[B.S.Psych]

Hi all,
I am looking to receive serious advice from you guys, and yes this is nursing related!. As noted in my subject, I am a recent college grad from the Univ. of Ill. Urbana-Champaign with a B.S. in Psychology. To make a long story short, I want to become an anesthesiologist. Being that I majored in Psychology, I was not required to take any hard sciences, which I know I will have to take to become an Anesthesiologist. I have applied to Post-Bacc programs in order to start taking those classes.
Here's my worries: My GPA as an undergrad is...not so great at 2.4. Yes I know, not spectacular at all which I am ashamed of. I am tremendously worried that I do not have the grades to even get accepted into a Post-Bacc program. I really do not think I have what they want, being that getting into medical school is highly competitive. I have not taken a biology/chemistry course since high school. I DO know that there is a field for nurse anesthetists, which I feel may be a better choice for me. Not to say it's easier, but I think I may have a better chance at being a nurse anesthetist. Any opinions, etc concerning what I have stated?
I really feel as though my 4 years of college was wasted as I am doing NOTHING at the moment. I truly need advice, I would like to get this started asap. In addition, what types of jobs are available for someone w/my background that will atleast help me get started with working towards that type of career. Feel free to email me directly if needed, I would love a mentor

[hartsbur]

HI,

My undergrad is in psych too and i'm considering going back from for a BSN (I graduated a few years ago).

You can just take your req's at a community college, but make sure you kick butt on those classes.

Look on the websites of the hospitals near you. If you wanted to just utilize your degree in order to at least be in a hospital, you could always be a "mental health counselor" on a psych ward.

Good Luck!

[athomas91]

if you want to be a CRNA first you need to be a nurse...then you need a few years experience in a critical care area...then you would need to apply to a program....and no - your GPA of 2.4 won't get you in.....not trying to be rude - but i am being honest.

[MisterArnold]

Grad school for CRNA is highly competitive and top grades are a must. As earlier post mentioned they are looking for nurses who have a minimum of one year of critical care nursing.

[B.S.Psych]

No offense taken. I do know that I must become an RN first before I can apply for the program. So is it the undergrad GPA that matters, or how well I do in the nursing program? Or are you saying that the 2.4 isn't well enough to even get into a nursing program? I have been considering an accelerated BSN program.

[MisterArnold]

Sorry if I sounded discouraging. 2.4 is a low GPA to enter into nursing school. Perhaps if you got some of the science prereqs done and had excellent grades in those they might consider you for the nursing program. Once you are in the nursing program get the highest grades you can so you qualify for grad school. I believe if you have the perservence you will make it. Won't hurt to talk to an advisor in the nursing program and see what they have to say.

[Speculating]

Originally posted by B.S.Psych
Hi all,
I am looking to receive serious advice from you guys, and yes this is nursing related!. As noted in my subject, I am a recent college grad from the Univ. of Ill. Urbana-Champaign with a B.S. in Psychology. To make a long story short, I want to become an anesthesiologist. Being that I majored in Psychology, I was not required to take any hard sciences, which I know I will have to take to become an Anesthesiologist. I have applied to Post-Bacc programs in order to start taking those classes.
Here's my worries: My GPA as an undergrad is...not so great at 2.4. Yes I know, not spectacular at all which I am ashamed of. I am tremendously worried that I do not have the grades to even get accepted into a Post-Bacc program. I really do not think I have what they want, being that getting into medical school is highly competitive. I have not taken a biology/chemistry course since high school. I DO know that there is a field for nurse anesthetists, which I feel may be a better choice for me. Not to say it's easier, but I think I may have a better chance at being a nurse anesthetist. Any opinions, etc concerning what I have stated?
I really feel as though my 4 years of college was wasted as I am doing NOTHING at the moment. I truly need advice, I would like to get this started asap. In addition, what types of jobs are available for someone w/my background that will atleast help me get started with working towards that type of career. Feel free to email me directly if needed, I would love a mentor

I'm not here to flame you, but how do spend four years in college getting a degree and end up completely clueless about what your supposed to do with it? How in the world did you end up in that situation? I don’t know what to tell you friend? Your struggle isn’t going to be any easier obtaining a CRNA. In the nursing program I went through (just the core nursing program) you don’t advance with anything less than a 3.0. In my program a 3.0 was a “C” a very low “C”. My best advice is just to tell you to go down to your local college and talk with a counselor. Maybe they can get you pointed in the right direction.

[hartsbur]

many of the nursing schools i've been looking at have the following requirements:

2.75-----for the traditional option

3.0---for the accelerated

these are just the minimums to apply, you'll need a higher gpa to actually get in.

[B.S.Psych]

Originally posted by Speculating
I'm not here to flame you, but how do spend four years in college getting a degree and end up completely clueless about what your supposed to do with it? How in the world did you end up in that situation? I don’t know what to tell you friend? Your struggle isn’t going to be any easier obtaining a CRNA. In the nursing program I went through (just the core nursing program) you don’t advance with anything less than a 3.0. In my program a 3.0 was a “C” a very low “C”. My best advice is just to tell you to go down to your local college and talk with a counselor. Maybe they can get you pointed in the right direction.

I don't recall stating I don't know what I am supposed to do with it. I know my GPA isn't the best, granted, so that is why I am and have been looking for alternatives...I know of people who get a degree in one area and currently hold a position that has NOTHING to do with it. Looks like I'm going to be one of those...it's funny because my best grades were in health and health related classes.

[Trauma Tom]

B.S. Psych,

I am curious after four years in college and realizing that you wasted the four years what is it that suddenly has drawn your interest to do anesthesia as an anesthetist or an anesthesiologist? I do not know why you only had a 2.4 avarage. Was it because you didn't apply yourself or were you not interested in your major. Whether you want to pursue medicine or nursing there are a few things you need to consider. You indicated that your program required no science classes. If you are going to pursue either nursing or medicine be prepared to take and do well in your science classes. You will need to complete these and do well prior to admission to most nursing programs. Assuming you do well keep in mind that medical school and nurse anesthesia programs are extremely competitive. I do not want to discuss which is more competitive, however there are only 2,000 nurse anesthetists trained every year in this country. Having the ICU experience as a nurse is required, having a competitive GPA a must (3.5 to 4.0) and doing well on the GRE or MAT is expected. Even with all of these requirements met CRNA programs look for people who they believe will finish their programs and go on to be successful CRNA's. They base their opinions on past performance and how well you do in an interview. My academic performance was not a lot better than yours in my undergraduate program thirty years ago, however it was much improved when I returned to school to obtain my nursing degree (Associate Degree) as well as in completing my BSN. When I met with schools I asked if my previous undergraduate grades would hurt me. Most replied that grades that long ago were not as important as what I had done since then to improve my performance. One question that you will face is why do you want to become a CRNA? I wonder if you really know the answer to that question? If you don't I suggest you do some soul searching before you even think about trying to get into nursing school or medical school. Neither path you mentioned will be an easy one. At a minimum you will need to complete a nursing program (Associate Degree, accelerated program or a BSN. That will take you at least 18 months to two years after completing your prerequisites. In addition you will need at least a year in an ICU before you can apply. Then it will take another 27-36 months, 7-9 semesters in a row to complete CRNA school. This is not an easy alternative to medical school. The rewards of a career in anesthesia, whether as an anesthetist or an anesthesiologist are impressive, yet the work to become either one is extremely challenging one. Only you can determine if you are up to the challenge. Good luck in whatever decision you make.