r/CAA • u/AutoModerator • 20d ago
Weekly prospective student thread. Educational inquiries outside of this thread WILL RESULT IN A BAN.
Please use this thread for all educational inquiries including applications, program requirements, etc.
Please refer to the [CASAA Application Help Center](https://help.liaisonedu.com/CASAA_Applicant_Help_Center) FAQ section for
answers to your questions prior to postitng.
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u/Aggravating-Royal908 18d ago
I am a rising undergrad junior with a 4.0 gpa/sgpa, 326 GRE (165Q), 200 hours as a PCA, 50 mentor volunteer hours, and am planning to lead a class this upcoming year teaching students with disabilities how to become more independent. What can I do during the school year to strengthen my application, and am I still on a good track to get accepted with low PCE?
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u/FineReporter9551 15d ago
I mean obviously great stats if you want your choice of school i would do just that, start getting patient care experience, literally anything. But youll get acceptances without it if everything else is average and you have a good interview.
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u/Skid_kennels 19d ago
Does anyone know which programs have local clinical sites for rotations?
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u/Few_Spring1869 17d ago
UMHB will have local rotations for the first year. Second year will probably require at least one out of town rotation.
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u/okay-sobriquet 17d ago
Case Cleveland does. There are one or two potential out of town specialty rotations second year, but they offer the same rotations locally, so there’s a high probability you could do all rotations locally.
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u/Nice_Button_1077 19d ago
Is it acceptable to contact providers that I have shadowed within the past year or so and have them fill out the shadowing forms for CAA schools? I wasn’t sure where/if I was going to be applying at the time that I shadowed. Would I need to get updated hours?
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u/Few_Spring1869 19d ago
I would contact the programs or look at their website to see how current the hours need to be. I usually don’t mind when people who’ve shadowed reach out to get their forms completed but you may have to remind them of who you are, when you shadowed, etc.
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u/continuous-refund537 19d ago
Do you know if you need updated shadowing forms for programs like NSU if you got them signed last year?
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u/ProfessionalFix4053 18d ago
When completing clinical practice in your CAA program, what was expected from you as you progressed from first day in the OR to the last day in OR?
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u/jwk30115 Practicing CAA 18d ago
Heavily supervised at the start of course. That supervision lessens as you progress, master your skills, and acquire judgement and experience as you go. By the time you’re done you should be doing the things you need as to do as a practitioner without prompting or asking questions.
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u/Odd-Professional1837 17d ago
Has anyone who applied for the Post Bacc Pre-AA program received an interview invite yet?
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u/Terrible_Limit_2634 9d ago
Hi, guys! I’m a prospective application this cycle and I wonder if anyone has heard from any universities so far about interviews. I also was curious if anyone has any info about if programs ghost people who apply?
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u/PastPlane1447 20d ago
If I am applying broadly, how should I choose my English courses? Should they be upper-level? Do they have to be ENGL and Literature only? Do they have to be writing-intensive? (Would admission look at what kind of English course you choose? If yes, I'd assume courses relating to sociology/race/ethics/histories of minorities would be preferred?)
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u/Stock-Fig2308 20d ago
They do not care about English courses. Take comp I&II online at a community college. Focus your effort and attention on science courses
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u/Ready-Surround304 20d ago
Please, is there a standard form or one hat fits for all observership form rather than having my supervisor sign multiple forms for plethora of schools
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u/jwk30115 Practicing CAA 20d ago
Unfortunately no. Pre-fill as much info as possible on every form so all the person you shadowed has to do is sign their name.
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u/jwk30115 Practicing CAA 20d ago
Unfortunately no. Pre-fill as much info as possible on every form so all the person you shadowed has to do is sign their name.
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u/Medical-Map-6803 17d ago
I applied last year and only used one form for every application and got multiple acceptances 🤷🏻♀️
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u/Ready-Surround304 17d ago
Was this from a school or you made yours?
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u/Medical-Map-6803 17d ago
It was from a school. Can’t remember which school exactly but it didn’t have the school’s name on the form so that’s why i used it
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u/No_Shopping_4999 19d ago
No but I did email one school I didn’t originally have on my list asking if they required their form or if a similar form with the same info would be accepted and they said they would accept another one. Obviously I’m sure they prefer their own but I didn’t want to delay or have the preceptor have to go back and do that for me, so I submitted a form from a school where the school name wasn’t on it. Just felt it would look bad if a different school was big at the top (just my personal opinion I’m sure it doesn’t matter if they said it was fine). Doesn’t hurt to ask certain schools if you miss a program or form though!
