What now?????

CougRN · Sep 20, 2006

didn't take it twice but there are schools out there that don't require the GRE. if you are willing to relocate anywhere then there are schools that won't require that ugly GRE exam at all. look on the AANA website and check out the schools and what each require. then call program directors and discuss your options with them. they make the call on who gets in and who doesn't so they are your best resource. best of luck

FLAgal14 · Sep 20, 2006

If you take it more than once and improve just a little (by 10 points) - the improvement may be a fluke - however if you take it again and kick some major butt on it and improve much more - I don't think it is a fluke. I would try to take it at least once more and you can always address the difference in the scores during an interview or during your personal statement. There are so many factors that come into play on test day - did you get enough sleep, if you were feeling well, the testing conditions,etc... that you may always be able to use to describe why you had to take it more than once. I don't think there's anything wrong with taking it again - just make sure you go up the second time (and not down!). I'm absolutely horrible at standardized tests as well so I understand your dilemma. Good luck and don't give up -

P.S. Maybe you could contact the schools you're interested in as well to see what they say about you having to take it over - whether you'd be competitive with your current scores, EC's, GPA, experience, etc...

mvanz9999, RN · Sep 20, 2006

I didn't get any responses on the pre-crna side so I thought that I would give it a go here. My question......
I am fairly new here, so I will post a little background......I really, REALLY want to become a CRNA. I was recently offered a full scholarship to become a FNP, which I turned down because it really wasn't my dream.....CRNA is! I have been way from the ICU for 4 years and I am in the process of looking for a job (I have been working in a PACU). My GPA from my ADN was pretty bad, like a 2.53 and my GPA from my BSN was much better..a 3.9. I took my GRE today and I SUCKED! I got a 490 Quant and a 450 Verbal. I was looking at the GRE website and it said (for institutions) that they should look at all of the scores if it is taken multiple times and that any great impovement basically was a fluke????? Not in those exact words, mind you.
So now what???? I have felt so discouraged since I decided to persue the CRNA route. It seems that every turn presents an insurmountable task. I don't want to give up on my dream, but I am beginning to wonder if it will ever become a reality. I am really smart, but I have never done well on standardized tests. I feel that my scores on the GRE are in no way a reflection of my intelligence, but I may never get to prove that in an interview. UGH!!!
How many have taken the GRE more than once? Did your scores really improve the subsequent time(s)? When you applied to schools how did they view multiple GRE scores?
Thanks for any input!
Anyone?????

I just took the GRE with the intention of pursing an MSN.

First of all, it is up the the school how they deal with multiple scores. GRE will report all scores received in the past 5 years. Some schools will look at only the most recent, some the highest, some an average, and so on. You need to contact the school you are interested in, to find out how they deal with multiple score.

I don't know how you prepared, but obviously you cannot just do more of the same.

The GRE is only a measurement of your ability to take the test, not an indicator of how you'll fare in grad school. But it's an obstacle that needs to be crossed. In studying, I basically came to the conclusion that it's just a game. You just need to figure out the rules, and you can do quite well.

The first thing I would do, if I were you, is contact the school (s) you are interested in and ask them how they deal with GRE scores. Don't listen to/trust the GRE site. It is in their best interest to "toot their own horn". Personally, I've found that schools are more interested in the whole package, rather than focusing too much on your score.

Note that this is for MSN programs only. I've not applied to or looked into CRNA schools.

kdst · Sep 23, 2006

Did you take a GRE prep class? Mine was a big help. Expensive but worth it. My CRNA program didn't require the GRE but I applied to 4 and 3 did. Try to improve the score or else apply to some that don't require it. You can't allow yourself to get discouraged this early in the game. Just pursue your goal with tenacity.

mvanz9999, RN · Sep 23, 2006

I think it would help if you maybe told us how you prepared and so on. I would say this issue is not that the GRE cannot be passed, but how you get ready for it is the problem. You can definitely pass it, but we don't really have enough information to offer much advice on that.

Keep your head up.

tnd511 · Sep 24, 2006

I studied on my own with a couple of GRE books. I tried to take it after a short period of studying because I was planning on applying for school in '07. I have since realized that I can't "get myself together" and be ready for school next year. I have set my goal for '08 and I am working toward that.

