Barry University January 2011

jrv100 · Mar 16, 2010

Also, can anyone shed some light on the interview process the day of the interview?

jrv100 · Mar 16, 2010

Does anyone have any insight into which of the six geographical clinical areas might be better and why? Do we get to choose the area or is it assigned? (Sorry for all of the questions!!)

gatorRN97 · Mar 26, 2010

Hi!

I'm also applying to Barry for the January 2011 term, and would love some insight on the interview process, clinical sites, and any other information regarding the program itself that other applicants or current students could provide! Jrv100- have you heard anything back from them yet? I'm retaking the GRE to boost my score on Monday :uhoh3:

gatorRN97 · Mar 30, 2010

Jrv100 - Any word yet from Barry? I retook the GRE today and did pretty well so I'm relieved! Got all my loose ends tied up now and its just time to wait :cool:

Anyone else applying to Barry for admission in Jan 2011?

jrv100 · Mar 30, 2010

Same here...I got an email from them today asking for certain items...but I sent them last week and I confirmed with someone there they indeed had everything. I'm hoping to hear back soon. So what are your stats...I have a 3.7 from nursing school...about 1.5 years ICU and a 1210 GRE (550v..660Q and a 4 on the writing). What about you? I know they have interviews on April 19 but that date is already filled. I was told they interview around 12 people each interview date. So far they have only had 2 days of interviews for the January 2011 class. I was told they had filled about 20 seats which means about 60 more seats left!!! I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

gatorRN97 · Mar 30, 2010

Ahh I hope they don't fill up before I get to interview! I have a 3.7 gpa, 1270 gre (530 verbal, 740 quantitative, 4 on writing), and by the time the program starts in January, I'll have 1.5 years of ICU experience. Have you heard anything about the interview process? Looking at past threads from years back, it sounded like the interview was just a general Q & A session followed by a chemistry test, but I don't know if that's changed in the recent years at all.

shandsburnRN-CRNA · Mar 31, 2010

Hey guys,

I graduate from Barry's program in a mere few weeks. It's a LOOONG, tough road, but here's how it rolls.

JRV100 the stats you posted are good, don't sweat those.

Day of interview: You will all be in a group (around 12), and will be shown a presentation on the program, some expectations, financial aid, the different clinical sites, etc. Then you will take a written test, if you have your CCRN, dont sweat about the test, even if you dont have CCRN, the test is basically looking to see where you are at didactically and is not used to "pass/fail" you from acceptance. After that is the personal interview...and its just that, personal. No grilling with more clinical questions/scenarios. They ask questions like why they should pick you over another applicant, what do you think you can bring to the program, do you have the financial means to survive while in the program, what are your plans after graduation.

For me, from the time I turned in my completed application until notification of interview was about a month, interview was a month after my notification. Recieved my acceptance letter 2 weeks later.....some people receive theirs sooner, some a little later, but avg is 2 weeks.

Basically with Barry, if you get an interview, you're in....the interview is to just make sure you're personable and have an attitude they think will be compliant with the program....so be humble and professional.

This part I cant stress enough, I know everyone is on the edge of their seat waiting on a interview/acceptance.....REMEMBER this is the EASY part. When they tell you the program is intense, they are not using that term loosely. To be successful you MUST be committed, this is going to be your life for the next 28 months. At times you will want to take a long walk off a short pier, if you know what I mean. You are going to be up for endless hours studying, studying and studying. You are going to be in the O.R. for hours upon hours.

For example: I have 13 clinical shifts left and currently my stats are, 1435 cases with 3010 hours of clinical time, I have anesthetized patients as old as 105 years to as young as 18 hours.

There have been many days where I have worked in the O.R. for 10+ hours and then gone home and studied another 5.

Okay, I think I got my point across.

Last but not least....GOOD LUCK to everyone!!!! This is an amazing journey in which your knowledge base will increase 10 fold, you will meet people that will be your friends forever and you will become a member of the most prestigous nursing profession there is......(okay, that's just my opinion, but that how I feel about it).

