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Letters of Recommendation for PA School

If you are on the path to applying to PA school, you probably know that PA school letters of recommendation (also known as letters of reference or letters of evaluation) are a key part of the PA school application. PA schools want to see that people you have worked with in a professional or academic capacity can attest to your aptitude and abilities.    

Who Should I Get Letters of Recommendation from for PA School?

Different PA schools have different requirements for letters of recommendation. It’s important to check each school’s requirements. As a general rule, applicants should aim to get letters of recommendation from the following individuals:

• College and university professors
• Supervisors from direct patient care experiences
• PAs from direct patient care experiences
• PAs from shadowing experiences
• Other individuals who have supervised or mentored the applicant and can attest to their intellectual aptitude, commitment to service, and work ethic

Important Considerations for Different Types of PA School Letters of Recommendation

Professors: Many PA schools expect applicants to submit a letter of recommendation from a professor who can speak to the applicant’s academic strengths and their ability to handle the rigors of the graduate-level course load in PA school.

How to Choose the Right Professor for a PA School Letter of Recommendation?

• Science Professors are Preferred: The PA school curriculum is heavy in science coursework. That’s why letters of recommendation from professors who can attest to your abilities in the sciences are preferred. Some PA schools even require letters of recommendation from science professors.
• Non-Science Professors Can Complement Letters from Science Professors: If you have a close relationship with a non-science professor, you can also ask for a letter from them but their letter should not replace one from a science professor.
• Letters from Professors with Whom You Have Taken a Course Are Preferred: Many PA schools prefer (some require) a letter from a professor with whom you have taken a course. These individuals can comment on your academic potential more accurately than someone who has, for example, served as an advisor but never taught you.
• Letters from a Professor in Whose Course You Earned an A are Preferred: If you receive a B or a C in a class, it is more difficult for your professor to speak about your excellence in the academic setting. Even if the professor agrees to write you a very strong letter, the disconnect between their comments and the grade in the course may diminish the value of the letter.
• Seek Professors with Whom You Have Rapport: A letter from a professor who knows you well and attests to your unique abilities based on their personal knowledge of you will carry more weight than a generic letter written by a professor who did not have close interactions with you.

Supervisors from Direct Patient Care Experience Roles

• Many PA Schools Require Letters from your Direct Supervisor: Your direct supervisor from your main patient care experience as a pre-PA student should write a letter discussing your strengths and abilities in that clinical role.

• People Who Count as Direct Supervisors: This supervisor can be a physician, PA, or nurse. Many schools will also accept letters of reference from supervisors who are not clinicians. For example, if your direct supervisor is the practice manager at a clinic, you may ask them for a letter of recommendation.

Physician Assistant: A letter from a PA who knows you well adds immense value to the PA school application. Who better than a professional in the field you aspire to join to provide insights into your potential for success in that field?

While it is always advisable to shadow or work with a PA before applying, if this is not feasible, a physician or nurse practitioner who you shadow could also write you a letter of recommendation for PA school. That being said, letters from PAs carry more weight.

Others: PA school applicants who have been involved in other meaningful activities can ask for a letter from a supervisor in that role. Meaningful activities could include volunteer or community service projects, teaching activities (especially if they were on a volunteer basis), or research.

Depending on the circumstances, others may also serve as letter writers. For example, a student-athlete may opt to get a letter from a coach who can attest to the student’s character and sense of discipline.

Remember to Check Each PA School’s Requirements for Letters of Recommendation: Note that some schools may have additional requirements for letters of recommendation. Make sure to check the requirements of each school you plan to apply to.

Who You Should NOT Get Letters of Recommendation from for PA School

• Family members or family friends (even if they are healthcare providers!)
• Healthcare providers who only know you as a patient
• Teachers from high school
• Employers in jobs that do not relate to your academic, clinical, scholarly, or service-oriented interests. For example, a letter from the manager at a restaurant where you worked does not typically add value to a PA school application.

How Many Letters of Recommendation Should I Get for PA School?

 

For your CASPA application to be complete, you need to submit at least three letters of recommendation. CASPA allows applicants to submit a maximum of five letters of recommendation.

Should I Submit More Than the Minimum Three Letters of Recommendation Required by PA Schools?

 

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. Applicants with extensive experience in healthcare may also opt to get letters from two supervisors in different healthcare settings.

How do I Send Letters of Recommendation to 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’.

Under this tab, applicants can create an evaluation request by entering the name and email address of each individual they wish to get a recommendation letter from. The evaluator will be notified by email that you are listing them as an evaluator. The evaluator will be given a link through which they can submit their reference letter to CASPA.

Notify Your Letter Writers Before Listing them on CASPA!

 

It goes without saying that before you enter someone as an evaluator in CASPA, it is best to ask if they would be willing to write a letter of recommendation for you and get the OK from them.

Can I Submit Additional Letters to CASPA After Submitting my CASPA Application?

 

You can have additional letters submitted to CASPA (up to a maximum of five) after you have submitted your CAPSA application. However, it’s best to have your references entered into CASPA and all letters of recommendation sent before you submit your CASPA application.

Some applicants opt to send in additional letters weeks or months after submitting their CASPA application from a person they started to work with or took a class with after their CASPA application was submitted.

Example Student:

For example, John takes on a role as a medical assistant in a primary care clinic in June after submitting his CASPA application. John impresses the supervising PA with whom he works and the PA offers to write John a letter in November. John is still waiting to hear back from multiple PA schools. John can ask his supervising PA to write a letter of recommendation for him and submit the letter to CASPA.

