Aspiring SRNA in Florida but worried about the GRE?? (Barry, UM)

[newgradICUnurse, BSN]

Hi all, I'm looking to apply to CRNA programs for the first time this year. I have two years trauma/neuro ICU experience and would like to apply to programs in South Florida. I just graduated from a bachelors program this month and had been working on my BSN program up until now so I am just now studying for my GRE.

I am hoping to make the November 1st deadline for Barry. That being said, I graduated high school with my GED and my nursing school didn't require math prereqs so I can accurately say I haven't done math in years.... I am basically building math skills from the ground up which requires a lot of my dedication yet clearly the verbal part isn't a walk in the park either. I'd like to hear GRE studying advice and any score acceptance for Barry... I know the university of Miami doesn't require GRE but the acceptance rate seems even more competitive than the others. I have everything done for my application for Barry besides GRE and CCRN but it still feels like a lot before November. I'm honestly even thinking to apply out of state but my parents are down here and my fiancées job and family, so it's a good support system for me. 

I spoke to a recruiter and she said it was fine to get it all in at the end because she didn't see that they would meet their class size by the deadline.....don't know how this will play out.

As for my other stats, I buckled down in nursing school and got a 4.0 GPA in my RN program and graduated as valedictorian (definitely one of the hardest things I've ever done)  I graduated with a 3.74 GPA from my bachelors. When I first thought I was going to go to Miami Dade and then when I went to LPN school I didn't do do hot. I took some pre reqs and dropped from some classes, and got a C in human anatomy. I also failed a pharm class for my LPN but retook it and got a B. I did have some health issues at the time and tried to reflect that in my personal statement without dwelling on it too much.   I got an A in chem and Microbiology. I don't have statistics or any other sciences besides pharm. 

I have shadowing experience with a CRNA and I really loved it.  I am TCAR certified and stroke certified.  That's pretty much it. I don't know if applying anywhere this year is a long shot, but I did a GRE practice test today and felt sort of like I was sinking in quick sand especially when I was shooting to take it a month from now to give myself time to study for my CCRN. Any help, advice, stories from someone as terrible at math as I, would be helpful. 

[loveanesthesia]

Do you have a physiology course? Statistics is often a prerequisite as well. 

[newgradICUnurse, BSN]

22 hours ago, loveanesthesia said:

Do you have a physiology course? Statistics is often a prerequisite as well. 

I have physiology. Barry doesn’t require a statistics course and UM states they need it before matriculation so I was trying to focus on the GRE and CCRN and do well 

[Dre2416, BSN, RN]

Don't take the GRE without a prep course if you want to be competitive.  I'm currently in one and can say that without it I would be bottom scoring.  Its truly relearning everything from high school and then some.  There are also strategies that you are taught by GRE experts in these courses that will improve your score.  I've heard great things about GREGmat.  He's on Youtube and also has courses available.  I'm currently in one from Test Crackers out of San Jose.  The course is $1K that is 5 weeks of verbal and 5 weeks of math. You can take everything online.  

[KissMyAssessment]

What did your cumulative GPA turn out to be? All averaged from LPN to bachelors? That is a heavy metric that a lot of schools rely on. A lot of people have a year or two of not doing so well and that always reflects in their cumulative. That's also the nice thing about having the GRE though, you have the opportunity to prove that you're able to do well in their classes (in theory). 

I think I studied for a month and a half to get my CCRN. I was a new grad in trauma ICU but a vast majority of the test is cardiac... which I had little experience with (especially since trauma hemodynamics and cv hemodynamics and so different). I know some schools will grant you acceptance on a contingency that you receiving your CCRN before you start the program. 

I'd channel my time and focus into doing well on the GRE if I were in your position. I used GregMat which is like $5 a month and it is well worth it. He has study plans between 1 month and 2 months that you can run through to help manage your time. 

Good luck!