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Stanford PA Program Interview: Format, Dates and Who Gets Invited

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

Stanford's deadline for 2027 entry was July 15, 2026 and has passed. Interviews take place in autumn 2026, and Stanford says invitations and denial letters may be sent any time between late August and October. After interviews end, the committee selects candidates and emails those accepted or waitlisted. About 10% of applicants are interviewed for a class of 25 to 30, and the format may vary. Stanford hasn't posted dates for 2028 entry yet.

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Key facts (2027 entry)

When
Autumn 2026. Invitations and denial letters may be sent any time between late August and October. Accepted and waitlisted candidates are emailed after interviews end.
Deadline
Passed. It was July 15, 2026 (11:59 pm Eastern), with your CASPA in Complete status. Stanford hasn't posted 2028-entry dates.
Format
Not published. Stanford says the interview format may vary.
Who is interviewed
About 10% of applicants, after the application review is complete.
Odds
Thousands of applications a year and an acceptance rate under 2%, for a class of 25 to 30.
Requirements
Only one: a qualifying bachelor's degree. Tests, coursework, 500 clinical hours and three letters are recommended, not required.
Program
9 quarters with the first summer off. Every student picks a leadership track and completes a thesis.

What happens at the interview

Stanford interviews in autumn, but it does not describe the interview itself.

  • Autumn 2026. Stanford's 2026-2027 timeline lists interviews for autumn 2026.
  • Format may vary. Stanford's How to Apply page says the format may vary. Its pages do not say whether it is one-on-one, a panel or an MMI, whether it is online, or how long it lasts.
  • Invitations from late August. Interview invitations may arrive any time from late August to October.

Expect leadership questions. Stanford builds its program around future PA leaders, so prepare to talk about where you have led and where you want to lead.

How offers are decided

The committee weighs academic performance, depth and breadth of healthcare experience, research and scholarly work, and volunteer work. It wants students who fit its mission and could become PA leaders.

  • Under 2%. Stanford receives thousands of applications a year and accepts fewer than 2%.
  • Class of 2028. Average age 24, mean GPA 3.83 overall and 3.79 science, and 48% from an educationally or economically disadvantaged background.
  • $1,000 deposit. Non-refundable and applied to first-quarter tuition, due when you accept your seat.
  • Background check. Conditionally admitted students must pass a criminal background check.

How you get an interview

Stanford reviews applications on a semi-rolling basis. It has no minimum GPA or test score, but it lists clear preferences.

What Stanford prefers

  • Grades. A GPA of 3.5 or more overall and in science, two or more science or math courses per term, and no C, D, F or W grades.
  • Tests. Scores at the 50th percentile or higher. The GRE, MCAT or PA-CAT is highly recommended, and the PA-CAT is preferred.
  • Letters. From a PA, a physician, and someone who can speak to your academic potential. Three to five letters through CASPA.
  • Experience. Leadership, direct patient care, research and publications, teaching and volunteer work.
  • Background. Stanford affiliations, living in a medically underserved or health professional shortage area, and an educationally or economically disadvantaged background.

Clinical hours

  • 500 hours recommended. Direct patient care in a human medical setting is strongly preferred. The Class of 2028 averaged 2,455 patient care hours.
  • What is not counted. Hours done for academic credit or in a veterinary setting are noted but not formally considered. So is shadowing.
  • Volunteering. Community service is expected of all applicants and must be within the last five years to count.

Dates and other details

Stanford's deadline for 2027 entry passed on July 15, 2026, and interviews are in autumn 2026. Stanford hasn't posted dates for 2028 entry, and CASPA hasn't posted when its 2027-28 cycle opens.

Dates for 2027 entry

  • April 30, 2026. CASPA opened.
  • July 15, 2026. Deadline, now passed. Your CASPA had to be in Complete status by 11:59 pm Eastern. There was no supplemental application or extra fee.
  • Late August to October 2026. Interview invitations and denial letters.
  • Autumn 2026. Interviews.
  • After interviews end. The Admissions Committee selects candidates, and accepted and waitlisted candidates are notified by email. Stanford does not post a date.
  • August 2027. Orientation and classes begin.

