Frequently Asked Questions

Applicants who submit by the Priority Review Deadline receive an earlier review of their application and earlier consideration for admission. Admission offers will be extended on a rolling basis to top priority applicants. If the CWRU MSA program is your preferred school, we strongly recommend applying by the priority review deadline.

Applicants who submit by the Standard Review Deadline receive full consideration for admission; however, available seats may be limited by this time.

Submitting by the Priority Review Deadline does not guarantee an early decision or an offer of admission. Final admission decisions for all applicants are released after the Standard Review Deadline.

The CWRU MSA program operates on a rolling admissions process. “Rolling” means that we review applications as we receive them. We offer interviews over the course of several months, and we accept applicants as we go. We begin accepting applications when the cycle opens in March, and we will continue to review applications until we fill our class. Because the application process is competitive, applicants have the best chance of being accepted by submitting their applications early (when the most seats in the cohort are available). Applicants may continue to apply until the cycle closes on December 1, but the longer they wait, the fewer the number of seats that may be available, and their application might not have enough time to be considered for review or interview.

The admissions committee evaluates each applicant's academic success (GPA, prerequisite, coursework, MCAT or GRE), letters of recommendation, meaningful life experiences, leadership, clinical experiences, research, and demonstrated commitment to healthcare. All of those pieces of information factor into decisions to interview and accept.

Our goal is to matriculate approximately 120 students every year between our four program locations. Competition can be affected by the size and composition of the application pool for a particular year. Generally speaking, our applicant-to-acceptance ratio is 8:1 - for every eight applicants who apply, two receive an interview, and one is accepted into the program.

You will be required to submit an MCAT or GRE score that is no older than 3 years. If you took your test over three years ago, you will need to retake it.

If applying for the priority review deadline, we recommend taking the admissions test in April of your application year or sooner. In most instances, you should give yourself 3-4 months of study time and develop a study schedule to maximize your score.

MCAT administrators offer exams each calendar year until September. There are no test dates in October, November, or December. For this reason, applicants for both the priority review deadline and the standard review deadline are encouraged to take the MCAT by the end of September at the latest. Scores from the September MCAT test dates are acceptable for priority review even though those scores may be released after our October deadline.

You should aim to do as well as possible. The average MCAT score among MSA matriculants during the most recent application cycle was 507. The average GRE score among MSA matriculants was in the 60th percentile or above for each of the three sections.
 

Historically, the MCAT has been the preferred admissions test for Master of Science in Anesthesia programs across the country because it is used widely by medical schools to measure aptitude for the clinical environment.

However, the MSA admissions committee at Case Western Reserve University considers the MCAT and GRE equally. Applicants who take the MCAT will not be weighted differently than those who take the GRE. You should take the test that you believe will best indicate your preparedness for graduate-level work.

The only exception would be for students whose coursework does not meet the program's prerequisite time limits. Our three key prerequisites -- biochemistry, human anatomy with lab, and human physiology -- must be taken within 5 years of the application deadline. All other prerequisites must be taken within 7 years of the deadline. Any student whose coursework does not meet the time limits should plan to take the MCAT since a composite score of 500 or higher on the MCAT will waive these time limits. See Master of Science in Anesthesia Admission Requirements for more information.

The Master of Science in Anesthesia (MSA) program does not currently offer any scholarships to students while in the program.

The MSA program does award the Helmut Cascorbi Valedictorian Award each Spring at commencement to the student with the highest grade point average (G.P.A.) from each program location. There is no application process; all students in good academic standing are considered. Winners are announced just prior to commencement and receive a $1,000 award for their impressive efforts throughout their two-year tenure with the MSA program.

The program encourages students to seek scholarship support from all sources. The School of Medicine Office of Financial Aid provides outside scholarship listings on its website as a resource for MSA students. 

A criminal history is not taken into consideration during the application review process. However, students need to pass a criminal background check in order to be able to participate in clinical rotations at our partner hospitals, as well as to obtain their CAA licensure. If admitted, a prior felony conviction may restrict a student's ability to successfully complete the program or disqualify a student from obtaining professional licensure or employment. Acceptance into the CWRU MSA program or its completion does not imply or guarantee that a student will be able to obtain licensure or employment. 

Since we review applications holistically, we recommend that you still apply to the program if you feel your application is competitive. If you do not meet our admission requirements in some way, we ask that you submit a written petition with your application. The petition should be addressed to the Admissions Committee, and it should explain what you are requesting and why you are not able to meet the admission requirement. It should also provide compelling reasons for why the committee should grant your request. The petition should be in a letter format and uploaded to the Documents section of your CASAA application. The Admission Committee will review your petition along with your other application materials when you apply. Applicants who petition will be considered only after those applicants who do meet all admission requirements. Note that petitions for missing prerequisite courses or any essential components of the application will not be approved; all prerequisite courses and essential requirements must be met to be considered for admission into the MSA program.

Yes. You may start a new application, or use your CASAA ID to copy your application from a previous cycle to the new application cycle. Items such as coursework, official test scores and transcripts, etc. can be copied into the new application. Evaluations, essays, payments, and program-specific information cannot be copied into the new application. More information can be found in the CASAA Applicant Help Center.

Casper scores cannot be rolled over from one application cycle to the next. If you are a reapplicant, you will need to take a new Casper assessment.

General suggestions for strengthening an application can be found here.

Yes, we require a $1,000 tuition deposit to hold your spot in the program. This deposit must be submitted at the time of your written acceptance. The tuition deposit will be applied to your summer tuition once you matriculate.