I have come to the conclusion that I have ALOT more to do to prepare for the test. I am just worried that a less than stellar GRE score will over shadow the better one. I have thought about the prep class, but $1000+ for a class is a real killer.......I can think of a million ways to spend $1000, like save it for when I am in school:chuckle .

Thank you all for the replies, I do appreciate them.

BTW, no one else has ever had to take the GRE twice? come on....I can't be the ONLY one:uhoh3: .....can I???????

RN007 · Sep 24, 2006

BTW, no one else has ever had to take the GRE twice? come on....I can't be the ONLY one:uhoh3: .....can I???????

I took it twice to get into grad school years ago for my first career. I, too, do not test well on standard exams and needed a few more points to get close to the mininum requirement. For the second time, I took a prep course in evening school at the local university and did well enough to be accepted. I also had a 4.0 at the time, so they let me slip in.

I may have to take the GRE (or GMAT or Miller's) again b/c I'd like to get an MSN. I dread the thought of taking it again, although feel I've learned a lot over the years and probably will do better.

dfk, RN, CRNA · Sep 24, 2006

I studied on my own with a couple of GRE books. I tried to take it after a short period of studying because I was planning on applying for school in '07. I have since realized that I can't "get myself together" and be ready for school next year. I have set my goal for '08 and I am working toward that.
I have come to the conclusion that I have ALOT more to do to prepare for the test. I am just worried that a less than stellar GRE score will over shadow the better one. I have thought about the prep class, but $1000+ for a class is a real killer.......I can think of a million ways to spend $1000, like save it for when I am in school:chuckle .
Thank you all for the replies, I do appreciate them.
BTW, no one else has ever had to take the GRE twice? come on....I can't be the ONLY one:uhoh3: .....can I???????

alright tnd,

just my thoughts. my gre was less than stellar as well, barely bare minimum, but what i did to overcome that shortcoming to get to the interview point, and nailing the interview, was what won it for me. basically, if you can, retake, but listen to the others and find out which school(s) require the gre. if you plan on schools that don't require gre, then you are already a step ahead, and you don't even have to let those schools know you even took it. with that said, don't give up and hang in there. more than one way to skin the ol' cat...

mvanz9999, RN · Sep 24, 2006

I studied on my own with a couple of GRE books. I tried to take it after a short period of studying because I was planning on applying for school in '07. I have since realized that I can't "get myself together" and be ready for school next year. I have set my goal for '08 and I am working toward that.
I have come to the conclusion that I have ALOT more to do to prepare for the test. I am just worried that a less than stellar GRE score will over shadow the better one. I have thought about the prep class, but $1000+ for a class is a real killer.......I can think of a million ways to spend $1000, like save it for when I am in school:chuckle .
Thank you all for the replies, I do appreciate them.
BTW, no one else has ever had to take the GRE twice? come on....I can't be the ONLY one:uhoh3: .....can I???????

On an unrelated note, I also took the MCAT (for medical school) quite a number of years ago, and I took a prep course, which was about $1,000.00, and a definitely waste of money. I would never suggest a prep course unless you are simply not motivated enough to study on your own (this is not a weakness, some people require stucture).

If you can avoid a class, I highly recommend not taking it.

I studied for the GRE for 2 months. That's all I did, too. I went to work and the rest of the time was spent studying. If you've got other classes or not a lot of free time, 2 months might be pushing it.

I think you ought to study for it again, taking a longer time. Don't rush. Retake it, and see where you are at that point. I would say it seems ridiculous to study 2+ months solid for a standardized test, but like it's been said, it's just another hurdle that you have to get over. I'm sure you'd do a lot better this time.

catcolalex · Sep 26, 2006

It all depends on the school you want to go to... If you dont care, then apply to the 5 or so that dont require it. If you want to go to a GRE requiring school, then take it again, if still unsuccessful, then maybe apply for the non-GRE schools, I took it, but I think it was a waste of time and money and in no way represents how you'll do in a CRNA program. nor does the content you study prepare you in any way for CRNA school.