Program Overview
Mississippi high school students with admission to Mississippi State University who meet the early acceptance criteria are eligible for the Master of Physician Assistant Studies Early-Acceptance Program (PAEaP).
The PAEaP aims to recruit top-performing students to provide a direct pathway into the MSU PA Program. The early acceptance program is committed to offering enrichment activities, including tailored mentorship, academic support, and professional enrichment opportunities to prepare students for success in the rigorous PA program curriculum. Ultimately, the program seeks to cultivate a dedicated cohort of future physician assistants who are committed to addressing the healthcare needs of Mississippi.
Early-Acceptance
Early-acceptance students (EAS) status must be seniors in high school in the state of Mississippi. Students must apply to PAEaP between October 1 to January 1 through your application portal. If an EAS follows the progression, retention, and matriculation criteria outlined below, the student will receive direct admission to the PA program at MSU for the designated application cycle.
The early-acceptance program supports EAS to engage in professional activities with the PASP faculty and upperclassmen. EAS avoid the competitive selection process in which typical applicants must participate for acceptance. All tuition, fees, policies and procedures of the program and university will apply for the year of matriculation of the EAS; these may differ than information published at the time of acceptance into the program.
Benefits of the Early-Acceptance Program
- Professional enrichment activities
- Waived GRE requirement
- Bypassed competitive graduate application process
- PA student mentorship
- PA faculty advising
- Support establishing shadow experience
- Support obtaining clinical experience
Criteria for Application Early-Acceptance
Highschool seniors who wish to be considered for early-acceptance status must meet the following minimum criteria:
- Accepted to MSU prior to application
- ACT score of 27 or greater or SAT score of 1260 or greater
- Cumulative high school GPA of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale
- Demonstrate leadership and community service involvement
*The Admissions Committee has final authority to evaluate applications to determine if minimum criteria are met.
Evaluation of additional required components will include:
- Interview with PA faculty
- Writing submission: The applicant will submit a written strategic plan in narrative form that outlines an individualized plan to prepare for the academic rigor of PA school during the interval period leading to matriculation to PA school; the maximum word count is 1250 words.
- Scholastic and non-scholastic extracurricular and service activities
Application Process
- To be considered for early acceptance, a student must submit an application and all required components between October 1 and January 1 of each year.
- Official transcripts for coursework outside MSU, if applicable.
- Each application will undergo a holistic review to evaluate both the student's current level of preparedness and their plan for meeting the demands of a rigorous graduate medical education program.
- After screening, select applicants will be invited to interview.
- Upon completion of interviews, offers for early-admission will be extended.
Progression and Retention Criteria for Students in the Early-Acceptance Program
To retain status as an EAS, the following conditions must be met. Aademic performance is reviewed at the end of each year to ensure these standards are maintained.
- By June 30th of the acceptance year to the PAEaP, the student must submit the following to the requirements for accepted applicants at the following this link to the Admissions Page. program, compliant with the admission requirements. The requirements comply with the requirements of the affiliate clinical sites of the program.
- Medical clearance from a medical provider with completed health form
- Proof of medical insurance
- Attestation to meeting Technical Standards
- Proof of compliance with CDC recommendations for vaccination and health screening of health care workers
- Basic Life Support certification from the American Heart Association
- Maintain continuous full-time enrollment at Mississippi State University, completing at least 12 hours in each regular semester session.
- All required courses must be completed at Mississippi State University. Elective courses may be taken at another approved institution, with prior written approval from the Admissions Committee. Requests should be submitted at least 30 days in advance to allow for review.
- Maintain a cumulative GPA > 3.35, reviewed at the end of each academic year.
- Complete a minimum of 10 shadowing hours per year with a total of 30 hours at the time of CASPA application submission.
- Full participation in professional enrichment activities as scheduled. The Admissions Committee will define full participation requirements for scheduled opportunities.
- Any student with an honor code or student code of conduct violation will be ineligible for matriculation into the PA program.
Matriculation
To advance to the graduate phase of the Physician Assistant Studies Program, early-acceptance students must
- Meet all PAEaP progression and retention criteria without any unapproved interruptions.
- Participate as a PA Ambassador at MSU.
- Submit an application to the MSU PA program through the CASPA portal by June 15 of the correlating application cycle for matriculation.
- Obtain a bachelor’s degree with a cumulative GPA of > 3.35.
- Achieve a minimum letter grade of B in all prerequisite courses.
- The second nonrefundable seat deposit installment of $750 is due June 15th of the application cycle year. The sum of both seat deposits, totaling $1500, is applied to the student’s first-semester tuition.
- Complete a minimum of 10 shadowing hours per year with a total of 30 hours at the time of CASPA application submission.
- Complete a minimum of 120 hours of direct patient care experience at the time of CASPA application.
- Full participation is required in enrichment activities as scheduled in the early-acceptance program. Excused absence for extenuating circumstances may be approved by the Admissions Committee, and alternate activities may be required.
- Update all documentation and requirements for admission into the program at this Admissions link.
Admission into the Physician Assistant Program
Upon completing a bachelor’s degree, the required prerequisites meeting established academic standards, and meeting the necessary progression and retention criteria, students will be eligible for admission to the MSU Physician Assistant Studies Program. Prior to admission, students must fulfill all standard administrative requirements*, including a physical examination, immunizations, and health screenings per CDC guidelines for healthcare workers, criminal background check, urine drug screen, and obtain an American Heart Association Basic Life Support certification. Despite early acceptance, students must also submit a CASPA application during the application cycle of matriculation.
Once admitted to the graduate phase of the PA program, students must comply with the progression and retention criteria specified in the MSU Physician Assistant Program Student Handbook.
*Administrative requirements, including technical standards, vaccinations, and health screenings are required per the Student Handbook of the year of matriculation.
Get in Touch
Email: paeap@meridian.msstate.edu
Phone: (601) 696-2320