The Complete Guide to Every AA Program

[@Tadilof]

I am attending CWRU as a freshman right now. To go here after undergrad would be the dream 💪

[@skohayward]

Case Western is such a baller program 💪 Keep rocking your prerequisites, and good luck!!

[@Godfavorsmi]

I’m a respiratory therapist always wanted to become a dentist but the journey has been long & just not happening as planned. Earlier this week I went to the dentist with my chemistry course work & my doctor recommended CAA school. He says if he could he would do that instead! I’m super intrigued!

[@skohayward]

Thats awesome to hear@@Godfavorsmi ! Especially that more people are spreading the word about the AA Career. I know that RT to AA is a pretty common transition. Go shadow an AA (or other anesthesia profession) and see if it’s a good fit for you!!

[@dannyumba3610]

I'm a RT too, I just applied at NOVA Southern University

[@studocmatt]

This is really interesting as I had just finished my first year of dental school and immediately shifted to CAA pathway. Dentistry was cool and all don't get me wrong, but even after 40 hours of shadowing I am so much happier going down this path than I ever was as a dental student.

[@connorgoldy7706]

Bro great video. Thank you for putting this out there!

[@skohayward]

Absolutely!! Thank you for watching 🙌💯

[@fatmamaher4400]

great video. Thank you for putting this out there! My name is Fatma, i completed my bachelor degree in anesthesia technology from UAE, I want to complete my masters in AA program, Im having a hard time finding information according how to start my journey I’m super intrigued i am ready to start from now !!!

[@skohayward]

That’s awesome to hear!! I hope my videos can help, and we’re excited to have you with us 🙌

[@debbieososanya6217]

Hi! You mentioned that you applied to medical school one cycle. How did you navigate reapplying to some of the AA programs if you previously applied to their medical school?

[@skohayward]

So I actually never submitted my medical school application. I had everything ready to go like having written my activity descriptions and a complete school list, but I never actually submitted anything. I know some people who have applied AA after applying medical school (some have even dropped out of med school to pursue AA), and some programs have a question about this on their application, but it shouldn’t be a hindrance to your chances of getting in. Just be ready to explain “why AA instead of medical school” in your interview and you’ll be set!!

[@elizabethvargas5272]

i applied in late octobor/ early november with ok states (low MCAT, 3.65 GPA, 32 shadowing hours) and I have'nt heard anything back from the 5 schools i applied to. I was finishing up physics 2 and AnP so maybe that's why? What do you think?

[@skohayward]

Unfortunately you might have not heard back for a couple of the reasons you listed including low MCAT, late application, and only applying to 5 schools. But that’s okay!! Not everyone gets in their first cycle. Focus on improving your application for the next cycle and apply early to give yourself the best chances of getting an interview.

[@DrDale21]

Can an international medical graduate apply? Whats the procedure then, do they still need MCATS?

[@skohayward]

I believe that no matter what, you will have to present an MCAT score from the last 5 years (program dependent) as well as show you have taken necessary prerequisite courses before matriculation. I don’t know exactly how this applies to international applicants, but there is a section on the discord that is dedicated to international students looking to apply to AA programs. I’d recommend go checking that out, and you might find more answers there. Hope this helps!!

[@solomonmayhall8155]

Thanks for the video, super helpful. This is my lineup: 3.75 undergrad gpa (major in biomedical sciences), GRE: 158 verbal 160 quantitative, certified phlebotomist with 1 month working in the hospital, 28 hours shadowing a CAA. Am I competitive enough to apply this next cycle in 2025?

[@skohayward]

Overall I’d say this is a competitive app!! Be sure to apply early and broadly this upcoming cycle, and I’d bet you can field some interviews. Good luck!!

[@solomonmayhall8155]

@ Thanks man! Quick question. How did you narrow down what schools you wanted to apply to? I assume that some are more difficult to get accepted to than others. Did you take this into account when applying?

[@skohayward]

I would recommend applying to all the programs you can. It’s better to cast a wide net if you can afford it, as opposed to trying to pick and choose what schools you want to apply to and risk not getting in anywhere. So for me this didn’t really factor into where I applied. Some schools have different admissions requirements (I made a video on this recently) but most have pretty similar acceptance rates. However, it’s not public information so we can’t know for sure.

[@solomonmayhall8155]

@ Hey bro, sorry to ask so many questions haha. I’m looking through a lot of programs right now and am noticing advanced stats as a requirement in some of the programs like Nova. I have MATH 201 (intro to probablility and stats). Do you think this is acceptable if I’m meeting all other requirements?

[@skohayward]

No problem ask away!! Unfortunately a lot of these programs are extremely strict on following their prerequisites. CU was pretty chill about theirs, but I know Nova, Emory, Case, and many others have a pretty much zero tolerance policy. I would recommend reaching out to the different Nova campuses you want to apply to and ask them if the class you have would be sufficient. Hopefully that won’t be much of a problem.

