Top 5 Things Pre-PAs Should Do RIGHT NOW Before CASPA Opens (January–April Game Plan)!
If you’re reading this on January 1 and thinking,
“I’ll really get started once CASPA opens…”
We say this with love: that’s how people end up scrambling, applying late, or submitting a sloppy “meh” app.
The strongest PA school applicants aren’t waiting for CASPA to open to start working on their application. They’re using January through April to quietly build an application that feels intentional, confident, and competitive.
This is your advantage window.
Here’s exactly what you should be doing right now to set yourself up for a strong cycle — without burning yourself out.
Audit Your Application Like an Admissions Committee Member
January is not necessarily about adding more to your pre-PA plate.
It’s about looking objectively at your stats and hours, and evaluating to see what needs work.
Before you sign up for another certification, volunteer shift, or shadowing experience, pause and do this first:
Do a full application audit:
- Your overall GPA, science GPA, and trend
- Every experience you plan to include in CASPA
- Shadowing (especially PA shadowing)
- Leadership, teaching, volunteering
- Letters of recommendation (who + what credentials)
Then ask yourself one honest question:
“If I were reviewing this application today, what would feel weak, unclear, or rushed?”
This is exactly how admissions committees think.
Why this matters now:
January gives you time to fix gaps intentionally instead of panic-adding hours in June that don’t actually strengthen your story.
Secure a PA Letter of Recommendation “Yes” (This Takes Longer Than You Think)
January is the time to start deciding on who your LOR writers will be…and getting a “yes, I’d love to write you a letter of rec” now.
Not April.
What to do right now:
- Identify who you will ask, including at least one PA
- Don’t have a PA yet? Even more important for you to work on this ASAP, as in right now, today! Find a PA you could realistically build a relationship with – Start shadowing consistently (aim for ~20+ hours before asking). Ask thoughtful questions, show up prepared, be engaged. Give them time to actually get to know you before asking for a letter
Strong LORs are built on trust and familiarity, not a last-minute email.
Waiting until CASPA opens often leads to:
- Rushed letters
- Lukewarm letters
- Or worse… no PA letter at all
Lock In Meaningful Experiences (Not Random Hour Chasing)
January–April is when pre-PAs should focus on quality, consistency, and intention.
This is not the time for:
- Random volunteer shifts just to “add something”
- Job hopping without purpose
- Collecting hours without understanding how they fit your narrative
Instead, focus on:
- Consistent patient care (where you’re actually learning and gaining clinical skills)
- Shadowing in 1–2 specialties you can speak about confidently
- Volunteering that aligns with who you are — not what you think “looks good”
Ask yourself:
“Will this experience help an admissions committee understand the PA I want to become?”
If the answer is no, it’s probably not worth your limited time.
Start Your Personal Statement BEFORE You Feel Ready
January is not about writing the final draft.
It’s about thinking about what themes you will write about, what experiences have been pivotal to your decision to become a PA, and essentially, starting the personal statement process.
Right now is the perfect time to:
- Brain-dump meaningful patient interactions
- Reflect on moments that shaped why PA
- Identify patterns in your experiences (themes matter more than one perfect story)
The strongest personal statements:
- Are revised multiple times
- Gain clarity through reflection
- Improve with distance and feedback
Applicants who wait until CASPA opens often write essays that feel rushed, surface-level, or generic — even if their stats are solid. Or their personal statement ends up delaying when they submit their application by weeks or even months, causing them to miss out on leveraging applying early for rolling admissions schools.
Starting now gives you a huge advantage.
Choose PA Schools Strategically (Not Emotionally)
This might be the most important January move of all.
Before CASPA opens, you should:
- Compare your stats to actual matriculant averages
- Understand each program’s mission and preferences
- Look at GPA trends, PCE expectations, and class profiles
- Build a balanced school list — not a dream-only list
Applying broadly or only in your geographical area does not mean applying strategically.
One of the biggest mistakes we see:
Strong applicants applying to the wrong schools for their stats and background — then wondering why interviews don’t come.
January–April is when smart school lists are built.
Why January–April Is Your Secret Weapon
This season is quiet — and that’s exactly why it matters.
This is when:
- Competitive applicants get intentional
- Reapplicants fix what actually held them back
- Average applications quietly become strong ones
By the time CASPA opens, your goal should be to:
- Polish
- Refine
- Submit confidently and early
Not scramble.
Final Thoughts
You don’t need to do everything right now.
You just need to do the right things, in the right order, at the right time.
January is for preparation.
And future-you — hitting submit with confidence — will be very glad you started now.🤗
Want expert mentorship to build your PA school application WITH you 1:1 on Zoom?? Get into VIP!
VIP Days include private sessions where we meet you on Zoom and:
- -write your entire personal statement
- -write all your CASPA paragraphs
- -program match
- -Also includes a mock interview, our PA School Directory, 6 program supplemental essay editing, access to Application to Acceptance Course, and weekly PA shadowing to add to your app
Can’t wait to get started on completing your best app! See you in VIP!