1. Christina Robohm-Leavitt, MS, PA-C
Session S109 The PA Pipeline CASPA Cycle 14 Data Applicants Matriculants
Christina Robohm-Leavitt, MS, PA-C
UPDATE

2. Recruitment & Admissions Council
Member
Program
Christina Robohm-Leavitt, Chair
Texas Tech University Health Science Center
Audra Perrino
Stony Brook University
Jacqui Comshaw
Yale University School of Medicine
Gia DiGiacobbe
Northwestern University
Jeanie McHugo
University of North Dakota
Sherrie Spear
Wake Forest University School of Medicine
Doris Dalton
University of Utah
Connie O’Hara
NAAHP Representative
Ann Donnelley
Liaison, International
Cindy Barry
WebAdMIT
Danielle Di Silvestro
PAEA Staff Advisor
2015 Recruitment & Admissions Council members. The council will have openings for three new members, whose terms will begin January Don’t forget to submit your application by November 19!

3. CASPA Oversight Committee
Member
Program
Doris Dalton, Chair
University of Utah
Colleen Schierholtz
Oregon Health & Science University
Jacqui Comshaw
Yale University School of Medicine
Diane Landon
University of Nebraska Medical Center
The 2015 CASPA Oversight Committee members include (names). This group is responsible for discussing and prioritizing enhancement requests and newly responsible for the oversight of the CASPA application.

4. 190 PAEA MEMBER PROGS 179 CASPA 94% PARTICIPATION 14 DEVELOPING
Participating Programs
In this current application cycle, 94% of PAEA member programs plus 12 developing PA programs, participate in CASPA. This percentage reflects a 1% increase from the cycle and a 10% increase from the cycle.
Currently, PAEA has 199 voting member programs, with 188 of those participating in CASPA, which includes 12 developing PA programs.

5. 22,997 APPLICANTS 190,721 APPLICATIONS 5.8% INCREASE 32% INCREASE
With respect to the number of applicants vs. the number of applications, the application cycle showed a total number of applicants at 22,997, which is 1,267 more than last cycle and shows a 5.8% increase in the total number of applicants and a 32% increase in total applications. For applications (which is defined as total accounts), we saw 190,721, which is a 32% increase from the previous cycle. As of November 2, CASPA has 20,813 applicants in the system.
As of November 1, we see 20,302 applicants and # applications.

6. 8.3 $490 10% INCREASE 24% INCREASE AVERAGE FEE PER APPLICANT
DESIGNATIONS PER APPLICANT
24% INCREASE
$490
AVERAGE FEE PER APPLICANT
10% INCREASE
With an average number of designations per applicant at 8.3 in the application cycle (up from 6.7 in the cycle), the average fee paid by one applicant is $490. The cost of the first designation is $175 and each designation after the first at $45.
As of November 1, we see 8.8 designations per applicant with an average fee of $575 (noting the increase in the secondary application fee from $45 to $50 in this cycle).

7. 39% ACCEPT RATE 9,141 SEATS* 22,997 APPLICANTS 7,801 MATRICULANTS*
There were 22,997 applicants in the application cycle and a total of 7,801 reported matriculants in the 2015 start class. 9,141 available reported seats equates to a 39% acceptance rate vs. the CASPA applicant pool.
A January start program policy was implemented in the application cycle. This policy requires January start programs to select which class the applicants will apply to each cycle. January start programs do not have the option to accept applicants from one cycle for two different start classes.
NUMBERS INCLUDE JANUARY 2015 PROGRAMS
*PROGRAM-REPORTED DATA

8.  6% CYCLE We see 6% overall increase in applications in this cycle.
As of November 1, we are at a 7.6% increase in applications submitted for the cycle.

9. 26 AVG. APPLICANT AGE (RANGE 15-86; MEDIAN 24)
25 AVG. MATRICULANT AGE 2015
(RANGE 16-60; MEDIAN 23)
Average age remains constant with only a slight decrease from 26.2 to 26 for applicants and 25.3 to 25 for matriculants in the cycle. Range and median ages shown here.
As of November 2, we see an average age of (range between and median of 24) among the cycle applicants.

