Frequently Asked Questions
1. How can I prepare myself financially for this program?
- Submit your FAFSA application early
- If you live in Alaska, Arizona, Nevada, or Wyoming submit your WICHE application by October 15th (read the website carefully)
- Make preparations to support yourself (and your family, if applicable) for 2+ years
- Start researching private scholarships and sources of educational funding.
2. Am I a competitive applicant?
Here are some stats on the class entering August 2010:- Mean total GPA 3.10
- Mean total science GPA 3.00
- 23 females, 7 males
- 19 Colorado residents, 11 out of state residents
- Mean age, 29
3. Can I make an appointment to talk to program faculty about my application or prerequisites?
Applicants are encouraged to go to the PA program home page for important information for pre-applicants and the best methods to obtain information about the program (website, general information sessions, email, and advising sessions). The program DOES NOT review transcripts or assessments of pre-requisites for pre-applicants. Pre-applicants are strongly encouraged to attend general information sessions where all questions can be addressed by program faculty in a public forum.
4. Do I have to take the prerequisites within a certain period of time?
All prerequisites must be completed by the application deadline (September 1). There is no period of time previous to which prerequisites will not be accepted, however, experience has shown that students who have taken the prerequisites within the last five years do better academically.
5. Where do I find information about the PA profession in general?
A good place to start is www.AAPA.org. Here you will find substantial resources and information on PA programs, scope of practice, state regulations, salaries, job openings, and much more.
6. Is part time study available at RRCC PA program?
No.
7. Is it possible to transfer from another PA program to RRCC?
No.
8. Can I take all of my pre-requisites at Red Rocks?
A baccalaureate degree is required for entry into the PA Program. Pre-requisite courses for the PA Program are offered at RRCC. For a list of RRCC courses which satisfy PA Program pre-requisites, attend an upcoming information session or stop by the Program Office.
9. Is it possible to obtain advanced standing for coursework received as part of a professional program (such as M.D.)?
No advanced standing is given for any course required by the RRCC curriculum.
10. Is it possible to start the program at anytime other than August?
No.
11. Is it possible to work while attending the RRCC PA program?
While there is no way the program can enforce a ban on student employment while in the program, it is strongly discouraged. Students who work while in the program tend to do poorly. Absolutely no accommodations will be given by the program for student employment.12. Can I choose my clinical rotations?
It is the program’s responsibility to arrange for clinical rotations which provide the best educational experience for the student. Many of these rotations will be outside the Denver metropolitan area. Students may request or suggest rotation sites, but final approval of all clinical rotations rests with the program and must follow established program policy.
13. Can I do all of my clinical rotations in the Denver area? (Or, I am not from Denver so can I do all of my clinical rotations in my home area?)
No. You will be required to do many of your clinical rotations outside the Denver area or away from your home town. The program is responsible for providing each student with the best educational experience possible. Often this does not coincide with a geographic location that is close to home. However, many students, after they have experienced a distant rotation, report that it actually promoted better study habits and clinical learning to be away from the typical distractions of home. It is important to know that a student may not refuse a rotation assigned by the program. To do so is considered a voluntary withdrawal from the program.
14. What makes the RRCC PA program unique?
The RRCC Program is one of only five PA programs in the United States in a community college setting. One advantage of this setting is that tuition and fees for RRCC PA students are significantly lower than the national reported mean for both resident and non-resident students (58% and 66% of the national reported mean respectively).
The RRCC PA program was designed by the local medical community which has strongly supported the program since its inception. The number of students is small (usually 30 per class) which allows for individual attention.
Check back for upcoming Sessions information
Contact
Red Rocks Community College
P.A. Department
Box 38
13300 West Sixth Avenue
Lakewood, Colorado 80228
303.914.6386
pa.program@rrcc.edu
The P.A. department is located at the Lakewood campus, 1st floor, Room 1535. We are open Monday through Friday,
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.