OH, one last thing, unless things have changed, after acceptance you will receive a few packets from the program administration, one of them includes clinical site preference in which you will list your top 3 picks....if history repeats itself, the earlier you interview and accept the better chance you will get your top choice. I'm in the Ocala/Gainesville group if anyone has specific questions about it. FYI: I interviewed in April, received my acceptance in May and got my #1 choice for clinical site.

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!!!

milkamnesia · Apr 1, 2010

Hi Shandsburnrn-srna

Thank you for your answer.it is really informative. I am getting an interview with Barry University next April 19th. I really want to go to this school.Anyway, I was wondering how are the classes. Are the teachers pretty available if you have to ask a question? Are the class online classes? How was your first semester?Is there anything that you wish you've done to be better prepared?When you said that basically everybody that got interviewed got accepted, did you then saw back everybody that you interviewed with in class? I heard also that there is a 2 week intensive class on campus at the beginning of the program. What do you do during those 2 weeks? You got a lot of cases is that typical with the program? what do you like about your clinical site?Sorry I have so many questions but I am really excited already that I got an interview. Thank in advance for answering. :lol2:

jrv100 · Apr 2, 2010

Hey guys,
I graduate from Barry's program in a mere few weeks. It's a LOOONG, tough road, but here's how it rolls.
JRV100 the stats you posted are good, don't sweat those.
Day of interview: You will all be in a group (around 12), and will be shown a presentation on the program, some expectations, financial aid, the different clinical sites, etc. Then you will take a written test, if you have your CCRN, dont sweat about the test, even if you dont have CCRN, the test is basically looking to see where you are at didactically and is not used to "pass/fail" you from acceptance. After that is the personal interview...and its just that, personal. No grilling with more clinical questions/scenarios. They ask questions like why they should pick you over another applicant, what do you think you can bring to the program, do you have the financial means to survive while in the program, what are your plans after graduation.
For me, from the time I turned in my completed application until notification of interview was about a month, interview was a month after my notification. Recieved my acceptance letter 2 weeks later.....some people receive theirs sooner, some a little later, but avg is 2 weeks.
Basically with Barry, if you get an interview, you're in....the interview is to just make sure you're personable and have an attitude they think will be compliant with the program....so be humble and professional.
This part I cant stress enough, I know everyone is on the edge of their seat waiting on a interview/acceptance.....REMEMBER this is the EASY part. When they tell you the program is intense, they are not using that term loosely. To be successful you MUST be committed, this is going to be your life for the next 28 months. At times you will want to take a long walk off a short pier, if you know what I mean. You are going to be up for endless hours studying, studying and studying. You are going to be in the O.R. for hours upon hours.
For example: I have 13 clinical shifts left and currently my stats are, 1435 cases with 3010 hours of clinical time, I have anesthetized patients as old as 105 years to as young as 18 hours.
There have been many days where I have worked in the O.R. for 10+ hours and then gone home and studied another 5.
Okay, I think I got my point across.
Last but not least....GOOD LUCK to everyone!!!! This is an amazing journey in which your knowledge base will increase 10 fold, you will meet people that will be your friends forever and you will become a member of the most prestigous nursing profession there is......(okay, that's just my opinion, but that how I feel about it).
OH, one last thing, unless things have changed, after acceptance you will receive a few packets from the program administration, one of them includes clinical site preference in which you will list your top 3 picks....if history repeats itself, the earlier you interview and accept the better chance you will get your top choice. I'm in the Ocala/Gainesville group if anyone has specific questions about it. FYI: I interviewed in April, received my acceptance in May and got my #1 choice for clinical site.
GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!!!

Thanks for the awesome response shandsburnrn!!!! Do you know or have you heard if any geographical sites are better than others? I'm looking at Miami/southern Florida as my 1st choice and perhaps Sarasota as my 2nd choice. Do you know if there are any funding opportunities with any of the anesthesia groups? Thanks!!!!!

gatorRN97 · Apr 2, 2010

ShandsBurnRN-SRNA - thank you for the response! That was very helpful. Hopefully my stats are sufficient as well, though I fear my lack of experience will be my weakness. Do you know about what the average amount of ICU experience is for your class? I'll have about 1 1/2 years by the time the program starts... I currently have been working in the MICU for 9 months. Also, I'm currently taking an organic chemistry class - do you believe that this will be helpful in A) showing that I am working hard to get into their program and B) for CRNA school in general, specifically Barry's program?