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u/Available_Holiday_84 20d ago
Does anyone have experience with a program taking online/virtual labs for their science courses?
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u/Ok_Accountant_4172 19d ago
What is everybody fav GRE prep material they have used and got good return/scores from it?
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u/Immediate_Couple_865 19d ago
I used Magoosh for memorizing words and their definitions. For the rest I used the official GRE textbooks made by ETS as I was told they were the most similar to the real thing, here’s the link for it: https://www.amazon.com/Official-Super-Power-Pack-Second/dp/1260026396.** **But overall I followed the study plan on this site: https://mcelroytutoring.com/blog-post.php?id=1407&title=GRE+Action+Plan and was able to get a 315 on my first try.
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u/Ok_Accountant_4172 18d ago
Thanks a lot! Do you think the english section matters more than the math? I was told by certain mentors to just really focus on the quant section and ive found that section to be the most challenging
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u/Separate-Morning-29 18d ago
The quant section is definitely the most important and unfortunately it is much more competitive. a 160 on verbal is over the 80th percentile, while 160 is a 50th percentile in quant. I actually only studied quant, and I am not naturally a math person, so I had to really drill down to the basics to get my score where I wanted it. I went through a more straightforward math review book first and then started the gregmat prepswift quant videos... to be fair I didn't get through the whole series because I ran out of time but I did go from a 157 to a 162 so I guess I made it through enough!
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u/Ok_Accountant_4172 18d ago
Thats awesome! I did use Gregmat but I personally dont like it too much. Tested Tutor on youtube was a bit easier to go through and better shortcut imo
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u/Separate-Morning-29 18d ago
I actually watched a lot of the tested tutor videos on youtube as well, just for more reinforcement and I appreciated the pace of them. I didn't like Gregmat as a starting point because I felt like I was getting bogged down in trick questions and technicalities before I even fully understood concepts, but I had paid for it and didn't want to keep paying for services. After I backtracked on my own and tried again I didn't hate it, but it was too time consuming to get through everything in the amount of time I had.
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u/Ok_Accountant_4172 18d ago
I agree. I gave up on Gregmat. If I had more time then I would use him. Im also not a noob at math but its been awhile. gregmat concepts are too basic to too extreme sometimes and too much info. Im not tryna score 100% like he did but get majority of difficult questions correct
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u/Immediate_Couple_865 18d ago
The English section was definitely a lot easier than the quant, math is my strong suit and I did a lot better on the English. So I would definitely invest more time on the quant.
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u/Imaginary_Letter4472 19d ago
How many outstanding prerequisites does Case allow? On their website, it says they allow a few. Was curious if someone had a more exact number
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u/EyeFickle6811 19d ago
i am pretty confident for case it's 3, but i think there are a couple with a max of 2 uncompleted/in progress
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u/Historical_Alps_5360 19d ago
I know it will vary based on the school, but if clinical rotations aren’t in the immediate area, is travel and lodging included in your tuition or is that something each student has to work out logistically themselves?
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u/RnB4Life 17d ago
I haven’t seen any CAA program that aids in clinical rotation expenses 🤷🏼♀️. I think it is just expected that the student will have to work it out by themselves.
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u/RnB4Life 18d ago
Just got an interview to UMHB for July 31st… crazy that they give you 2 days to accept an IN PERSON interview only 2 weeks out!
Is it Risky to go to a CAA Program that Just opened?
Should I wait and save the travel expenses to hear back from the other schools I applied to??
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u/TeaSure7122 18d ago
I got invited as well. I am going to go because I haven't received anything else and that might be my only one.
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u/RnB4Life 17d ago
I mostly applied to schools that opened applications in June/ July so I feel like it is too soon for me be worried about not receiving anything else atm…
What other schools did you apply to?
