Am I qualified? I need your inputs

CrufflerJJ, BSN, RN, EMT-P · Oct 15, 2012

In Oct 2011, you had 7 years MICU experience (from a previou post). One year later, you have 9 years experience.

Given your GPA, your very low GRE (282 - is that right?), and your past history of not passing the CCRN exam on the first try, it sounds like you've definitely got a lot of work ahead of you.

Good luck!

gwapo · Oct 16, 2012

Here is my stats:BSN: 9 years MICU experience in a univ hospital. CCRN, BLS, ACLS, PALS. Three recomendation letters from MD fellow, asst nurse manager and my unit manager. Plan to take science courses ( pharm, chem, stat, ana/physio) in the next few months. Shadowed a CRNA as well. Here is the bad part: I have a low GPA, about 2.5 and my GRE is only 282 on my first try. How can I improve my GPA and how can I make the schools to focus on my strong areas? I graduated in 1999 so I think i need to retake all of my science courses! Any suggestions?

Take grad level classes like A&P, pharm, etc. the more the better. You GRE may be accepted assuming you get As on all ypur grad classes. I do not think you can make the school focus on your strong areas because your grades /weakness will stand out among other's strong applications. Take all classes in a year, then apply. But you could still apply, and if you got the right school for you, then good.

gwapo · Oct 16, 2012

In Oct 2011, you had 7 years MICU experience (from a previou post). One year later, you have 9 years experience.
Given your GPA, your very low GRE (282 - is that right?), and your past history of not passing the CCRN exam on the first try, it sounds like you've definitely got a lot of work ahead of you.
Good luck!

I don't think 282 is VERY Llow. But yeah, it is low. Most schools want 300, thats only a few pts away.

To the OP: What was your essay writing score? I counts too! You may have a total score of 350 but if your writing score is 2, then they won't take it..

CRNA, DNSc · Oct 16, 2012

You need to pay strict attention to a program's listed "minimums", not meeting them is an automatic denial since programs receive a hundred or more applications and that is the first cut. You need to retake your sciences and even take some at the graduate level to demonstrate to an admissions committee that you can handle the academic work load. In the new GRE scores the difference between 282 and 300 is much greater than it would appear from the old system. Do keep in mind that meeting minimums is not the same as being competitive! Good Luck

Snowbird17 · Oct 16, 2012

In Oct 2011, you had 7 years MICU experience (from a previou post). One year later, you have 9 years experience.
Given your GPA, your very low GRE (282 - is that right?), and your past history of not passing the CCRN exam on the first try, it sounds like you've definitely got a lot of work ahead of you.
Good luck!

I think the GRE scoring system has changed recently. I know when I took it, I wanted greater than 1000. So I am hoping that is the case for the OP's sake.

missnurse01, MSN, RN · Oct 16, 2012

Not all schools have the 10 year requirement on sciences. You can not change your bsn gpa but as others have said you can take grad level courses to prove you have matured or whatever and can handle the work. Otherwise you are a risky choice because they can't be sure you will succeed in the program. That is my understanding from reading all over the web the last 4 years. Projects , etc all help your overall package.

Good luck

CrufflerJJ, BSN, RN, EMT-P · Oct 16, 2012

I think the GRE scoring system has changed recently. I know when I took it, I wanted greater than 1000. So I am hoping that is the case for the OP's sake.

Oops! Sorry to the OP about the "very low" remark:sorry:. Waaaaay back in the Stone Age when I took the GRE (~2007), it was under the older scoring system, which went up to 1600.

A score of 282 under the post-2011 system isn't bad at all, since the newer scoring system only goes up to a max of 340.

Improving your GPA of 2.5 will be tough. I know - my undergrad GPA in chemical engineering was 2.59. It took me ~10 years of paramedic related and nursing prerequisite coursework (in which I maintained a 4.0) to raise my GPA above 3.0 . Even with the improved GPA, I needed additional letters of recommendation before getting accepted to my accelerated BSN program (which also required the GRE for admission).

Have you considered touching base with the directors of the CRNA programs in which you are interested to ask them what else you might do to PROVE that you are capable of doing the work? Acing graduate level courses (plus any science classes you choose to take again) certainly can't hurt.

richard1980 · Oct 23, 2012

Take graduate level courses and get A's in them. From what I've heard, it's 'what have you done lately'. Admissions committees may overlook a low GPA from a decade ago if you've take multiple years of graduate level science work and have a 4.0. Do other things to make yourself stand out: get involved in committees at the hospital, become an ACLS instructor, maybe try to move to a CVICU or SICU to get more experience with hemodynamic manipulation, volunteer in the medical tents of a local marathon. Basically, go above and beyond in everything you do. While 9 years experience in the MICU is impressive, you may find motivation to improve in re-learning and learning new things if you switched to a different ICU with different patient populations.