This page contains information about how to apply to the Master of Science in Pathologists' Assistant (PathA) program, including the following:
Applications are reviewed and admissions are granted from June through February every year. All qualified candidates are required to have a face-to-face or Zoom/Teams interview as part of the application process.
Admissions Criteria
Candidates for admission to the Pathologists' Assistant (PathA) program must have the following credentials:
- A bachelor's degree from an accredited U.S. college or university or an international equivalent.
- Students will be selected based on adequate educational background. A bachelor’s degree in the biological, allied health or other science related field, with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0, is the minimum requirement for acceptance into the master’s degree program. Prerequisite course work, with a grade of “C” or better, must include microbiology, human anatomy, human physiology, mathematics, English composition, general chemistry, organic and/or biochemistry, and biological science. Face-to-face lab-based science courses are required, but hybrid courses (online lecture with face-to-face labs) will be considered. Previous exposure to pathology, to understand the work of a pathologists’ assistant and the rigors of graduate education, is strongly recommended. This exposure to pathology can be obtained via work or shadowing experiences.
- Online courses are not accepted as prerequisites; however applications from students required to take online prerequisite courses as a result of the pandemic (spring 2020-fall 2021) will be considered.
- A cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher is required.
- Official scores from either the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) are required.
- All submitted scores will be reviewed as part of the admissions evaluation process and considered in conjunction with all other application materials.
- Applicants with scores at or above the 50th percentile in all sections are considered most competitive; however, they are not guaranteed admission since all aspects of the application are being considered.
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The combined didactic and clinical work in this program will give you the skills and confidence for success as a PA. It will also give you a really large network of people to reach out to for the continued growth of your PA career.
Britni Stowell
Class of 2020
Deadlines
- Application cycle starts June 8, 2026, for matriculation the following May
- Application deadline is February 12, 2027, for matriculation the following May
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Instructions for Applying Online
- Click on yellow "APPLY NOW" box in the right column of this page
- Login to "Returning User" or create a new account "First Time User"
- Click on "Start New Application" at the bottom of the page
- Select Application Type "Fall 2026-Summer 2027"
- Underneath, choose drop down menu option "2026-2027 Graduate"
- Click on "Create an Application" box
- Open Application
- All information in "Personal" must be completed first
- Then, go to "Application Information"
- For Academic Area of Interest choose "Medicine – Biomedical Sciences and Professional Studies"
- For Program choose: "Pathologists’ Assistant, MS"
- Complete the remainder of the application
- Review
- Submit
- Ensure a timely delivery of supplementary material
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Required Components of a Completed Application
To be considered for acceptance, an applicant must provide the following as part of a complete online application for admission. For details regarding the items below please review the Admission Application Instructions.
Graduate Admission Application
Applicants may only apply to one program. All documents submitted by you or on your behalf in support of this application for admission to Drexel University become the property of the University and will under no circumstances be released to you or any other party. Please note, a non-refundable application fee of $65 U.S. is required, unless a waiver is obtained by attending a program webinar or University-sponsored open house.
Transcripts
Official transcripts must be sent directly to Drexel University from all the colleges/universities that you have attended. Please note that transcripts are required regardless of the number of credits taken or if the credits were transferred to another school. If you previously attended college outside of the United States, an official course-by-course transcript evaluation by World Education Services (WES) or another NACES-member agency is required. An admission decision may be delayed if you do not send transcripts from all colleges/universities attended. (See checklist)
Standardized Test Scores
Standardized test scores on the general Graduate Record Exam (GRE) or Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) are required and must be submitted through the ETS — GRE/MCAT school code is 2194.
International applicants must demonstrate their comprehension of the English language by submitting results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam.
Essay/Personal Statement
Please write approximately 500 words explaining your reasons for pursuing a degree from Drexel University including the following:
- What are your short-term career plans?
- What are your long-term career plans?
- How does your background, experience, interest, and/or values fit into the mission and philosophy of the pathologists’ assistant profession and program?
- How will a degree from Drexel University enable you to successfully achieve your personal and professional goals?
Please submit your essay with the application through the Discover Drexel portal.
Résumé
As part of your admission application, please upload your résumé through the Discover Drexel portal.
Letters of Recommendation
Three letters of recommendation are required and must address: 1) academic abilities; 2) technical/clinical skills; and 3) personal attributes relative to the program. Letters from faculty who have taught your courses are preferred. Letters of recommendation from professional colleagues may be submitted as long as they address the requirements above.
All recommendations should be submitted online in the form of a letter written on official letterhead with a signature. To electronically request recommendations, you must list your recommenders and their contact information with your admission application through the Discover Drexel portal. You must follow up with your recommenders to ensure they received your recommendation request — they may need to check their junk mail folder. Additionally, it is your responsibility to confirm that your recommenders will submit their letters by your application deadline and follow up with the recommenders who have not completed their recommendations.
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Mailing Address
Pathologists' Assistant (PathA) Program
Division of Interdisciplinary and Career-oriented Programs
60 N. 36th Street
Health Sciences Building
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Financial Information
Tuition information for the Pathologists' Assistant (PathA) program is available on the Drexel Central website.
Financial aid is available from many sources, such as the federal government and private organizations, or from the University itself. Financial aid may be in the form of loans, grants, or scholarships. For information regarding financing your education, please visit the Drexel Central website.
Contact Information
Apply to the Pathologists' Assistant Program
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