Who can apply

You need an in-person bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited US or Canadian school, or a US graduate degree, by July 1 of the year you start. US citizens, permanent residents, DACA recipients, undocumented applicants and international applicants are eligible.

How to prepare

With the format unknown, prepare content that works in any setting.

  • Pick a leadership track. Students choose from community health, health services and policy research, clinical research, medical education and healthcare administration. Know which fits you and why.
  • Tell your research story. Research and publications are on Stanford's preference list. Be ready to explain one project simply.
  • Know why PA. Have a clear, personal reason for the PA role, drawn from patients you have cared for.
  • Practice both kinds of question. Rehearse personal questions and short ethical scenarios out loud, so a panel, one-on-one or MMI all feel familiar.

Stick to Stanford's own pages. Stanford warns that third-party websites may be inaccurate and asks applicants to rely on its website.

Practice questions

Questions in the style of a Interview (format varies) station, written for applicants to Stanford School of Medicine, Master of Science in PA Studies. They are practice questions, not the school's own. Open one for what a strong answer does.

Stanford asks every PA student to choose a leadership track and complete a thesis. Which track would you choose, and what question would you want to study?

Link your choice to something you have already done, and keep the question small and specific.

Tell me about a time you led a group without having formal authority. What did you do, and what would you change?

Show how you influenced people, not just what the result was, and be honest about one mistake.

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?

Use your own experience, stay respectful of both paths, and give one clear, practical point.

PAs are trained as generalists and can move between specialties during their career, while physicians usually commit to one specialty through residency. Why does that flexibility matter to you specifically?

Tie the answer to your own interests and the patients you want to serve, not just job options.

Suppose a law passed tomorrow giving every PA nationwide full independent practice, removing any required collaboration with physicians. Would you still want to be a PA? Why or why not?

Show you value teamwork and know your limits, and give a balanced view rather than a slogan.

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 in front of the patient, then ask for feedback privately and focus on learning.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Stanford PA interview format?

Stanford does not publish it. Its How to Apply page says interviews are held in autumn every cycle and that the format may vary.

When does Stanford send PA interview invitations?

Stanford says interview invitations may be sent any time between late August and October. Interviews take place in autumn 2026 for the class starting August 2027.

Does Stanford PA require the GRE?

No. The only requirement is a qualifying bachelor's degree. The GRE, MCAT or PA-CAT is highly recommended, the PA-CAT is preferred, and there is no minimum score.

How many patient care hours does Stanford PA want?

Stanford recommends at least 500 hours of clinical experience and strongly prefers direct patient care. The Class of 2028 averaged 2,455 patient care hours.

Does Stanford PA have a supplemental application?

No. Everything is in CASPA, and Stanford charges no extra application fee.

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.

  1. Stanford MS in PA Studies: Admission Timeline 2026-2027 · read October 26, 2026
  2. Stanford MS in PA Studies: How to Apply · read October 26, 2026
  3. Stanford MS in PA Studies: Admissions FAQ · read October 26, 2026
  4. Stanford MS in PA Studies: Admission · read October 24, 2026
  5. Stanford MS in PA Studies: Requirements and Recommendations · read October 24, 2026
  6. Stanford MS in PA Studies: Preparatory Experience · read October 24, 2026
  7. Stanford MS in PA Studies: Entry Characteristics of MSPA Cohorts · read October 24, 2026
  8. Stanford MS in PA Studies: Applicant Self-Assessment · read October 24, 2026
  9. Stanford MS in PA Studies: Other Information · read October 24, 2026
  10. Stanford MS in PA Studies: Frequently Asked Questions · read October 24, 2026
  11. Stanford MS in PA Studies: Program Overview · read October 24, 2026
  12. CASPA Applicant Help Center: CASPA Application Cycle Dates · read October 26, 2026