Because refreshing your inbox every 3 minutes isn’t a personality trait… it’s a breakdown in progress.

So… you submitted your CASPA app.
You triple-checked your transcripts, prayed over your personal statement, and finally pressed “submit” with shaking hands and maybe a tear or two.

Now what?

If you’re currently in the waiting phase—aka the “did-I-even-apply-or-did-I-just-launch-my-dream-into-a-void” era—you’re not alone. This part is BRUTAL.

But don’t worry. We made you a Pre-PA Survival Guide for this exact moment. It’s packed with equal parts strategy, distraction, and sanity-saving tips to help you not just wait—but wait well.

🧠 Step 1: Know That PA Schools Are Not Ghosting You

First things first: silence doesn’t mean rejection. PA programs review thousands of apps and have their own timelines, which are typically slower than you’d like and random as heck.

One program might send an interview invite 3 weeks after you submit. Another might take 3 months. Some don’t even send rejection emails (rude, we know).

Instead of spiraling, remind yourself:
⏰ Silence = Still in the running.
No news really is neutral news.

💼 Step 2: Use This Time to Strengthen Your App (Yep, Even Post-Submission)

Just because you submitted doesn’t mean your work is done. Use this “quiet zone” to make your app even stronger.

Here’s what you can do:

• Keep gaining PCE or volunteer hours and update schools with new experience
• Send thank-you notes to those who wrote your LORs
• Join a professional membership (yes, it counts on CASPA—hello, PA-Cers!)
• Keep shadowing—virtually or in person—and track those hours
• Prep for interviews so you’re ready the second an invite hits your inbox

👉 Pro Tip: Most schools LOVE updates. If you’ve gained a bulk of new hours or taken on a leadership or teaching role, send them a short professional update email!

📵 Step 3: Set Limits on Inbox Refreshing

This part is vital. If you check your email like it’s your part-time job… it’s time to log out. Your future PA self will thank you.

Try this:

• Check your email just 2x per day (set an alarm if you need to). Also, don’t forget to check your spam! It’s a sad day when an interview invite goes to spam and you find it months after what could have been your chance.
• Use a tracker or calendar to log when you hear from each school (so you don’t second-guess timelines)
• Turn off push notifications if they’re feeding your anxiety

Bonus move: Replace your email-checking habit with something actually fun or productive.

💃 Step 4: Do Things That Make You Feel Like a Human

PA school isn’t your whole identity (even if it feels like it right now). Give yourself permission to live a little while you wait.

Waiting doesn’t have to be miserable. You get to choose how you show up in the in-between.

❤️ Step 5: Find Your People

Waiting alone = mental spiral city.
Waiting with people who get it = everything.

Connect with other pre-PAs online (come hang out with us here). Join a group, attend a virtual event, or hop in on a live shadowing session with PA-Cers to remind yourself you’re not in this alone.

Surround yourself with energy that says: “You’re gonna make it.” Because you are.

🎯 Final Thoughts

You did the thing. You applied. You put your story out there and hit submit. That already puts you ahead of the game.

Now your job is to wait like a future PA would:
With confidence.
With grace.
And with a backup plan that includes experience hours AND snacks, playlists, and a little sass.

We’re cheering for you.

And if you need hours, support, or a legit professional membership that makes your CASPA app stand out
📣 Join PA-Cers here and make this waiting season actually work for you.

You’ve got this!