anybody from Minneapolis School of Anesthesia

kukana1 · Apr 16, 2011

I'm planning to apply @ MSA if I do not get even a letter for interview from SMU. I should know by next week. MSA is also affliated with MSU, hopefully one of them will give me the opportunity to attend the program. Have you started your application packet?

seansanf120 · Apr 30, 2011

Hi there,

I applied, and was accepted to MSA to start for the fall of 2011. I can tell you that the program is 27 months, integrated design (class, and clinicals at the same time), You go to 5 different clinical sites including 2 different 3 week rotations to a rural facility, a two week pediatric rotation, and your last clinical site is an elective site you get to chose. I hear the instructors are great, very fair and nice. They have an excellent board passer rating for first time test takers, it's like 96% and the national average is in the 80's.

As far as getting in, well it depends. There are students who get in who have the minimum requirements, and then there are some who don't get in with 4.0 GPAs. In my interview I was told they aren't looking for someone who gets all A's and at the same time they're not looking for someone who gets C's. They want to see in a typical applicant, someone who can demonstrate time management well. Like me, I had just finished my BSN, had finished my ADN two years prior, I have a family, I was working almost full time, and was on our Unit Council which was a committee designed to make our work environment better for patients and nurses. Anyway, I had a lot going on and I did get all A's in my BSN program. I also feel that in the interview they are looking for students who have great personalities, someone who will fit well in the class, someone who will get along great with other students, someone who will help other students without worrying about themselves only. I did make it well known in my interview that this is something I had been working towards for the last 9 years. I will show you a snap shot of my application package below, but i wanted to let the adcom know that i was ready for this challenge, and not only me, but my wife and kids. I told them about our financial plan, about our support system we have in place. I told them about life experiences that I had encountered, and how that will help me in school. I just went "all in" and told them everything about me, and how i was ready.

I will show you what I had on my resume...

GPA 3.4 overall

A's in A/P 1, Chemistry

B's in Micro, and A/P 2

C's in Biology and Physics

ACLS

PALS

BLS

I had a 3.7 for all of my nursing classes, and a 3.9 for the last 60 credits. Don't know if they put more emphasis on one GPA versus the other. I've heard it doesn't matter as long as you have the minimum requirement.

3.5 years in the PICU

On Unit Council

I was an Anesthesia Aide while I was in nursing school, which is essentially a Nursing Assistant for CRNA's. This gave me great experience and hands on experience with anesthesia equipment and the environment in the OR.

I was in the Air Force Reserves for 8 years, recieved the "Outstanding Airman of the Year" award for the entire AF Reserves from 2003-2004. Was deployed to Kuwait for 7 months as a Medic.

As far as my LOR, I sent in two extra letters that weren't required. I had to have one in from my Nurse Manager, two nurses I worked with, my previous supervisor who was the Chief Anesthetist when I was an Anesthesia Aide, my dean of my BSN program and for this I set up an appointment to talk to her about my experience at the program and what I learned that will help me in Anesthesia School, and then I sent in the extra two which were from an ENT surgeon and an Intensivist, both of which were very personable and spoke about my level of competence.

You also have to write an essay about why you're chosing Anesthesia as a career. I made sure I told a story in my letter. How I was first exposed to the job, all of my experiences I had, my plan to limit stressors while in the program, ect... I made sure every sentence had a specific purpose, and that they didn't say the same thing. I spent about 6 months on my whole application package, and turned it in about 4 months prior to when it had to. I also hand delivered my application, so #1 I could see the school for myself, and #2 so they could see me and I could meet some of the people at the school. I don't know if this seems excessive, but like I said I went "all-in" and I wanted to do everything I could to make sure this was the one and only time I applied to Anesthesia School.

I hope this helps you, and although I can't tell you specifically about classes and such, i start Aug 24, I could only tell you what I know, and what I did for my application. Good luck to you, and I encourage you to apply to MSA!

seansanf120

kukana1 · Apr 30, 2011

Seansanf120, I do appreciate your wholesome information I'm reference to your application to MSA. This surely will help me & the rest of us here in this forum. Wish you the very best in your endeavors.

gwapo · Apr 30, 2011

Thanks seansanf120! great feedback! so i am assuming you submitted your application around June of 2010? I will probably apply by June this yr for 2012 admission. My chemistry though is 9 years old, so I guess I would have to retake it. I wonder if they will accept my application even though I still ain't done with the chemistry... Did you ask, by any chance, how small the class is per year? Congrats to you by the way, I'm sure it feels great! it'll be like winning the lottery for me if I get in a program, any program for that matter!

seansanf120 · May 1, 2011

The program accepts 33 students per year. They will take you if you don't have Chemistry done, but it does help you to have it done prior to your interview. I have students who will start with me who are in Chemistry right now. You can find online Chem classes, so if I were you I would find one that will finish prior to interviews. I will try and answer any other questions I can that you have, just let me know. Where are you from?

Chaserr · Dec 17, 2015

Does MSA have CRNA independent rotations at all? I know a lot of schools out there are starting to incorporate CRNA indy sites to teach students how to be independent providers which would include pre-op and post-op management as well as the intra-op. If anyone who graduated from MSA or are currently in the MSA program can message me i'd be grateful.