[ICUDOUCME?]

Originally Posted by heartrn35

californianurse,
I'm not sure I will be able to make changes to my personality to WOW people during the interveiw, but I'm going to make my best attempt to makesure that I'm not suffering from mediocrity either.
Thanks again
heartrn35

I feel for you. My first interview experiences did not go well and it was because I didn't trust myself to let myself be me. Does that make sense? I thought I had to wow them or something. But after I was turned down by the first school and wait listed by the second, I did some heavy soul searching, talking out loud whenever I was alone about my motives etc, and trying to talk until I could stand the sound of my own voice (I never could stand to hear myself talk for some reason).

I worked on it until my next round of interviews and I made it in! I am not saying this is your problem but if you are baffled, which it sounds like you are, then maybe learning to live in your own skin and enjoy being yourself in any situation would help you in an interview. Also people like to be liked. Find something to like about them. This takes your mind off of you and onto what you can do for them. This will show on your face.

I was in on an interview commitee once and I was surprised by my own reactions to people in interviews. I really appreciated an open smile, a little attempt at humor, and a person who, while confident, had the air of wanting to learn. People who, when asked about a situation that they didn't know the answer to, said they didn't know but would look it up or ask for help in a given scenario, came across as honest and not too puffed up. Taking a little time to form an answer is ok too. Being able to admit a mistake and what you learned from it is huge!

Turn offs by the interviewees include looking down while talking, talking too soft, talking nonstop, leaning back in the chair, and low-cut blouses/non-professional dress among other things.

Another bit of advice I learned on this forum is that you don't have to do this. You have a life and are a good person, competent, etc without this experience of anesthesia school. (I know that secretly, you do have to do this but tell yourself it's ok to not make it in to this school this year). It helps to not put the pressure on yourself.

Just a few things I learned from others and from my own experience.

[dfk]

Originally Posted by llg

You might want to ask the schools (or any future schools you might apply to) about their GRE scores. 1100 is not very high. I sat on an admissions committee (not specifically for a CRNA program, but for am MSN program) and that school had a minimum standard of 1000. I've heard of other schools that have a minimum of 1200. It might help your chances to take the test again after a little more preparation so that you can raise your score.

Good luck to you!

gre is just part of the package. 1100 is not really bad at all. i got in with less than my school's minimum, but must've made up for it in other ways.

[californianurse]

Originally Posted by heartrn35

californianurse,
Thanks for your reply. I did make alternate at Pitt and hope to get in there but hoping doesn't get me anywhere. I'm planning on getting my CCRN, becoming a ACLS instructor, getting on my Code committee, and other like minded changes.
I'm not sure I will be able to make changes to my personality to WOW people during the interveiw, but I'm going to make my best attempt to makesure that I'm not suffering from mediocrity either.
Thanks again
heartrn35

Tell them that! What you just wrote. You may want to call up Pitt and ask how often you can check to see if an alternate spot opened up. I've heard of people doing that which worked well in their favor. You could also tell them that you are "willing to do what it takes" to get into their program. I wouldn't suggest everyone say this, but Honey, you've got the money where your mouth is, you just need to let them know that.

You are in my thoughts.

[rnwareaglegirl]

Don't get too discouraged. I am one year in to anesthesia school and I was turned down twice before I got in. I applied to 8 different schools in my region. One of the girls in my class went to her HR department after gettting turned down the first time. She was able to get some valuable input on interviewing skills. I went into the interview(the successful one) with the attitude of "Is this school right for me?" without thinking I was a sure thing. Now that I am in school, I definitely see how too much experience could be a downfall. I am gaining all this great knowledge, but I keep reminding myself that I will not be using this info in the way that I am used to. Your experience may make you slightly more comfortable in clinicals, but anesthesia is a whole other world compared to the ICU. You didn't say whether you had spent any significant time with a CRNA. If you haven't. I definitely would do that. Good Luck to you! Keep pursuing your goal. You will get there eventually.