8 CASPA Application Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Posted By: Kubin   |   CASPA

The 2018-2019 PA school CASPA application cycle is here.  Applicants everywhere are working hard to polish their PA school applications. The new CASPA cycle will open on April 26, 2018.  Filling out an online CASPA Application can be tedious.  But it can make or break your chances at getting interviews for PA school.  After coaching hundreds of applicants we know the most common CASPA application mistakes, we’ve gotten familiar with a number of easily avoidable mistakes that can weaken an application.  Today we share them with you and tell you how best to avoid them.

CASPA Application Mistake #1: Applying too late

There are many reasons why applicants apply late.  Applying to PA school is stressful which makes it easy to procrastinate.  Some applicants wait to submit while one last grade comes in so it can be included.  Sometimes waiting makes sense, but in most cases applying too late is the bigger risk.  Applications open in April, and much of your competition will submit their apps in April.  We don’t think applications need to be in as soon as the starting gun goes off, but waiting until September is a mistake.  Schools with rolling admissions usually have few seats available by that late in the year, and interviews for them are already well underway.  Instead, try to submit around mid June.  June is early enough to stay ahead of the masses, and just late enough that you’ll have your Spring course grades.  They can’t save a seat for you if they don’t know you want one!

CASPA Application Mistake #2: Not including information about your upbringing

In CASPA’s Identifying Information section you can provide some information on your upbringing, but most students don’t.  We think this is a missed opportunity.  Think about it: thousands of hopeful applicants are all vying for the same attention. Your goal is to attract a little attention to yourself and to be memorable.  You want to make them see you as a real person they’d like to meet (interview).  Why would you pass on giving them a few details about you? Our advice: write a brief paragraph about the home you grew up in.  Include your family structure (siblings, parents and their marital status, type of home environment) and a little information about the location (hometown and some basic demographics about it).  All these little data points help a reader picture you in their mind. If they don’t know you, they can’t like you enough to invite you to interview.

CASPA Application Mistake #3: Using “sales language” to describe your experiences

Along with applying too late in the cycle, this is probably tied for the most common problem.  Applicants dress up their experiences with descriptions that try to inflate their experiences or sound educated.  A couple examples we’ve run across:

I strove to provide excellent patient care and gain an intimate understanding of patient needs. Instead say: I cared for and interacted with patients.

I served as the primary liaison between provider and scribe teams.  Instead say: I communicated with both providers and scribes.

I achieved a timely and successful setup of services according to client needs, objectives, and contract specifications.  Instead say: I helped to managed needed patient services such as…

Notice how all of these examples sound complicated, biased, or use sales words like liaison or successful.  Those are subjective descriptions. If you want the reader to take you seriously, don’t try to sell them a used car.  Remain neutral and factual.  Let the experience speak for itself by saying specifically what you did.

Mistake #4: Misclassifying HCE

If you haven’t read CASPA’s definitions of the different types of experiences, then read them now, and carefully (read CASPA’s FAQ here).  The FAQ spells out what counts as:

• Patient Care Experience
• Healthcare experience
• Shadowing
• Extracurricular Activities
• Leadership Experience
• Teaching Experience
• Volunteer
• Research
• Non-Healthcare Employment

Make sure you use the right category when you describe your experiences.  Pay particular attention to the difference between the first two, which are frequently confused.   For example, how would you classify volunteering in an emergency room — Volunteer, Patient Care Experience, or Healthcare Experience? It depends a little on your exact responsibilities, but in most cases ER volunteer work should be classified as Healthcare Experience (because the Volunteer category is for non-medical types of volunteering, and you had patient interaction, but were not responsible for the patients’ care).  If you are unsure how an experience should be classified, we recommend contacting CASPA’s customer service line and asking them.  You can reach their customer service line at (617) 612-2080 or caspainfo@caspaonline.org Monday through Friday, 9-5 Eastern.

Mistake #5: Submitting a forgettable essay

This mistake is common and more work to avoid.  If #2 above is a small missed opportunity, then using a bland or forgettable essay is a huge one (5000 characters)!  The essay is your chance to tell them whatever you think they should know about your desire to become a PA, and to do so as you see fit. You will have their attention, and a good essay can leverage that attention into an interview.  Some essays they read are very basic.  Many rely on generalizations or fail to show readiness for PA school.  Most will lack any of their writer’s unique personality. A good essay starts with being original and taking a risk or two. If you’re not a born writer, not to worry — get help.  Have at least three people you trust read and critique your essay. For more help, consider our ebook on essays, or hire us to coaching you through the process.    

Mistake #6: Not applying to enough programs

You know this is a competitive undertaking, so cast a big net.  Six programs is the bare minimum, and only for top tier students (over 3000 hours patient care experience, 3.5+ GPA and strong essay).  Typical candidates (1000-3000 hours PCE and 3.2-3.5 GPA) should apply to 12 or more. Everyone else (those with lower GPAs and minimal healthcare experience) should apply to 20 or more.  Yes, it costs more, but It’s a numbers game, and the alternative is another year waiting to reapply.

Mistake #7: Not fully describing achievements, memberships, certifications, and licenses

The CASPA application has separate sections where you are asked to list your achievements, memberships, certifications, and licenses.  Most students list them but leave the experience’s description blank. If you made Dean’s List, describe what that means: “Dean’s List is reserved for students who achieve a 3.5 or higher GPA for any given semester.”  Even if you think they will know what a phlebotomist is, or what it means that you are CPR certified, give at least some description of that achievement.  Not describing invites the reviewer to skim through this section without spending time thinking about the great things you have accomplished.  Describe everything.

Mistake #8: Not checking your application status

There are stages to the process.  After you hit the big SUBMIT button, your job isn’t over.  Every week or so you should log into CASPA to check your application’s progress.  CASPA will tell you if your application hits a snag of some kind, and if it does, you can fix it quickly to avoid delays.  If one of your reference hasn’t submitted their letter and a school’s deadline is approaching, you can call him/her and encourage them to turn in in ASAP.  Or maybe they haven’t received a transcript from University of Whateverville. You can all Whateverville and to figure out what’s going on.

When all of your supporting documents have been received, your application will be designated as Complete.  About two weeks after that your courses will be checked, CASPA GPA calculated, and your application will be Verified.  Verified means the fat lady has finally sung. Only then can you rest for a bit — until you are invited to interview!

Want more help on your CASPA application?  Inside PA Training offers a comprehensive CASPA Application Review service so your application will look its absolute best.  We are also in the planning stages for a webinar on making your CASPA application shine.  Again, if you have a comment, leave it below. A question? Click Contact Us up top.