To those that have gotten into CRNA school....

Nursing Students SRNA

Published

Specializes in Internal Medicine.

I was hoping you could share your admission stats or certifications that you were admitted with. I'm currently preparing to apply for entry in Fall 2011 and I'm not exactly sure how to gauge whether or not I am a strong candidate. Here's a little bit about me:

GPA: 3.5 (3.3 in sciences)

GRE: 1200/4.5

All required certifications plus I'm a CCRN. Will be testing for CSC and CMC before applying.

3 years work experience in CVICU with 1000's of hours taking fresh open heart patients. Charge Nurse.

Will have 4 LOR, one coming from a cardiothoracic surgeon.

I sorta feel like I'm a strong candidate but I work in a somewhat remote location with no one else applying, so I really have nothing to compare myself to. I would really appreciate if people currently in CRNA school, or those who have recently been accepted (or even made it to the interview phase) could tell me what they got in with. Thank you so much in advance.

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You sound good. You should apply. Worst that happens is you don't get in but have everything ready for next year. Best case, you get in!!!

I had BS degree, GPA 3.2 range, BSN GPA 3.8 or so, sciences somewhere closer to the 3.2 :)

GRE 1210/4.5

MICU/CICU mixed unit at a teaching hospital, 18months.

ACLS.

NO CCRN (but that was really stupid of me and a HUGE risk not having taken it before inter views!)

I got accepted into my first choice school after my second choice school --but the one I thought I had a better chance of getting in to-- declined to accept me. So apply. You never know what will come of it. You will never get there unless you start applying!

Look at the admit requirements for the schools you are interested in. Some schools will want a chem class within the last 3 yrs, some will want you to have a statistics class, some won't have any such requirements. Do you have a BSN? if not, a lot of schools will take you with an ASN as long as you have a 'related' (usually some type of science) bachelor's degree.

Good luck to you!

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Specializes in Internal Medicine.

Wow thank you so much for this. Yes I am a BSN, and I have looked up the requirements for my two schools of choice. My top choice only has the extra requirement that all applicants be CCRN certified, which I thankfully have, and will hopefully be adding the CSC and CMC to that. My next two choices require a chem class within the last three years, so I'm already working on taking an online chem class at my local community college to satisfy this requirement. I already have taken stat and physics.

Thanks again for the info, and I would appreciate it if anyone else would share their story. Thanks again.

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Specializes in Trauma ICU.

GPA: Overall 3.6, BSN 4.0, haven't figured my science GPA because I have a previous degree in Mechanical Engineering and don't know where those classes stand.

GRE: 1430/5.5

10months TruamaICU experience at interview, ~18-19 at start of program

Was not able to take CCRN prior to interviews due to lack of clinical time.

ACLS, TNCC

I was accepted at both schools I applied to.

Not sure that any of that is helpful but there it is.

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I was hoping you could share your admission stats or certifications that you were admitted with. I'm currently preparing to apply for entry in Fall 2011 and I'm not exactly sure how to gauge whether or not I am a strong candidate. Here's a little bit about me:

GPA: 3.5 (3.3 in sciences)

GRE: 1200/4.5

All required certifications plus I'm a CCRN. Will be testing for CSC and CMC before applying.

3 years work experience in CVICU with 1000's of hours taking fresh open heart patients. Charge Nurse.

Will have 4 LOR, one coming from a cardiothoracic surgeon.

I sorta feel like I'm a strong candidate but I work in a somewhat remote location with no one else applying, so I really have nothing to compare myself to. I would really appreciate if people currently in CRNA school, or those who have recently been accepted (or even made it to the interview phase) could tell me what they got in with. Thank you so much in advance.

Sounds like you've got what you need to at least get an interview invite. I agree with brain-go for it and apply. Make sure you shadow a CRNA before applying/interviewing to determine if it's definitely what you want, and communicate that to an admissions committee. Be positive, relaxed, and confident. You sound determined and that's excellent. Study hard and definitely get those certs. Get an A in chem also, and confirm that the online course will fulfill the schools requirement. Awesome GRE score btw!

When I applied earlier this year:

BSN 3.9/Sciences 3.9

3 years CTICU, 6 mo CCU (both at level 1 teaching hospital), and recently started position in SICU

CCRN-CSC, ACLS, PALS

Charge, coach, member of multiple committees

GRE 1010/4.0, MAT 407

Start TCU next fall!

All the best to you Riburn!

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Specializes in Internal Medicine.
GPA: Overall 3.6, BSN 4.0, haven't figured my science GPA because I have a previous degree in Mechanical Engineering and don't know where those classes stand.

GRE: 1430/5.5

10months TruamaICU experience at interview, ~18-19 at start of program

Was not able to take CCRN prior to interviews due to lack of clinical time.

ACLS, TNCC

I was accepted at both schools I applied to.

Not sure that any of that is helpful but there it is.

Thanks. Yeah this is helpful. I'm seeing I have fairly similar stats to a few people that have gotten in, and I actually have noticed not too many people have the CCRN in the research I have done. I contacted the admissions director at one of my top choices and asked them what they like, and they told me the CCRN is very useful in helping someone stand out. So I'm very encouraged by this.

Thanks again for the info, I'm feeling like I'm a farily strong candidate after reading through these forums and talking to a couple of CRNA's.

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Specializes in TBICU; CCU; ICU.

You are IN!

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Specializes in ICU.

you are a strong candidate. I will be attending University of Miami in the Fall.

GPA 3.6;

Science GPA 4.0,

GRE: N/A because I have a Masters in Administration (3.4 GPA),

BA in Sociology 3.2

CCRN, ACLS, PALS, BLS

1 yr exp

4 LORS one from a surgical resident

Shadowed a crna who wrote me an LOR

LOR from Dean of my BSN nursing school

LOR from my Clinical Supervisor

that's it! applied to 6 schools.... got interview requests for all six! But didn't attend all interviews. Got into two schools.

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Hello, I am going to be applying to TCU for Fall 2012. I have 2 semesters left for my BSN. I am TNCC, PALS, and ACLS certified. I am going to be attempting my CCRN in a few months. I have two years experience in an emergency department and have just accepted a job in the SICU at my current hospital. I will have one year of PT experience SICU employment when I apply, when If I get in I will have one year PT and one year full time in SICU by the time I start. My GPA is 3.38, I have nine more classes to take and my goal is to get my GPA up to 3.7 by graduation. My only concern is the GRE, not sure what to expect or how well I will do. Do you guys think I am a good candidate? Thanks for the info. Rachel

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Specializes in CVICU/SICU-MICU/OR/PACU.

RACHE705- You are on the right track. Hard to tell if you are a good candidate now since you have more classes to complete for your BSN. Take the GRE as soon as you graduate, don't hesistate. The CCRN won't be obtainable till you have atleast a year in the ICU. If you can, get into a surgical ICU or CVICU (admin committies like this). Don't forget to shadow a CRNA and write about the experience. My stats are below.

CCRN (AS OF 11.JUNE.):yeah:

PALS

BLS/ACLS

PALS INSTRUCTOR

ACLS INSTRUCTOR

ARMY NURSE 4 YEARS

TRAUMA CENTER ICU AT TEACHING HOSP. 1.5YRS

MASTERS CLASSES IN MSN CORE CLASSES (6 classes)

GRE- IN PROGRESS THIS SUMMER

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Hi Riburn,

I can't PM you because I'm new, but do you mind if I ask what changed your mind from CRNA to FNP?

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