Career change? CRNA what are my chances? Advice Please

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I am 28 and currently have an undergraduate degree in Exercise Science from a major university. After graduating I got a job working in a hospital lab and have worked there ever since. A year ago I decided to take come classes and possibly apply to a medical school but I am now questioning whether or not I want to be in school for the next 4 years + 4-5 residency. I was thinking of possibly completing a 1 year accelerated BSN program, working for 1-2 years and then applying to a crna school. What are my chances considering the following.

I graduated from my undergrad with a 3.1gpa, got some Cs in Chem1, physics1,2 and 2 upper level bio classes. I did have A's in some tough classes such as calc., and pretty much B's across the board in my other science classes (anatomy, physiology) and A's and B's in pretty much all my other non-science classes.

Since starting to take classes again I have taken Organic chem 1 & 2 and labs, Biochem 1 & 2, Microbio, and Genetics and have earned a 4.0gpa in these classes

I have also considered retaking my chem 1 and physics 1 & 2 if this would better my application (since I could do all 3 next semester.)

This brings my total gpa to 3.2 and my science gpa to about a 3.1

If you throw out the first grade in my retakes and only consider an A I would be at 3.4 cumulative and about 3.5 science. (I was planning to do this because DO schools will accept only your most recent grade in a particular class)

I know I could do well on the GRE exam...Ive taken the MCAT and scored decently well just not sure if I want to invest the next 10 years of my life at 28 years old, especially since I would not even be able to start until I am 29.

I would also try to earn a 4.0 in the 1year accelerated BSN program.

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Other things in have on my resume are alot of volunteer work, doctor shadowing, research (possibly published at the time I would apply), and I have currently worked 3 years in a hospital.

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Specializes in med/surg, surgical cardiovascular icu.

your chances of getting into crna school in my opinion are excellent. just remember you fist have to be an RN and you wanna be sure that is something you are willing to spend at least a couple years working as. nursing isnt for everyone. if you think you can be an RN though then you chances for CRNA should be very good.

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I just graduated from college with a degree in Exercise Science. I did an internship in Cardiac Rehab and loved it, but I am having no luck finding jobs. While in my internship, I was able to observe a bypass surgery and spent a lot of time with the CRNA. I am pretty much in your same boat, I started off ugly (B's and C's in my chem, anatomy, and bio classes) but finished my junior and senior year with a 4.0 to painfully get my cumulative GPA to a 3.5...

I am looking into applying to a few schools where they say they accept a minimum grade of C in the prerequisite classes, but does anyone recommend retaking those classes anyways to have above the minimum requirement?

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Specializes in critcal care, CRNA.

I heard that some schools will analyze your science grades and question why your grades may be lacking in some areas. Remember that C's = fail in anesthesia school.

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Specializes in Anesthesia.
I heard that some schools will analyze your science grades and question why your grades may be lacking in some areas. Remember that C's = fail in anesthesia school.

Depends on the school and the class. Our school allowed C's in certain non anesthesia classes as long as your cumulative stayed at 3.0 or above.

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I just graduated from college with a degree in Exercise Science. I did an internship in Cardiac Rehab and loved it, but I am having no luck finding jobs. While in my internship, I was able to observe a bypass surgery and spent a lot of time with the CRNA. I am pretty much in your same boat, I started off ugly (B's and C's in my chem, anatomy, and bio classes) but finished my junior and senior year with a 4.0 to painfully get my cumulative GPA to a 3.5...

I am looking into applying to a few schools where they say they accept a minimum grade of C in the prerequisite classes, but does anyone recommend retaking those classes anyways to have above the minimum requirement?

Keep in mind that what schools say on paper about the minimum they'll accept and what actually happens in real life are v. different. In the last BSN program in which I taught, all the paperwork/literature about the program said that a minimum of 2.5 GPA (in the general ed/prerequisite courses) was acceptable to apply for the nursing program -- but the reality was that there were so many applicants with higher GPAs that no one with less than a 3.6 actually got accepted into the program. Same thing with grad programs. The published "minimum" GPA may be reassuringly low, but the reality is that CRNA schools are flooded with highly qualified applicants every year and have to somehow narrow the large applicant pool down to the number of "slots" they have in the program. I doubt anyone with "just" the minimum GPA is getting accepted. You'd be amazed at the people who are getting turned away from nursing programs these days ...

Best wishes for your journey!

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Specializes in CRNA.

The accelerated BSN programs are tough to get into, and a lot go by GPA. Nurse anesthesia programs can be a little different, someone with a 3.2 can be accepted over a 4.0. Administions committees understand that clinical performance and GPA don't correlate. But you need to be able to grasp the science concepts quickly or you won't survive. The science grades are the most important, especially chem and physiology, have A's in those. And yes, when retaking the exact same course from the same insitution, only the highest grade is counted into the GPA.

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