10. 71.34% FEMALE APPLICANTS 72.29% FEMALE MATRICULANTS 2015 Gender
1.05% DECREASE
72.29% FEMALE MATRICULANTS 2015
1.3% INCREASE
Females continue to dominate the applicant pool at 71% of applicants in the cycle and 72% of matriculants in the 2015 class. Applicants are down by 1.05% and matriculants are up by 1.3% from the last cycle.
As of November 2, we see 71.63% female applicants and 28.25% males among cycle applicants.

11. Ethnicity & Race Category Applicants % Change
American Indian, Alaskan Native
.21%
36% decrease
Hispanic, Latino
9.66%
1.24% increase
Asian
12.13%
2.9% increase
Black or African American
6.06%
1.5% decrease
Native Hawaiian, Other Pacific Islander
.08%
11% decrease
White
64.91%
1.1% decrease
Multiple
2.94%
6.7% decrease
Category
2015 Matriculants
% Change
American Indian, Alaskan Native
.16%
0% change
Hispanic, Latino 8%
2.8% decrease
Asian
9.28%
11.3% increase
Black or African American
3.03%
6.6% increase
Native Hawaiian, Other Pacific Islander
.08%
White
72.79%
3.2% increase
Multiple
2.66%
4.3% decrease
Ethnicity & Race remain fairly steady with slight increases in applicants who identify as Hispanic and Asian and all other categories remaining the same or decreasing only slightly. Matriculants see increases in the Asian category at 11.3%, black or African American at 6.6%, and white by 3.2%. Matriculants who identified as Hispanic/Latino decreased by 2.8% and all other categories experienced no change.
Among applicants, .30% classify as american indian/alaskan native; 10.11% hispanic/latino; 11.11% asian; .13% hawaiian or other pacific islander; 5.41% black or african american; 62.03% white and 2.8% as multiple races.

12. Economically Disadvantaged
16.59% APPLICANTS*
6.4% INCREASE
12.60% 2015 MATRICS*
1.1% CHANGE
Nearly 17% of applicants and 13% of matriculants reported being economically disadvantaged. ‘Economically disadvantaged’ is determined by parental family’s household size and adjusted gross income, based on 200% of Federal low-income poverty guidelines. *Fee waivers are distributed on a first come, first served basis to applicants who submit an application and meet the stated guidelines above. CASPA allows $50,000 in fee waivers annually and they are typically exhausted by early July of each cycle.
As of November 2, 14% of the applicant pool has reported economic disadvantage.
OPTIONAL QUESTION
*SELF-REPORTED DATA

13. Environmentally Disadvantaged
41.95% APPLICANTS
.52% DECREASE
37.40% 2015 MATRICS
1.9% CHANGE
Nearly 42% of applicants and 37% of matriculants reported being environmentally disadvantaged. ‘Environmentally disadvantaged’ is determined by questions that ask about high school graduation rates, reduced price lunch percentages in high school, family public aid, residency in a designated health professional shortage or medically underserved area, participation in an HCOP or academic enrichment program, high school drop out percentages, percentages of high school graduates who go to college, first generation to attend college and English as a secondary language. 42% represents applicants who indicated yes in at least ONE of these categories.
As of November 2, 38.40% of applicants represent at least ONE of these categories.
OPTIONAL QUESTION
*SELF-REPORTED DATA

14. Applicant Military Status
Military status remains steady over the past four application cycles, with around 96% of applicants who do not have a military background; 2.5% of applicants who do have military background and 1% of applicants who are currently serving.
Military status on the application was expanded to include more categories, which include ‘not a member of the military’, ‘active military’, ‘veteran’, ‘reserve or national guard’, ‘military dependent’ and ‘other’.
Of these categories, 82.23% of applicants report as non military; .466% active; 2.31% veteran; .995% reserve or national guard; 1.46% as a military dependent and .367% as other.

15. 2015 Matriculant Military Status
Matriculants military background shows similar to applicants with around 96% with no military background; 2.5-3% with some military background and 1% currently serving.

