Jefferson PA Program Interview: Format, Campuses and Dates
What is known about the Thomas Jefferson PA program interview, how you get one, and how offers work.
Jefferson's October 1, 2026 deadline for 2027 entry has passed, and Jefferson does not post when interviews run or when offers go out. Classes start in late May 2027 at Center City and in July 2027 at East Falls and Voorhees. Jefferson does not describe its PA interview on its own pages. In the PAEA directory for the 2026-27 cycle, all three Jefferson PA campuses list a traditional interview, say an onsite interview is not required, and review applications on a rolling basis. Center City expects about 50 new students, and East Falls and Voorhees about 45 each.
Key facts (2027 entry)
- When
- Not published. Jefferson reviews applications on a rolling basis and does not post interview or offer dates.
- Deadline
- Passed. It was October 1, 2026, with CASPA verified and at least two evaluation letters received. Jefferson hasn't posted 2028-entry dates.
- Format
- A traditional interview, as listed in PAEA. Jefferson does not publish the length, the number of interviewers or who they are.
- Online or in person
- PAEA says an onsite interview is not required at any campus. Jefferson does not say whether interviews are online.
- Campuses
- Center City in Philadelphia (27 months, starts in late May) and one program across East Falls and Voorhees, New Jersey (25 months, starts in July).
- Minimums
- A 3.25 overall, science and prerequisite GPA, and at least 200 hours of direct patient care.
- Admission type
- Rolling. Applications are reviewed first come, first served.
- Tests
- No GRE or MCAT required. If you have taken either, Jefferson asks you to send the scores.
What is known about the interview
Jefferson's own PA pages do not describe the interview day. What is published comes from Jefferson's entries in the PAEA program directory, last updated February 19, 2026.
- Traditional interview. All three campuses list this as their interview type. None lists an MMI or a group interview.
- Onsite not required. PAEA says an onsite interview is not required at Center City, East Falls or Voorhees.
- Not published. Jefferson does not publish how long the interview lasts, who interviews you, whether there is any writing or group task, or the months interviews run.
Read your invitation closely. Your invitation email is the best place to learn the format. If anything is unclear, ask the program before the day.
How offers are decided
Jefferson does not publish how the interview is weighed against the rest of your application. What it does publish is below.
- Rolling offers. Applications are reviewed first come, first served.
- Second-choice campuses. If your first-choice program is full, you can be offered a seat at another Jefferson PA program you listed.
- $1,500 seat deposit. Non-refundable, at all three campuses.
- No advanced placement. All PA coursework must be completed at Jefferson.
How you get an interview
Jefferson reviews applications on a rolling basis, first come, first served, so in any cycle it pays to apply well before the deadline.
- GPA of 3.25 or more. Overall, science and prerequisite GPA, as listed in PAEA.
- 200 patient care hours. At least 200 hours of direct patient care. Jefferson strongly encourages patient care roles such as EMT or CNA, and shadowing a PA or other provider.
- Seven of nine prerequisites. You can apply with up to two courses outstanding, finished before you start. Your file is not reviewed if fewer than seven are complete.
- References. PAEA lists a health care provider and an academic reference, such as a professor or advisor, as the types required.
- A bachelor's degree. You must have it before you start the program.
Choosing a campus
Apply to the Jefferson PA program you most want, and list the other Jefferson PA programs you would accept in CASPA. If your first choice has no seat, you are considered for the others you list.
Dates and other details
The campuses shared one deadline, which has passed, but start at different times. Jefferson hasn't posted dates for 2028 entry.
Dates for 2027 entry
- October 1, 2026. CASPA deadline at all three campuses, now passed. Your application had to be verified, with at least two evaluation letters received.
- Late May 2027. The Center City program begins.
- July 2027. The East Falls and Voorhees programs begin.
The programs
Center City runs 27 months: 15 months of classes and 12 months of clinical rotations. Its mission is to graduate kind, competent and diverse primary care clinicians dedicated to lifelong learning and service.
East Falls and Voorhees run 25 months: 12 months of classes and 13 months of rotations. The program says it strives to create excellent clinicians as well as excellent human beings.
How to prepare
A traditional interview rewards clear, honest stories, so prepare your experiences more than scripts.
- Know why Jefferson, and which campus. Be ready to explain your first-choice campus and why the others on your list would also work for you.
- Show teamwork. Center City aims to mentor students as members of interprofessional teams. Have an example of working well with nurses, physicians or other staff.
- Connect to service. Center City's mission names service and lifelong learning. Have one example of each from your own life.
- Practice both settings. Since the format and setting are not published, practice answering on video and in person.
Keep answers to about two minutes. Give one clear example, say what you did and what you learned, then stop and let the interviewer follow up.
Practice questions
Questions in the style of a Traditional interview station, written for applicants to Thomas Jefferson University, MS in Physician Assistant Studies. They are practice questions, not the school's own. Open one for what a strong answer does.
Why is it important for a PA to know the limits of their medical knowledge, and how will you recognize when you've reached your own?
Give a real example of asking for help and explain how you will keep doing it as a PA.
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 experience, not a general list of benefits.
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?
Take a clear position, show you value teamwork, and explain your reasoning calmly.
You are a PA student. Another student on your rotation keeps jumping in to answer every question the preceptor asks, so you never get a chance to participate. What do you say to your classmate?
Talk privately and kindly, describe the effect on you, and suggest a fair way forward.
You are a PA in a busy urgent care. A father holding his crying toddler says, 'I brought my son in for a cut on his forehead, and I want a real doctor to do the stitches, not an assistant.' Respond to the father.
Acknowledge his worry, explain your training simply, and respect his choice if he still wants the physician.
Tell me about a time in your patient care experience when you felt a patient wasn't being completely honest with you or the team. How did you handle it?
Show curiosity rather than judgment, and explain how you kept the patient safe and the team informed.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Jefferson PA interview an MMI?
Jefferson does not say it uses an MMI. In the PAEA directory, all three Jefferson PA campuses list a traditional interview as their interview type.
Is the Jefferson PA interview virtual?
Jefferson does not say. Its PAEA entries say an onsite interview is not required at Center City, East Falls or Voorhees.
Can I apply to more than one Jefferson PA campus?
You apply to the Jefferson PA program you most want and list the others in CASPA. If your first choice has no seat, you are considered for the other programs you listed.
What GPA does Jefferson PA require?
PAEA lists a minimum 3.25 overall, science and prerequisite GPA for all three Jefferson PA campuses.
Does Jefferson PA require the GRE?
No. Jefferson does not require the GRE or MCAT, but asks you to send scores if you have taken either exam.
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.
- Thomas Jefferson University: Physician Assistant Studies Frequently Asked Questions · read October 26, 2026
- Thomas Jefferson University: PA Program (Center City) Mission and Goals · read October 24, 2026
- Thomas Jefferson University: MS in Physician Assistant Studies - East Falls & New Jersey · read October 26, 2026
- PAEA CASPA Program Directory: Thomas Jefferson University, Center City Campus · read October 26, 2026
- PAEA CASPA Program Directory: Thomas Jefferson University, East Falls Campus · read October 26, 2026
- PAEA CASPA Program Directory: Thomas Jefferson University, New Jersey Campus · read October 26, 2026