Your deposit will be forfeited if you withdraw after accepting a spot in the incoming class; no exceptions will be made. We take tuition deposits seriously. Submitting a deposit indicates to us your genuine commitment to enrolling in our program. The deposit is nonrefundable because it secures your spot at CWRU, allowing us to plan for your arrival and begin the onboarding process—both for our program and the university as a whole.

Before the start of our program and assignment to a clinical rotation, the student must be compliant with required immunizations. Download our immunization sheet here.

Students are required to pay for any vaccinations or immunization-related expenses themselves. The MSA program does not cover or reimburse for these costs. 

A background check is not required for application to the program; however, a background check that includes a drug screen is required for admitted students. The MSA program provides students instructions on how to order the background check and drug screen after acceptance.

Admitted students will have three days from receipt of the emailed instructions to comply. The background check and drug screen are for patient safety purposes, to ensure that no student completing a clinical rotation is at risk of having impaired judgment or of harming others in the clinical environment.
The background checks are completed through an outside company, Corporate Screening - EASE. The cost for the background check is the student’s responsibility. The cost can vary based on location and several other factors, but students should expect to pay a minimum of $135.

Admitted students should wait for instructions from the MSA program before completing their background check. Other background checks are not accepted.

Yes! We will accept your Bachelor's degree received from an accredited Canadian college or university, as well as any prerequisites completed at an accredited Canadian institution of higher learning. Keep in mind that you are considered an international student and are not eligible for needs-based or federal aid. The School of Medicine Office of Financial Aid awards funds that are restricted to U.S. citizens and permanent residents of the United States. It is also your responsibility to check with the CWRU VISA office to ensure that you have the correct VISA status before starting the program.

In-person courses are preferred, and online coursework will be reviewed by the admissions committee on a case by case basis if completed for a letter grade through a regionally accredited institution recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Credits from Portage Learning/Straighterline or other generic learning platforms will not be considered. We receive a high volume of applications, and we give preference to those who best meet our prerequisites.

We will accept prerequisite courses taken during the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 academic years that were meant to be taught in person, but were temporarily moved online due to COVID.

There is no one major that is considered "better," but a major with more rigorous science coursework may make a student feel more prepared for the MSA Program curriculum.

No. However, the majority of prerequisite courses should be completed so that we can evaluate the applicant, and all prerequisites must be completed prior to the start of the program in the last week of May. Applicants for both the priority review deadline and the standard review deadline should enter planned or in-progress coursework on their CASAA applications so that the admissions committee knows that they have a plan to take missing prerequisites.

No, we do not review transcripts without a submitted application, but we can help you evaluate your prerequisite worksheet after you have completed it if you still have questions. Use the CWRU MSA Prerequisite Worksheet for assistance in organizing your prerequisite courses.

Visit our Admissions Requirements for descriptions of our prerequisite courses. Applicants are encouraged to discuss the admission criteria with an academic advisor at their college or university to determine the appropriate courses to take. A good rule of thumb is for all prerequisite courses to be four-year college-level courses for science majors.

Yes. However, you must confirm that the courses you plan to take are at a four-year college level, are for science majors, and are what premedical students would take.

Please note that biochemistry and advanced statistics are typically not offered at an appropriate level at community colleges. Additionally, no survey, introductory, or remedial courses will be accepted, and no courses specific to a particular discipline (such as engineering or nursing) will be accepted.
 

No. While the MSA program appreciates applicants with prior training or clinical experience, the curriculum is specifically designed for training the certified anesthesiologist assistant professional. Although other coursework may be similar, the MSA program offers courses with a unique emphasis in anesthesia and the anesthesia care team model, as defined by the American Society of Anesthesiologists. 

No exceptions will be made for required prerequisite coursework, admissions test, or required graduate-level coursework within the MSA Program, regardless of degrees or certification received, prior experience, work background, or education. All accepted students must meet the admission requirements and follow the entire course curriculum.
 

The MSA Program has high grade expectations. The average matriculant total and science GPAs during the last admissions cycle was 3.8 across the MSA Program sites. Of course, the higher your grades, the better. It's much tougher to get into the MSA Program with low overall and science GPAs. For students who earned C grades in prerequisite courses, we recommend retaking these courses to improve your GPA and make your application more competitive.

CWRU students in their second year of study have the option to do clinical rotations at more than 100 top affiliate hospitals across the United States. Our students are often invited to consider employment opportunities during their second-year rotations. By identifying where they would like to work and planning their second year carefully, CWRU students are likely to have at least one job offer prior to graduation.

Certified anesthesiologist assistants (CAAs) and nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) are considered equivalents. The primary difference between the two is that CAAs have a premedical background while nurse anesthetists have a nursing background.

With regards to physician assistants, CAAs are similar in that they are both allied health professionals and physician extenders. The scope of practice for a physician assistant can be broader than a CAA because CAAs are focused on either general anesthesia care or specialty anesthesia care (such as anesthesia for pediatric patients).


Yes. CAAs continue to be in high demand due to the nationwide shortage of anesthesia care providers. Case Western Reserve University Master of Science in Anesthesia graduates specifically have experienced a nearly 100% employment rate. 

Salaries vary depending on the regional cost of living. The starting salary for Case Western Reserve University Master of Science in Anesthesia graduates averages above $210,000 for a 40-hour work week, plus benefits and consideration of on-call activity. An increase of approximately 5% to 15% should be expected after the first or second year. Salaries are comparable to compensation paid to certified registered nurse anesthetists employed within the anesthesia care team nationally.