Application Guide
APPLICATION INFORMATION
Application Service: Applicants should use the Centralized Application Service for Anesthesiologist Assistants (CASAA) when applying to programs.
When to Apply: The CASAA application cycle opens in March and closes February. In some instances, individual program deadlines may differ.
Resources: Use the following link to access application details for this profession, including fees associated with applying and submission deadlines: Centralized Application Service for Anesthesiologist Assistants
Coursework and Transcripts: The courses you have taken will need to be self-reported and you will also need to have official transcripts sent to the application service.
Most centralized applications will have a form to print off that will need to be attached to your transcript. You will be asked to enter information, grades and credits for every course that you have enrolled in at any U.S., U.S. Territorial, or Canadian post-secondary institution. Transcripts should be sent from the registrar’s office of all US and/or Canadian Schools attended.
You may order a transcript from the MSU registrar’s office from the registrar’s web site, reg.msu.edu. There is no charge for sending transcripts. If you are taking courses during the spring semester, it is advised you wait until your spring semester grades are posted to your record as professional schools will want to see those grades.
ENTRANCE EXAM
Anesthesiologist Assistant programs will require either the MCAT or the GRE. Please check with your top programs to confirm which entrance exam will be required. Below is information on both exams.
MEDICAL COLLEGE ADMISSION TEST (MCAT)
Please visit our MCAT page for more information on this exam.
GRADUATE RECORD EXAMINATION (GRE)
Please visit our GRE page for more information on this exam.
PERSONAL STATEMENT
The personal statement is a very limited in length essay that is used as a device to get a better understanding of the applicant. It is a very important element that should be prepared well in advance to the application and should be edited thoroughly by many different people, such as but not limited to, the writing center, friends and family.
Length: 4,500 character limit
Prompt: Please explain your motivation for selecting a career in healthcare and specifically why you are interested in becoming an anesthesiologist assistant. Describe how your personal and professional background will help you achieve your career goals and eminently suit you for this profession.
What to include:
- Why you selected this field of health care
- What motivates you to learn more about health care
- Pertinent information about you not included elsewhere in the application
- Special hardships or experiences that have influenced your educational pursuits
- Commentary on significant fluctuations in your academic record not explained in the application.
Resources:
WORK/ACTIVITIES
This section gives applicants an opportunity to expand on their experiences. All of your work in leadership, clinical experiences, community service, research, publications, awards and honors are detailed in a single section. Pay close attention to character limits when writing your description of each experience.
Work and activities are typically categorized into the following types:
- Employment
- Extracurricular Activities
- Healthcare Experience
- Research
- Anesthesia Shadowing
- Volunteer
- Leadership
- Achievements: Awards and Honors
- Healthcare License(s) and/or Healthcare Certification(s)
RECOMMENDATION LETTERS
Anesthesiologist Assistant programs require a minimum of 3 letters.
While you must pay careful attention to the guidelines of each school that requests your letters, we suggest you identify the following people to request letters of evaluation from:
- Two science faculty who taught you in a class
- One non-science faculty
- One individual working in the profession you wish to pursue (example: an osteopathic physician, dentist, physical therapist, pharmacist, etc)
- One or two additional individuals who know you well from a work, volunteer or research experience
MSU does not have a pre-medical or pre-health committee and does not create letter packets for applicants. MSU students collect individual letters for their applications.
INTERVIEWS
After submitting the applications, students may receive an offer to interview. Programs that offer an interview have indicated an interest in selecting you, and the interview is a critical part of the application process. Remember, you are not only preparing to answer their questions, you are preparing to ask your own. While they determine whether you are the right fit for the program, you need to determine if the program is the right fit for you.
Schools use personal interviews with applicants to assess qualities such as maturity, interpersonal skills, and ability to articulate strengths and weaknesses. Be prepared to discuss why you wish to pursue a career in anesthesia.
Resources:
- Interview Tips
- InterviewStream - Free mock interview software