Chances of getting in ? Barry and FIU

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Hi love this forum and the great advice... I'm interviewing at Florida International University and Barry University in January 2008. The people at Barry said I have to take a basic chemistry and critical care test. Also here are my stats: GPA 3.33

GRE 1220, CCRN certification. Experience: 1 year of mixed surgical and medical ICU and 1 year of experience in a busy MICU/Coronary care unit near downtown Dallas, TX. Taken care of lots of sepsis pts, CVVHDF, IABP... Pt yesterday was in severe septic shock, on mechanical ventilator, drips: dobutamine, vasopressin, neosynephrine, levophed, insulin drip, propofol drip and undergoing CVVHDF. I'm wondering how competative my "profile" is.... Also does anyone know what the chemistry test is like? I have been cracking the books b/c it's been a while since I've taken chemistry! Any help would be greatly appreciated!

You should get into both with a good interview. I have a friend graduating from FIU now. He has always had nothing but good things to say about FIU. They have a great program, I interviewed there when I was applying also.

Specializes in trauma ICU,TNCC, NRP, PALS, ACLS.

It is so wonderful to know that schools will still accept students that g.p.a is not an 3.5 and above

Specializes in Anesthesia.

Hi Jeremy,

I start Barry's program January 4th.:up: Their interview process was a good experience. They are very good at keeping the atmosphere light. They give about an hour presentation on the program, then hand out the test (general ICU and chemistry) and then a personal interview. The board members that interviewed me were really good. The interview itself was a personal interview, no technical questions, they wanted to hear about my experience as a nurse, paramedic, why I was a good candidate, what my professional goals were, what I could bring to the profession.

Can't speak for other schools, but to me Barry does a good job at looking at the "whole picture" of each candidate, not just numbers. If you interview well, you have a good chance of acceptance to Barry.

Sent you a PM also.

Good Luck!!!!

Hello there, I will be interviewing with UM and FIU in January..I am also taking the ccrn test in January. I know people who got into barrywithout the ccrn, but dont want to take chances. I have a 3.67 GPA and 1100 on the gre, with 1.5 years of icu experience in medical/surgical/ and neuro surgical...good luck to all who interview!!:balloons:

I'm interviewing @ FIU this month. And have applied to Barry as well. Any advice?

Hey JeremyMcClary, your numbers are great, and the fact that you've taken care of pts on those drips, CVVHDF and IABP should get you in. Sure your GPA could be a little bit higher (also remember they look at your last 60 hours--that counts as your GPA for the most part), but your GRE scores are frickin' awesome and you have your CCRN after only one year. This shows that you are highly motivated to go to school. Just wondering, since you live in the Dallas area, why didn't you apply to TCU or Wesleyan? My boyfriend is an emergency medicine resident at Parkland, which is a crazy-busy hospital. I don't know anything about the Florida schools, but you look like a pretty good candidate. I got accepted into one school and am waiting to hear from another one. I have 1 year, 8 months experience in a mixed ICU, GPA 3.8, CCRN, and sub-optimal GRE scores (below 1000)--but I've never done well on standardized tests. I'm also an active member of two ICU committees as well as the quality practice council. To be honest, I don't know how much the schools looked at my committee involvement. They seemed more interested in experience, numbers, personality, etc. However, I know a stellar nurse who applied for CRNA school who was not involved in any committees. They asked her in the interview "We know what nursing has done for you, but what have you done for nursing?" I don't know what her response was, but she got in to Columbia anyway. (Yeah, she's awesome).

Good luck on your interviews. Keep us posted. I'm sure you will do well.

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