Thank you for your interest in the
Weill Cornell Physician Assistant (PA) Program.
This page contains the following sections about admissions into
the Weill Cornell PA Program:
How to Apply
Requirements
Technical Standards
Applicant Advisory Sessions
Tuition and Fees
Financial Aid
How to Apply to the
Physician Assistant Program
Successful admission to the Cornell PA Program is a three-step
process:
- Initial (CASPA) Application
- Secondary Application
- Personal Interview
Initial application. Initial application must be made
through CASPA (Centralized Application Service for Physician
Assistants) at 
www.caspaonline.org
starting April 15th. The online application must
be "completed" by October 1st. "Completed"
is defined as electronic submission of initial (online) CASPA
application and the receipt of all transcripts, two (2) letters
of recommendation (at least one of the these MUST be from a
Physician or PA) and other supporting documents, by CASPA. It
is the applicant’s responsibility to insure that these
materials arrive at CASPA no later than October 1st.
Incomplete files will not be considered by the program. Once
all materials have arrived at CASPA, a profile will be generated
and forwarded to the WCMC PA Program for review.
NOTE: The WCMC PA Program will only consider information provided
with the CASPA-generated applicant profile. No additional/supplemental
materials (i.e. additional or late references, transcript evaluations
or coursework additions) will be accepted.
Secondary application. The WCMC PA Program will evaluate
the CASPA-generated applicant profile and send a secondary application
to competitive applicants. The deadline for returning the completed
secondary application along with a $60.00 non-refundable fee
will be provided on the secondary application itself.
Personal Interview. After review of the applicant profile
and secondary application, the most competitive applicants will
be invited for an interview at the WCMC PA Program office.
After completion of the above, applicants will be notified of
the final disposition of their application in a timely fashion.
See
Admissions frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Admissions Requirements
- CASPA Application: All applicants must “complete”
an online application before October 1st. “Complete”
is defined as accurate entry of applicant data, payments of
CASPA application fee, and receipt of all required letters
of reference, transcripts and other supporting documents by
CASPA. If the applicant is missing any of these components
at the time of October 1st, the application is
considered incomplete and will be rejected by the WCMC PA
Program. CASPA provides the WCMC PA Program with a “completion
date” on all CASPA generated applicant profiles.
- Degree: All applicants must possess a minimum of
a Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent. Consideration will
be given to applicants that have completed their degree requirements
PRIOR to completing their CASPA application. Any applicant
that does not have a degree completed before they complete
their CASPA application, may still apply, however, they must
earn their degree by the conclusion of the Fall 2008 semester.
Proof of degree will be required at that time.
- Prerequisite Coursework: The minimum science requirements include: 2 (two) semesters of Biology (with lab); 2 (two) semesters of Chemistry (with lab), and 1 (one) semester of Microbiology. An English Composition (or college-level equivalent- rhetoric or college writing course) is also a prerequisite. Consideration will be given to applicants that have completed their prerequisite coursework PRIOR to completing their CASPA application. Any applicant that has not completed prerequisite courses before they complete their CASPA application, may still apply, however, they must satisfactorily complete the prerequisite course(s) by the conclusion of the Fall 2008 semester. Transcripts of these courses may be required at any time by the PA Program.
- Other Coursework: Study in advanced science courses
(e.g. Anatomy, Physiology, Microbiology, Histology, etc.)
and Introductory Statistics is strongly recommended.
- Grade Point Average: While there is no minimum GPA
to be considered for admission, the overall average GPA for
the currently enrolled class is approximately 3.5.
- Health Care Experience: Candidates are required to
have significant health care experience; however, we do not
have a minimum hour requirement. Direct patient contact experience
is preferred. Shadowing of a PA or Physician is encouraged.
- Letters of Reference: Two (2) references/letters
of recommendation are required. At least one of these must
be from a Physician or PA. Note: These are part of the initial
(CASPA) application. Only references included in the CASPA-generated
profile will be accepted. Late references/letters of recommendation
will not be accepted by the WCMC PA Program. Go to
www.caspaonline.org
for details and necessary forms.
- Transcript Evaluation (as necessary): All foreign
graduates are required to submit a complete transcript evaluation
(to American college equivalency) to CASPA. The WCMC PA Program
will not review any CASPA-generated profiles until all foreign
transcript evaluations have arrived at CASPA and are forwarded
to the Program with a completion date prior to October 1st.
