Chances for CRNA School

Nursing Students SRNA

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I am just wondering what you think my chances for CRNA school are, below are my stats. I am just wondering if CRNA programs will reject me for the low undergrad GPA that is below a 3.0. I have sorted through all the CRNA programs in the US and found 17 that will consider the last 60 credits for the GPA. Going to take the GRE in the next couple of weeks.

undergrad GPA- 2.8

post bac GPA- 3.7

ABSN GPA- 4.0

1 year ICU experience

I'll make it happen, references will put up with it.

So 17 out of 40 will look at the past 60 credits, an example from Interamerican University GPA, "A cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required in the last 60 credit hours of academic work."

Then I'll just wing it with the others and some I have talked to on the phone stated they will look at overall trends in the academic performance.

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1 hour ago, CowboyMedic said:

I've gotten more interviews this cycle compared to the last. I have asked schools and it's mostly do some kind of teaching such as ACLS. Like you, all I need is that one shot.

So getting the CCRN certification and others will help with the application process.

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Specializes in CRNA.
6 minutes ago, cosmo said:

So getting the CCRN certification and others will help with the application process.

Yes. CCRN, GRE if a school requires it. CCRN is almost a given now with how competitive it is getting.

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7 minutes ago, CowboyMedic said:

Yes. CCRN, GRE if a school requires it. CCRN is almost a given now with how competitive it is getting.

Out of curiosity are you applying to programs with a small number of students or those that accept a large number. Versus the other smaller sized programs that may only take like 10-15.

Texas Wesleyan

Class Size
127-139

Number of Applicants
460 apply, but not all applicants meet the minimum requirements. Only 300 are generally interviewed

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Specializes in CRNA.
15 minutes ago, cosmo said:

Out of curiosity are you applying to programs with a small number of students or those that accept a large number. Versus the other smaller sized programs that may only take like 10-15.

Texas Wesleyan

Class Size
127-139

Number of Applicants
460 apply, but not all applicants meet the minimum requirements. Only 300 are generally interviewed

Mostly applying to local programs within a few state radius, mostly in the midwest. Most have a smaller class size. I have an interview this week with a program that will take 15.

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4 minutes ago, CowboyMedic said:

Mostly applying to local programs within a few state radius, mostly in the midwest. Most have a smaller class size. I have an interview this week with a program that will take 15.

Good Luck. What's the average number of years working in the ICU that you have seen in other applicants during interviews.

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Specializes in CRNA.
Just now, cosmo said:

Good Luck. What's the average number of years working in the ICU that you have seen in other applicants during interviews.

I've seen anywhere from 6 months to 4 to 5 years. I'll have 4 years in May.

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So, in general, you mentioned that you needed to get ACLS certification and that was what schools recommended after the first round of applications. What are some other things that you did to strengthen your application in applying?

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Specializes in CRNA.
3 minutes ago, cosmo said:

So, in general, you mentioned that you needed to get ACLS certification and that was what schools recommended after the first round of applications. What are some other things that you did to strengthen your application in applying?

No, I have ACLS. They mentioned getting certified as an instructor. I got another year of experience, changed up my references, and shadowed more. I haven't had the time to try to become and instructor and I'm not sure if I want to. It's just something that one school mentioned. Sometimes it is hard to get schools to respond to what you need to work on.

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Specializes in CVICU.

Hey cosmo! It sounds like you are on the right track! many people spend a lot of time/effort to get in. I came back from having a low GPA (did not do well in previous engineering degree) and took multiple graduate level science classes to boost my GPA. I would recommend working on this instead of applying to so many schools. I hear you with wanting to cast a wide net, and I think that wise, but you might also allocate that money toward taking classes!

Most accepted applicants have 3-5 years experience, leadership on their resume (AACN board, unit council, preceptor and/or charge, volunteering, etc.), multiple certs, multiple shadowing experiences, great references, advanced coursework in math/science after nursing degree.

Not trying to be overwhelming/discouraging just trying to give an accurate picture of the applicant pool. I would recommend contacting the schools and finding what they are looking and gauging where you might have a better chance.

I was once told that any applicant can have one hole in their resume. Yours currently has two, GPA and experience. Again, not trying to be discouraging, just trying to be real. I felt the same way in your shoes, a few years back, but know that it is still totally possible! Start working on classes, get some more certs, BLS, ACLS, PALS (for sure), then CCRN, TNCC next. Then do CSC, CMC and ENPC. Get a few grad level science classes under your belt to show you can succeed at the grad level (gotta get A's), then you will probably be up over that 3.0 mark (try to be smart about calculating your potential GPA with which classes offer the most credits that you think you can succeed in). Keep grinding to get the best ICU experience you can, do some leadership work on top of that and you will be going in the right direction.

If you can drop some dough on classes and apply to all 40 schools, that is great, but you might not be able to devote as much time to classes and applications to do your best in each, if you are spreading yourself more thin. But you know yourself and your capabilities more than anyone else.

I hope this is helpful, you can do it! Just trying to offer the advice I wish I had 4 years ago! Good luck!

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Specializes in Cardiac icu.

Asking for letters of rec can be really tedious , it can be a difficult task trying to stay on top of doctors and nurse managers about letters to many schools

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Specializes in SRNA.

Your undergraduate degree may be a liability, but I'm more concerned about your perspective. You've given us objective stats but nothing about what else you've been doing on your unit to demonstrate an interest in leadership, education or research. Since you have the minimum of critical care experience, the type of unit and acuity level will also matter when you're being compared to candidates who are presenting with the same statistical background or better. Not detering you, but being candid since you asked.

So just to give you my perspective as someone who just finished an application cycle to three DNP programs. My first undergraduate degree, 15 years ago, graduated with a 2.5, BSN ten years ago 3.6, and I took two graduate-level nursing courses at the university SON affiliated with my academic teaching hospital (non-matriculated) and killed it. GRE > 315. CCRN-CMC, TCRN, 9 years critical care experience in addition to participating in research with my attending providers/medical director, part of unit leadership, charge, precepting and high-fidelity simulation development. Three interviews lead to three waitlists and now and I'm starting in May. So yeah, I only had to go through one year of interviews but if my undergraduate degree was my liability I had to work past it by demonstrating what else I'd been doing.

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