The Applications Process

The following information describes the application process for those seeking admission into the Lincoln Memorial University-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine (LMU-DCOM) Physician Assistant (PA) program:

Step 1 - Complete the Application

LMU-DCOM's PA program has provided an application on the website to complete and submit to the Office of Admissions, Physician Assistant Program, LMU-DCOM, 6965 Cumberland Gap Parkway, Harrogate, TN 37752.

The application should be returned with a $50.00 non-refundable application fee.

Applicants are required to write two short essays addressing the following questions:

1) What are your reasons for desiring to enter the PA profession?
2) What personal qualities do you possess that will make you a successful Physician Assistant?

Applicants are also required to submit three required letters of reference or have their references complete the evaluation form, which is available on the website. References should include: at least one letter from a physician assistant (PA), osteopathic or allopathic physician (DO or MD) or other health-care professional and at least one letter from the applicant's pre-professional advisor, science professor or former employer. Letters of reference should be submitted to the Office of Admissions, Physician Assistant Program by mailing to LMU-DCOM, 6965 Cumberland Gap Parkway, Harrogate, TN 37752.

*Answering questions on racial identification and how applicants plan to finance their education are optional.

Step 2 - Submit official transcripts from a regionally accredited university and/or college.

All candidates must submit official transcripts from the regionally accredited universities and/or colleges where the candidate earned a bachelor's degree and completed any of the prerequisite courses required for the PA program.

Step 3 - Submit Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Scores

Applicants must take the general test component of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) within 5 years of the application date and have scores reported to Lincoln Memorial University (school code: 1408). It is expected that successful applicants will have received GRE scores at or above 1000. Information about the GRE can be found at www.gre.org.

Applicants with Foreign Coursework

Applicants who wish to use coursework completed outside the United States must submit their transcripts for evaluation to one of the following services:

World Education Services
P. O. Box 745, Old Chelsea Station
New York, NY 10113-0745
212.966.6311
www.wes.org

Josef Silny & Associates
7101 SW 102 Avenue
Miami, FL 33173
305.273.1616
www.jsilny.com

A course-by-course evaluation is required and all course work must be designated as undergraduate, graduate or professional. LMU-DCOM will only honor evaluations from one of the above services. The evaluation must be included with the application.

One final note: review of the application file by the Admissions Committee

Following receipt of the applicant's application, supportive documents, GRE scores and official transcripts from each of the regionally accredited universities or colleges attended, the Admissions Committee will then review the application file. The Admissions Committee is composed of members of the PA and medical school faculty. The Committee will decide which applicants to invite to campus for an interview.

Interviews will usually be conducted between October and January. Those applicants selected for an on-campus interview will be contacted by telephone and/or email to schedule the interview. The applicant will be given pertinent information about the schedule of events for the interview day, which will include meeting with an interview panel.

Following the on-campus interview the applicant's file will again be reviewed by the Admissions Committee to determine whether or not to extend an offer of admission. Applicants will be notified in writing of the decision of the committee. Applicants who are offered admission will be notified of the deadline for accepting the offer of admission and other pertinent information. The LMU-DCOM PA Program is applying for provisional accreditation from the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA). Applicants who are accepted to the program during this phase will be conditionally accepted until the results from the ARC-PA are received in March, 2009. Applicants will be notified of the accreditation status at that time.

The Admissions Committee will select students for admission based on a variety of factors. When reviewing application files the committee will consider the applicant's overall grade point average (GPA), grades in individual courses, undergraduate curriculum, prerequisite courses, any advanced-level laboratory science courses taken, verbal and non-verbal communication skills, background, GRE scores and any other pertinent information. The committee will also consider the applicant's desire to practice medicine in underserved areas of the southern Appalachian region and personal connection to this area. The preceding factors are not and should not be considered exhaustive.

No one piece of evidence presented by an applicant will, in and of itself, determine whether or not the committee extends an offer of admission. The decision to extend an offer of admission will be based on the totality of the evidence presented by the applicant to the committee.

The LMU-DCOM PA program seeks to attract and retain the best and brightest applicants whose career goals are consistent with the mission and purpose of the college. We seek to enroll students who are inquisitive, intuitive, compassionate, possess a passion for the science and art of medicine and desire to serve others in underserved areas.

The level of competition for a seat in the class will be determined by the number of applications received during the academic year and the specific qualifications of the applicant pool. The admissions process is fluid and changes from year-to-year. No educational institution knows with certainty how many applications for admission it will receive in a given year, and the LMU-DCOM PA program is no different. Thus, it is impossible for us to give exact figures for GPAs or GRE scores that would make one competitive for admission.

We look forward to working with you in this process. Please feel free to contact us should you have any questions.

Dr. Michelle Heinan, PAC, DFAAPA
Director, Physician Assistant Program
800-325-0900, ext. 6669 (toll-free)
423-869-6669 (direct)
PAAdmissions@lmunet.edu

The LMU-DCOM Physician Assistant Program is applying for provisional accreditation from the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA). Accreditation is anticipated to be granted in March, 2009. Provisional accreditation is required prior to starting the program in order for graduates to be able to sit for the national certification examination for physician assistants, a credential required for state licensure. Should the program not receive provisional accreditation, all deposits will be returned to candidates. Information on accreditation is available at www.arc-pa.org.