Even though I don't need to anymore, since all my application materials are in, I keep shadowing the CRNAs at my hospital, I just can't help it - I LOVE the atmosphere and I can't wait to someday (hopefully) be in their shoes!

shandsburnRN-CRNA · Apr 3, 2010

Milkamnesia:

All of the instructors are either available in person or via email depending on which site you are at. There are instructors based at the Miami campus, at the West Palm Beach location, Orlando and Gainesville. The classes are not "online" they are done via satellite so you attend a live lecture via satellite. You can both see and hear the instructor, see their notes and ask questions over the satellite system.

How are the classes? Well, hmmm, I guess I would say they are what you put into it; if you study hard you will be prepared for both clinical and test, if not then you won't. They are all doable, you just have to be committed.

My first semester was HARD, we had to take the chemistry class in 8 weeks and if you are not good at chemistry you have to REALLY focus. However, they now offer the chemistry course the semester before the program starts and its over the entire semester NOT 8 weeks, so I highly reccommend that route.

Yes, everyone in my interview group was there at the start of the program.

The first 2 weeks are not really intensive, well unless you are doing the 8 weeks chemistry class. The rest of it is orientation to the program, getting your laptop setup to the Barry intranet, and you get started in your Basics, Pathophysiology and Professional Aspects classes (you can take this "pre-program" also). You will also meet some of the local anesthesia groups they will let you know what they have to offer as far as student stipends, etc. and feed you lunch....almost everyday. Also, I believe its the last day that everyone is together in Miami you will have a Q&A session with junior and senior students as well as new Barry grads...I will probably be one of the new Barry grads there. You will be able to ask them any question you want about the program without and faculty in the room, so you can get a pretty good feel of the program from current SRNA's.

Clinical numbers. Yes, for the Ocala/Gainesville and Orlando locations this is very typical for the number of cases. Some of the seniors in the Southern locations have less numbers, but not by much. Yes I feel I am ready to be a CRNA on my own. Things I like about my clincial site; its 8 minutes from my house, I get alot of autonomy as a senior (I've been running my own room since November of my first year). I liked the Gainesville part of my rotation better because of the teaching environment. The Ocala part of the rotation is a community hospital and there time is money, so it is very fast paced, so you have to be proactive in getting extra things you may want...i.e. central lines, a-lines. However, the Ocala part of the rotation is excellent for OB, in fact the Orlando and Ocala groups get the best OB experience in the program. I have done well over 150 labor epidurals.

JRV100:

I think all in all, the locations are pretty much the same, they all have their pro's and con's. But like I said in my comment to Milkamnesia it seems the Orlando and Ocala groups get better OB experience than the others. You will also get a better Peds rotation in Ocala/Gainesville. We went to Shands UF for our Peds rotation which was an entire semester of full immersion in peds anesthesia; ranging from teens to just hours old and healthy to life threateningly ill. You will get better trauma experience in Orlando & Miami. As for anesthesia groups offering stipends, I know the group here in Ocala does and when I started the program there were numerous anesthesia groups that came during our first two weeks when we were all in Miami and they all had different stipend offers.

GatorRN97:

Years of experience in ICU for my class ranged from around 10 to 1 year. I had just shy of 3 years of ICU time when I started the program. My ICU experience was from the Burn ICU at Shands UF in Gainesville. So your 1.5 years is good. YES that organic chemistry class you will be extremely helpful for you can, take the programs chemistry the semester before the program starts, because the chem course in 8 weeks SUUUUCKS!!!!

If you like shadowing the CRNA's keep doing it, it will only get you more familiar with the flow of the O.R. and what it is that CRNA's do. BTW: looking at your screen-name, are you at Shands, if so which CRNA's are you shadowing?

I hope this info helps everyone and again GOOD LUCK!!!