Crna competitiveness

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Hello,

My name is Josh and I'm here to gauge my competitiveness for crna school. My stats are as follows: gpa 3.3 science gpa 3.63 gre 301 pending ccrn this summer I believe in July is when I'm eligible. I'm currently in sicu and Neuro icu two different units but I float to help our boss out with nurses which we are short on, I started in Neuro and transferred to sicu to gain a better position for school. I currently will have a year in one month and have applied to fgcu, wolford (awaiting accreditation) will be applying to twu, fsu, and mtsa. I understand I can't compete with a gpa of 3.9 but I also worked full time while in school and provided for me and my parents. I generally on a weekly basis care for ventilators, vasoactive drips, invasive monitoring such as cvp and art lines. In Neuro I can do ventric drains and icp monitoring as well as titrate those drips. I got a surgery resident supervisor and rn to do my letters and a crna I shadowed for 40+ hours. Do I realistically have a shot ? Thanks in advance- Josh

Thanks pappa, I think I covered most of that with all the schools minus wolford of course since they aren't accredited and ran by a med group.

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A lot of older CRNAs don't understand the current wait admissions is going. There's a reason 1 year is the minimum requirement. It's all you need! They want to see you are driven a and will complete their program. Your stats are great, you will get in. I applied to two top 3 schools and got accepted into both with one year of experience. They also really don't care which Icu specialty you have, just that you've worked with reasonable sick patients with Vaso gtts!

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YES YES YES too all of this. You have no made me feel better for the decision I made.

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A lot of older CRNAs don't understand the current wait admissions is going. There's a reason 1 year is the minimum requirement. It's all you need! They want to see you are driven a and will complete their program. Your stats are great, you will get in. I applied to two top 3 schools and got accepted into both with one year of experience. They also really don't care which Icu specialty you have, just that you've worked with reasonable sick patients with Vaso gtts!

Nobody said aid you can't get in with one year experience. I said you should not go with one year experience. It shows. All the way through a program. Those with barely one year tend to be far weaker students. Just a fact.

As as to the original question by the OP, I mean no disrespect, but he is NOT currently a strong candidate. You are evaluated in grades (OPs are middle of the pack), GRE (OPs are bare minimum), years of experience (bare minimum), references (how could it be good, your manager barely knows you), and your interview. Now despite all this, they may, may, get accepted to one of the puppy mills, but not a quality program. So then you have to ask yourself why you were accepted ($$$$$$). The OP can polish his CV and chances and pick of schools with a little effort.

PS. There is no such thing as a "top 3" school. There are no rankings of any kind that are relevent. And before you say US News & Review, those are a complete farce. Among other things they only list schools affiliated with Schools of Nursing. The other programs are not counted.

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In speaking with the admissions and current students... The picture you paint is completely opposite. I don't think anyone should speak on any schools they have not attended.

Further, your comment regarding the reason I was accepted... Again, you have no possible idea why I could have been accepted. So please spare the "money" degradation comment. All in all, we should be uplifting one another, there is no hurt to apply. I'm sure he will get in as his stats are good

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Well thank you for the kind words everyone I feel slightly better now. I also have been getting 124

right out of 150 in the barrons ccrn book so maybe I'll have that in time.

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

I would highly suggest going to look on Wake Forest website. They give you specific guidelines on what you can do to make yourself a more competitive candidate. Applicant Self-Assessment Tool - Wake Forest School of Medicine

My scores were also very middle of the board. (3.3 GPA and 306 GRE) However, I had other things that helped to make me a stronger applicant. I had taken a few graduate level classes (pathophysiology and pharmacology). This proved that I could successfully complete grad level coursework. I was active in nursing organizations, held a position on the board of directors. Obtained CCRN. Gained experience in 2 different ICU's (Neurosurgical and Surgical/Trauma - Level I). Shadowed both a CRNA and Anesthesiologist and talked about the experiences in my essay. I applied to 5 programs and was invited to interview at them all. I ultimately chose to interview at 2 of them and cancelled the other 3 because I had already received offers of admission from 2 very good programs. So even if your numbers are not that impressive there are other things that you can do to help make you a stronger candidate. Best of luck with your applications!

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I think you'll be fine and I agree, your numbers do look good. My GPA was 3.5 and my GRE was 290 (honestly I thought it was a really hard test). Had my CCRN, PALS, ACLS, BLS and approximately 2 years as a floating ICU nurse between our MICU and SICU (which includes open heart recovery) in my hospital. I served on multiple committees, was a preceptor, filled in as charge and had great references. I wasn't even interviewed at one school because of my GRE but ended up being accepted to my first choice school. The point i'm trying to make is every school looks and places emphases on different things. i.e. one school might want a really high GRE while the other school may want 5 plus years of experience. But your stats look good I think you will be fine. Best of luck!

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