Preference Factors

Physician Assistant Education Preference Factors

The requirements for admission described in Admission Requirements are minimum requirements for admission. Because admission to the Program is highly competitive, the Program has designated a number of "Preference Factors" for applicants. In considering applicants for admission to the Program, the Admissions Committee will give preference for admission to applicants possessing the following:

• An overall GPA of 3.20 or higher (on a 4.0 scale) at time of application submission.
• A science (biology and chemistry) GPA of 3.20 or higher (on a 4.0 scale) at time of application submission.
• Strong motivation to become a physician assistant.
• Thorough understanding of and commitment to the PA profession, demonstrated at the interview.
• Strong motivation to practice in a medically underserved area.
• Work or volunteer experience demonstrating direct patient care. The most competitive applicants will have attained 2,000 hours of direct patient care experience; there is no minimum requirement. We value all types of direct patient care experience, however higher levels of responsibility with patient care are given greater preference during our admissions process.
• Significant extracurricular, professional, cultural, or service organization involvement and activity.
• Effective verbal, non-verbal, and written communication skills demonstrated on the application and at the interview.
• Qualities of maturity, professionalism, self-awareness, leadership and resilience demonstrated on the application, in letters of reference, and at the interview.
• Nebraska residency or residency in contiguous states (CO, IA, KS, MO, SD, and WY).

The PA program participates in RHOP and KHOP, early admission programs. Up to seven (7) positions in each entering class are reserved for applicants to these programs.

Note: Nebraska Medicine offers a Job Shadowing Program to help applicants attain shadowing hours. Information about this program and an application can be found here: Job Shadowing Program  Shadowing specifically at Nebraska Medicine is not a preference factor for admission.