Prospective SRNA with Lower GPAs

[mdubb342]

Hey everyone. I am a prospective SRNA. I have been wanting to go the nurse anesthesia route for quite some time. Unfortunately, my 18 year old self put grades on the back burner and partying was the priority. Found my focus an was extremely motivated prior to admission for my BSN and during nursing school, as evidenced by my last 60 credits. My overall is a 3.31, mostly due to classes that weren't pertinent to my major (previously accounting major first 1.5 yrs), Sciences 3.5, finishing up O-chem (on track to get an A), currently work CVICU for almost a year, planning on taking the GRE and obtaining my CCRN this summer then CSC or CMC when appropriate. Some of the nurses that got into school on my unit suggested taking an advanced physiology or pharm course online. I know schools lean heavily on GPA so this whole process is unsettling. Is there anything else I can do to put myself in the mix? Also, for any current SRNAs or CRNAs, have any of you been admitted with lower or similar GPAs or know any of your classmates who were admitted with lower or similar GPAs? If so, did you/they struggle more than your/their cohort? Brutal honesty appreciated. Thanks

[PresG33]

My undergrad GPA for my first bachelors in early 2000s was 2.8. Over a decade later I got >3.85 in an accelerated BSN. I also did well in GREs. No one even mentioned my prior GPA in my interview, just that my BSN grades were very good. Your BSN/recent grades generally outweigh past ones. Taking a graduate patho or pharm class can only help you (make sure you do well) and can lighten your course load when you get into school. A good GRE can help offset poor GPA too. If you are asked about your past grades, turn it into a positive in that it shows how much you've grown since then and once you decided on your path you did well! Good luck!

[rhinoroc]

From everything I've read on CRNA admissions, I'd recommended graduate level courses that would lighten your course load like you and PresG33 have mentioned (and being sure to get A's). I would just be sure to figure out what top 3-5 schools you're interested in and call them to see their thoughts on what graduate courses to take. Also, be sure to verify they'd actually transfer if you're taking them at a different school. I'm not even sure I'd say your BSN GPA is on the lower side but it definitely isn't horrible or impossible by any means. I know I've seen posts from students/CRNAs who've gotten in with similar grades. Plus an A in O-chem isn't an easy feat and will only prove to your more mature self. I'd bet money you're on the right track ! Buena suerte!

[NurseDiane]

I know schools look at GPA's from undergrad and that they weigh heavily in their decision. I actually don't think the GPA should be weighed so heavily, and I'll tell you why:

We all know people---physicians, attorneys, nurses, accountants, etc.---that did not graduate at the top of their class, but are some of the best clinicians out there because they are able to use their common sense as well as what they've learned in the classroom & in their clinical experience to make decisions. And we all know the physicians, attorneys, nurses, accountants, etc. who graduated magna cum laude that know textbooks inside and out, but are horrible clinicians because they have no common sense or ability to think independently outside of what the textbooks tell them. Common sense, the ability to think & make decisions based on clinical experience & what you've learned over the course of time taking care of critically ill patients should also weigh heavily on admission to anesthesia school. GRE's do nothing to tell how well your clinical decision making ability is, or your ability to make your own clinical judgments based on experience. Verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning & analytical writing have absolutely NO PLACE in anesthesia----none of those areas are specifically geared for medical professionals. There is nothing in the GRE that is applicable to clinical anesthesia. It is really a waste of time & money. However, if an exam such as CCRN was to be required of prospective students & the grade from that exam was put into the admission consideration, it would be much more worthwhile. The knowledge & experience a nurse has from working in critical care matters a heck of a lot more in whether or not they succeed in anesthesia school. Critical care knowledge is the base from which everything else is built upon, and if you don't already know the foundation of critical care (pharmacology, physiology [especially respiratory physiology], acid:base balance, electrolyte balance] you're going to have a really, really hard time in anesthesia school. If someone scores perfectly on the GRE and has no critical care knowledge or experience, they'll fail out of anesthesia school.

[Shanimal]

I'm not yet an SRNA, so take my bit for whatever it's worth. My initial go at an undergraduate education was ugly. Like, really ugly. As in several semesters of straight Fs because I couldn't be bothered to go to class or turn in assignments. I've applied to two highly-ranked schools and have interviews at both within the next few weeks. I agree with other comments here--as long as you've demonstrated that you've done well in nursing courses, get a solid GRE score, get your CCRN plus other certs if you can, and ideally get some graduate credits, you're in pretty good shape. I'd also suggest emailing the point-of-contact for the programs you're interested in. Briefly explain your situation as you've done here and ask what you can do to be a more competitive applicant at that institution. Seems to have worked for me.

[jj224]

Make up for any potential GPA issues with extra experience.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Moved to SRNA forum