1. Cumulative and science GPAs: A minimum cumulative college GPA of 3.00 and a minimum science GPA of 3.00 is required;
2. Grade improvement in repeated courses.
3. While there is not a minimum number of prerequisite courses required upon application submission, points are awarded for more courses completed.

In accordance with the stated mission of the program to prepare health care providers to meet the needs of this rural region, applicants are awarded admissions locality preference points based upon the following:

1. Permanent address within the program’s stated region: Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, North or South Dakota, Utah, or Idaho (four percentage points possible); and
2. Population of the location in which the applicant graduated from high school – there is a rural preference (four percentage points possible).

The quantity and quality of past clinical work experience (direct patient care), as well as any formal health career training (EMT, CNA, LPN, RN, RT, MT, etc.) are assessed as part of each applicant’s screening evaluation. Candidates with clinical experience are clearly more competitive.

As evidenced by the CASPA essay, applicants are evaluated for their ability to express themselves in written communication.

The letter writer’s assessment of the applicant’s ability to be a future physician assistant is the basis for this evaluation.