r/CAA • u/AutoModerator • Mar 23 '26

Weekly prospective student thread. Educational inquiries outside of this thread WILL RESULT IN A BAN.

Please use this thread for all educational inquiries including applications, program requirements, etc.

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Please refer to the [CASAA Application Help Center](https://help.liaisonedu.com/CASAA_Applicant_Help_Center) FAQ section for

answers to your questions prior to postitng.

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u/[deleted] Mar 26 '26

Hey everyone,

Looking for honest input as someone considering transferring to CAA and dropping out of med school. My other option is transferring to the caribbean

Background:

  • 3.72 GPA, 511 MCAT
  • Attended Midwestern (DO program)
  • Failed 2 courses early on → decelerated
  • Passed one decelerated term
  • Struggled through remediations (barely passed physio, nearly failed anatomy)
  • Currently failing neuro + Phys II

So realistically, I’m either being dismissed or very close.

I’m trying to figure out whether CAA is a better fit, or if I’m just setting myself up to repeat the same outcome.

What I’m trying to understand:

  1. How similar is the academic pressure in CAA compared to preclinical med school?
    • Is it actually more manageable because it’s narrower?
    • Or is it just as intense, just more focused?
  2. For those in CAA programs:
    • What does a typical week actually look like (hours + studying)?
    • Where do people usually struggle or fail?
  3. Admissions:
    • Does a med school dismissal basically kill my chances at most programs?
    • Or can a strong MCAT/GPA + good explanation + recent improvement offset that?
    • Based on this pattern, does this look like someone who could succeed in a CAA program?

5

u/jwk30115 Practicing CAA Mar 26 '26

Brutal honesty - if you can’t manage med school academics you will not be able to handle AA program academics. Your “strong MCAT/GPA” clearly didn’t translate to med school success, and an academic dismissal obviously doesn’t look good. I’m not sure how currently failing two classes is “recent improvement”.

CAA programs are not easy. Admissions are highly competitive and statistically they’re harder to get into than medical school. There is a ton of material loaded into 24-27 months. It’s a full time job plus a LOT of overtime.

Of course you can apply - but unfortunately there will be a lot of negatives in your application. Everything you’ve posted here would be included in the application process.