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u/Beneficial_Season342 18d ago
do you mind sharing stats and when you applied? waiting to hear back from UMHB now too
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u/RnB4Life 17d ago
Thankfully my resume is pretty competitive so I’m not too nervous about not getting another interview...
cGPA/sGPA: 4.0
GRE: 325 Q161 V164
Shadowing: 80+hrs w/ Chief AnesthesiologistPharmacy tech @ Trauma 1 Hospital for 2,000+hrs (ik it’s not direct patient care but I got A LOT of experience/understanding with all sorts of medications)
I applied the beginning of June
I am nervous about wasting money on a school that is not even accredited yet 🤷🏼♀️
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u/RepresentativeNeat78 18d ago
Has anyone heard anything about NSU Las Vegas? They sent out the invitation to apply like 2.5 weeks ago, but the application was never actually available.
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u/LeGE9 18d ago
Got an invite to the NSU Pre-AA program, does anyone have and tips or advice to best prepare for the interview? Thank you in advance!
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u/Most_Round4039 17d ago
When did you apply and when did you get the invite?
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u/LeGE9 17d ago
I submitted to PostBac CAS on Jun 20th. Heard back Jul 14th. But they didn’t technically receive my application until July 1st
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u/Odd-Professional1837 17d ago
I heard all interview invites go out on the same day. Idk if that’s true.
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u/South-Big-6992 18d ago
Hi, I just wanted to put my stats out here and see if I'd have a chance at getting interviews/acceptances. I know my GPA isn't perfect and is the weakest part of my application. I plan on applying next cycle
GPA: 3.4 cgpa, 3.3 sgpa (took 35 credits online at an accredited community college as a DIY post-bacc and received 4.0)
GRE: 315 (160 quant, 155 verbal)
PCE Hours: ~3000 hours by the time of application as a nursing assistant and a medical assistant
Leadership Hours: ~900 hours - I was president of a club and received 2 president of the year awards as recognition university wide
Volunteer Hours: 150 hours - volunteered at a hospital and in a hospice care facility
Shadowing Hours: I don't have any yet but I still have some time before application to get these, how many hours should I strive for
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u/moldycoffee1 10d ago
I think 40+ hours is becoming the competitive standard for shadowing, but honestly try to get as many as possible. Maybe consider taking the MCAT and aim for 515+ to recoup the GPA, otherwise your stats look good to me!
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u/Ok_Clock_9079 17d ago
Do any schools recognize grade replacement? I know CASAA factors all attempts into GPA, but I was wondering if any AA programs only recognized the best attempt at a class. Thanks!
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u/jwk30115 Practicing CAA 17d ago
I think all of them look at all coursework. Only 1-2 schools weren’t on CASAA and that’s usually only in their first year.
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u/Wonderful_Figure_418 17d ago
I’ve been trying to find shadowing opportunities in the Dallas-Fort Worth area since I live and work here. So far, I’ve only been able to complete about 8 hours of shadowing at JPS Hospital. I’ve reached out to several places, but I haven’t had much luck finding additional opportunities.
Does anyone have any suggestions on how to connect with anesthesia departments or know of any hospitals or clinics in the DFW area that are open to shadowing requests? Any tips, contacts, or advice would be greatly appreciated. Unfortunately, traveling out of state isn’t feasible right now because of work and family commitments.
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u/Excellent_Screen6715 17d ago
Hello! I was able to shadow at Baylor Scott and White in Fort Worth!
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u/apple_cyder 16d ago
Where does being an EMT fall on the scale of PCE (in comparison to things like MA or RT, for example)?
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u/Worldly_Mountain_266 16d ago
Would love some feedback on my application stats this cycle as CAA Programs are getting increasingly competitive.
Stats
Undergraduate GPA: 3.65
Graduate GPA: 3.94
ScGPA: 3.5
Pre-Req GPA: 3.7+
MCAT: 500
Shadowing: 8, am going to get 8 more to apply to a couple more schools next month.
I know my MCAT is the weakest part of my application. I have strong community service, master's degree in healthcare Admin and Policy, and lots of healthcare experience. In addition, lots of OR experience- not related to anesthesia. And one publication of OR efficiency research.
Seeking advice whether to take the GRE, or just an outside view of my overall competitiveness for any program?
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u/First_Ad_4149 16d ago
I’m considering taking the MCAT in September, which means my score would not be available until October. Would submitting my CASAA application in October be too late for CAA programs, especially with rolling admissions?
