[hbgwan]

Hi. I was just speaking with a CRNA and he said that NA schools only consider applicants who were in the top four percent of their BSN class. I'm not sure if that's just this particular area or if this is nation-wide. I've researched several programs but I've never seen this requirement.

So my question is for everyone who is currently a CRNA - is this true for the school you went to? Do you know how prevalent this policy is? I know that admission is very selective but I didn't know it was that selective.

Thanks!
hbgwan

[jesset2]

It's not true. If you have researched the profession on nurse anesthesia, shadowed CRNA's and found that this is the career you want, then apply! A lot of times, people will tell you things to discourage you, for whatever reason. I've never heard of the top 4% business, and I know that I was not in the top 4% of my class and I was still accepted into a good program, first shot, having applied after 15 months in the ICU, including orientation.

[Always Learning, RN]

I'm still a BSN student (Graduate in December ) but we did have CRNA guest speaker once in class that said she graduated from her BSN program with a 2.7 or 2.8 -- something in that range. I specifically remember that it was less than a 3.0. Seems like she only graduated a couple of years ago, so unless there have been changes recently, I would think that the 4% thing is not a steadfast standard with all schools.

[Mommy TeleRN]

How would you even know your rank? We graduated over 60 and no one told me where I ranked.

[BULLYDAWGRN]

I don't think that is true in all situations or programs. Matter of fact I know it is'nt true, one person I know is waiting to start at UAB, yes she had a good gpa but not the top 4% of class.

[hbgwan]

Thanks for y'all's input! I didn't think that was the case, as there is another thread going on right now where CRNAs post their UGPA, GRE, etc. Let me tell ya - there are some pretty low GPAs on there. I thought that maybe their nursing programs just graduated people with unusually low GPAs averages!

hbgwan

[japaho41]

If CRNA schools only took the top 4% then they would strictly look at GPA and nothing else. Is this class rank published somewhere that we are not aware of? I didn't happen to see it on my transcript. I think the correct answer is they take the most complete candidate, evaluating several items.

[RedCell]

It is the whole package that buys your ticket into anesthesia school (grades, GRE, work history, interview, references, etc). Most of the time if you meet the basic requirements for admission and do not blow the interview (if you get one) you can find a seat in someone's program if you want it bad enough. Our program director has turned down mulitple applicants who had high grades in didactic performance, but unfortunately were a few bombs short of a cluster when it came to clinical performance. The interview process will reveal this.

[japaho41]

GPA is not everything, a girl in my nursing class probably ended up with a 4.0 but clinically she was a disaster. This is a good example of why grades are not everything.

[piper_for_hire]

... and clinical experience is not everything. If you are great clinically but a disaster academically you will fail out of NA school. You need to be pretty good clinically *and* academically to become a CRNA.

-S