In this episode, we discuss CASAA with a successful AA applicant and incoming S-AA for the 2026 school year:

• How CASAA is structured
• Why timing matters to apply & prep letters of recommendation
• Financial Considerations
• Decoding the CASAA GPA
• Common pitfalls
• Application strategy
• & Practical tools used

Timestamps:

00:00 - Welcome and what CASAA is all about
02:01 - Features of the updated CASAA portal and new sections
04:13 - Why timing your application to school cycles can make or break your chances
07:02 - How to strategize program selection while managing costs
11:18 - Letters of recommendation: when to ask and who makes a strong reference
17:05 - Navigating the sections of the portal — what each tab contains
19:56 - Tools for organization: spreadsheets and tracking hours
23:19 - How CASAA calculates the GPA and what can surprise you
25:31 - Common challenges: standardized testing
27:44 - Timeline tricks: when and how to input transcripts and supporting documents
29:56 - Drafting your personal statement and avoiding last-minute stress
31:52 - Strategic Takeaways & Next Steps

Resources & Links:

• CASAA Portal — your centralized application portal for AA applications
• Anesthesia OneSource — program details and requirements listed here
• Personal Statement Book Recommendation - Graduate Admissions Essays, Fourth Edition by Donald Asher — your go-to resource to for your personal statement
• Google Sheets — your new best friend for tracking hours
• Pre-AA Pathways Episode 3: All Things Pre-AA Statistics-GPA, GRE, MCAT & Competitiveness

Key Takeaways:

• Make an account on CASAA early—familiarity reduces stress
• Plan your timeline based on program openings and cycle variations
• Start collecting recommendation letters at least 2 months ahead
• Use tools like Google Sheets to organize hours and experiences
• Remember: applying late doesn’t mean you’re out, but strategic early submissions help
  
  *Disclaimer: Tiffany and Adrienne are pre-AA applicants in the 2026 CASAA cycle. Victoria is an accepted incoming S-AA. Everything shared comes from personal experience, personal perspectives, and publicly available information. Pre-AA Pathways is not affiliated with CASAA, the AAAA, any AA program, or CAAHEP.