The Admissions Committee will select from among those candidates who show the most promise of becoming outstanding PA’s. We will look for intelligent, mature and highly motivated students from diverse educational and cultural backgrounds who will have the potential to become compassionate, competent health care providers and team members. We will review each application individually on his or her own merit. Admission decisions are based on the evaluation of the applicant’s academic record, personal statement, previous medical experience, letters of recommendation, and the formal interview (see prerequisites). We expect applicants to have some awareness of the nature of medical care as it is practiced today and to be able to commit themselves to a profession dedicated to providing compassionate, quality care to the sick and injured. Preference for selection will be given to applicants who have prior health care experience, PA shadowing, a record of community service, graduates of West Liberty University and those who are residents of West Virginia. Many of our students will have medical exposure in fields such as military corpsman, nurse, surgical tech, respiratory therapy, and EMT.
The university and program are committed to equal opportunity for men and women, and does not discriminate on the basis race, gender, national origin, or sexual orientation. Reasonable accommodations will be made for applicants with handicaps, however, as part of the admission process, all applicants must meet the technical standards requirements .
This application cycle will run from April 26, 2018 to October 1, 2018. Priority in application review and an invitation to interview in our EARLY interview session will be given to the applicants who have submitted a *verified CASPA application (see definition below), a supplemental application, the GRE General Exam, a CASPer examination & the required WLU $25.00 supplemental application fee on or before August 1, 2018. If you miss the EARLY interview deadline, all requirements must submitted before the cycle deadline of October 1, 2018, NO EXCEPTIONS. Our program wishes to emphasize that the diligent applicant will take the CASPer examination as early in the cycle as possible.
*What is a “verified” application? Per CASPA:
Definition
Verification is the process used to ensure all of your coursework was entered correctly and consistently. Since credit values, grade values, and course subjects vary widely from school to school, your programs need some type of standardization so they can accurately compare applicants. This standardization is achieved by using your coursework to create a standard set of GPAs, ensuring you are compared to other applicants fairly and equally.
Timeline
Once all of your required application materials are received, your application’s status changes to Complete and your application is placed in line to be verified. Verifications occur in chronological order and on average take two weeks to complete. Once your application is verified, you will receive a notification and your application’s status will change to Verified.
When To Contact CASPA
Contact customer service (617-612-2080) if it has been more than two weeks from the date your application’s status changed to Complete and your application has not yet been verified. If it has been less than two weeks, please be patient as we work toward verifying your application.
GPA calculation completed by the deadline date posted. To ensure the application is verified by CASPA on time, CASPA states that all applicants should complete the process at least four weeks in advance of the deadline date. (e-submitted, payment received, transcripts received, and three letters of recommendation received).
Please be reminded that our WLU Faculty Review committee will not review any CASPA application that has not been given a “verified” status.
- First: The applicant will fill out and submit a CASPA Application
- Second: The applicant will complete and submit West Liberty University’s supplemental application & $25.00 application fee: WLU SUPPLEMENTAL APPLICATION 2018-19
(Applicants educated outside of the United States must also submit the additional required additional materials.)
- Third: The applicant will complete a CASPer examination. Please note: Your CASPA ID is required to register for the CASPer Exam.
About the CASPer Test
(Computer-Based Assessment for Sampling Personal Characteristics)All applicants to the Physician Assistant Program, here at West Liberty University are required to complete this online assessment, to assist with our selection process. Successful completion of CASPer is mandatory in order to maintain admission eligibility. This is an online test which assesses for non-cognitive skills and interpersonal characteristics that we believe are important for successful students and graduates of our program, and will complement the other tools that we use for applicant screening. In implementing CASPer, we are trying to further enhance fairness and objectivity in our selection process.
In order to take CASPer, you will be responsible for securing access to a computer with audio capabilities, a webcam, and a reliable internet connection on your selected test date. Please note: the last date to take the exam for our program is Wednesday, October 3rd, 2018 therefore, you must be diligent and early in taking the exam otherwise, it is possible that your CASPer test will not be scored in time for a faculty review.
CASPer can be taken practically anywhere that you can satisfy the aforementioned requirements. No exceptions will be provided for applicants unable to take CASPer online due to being located at sites where internet is not dependable due to technical or political factors. The CASPer test is comprised of 12 sections of video and written scenarios. Following each scenario, you will be required to answer a set of probing questions under a time contract. The test typically takes between 75-90 minutes to complete. Each response is graded by a different rater, giving a very robust and reliable view of personal and professional characteristics important to our program.
Please go to www.takeCASPer.com to sign up and reserve a test using your CASPA ID and a piece of government-issued photo ID. You will be provided with a limited number of testing dates and times. Please note that these are the only testing dates available for your CASPer test once again noting that the last date for you to take the exam in time for our PA program is, Wednesday, October 3, 2018. Please be diligent and use an email address that you check regularly; there may be updates to the test schedule. No studying is required for CASPer, although you may want to familiarize yourself with the test structure at takeCASPer.com, and ensure you have a quiet environment to take the test.
Please direct any inquiries on the test to [email protected]. Alternatively, you may use the chat bubble in the bottom right hand corner of your screen on the takecasper.com website. CASPer test results are valid for only one admissions cycle. Applicants who have already taken the test in previous years will therefore be expected to re-take it.
- Fourth: The applicant will take and submit the GRE General examination. (WLU GRE Code: 4027)
- Fifth: Select applicants will be invited to West Liberty University campus for personal interviews. During the interview process, all applicants will be asked to write a brief composition on a particular topic & screened in Medical Terminology.
- Sixth: All candidates will be notified in writing of the admissions committee’s decision. Candidates who are chosen to interview could possibly be notified of the admissions committee’s decision as early as the day of their interview but, no later that March 31, as we do offer seats on a “rolling basis”. Successful candidates will be contacted personally by the PA program director and invited to take a seat in the program. The official letter of acceptance from our University’s Admissions Office will follow.
- Seventh: A confirmation and deposit is required to hold your place in the class and to confirm your acceptance. You will not be registered for classes until your deposit has been received. We require a $500.00 deposit however, it will be applied toward your first term’s tuition. Should you decide not to attend after sending in your deposit, please keep in mind that it is nonrefundable.
*Note: It is not necessary to send transcripts directly to the University in addition to what the applicant has already submitted to CASPA during the application process unless:
1). The applicant has courses in progress at the time of application.
2). The applicant is in the process of completing an undergraduate degree.
3). The applicant is offered a seat in the program: (Should the applicant accept a seat in the program, admittance is contingent on receipt and verification of all “official” transcripts and
any other supporting documents. Selected candidates are also required to pass a Background Check as well as a Drug Screening. All will be complete and successful BEFORE
matriculation.)