CRNA with low

You just need to be well rounded. Make up for a low GPA in other areas such as GRE, Experience, grad classes. ALSO, figure out your last 60 credit GPA. My overall was 3.3 and BSN was 3.7, I put both on my resume and got interviews at all schools. Ive known people to get accepted with lower than 3.0 and less than 1k on GRE, But their experience was excellent (as well as interview skills).

Best of luck to you, and get your CCRN for sure!

Thanks for the advice!!!

A friend of mine got in with a 3.01 GPA- 2 years CCU/CSU experience, with GRE of 1200- It's possible, so go for it

What's your excuse for a low GPA? You don't need to share it here, but some schools have been known to be very blunt and ask why about certain classes. Just be prepared to answer.

I recently got into school in the Fall of 2010 with a 3.05 nursing school GPA. I had a 3.72 pre-requisite GPA (including the core sciences). I knew it would be harder for me to get in to a program, so I decided to do everything I could to increase my resume. I worked in a neurosurgery ICU for 1 1/2 years before applying. During this time, I got my CCRN certification, took the GRE (1010), and took master level nursing courses to increase my nursing GPA. I believe my interview is what got me in (that and a bunch of prayer/hard work). I convinced them that I am a motivated person who would make a good student and could pass the curriculum. (They are invested in me as much as I am in them). I told them I had done everything I could up to this point, and I would continue to do all that I could to get into a program. At the time of my interview, I was enrolled in a nurse practitioner program for the intent of taking advanced patho, pharm, and other advanced nursing classes that could benefit me in CRNA school. The interviewers really liked this a lot and from then on out LOVED me. Not only was I dedicated to becoming a CRNA, I was willing to take 20 or more hours in another masters level nursing program to do it. Needless to say, they called me within the next 2 days and gave me a spot. I finished my first semester of the FNP program and then dropped out. Best decision ever- also glad I only had to do 8 hrs in the FNP program. I believed they averaged in my core science grades w/ my last 60 creds in the BSN program- which helped. Also, I mentioned my grades were lower in nursing school b/c i worked 40 hrs a week, got married, had a baby, and bought a house during the time.

Anyway, you can do it. Don't let anyone tell you that you cannot. I was told countless times my peers I would never get in, but I continued to do everything I could and it paid off. I'm now 25 years old starting my senior year in CRNA school with a 3.6 GPA :)

McGowMike: What an inspiring story. I too don't have the best undergrad GPA 3.095 and have taken 19 grad hours to buffer this. At this point I have to prove to the admissions comit. that I am ready for the challenge and can succeed in the program. I look at it this way, someone will let me in. So where will you be going to school? Best wishes to the both of you.

Commit to the fact that you want to get in. Do what you can in your best ability. Study hard for the GRE and take it. Let the admission committee see the willingness in you that you really desire to be a CRNA.

I recently got into school in the Fall of 2010 with a 3.05 nursing school GPA. I had a 3.72 pre-requisite GPA (including the core sciences). I knew it would be harder for me to get in to a program, so I decided to do everything I could to increase my resume. I worked in a neurosurgery ICU for 1 1/2 years before applying. During this time, I got my CCRN certification, took the GRE (1010), and took master level nursing courses to increase my nursing GPA. I believe my interview is what got me in (that and a bunch of prayer/hard work). I convinced them that I am a motivated person who would make a good student and could pass the curriculum. (They are invested in me as much as I am in them). I told them I had done everything I could up to this point, and I would continue to do all that I could to get into a program. At the time of my interview, I was enrolled in a nurse practitioner program for the intent of taking advanced patho, pharm, and other advanced nursing classes that could benefit me in CRNA school. The interviewers really liked this a lot and from then on out LOVED me. Not only was I dedicated to becoming a CRNA, I was willing to take 20 or more hours in another masters level nursing program to do it. Needless to say, they called me within the next 2 days and gave me a spot. I finished my first semester of the FNP program and then dropped out. Best decision ever- also glad I only had to do 8 hrs in the FNP program. I believed they averaged in my core science grades w/ my last 60 creds in the BSN program- which helped. Also, I mentioned my grades were lower in nursing school b/c i worked 40 hrs a week, got married, had a baby, and bought a house during the time.

Anyway, you can do it. Don't let anyone tell you that you cannot. I was told countless times my peers I would never get in, but I continued to do everything I could and it paid off. I'm now 25 years old starting my senior year in CRNA school with a 3.6 GPA :)

Thanks, McgowMike!! You give me and the rest of us aspiring CRNAs so much hope!! This was priceless...:heartbeat

Make up for it in other area's! Try and work in an environment in which you are getting to see a wide variety of patients and treatments (swanz, lvad's, ecmo, oscillator's, central lines, etc...) and also using or seeing a lot of vasoactive drugs. Make sure you also get shadowing in. I felt my 36 hours of shadowing experience played a significant part of me being accepted, and I asked those who interviewed me - "what are you looking for in potential candidates"- and they said wanted someone who knew exactly what they were getting themselves into. Get some leadership roles that show your dedication, whether that be charge nurse role or being part of a committee at your job. You may also want to take a graduate level course to show that you can handle those types of classes, and take your CCRN.

My school told me, "We are not looking for the perfect straight A student...yet we are not looking for the solid C/D student either. We are looking for someone with a good gpa (assuming 3.0 or above), that is well rounded, can multi-task well, that is motivated, and knows what they are getting themselves into). So it IS possible for you to get in, its just up to you to make it happen now! Work hard and things will happen.

-Riley

I have a quick question, how were you guys able to start your nursing career in the ICU

Keep trying. Don't give up. Don't listen to anybody. And pray that you are lucky.

My overall GPA was a 3.1, but that was because I pulled up 6 years of 2.27 with 6+ years and two degrees worth of As. They will look at your most recent work and your core science grades. There is lots of great advice already written in this thread, so I will only re-emphasize that they are looking to see that you are 100% committed to doing whatever is in your power to get in, that you have the ability to handle the stress, and that you know exactly what you are getting into.

As for the question about how to get into an ICU straight out of school...don't accept anything less. Seriously. Excel in your BSN program and let the managers of the ICUs you want to work in know that you intend to work there when you get out. Don't just submit an application and wait; submit an application with the hospital and call the manager of the ICU directly to set up a time to talk. Dress professionally and hand deliver a well written CV when you walk in there to tell them that you are dedicated to becoming an asset to their unit. Then follow up frequently. Definitely follow their protocol for applying for a position, but just don't stop there. I've never seen a hospital policy that says you can not contact any nurse manager to talk about their unit, and I've never met someone in a position to offer a job that did not appreciate and recognize the hunger of someone who would make the effort to run them down with a willing attitude and resume in hand.