Updated October 24, 2026

Drexel PA Program Interview: Format, Writing Sample and Dates

What happens at the Drexel PA program interview, how you get one, and how it decides your offer.

Drexel's PA interview day is virtual and runs from about 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. It includes a writing sample, a presentation about the program, a chat with the program director, time with current students and an interview with a faculty member. Sessions typically run June through February, with 20 to 25 applicants each, for about 90 seats a year.

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Key facts (2027 entry)

Format: A writing sample and an interview with a faculty member, plus a program presentation, a chat with the program director and time with students. PAEA lists it as a traditional interview.
Online or in person: Virtual.
When: Typically June through February. Each interview day runs from about 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Group size: Drexel invites 20 to 25 applicants per session.
Who is interviewed: The most promising applicants who meet every minimum, reviewed in order of CASPA verification.
Class size: About 90 students a year. The Class of 2027 had 88 students from 2,767 applications.
Tests: GRE scores are not required or considered. PAEA lists no required standardized tests.

What happens on the interview day

The interview session is virtual and takes most of a working day, from about 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. It has five parts.

Writing sample. You write on the day. Drexel does not publish the topic or the time allowed.
Program presentation. The program introduces itself.
Chat with the program director. A conversation with the director of the PA program.
Current students. Time to talk with students already in the program.
Faculty interview. An interview with a faculty member. Drexel does not publish how long it lasts.

Plan before you write. Spend a minute outlining your point, one example and a short conclusion. A clear, short piece reads better than a long one.

How offers are decided

Drexel reviews applicants after their interview sessions and offers some of them early acceptance.

Decisions by the end of March. Accepted applicants get an email from the program, then an acceptance email and packet.
Waitlist. Waitlisted applicants are asked to confirm that they accept their place on the list.
Provisional offers. If you still have courses or your degree to finish, the offer is provisional until official transcripts arrive.
$500 deposit. Non-refundable, due within 15 days of the acceptance email.

What makes a competitive applicant

Drexel lists a strong academic history, deep hands-on patient care (primary care is preferred to narrow specialties), a fit with its mission, improvement over time, strong recommendations and a clear personal statement.

How you get an interview

Drexel reviews applications in order of verification and may stop before every file is screened if it reaches capacity, so applying early helps.

GPA of 3.0 or more. Both overall and science GPA, as calculated by CASPA. Applications below this are not reviewed.
500 patient care hours. Documented, direct hands-on patient care, paid or volunteer, done by the time you apply. Administrative jobs and pharmacy technician work do not count.
Community service. Drexel gives preference to applicants with at least 100 hours of community or volunteer service.
Shadowing. Strongly recommended but not counted as patient contact. Shadowing PAs in primary care is highly recommended.
Prerequisites. Nine courses with a B- or better. At most two can be outstanding when you apply, and all must be done by December 31 of the application year.
Two letters. Two are required and up to five are encouraged, ideally from supervisors or instructors who know you well.

What screeners look for

Drexel looks for the ability to handle the demands of training, commitment to people-oriented service, and familiarity with the PA role and profession.

It also looks for a match with its mission: community service, work in or ties to medically underserved areas, and a wish to work in primary care.

Dates and other details

Drexel admits on a rolling basis, so the earlier dates matter more than the deadline.

Dates for 2027 entry

April 30, 2026. The 2026-2027 application cycle opens.
June 2026 to February 2027. Virtual interview sessions, typically.
September 1, 2026. Your CASPA must be verified by 11:59 p.m. Eastern.
December 31, 2026. All prerequisite courses must be finished.
End of March 2027. All decisions should be made.
September 2027. Classes start, after a required orientation the week before the fall term.

The program

Drexel's mission is to educate PAs who deliver equitable, patient-centered primary care with a focus on under-resourced communities. Training is four quarters of classes, then eight clinical rotations and a primary care practicum.

The Class of 2027 averaged a 3.74 overall GPA, a 3.66 science GPA and 2,633 patient contact hours. In July 2026, ARC-PA placed the program on Accreditation-Probation status until its next review in July 2028.

How to prepare

Drexel looks for familiarity with the PA role and a commitment to service, so prepare to show both in writing and in conversation.

Practice timed writing. Write short responses to ethics and motivation questions with a timer. Read them back and cut anything vague.
Connect to primary care. Drexel's mission centers on primary care for under-resourced communities. Have a real example of caring for someone with limited access to care.
Know the PA role. Be ready to explain what PAs do, how they work with physicians, and what you learned from shadowing.
Rehearse on video. The day is virtual and long. Test your camera, light and sound, and plan breaks so you stay sharp for the faculty interview.

Bring questions for the director and students. Ask about rotations and how the program supports students. It shows interest and helps you decide.

Practice questions

Questions in the style of a Faculty interview + writing (online) station, written for applicants to Drexel University, Master of Health Science (MHS) Physician Assistant Program. They are practice questions, not the school's own. Open one for what a strong answer does.

If an undergraduate asked you for advice on choosing between the MD route and the PA route, what's the single biggest misconception you'd warn them about, based on your own journey?

Pick one real misconception, explain it with your own experience, and stay respectful of both paths.

You're a PA in a primary care clinic, and a patient's symptoms are unusual and outside your experience. Your collaborating physician is out sick today. What are your next steps?

Keep the patient safe, know your limits, and name the people and resources you would call on.

Your supervising physician suggests a treatment plan that doesn't match current clinical guidelines you've just studied, though it isn't dangerous. How would you approach that difference?

Ask questions with curiosity, bring the evidence, and respect the team relationship.

You are a PA. Your supervising physician has just told you to rush through your remaining patient visits because they want to close the clinic early on a Friday. What do you say?

Stay respectful but put patient care first, and suggest a practical way forward.

Both NPs and PAs play vital roles in expanding access to care. What is it about the medical model of PA education, as opposed to the nursing model, that fits the way you learn?

Respect both paths, then link the medical model to how you learn best, with an example.

Tell me about a time in your healthcare role when you were asked to do something slightly outside your training or comfort zone. What did you do?

Show that you speak up about your limits, ask for help and keep the patient safe.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Drexel PA interview virtual?

Yes. Drexel's interview sessions are virtual and typically run from June through February, from about 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Is there a writing sample at the Drexel PA interview?

Yes. The interview day includes a writing sample, along with a program presentation, a chat with the program director, time with students and a faculty interview. Drexel does not publish the writing topic.

How many applicants does Drexel interview at once?

Drexel invites 20 to 25 applicants to each interview session.

Does Drexel PA require the GRE?

No. Drexel says GRE scores are not required or considered, and PAEA lists no required standardized tests.

When does Drexel PA make decisions?

Drexel reviews applicants after their interview sessions, offers some early acceptance, and says all decisions should be made by the end of March.

Sources

Official pages only, read on the date shown. Schools change their process every year, so check the school's own page before you apply.

Drexel University: Master of Health Science - Physician Assistant (PA) · read October 24, 2026
PAEA CASPA Program Directory: Drexel University · read October 24, 2026