Physician Assistant/Associate School Interviews: Here, There, or Elsewhere?

The shift toward virtual interviews in physician assistant/associate (PA) admissions accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic, yet little is known about applicants' modality preferences. This study aimed to determine whether personal characteristics were associated with applicants' choice of interview format and to assess whether interview type was associated with admission outcomes and first-semester academic performance.

This multicenter retrospective study included 405 interviewees to 3 private PA programs during the 2023 to 2024 admission cycle. Applicants chose either in-person or virtual interviews. Data were extracted from Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants and institutional records and included demographics, academic metrics, and interview outcomes. Bivariable analyses and logistic regression were used to explore associations between interview type, admission status, matriculation, and grade point average (GPA).

Of 405 interviewees, 270 chose in-person and 135 virtually. Those who chose virtual interviews were older, more likely to be male, lived farther from campus, had more patient care experience, and were more likely to identify as underrepresented in medicine (URiM). Among matriculants, those who interviewed virtually were more likely to report economic and environmental disadvantage. The proportion of interviewees offered admission and the proportion that matriculated were higher for those who chose in-person interviews than for those who chose to interview virtually. Interview type was not associated with first-semester GPA. Logistic regression identified URiM status and geographic distance as significant predictors of virtual interview choice.

Offering virtual interviews may promote greater access and diversity without compromising academic outcomes. Applicants with URiM backgrounds or greater geographic/economic constraints were more likely to choose virtual formats. These findings support continued offering of virtual interviews as a strategy to reduce barriers in PA admissions.