Applying to PA school is no small feat, and one of the most crucial elements of a successful application is timing. CASPA (Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants) opens each year in late April, but preparing to apply begins long before then. To help you stay on track and ensure your application is as strong as possible, we’ve created this ultimate timeline for submitting your CASPA application.

12-18 Months Before Submission (Summer/Fall of Junior Year)

1. Research PA Programs:
   • Start researching PA programs to determine prerequisites, average stats of accepted students, and program-specific requirements.
   • Make a list of schools that align with your stats, goals, and values.
2. Complete Prerequisites:
   • Identify any prerequisite courses you still need to take and add them to your academic plan.
   • Plan your schedule to meet the minimum requirements by the time you apply.
3. Gain Patient Care and Healthcare Experience Hours:
   • Assess how many hours you’ve already completed and create a plan to reach competitive levels.
   • Look for additional opportunities to gain hands-on experience, such as becoming a CNA, EMT, or medical assistant.
4. Get PA Shadowing Hours:
   • Aim for 50 hours then 3-4 hours every month until acceptance.

6-12 Months Before Submission (Fall/Winter Before CASPA Opens)

1. Prepare for the GRE or PA-CAT (if required):
   • Register for the exam and allow enough time to study.
   • Take practice tests and aim to complete the exam 3-6 months before applying.
2. Build Relationships with References:
   • Identify and reach out to potential letter writers (e.g., PAs, professors, supervisors).
   • Spend time shadowing PAs and building meaningful relationships with mentors.
3. Continue Gaining PCE/HCE and Shadowing Experiences:
   • Shadow PAs in different specialties to gain diverse insights into the profession.
   • Continue getting PCE and HCE hours and gaining new clinical skills.

3-6 Months Before Submission (January-March)

1. Draft Your Personal Statement:
   • Start early to give yourself plenty of time to write and revise.
   • Focus on telling a compelling story about why you want to become a PA and how your experiences have prepared you for this career.
2. Organize Transcripts and Documents:
   • Request unofficial transcripts to verify your coursework and grades.
   • Begin gathering the necessary information for your application, such as job descriptions and contact information for your references.
3. Research Financial Aid and Scholarships:
   • Understand the costs of applying and attending PA school, including fees, tuition, and living expenses.
   • Look into scholarships and grants to offset costs.

1-2 Months Before CASPA Opens (March-April)

1. Finalize Your Personal Statement:
   • Have your Personal Statement edited for content, clarity, grammar, and impact.
2. Secure Letters of Recommendation:
   • Confirm your references and ensure they’re ready to submit letters when CASPA opens.
3. Prepare Your CASPA Profile:
   • Familiarize yourself with the CASPA platform and gather all the details you’ll need to input.

When CASPA Opens (Late April)

1. Submit Early:
   • Aim to submit your application within the first 4-6 weeks after CASPA opens. Early submission gives you a better chance of being reviewed and invited to interviews for schools that do rolling admissions.
2. Verify All Information:
   • Double-check all sections of your application for accuracy.
   • Review your Experience and Achievement sections to ensure they’re well-written and thorough.
   • Have your application edited BEFORE you press submit (once you press submit, you can’t edit anything for an entire cycle, so make sure it’s perfect and your strongest app)!
3. Monitor Your Application Status:
   • Regularly check CASPA to ensure transcripts and letters of recommendation have been received and your application is complete.

After Submission

1. Prepare for Interviews:
   • Review common interview questions and practice your responses.
   • Stay up-to-date on healthcare trends and news.
2. Continue Gaining Experience and Shadowing Hours:
   • Use the waiting period to strengthen your application by gaining additional hours doing PCE, HCE, volunteering, and shadowing.

By following this timeline, you’ll reduce the stress of last-minute preparation and put your best foot forward. Remember, preparation and planning are key to standing out as a competitive PA school applicant!