Rutgers University, a prestigious public research university, has a rich history and a vibrant academic community. For prospective students, especially those interested in the Physician Assistant (PA) Program, understanding the university’s location is a crucial first step. Rutgers University is primarily located in New Brunswick, New Jersey, serving as its flagship campus. This bustling city offers a dynamic environment for students pursuing higher education, particularly in demanding fields like healthcare.
The Physician Assistant Program at Rutgers is situated within the School of Health Professions, further specifying its location within the broader university system. Knowing the campus location provides context for prospective students as they consider factors like living arrangements, transportation, and the overall environment they will be immersed in during their studies.
Now that we’ve established where Rutgers University is located, let’s delve into the application process for the esteemed Physician Assistant Program for the 2024-2025 admissions cycle, targeting Fall 2025 entry. The application will open on April 25th, 2024, via CASPA (Central Application Service for Physician Assistants).
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Application Deadline: It is imperative to note that applications for Fall 2025 must be complete and verified by CASPA by September 1st, 2024. CASPA advises applicants to finalize their applications 6-8 weeks prior to the deadline to ensure timely verification. Utilize the CASPA Quick Start Guide for comprehensive details on application completion and verification.
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Complete Application Components: A complete application necessitates three letters of recommendation, all required supporting documents (including all post-secondary transcripts), and a non-refundable $50 supplemental fee. CASPA verification is mandatory after application completion before it is forwarded to the PA Program for review. The program strictly adheres to the deadline; applications completed but not verified by September 1st will not be considered.
Please be aware that the $50 supplemental application fee is non-refundable.
Prerequisite Coursework for Rutgers PA Program
Rigorous academic preparation is essential for the Rutgers PA Program. Applicants must fulfill all prerequisite coursework requirements, achieving a minimum letter grade of C in each course, by the conclusion of the spring semester preceding program commencement. While completing prerequisites before applying is preferred, the program does consider applicants with prerequisites in progress. Highly competitive applicants typically have no more than two outstanding science prerequisites at the time of application submission. Applicants with outstanding prerequisites must clearly articulate their plan to complete them by the end of the spring semester before starting the program.
Rutgers PA Program accepts CLEP (College-Level Examination Program) credit for General Psychology (CLEP course: Introductory Psychology) and English Composition (CLEP course: College Composition). A minimum score of 50 is required for CLEP credit acceptance.
For detailed guidelines on prerequisite coursework, please refer to the official document: Prerequisite Coursework Guidelines.
Course Prerequisites for the 2024-2025 Admissions Cycle:
- General Psychology (3 credits)
- English Composition (3 credits)
- Statistics (Preferably Applied Statistics or Biostatistics from Psychology, Biology, or Math Departments) (3 credits)
- Human Anatomy (3-4 credits)*^
- Physiology (3-4 credits)*^
- Microbiology (3-4 credits)
- Biochemistry (3 credits)
- Additional upper-level biology coursework (6-8 credits)
* Human Anatomy and Physiology can be taken as separate courses or as a two-semester sequence of Anatomy & Physiology I and II.
For further examples of courses that fulfill the upper-level biology requirement, consult: Upper-Level Biology Requirement Guidelines.
Applicants who have not engaged in coursework within the past decade are strongly advised to complete refresher courses, particularly in biological sciences. Recommended refresher course topics include genetics, microbiology, immunology, cell biology, and biochemistry.
A scenic view of Rutgers University’s Health Sciences Campus in New Brunswick, New Jersey, highlighting the university’s commitment to health professions education in a vibrant urban setting.
Essay Component of the Application
A well-crafted, grammatically sound essay is a critical component of the Rutgers PA Program application. The personal narrative essay serves as an opportunity for applicants to provide context and insights not readily apparent in other sections of the CASPA application. Applicants are encouraged to elaborate on aspects such as:
- Their motivation for pursuing a career as a Physician Assistant.
- Unique and significant life experiences that have shaped them.
- Demonstrated success in overcoming challenges and adversity.
- Leadership roles they have undertaken.
- Positive attributes and strengths they believe they will contribute to the PA program and the PA profession.
Letters of Recommendation for Rutgers PA Program
The Rutgers PA Program requires three letters of recommendation submitted through CASPA. Applicants should solicit recommendations from individuals who can comprehensively assess their academic capabilities, work ethic, professionalism, and overall character. Suitable recommenders may include instructors, former employers, volunteer supervisors, or community leaders. Notably, highly competitive applicants often secure recommendations from healthcare professionals, such as physicians and PAs, which can significantly strengthen their application.
Patient Contact Experience Expectations
Patient contact experience is a prerequisite for admission to the Rutgers PA Program. While the program does not stipulate a minimum number of healthcare experience hours, the most competitive applicants typically demonstrate substantial experience working directly with patients. Recommended experiences encompass roles such as medical assistants, certified nursing assistants/aides, nurses, EMTs (Emergency Medical Technicians), patient care technicians, physical therapy assistants, and hospice volunteers. These experiences provide valuable insights into patient care and the healthcare environment.
PA Shadowing Requirement
Shadowing Physician Assistants is considered essential for applicants to gain a thorough understanding of the PA role in healthcare delivery. Therefore, demonstrating familiarity with the PA profession through direct experience, ideally through shadowing, is a crucial aspect of the application. Similar to patient care experience, there are no minimum hour requirements for PA shadowing or volunteer work. The primary objective is to ensure applicants have adequate exposure to healthcare settings, patient interactions, and the specific responsibilities of a PA. Volunteer work demonstrating a consistent commitment to community service is also favorably considered by the Admissions Committee. For insights into the average hours accrued by successful applicants, refer to the FAQ section for data from recent matriculating classes.
The official seal of Rutgers University, symbolizing its long-standing tradition of academic excellence and its location within the state of New Jersey.
Guidelines for Domestic and International Students
Domestic Students with Study Abroad Experience:
Specific guidelines apply to domestic students who have studied abroad:
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Foreign transcript evaluation is NOT required if:
- The student’s home institution transcript includes grades and credits for all courses taken abroad.
- Fewer than 3 non-prerequisite science courses were taken abroad.
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Foreign transcript evaluation IS required if:
- A science prerequisite course was completed while studying abroad.
- The student studied abroad for 2 or more semesters.
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Situations involving 3 or more non-prerequisite science courses taken abroad are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
International Students:
For international students, the Rutgers PA program accepts the TOEFL iBT Test. The TOEFL Essentials test is not accepted for the 2024-2025 admissions cycle. Refer to the PA program’s TOEFL Policy for detailed information: TOEFL Policy.
All foreign transcripts must be evaluated by a recognized evaluation agency and submitted to the Rutgers University PA Program. Agencies recognized by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) are acceptable (NACES Members). World Education Services, Inc. is recommended.
Canadian schools may have specific transcript submission guidelines as per CASPA. Consult the CASPA Applicant Help Center for guidance: CASPA Transcript Guidance for Canadian Schools.
By understanding where Rutgers University is located and carefully navigating the application process outlined above, prospective students can confidently pursue their aspirations of joining the esteemed Physician Assistant Program at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey.
