Samuel Merritt University 3100 Telegraph Avenue Suite 1000 Oakland, CA 94609
37.832380830886, -122.26257146746
Core values (priority order): Interpersonal/Interprofessional Communication, Teamwork, Critical Thinking, Patient Interaction/Professional Exposure, Responsibility, Technical Skill, Medical Knowledge. Preferences: GPAs >3.4, >2,000 PCE (>1,000 same setting), licensed/certified roles, PA shadowing, PA/MD/DO LORs, veterans, bilingual, service/leadership, disadvantaged background.
Summarized from the program’s official admissions / selection-process pages. Always confirm current details on the program’s website.
Format: Varies by cycle Where: Virtual or on campus
The mandatory all-day interview combines a meeting with the department chair, individual faculty and alumni interviews, a student panel interview, and multiple mini interview stations and/or a team-based activity. Applicants are assessed on communication skills, emotional intelligence, professional practice, academic readiness, ethical orientation, and fit for the program. Interviews may be completed in-person or virtually, with final admission decisions made by March 1.
Summarized from Samuel Merritt University’s own admissions and interview pages — verified 2026-08-01. Interview formats and dates change between cycles, so confirm with the program before you make travel plans. See the program’s interview page.
The Master Physician Assistant Department at Samuel Merritt University strives to serve the University and the medical community by preparing graduates who are interdependent medical providers, demonstrate commitment to the community and the profession through active leadership, manifest critical and creative thinking, utilize effective communication skills, and who possess the educational foundation for continued growth and development in a changing world of diverse cultures.
A free 10-day email course on actually getting into PA school — the three kinds of deadline and which one quietly ends applications, what your CASPA GPA really is, how to build a school list you qualify for, and what committees are looking for in your essay and your interview. One short email a day, written by a practicing PA.