Transcript evaluation may be completed by any of the evaluation
services below.
World Education Services, Inc
P.O. Box 5087
New York, NY 10274-5087
Phone: 212-966-6311
Fax: 212-739-6100
www.wes.org
Josef Silny & Associates, Inc
7101 SW 102 Ave
Miami, Florida 33173
Phone: 305-273-1616
Fax: 305-273-1338
www.jsilny.com
International Education Research Foundation, Inc.
P.O. Box 3665
Culver City, CA 90231-3665
Phone: 310-258-9451
Fax: 310-342-7086
www.ierf.org
Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc.
P.O. Box 514070
Milwaukee, WI 53203-3470
(414) 289-3400
www.ece.org
Spantran Educational Services, Inc.
7211 Regency Square Blvd., Suite 205
Houston, TX 77036-3197
(713) 266-8805
www.spantran-edu.org
American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions
Officers (AACRAO)
Foreign Education Credential Services
One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 520
Washington DC 20036-1135
(202) 296-3359
www.aacrao.org/credential
- All candidates accepted for admission must comply with WCMC
and WCMC PA Program Policies and Procedures.
- Advanced Standing: The WCMC PA Program does not grant advanced
standing to applicants.
- All applicants must meet our technical standards as follows:
Technical Standards
All candidates for the Physician Assistant (PA) certificate must
possess the intellectual ability to learn, integrate, analyze
and synthesize data. They must have functional use of the senses
of vision, hearing, equilibrium, and taste. Their exteroceptive
(touch, pain, temperature) and proprioceptive (position, pressure,
movement, stereognosis, and vibratory) senses must be sufficiently
intact to enable them to carry out all activities required for
a complete PA education. Candidates must have motor function capabilities
to meet the demands of PA education and the demands of total patient
care. The candidate for the PA certificate must posses the following
abilities and skills:
- Observation: The ability to observe is required for
demonstrations, visual presentations in lectures and laboratories,
laboratory evidence and microbiological cultures, microscopic
studies of microorganisms and tissues in normal and pathological
states. A candidate must be able to observe patients accurately
and completely, both at a distance and closely. This ability
requires functional vision and somatic sensation and is enhanced
by a sense of smell.
- Communications: A candidate should be able to speak,
hear, and observe patients in order to elicit information,
perceive non-verbal communications, describe changes in mood,
activity and posture. The candidate must be able to communicate
effectively and sensitively with patients including not only
speech but also reading and writing. Communication in oral
and written form with the health care team must be effective
and efficient.
- Motor: A candidate should have sufficient motor function
to elicit information from patients by palpation, auscultation
and percussion, as well as carry out diagnostic maneuvers.
A candidate should have motor function sufficient to execute
movements reasonably required to provide general care and
emergency treatment to patients. Such skills require coordination
of gross and fine muscular movements, equilibrium and sensation.
- Intellectual-Conceptual, Integrative and Quantitative
Abilities: Problem solving is a critical skill demand
of PAs and this requires all these abilities. The candidate
must also be able to comprehend three dimensional relationship
and the spatial relationship of structures.
- Behavioral and Social Attributes: A candidate must
have the emotional health, to fully use his/her intellectual
ability, to exercise good judgment, complete all responsibilities,
and attend to the diagnosis and care of patients.
A candidate must be able to develop mature, sensitive and
effective relationships with patients and colleagues. A candidate
must be able to tolerate physical and emotional stress and
continue to function effectively. A candidate must possess
qualities of adaptability, flexibility and be able to function
in the face of uncertainty. He/She must have a high level
of compassion for others, motivation to serve, integrity,
and a consciousness of social values. A candidate must possess
sufficient interpersonal skills to interact positively with
people from all levels of society, all ethnic backgrounds,
and all belief systems.
The administration of the WCMC PA Program recognizes its responsibility
to present candidates for the PA certificate who have the
knowledge and skills to function in a broad variety of clinical
situations and to render a wide spectrum of patient care.
The responsibility for these technical standards is primarily
placed on the WCMC PA Program admissions committee to select
entering PA students who will be the candidates for the PA
certificate.
