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PA · New York, New York · private

Weill Cornell Medicine Physician Assistant Program prerequisites

What Weill Cornell asks for in the 2026-27 cycle, as read from the school's own admissions page. 10 lines differ from the standard PA school set, marked below.

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Coursework

  • Biology with labrequiredextra here

    2 semesters · 8 credits · lab

    "2 (two) courses of Biology (each course must have a lab component)." No credit count is published; 8 stands in for two courses. Science prerequisites should be within 10 years of application.

  • General chemistry with labrequired

    2 semesters · 8 credits · lab

    "2 (two) courses of Chemistry (each course must have a lab component)." No credit count is published; 8 stands in for two courses.

  • Biochemistryrequired

    1 semester · 3 credits

    "1 (one) course of Biochemistry (lab component strongly recommended)." Biochemistry specifically, not organic chemistry; science prerequisites "cannot be substituted." No credit count is published.

  • English or writing-intensiverequireddiffers

    1 semester · 3 credits

    Most PA programmes ask for 2 semesters · 6 credits and list it as recommended.

    "1 (one) course of English Composition (or college-level equivalent- rhetoric or college writing course)." "A course that focuses on writing, composition, or expository writing can fulfill the English Composition requirement." No credit count is published.

  • Statisticsrecommendeddiffers

    1 semester · 3 credits

    Most PA programmes ask for 1 semester · 3 credits and list it as required.

    Recommended, not required: "Courses in statistics, medical terminology, and/or research methods are recommended."

  • Psychologynot required here

    Not on Weill Cornell's prerequisite list, required or recommended.

  • Anatomy and physiologyrequireddiffers

    2 semesters · 8 credits

    Most PA programmes ask for 2 semesters · 8 credits · lab.

    "Anatomy and Physiology; (This requirement may be fulfilled by a combined 'Anatomy & Physiology' course sequence OR a course in Anatomy AND a course in Physiology." The page does not state a lab for this line. No credit count is published; 8 stands in for the two-course sequence.

  • Microbiologyrequireddiffers

    1 semester · 4 credits

    Most PA programmes ask for 1 semester · 4 credits · lab.

    "1 (one) course of Microbiology (lab component strongly recommended)." FAQ: "Labs are not required, but they are strongly recommended." No credit count is published.

  • Medical terminologyrecommended

    1 credits

    "Courses in statistics, medical terminology, and/or research methods are recommended."

Experience hours

  • Patient care experiencerequired

    500+ hours

    "All applicants are required to have a minimum of 500 hours of direct patient PCE prior to applying," completed and self-reported on CASPA before e-submission; paid or volunteer, and "require hands-on patient contact." "Direct patient care includes clinical roles such as nursing assistant, EMT, paramedic, medical assistant, physical therapy aide, phlebotomist, and scribe. Hands-on responsibilities may include measuring vital signs, assisting with mobility and hygiene, and preparing patients for procedures. Observational or administrative roles do not count as direct patient care." Hours above the minimum earn preference.

  • Healthcare experiencerecommended

    500+ hours

    Many programs publish one combined healthcare figure instead of splitting patient care from healthcare exposure; where they do, the number lands here. Median published minimum is 500 hours.

  • PA shadowingrecommended

    20+ hours

    "Shadowing of a physician assistant in a variety of clinical settings is strongly recommended." No number is published, and shadowing does not count as PCE or as WCM affiliation.

Letters

  • Science faculty letternot required here

    The required academic letter is "from a prior instructor" with no science restriction, recorded on the any-discipline faculty line.

  • Faculty letter (any discipline)requiredextra here

    1 letter

    "One letter must be of an academic type (i.e. from a prior instructor)." Any discipline answers it. At least two letters total, and only letters included in CASPA before e-submission count.

  • PA letterrequireddiffers

    1 letter

    Most PA programmes publish no minimum and list it as recommended.

    "One letter must be from a Physician or Physician Assistant." A physician's letter satisfies this line equally.

  • Supervisor letternot required here

    Not named. The two required letters are a physician or PA letter and an academic letter.

Also on the school’s page

Weill Cornell publishes its prerequisites as course counts rather than credits, for the 2026 to 2027 cycle: "2 (two) courses of Biology (each course must have a lab component); 2 (two) courses of Chemistry (each course must have a lab component); 1 (one) course of Microbiology (lab component strongly recommended); 1 (one) course of Biochemistry (lab component strongly recommended); Anatomy and Physiology (This requirement may be fulfilled by a combined 'Anatomy & Physiology' course sequence OR a course in Anatomy AND a course in Physiology); 1 (one) course of English Composition (or college-level equivalent- rhetoric or college writing course)." "Courses in statistics, medical terminology, and/or research methods are recommended." Recency: "Science prerequisites should be completed within 10 years of application submission." "All prerequisite science courses are required and cannot be substituted"; AP and IB credits "cannot be used to fulfill prerequisite requirements"; online courses are reviewed holistically but classroom prerequisites are preferred; upper-level science is not required. A bachelor's degree or equivalent must be earned by June 1, 2027. GPA: the program "expects its applicants to have maintained an undergraduate average of 'B' or better and a score of 'B' or better in all prerequisites," though grades below a B "are still considered, especially if they show an upward academic trajectory"; the most recently admitted class averaged 3.82 overall and 3.75 science, and preference goes to GPAs of 3.5 or higher. Testing: the GRE is required. "All applicants are required to take the General GRE Aptitude Test (which must include: Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, and Analytical Writing components) prior to e-submission," with official scores at CASPA by August 1, 2026 (CASPA code 0479); "The MSHS PA Program does not have a minimum GRE score requirement," but "We recommend submitting GRE scores above the 50th percentile in all sections." No PA-CAT is mentioned. TOEFL is required of applicants whose native language is not English. Experience: "a minimum of 500 hours of direct patient PCE prior to applying." Letters: "At least two (2) references/letters of recommendation are required as part of the initial CASPA application of which, one letter must be from a Physician or Physician Assistant and one letter must be of an academic type (i.e. from a prior instructor)." Community service is "strongly recommended," and preference is also given for research experience, leadership, rigorous coursework, and Cornell, WCM or NewYork-Presbyterian affiliation. CASPA e-submission deadline August 1, 2026.

School

teach.weill.cornell.edu/medical-education/programs/health-sciences-physician-assistants

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