Why I Chose UT Southwestern's Physician Assistant (PA) Program

Why Did You Choose UT Southwestern’s PA Program?

This is a commonly asked question. I get this question about once a week from my blog or in-person when I give campus tours. It is a very difficult question to answer. Mainly because it's difficult to answer without making one PA program shine and all of the others look inferior. There are plenty of wonderful PA programs available, so I won’t spend any time criticizing them. Instead, I will say a few things about the program I did choose. These are in no particular order.

1. Excellent rotation sites: When I was looking into UTSW, they were building 2 new major hospitals within walking distance of the university (William P. Clements and Parkland Memorial Hospital). Those hospitals are now complete and are some of the largest in the southwest region, they offer state of the art facilities, and will include many new rotation sites for our program allowing it to grow in size. In addition, our program phases out bad rotations if they find any not up to high standards (which does occasionally happen) and they find new rotations for students if that does happen.

PA School Tuition Decreases!

Hallelujer, praise da Lort! (I hope you've seen Madea) 

Our professors recently went to Philly to the PAEA Conference where some very interesting information was presented. For those applying this cycle or next, take a look at this:

Data revealed from the 29th Annual Report:

1. If you apply to one PA program - you have a 25% chance of getting in
2. If you apply to 12 programs (or more) - you have a 49% chance of getting acceptance
1. No additional benefit for more than 12 
3. As age of applicants increases, GPA was lower 
4. With each cycle, GPAs are increasing
1. In 2007 (avg: 3.39), while in 2011 (avg: 3.49) - matriculants (people who got accepted)
2. In 2007 (avg: 3.12), while in 2011 (avg: 3.16) - non-matriculants (who did not get in)
5. Health care experience decreasing steadily
1. In 2007 (avg: 3.43 years), while in 2011 (avg: 1.88 years)
6. Number of applicants increasing - not surprising, honestly
1. As of September 30, 19,000 applications were submitted 
7. 60 programs in the queue to be accredited - estimated 10,000 PA graduates by 2018
1. There are currently 204 PA programs - this is insane! But only 177 programs participate in CASPA. 

Now the FINALE!

1. Resident tuition at public school programs dropped 8.0% in 2013
2. Resident tuition at private school programs dropped 2.3%
3. Non-resident tuition at private school programs dropped 3.2% 

Sources:
http://networker.paeaonline.org
Twenty-Ninth Annual Report of Physician Assistant Educational Programs in the United States, 2012-2013