How to Apply to the Bechtel Physician Assistant Program

You must meet the program's minimum requirements to be eligible for the program. All prerequisite coursework must be earned from a regionally accredited U.S. Higher Education institution and be verifiable through official transcripts.

Bachelor's Degree or Higher

Bachelor degrees must be earned from a regionally accredited institution of higher education, or, be accepted by a U.S. equivalency reporting agency as an equivalent from a foreign institution. Transcripts demonstrating degree conferment must be received by CMU no later than October 1 of the year prior to matriculation. 

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Minimum 3.0 GPA

• Must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (as calculated by CASPA)
• Must have a minimum Science GPA of 3.0 (as calculated by CASPA)
• Must have a minimum Prerequisite GPA of 3.0

Quality of GPA above the minimum required 3.0 will be considered during the applicant screening process. 

Click here for more information about how CASPA calculates GPAs. 

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Complete all program prerequisite requirements

 View Prerequisite Course Requirements Here

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Healthcare Experience 

A minimum of 500 hours of healthcare experience is required at the time of application. Applicants have the opportunity to report their healthcare experience in the Supporting Information section of the CASPA application. Both paid and volunteer experiences are acceptable. All healthcare experience is considered equal. The number of reported healthcare experience hours will be considered during the applicant screening process.  

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Community Service

Community service engagement is highly recommended and the number of volunteer hours will be considered during the applicant screening process. Service activities that demonstrate a commitment to volunteer service in your community are desired. It is the responsibility of the applicant to explain the community service engagement during the application process.

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CASPer Exam

CASPer is an online situational judgment test that assesses non-academic attributes that we believe are important for successful students and Physician Assistants. The CASPer exam score will be reviewed by the Selection Committee and considered in the final scoring of the application. Your application will not be reviewed until we receive the results of your CASPer Exam. More information about the CASPer Exam is available here.

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Maverick Questionnaire

The Maverick Questionnaire is located within the Program Materials section of the CASPA application. Applicants will respond to a short questionnaire and report their connection to western Colorado. Preference in the application screening process will be given to candidates who have a connection to Western Colorado, which is documented as years of living, working, or attending school. For additional information about what we consider a connection to Western Colorado, see our FAQ page here.

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Maverick Essay

The Maverick Essay is located within the Program Materials section of the CASPA application. Applicants will be asked to articulate their understanding and commitment to the CMU Bechtel Physician Assistant Program's Mission and Vision. The Maverick Essay will be reviewed by the Selection Committee and considered in the final scoring of the application. 

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Personal Narrative Essay

Applicants will be asked to complete the CASPA Essay as part of the CASPA application. The personal narrative (CASPA Essay) will be scored by the Selection Committee and is based on the applicant's motivation for the PA Profession. 

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Professional Recommendations 

Three recommendations from advisors, employers, and/or medical references must be submitted as part of the CASPA application. The recommendations (CASPA Evaluation) will be reviewed by the Selection Committee and considered in the final scoring of the application. It is recommended that students request references from the following:

• Professor: A person who can attest to the applicant's academic preparedness for the program based on direct experience in a teacher-student relationship.
• Supervisor: A person who can attest to the applicant's interpersonal attributes and interpersonal communication abilities based on direct observation as supervisor of the applicant's volunteer or work experience.
• Health care Professional (PA, NP, MD, DO): A medical provider who can speak to the applicant's skills and abilities related to patient care and working as a future medical professional.

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CMU Graduate Application Fee

All applicants are required to pay the $50 CMU Graduate Application Fee in addition to any CASPA-related fees. This fee covers administrative costs related to the application review process. Applications will not be reviewed until all application requirements are met and the $50 CMU Graduate Application fee is paid. 

The CMU Graduate Application Fee can be paid here. 

 

There are no info sessions at this time. Stay tuned for further updates.

