Questions to Ask PA Programs

Strong questions do three things: they show you have done your homework, they reveal what you value (which tells the program who you are), and they give you real information for choosing between acceptances. Weak questions — the ones you could ask anywhere, or worse, the ones answered on the website — do the opposite.

The rules

• Prepare 5–7 questions per interview. Some will get answered during the day; have spares.
• Never ask anything answered on the program's website. Nothing signals laziness faster.
• Ask students different questions than faculty. Students give you culture and didactic-year truth; faculty give you training philosophy and clinical-year insight.
• Save one question for the end of the day, when you are tired and your brain is empty.

Outcomes and accreditation

• "What have your first-time PANCE pass rates looked like over the last five years?" (They should know the number cold. Hesitation is a flag.)
• "What does the program do for students who struggle with PANCE preparation — is there structured board review built into the curriculum?"
• "What is the program's attrition rate, and what are the most common reasons students leave or are dismissed?" (Every program loses students; how they talk about it reveals everything.)
• "What is your current ARC-PA accreditation status, and has it changed recently?" (Know the answer before you ask — this tests whether they are forthcoming, not whether you did homework.)

Curriculum and didactic year

• "How is the didactic year structured — systems-based, traditional discipline-based, or problem-based learning?" (Match it to how you actually learn best.)
• "What does a typical week look like during didactic year — how many contact hours, and how much is lecture versus small group or lab?"
• "How does the program support students who are struggling academically? Is there tutoring, remediation, faculty advising — and can you give me an example of how it has worked?" (Ask students this one too; compare the answers.)

Clinical year and rotations

• "Where do students do clinical rotations — are they mostly local, or will I need to relocate or travel?" (This has major life and cost implications. Ask early.)
• "Are rotation sites assigned, or is there flexibility to choose? Can students set up electives in specialties they are interested in?"
• "How does the program handle rotation shortages — what happens if a site falls through?" (Reveals how robust the clinical infrastructure really is.)

Class culture and student life

• "How would you describe the class culture — collaborative, competitive, somewhere in between?" (Ask students. The pause before they answer tells you a lot.)
• "What does the program do concretely for student wellness during didactic year — not just what is on the website, but what students actually use?"
• "Do students actually spend time together outside of class, or does everyone scatter?" (A fit question disguised as a casual one.)

Mission, values, and service

• "Your mission emphasizes [underserved care / rural health / primary care] — how does that show up concretely in the curriculum, not just the brochure?" (Separates real mission from marketing.)
• "Are there service-learning trips, community clinics, or outreach opportunities built into the program?"
• "How does the program teach interprofessional teamwork — do PA students train alongside medical, nursing, or pharmacy students?"

For the program director specifically

• "What kind of student thrives here — and what kind struggles?" (One of the best fit questions you can ask. Listen carefully.)
• "What is changing in the program over the next few years — curriculum updates, new rotation sites, new leadership?" (Shows you are thinking long-term.)
• "What are you most proud of about your graduates?" (Ends the conversation warmly and tells you what the PD values.)

For current students

• "What is the hardest part of didactic year that you did not expect?" (Honest answers here are gold.)
• "If you could change one thing about the program, what would it be?" (Ask this one-on-one, not in a group — you will get a straighter answer.)
• "How did you choose this program over your other options — and would you choose it again?"

The closers (save one for the end of the day)

• "Is there anything about my application that concerns you, or anything I can clarify?" (Bold. Only use it if the conversation has gone well and you can handle the answer gracefully — I have seen it turn a lukewarm interview around.)
• "What advice would you give me as I compare programs and make my decision?" (Humble, smart, and occasionally elicits genuinely useful guidance.)

The full guide includes the complete bank of 30 questions with the reasoning behind each, plus which questions fit faculty, students, and program directors. See the PA Interview Guide on Fiverr.