[CrufflerJJ]

Originally Posted by PinsAndNeedles

jd,

I am my BSN school to see if I can get some core classes out of the way. I have also applied to TWU, but they don't accept transfer credits. They want you to complete all of your CRNA courses w/ them.

2 yrs ICU seems to be just what they want. 1 yr would be cutting it close. And you can count the months up to your point of admission. So make sure you bring that out in your interview. Have you taken the GRE yet? Mine barely makes the minimum and I'm not sure if I should retake it. It was NOT my cup of tea, to say the least.

UC seems to want 2+ years ICU experience. At the most recent CRNA info session, the program director (WW) mentioned that they were "blown away" by a candidate with just 1 year experience, and they accepted her. WW made it clear that she was the exception. That being said, some of the UH SICU nurses mentioned that UC has accepted freshly-graduated candidates just out of orientation with that facility.

Regarding your GRE score, if you're independently wealthy, don't worry about it. Otherwise, study & retake the test to score at least a 1100, if not 1150-1200 (minimum score for UC Graduate Scholarship seems to vary from year to year).

As a UC Accelerated BSN student, I've not had any hassles with LC (Graduate Adviser), but heard a horror story regarding one of my classmates. LC apparently told her that the MCAT (maybe GMAT) would be acceptable instead of the GRE. Maybe for acceptance to the Accel program, but NOT for UC graduate scholarships. She was screwed out of ~$2500/quarter. Keep records/documentation of all your dealings with the gentleman. I'm not sure if it would really matter in the long run, but at least you'd avoid a "he says...she says" situation.

[KentuckyRN2Be]

I am reading this thread with interest as I was going to post some questions here. I am in Lexington, KY and getting ready to start my BSN program in the fall at UK. I am an adult student (42). When I went back to school, I didn't know that nursing was still an option for me so took other classes. I just finished my pre-requisites. My cum GPA is 3.6 with everything, but have been on the Dean's List both semesters of pre-nursing. UC is the place that I really want to attend. I even thought about taking my BSN there, but with gas prices as they are now, there is just no way I can afford to drive back and forth and relocating right now isn't an option (it will be by the time I get through as my youngest daughter graduates the same year I do).

Because I am older, I would like to do this in as straight a shot as possible and want to make sure that I have everything I need as I work through the next three years towards my BSN. What kind of a GPA do I need for CRNA school? What is most important to take away from my education? I know that we need at least one year in ICU/trauma - but is one year enough to even be considered?

I know I am just beginning this road and am not naive to the fact that there is a lot ahead of me. I would just like to make sure I am doing what I need to do as I go along instead of finding out later that I needed to do something.

Thanks!
Sarah