CASPA recommendation letter samples can be an excellent resource for applicants. Letters of recommendation are one of the most important PA school requirements. If youve been asked to write your own letter of recommendation, the samples can help inspire you. On the other hand, if you will be requesting letters of recommendation, then the samples give you an idea of what information you need to give your chosen writers and what to expect from your letter. In this blog, in addition to sharing some outstanding CASPA recommendation letter samples with you, we will give you some tips for securing the right referees and ensuring that your letter of recommendation is as compelling as possible.
Letters of recommendation are a crucial part of the PA school application process. A strong letter can help boost your chances of admission by highlighting your skills experience and passion for the PA profession. Here’s how to get great letters and write effective recommendations for PA school applicants.
For PA School Applicants: How to Get Strong Letters
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Start early. Give your letter writers at least 1 month’s notice, more if possible. This gives them time to write a thoughtful letter.
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Pick the right people. Select those who know you well professionally or academically. Avoid family/friends. Good options: professors, PCE supervisors, physicians or PAs you’ve shadowed.
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Provide info to letter writers. Give them a resume/CV, your personal statement, specifics on the programs you’re applying to. Help them customize the letter.
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Follow up politely. Gently check in with writers to ensure the letter is coming along Offer to provide any other needed info
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Send thank you notes Show your appreciation for their time and effort writing on your behalf
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Use 3-5 letters if allowed. More letters give programs a fuller picture of who you are.
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Use letter services like Interfolio to collect and deliver letters. This simplifies the process for letter writers.
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Address red flags if you have any (low grades, gaps in your application). Make sure letter writers can explain these issues.
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Be respectful of your letter writers. Give them sufficient time to write letters. Follow up professionally. Say thanks.
For Letter Writers: How to Write an Effective PA School Recommendation
Writing a persuasive letter of recommendation is key to helping your PA school applicant get accepted. Here are tips:
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Learn about the applicant and PA profession. Ask the applicant questions to gain insights you can include in your letter. Research PAs if you don’t know much about them.
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Start with a strong opening. Explain who you are, your relationship to the applicant, and your overall enthusiasm for recommending them.
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Provide context for your evaluation. Note how long you’ve known the applicant and in what capacity (supervisor, instructor, etc.).
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Highlight key applicant attributes. What makes this person a strong PA candidate? Share relevant skills, achievements, and personality traits.
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Give specific examples. Don’t just say the applicant is smart or compassionate. Provide stories to back up these claims.
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Speak to any applicant weaknesses. Do they have any red flags like low grades? Explain these in a positive light.
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Close with a strong recommendation. Directly state that you highly recommend this applicant for PA school. Restate why they will make an excellent PA.
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Check details. Verify the school or program name. Get the address/contact info to send the letter. Follow any formatting guidelines.
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Proofread carefully. Fix any spelling/grammar errors. Make sure you use the applicant’s correct personal info.
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Send the letter on time. Be aware of the deadline and send your letter so it arrives when the applicant needs it.
Writing an outstanding letter of recommendation takes time and effort. But it’s worth it to help aspiring PAs achieve their dreams. Your letter could be what gets them accepted!
Sample PA School Letters of Recommendation
Looking for PA school letter of recommendation examples? Here are two samples.
Letter 1
To the Admissions Committee:
I am writing this letter to wholeheartedly recommend Jane Doe for your Physician Assistant program. As the Director of the Emergency Department at Springfield Hospital, I directly supervised Jane for three years while she worked as an ER technician. In that time, I saw firsthand her exceptional work ethic, medical knowledge, and passion for patient care.
What impressed me most about Jane was her unwavering dedication to her patients. I often saw her spend extra time at the bedside comforting anxious patients or explaining treatment plans in detail. Her kind, patient-centered approach put patients at ease, even during stressful ER visits.
Medically, Jane consistently demonstrated her strong base of knowledge. She capably assisted physicians and PA’s with procedures, accurately documented patient histories, and ensured tests and results were completed properly. She sought out opportunities to expand her skills like suturing, splinting, and casting.
Jane’s academic record matches her stellar professional abilities. She graduated magna cum laude from State University with a 4.0 GPA in her Biomedical Sciences major. She also completed over 2000 rigorously documented hours as an ER tech, going above requirements for PA school admission.
Sincerely,
[Signature]
Claire Wilson, MD
Director of Emergency Medicine
Springfield Hospital
Letter 2
Dear PA Program Admissions Committee:
I am very pleased to write a letter of recommendation for Mark Jones, a Physician Assistant hopeful with exceptional motivation, work ethic, and academic strength.
As Mark’s Organic Chemistry II professor last semester, I had an opportunity to evaluate his performance in a challenging, clinically relevant class. Mark distinguished himself with his work ethic, motivation, and academic skill. He attended every class, asked insightful questions, and came to office hours to clarify concepts he didn’t fully grasp the first time. His study habits paid off, as evidenced by scoring the top grade in my class of 47 students – an impressive 99%.
