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 (PAEP).
The PAEaP aims to recruit top-performing students to provide a direct pathway into the MSU PA Program. The 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 early-admission 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
Candidates 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
- 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.
Application Process
- To be considered for early acceptance, a student must submit an application and all required components between October 1 and January 1 to the application portal each year.
- Three letters of reference must be submitted with your application. Family or personal friends should not be used. Reference letters should be requested from each of the following
- One academic reference
- One medical field reference
- One other or character reference
- Official transcripts for coursework outside MSU, if applicable
- 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
The following conditions must be met to retain status as an early-acceptance student. Academic performance is reviewed at the end of each semester to ensure these standards are maintained.
- Maintain continuous full-time enrollment at Mississippi State University, completing at least 12 hours in each regular semester session.
- All required courses must be taken at Mississippi State University. Requests for approval to complete required courses outside MSU must be submitted in writing to the Admissions Committee, which will allow for a minimum of 30 days to review.
- Maintain a cumulative GPA > 3.35 and remain in good standing with the university.
- Complete the annual shadowing/clinical experience requirements (40 hours per year).
- Full participation is required in enrichment activities as scheduled; the primary location will be Meridian, MS.
To retain status as an EAS, the following conditions must be met. Academic performance is reviewed at the end of each semester 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.
- All required courses must be taken at Mississippi State University. Requests for approval to complete pre-requisites at external institutions must be submitted in writing to the Admissions Committee, with sufficient time to allow 30 days to review.
- Achieve a minimum letter grade of B in all prerequisite courses.
- Maintain a cumulative GPA > 3.35, reviewed at the end of each academic year.
- Complete a minimum of 20 shadowing hours per year with an approved medical provider.
- Full participation in professional enrichment activities as scheduled. The Admissions Committee will define full participation requirements for scheduled opportunities.
- A non-refundable seat deposit of $750 will be required by May 1 of junior year which will be applied to the first semester tuition of the PA program enrollment.
- Any Student with honor code or student code of conduct violation will be ineligible for matriculation into the PA program.
*The Admissions Committee will review student progress and renders the final decision if a student’s progress meets the standards of the outlined criteria.
Matriculation
To advance to the graduate phase of the Physician Assistant Studies Program, early-acceptance students must
- Meet criteria for PAEaP progression and retention without approved interruption.
- 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.
- Submit documentation of a minimum of 10 shadowing hours per year of a physician or physician assistant with a total of 30 hours at the time of CASPA application submission.
- Submit documentation of a minimum of 120 hours of direct patient care experience at the time of CASPA application; shadow hours will not substitute for direct patient care experience.
- 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. Mississippi State University's authorized representatives agree to adhere to these guidelines for the early-admission program, ensuring no changes are made without mutual consent.
*Administrative requirements, including technical standards, vaccinations, and health screenings are required per the Student Handbook of the year of matriculation.
Get in Touch
Email: pa@meridian.msstate.edu
Phone: (601) 696-2320