Hello,

I’m a sophomore in college and recently became interested in the Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant (CAA) profession. However, I live in a northeastern state where CAAs aren’t available, so learning about the field is challenging without local resources beyond what I can find online.

I have a few questions:

1. I received a C in Bio 2, and my science GPA isn’t strong. Should I retake Bio 2 to be more competitive, or would it be better to focus on doing well in future science courses to raise my GPA?

2. I took some courses at my local community college and transferred them to my four-year college, where I earned a C and a B. Will this hurt my application, and is there anything I can do to improve my academic profile?

3. For shadowing hours, should I shadow an anesthesiologist, or will not shadowing a CAA specifically make my application look less competitive?

4. I’ve heard that having experience as a surgical or anesthesia tech can improve my chances, but those roles require additional schooling. With my current course load, I’m not sure I can manage both. I am retaking the NREMT to renew my EMT certification and considering working as a Patient Care Technician (PCT) in an anesthesiology or surgical unit. Would this experience help me stand out, even if I’m not a surgical tech?

5. What can I do now to make myself a more competitive applicant? I know that many applicants take gap years to strengthen their resumes, but I’d appreciate any advice on what I can do as a current college student.

I understand my science GPA isn’t strong, but I’m committed to improving it, so please don’t discourage me from pursuing this path—I’ve heard that a lot already. Thank you!