CRNA program RE-applicants 2021 start

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Hey all,

I decided to start thread for people (like me) who applied to CRNA schools this year, didn't get in, and plan on applying again next year for admission in 2021. Rejection is tough and after going through the 5 stages of grief... I'm ready to tackle the dreaded CRNA application process again.

What are you guys doing to increase your chances/ make yourselves stand out? Are you re-writing your letter of intent/personal statements? Using the same letters of recommendations or changing them up? Taking another science course? Getting another certification? Getting more involved in the unit? Shadowing more? Applying to more schools? GRE? Or just getting more experience?

Background on me:
Nurse in NYC. Experience includes 3 years on med-surg and 2 years in the CTICU. I applied to a total of 4 schools this year. Got an interview to only one school, rejections from the rest. I am hoping that another year in the CTICU will increase my chances for actually getting interviews. I am currently taking an organic chemistry course and doing statistics next (its been over 5 years). GPA 3.7. I have my CCRN but plan on getting my cardiac surgery certification (CSC) too. I am probably going to change my recommendation letters and re-write/improve my personal statements. Thinking about possibly taking the GRE (even though most schools don't require). I do plan on applying to more than just 4 schools next year but prefer to stay in the east coast. Top schools include Fairfield, Columbia, and Rutgers.

I'd love to hear from you all, whether it's your second, third, or fourth rodeo in the CRNA application process. This thread is intended to support and advise those seeking acceptance into CRNA school, again.

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Specializes in CRNA.

Those accepted to multiple programs, please notify programs ASAP if you aren’t attending. There are highly qualified candidates on the waiting lists and they need a reasonable amount of time to prepare. It’s best for the profession to fill all seats and a real shame if a seat goes unfilled because someone held the seat and then didn’t attend.

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Specializes in NICU.

I’m reapplying! I’m retaking a bunch of sciences courses (bye, money!) to hopefully make me stand out more. My top school I think will require me to re-write my essays and I’ll change around a couple of my recs as well.

I have nearly 7 years in the NICU, my CCRN, and a 312 on the GRE. Crossing my fingers for a successful 2020 for us!

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Specializes in OR, ICU, CVICU.

Jeez. So i applied to 3 schools. Rejected. Have almost 2 years in the CVICU, CCRN, 3.7 gpa but have 1 C... retaking gen chem. Just took the GRE and the CMC, and I am going to rewrite my resume and personal statement. What else are you guys doing to reapply? And what schools did you apply to?

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Specializes in ICU.

I was an applicant that didn’t get in last year and just got accepted this year!

Got 0 interviews last year and got an interview at every school but one this time.
Here’s what I did:

I took a bunch of classes my hospital offered and added each one to my resume such as ventilator classes, critical care courses and so forth. Took at least 2 a month.

Went to different conferences and attended the AANA conference last year. (That one really stuck out to almost every place according to the panels I interviewed with).

Became a volunteer EMT in a rural community, joined a committee, and obtained My ATCN cert by driving to another state (10 hour drive), FCCS cert. CCRN, took one grad level course and became a preceptor.

Doing something Different every month seemed to have worked despite my lower GPA!

I highly recommend reading watchful care and becoming super familiar with political points in the CRNA world, what they do, barriers to practice and your thoughts on it. Read everything you can about them, forums, AANA website, read it all and know it inside and out.

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Specializes in critical care.

I'm a good essay writer, so let me know if you want me to take a look at any personal statements.

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Specializes in CRNA.

Alwayslearning, how long have you worked in ICU? The difference between 1 and 2 years is huge to programs, and going from 2 to 3 is significant.

You have a lot of good advice but I’ll give a different perspective. I would caution against spending a lot of time/money on conferences/classes. Those offered by your unit are great, and reading about the profession is outstanding. Also work as much as possible and know the pharmacology and physiology of your patients inside and out. Save money for the program.

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Specializes in ICU.

Worked for 2 years when I got in, applied At 1 year and 6months or so.

i agree, good advice. Know your patients inside and out but I’ve only had one interview ask me about that which wasn’t bad.

I didn’t spend much money on conferences and classes. Hospital covered the grad class and most conferences were free/super cheap besides the driving and the AANA conference.

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Specializes in CRNA.

The extra year of experience is the most likely reason for your success the second time around. Very few programs will accept less than 2 years.

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Specializes in ICU.

I think it contributed but from knowing people that got in after applying with less than 1 year (my mother included) makes me believe And hope it was more than just that lol

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On 12/23/2019 at 8:00 AM, loveanesthesia said:

The extra year of experience is the most likely reason for your success the second time around. Very few programs will accept less than 2 years.

I was about 1 year and 8 months when applied this year and a program director from one of the schools told me I needed a solid 2 years experience but she’ll save my application and consider me for next cohort.

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Specializes in SRNA.

Best thing you can do is take a few DNP courses such as advanced patho, advanced pharm, role of the APN etc. these are core classes for all DNP's that grant NP or CRNA degrees. By taking these graduate level courses you will demonstrate your ability to succeed in grad level courses and you will be able to transfer these courses in (most schools allow 2-3 courses max to transfer in). The other huge benefit is since these are core classes and not anesthesia specific you will have a lighter load than your classmates when you do get in and trust me any way that you can make it easier on yourself will help tremendously. Most schools will allow you to enroll in these courses if you claim NP as your major...no big deal since you already know you are only doing that to transfer them in when you are accepted to CRNA school.

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