Interview Process

Applicants must interview with the MU PA Program’s Admissions Selection Committee (ASC) to receive acceptance into the program. Only those applicants who qualify for an interview will be invited to campus to meet with the ASC. Travel accommodations and expenses are the responsibility of the applicant. No applicant will be granted an acceptance without interviewing with the committee. PA school interviews are sometimes more important than what is on your application.  Therefore, it is recommended that applicants prepare for their interview just as much as they prepare their application.

Who makes up the ASC?

Program Director, Admissions Director, Principal Faculty

When are interviews held?

Historically, interviews begin in mid-to-late-July and continue until the class is filled. The class is usually filled by March of each year, or sometimes earlier. TThe program does interview for an alternate (waiting) list.  Alternate list applicants who do not receive acceptance to the program would need to reapply for consideration in the next cycle. However, acceptance or an interview is not guaranteed.

How does the program contact applicants for an interview?

If you qualify for an interview, the program will contact you by email.  An invitation will be sent by email 3-4 weeks prior to the planned interview day with a requested response and deadline for responding.  Failure to respond to the invitation will result in automatic withdrawal of the application.

Do you interview every qualified applicant?

Unfortunately, the program does not have the seat capacity or time to interview all qualified applicants.

What is a typical interview day like?

Historically, interviews are held during the week and applicants will participate in the following stations.  Ten-fourteen applicants are invited in for each interview session.  Note: The program reserves the right to adjust this schedule and the number of applicants interviewed/day at any time. An official schedule will be provided to applicants who are invited in for an interview prior to their interview day.

  • Welcome/Admissions Overview
  • Clinical Year Overview
  • Introduction of faculty, staff, and applicants
  • Multi Mini Interviews (MMI): MMI is an interview format that consists of multiple interview stations, each focused on a different question of scenario.
  • Group Exercise
  • Student panel with current students
  • Tour of facilities with current students

How quickly does it take for decisions to be made at the conclusion of an interview day?

Decisions regarding interviews are made that day. Applicants are typically notified of our decision within a week. Many times decisions are distributed within 48 hours of an interview. Accepted students must pay a $1000 non-refundable deposit to secure their seat in the program.

What are the interviewers looking for?

The role of the interviewer is to get to know you and to help the ASC select the best candidates from the pool of applicants that they invite for an interview. Looking at academic ability is only one factor.

Remember that most applicants who are interviewed have very similar levels of academic accomplishments. They want to select the best fit for our university and program. During the interview they will consider the applicant’s strengths and weaknesses in areas that may include, but not limited to:

  • Communication attributes
  • Interpersonal skills
  • Interest in serving the needs of others
  • Maturity
  • Ability to relate to people
  • Motivation for medicine
  • How one reacts to questions that are purposefully meant to “ruffle your feathers.” Do not take it personally.
  • Ability to handle stress
  • Realistic understanding of medicine and the PA profession
  • Depth of extracurricular activities
  • Right fit for medicine and PA profession
  • Right fit for MU

Consequence of a poor interview

No matter how well qualified academically you may be, a poor interview definitely reduces your chance of receiving an acceptance. Many well-qualified candidates ruin their chances for acceptance by making poor impressions during the interview process. Although they have top grades, high GRE scores and quality experience, students who are not offered an acceptance:

  • Are unable to appropriately articulate their goals
  • Fail to explain their fit for the University and program
  • Cannot explain any obvious weaknesses in themselves or their application
  • Do not sell their strengths
  • Fail to demonstrate emotional maturity and common social skills
  • Fail to demonstrate a passion for medicine
  • Do not ask intelligent questions
  • Talk too much
  • Appeared bored or uninterested in the interview process and/or with program faculty and students
  • Show arrogance, not confidence
  • Text or talk on their cell phones during the interview day (hint: leave your phone in your car or
  • purse)
  • Letting interview questions affect one personally
  • Arrive late (hint: early is on time, on time is late)