You’ve done everything right.

You chose strong letter writers.
You asked early.
You followed up.

And now…

CASPA is open.
You’re ready to submit.
…and one of your letters of recommendation is still missing.

Cue the stress.

If this is happening to you right now, take a breath.

This is common—and it’s fixable.

Let’s walk through exactly what to do (and what not to do), including the scenario no one talks about:

👉 when a writer ghosts you at the last second.

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First—How LORs Actually Work in CASPA

Quick clarity (because this alone reduces a lot of panic):

• You enter your letter writer’s info in CASPA
• They receive an email invite
• They upload their letter directly
• You do not see the letter

And here’s the key:

👉 You can submit your CASPA application BEFORE all letters are in as long as you have TWO submitted

Programs will review your application once it’s complete, but you don’t have to wait to hit submit if you have two LORs who have already submitted.

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Scenario 1: Your LOR Writer Is Running Late

This is the most common situation.

They didn’t forget you.
They’re just busy.

What to do:

1️⃣ Send a polite follow-up (yes, you’re allowed to)

Keep it simple and respectful:

Hi [Name],
I hope you’re doing well! I just wanted to check in regarding my PA school letter of recommendation. CASPA is now open, and I’m hoping to submit soon.
Please let me know if there’s anything you need from me—I truly appreciate your time and support.
Thank you again!

👉 This is not annoying.
👉 This is professional.

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2️⃣ Give them what they need (again)

Even if you already did this, resend:

• Your resume
• Your personal statement
• A short reminder of your time together

Make it EASY for them to write your letter.

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3️⃣ Give a clear (but reasonable) deadline

Instead of:

“Whenever you can!”

Say:

“If possible, I’d love to have it submitted by [date] as I’m preparing to submit my application.”

Clear > vague.

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Scenario 2: Your LOR Writer Is VERY Late

At this point:

• You’ve followed up
• You’ve given a deadline
• You’re getting close to submitting

What to do:

1️⃣ Submit your application anyway

Do NOT delay your entire application for one letter.

👉 Rolling admissions matters
👉 Early submission matters

You can:

• submit CASPA
• and your letter can still come in afterward

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2️⃣ Continue gentle follow-ups

Every 7–10 days is reasonable.

Short. Respectful. No guilt.

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Scenario 3: Your LOR Writer Ghosts You Last Minute 😬

This is the one no one prepares for.

They said yes.
They seemed excited.

…and now they’ve disappeared.

No response.
No letter.
No timeline.

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First—don’t panic

You still have options.

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What to do immediately:

1️⃣ Send ONE final check-in

Give them an out:

Hi [Name],
I wanted to follow up one last time regarding my letter of recommendation. I completely understand if your schedule no longer allows for this—just let me know, and I can make alternate arrangements.
I truly appreciate your time and consideration.

👉 This gives them a graceful exit
👉 And gives you clarity

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2️⃣ Set a personal cutoff deadline

Decide:

Give yourself a deadline – If you don’t hear back by [date], you move on.

Don’t wait indefinitely.

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3️⃣ Secure a backup writer ASAP

This is why we always recommend having a backup in mind.

Reach out to:

• another PA
• another supervisor
• a professor
• someone who knows your work well

Be honest and direct:

“Would you be willing to support me with a strong letter for this cycle?”

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4️⃣ Replace them in CASPA

Yes—you can:

• remove a letter writer as long as they have not submitted (if an LOR is submitted, it’s set in stone for the cycle)
• add a new one
• send a new request

👉 This happens more often than you think

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What NOT to Do

❌ Don’t wait forever
❌ Don’t submit late just to “be polite”
❌ Don’t use a weak or rushed letter just to fill the requirement
❌ Don’t avoid follow-ups because you feel awkward

This is your future.

Professional follow-up is part of the process.

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What Makes a Strong LOR (Quick Reminder)

It’s not about the title.

It’s about:

• how well they know you
• how specifically they can speak about you
• your work ethic, clinical ability, and character

👉 A strong letter from someone who knows you > a generic letter from someone “important”

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Final Takeaway

A late LOR feels stressful…

But it does NOT have to derail your application.

Stay calm.
Stay strategic.
Take action.

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Our Rule (Save This)

👉 No interviews? Get your application and essays edited.
👉 No acceptances after interviews? Do a mock interview before your next big day.

Because the breakdown always happens somewhere.

And your job is to identify where—and fix it.

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Want Help Making Sure Your Application Is Actually Strong?

If you’re worried about:

• your essays
• your positioning
• or whether your application is strong enough

That’s exactly what we help you do inside Pre-PA Clinic.

Because submitting early is important…

👉 But submitting STRONG is what gets interviews.

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You’ve got this.

And we’re right here with you 💙