So you’ve hit submit on CASPA (cue confetti 🎉) … and now you’re in the waiting game.
This is the part no one warns you about. You’ve poured your soul into your personal statement, racked up thousands of hours, hunted down those elusive shadowing experiences, and stalked CASPA like it’s your part-time job. Now? Radio silence.
Here’s the thing: submitting isn’t the end of your job as an applicant. In fact, one of the worst mistakes you can make is to ghost your PA schools after you submit.
Admissions committees want to see professionalism, persistence, and genuine interest in their program. And staying top of mind (without being that annoying applicant) can actually make the difference between sitting in the “accepted” pile or being forgotten in the shuffle.
Let’s talk about how to keep your application alive and thriving while you wait.
Why You Shouldn’t “Ghost” After Submitting
Think about it from the program’s perspective: they’re reviewing hundreds (sometimes thousands) of applications. If you disappear after submitting, you look just like every other applicant in the stack.
But if you check in periodically (professionally and strategically), you:
- Show commitment to their program (not just “any PA school”)
- Prove that you’re continuing to grow and gain experiences
- Remind them that you’re still excited and available
The goal is to stay memorable in the right way — think professional persistence, not pushiness.
Smart Strategies to Stay Top of Mind
1. Emails of Continued Interest ✉️
If a school hasn’t specifically said “no updates” (check their policies first — this is key), you can send a short, professional email of continued interest every 4–6 weeks.
What this looks like:
- Reaffirm your excitement about their program (be specific: mission, curriculum, location, values).
- Share any new accomplishments since your application (e.g., 500 more PCE hours, a new certification, leadership role, publication, or volunteer project).
- Keep it concise, polite, and professional.
This isn’t a novel. It’s a little “Hey, I’m still here, I’m still working hard, and I’d love to join your program.”
2. Updated Hours or New Experiences 📈
Again — only if the school allows updates. But if you’ve:
- Added 500+ new PCE hours
- Earned a new certification (like ACLS, EMT, or phlebotomy)
- Taken additional coursework (like upper-level sciences)
- Stepped into leadership or volunteer roles
… those are worth sharing! These updates show growth and momentum in your application — and that you’re serious about improving even after submitting.
3. Thank-You Notes After Interviews 🙏
This is huge. If you interview, always send a personalized thank-you note or email within 24–48 hours.
Pro tip: make it specific. Mention something you loved about the conversation, a unique aspect of the program, or how you connected with their mission. It shows genuine interest and sets you apart.
4. Stay Professionally Engaged 👩⚕️
Beyond direct updates, you can stay engaged with the PA community in ways schools might notice:
- Attend virtual info sessions or open houses (and ask thoughtful questions).
- Join your state PA association or a pre-PA membership like PA-Cers (bonus: it counts as a professional membership entry on CASPA).
- Continue shadowing, volunteering, or healthcare-related activities.
Even if schools don’t see every move you make, these steps prepare you for interviews and help you show up with fresh, relevant stories when asked, “So what have you been doing since applying?”
The Bottom Line
Submitting CASPA is only step one. The applicants who stand out are the ones who stay visible, professional, and persistent.
So don’t ghost your PA schools. Stay top of mind. Keep building momentum. And when that acceptance email finally lands in your inbox? You’ll know it wasn’t luck — it was strategy.
✨ Final Tip: If you’re feeling unsure what to say in an update email or how to frame your continued interest without sounding pushy, we’ve got your back. At Pre-PA Clinic, we walk you through every step of the application process — including the after-submission strategy — so you don’t have to figure this out alone.