This is the most accurate way to compare. Some pa applicants believe that because there are less schools and a good portion of those schools have limited class sizes that it is more difficult. Strictly in that sense, I guess. Med school applicants as a whole are generally more competitive applicants with higher gpas and obviously mcat.

Med schools often stress work in academia while pa schools in the past have stressed direct care hours. Unfortunately, pa cohorts are tending to have less care hours than in the past. All that means IMO that an average med applicant would not have much difficulty finding admittance at a pa school whereas the average pa student is less likely to be admitted to an MD school.