Different PA schools have different policies about how they deal with letters received after the CASPA application was submitted. Some schools may consider these letters while others will not. Certain PA schools may also prefer to have new letters submitted to them directly if the applicant has already submitted the CASPA application.

How to Approach People to Ask for Letters of Recommendation for PA School

Give Your Letter Writers Ample Time: The CASPA application opens at the end of April each year. Applicants should ideally submit their applications with their references shortly after the application opens (early to mid-May). You should begin to approach the people who will write your letters well in advance (December of the prior year or January of the application year are an ideal time to start these conversations).

Approach Your Letter Writer in Person if Possible: If you make the effort to show up in person and ask for letters of recommendation, you may leave a stronger impression. If it has been some time since you worked with the individual or since you took a class with them, showing up in person will also be a great way to refresh their memory.

Highlight What You Have Enjoyed and Learned: When you approach your letter writers, tell them what you enjoyed about their course or the experience working with them. Highlight what you learned from the experience or course and how it helped you grow.

Be Direct About What You Need: When you approach a letter writer, tell them that you plan to apply to PA school and ask if they would be willing to support your PA school application with a strong letter of recommendation. Make sure to indicate when you need the letter completed.

Offer to Meet to Answer Any Questions About Your Candidacy: Let your letter writers know that you would be happy to meet with them to answer any questions about your motivations for entering the PA profession, your background, or your achievements.

How do I Ensure my Letters of Recommendation for PA School are Strong?

 

Strong letters of recommendation are not written after you ask a reference to write it for you. They are written the day you begin working with or taking a class with a potential reference!

The best way to ensure that your PA school letters of recommendation are strong is to shine in your courses, direct patient care experiences, and shadowing experiences for PA school. In addition, it is advisable to establish rapport early on with the references who will write your letters for PA school. This way, your references will be more invested in your success and able to write more personal letters of recommendation for your PA school application.

How to Impress Professors for Strong Letters of Recommendation:

• Get an A in the class!
• Attend class regularly and engage in class discussions.
• Go to office hours and ask intelligent questions. This is a great way to show your professors that you are active and engaged in learning.
• Consider serving as a teaching assistant for the professor or assisting them with a research project. These are great ways to showcase your strengths and ensure that you receive a strong letter when you are applying to PA school.

Tips for Getting Good PA School Letters of Recommendation from Clinical Supervisors:

• Go above and beyond to make sure patients are receiving the best care possible.
• Always get to work on time and stay until all your responsibilities are complete!
• Showcase your skills as a team player and your concern for patients by offering to help other teammates and sticking around even after your shift has ended.
• Use your clinical experiences as a learning opportunity! If you encounter a condition or treatment that you are not familiar with, look it up online, read about it, and ask intelligent questions from your supervising PA or physician. This is a great way to increase your knowledge and showcase your curiosity.

What Should be Included in PA School Letters of Recommendation

 

Sometimes, the people writing your letters of recommendation for PA school may ask what they should include in your letter. For each type of letter writer, the information they provide will vary. Below are some qualities that each type of letter PA school letter or recommendation should include.

Keep in mind, however, that if your letter writer does not ask you what they should include, DO NOT TELL THEM WHAT TO INCLUDE. Many letter writers have experience writing references for applicants to PA school.

Letters of Recommendation from Professors: Letters from professors should highlight some of the following qualities:

• Intellectual aptitude and academic ability
• Critical thinking and problem-solving skills
• Ability to handle rigorous science courses
• Curiosity and desire for learning
• Potential for success in a graduate-level program like PA school with a heavy science course load
• Ability to work with other peers in a course, particularly in group projects
• Written and oral communication skills

Letters of Recommendation from Clinical Supervisors: Letters from clinical supervisors should highlight qualities such as:

• Compassion and concern for the well-being of patients
• Patient communication skills
• Ability to work within a healthcare team
• Sense of professionalism and responsibility
• Ability to take initiative and demonstrate leadership
• Qualities that demonstrate your potential for success as a future healthcare professional

Letters of Recommendation from PAs: Letters from PAs should include qualities such as:

• Potential to succeed as a PA student and future PA based on your qualities and characteristics
• Understanding of the PA profession
• Curiosity for medical science and desire for life-long learning in medicine
• Interpersonal skills and ability to communicate with patient

It’s important to remember that every applicant is different and each will have a unique experience with professors, clinical supervisors, and PAs. As a result, your letter writers may have distinct perspectives on your abilities and aptitudes. They do not need to comment on all of the above-mentioned qualities. Some may highlight other qualities beyond what is listed here.

Key Takeaways about PA School Letters of Recommendation

• PA schools place great emphasis on letters of recommendation. Applicants should seek recommendations from various sources, such as professors, clinical supervisors, and PAs, ensuring a comprehensive reflection of your academic aptitude and potential for success as a clinician.

• When considering letters of recommendation from professors, prioritize those in science disciplines and with whom you’ve taken courses as opposed to those who only served as advisors.

• Build rapport with people you plan to ask for letters of recommendation from early on. This way they can write you more personalized and insightful letters.

• Approach potential letter writers thoughtfully, highlighting what you’ve enjoyed and learned from your interactions with them. Be direct about your PA school aspirations and offer to meet to discuss your motivations, background, and achievements.

• Excel in courses and direct patient care experiences to naturally impress professors and clinical supervisors. This way, when it’s time to write you letters of recommendation, they will have a lot to say about you.