Episode 5: Pre-AA Perspectives on CASAA

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:* * https://casaa.cas.myliaison.com/applicant-ux/ — your centralized application portal for AA applications * https://anesthesiaonesource.com/ — program details and requirements listed here * https://www.amazon.com/Graduate-Admissions-Essays-Fourth-School/dp/1607743213 — your go-to resource to for your personal statement * https://sheets.google.com/ — your new best friend for tracking hours * https://preaapathways.riverside.com/e/episode-3-all-things-pre-aa-statistics-gpa-gre-mcat-competitiveness?_gl=1*xmojcu* _gcl_au*NDMyODE5MDM3LjE3NzI4NTAzMzMuMTU4NzIzMzI4MC4xNzc2MjA4MjAxLjE3NzYyMDgyMDI.* _ga*MjE0MjMyMTY0NC4xNzcyODUwMzMz* _ga_PF9PK8DC9Z*czE3NzkyMzk4NjEkbzQ3JGcxJHQxNzc5MjQyNDI3JGo2MCRsMSRoNTkxMTIxNzUz *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.