ARE YOU SINGLE? CRNA School asking about my commitment?

bucknangler · Jan 31, 2010

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jrv100 · Feb 1, 2010

My Stats: 3.56 GPA, CCRN, 2 years of ICU experience, 1,000 GRE, 4.5 Writing, 24 hours towards my MSN with a 4.0 Graduate GPA.
A CRNA school I previously interviewed (and told during the initial interview,I was one of their top picks for the incoming class) called today and informed me the process is now being done to select the class and they have their top 40 applicants (I being one of them) 32 will be admitted with 8 alternates.
They told me I had outstanding grades but they questioned my ability to commit to them being married and with a young daughter (less than a year old). It was like a second interview! They asked what my wife does, family support..., financial support, "can you live with seeing your wife and child 2 Times a month?"...I was like, HOLY ***** when they asked me that. They finished the conversation by saying, "So if we grant you a spot, "ARE YOU SURE" you can commit?"............I hope I sold them, but after I hung up the phone, I sat back and kinda took offense to the whole conversation. I felt discriminated against, IDK.
Anyways, to make a long story short, the same program called 2 colleagues of mine and asked if they would like a spot in the program! They are both older, single, and with no children..... on paper, I have the edge academically and the only one with CCRN. In comparison, one of the two has a 3.2 GPA, 920 GRE, 2.5 years of ICU experience.. However, both are smart and I'm extremely happy they got into the program. They will certainly make great CRNA's! I just feel like a failure, especially when I look at my 8 month old daughter...becoming a CRNA has been a goal since I entered college.
Bottom line, do programs actually consider "Family vs Single" as a means to choose their students? Would having a "Family with CCRN" look worse to a review board than "Single with No CCRN" if both applicants are very similar? Has anyone else experienced similar circumstances?
Sincerely,
A Discouraged, but Proud and Happy Husband and DADDY!

Here's my meaningless 2 cents.....I think it is very important (and appropriate) for schools to make a general inquiry into financial ability/committment, time committments etc. for the program. I also think schools should not pry, however if I was on a board and an applicant was a new mommy or daddy (congrats btw!) I think it is reasonable for them to make sure you have resources in place to rely on during the program. Nothing more, nothing less. I think this is something they are interested in for everyone, but being a new daddy places even more stress and pressure and has the potential to take away from someone's ability to succeed within the program. That being said, if you have your resources in place and have made a commitment to doing this, that should be enough for them. I would be on the phone with them on Monday morning asking why you have not received your admit yet.

Good luck!

hypnos · Feb 2, 2010

Don't be offended. When I interviewed I was asked all those questions too. So were most of my classmates that were married and/or had children. Here's the bottom line...it's a very, very expensive and time consuming venture for you and for them when you start a program. I had 2 people in my class drop first semester because they couldn't hack being away from their kids that much. They both readily admitted that they had not realistically thought about the true time committment and when reality set in it was just too much time away from the family. I know that you may be in the same home with them studying, but trust me when I say it is nothing to spend 16 hours a day studying on your day off. You are lucky to eat a meal with the family much less spend a lot of quality time. However, it is doable but difficult. Being very organized is the key. Think carefully though and understand that you will be giving up a lot of time with your spouse and children if you commit to this program. The school is investing a lot in your success and if you decide to drop part way through because the stress of not being with family or possibly because financially it's not something your wife can do, then it costs them a lot of time & money too. Lastly, consider the fact that on average you'll be spending probably around $15K a semester and it would be really horrible to spend that money and then have nothing to show for it. I wish you the best of luck though. Just think it through carefully.

seansanf120 · Feb 3, 2010

Hi Bucknagler,

I am kind of in the same boat as you. I am married, have two young kids (3, and 1), and we have similar stats, except I will get my CCRN in March. My wife, and I have spent an immense amount of time brainstorming about how we are going to manage everything a family has to manage with me being in CRNA school. We know the time commitment is huge, and that I won't have much time to spend with them, but we both know without a doubt that this is what we want to do because it is two years of hell, but a lifetime of rewards and doing something that you love to do for a lifetime is going to be worth two years. I do plan on telling the school all the planning that's gone into this decision, and the support group that we have is amazing. It does make you feel "up in the air" as to whether they will take you, but if you show them that you've thought this through then you should be a "no brainer." Out of curiosity where did you apply, and have this second phone interview? I hope this helps, and good luck!

seansanf120

msrn25 · Feb 5, 2010

Bucknangler, I don't have enough posts to message yet, but I still have not heard anything. Sounds good for you though, at least you have heard something. I thought the interview went well, but who knows! I sent an email Monday but have heard nothing back.

TXFLIGHTRN · Feb 6, 2010

msrn - where else did you apply besides LSU?

msrn25 · Feb 7, 2010

sent apps in November to Olol, UT Knox, union, Lincoln, but the others besides olol won't be interviewing for a couple of mo. So I will just decline if I get them, because I am going forward with making moving arrangements etc. What about you?

RN789 · Feb 23, 2010

Bucknangler,

Are you telling us that you were rejected?