MCG PA Program

This post is a collection of everything I have researched 
about the PA program at MCG.

Well, apparently MCG can't decide what it wants to be called. 
First  they were Medical College of Georgia. Then Georgia Health Sciences University. Now, they have combined with Augusta State University to become Georgia Regents University Augusta.    

Website:  http://www.georgiahealth.edu/physician-assistant.html

Location: Augusta, GA
Application Deadline: October 15

Length: 27 months (May 2014 to August 2016), registration in March

Degree awarded: Master of Physician Assistant

Average GPA: 3.5 (minimum 3.0 required)

Required classes: Microbiology (4 hrs, with lab), Anatomy (4 hrs, with lab)

References: three (one from PA), submitted online only, applicant list names and provide contact information for three individuals as references during the online application process. Once the application is submitted, each referee will receive an email directing them to complete the online reference form.  The completed reference form will then be forwarded to the Office of Academic Admissions via the online application system, CollegeNet.

Experience hours: minimum 100 hours in three settings

Application: own online application (opens in July) + supplemental + $50 fee 

Tuition: about $6,700 per semester 
Financial Aid: summer due March 1, fall due April 1, spring due October 1
 FAFSA codes: ASU - 001552 and GHSU - 001579, FAFSA for each year, apply for HOPE, GRU academic scholarship deadline March 1
 http://www.gru.edu/finaid/resources.php#info
 Grading system: pass/fail + letter grades

Transcripts: mailed (sealed) from college to admissions office, 
after online application has been received. 
  Office of Academic Admissions
Georgia Health Sciences University
1120 Fifteenth Street, AA-170
Augusta, GA 30912-7310
GRE: minimum verbal + quantitative score of 290
school code 5406, no dept. code, taken BEFORE August 1
May 15, 16, 18
June 5-7, 10-15, 17-19, 21, 22, 24-29
July 1-3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12, 15-20, 22-25, 27, 29-31
Screening: evaluation system based on the overall undergraduate grade point average, transfer grade point average, math/science grade point average, and work experience in the medical field in order to determine who is qualified for further consideration and a personal interview. Once the interview is completed, an evaluation of the quality of references, writing ability, personal interview and an overall assessment of the application by the admissions committee.
Competitiveness: Only accept 44 applicants!!!!

 Required reading: before starting PA program

Bates' Guide to Physical Examination and History Taking (11th edition) 

Study Without Stress: Mastering Medical Sciences (Eugenia Kelman)

The Nature of Disease:Pathology for the Health Professions (Thomas McConnell)

Medical Terminology Systems: a Body Systems Approach (Barbara Gylys/Mary Ellen Wedding)

Gym: student membership fee automatically charged, spouse can be added ($30 one month, $18 flex month), group classes (yoga! zumba!)

Housing: married couples in #5, unfurnished but includes refrigerator/stove/garbage disposal/utilities/cable/wifi, glass door to an outdoor patio, coin laundry, mailbox for each apartment,  $1500-$4000/semester, alcohol okay, approved appliances: coffee maker, crock pot, toaster (firearms, candles, pets, live Christmas trees, extension cords not allowed), housing applications accepted in February, housing assignments start going out in April (need copy of marriage certificate), fire drills 3x per year between 6-10pm
Insurance: automatically enrolled unless waived, can add a spouse, for coverage August to next July for two ~$4,500 ($2,000 + $2,500)
 Other: required CPR course C through American Heart Association, required immunization & medical history forms, only holidays on rotations are Christmas and Thanksgiving, call (706) 721-2911 for a escort to your car at night, emergency alert system like Berry Alert, Christ Church Health Clinic monthly, Starbucks on campus, campus shuttle 7am-6pm Monday-Friday, ride Augusta Public Transit busses free with student ID?  

TIMELINE
July 2013 - application opens
Aug 2013 - last GRE test 
 Oct 15 2013 - application deadline 
Jan 2014 - FAFSA available
Feb 2014 - housing applications accepted
Mar 2014 - financial aid due, class registration, scholarship app deadline
April 2014 - housing assignments given
May 2014 - classes start

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 CURRICULUM

Didactic Phase

Summer 1: 14 hours
Human Anatomy (6)
Human Physiology (5)
Principles of Pharmacology (1)
Medical Terminology (1)
Genetics (1)
Fall 1: 24 hours
Medical Communication (2)
 Clinical Skills Integration/Application I (1)
Intro to Epidemiology & Biostatistics (3)
Physical Assessment (3)
Pharmacotherapeutics (2)
Diagnostic Methods and Pathology (1)
Orthopedics (3)
Dermatology (2)
Ophthalmology (2)
Infectious Diseases (2)
EKG Interpretation (1)
Otolaryngology (2)
Spring 1: 21 hours

Surgery (2)
Pharmacotherapeutics II (3)
Cardiology  (5)
Pulmonology (4) 
Nephrology/Urology (2)
Gastroenterology (2)
Hematology/Oncology (2)
Clinical Skills Integration/Application II (1)
Summer 2: 19 hours 
Pharmacotherapeutics III (3)
 Emergency Medicine (2)
Pediatrics (2)
Obstetrics & Gynecology (2)
Endocrinology (2)
Neurology (2)
Essentials of Psychiatry (2)
Ethics & Professional Practice Issues (1)
  Clinical Skills Integration/Application III (1)
Evidence Based Medicine & Medicinal Writing (2)

Clinical Phase 
(clinical rotations, don't have to be in any particular order)
 Fall 2: 16 hours
 Adult Medicine (8)
Surgery (4)
Family Medicine (4)
Spring 2: 16 hours
Emergency Medicine (4)
Pediatrics (4)
Psychiatric & Addiction Medicine (4)
OB/GYN (4)
Summer 3: 12 hours
Elective Clinical (4)
Elective Clinical II (4)
Research/Masters Project (2)
Professionalism & Teaching (2)