Applicant Advisory
Sessions
Due to an overwhelming interest in the WCMC PA Program, there
is significant competition for the limited number of seats. To
help familiarize applicants with the detailed steps of admission,
The WCMC PA Program holds periodic advisory sessions for potential
applicants.
The two-hour session includes information on the PA Profession,
the WCMC PA Program, application requirements, an overview of
the admissions process, and a tour of the facilities. You may
have an opportunity to meet current PA students and alumni.
The Applicant Advisory Sessions schedule for 2008 is:
Thursday, May 8, 2008, 1-3pm
Thursday, June 12, 2008, 5-7 pm
(Additional dates will be added later this year- return to this
section for updates)
All interested in attending MUST REGISTER via email request by
contacting: Daniel Valentin at
dav2009@med.cornell.edu.
A confirmatory email will be sent one week in advance of the session.
Thank You.
Tuition and Fees
Application fee
A non-refundable charge of $60.00 accompanying the secondary application
is due of each applicant. This fee covers the cost of application
processing and review by the Admissions committee. At this time
we do not offer a fee waiver to applicants.
Tuition
The tuition for the most recently enrolled class is $19,958 for
each of the three (3) “academic” years. Students are
eligible for financial aid for each phase. Students also pay a
graduation fee.
Please note that this tuition cost is set for
the current academic year and is subject to change.
If a student has pending financial aid, finance charges are waived
and tuition will be deducted as the disbursement of loan money
arrives.
Financial Aid For Currently
Enrolled Students
Applying For Aid
The federal FAFSA form
www.fafsa.ed.gov
is required for federal loan programs.
Loan & Scholarship Programs
Your financial aid package will tell you what types of education
loan programs you are eligible to accept. If you have remaining
"unmet need," you may need private or alternative loan
programs to cover all your expenses.
Approximately 90% of our students are recipients of financial
aid, Federal Direct Loan Program and/or Alternative Education
Loans. There are scholarships available through the various PA
organizations and state agencies. In addition we maintain listings
within the department regarding alternative scholarship programs
available to our students. Veterans of the Armed Forces may also
be eligible for benefits under the G.I. Bill.
Subsidized Federal Direct Loan:
- Loan Limit: $8,500 for the academic year.
- Need Base: Yes
- Terms: Begin payments six months after graduation.
Unsubsidized Federal Direct Loan:
- Loan Limit: $12,000 (effective 7/1/07) for the academic
year
- Need Base: No
- Terms: Students have the option of deferring interest payment
until after graduation.
Alternative Educational Loans Program
Alternative Loans, also known as Private Loans, help bridge the
gap between the actual cost of your education and the limited
amount the government allows you to borrow in its program.
Alternative student loans are independent of government regulation
and can offer various terms for repayment, interest rates, and
loan limits. The terms of these loans can vary from lender to
lender and you are offered opportunity to choose the loan that
fits your situation. The Weill Cornell Medical College has a list
of preferred lenders.
Estimated Yearly Student Expenses
Students enrolled in the WCMC PA Program and living at the college
are not encouraged to bring an automobile to New York City because
parking is expensive ($250-350/month) and students rarely have
an opportunity to use their cars. While many clinical rotations
do not require personal transportation, some do. This amount is
calculated into the annual student budget. For students living
"off campus" the anticipated yearly expenses are similar
because the cost of parking, insuring and maintaining an automobile
substitutes for the cost of room and board "on campus".
STUDENT HOUSING IS NOT GUARANTEED.
Dormitory housing is occasionally available for students of the
WCMC PA Program. Once a student is accepted he or she will be
provided with a housing application. Estimated expenses are based
on off-campus housing.
Anticipated yearly expenses for WCMC PA Program students, excluding
long distance travel, includes but is not limited to:
- Graduation Fee: $300.00
- Student Disability: $80.00
- Lodging: $9,000.00
- Food: $3,897.00
- Books, Supplies & Equipment: $4,000.00**
- Personal: $1,854.00
- Transportation: $1,170.00
- Student Health Fee: $650.00
- Health Insurance (est.): $4,453.00
- Loan Origination Fees: 3% on Federal Loans
- Network Connection Fee: $350.00
** includes one-time purchase of a required laptop computer.
Note: The above is our best estimate;
however, is subject to change. Each student has different needs
so individual budgets will vary.
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