16. Applicant Geographic Area
Percentage
Large Town (10,000-49,999)
25%
Large City (100,000-1 million)
21%
Small Town (2,500-9,999)
19%
Mid-Size City (50,000-99,999)
18%
Urban (1 million plus)
10%
Isolated Rural 6%
Did Not Answer 4%
About 25% of applicants come from a large town, where the population is between 10,000 and 49,999 thousand. Applicants from large cities, sized 100,000 to 1 million follow closely at 21% of the applicant pool. Small town and mid-size cities, with populations between 2,500-99,999 represent 37% of the applicant pool; urban areas of 1 million or more, 10%, and isolated rural areas at 6% of the applicant pool.
OPTIONAL QUESTION
87% APPLICANT RESPONSE RATE
*SELF-REPORTED DATA

17. Top 10 Majors Rank Applicants 2015 Matriculants
15-16 Cycle Applicants (11/2) 1
Biology 2
Other
Psychology 3 4
Chemistry
Health Science 5
Biological Sciences 6
Exercise Science 7
Kinesiology 8
Business
Nutrition
Biomedical Science 9
Science
Premedical
General Studies 10
There are no significant changes in the top 10 applicant and matriculant majors for the past two application cycles.

18. Health Care Experience
Applicants
Direct Patient Care
Other Health Care
Total Health Care
4,177.83
1,343.31
4,789.05
2015 Matriculants
Direct Patient Care
Other Health Care
Total Health Care
3,503.66
875.91
3,964.83
*Includes median patient care, shadowing & other health care hours

19. GPA APPLICANTS 3.46 Non-Science 3.63 Non-Science 3.50 Science
UP FROM 3.43
3.24 Science
UP FROM 3.22
3.34 Overall
UP FROM 3.32
2015 MATRICULANTS
3.63 Non-Science
UP FROM GPA
3.50 Science
3.56 Overall
Average GPA in all three categories continue to increase slightly each cycle with applicant GPA at 3.46 non-science; 3.24 science and 3.34 overall averages in the cycle. Matriculants at 3.63 non-science, 3.5 science and 3.56 overall for the 2015 entering class.
As of November 2, applicant non-science GPA is at 3.66, science is 3.29 and overall is

20. GRE Verbal 168.40 50.29 169.32 56.77 Quantitative 174.61 42.54 175.40
Category
Applicants
Percentile
2015 Matriculants
Verbal
168.40
50.29
169.32
56.77
Quantitative
174.61
42.54
175.40
49.25
Analytical
3.81
48.52
3.98
54.66
*Data is an average of all official scores received. May include multiple test scores for one applicant. Zeros included in averages.

21. Applicants by Profession
PA most closely aligns with DO, with slight increases in the number of applications each cycle. Pharmacy is declining and MD continues to increase annually, with applicant number between 45,000-49,000.

22. 60% PROGRAMS WITH SUPPLEMENTAL APPS
$53 AVG. SUPPLEMENTAL FEE
60% of CASPA participating programs require applicants to submit supplemental applications with an average supplemental fee of $53.

23. 41 PROGRAMS PARTICIPATING $55 AVG. BACKGROUND CHECK FEE
Background Checks
41 PROGRAMS PARTICIPATING $55 AVG. BACKGROUND CHECK FEE
Currently, there are 41 programs participating in the CASPA-Certified Background check integration service with an average background check fee around $55 per applicant.

24. Influence 29% 60% First heard of PA…
FROM HEALTH-RELATED WORK EXPERIENCE
60%
Influenced to apply…
BY HEALTH-RELATED WORK EXPERIENCE
29% of applicants first hear of the PA profession and 60% of applicants are influenced to apply by health-related work experience. Runners up here include personal health care provider for self or family and relatives or friends.
Runners up…
Personal health care provider for self or family (12% for influence & 17% for 1st heard)
Relative or friend (10% for influenced & 23% for 1st heard)

25. 2015-2016 CASPA Application Cycle
23,302 E-Submitted Apps
21,733 Complete Apps
20,646 Verified Apps
As of November 2nd, we have 23,302 submitted applications – 21,733 complete applications and 20,646 verified applications in the system. In , we ended the cycle with 22,997 submitted applications, which puts us on track for an overall application increase by the end of this cycle.

26. 15-16 Close Date: March 1, 2016 16-17 Launch Date: April 27, 2016
The current application cycle will close on March 1, All applicants must submit their application by 11:59pm eastern time on this date to be considered. All applicants meeting this deadline will be processed as normal. The , for which preparations have already begun, will open on April 27, 2016.