CASPA Application

The Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA) is a web-based application system that allows students to apply to multiple participating PA programs with a single application, facilitating a streamlined admissions process for programs. The CASPA application includes:

• Official College Transcripts
• Personal Narrative (CASPA Essay) 
• Professional Recommendations (CASPA Evaluations)
• Maverick Questionnaire
• Maverick Essay
• Health Care Experience
• Community Service Experience
  
  Get started on your CASPA application

CASPer Exam

CASPer is an online situational judgment test that is used to assess non-academic attributes that we believe are important for successful students and Physician Assistants. The CASPer exam score is considered in the Selection Committee review of the application. Your application will not be reviewed until we receive the results of your CASPer Exam. More information about the CASPer Exam is available at: https://takecasper.com/about-casper

CMU Graduate Application Fee

The $50 CMU Graduate Application Fee is an application requirement and is non-refundable. Applications will not be reviewed until your $50 CMU Graduate Application Fee has been paid. All fees must be paid by the September 1 admission deadline.

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Important Dates 

• April 27:  CASPA application for the 2024-2025 admission cycle opens 
• September 1: The admission cycle closes. Applications are reviewed by the program on a rolling basis. You are strongly advised to apply and complete each admission requirement as soon as possible after the opening of the cycle. See our FAQ page for more information about CASPA and how to complete all admission requirements.
• October 1:  All outstanding prerequisites must be completed, and transcripts for outstanding prerequisites and bachelor's degree must be received by CMU. 
• January: New class matriculates and classes start at the beginning of January. 

CASPer Test Dates:  (All times are reflected in EST/EDT)

2024-2025 Casper Test Dates

 For more information on test dates click here!

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Committee Review

When members of the PA Selection Committee are evaluating applications for the Colorado Mesa University PA Program, they are assessing the following:

• Academic Strength (Overall, Science, and Prerequisite GPAs) 
• CASPer Exam Score
• Community Engagement (number of volunteer hours)
• Connection to the communities of Western Colorado (documented as years of living, working, or attending school)
• Health Care Experience (minimum 500 hours)
• Maverick Essay
• Personal Narrative (CASPA Essay)
• Recommendations of advisors, employers, and medical references (CASPA Evaluations)

What We Value

We are interested in applicants who can articulate their passion for the Physician Assistant profession and a commitment to the CMU Bechtel Physician Assistant Program Mission and Vision. 

Professionalism: The CMU Bechtel Physician Assistant Program highly values professionalism during all phases of our program, including but not limited to pre-applicants, applicants, students, and graduates. Professionalism will be taken into consideration throughout the application process. We expect all persons to maintain a professional demeanor in all communications and interactions with the CMU Bechtel Physician Assistant Program. PA program faculty and staff have the right to reserve a response to any communication that is threatening, argumentative, offensive, or dishonest.

Invitation for Interview

Final application scores are determined based on Committee Review of the completed admission requirements. Interviews will be held during the summer and fall of the year prior to matriculation, and exact dates will be communicated via email to candidates with an offer to interview. We will be conducting all interviews virtually as we feel this creates a more equitable interview process by recognizing the time and financial impact that traveling for interviews has on an applicant. 

Interviewees will be evaluated on their performance in the following interview activities:

• Individual Interview
• Group Activity
• Writing Sample

Interviewees will be notified of the admissions decisions via email within a month of the interview.  Applicants that interview with the CMU Bechtel Physician Assistant Program will be placed in one of three categories: Accept, Waitlist, and Not Accepted.

A $1000 non-refundable payment is required to reserve the seat in the program at the time the offer is accepted. Instructions for payment will be provided with the acceptance letter. 

The PA Program Selection Committee will notify all applicants of their final status.  If an applicant commits to another program, we request the professional courtesy of notifying the CMU Bechtel Physician Assistant Program. 

Candidates offered a position will be required to complete the following prior to enrollment:

1. Health Information Release Form
2. Health Insurance documentation
3. Technical Standards Attestation Form
4. Immunization and Health Information documentation
5. Certified Background Check and Drug Screen
6. Official Transcripts submitted to CMU for all coursework
7. Health and Financial Responsibility Waiver
8. Conditional Acceptance documentation