Rush PA Program Interview (MMI): Format, Dates and Who Gets In
What happens at the Rush PA program interview, how you get one, and how it decides your offer.
Rush invites about 130 applicants each cycle to interview for one class of 32. For 2026-27, interviews are on Zoom from June through February. The day has an information session, a multiple mini interview (MMI) and a closed-door Q&A with students, with no group interview. Admission is rolling, with offers made after each interview session.
Key facts (2027 entry)
- Format
- A multiple mini interview (MMI). Group interviews are not used. Rush does not publish the number of stations or their length.
- Who interviews you
- PA program faculty and other university faculty and leaders.
- Online or in person
- Online, on Zoom.
- When
- June 2026 through February 2027. Invitations go to the email address in your CASPA application.
- Who is interviewed
- About 130 applicants each cycle. Veterans, economically disadvantaged and first-generation applicants, and recommended Rush BS in Health Sciences graduates get priority consideration.
- How the interview counts
- An interview with Rush faculty and leaders is required for a final admission decision. If interview scores tie, the same priority factors are used again.
- Tests
- No GRE and no Casper. Rush says scores are not considered.
What happens on the interview day
The interview day is on Zoom and has three parts.
- Information session. The program introduces itself.
- MMI. A multiple mini interview format, with PA program faculty and other university faculty and leaders. Rush does not publish how many stations there are or how long each lasts.
- Student Q&A. A closed-door question-and-answer session with current students.
- No group interview. Rush's packet says group interviews are not conducted.
- Health and background checks. Admission depends on a health assessment, criminal background check and drug screen before you start. These are explained during interviews.
Use the student Q&A. Bring two or three real questions about clinical rotations or life in Chicago. It helps you decide, and it shows genuine interest.
How offers are decided
Rush makes its final admission decisions after an interview with PA program faculty and other university faculty and leaders.
- Offers after each session. Rush admits on a rolling basis, so offers are made at each interview session to fill seats in the class.
- Three outcomes. After the interview you are accepted, waitlisted or denied.
- Tie-breaks. If interview scores tie, the priority factors are used again to decide who is accepted.
- One small class. The program admits one class of 32 a year.
How you get an interview
Meeting the minimums does not guarantee an interview. Because admission is rolling, all interview spots can fill before the cycle closes on October 1.
- GPA of 3.0 or more. Both total and science. Rush calls 3.3 competitive and 3.5 highly competitive. The Class of 2027 had medians of 3.63 total and 3.54 science.
- 1,000 paid patient contact hours. Direct patient contact through paid work, done by the time you apply and within the last seven years. Over 1,500 is competitive and over 2,500 highly competitive. The Class of 2027 median was 3,728.
- Training hours don't count. Hours from a training program are not eligible. Roles where you work directly with PAs are more competitive.
- Prerequisites. Six courses with a C or better, four of them finished when you apply, all within seven years of starting.
- Three letters. One from a physician, PA or other health professional and one from a college or university instructor.
Priority for an interview
All applicants must meet the minimums. Applicants who are military veterans, from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, the first in their family to attend higher education, or recommended graduates of the Rush BS in Health Sciences get priority consideration for an interview. In the Class of 2027, 69% met one of these factors.
Dates and other details
Rush runs a long cycle, so applying early matters more than the final deadline.
Dates for 2027 entry
- April 27, 2026. Rush's application cycle opens.
- June 2026 to February 2027. Zoom interviews. Only invited applicants complete the supplemental application and pay its $40 fee.
- October 1, 2026. The cycle closes.
The program
The program takes 30 months full time: 12 months of classes, then 18 months of clinical rotations. Its mission centers on evidence-based medicine with competence, professionalism and compassion, and service to diverse communities.
How to prepare
An MMI tests how you think and talk through short, separate scenarios, so practice many of them.
- Practice timed scenarios. Rush does not publish station timing, so practice answering ethics and teamwork prompts in two to six minutes.
- Know your paid role well. Rush counts only paid patient contact, so expect questions about what you did, who you worked with and what you learned.
- Connect to service. Rush's mission mentions service to diverse communities. Have a story about caring for someone whose background differs from yours.
- Rehearse on Zoom. Set up your camera, light and sound, and practice moving between scenarios without losing focus.
Reset between stations. Each MMI station is a fresh start. If one goes badly, take a breath and give the next one your full attention.
Practice questions
Questions in the style of a MMI (online) station, written for applicants to Rush University, Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies. They are practice questions, not the school's own. Open one for what a strong answer does.
You are a PA, and a patient refuses to let you do their intake, saying they only want to see 'a real doctor.' The physician won't be available for another hour, and the patient's vital signs are borderline unstable. How do you respond?
Respect the patient's wish, explain your role calmly, and make sure the unstable vitals are not ignored.
You are a PA. A close friend visiting from out of town forgot their asthma inhaler and asks you to quickly call in a refill so they don't have to go to urgent care. Respond to your friend.
Say no kindly, explain the boundary, and help them get safe care another way.
You are a PA in a surgical practice. Your supervising physician routinely skips hand hygiene before entering patient rooms when they're in a hurry. You're about to walk into a room together. Address it.
Speak up in the moment, keep it about patient safety, and stay respectful.
You're a PA student on rotation, and a patient asks you what you think their rash is. You're fairly sure it's eczema, but you haven't discussed it with your preceptor yet. How do you answer?
Be honest that you are a student, avoid guessing, and promise a clear answer after you check with your preceptor.
You're a PA in a busy clinic, and you notice the medical assistants consistently take longer to room patients for you than for the other PAs, so your schedule keeps backing up. How do you address this?
Get curious before you complain, talk with the team directly, and look for a fix that works for everyone.
Tell me about a patient from your paid healthcare work whose care taught you something about serving a community different from your own.
Describe what you noticed, what you did, and how it changed the way you work.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Rush PA interview an MMI?
Yes. Rush's 2026-2027 information packet says the interview day uses a multiple mini interview (MMI) style format, plus an information session and a student Q&A. Group interviews are not conducted.
Is the Rush PA interview virtual?
Yes. For the 2026-27 cycle, interviews are on Zoom from June through February.
How many applicants does Rush PA interview?
About 130 each cycle, for one class of 32 students.
Does Rush PA require the GRE or Casper?
No. Rush does not require the GRE or Casper, and scores are not considered.
Do volunteer hours count toward Rush's 1,000 hours?
No. Rush requires 1,000 hours of direct patient contact through paid employment, earned within seven years, and hours from a training program are not eligible.
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.
- Rush University: PA Studies Admissions and Deadlines · read October 24, 2026
- Rush University PA Program: 2026-2027 Information Packet (PDF) · read October 24, 2026
- Rush University: Physician Assistant Studies Master's Program · read October 24, 2026