Graduate Record Examination Removal From Admissions and Physician Assistant/Associate Student Diversity

Bettie Coplan, Bettie Coplan, PhD, PA-C, is an associate professor in the Physician Assistant Program, Phoenix Bioscience Core campus, at Northern Arizona University, Phoenix, Arizona.
Anthony Miller, Bettie Coplan, PhD, PA-C, is an associate professor in the Physician Assistant Program, Phoenix Bioscience Core campus, at Northern Arizona University, Phoenix, Arizona.
Tamara Ritsema, Bettie Coplan, PhD, PA-C, is an associate professor in the Physician Assistant Program, Phoenix Bioscience Core campus, at Northern Arizona University, Phoenix, Arizona.
Kirsten Bonnin, Bettie Coplan, PhD, PA-C, is an associate professor in the Physician Assistant Program, Phoenix Bioscience Core campus, at Northern Arizona University, Phoenix, Arizona.
Morgan Luck, Bettie Coplan, PhD, PA-C, is an associate professor in the Physician Assistant Program, Phoenix Bioscience Core campus, at Northern Arizona University, Phoenix, Arizona.
Jane McDaniel, Bettie Coplan, PhD, PA-C, is an associate professor in the Physician Assistant Program, Phoenix Bioscience Core campus, at Northern Arizona University, Phoenix, Arizona.
Curt Bay, Bettie Coplan, PhD, PA-C, is an associate professor in the Physician Assistant Program, Phoenix Bioscience Core campus, at Northern Arizona University, Phoenix, Arizona.
Angela Kiselyk, Bettie Coplan, PhD, PA-C, is an associate professor in the Physician Assistant Program, Phoenix Bioscience Core campus, at Northern Arizona University, Phoenix, Arizona.
Jonathan Kilstrom, Bettie Coplan, PhD, PA-C, is an associate professor in the Physician Assistant Program, Phoenix Bioscience Core campus, at Northern Arizona University, Phoenix, Arizona.
Michelle DiBaise, Bettie Coplan, PhD, PA-C, is an associate professor in the Physician Assistant Program, Phoenix Bioscience Core campus, at Northern Arizona University, Phoenix, Arizona.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

8-21-2025

Journal

The journal of physician assistant education : the official journal of the Physician Assistant Education Association

DOI

10.1097/JPA.0000000000000700

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: This study examined demographic characteristics among physician assistant/associate (PA) program applicants who were offered admission and among matriculants at 5 PA programs that eliminated the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) admissions requirement. METHODS: Collated admissions data for 4 cycles were categorized into 2 periods, one representing 2 cycles before GRE removal (GRE period) and one representing 2 cycles after GRE removal (no-GRE period). Chi-square analyses were used to compare percentages of applicants offered admission and percentages of matriculants who were from backgrounds underrepresented in medicine (URiM), were first-generation college students, and who reported economic disadvantage (ED) across the 2 periods. RESULTS: Individual program outcomes varied. Some experienced statistically significant increases in various measures; others experienced increases or decreases that were insignificant. Collectively, compared with the GRE period, the proportion of applicants offered admission during the no-GRE period who were URiM was 6.2% higher (P = .002, 95% confidence interval [CI] [2.3%, 10.1]); the proportion who were first-generation was 11.2% higher (P < .001, 95% CI [7.3%, 15.0%]); and the proportion with ED was 9.4% higher (P < 0.001, 95% CI [5.8%, 13.0%]). Among matriculants, the proportion who were URiM was 8.7% higher (P = 0.001, 95% CI [3.7%, 13.6%]), the proportion who were first-generation was 8.6% higher (P = 0.001, 95% CI [3.8%, 13.5%]); and the proportion with ED was 8.8% higher (P < 0.001, 95% CI [4.2%, 13.3%]). DISCUSSION: Study results suggest that for some PA programs, eliminating the GRE admissions requirement may positively contribute to various approaches to admitting more students from diverse backgrounds.

Department

Physician Assistant Studies

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