Cycle: CASPA through November 1st with Supplemental Application; rolling admissions

Interview dates: August - November/December

Start date: Early August

Length of Program: 24 months

Public/Private: Private

HCE: 1000 hours at time of application required

GPA: Required minimum overall and/or last 60 hours >3.0; recommended prerequisite minimum of 3.4; all grades C or better

Shadowing: Recommend 20 hours

The Good Stuff:

• There's a joint Public Health option

• No time limit on coursework

• Interview - 30 minute interview with faculty and community clinician, and group session with a scenario

Program Link: Campbell University PA Program Website

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For the most up to date information on PA programs in one place, check out The Applicant’s Manual of Physician Assistant Programs. (Affiliate link)

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Program Spotlight: Wake Forest University

Location:  Winston-Salem or Boone, North Carolina

Number of students:  64 at Winston-Salem, 32 at Boone

Application Cycle:  April - September 1st through CASPA + supplemental application ($100 fee)

Interview dates:  September - December

Start date:  June

Length of Program:  24 months

Public/Private:  Private

HCE:  1,000 hours

Shadowing:  No specific requirement

The Good Stuff:

• They just recently opened a new campus in Boone!
• There are open house events at both campuses you can attend to get more information.
• Teaching style is called "inquiry based learning," or small-group, self-directed learning, which is a style a lot of medical schools are moving towards as well
• If you don't end up going there for school, they do accept students for clinical rotations from outside programs
• They do require a genetics course, which is not something that is as commonly required
• No specific organic chemistry requirement
• No employment is allowed while in the program
• A computer is provided for use by the school while in the program
• Emerging Leaders Program - If you also have an interest in the business side of things, Wake Forest offers a 34 month program where you start with getting a Masters in Management and then attending the PA Program
• Joint PhD program - You start the PhD program and can apply anytime during the first 3 years for the PA program.  The cool part is that your clinical research experience counts towards your 1,000 hours.

Program Link:  Wake Forest PA Program

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For the most up to date information on PA programs in one place, check out The Applicant’s Manual of Physician Assistant Programs. (Affiliate link)

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Program Spotlight: Duke University Medical Center

  
Duke's PA program is consistently ranked extremely high every year, and their standards and requirements reflect that.  Here's some info if Duke is at the top of your list!

Location:  Durham, North Carolina

Number of students:  88

Application Cycle:  Opens in April.  CASPA by Oct 1; supplemental application by Nov. 1 - priority if complete by August 15!

Interview dates:  October - January (~240 invites) with rolling admissions

Start date:  August

Length of Program:  24 months

Public/Private:  Private

HCE:  minimum of 1,000 hours of direct care by the time your application is complete (~1 year working full time)

Shadowing: No specific requirements

The Good Stuff:

• Diversity is encouraged!
• Technically no GPA requirement, but must have at least a C in all courses
• Although you are encouraged not to work, students may work up to 20 hrs weekly during the first year
• Pre-reqs must be COMPLETE by the December before matriculation
• Not good chances for college seniors (<5% of 2014 class) unless you have a ton of HCE
• International students must have 1 year (30 hours) of classes at a US college
• Prerequisites - doesn't specifically require Organic chemistry or labs with anatomy
• Relatively affordable at about 38,000 a year for tuition (similar to many public schools)
• Decision will come in the mail no later than March 1
• There's no specific time frame that prerequisites must have been taken in
• They lease computers to students to use during the program
• They offer Orthopedic and Surgical residency programs

Program Link:  Duke PA Program

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For the most up to date information on PA programs in one place, check out The Applicant’s Manual of Physician Assistant Programs. (Affiliate link)

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