Your Guide to Northwestern's PA School Interviews

What to Expect on Your Interview Day
As the PA program enrollment counselor here at Northwestern College, one of my favorite parts of this role is walking alongside applicants during the interview process. If you’ve been invited to interview, congratulations, it truly is a privilege. Each year, our program receives many applications, and only the most competitive candidates are invited to campus. This means that by the time you step into your interview day, you’ve already distinguished yourself through your hard work, preparation, and experiences.

At the same time, we encourage you to approach this day with humility. Our program is unique in its mission: to equip physician assistants who will serve patients in rural and underserved communities. Your journey to becoming a PA is more than academics, it’s about growing in knowledge, faith, and service. We view this profession as a way to bring healing and hope to the communities you’ll serve. We are looking for students who not only demonstrate strong academic and interpersonal skills but who also understand the heart of our program, training providers who will make a difference where they are most needed. This training starts on day one at orientation, continues through the didactic terms, and is reinforced during clinical rotations. 

When Interviews Happen
Invitations to interview are sent between mid-August and mid-September. For the 2025 cycle, our interview dates are:

• September 5
• September 12
• September 26

Once you’ve received your invitation, you’ll also get a detailed schedule of what to expect on your interview day.

What the Day Looks Like
On your interview day, you’ll participate in both individual and group interviews. This is our opportunity to get to know you beyond your application and for you to learn more about us. We’ll be assessing qualities that go far beyond test scores, such as:

• Your understanding of the PA profession and of the Northwestern College PA Program
• Interpersonal skills and how you work with others
• Your commitment to learning and growing
• Self-awareness and emotional maturity
• Critical thinking and problem-solving abilities
• Cultural competency and respect for diverse backgrounds

Our Encouragement to You
We know interviews can feel intimidating, but we want you to see this day as a conversation, not an exam. Come prepared, but also come ready to be yourself. We want to see your passion for the PA profession, your heart for serving others, and your openness to learning.

Remember, this is also your chance to interview us. Ask questions, get a feel for our culture, and imagine yourself in a program deeply committed to preparing rural providers who will meet real needs in communities across the country.

A Final Word
Being invited to interview is an accomplishment worth celebrating. But it’s also just one step in a meaningful process. Stay humble, stay curious, and know that we are genuinely excited to meet you. We are praying for you as you prepare, and we look forward to seeing how your gifts and faith can impact the world through medicine. 

We can’t wait to welcome you to campus this September!

About the Author

Since 2023, Anna Mae has served as the Enrollment Counselor for Northwestern’s PA program. With a background in Secondary Education, she is passionate about education and about guiding prospective students through the PA application process.