High Point University PA Program: Student Spotlight

By: Savanna Perry, PA-C

TL;DR

In this student spotlight, a High Point University PA student shares that the program runs 27 months with about 15 months of didactic and 12 months of clinical, a class size of 35, and a problem based clinical decision making focus. Her biggest advice is to make school a top priority, take things one day at a time, and still protect time for yourself.

Last Updated: June 12, 2026

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What is the High Point University PA program like?

High Point University's PA program runs 27 months, with about 15 months of didactic (June through the following August) and 12 months of clinical (August through the following August). The class size is 35 students, and this student was about to start her very first clinical rotation in family medicine.

The program is housed in a brand new building for the graduate health professional programs, with a SIM center holding more than 13 high fidelity mannequins for realistic simulation, plus a brand new cadaver lab for anatomy. The main course is clinical decision making, which is primarily problem based learning, supported by lecture based classes in pathophysiology, pharmacology, clinical methods and procedures, and history and physical examination.

In this post:

Why did this student choose High Point, and what makes it unique?

She attended High Point University for undergrad and could not imagine going anywhere else for PA school, since she valued her undergraduate experience so highly that it was her top choice. She knew it was the one as soon as she interviewed with the faculty, and she adds that the campus is breathtaking in person.

A few things make the program stand out. She is in the third PA class at HPU, with the cycle for the fifth class in progress at the time. The 15 month didactic phase allows most days to run from 9 AM to 3 PM, leaving plenty of study time. There are mini clinical experiences during the third didactic semester to shadow community providers, the program sits in PA friendly North Carolina (home of the first PA program, at Duke), and there is at least a week long break between every semester.

In Our Experience

In our experience at The PA Platform, the students who feel most settled in a program are the ones who, like this High Point student, picked a place they truly connected with at the interview. Loving your campus and faculty is not a small thing, it carries you through the hard weeks.

What study resources and advice does she recommend?

Her favorite study resources include PANCE Prep Pearls, A Comprehensive Review for Certification and Recertification Examinations for Physician Assistants (the green book), UpToDate, Medscape, Step Up to Medicine and others in that series, and the Blueprints series.

On the hardest part, she says PA school has to be a top priority and your schedule revolves around it, which makes planning ahead tough, though programs understand life events like weddings and funerals. What surprised her was that it was not as hard as everyone made her fear, as long as she went in treating it as a top priority. Her advice: take time for yourself, take things one day at a time, eat healthy and avoid constant snacking or eating out, and find a group of friends to study with. You can find her at @ConqueringPA on Instagram and at conqueringPA.com.

Every Pre-PA Should Know...

High Point's PA program is 27 months total, with roughly 15 months of didactic and 12 months of clinical rotations [VERIFY], and a class size of 35 [VERIFY].

Free Application Timeline → https://www.thepaplatform.com/services/free-application-timeline/

Need to Know:

High Point University's PA program is 27 months total [VERIFY]
Didactic is about 15 months and clinical is about 12 months [VERIFY]
Class size is around 35 students [VERIFY]
The core course is problem based clinical decision making
The program offers a SIM center, cadaver lab, and mini clinical experiences
Take time for yourself and study with a group of friends

FAQ

How long is the High Point University PA program?

It runs 27 months total, with about 15 months of didactic study and 12 months of clinical rotations [VERIFY].

What is the class size at High Point University's PA program?

The student in this spotlight reported a class size of 35 students [VERIFY].

What teaching style does the High Point PA program use?

The main course is clinical decision making, which is primarily problem based learning, supported by lecture courses in pathophysiology, pharmacology, clinical methods, and history and physical examination.

What study resources are recommended for PA school?

This student recommended PANCE Prep Pearls, the green book comprehensive review, UpToDate, Medscape, Step Up to Medicine, and the Blueprints series.

What is the hardest part of PA school according to this student?

She said the hardest part is that PA school must be a top priority and your schedule revolves around it, which makes planning ahead difficult, though programs accommodate major life events.

What advice does she give to future PA students?

Take time for yourself, take things one day at a time, eat healthy, and find a study group of friends who will support you.

CLOSING

Student spotlights like this one give you a real, on the ground look at what a program feels like beyond the brochure. Use them to build your questions and find programs that fit you. If you are getting ready to interview, our coaching and free resources can help you walk in confident.

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High Point University PA Program: Student Spotlight