Re: which schools...
I think it depends on what part of the country you are in. You're right, the 'rankings' don't mean a lot. You can look at national certification exam pass rates and that can help, although you also need to look at how many students started in a class and how many finished. A 98% pass rate looks good until you realize that the class started with 100 and the only graduated 20 -- and it's that 20 who took the exam that they base the % off of. That's just a hypothetical (spell?) example, but understand there are more to the pass rates as well.
Do you want to go to a program that offers a doctorate or the possiblity of getting a doctorate later from the same school? Do you want a program that is front loaded? do you want a program that is housed in a medical school or nursing school or school of public health or of allied health sciences? they all get you to the same point, but the classes can be a little different.
I've heard verious good things about Rush University, and Case Western, but I'm in Texas and unless I HAVE to move I'd rather go here. The army has a good program I've heard, but you have to be in the army or one of the VA civillians they let in --even MORE competition I'm sure!. When it comes down to it, I'd say yes to where ever I get in!
With that said, I got in at Baylor which is a fairly well known medical school in Texas, and the CRNA program seems to be very good as well (from what I've heard). Something else to look at is the average number of clinical cases the students get. There is a minimal number all students must get, but if you really want to be well prepared I'd look for a school where the number of cases exceeds the minimum.
Just my barely educated opinion.
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