[@lindsayacon2006]

Can you other undergraduate classes be online as long as it’s not the required prerequisites?

[@skohayward]

Yes schools generally won’t look at whether or not you took non-prerequisite courses online or in person. Those will really just contribute to the final GPA schools will see in your app. Just make sure you know what schools accept online prerequisites and go from there. Good luck!!

[@swaswasawaswaswasawa]

​@skohayward Does CU allow online courses to meet prerequisites?

[@skohayward]

Yes! I believe the only program that doesn’t accept online courses is Case Western. I would recommend reaching out to CU as well to verify they would accept the courses you took online just to be 100% sure.

[@ICEcoldSJ]

Hey, great video with a lot of insight! I know how competitive it can be to get into these schools, especially now that AA is more well-known. Do you have any recommendations on strengthening my application to help me stand out. Definitely have above average grade but i’m concerned that that alone won’t meet the standard. Also, I’d love to hear more about how shadowing works. I live in NYC, so I don’t often see opportunities to shadow AAs. I’m open to traveling to shadow anesthesiologists or anesthesia assistants around the country. Where would be the best place to start looking for shadowing opportunities? Is there specific shadowing program I can sigh up for? Thanks

[@skohayward]

Thank you I’m glad you liked it!! Let’s unpack this here: AA definitely took off this year and the standards to get in have gotten substantially more competitive. However, you have a lot of resources at your disposal to see how competitive you are! I’d say that by having good grades you are already on the right track. I would check out the AA discord server and go to “success stories” and see the applications of accepted students and see what gaps you might need to fill in on your application. My opinion is that one of the best ways to strengthen your app is to get healthcare experience (especially patient care experience). I know a lot of people who traveled across the country to shadow a CAA. However, I applied with shadowing hours from an Anesthesiologist, and some have applied with only CRNA shadowing! So you can shadow MDs or CRNAs in NYC and that should be satisfactory. You can also reach out to AA programs across the country and I’d say that’s your best bet to get CAA shadowing. I recommend UNM and CU, as both programs have applications to shadow CAAs through the universities. Hope this helps and good luck!!

[@trangpham5282]

What if I took some of prerequisites online due to covid ?

[@skohayward]

It depends on the program! In the video I mention that Case Western doesn’t accept online courses, but most other programs have accepted them in the past. I would recommend to contact schools you are interested in and verify your courses will be accepted. Hope this helps!!

[@dylanquach4078]

Nice video! Hey Jesse, I was reading through the discord and learned that adcom reviews applications in batches throughout the application cycle? For example, for the Indiana University School of Medicine, the application timeline began on March 13 and ends on February 28 next year. Would your chances of getting in greatly diminish if you apply in February? Or would the only thing that matters is that you apply before adcoms reviews a batch of applicants.

[@skohayward]

Thank you for watching!! That’s a great question. I’ll preface by saying I am not an admissions committee member and so there is no way to tell what goes on behind closed doors. However, most programs evaluate applications on a “rolling” basis (per CASAA, including IU). So by that logic the first applications these programs see are the ones that are sent in the earliest. This gives your application a higher chance of being reviewed early on and possibly offered an interview. This is why when you apply for medical school (also rolling), it is crucial to apply as early as possible to ensure your application is seen sooner rather than later by adcoms. I couldn’t tell you how “batches” of applications work, but if you want to maximize your chances of getting in, apply as early as possible (as long as your application doesn’t have any glaring holes or deficits that you can fix in the short term). Hope this helps!!

[@leejaden6875]

Hey is there a link to the discord I am wanting to gain more information about the AA profession!

[@christinagoodenough6399]

Hey Jesse! I'm a junior transfer student who is currently deciding between completing my undergraduate degree through Arizona State's online program (for free) or my local university San Diego State (out of pocket). Im having a hard time finding information on which programs accept online coursework. Any insight? Thank you so much for the videos!

[@skohayward]

Absolutely!! The only program that I know of that is strictly “no online courses” is Case Western. For every other program, I would recommend checking their website for their online course policy, in addition to emailing the program to ensure that Arizona State online courses are acceptable. Hope this helps, and good luck!!

[@Kimhenry524]

Do these schools accept community college credits?

[@skohayward]

Yes I have heard many students have taken prerequisite courses at community colleges. Just make sure it’s accredited and contact the programs you are interested in about your transcripts just to make sure tho!!

[@Kimhenry524]

@ will do! BTW, do you have an email we contact you at?

[@skohayward]

You can find me on the discord server!! I post in there every once in a while and my username is @skohayward5

[@MDForTheCulture]

Many want you to have calculus 🤦🏿‍♂️

[@skohayward]

This is true. Luckily for me CU has calculus listed as preferred but many other programs are starting to require it including Nova, Emory, and Case Western.

[@MDForTheCulture]

@ yeah, I’m thinking about doing pre cal, then cal.

[@skohayward]

Good thinking. Do everything you can to ensure you can walk out of calculus (and any prerequisite class for that matter) with a good grade!!