Plan CASAA letters of recommendation by school requirement

Choose recommendation writers by matching your schools' requirements with people who can describe your work accurately. A recognizable title is less useful if the person has little direct knowledge of your preparation.

Start early enough to give a potential writer a genuine choice. Then track the request through receipt rather than assuming a conversation means the evaluation is complete.

Check the current application rules

CASAA's current evaluation guidance specifies three evaluation requests and says evaluators submit their own evaluations electronically. It also instructs applicants to check each program's writer-role requirements. CASAA evaluations.

Before sending requests, make a school-by-writer matrix. A proposed writer might satisfy an academic requirement at one school but not another. Keep any additional school-specific letter process separate from the main application requests.

Match writers to the evidence they can provide

Think about what each person has actually observed. An instructor may discuss academic work. A supervisor may describe reliability and response to feedback. A professional mentor may explain your preparation and understanding of the field.

Choose people who can support their assessment with examples. If you have not worked with someone recently, provide an update and ask whether they feel able to write a strong, accurate evaluation.

Avoid asking a person solely because you believe their title will impress a committee.

Make the request specific

You can adapt this original message:

I am preparing applications to anesthesiologist assistant programs for [entry term]. Would you feel comfortable providing a strong evaluation based on our work together in [course or role]? My intended request deadline is [date]. I can send my CV, a brief goals summary and reminders of relevant projects. Please let me know if your schedule or familiarity with my work makes this difficult.

Give the writer enough context to decide. A respectful opportunity to decline is better than a reluctant or rushed evaluation.

Prepare a useful information packet

Include your current CV, target profession, relevant deadlines, submission instructions and a short list of work the evaluator observed. You can also provide a brief explanation of why you are pursuing the CAA path.

Do not write the evaluation on the person's behalf or ask them to attest to something they did not observe. The packet should help them recall your work, while leaving the evaluation in their own control.

Track the process without hovering

Use distinct statuses: considering, asked, agreed, request sent and received. Add the preferred email address and an agreed follow-up date.

A writer may have agreed but missed the electronic invitation. Confirm receipt of the request before assuming the evaluation is underway. Follow up courteously and leave time to resolve a genuine problem.

Avoid treating a confidential evaluation as a document the writer must share with you. Follow the access and waiver choices in the official process.

Review role coverage before submission

Check that the completed evaluations satisfy the requirements of each selected program. If a writer becomes unavailable, review the application's replacement rules before changing anything.

Keep a record of who submitted and when, plus any program clarification about writer eligibility. Thank each evaluator after completion and update them appropriately on your progress.

Your next step is to identify the requirement that is hardest to satisfy and approach that writer first.

Continue with the CV guide and CASAA verification to connect recommendations with the rest of your application.