The Computer-Based Assessment for Sampling Personal Characteristics (Casper) test is an online, open-response exam where you are presented with various scenarios or prompts, and must respond to them in the form of a timed text or video recording response. The Casper test is required by many professional schools for their admissions process, including optometry, dentistry, and medical schools. The test can be taken anywhere, and you are either monitored by your computer webcam during your typed responses, or recording yourself through your webcam to submit a response.

Aside from the Casper test, there are also two other tests that serve different purposes: the Casper Duet and Casper Snapshot. The Casper Duet is an assessment for students applying to undergraduate or graduate medical programs in the US, which determines what students value most and compares that information to what different programs provide. The Casper Snapshot tests for applicants’ communication and self-reflection skills by presenting applicants with a question and having them submit a short video response on the spot.

The purpose of the Casper test is to measure your situational judgment and critical thinking, while evaluating your personal characteristics (professionalism, ethics, critical thinking, communication skills, and personal empathy). In the tables below, we will outline which schools in North America require the Casper test. Note that the Casper Snapshot and/or Duet are also required for admission into certain schools.

Medical Schools

Allopathic

Osteopathic

Canada

Dalhousie University, Faculty of Medicine
McGill University, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences
McMaster University, Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine
Memorial University of Newfoundland, Faculty of Medicine
Queen’s University, School of Medicine
Université de Montréal, Faculté de médecine
Université de Sherbrooke, Faculté de médecine
Université Laval, Faculté de médecine
University of Alberta, Faculty of Medicine
University of Manitoba, Max Rady College of Medicine
University of Ottawa, Faculty of Medicine
University of Saskatchewan, College of Medicine

United States

American University of The Caribbean, School of Medicine
Augusta University, Medical College of Georgia
Baylor College of Medicine
Boston University, School of Medicine
Central Michigan University, College of Medicine
Drexel University, College of Medicine
East Tennessee State University, James H. Quillen College of Medicine
- CASPer Snapshot and Duet also required

Florida Atlantic University, College of Medicine
Hostra University, Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine
Howard University, College of Medicine
Indiana University, School of Medicine
Marshall University, Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, McGovern Medical School
Medical College of Wisconsin
Meharry Medical College
Mercer University, School of Medicine
Michigan State University, College of Human Medicine
- CASPer Duet recommended

New York Medical College
Northeast Ohio Medical University
Oregon Health & Science University, School of Medicine
Penn State College of Medicine
Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
San Juan Bautista School of Medicine
State University of New York Upstate Medical University
Stony Brook University, School of Medicine
Temple University, Lewis Katz School of Medicine
- CASPer Duet also required
Texas A&M Health Science Center, College of Medicine
- CASPer Duet also required

Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso, Paul L. Foster School of Medicine
Tulane University, School of Medicine
- CASPer Duet recommended
University of Colorado, School of Medicine
- CASPer Snapshot, and Duet also required
University of Illinois, Chicago College of Medicine
- CASPer Snapshot and Duet also required

University of Miami Miller, School of Medicine
University of Nevada, School of Medicine
- CASPer Snapshot and Duet also required
University of Texas at Tyler Health Science Center, School of Medicine
- CASPer Duet also required

University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, Long School of Medicine
University of Texas Medical Branch, John Sealy School of Medicine
University of Texas Southwestern
University of Vermont, Larner College of Medicine
University of Washington, School of Medicine
Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine
Wake Forest University, School of Medicine
West Virginia University, School of Medicine

Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine
Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine
California Health Sciences University, College of Osteopathic Medicine
Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine
Kansas Health Science Center, Kansas College of Osteopathic Medicine
Michigan State University, College of Osteopathic Medicine
Sam Houston State University, College of Osteopathic Medicine
- CASPer Snapshot and Duet also required

Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine NY
Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine
Western University of Health Sciences, College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific
William Carey University, College of Osteopathic Medicine

Dental Schools

Canada

University of Toronto, Faculty of Dentistry
Western University (UWO)
McGill University, Faculty of Dental Medicine and Oral Health Sciences
University of Alberta
University of Saskatchewan, College of Dentistry

United States

California Northstate University, College of Dental Medicine
Case Western Reserve University, School of Dental Medicine
Indiana University, School of Dentistry
Temple University, Kornberg School of Dentistry
University of California Los Angeles, School of Dentistry
University of Detroit Mercy, School of Dentistry
University of Louisville, School of Dentistry
University of Missouri – Kansas City, School of Dentistry
University of Utah, School of Dentistry

Veterinary Schools

Canada	University of Guelph Université de Montreal
United States	Kansas State University Lincoln Memorial University Long Island University Michigan State University Purdue University Texas Tech University

Physician Assistant Schools

United States

Campbell University
Christian Brothers University
Colorado Mesa University
Concordia University Wisconsin
East Virginia Medical School
Idaho State University
Medical University of South Carolina
Presbyterian College
Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions
South University Savannah
South University Tampa
University of Evansville
University of Kentucky
University of Oklahoma
University of Utah
West Liberty University

Optometry Schools

Canada	University of Montreal, École d’optométrie University of Waterloo, School of Optometry and Vision Science Snapshot also required
United States	Salus University, Pennsylvania College of Optometry (Scholars and Traditional Program)

Why is the Casper test required?

As mentioned earlier, the Casper test measures your situational judgment and critical thinking skills. Although academic performance has traditionally been used as the main determinant of admission into professional schools, non-cognitive skills are becoming more important in the selection process. Nowadays, professional programs want to ensure that their students can handle the heavy academic workload, as well as possess the soft skills to work with the public and provide patient-centred care. These soft skills include communication and empathy, which can be assessed by the Casper test. This is also supported by research stating that the Casper test can reliably predict one’s success in medical school (Dore et al., 2017). However, because of the recent findings, the role of the Casper test in the admissions process varies between different schools. For instance, the exam is weighted more heavily for those applying to medical school at McMaster University. For these applicants, the Casper test score is worth 1/3 of the admission decision, as it is weighed just as heavily as the applicant’s undergrad GPA and MCAT CARS score. In comparison, the Casper test may not be weighted as heavily for other professional programs and the weighting may not be stated as explicitly either. Therefore, it is best to figure out which programs and schools you want to apply for and check their website for more information if available.

Conclusion

The Casper test is used as an additional metric for admission into professional programs. Now that you have a list of professional programs that require the Casper test, you can start to narrow down the list of schools you want to apply for. For more information, feel free to read our articles on How to Prepare for the Casper Test, What to Expect on your Casper Test Day, and How Is the Casper Test Scored. Remember that the test is weighted differently at various institutions, so do not count yourself out early if you receive a sub-optimal score. Good luck!

Citations

Dore, K.L., Reiter, H.I., Kreuger, S., & Norman, G.R. (2017). Casper, an online pre-interview screen for personal/professional characteristics: prediction of national licensure scores. Adv Health Sci Educ Theory Pract. May;22(2):327-336. doi: 10.1007/s10459-016-9739-9.

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