I just got the word that I have my first interview with Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia in Madison in mid-January and I want to be well prepared for this interview. I would appreciate any advice that you could give in how best to prepare for the interview. I usually do very well with interviews, however I want to be well prepared for any clinical questions they may ask. I feel that I have a strong background in my science classes and have a good understanding of invasive monitoring. I do want to beef up on my drugs as I feel that this is an area that I need to be especially strong. Am I missing anything? I would really appreciate anything you might add. Also, for those of you who may be concerned about being too old to pursue this. Go for it, I am 49 and if accepted will start a program on my 50th birthday.

trauma pm me, a friend of mine just got in with an early interview. maybe i can hook you up with him and get some info.

d

If anyone out there has anything to add on MTSA -Madison, Tn. I'd appreciate it. I have the school catalog, but I'm really interested in hearing from students. Also, particulars about how interviews went there would be great. Thanks!

:) etherchick

I'd also like to hear about experiences with MTSA, what they focus on in selecting candidates, interviews, etc.

I plan to apply to MTSA next year and when I shadowed and toured the campus last year, the one thing the other students told me was that if you qualify for an early interview (3.5 GPA and science GPA, excellent references), you should definitley request one. They said that in their class, almost 1/2 the students admitted went through the early interview process. They also said only 2-3 people interview you and it is very laidback, as opposed to the 8-10 people who participate in the regular interview process. I have to say that I was very impressed with what I saw when I was on campus...the students were very nice, had wonderful things to say about the program, and seemed to have a great relationship with their instructors (who were also very nice)! I would receommend going to shadow b/c I met three different instructors who were very impressed that I was checking out their campus so early (I was still in the BSN program at the time)! The only bad thing I would say about MTSA is that many of there clinical sites require quite a drive! Anyway, not a ton of info but I hope it helps.

Ami

Thanks for sharing, Ami! Will you tell us how your application process goes once you get the ball rolling? Also, how long did you take to complete your BSN? Did you take it locally or distance?

I had heard MTSA's clinical sites can be a drive, but I won't be able to shop around when it's time to apply. I'm glad to hear they're as nice in person as they are on the phone. Have you checked out their website? Every month I make a point to check out the online newsletter.........I read the student bios to get a feel for where some of their students are coming from.

Thanks again!

:) etherchick

i would like to mention something about clinicals and driving. i've known quite a few anesthetists that have graduated from many different programs. some from smaller one's some from larger ones.

the consensus is that the wide variety of hospitals, mdas, crnas that you encounter only adds to your education. if you were to do clinicals at mainly one or two hospitals, how much specialty training are you likely to recieve? do you have to compete with residents, other classmates to get a neuro case, or obgyn case. how many cases will you graduate with.

to me the downside of driving is offset by the vastness of experience you are likely to recieve if you are willing to "go the extra mile" pun intended.

i'm finishing my first semester at kaiser in pasadena. we go to about 20 different hospitals now. the farthest one i will have to go to is about 1.5 hours away, but it's one of the best trauma rotations. My ob rotation is about 15 minutes from where i live.

i should graduate with about 1000 cases. covering all the specialties.

i guess what i'm saying is what has been said to me....learn as much as you can from as many different people as you can and you can work anywhere when you graduate.

jsut my .02

david

Excellent! That makes a lot of sense when you look at it from a perspective of experience gained over the "long haul"...... hee-hee

:) etherchick

Hey Tom, this is Gaspassah's friend. I hope the info I gave turns out to be helpful.

In relation to the variety of clinical sites and the advantage/disadvantage of travel between sites, I would like to add that I have spent a good deal of time with CRNAs and MDAs to see their view of using a variety of clinical sites. All agreed that using different sites exposes you to different techniques, theories, meds, etc. In my opinion, it can only be a positive. I've done a great deal of traveling over the last 3 years and you really do see a difference in nursing from place to place.

As a side note, I just got accepted to school recently and can't wait to begin. Class of 2006!!

Best of luck to all!

B

I was not an RN who went back for my BSN...I just went straight for my BSN, which is why I cannot apply until next year b/c I am getting my ICU experience. I worked in the ICU for two years as student nurse and then will have two years by the time school starts (if I am accepted). I do read the online newsletter every month. The thing I like about MTSA is that they publish tons of info about their program and are very forthcoming with stats, etc...some schools don't do that. As far as traveling to clinical sites, the students I met did say they like the variety of anesthesia they were exposed to at the different sites but that driving 1.5 hours three times a week at 4:00 AM could be tiring. I will definitely keep you updated on my application process....good luck with yours!