Case Study: Florida State University improves physician assistant admissions with Acuity Insights’ Casper

Casper Helps Florida State University Find Mission-Driven Physician Assistant Applicants

Florida State University’s School of Physician Assistant Practice needed a better way to identify applicants who fit its mission of serving underserved communities in Florida. Traditional admissions tools like GPA, GRE scores, personal statements, and reference letters were not giving enough insight into professionalism, behavior, or mission alignment, and the team was spending too much time dealing with problematic applicants. Acuity Insights’ Casper assessment was introduced to help address those gaps.

Acuity Insights’ Casper was added to the admissions process to evaluate non-cognitive skills and help screen applicants before interviews, using a cutoff score alongside GPA and HRSA indicators. The program reported a strong correlation between Casper scores and MMI performance, smaller demographic differences than with the GRE, and a more streamlined admissions process. Florida State University also said the tool improved confidence in student quality and helped them bring in more mission-driven candidates.

Florida State University

Thomas Morgan

Assistant Professor and Director of Admissions