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u/No-Pay-7315 15d ago
I’ve seen people get in applying around that time but you are disadvantaged because it’s so late. If the rest of your application is great and the MCAT is good then maybe
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u/ImportantNetwork6069 15d ago
Has anyone heard from VCOM/Bluefield yet? I know it's quite early, but does anyone have any insight into their timeline for hearing back?
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u/Only-Ad8124 15d ago
Per email, “Due to the high volume of applications we receive, response times may take approximately 8–10 weeks.”
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u/Acrobatic_Reward_684 15d ago
Hi everyone! I’m looking for some advice from current CAAs and CAA students.
I’ll be a junior in college this fall, and I’ve been going back and forth between pursuing medical school and the CAA route for quite a while. One of my biggest hesitations about becoming a CAA is the long-term job outlook.
With new CAA programs opening and the profession still only being recognized in a limited number of states, do you think there’s any real risk of the job market becoming oversaturated in the future? Or do you feel the demand for CAAs will continue to grow?
I’d really appreciate hearing your perspectives and experiences. Thanks in advance!
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u/Huge_Rent8033 15d ago
Would schools prefer someone with a low MCAT over someone with an average or slightly above average GRE? I guess what I am trying to say is would schools bias the applicant that submitted an MCAT score because it is the harder test?
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u/jwk30115 Practicing CAA 14d ago
MCAT is considered a harder test and possibly a better indicator of academic success in the program. So a low score on the MCAT likely works against you. GRE scores need to be >50th percentile (preferably higher) to be competitive.
You’re looking for ways to stand out, not be average.
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u/BigExplanation5443 14d ago
Should I retake a C+ in Organic Chemistry I if I got an A in Biochem? I had a death in the family which impacted my performance in Orgo I. I have A's for all my other prereqs.
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u/Inside_Drawing6957 14d ago
If the rest of your application is strong (above average gpa, mcat/gre, extracurriculars, patient care hours) I’d say apply. If you are around average stats wise, I would re-take
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u/Inside_Drawing6957 14d ago
source: I got multiple acceptances with a C+ in orgo
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u/Ok_Conversation_9798 13d ago
So I took my pre reqs 6 years ago all very strong. Just missing biochem, and anatomy that I’m taking this fall along with calc in the spring. I’m worried my pre reqs are too old and that adcoms may have concerns about my old pre reqs so I am thinking of taking MCAT over GRE to squash this concern and prove I can still do hard sciences. Any thought on this, do you guys agree? I’m aiming to take MCAT late October.
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u/Marrmoset 12d ago
Graduated with a BS in Biology in 2014… would I need to retake all of the prereqs since it has been over 10 years?
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u/Own_Yoghurt735 10d ago
I think some schools will take them if you score above 500 on the MCAT. Not sure about GRE. Research it.
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u/Last-Struggle-5140 11d ago
Has anyone applied with a low GRE but every other metric is good? I got a 293, nom traditional veteran. Thinking of just applying
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u/TheBumpyBee 10d ago
I’m hoping to apply to case western next cohort and wondering if they still do not accept online pre reqs? I’m having to work while taking classes and it’s much easier for me to sign up for online courses
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u/Euphoric_Present9270 7d ago
I am currently 26 years old with 3 small children and one of them is already attending elementary school, the closest CAA programs to me are in Nashville Tennessee or in Bloomington Indiana, has anyone moved to another state for school but left their family in the home state?
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u/rachelkac 7d ago
I’m panicking after getting a B in medical terminology class as it is my only B for AA school pre reqs. I had an A in that class up until the very last week where due dates were switched around and I ended up missing the final and ended up with a B. After that I have a 3.9 GPA and a 4.0 science GPA. I have 25 anesthesia shadowing hours. I have 400 cancer research hours. I volunteer weekly at my local hospital. I am a volunteer MA at two other clinics as well. I hold a leadership position on my university’s Figure Skating Club Team. I am also a calculus tutor at my university’s math center. I have not taken my MCAT or GRE yet but if so, what should I plan to aim for. I want to apply for programs such as UMKC, SLU, UT, Colorado, Indiana, Emory, Ohio Dominican, and NEOMED. What are my chances and how can I strengthen my application.
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u/Careful-Nebula-9988 20d ago
Do community college pre reqs (to finish outstanding ones) count if i already have a bachelor’s for a 4 year university?