ISSUE 10

By Jim Pearson and Dr. Scott Massey

Welcome back to PA Admissions Corner. In the past three Issues, we have discussed problems that affect all PA programs: grade inflation, lack of didactic preparedness, and competition with other programs. The fourth and final installment on Struggles in Admissions Practices, we’re going to provide a list of questions to ask yourself about how you stack up to the other programs in your geographic area.

One caveat—only look at competing PA Programs within a 150- to 250-mile radius of your PA educational institution. Some areas like Philadelphia or New York City usually have a smaller competitive radius, where areas in the Midwest like Iowa, Kansas, or Nebraska have a larger competitive radius and may need to expand the 250-mile radius.

Why limit the radius to 250 miles when most PA programs receive applicants from sometimes dozens of states. If we’re looking at why candidates would choose another PA program over yours, who are your direct competitors for a good percentage of your applicants? A PA program halfway across the United States will only enroll a few students every few years from your region.

11 Questions: Analysis

1. How does your reputation compare to your competition?
   1. Better
   2. On par
   3. Worse
2. How does your in-state tuition compare to your competition?
   1. Significantly higher (More than $20,000 more expensive)
   2. Moderately higher ($8000 to $20,000 more expensive)
   3. Competitive (Within $8000 of competition)
   4. Moderately lower ($8000 to $25,000 less expensive)
   5. Significantly lower (More than $25,000 less expensive)
3. How does your out-of-state tuition compare to your competition?
   1. Significantly higher (More than $20,000 more expensive)
   2. Moderately higher ($8000 to $15,000 more expensive)
   3. Competitive (Within $8000 of competition)
   4. Moderately lower ($8000 to $15,000 less expensive)
   5. Significantly lower (More than $25,000 less expensive)
4. How does the start of your admissions cycle compare to your competition?
   1. Earlier (Start date 60 or more days earlier)
   2. On par (Start date between 60 days earlier and 45 days later)
   3. Later (Start date 45 or more days later)
5. How does the end of your admissions cycle compare to your competition?
   1. Earlier (End date 30 or more days earlier)
   2. On par (End date less than 30 days earlier or later)
   3. Later (End date 30 or more days later)
6. How does your initial (first) interview cycle date compare to your competition?
   1. Earlier (Start date 45 or more days earlier)
   2. On par (Start date less than 45 days earlier or later)
   3. Later (Start date 45or more days later)
7. How does your initial acceptance letter date compare to your competition?
   1. Earlier (Letter date 30 or more days earlier)
   2. On par (Letter date less than 30 days earlier or later)
   3. Later (Letter date 30 or more days later)
8. How does your admission cycle’s next matriculation date compare to your competition?
   1. Earlier (Start date 60 or more days earlier)
   2. On par (Start date less than 60 days earlier and less than 75 days later)
   3. Later (Start date 75 or more days later)
9. How does your cost of living compare to your competition?
   1. Higher
   2. On par
   3. Lower
10. How does your PA program’s location as a destination for young people compare to your competition? For example, Philadelphia, New York City, or Miami would have more to offer young people than a city in Maine or Iowa.
    1. Significantly more appeal to young people
    2. On par
    3. Significantly less appeal to young people
11. How does your PA program’s location as a healthcare destination for your graduates compare to your competition? For example, Los Angeles, Pittsburgh, or New York City would have more healthcare employment options than Kansas City, MO, or Akron, OH.
    1. Significantly more healthcare employment options
    2. On par
    3. Significantly fewer healthcare employment options