Common Questions

General Information

What does the admissions committee look for in an applicant?
Candidates are evaluated on their entire merit, no one criterion is used exclusively in the evaluation of a candidate. Competitive applicants will have 8+ hours of surgical pathology exposure obtained within two years of their application and additional exposure hours to autopsy pathology. Competitive candidates typically also have strong academic preparation, exceptional letters of recommendation (submitted with the admission package), exceptional photo and narrative submissions, and GPAs above a 3.0 for both overall and science categories.

How long is the program?
The program is 8 academic quarters or approximately 22 months of study.

When does the program start?
The program matriculates in late May.

What is the class size?
32 Students per class.

What is the timeline for the admissions process?

• To simplify and facilitate the admissions process, RFUMS utilizes an online application process.
• Applications for the current admissions cycle will be available on the 1st Monday of August, annually.
• Interviews are held virtually, typically between November and March.
• The program begins in late May.

Will my application be reviewed if it is submitted after the deadline and / or missing any of the requirements?
No, the program will not review or consider late and / or incomplete applications.

How can I get in touch with the Admissions Office?
Email us: grad.admissions@rosalindfranklin.edu
Call us: 847-578-3204
Our address:
Rosalind Franklin University
Pathologists' Assistant Admissions
3333 Green Bay Road
North Chicago, IL 60064

Does RFUMS offer financial assistance to its students?
Please visit the Financial Aid Office for more information.

RFUCAS & Transcripts

How can I check my status?
Once your application has been submitted online, you may check your application with RFUCAS by logging on to your profile, calling them at 617-612-2070 ext. 4 or emailing them at info@liaisoncas.com.

What is the address for sending transcripts?

RFUCAS Transcript Processing Center
PO Box 9130
Watertown, MA 02471
For any transcript updates, reach out to RFUCAS at 617-245-4861.
Transcripts sent directly to RFUMS will not be accepted.

How do I use Interfolio to send my letters of recommendation?
Please follow these instructions on how to upload letters from Interfolio to an online application system.

Prerequisite Courses

Will the program accept prerequisite coursework taken more than ten years from the submission date of an application?
No. Applicants that do not meet this requirement will be required to complete the necessary prerequisite course(s) prior to matriculation into the program. A course(s) may be in-progress when an applicant submits their application, as long as the course will be completed before matriculation into the program.

Will the program waive a prerequisite course?
No, all six prerequisite courses must be successfully completed prior to matriculation into the program, and they must meet the stated required criteria.

Interviews

Does everyone get invited to interview?
No, this is a competitive process and not all applicants are invited to interview.

What type of interview format do you use?
The program utilizes the Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format. This is a scenario based interview. Candidates will receive detailed MMI instructions at the start of their interview and are encouraged to do their own research on Multiple Mini Interviews (MMI).

Shadowing

Are there a minimum number of hours needed to fulfill the surgical pathology exposure requirement?
While exposure to surgical pathology is required, there is not a minimum number of hours requested by the Program at this time.

Competitive applicants will have 8+ hours of in-person surgical pathology exposure obtained within two years of their application and additional exposure hours to autopsy pathology.

How do I obtain surgical/anatomic pathology exposure?
While in-person work experience and/or shadowing is preferred, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there may still be challenges that prevent applicants from obtaining in-person experiences. The Pathologists' Assistant Program at RFUMS has partnered with its alumni, clinical preceptors and fellow pathologists' assistants to provide a virtual shadowing opportunity. Please contact the Admissions Office at grad.admissions@rosalindfranklin.edu or 847-578-3204 for more information. Applicants are also encouraged to visit the American Association for Pathologists’ Assistants (AAPA) website, www.pathassist.org, for additional shadowing opportunities.

Can autopsy exposure be used to fulfill the surgical pathology exposure requirement?
No, autopsy exposure alone does not satisfy the surgical/anatomic pathology exposure requirement. However, the Program recommends applicants to obtain autopsy exposure, in addition to surgical/anatomic pathology exposure.

Can I use college courses and/or college experiences to fulfill the surgical pathology exposure requirement?
No, college credit received for related coursework or experiences are not acceptable exposure.

Repeat Applicants

Does the program accept repeat applicants?
Yes, the program accepts repeat applicants. Repeat applicants will need to update their applicant portal information on their new application, and are strongly encouraged to submit new letters of recommendation, narratives and photos, CV, etc.

Other Common Questions

Will the program waive the clinical requirement for on-the-job trained pathologists’ assistants and/or other medically licensed applicants?
No, in order to be approved by Rosalind Franklin University as eligible to sit for the ASCP certification exam, all students must successfully complete the entire 8 quarters of the program.

Is this program recommended for applicants that are interested in forensics and crime scene investigation?
This program does not focus on forensics and crime scene investigation. The curriculum in this Program focuses on anatomic pathology, predominantly surgical pathology and autopsy pathology.

Do you require the Graduate Record Examination (GRE)?
No. The program does not require applicants to submit official GRE scores.

Do you give preference to Illinois residents?
No. RFUMS is a private university. We make no distinction by state of residency in our admissions policy. Tuition costs are the same regardless of state of residency.

Can I transfer into the program?
The Pathologists' Assistant program in the College of Health Professions does not accept transfer applications nor does it accept transfer credits.

Does the program have a supplemental application?
No, the program does not utilize a supplemental application.

Does the program accept non-degree applicants?
No, the program does not accept non-degree applicants.

Does the program accept early decision applications?
No, the program does not accept early decision applicants.