Top 3 Things to Do BEFORE the New CASPA Cycle Opens (If You Want to Submit Early and Strong)
If you’re applying this upcoming cycle and thinking:
“CASPA isn’t open yet… I still have a few months before the new CASPA cycle starts.”
Pre-PA friend.
This is your sign.
Sent with love.
You need to start on your PA school application NOW!
Because the pre-PAs who land interviews early?
They’re not scrambling in May.
They’re preparing in February and March.
If you want to submit early (which matters with rolling admissions), you need to treat the pre-CASPA season like part of the application process — not a waiting period.
Here are the top 3 things you should be doing right now before the new CASPA cycle opens.
1️⃣ Draft Your Personal Statement NOW (Not When CASPA Opens)
Your personal statement will take longer than you think.
Not because you’re a bad writer.
But because writing something that feels:
- clear
- compelling
- mature
- and deeply memorable
…is hard.
The biggest mistake we see?
Pre-PAs wait until CASPA opens to “start thinking about it” or start writing their first draft. Big mistake.
Then they:
- panic-write a draft
- over-edit it themselves
- send it to five friends who’ve never sat on PA admissions committees
- get five conflicting opinions
- and lose weeks
Meanwhile, rolling admissions has already started and seats are being filled.
What to do right now:
✅ Block time to outline your story
Ask yourself:
- What top 3 experiences shaped my decision to become a PA?
- What growth have I had?
- What kind of PA do I want to become?
- What thread ties my experiences together?
Your application should tell one clear story, not five scattered ones.
✅ Write a rough draft — not a perfect draft
You are not aiming for polished yet. Starting early gives you time to make your personal statement exceptional.
You’re aiming for:
- clarity
- honesty
- direction
Editing and refining can come later.
But you cannot edit a blank page.
Why this matters
Your personal statement:
- anchors your entire CASPA
- influences how your experiences are read
- sets the tone for supplementals
- impacts interview invites
Strong early > perfect late.
2️⃣ Choose Your LOR Writers (and Confirm Them Now)
Letters of recommendation are not a last-minute task.
They are a strategic move.
Step 1: Choose wisely
Most PA programs require:
- 1 healthcare provider (per us, at least one of your LORs MUST be from a PA)
- 1 professor (preferably science)
- 1 supervisor from your patient care position
But not all letters are equal.
You want writers who:
- know you well
- can speak to your clinical ability or academic readiness
- have seen your work ethic firsthand
- will actually write a strong, detailed letter
Not someone “important.”
Someone invested.
Step 2: Confirm them BEFORE CASPA opens
Do not assume.
Ask directly:
“Can you write me a strong letter of recommendation for PA school this upcoming cycle?”
Notice the word strong.
If they hesitate, that’s your answer. Find someone else.
If they’re excited to do it. Awesome!
Step 3: What to expect when CASPA opens
Once CASPA opens for the new cycle, this is when you request your letters of rec and you enter their information:
- They’ll receive an email invitation from CASPA
- They’ll upload and submit their letter directly into CASPA
- You will NOT see the letter (and that’s normal)
Give them:
- Your resume
- Your personal statement draft if you’re comfortable with this
- A short reminder of experiences you had together
- Clear deadlines
And always give them at least 2-3 weeks if possible.
Strong letters take time.
3️⃣ Narrow Down PA Schools Based on YOUR Stats
This is where so many applicants lose strategy.
They:
- apply to 12 random schools
- pick based on location only
- apply to programs where their GPA is far below the average
- or ignore mission fit completely
And then they’re shocked when interviews don’t come.
Right now, you should be:
✅ Reviewing:
- Minimum GPA requirements
- Average accepted GPA
- Minimum patient care hours
- Average accepted hours
- Prerequisite requirements
- Expiration policies
✅ Asking:
- Does this school align with my stats?
- Are they accepting students already with stats similar to mine?
- Does this program align with my story?
- Is there mission fit?
- Am I applying strategically — or emotionally?
If you have:
- A lower GPA
- Fewer hours
- A unique background
School selection matters even more.
This is not about “dream schools.”
It’s about best-fit schools.
Why All of This Should Happen BEFORE CASPA Opens
Because when CASPA opens, you want to:
- Enter your information
- Upload your finalized personal statement
- Send LOR requests
- Double-check experiences
- Submit early
Not start from scratch.
Rolling admissions means:
- Seats fill
- Interview slots fill
- Momentum matters
Early + strong > perfect + late.
Every single time.
Quick Checklist (Save This)
Before CASPA opens, you should:
✔ Have a full draft of your personal statement
✔ Confirm 3 strong LOR writers
✔ Research and narrow down your school list
✔ Know your strategy based on your stats
If you’re waiting until the new CASPA cycle doors open to “get serious,”
you’re already behind applicants who started preparing months ago.
Want Help Doing This Strategically?
If this is your cycle — and you want to:
- Submit early
- Tell one cohesive story
- Position weaknesses correctly
- Choose the right schools
- Avoid common mistakes
That’s exactly what we build inside VIP – our 1:1 most personalized package!
VIP Days is where you talk… and we write.
We:
- Write your entire, ready-to-submit personal statement
- Write all your final CASPA experience paragraphs
- Strategically position your application
- Help you choose best-fit programs
- Conduct a mock interview before your first big day
- Edit 6 PA programs’ supplementals
- And weekly PA shadowing to add to your CASPA
This cycle will pass whether you prepare now or not.
The question is:
Will your application be strategic — or rushed?
If you’re ready to do it right the first time,
apply for a VIP and let’s build it together. 💙