Updated October 26, 2026

Michigan-Flint PA Program Interview: Format, Dates and Who Gets In

University of Michigan-Flint is sending decisions for its January 2027 class now, and its next cycle opens April 29, 2027. Here is what happens on interview day, how you get invited and how offers are decided.

UM-Flint's interviews for the class starting January 2027 were held in September 2026 and have passed. Decisions go out between mid-October and early December. The in-person interview day has individual interviews and may add a writing sample and group activities. The next cycle runs April 29 to August 1, 2027, with Casper required, for about 50 seats.

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Key facts (2027 entry)

Next step: Decisions for the January 2027 class go out between mid-October and early December 2026. The next cycle opens April 29, 2027.
Format: Individual interviews. The day may also include a writing sample, group participation and other evaluative activities.
Online or in person: In person, on the UM-Flint campus, by invitation only.
When: Typically early September. For January 2027 entry they were held in September 2026 and have passed.
What is assessed: Communication, understanding of the PA profession, problem solving, fit with the mission and the program's essential attributes, and potential to succeed.
Seats: Up to 50 a year, in a 28-month program that starts each January.
Tests: Casper is required. GRE and MCAT scores are not considered.
Next deadline: August 1, 2027 for the class starting January 2028, verified by CASPA by August 15.

What happens on the interview day

Interview day is in person on the Flint campus. You meet faculty, staff, current students and university representatives.

Individual interviews. The core of the day. UM-Flint does not publish how many interviews there are or how long each lasts. PAEA lists a traditional interview.
Other activities. The day may also include a writing sample, group participation and other evaluative activities.
Getting to know Flint. A walking tour of campus and meetings with university representatives about student services.
What they assess. Communication and people skills, understanding of the PA profession, problem solving and critical thinking, fit with the mission and essential attributes, and your potential to succeed.

Be ready to write. A writing sample may be part of the day. UM-Flint does not publish the prompt or time limit, so practice writing a short, organized response under a time limit.

How offers are decided

After interviews, the program looks again at your whole application together with how you did on interview day.

Mid-October to early December. UM-Flint aims to send decisions in this window.
Deposit. If you are offered a place, you pay a $1,000 nonrefundable seat deposit within one week.
Alternate list. Interviewed applicants not offered a place at first may go on an alternate list and are told if a seat opens.
No deferrals. If you can't start in the year you are admitted, you must apply again.

Who got in

The Class of 2028 averaged a 3.62 cumulative GPA, a 3.71 prerequisite GPA and a 3.56 science GPA, with about 3,194 patient care hours. The average age was 25.

How you get an interview

UM-Flint does not use rolling admissions. After the deadline it reviews every complete application as a whole and invites competitive applicants.

500 hours of hands-on patient care. Done before you submit CASPA, ideally within the last two years. Paid work is preferred, and shadowing or student clinical hours don't count.
Grades. A 3.0 CASPA cumulative GPA and a 3.0 prerequisite GPA, with every prerequisite finished before you submit.
Casper. The U.S. Casper test (CSP-20100) is required. Snapshot and Duet are not.
Three letters. One must come from a supervisor who can confirm your health care hours. Letters from family or friends are not accepted.
Leadership and advocacy. The program values leadership and advocacy in health care or the community, and fit with its public health emphasis.

Automatic interviews for some UM-Flint students. Students in certain UM-Flint pre-PA, health sciences and respiratory therapy programs who meet the minimums get an interview automatically. It is not an offer.

Dates and other details

UM-Flint has already posted its dates for the class starting January 2028.

Class starting January 2027

August 1, 2026. CASPA deadline, with verification by August 15. Both have passed.
September 2026. In-person interviews. These have passed.
Mid-October to early December 2026. Admission decisions go out.
January 2027. The Class of 2029 begins.

Class starting January 2028

April 29, 2027. The application cycle opens.
June 28, 2027. Deadline to request a seven-year science course waiver or a last-60-credits GPA waiver.
August 1, 2027. CASPA deadline. CASPA must verify the application by August 15, 2027.

Who can apply and the program

Applicants must be U.S. citizens, permanent residents or DACA recipients. The 28-month, 103-credit program has 16 months of classes and 12 months mostly in clinical rotations.

Rotations run across Michigan Medicine, U-M Health affiliates, Genesee County hospitals and Hamilton Community Health Center.

How to prepare

UM-Flint's day can mix interviews, writing and group work, so practice all three.

Learn the mission. UM-Flint wants PAs who are leaders and advocates for the profession and public health. Have an example of advocacy you have done.
Know the attributes. The program lists 12 essential attributes, including leadership, altruism, resilience and teamwork. Match a short story to several of them.
Practice group tasks. In a group activity, help the group decide, invite quiet members in and keep an eye on the clock.
Prepare for Casper early. Casper scores count for one cycle only, so take it in the cycle you apply.

Talk about Flint. The mission names service to the diverse local community. Show you know who the program serves and why that matters to you.

Practice questions

Questions in the style of a Individual interviews + activities (in person) station, written for applicants to University of Michigan-Flint, Physician Assistant Program. They are practice questions, not the school's own. Open one for what a strong answer does.

In a group task, a clinic forgot to call a patient about an abnormal lab result, and the patient found out two weeks later. You have ten minutes as a group to draft a joint apology. How would you approach it?

Own the mistake without excuses, make sure everyone contributes and avoid promises nobody can keep.

In a group task, your group must decide whether a limited community health grant goes to a childhood vaccination program or a diabetes clinic for older adults. You have ten minutes to agree. How would you approach it?

Agree on criteria first, then move the group to one answer without steamrolling anyone.

You're a PA in a busy clinic, and the medical assistants take longer to room patients for you than for the other PAs. Your schedule keeps backing up. How do you address this?

Check your own workflow first, then talk to the team with curiosity instead of blame.

You are a PA. Your supervising physician tells you to rush through your remaining patient visits because they want to close the clinic early on a Friday. Have the conversation.

Protect patient safety while respecting the physician, and offer a practical middle ground.

During a busy shift, your supervising physician sharply criticizes your suturing technique in front of a conscious patient. How do you handle the moment, and what do you do afterward?

Stay calm for the patient now, and ask for feedback in private later.

In a group task, your group gets a list of five patients waiting in an emergency department. You have eight minutes to agree on the order to see them. How would you approach it?

Set a quick process, focus on who is at most risk and make sure every voice is heard.

Frequently asked questions

Is the UM-Flint PA interview in person?

Yes. Interviews are by invitation only and are held on the UM-Flint campus, typically in early September.

What happens on UM-Flint PA interview day?

Individual interviews, and possibly a writing sample, group participation and other activities. There is also a campus tour and meetings with university representatives.

When does UM-Flint PA send decisions?

The program aims to send decisions between mid-October and early December. For the class starting January 2027 that is October to December 2026.

Does UM-Flint PA require Casper or the GRE?

Casper is required, and scores count for one cycle only. GRE and MCAT scores are not considered.

When is the UM-Flint PA deadline for 2028 entry?

August 1, 2027, with CASPA verification by August 15, 2027. The cycle opens April 29, 2027.

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.

University of Michigan-Flint: Physician Assistant Admissions Process · read October 26, 2026
University of Michigan-Flint: Physician Assistant FAQs · read October 26, 2026
University of Michigan-Flint: Master of Science in Physician Assistant · read October 26, 2026
PAEA CASPA Program Directory: University of Michigan-Flint · read October 26, 2026