Beyond Mark’s stellar academic abilities, I was impressed with his passion for patient care. In discussion with me and essays for class, Mark expressed his aspiration to provide compassionate primary care to underserved populations as a PA. He is deeply committed to service and understands the PA role.
With his top 1% performance in my class, over 4.0 GPA in his Biology major courses, and over 1000 hours of direct patient care experience as an EMT, Mark has all the makings of a high-potential PA student. He has my highest endorsement. Please feel free to contact me with any additional questions about this exceptional applicant.
Sincerely,
[Signature]
Amanda Bell, PhD
Associate Professor of Chemistry
State College
Key Takeaways
- Start early and give letter writers 1+ month’s notice. Follow up politely.
- Pick writers who know you professionally or academically. Avoid family/friends.
- Provide letter writers your materials to help them personalize the letter.
- Effective letters highlight applicant’s skills, passion, and fit for the PA profession.
- Well-written letters can help applicants overcome weaknesses like low grades.
- Proofread carefully and make sure letters are submitted by the deadline.
Following these tips for obtaining strong letters as an applicant and writing compelling recommendations as a letter author can make a major difference in PA school admission success.
Who should write your CASPA letters of recommendation?
Your CASPA letter of recommendation should be written by someone who knows you well enough to speak about your skills and abilities and what you can contribute to a PA program. They should have worked or taught you long enough to write a detailed letter with concrete examples. There are three primary types of recommendation letters that you can get:
Academic references typically come from a teacher or advisor. This type of recommendation letter is ideal for current students or recent graduates. It usually discusses your intellectual ability and the contributions you can make in a learning environment.
These are the reference letters usually written by supervisors, colleagues, or clients. Essentially, they should be written by a professional who is well-acquainted with a candidates skills and accomplishments in a work setting. These letters typically include a description of the position held by the candidate, their key responsibilities, their abilities, qualifications, and contributions to the organization during their time there. Professional references are excellent for both traditional and non-traditional applicants because they are a great way for program directors to find out how other professionals view the candidate.
Personal recommendation letters, also known as personal or character references, are letters written by a friend, mentor, neighbor, family member, or anyone who knows the candidate well enough and who can attest to the traits that would make them a good addition to the PA program that they are applying to. These letters should explain how the referee knows the applicant and discuss the qualities and attributes that would make them a good physicians assistant.
We do not recommend including personal references in your application. Unless a specific PA school explicitly requests one, you should steer clear of recommendation letters from relatives, family friends, or public officials. We recommend getting at least one academic reference and two professional references. Ideally, you should have one reference from a former professor or instructor, one from a physicians assistant or someone else who has seen you work with patients, and another letter from a different medical professional. This is the best way to ensure that each of your letters speaks to varying aspects of your background and abilities. Your academic reference will focus on your academic strengths and learning ability, a supervisor or employer can discuss your work ethic and professionalism, and a PA will be able to speak to your performance in a clinical environment.
In other words, you should try to find referees who fit the following description:
- They know you well enough to evaluate you and your skills
- They have supervised or mentored you in some capacity
- They have seen you interact with patients
- They work as a PA or in some other medical field
- They support you as an applicant
Want a visual summary of the key points covered in this blog? Check this out:
Prepare your chosen writers for the process
It’s important that your writers have all the information they need to write and submit your letter of recommendation on time. When you add their name and email address to your CASPA profile, they will receive an email with some instructions, but we recommend that you walk them through the process as well. So, in addition to your resume, transcript, and personal statement, we suggest sending a document that includes all the details that they need to submit the document. Include the submission deadline, the format that the letter needs to be in, the size of the file, etc.
How to Get the Perfect Letter of Recommendation for PA School | The Posh PA
How do I submit a letter of recommendation for PA schools?
Letters of recommendation for PA schools are submitted through the Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA). Within the supporting information section of the CASPA application, applicants will find a tab titled ‘Evaluations’.
What is an example of a PA recommendation letter?
Here are two examples of PA recommendation letters you can review: Dean of Admissions North Ridge Medical Institute Dear Mr. Hough, My name is Dr. Samantha Johnson and I am writing to recommend my student, Alexandra Hoffman, for a position in the physician assistant program at North Ridge Medical Institute.
How many letters of recommendation do you need for PA school?
PA school applicants may provide more than 3 letters of recommendation if they believe each letter offers a distinct perspective. For instance, an applicant might include a letter from a PA they shadowed, a supervising physician at a primary care clinic where they worked at, a physiology professor, and an anthropology professor.
Why is a letter of recommendation important for PA school?
A letter of recommendation for PA school is important because it helps an admissions panel determine whether the student is a good match for the program. Your account of a student’s work ethic, academic abilities and clinical skills can enhance their application and differentiate them from other candidates.
