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Simon Scholars PA program selection criteria:

• First-generation college student
• Underserved background
• Primary residence in Orange or San Diego County
• History of economic adversity
• History of personal adversity
• Demonstrated leadership
• History of academic excellence and achievement
• Ongoing community service
• Plans to apply to the Chapman University Physician Assistant program for class beginning in Spring 2022 (Class of 2024).
• Willing to commit to clinical practice as PA in Orange or San Diego County post-graduation

This process is for scholarships to be awarded to qualifying applicants for the Chapman University PA program Class of 2024 (beginning in Spring 2022).

The scholarship application portal is now closed and will reopen on May 1, 2021.

Step 1: Fill out and submit the scholarship application form which includes:

• Your personal essay telling us about yourself and why you are applying to the Simon Scholar PA Program.
• Required Residency Status for Orange or San Diego County CA and Tax Information (All financial need statements will be handled with confidentiality.
• Three required letters of recommendation.
• The deadline for this scholarship application is September 30, 2021. The application portal will close after all scholarships have been awarded.

Note: The Simon Scholars Scholarship application is separate from the CASPA application.

Step 2: Beginning in June 2021, a select group of qualified applicants will be contacted by phone or email, and invited for an on-campus scholarship interview.

Step 3: Complete the scholarship interview process. Scholarship interviews may be conducted on the same day as the Chapman University PA Program admission interviews.

Step 4: Apply for admission to the Chapman University PA Program using the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA) portal. The CASPA portal opens is now open.

CASPA Portal

PA Program Admission Page

Note: The Chapman PA program CASPA application deadline for classes beginning January 2022 is September 1, 2021. All applications must be electronically submitted through CASPA, verified, and documents may be received after the deadline, but your application will not be reviewed until all documents have been received.

Step 5: Receive formal acceptance notification from Chapman University PA Department of acceptance to the MMS PA Studies Program.

Step 6: Once accepted to the Chapman PA Program, submit a letter of confirmation with a nonrefundable deposit of $1,000 to the program to secure your seat in the upcoming class

Step 7: You will be notified of your scholarship application decision by October 15, 2021. Scholarships will be awarded from June 2021 to October 15, 2021.

PAs are Licensed healthcare professionals who practice medicine with physician supervision (MD, DO). They diagnose illness, develop and manage treatment plans, prescribe medications, and often serve as a patient’s principal healthcare provider. With thousands of hours of medical training, PAs are versatile and collaborative. PAs practice in every state and in every medical setting and specialty, improving healthcare access and quality.

As the population grows and ages, there is a nationwide shortage of health care providers. PAs can help meet this need.

What are the benefits of becoming a PA? For example, how much do PA's earn? 

The starting salary range for a PA is $120k per year. The path to a PA license is faster than that of a physician and, in the case of Simon Scholars, that path may be debt-free. Many students are offered as many as five or six positions before they’ve completed the Chapman University PA program. PAs are one of the most versatile healthcare providers because they are educated as medical generalists. This is unique to the PA profession.

Yes, admission to the Chapman PA program is required for scholarship consideration. Once accepted, you would be required to submit a letter of confirmation of acceptance to Chapman University Graduate Admissions Department with a nonrefundable deposit of $1,000 to secure your seat in the upcoming class.

Note: Admission to the Chapman PA program is not a guarantee of being awarded this scholarship.

Simon Scholar PA Program scholarship awardees will receive a full-tuition scholarship to complete the Chapman University PA Program. In many cases, Simon Scholars will graduate with their master’s degree debt-free.

What is not covered by the scholarship?

The scholarship does not cover living expenses and the accepted student registration deposit for the Chapman PA program.

Applications to the Chapman University PA Program can be submitted using the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA) portal.

The CASPA portal is now closed.

The Chapman PA program application deadline for classes beginning January 2022 is September 1, 2021.

All applications must be e-submitted, verified, and all documents received by September 1, 2021 deadline. 

The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) has granted provisional accreditation status to the Chapman University Physician Assistant Program sponsored by Chapman University (Updated March 2019).

Accreditation-Provisional is an accreditation status granted when the plans and resource allocation, if fully implemented as planned, of a proposed program that has not yet enrolled students appear to demonstrate the program’s ability to meet the ARC-PA Standards or when a program holding Accreditation-Provisional status appears to demonstrate continued progress in complying with the

Standards as it prepares for the graduation of the first class (cohort) of students. Accreditation-Provisional does not ensure any subsequent accreditation status. It is limited to no more than five years from matriculation of the first class.