CRNA school required GPA

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I've been looking at the requirements for CRNA programs and the GPA is mostly a 3.0 or greater. The question I have is does that mean your nursing classes need to be at least a 3.0 or do they factor prerequisite classes as well. I've been told different things. Some say it's just your nursing gpa, and others say it's all college classes. If you could help clarify this that would be great. Thanks.

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It may be different depending on the college. For example the college I want to go to specifically tells you in the advice to applicants section what they closely scrutinize even what they look for in their interviews. I think you should collect info from different colleges via their nurse anesthesia section on their site or by calling. Ive seen a person on here say they had a 4.0 in nursing classes and a 2.8 in their sciences. Im almost positive I got that right. I don't think it was the other way around but im honestly not 100% positive. I think i said it backwards to someone last time I mentioned it =____=. I recommend digging up older threads related to gpa and crna schools. You should have a mindset though of a 3.5 gpa and mostly A's in science classes, this should be your goal because some schools say 3.0 as the lowest but they mostly choose 3.5 and above. The school I want to attend also explained that most of their students have a 3.5 and above, good letters of recommendation stating their intellectualness etc and 3-5 years icu experience although at least 1 year in needed to be considered.

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Thanks for the advice. I'll start looking around at different schools. My gpa was pretty good before nursing school and then it dropped a good bit. I had a 3.85 before nursing and I will finish nursing school with about a 3.1. So i'm really hoping they look at all the previous science classes when calculating my final gpa. If combined i should have about a 3.4-3.5 final gpa.

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No problem. Ok so being that your GPA might be under 3.5 it is very very very smart to get your CCRN. If there is any classes you can take over to strengthen your gpa, consider that as well. Get really good recommendations from someone who knows your critical care experience well. I always see SICU listed first from schools then MICU for CC experience. Do all you can think of to pump up your resume. If the school allows a personal statement, ace it. I plan on doing a bunch of things in order to mention it in my one page cover letter. For example I am conversational in Korean, I plan to really hone the language and become fluent and also take the TOEIK test at the highest level I can reach by the 2-3 years I have so I can mention that. I also plan to become conversational in Spanish, Chinese and sign language. I also plan to volunteer a lot and have a lot of hours of shadowing a crna, anything to pump up my statement/resume. However these are things I enjoy doing anyway. How long before you will start applying?

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EDIT double posted oops

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I graduate nursing this may. So it is not too far off before I can start applying. As far as retaking classes, A and P I and Microbiology were the only two Bs before nursing. I wouldn't think you could retake any nursing classes after you graduate. I can somewhat speak spanish now from what I learned in high school. I'll absolutely get back into that. I've shadowed 3 CRNAs over the past 2 years. So I know I can ask them to let me shadow them some more. Great advice!!!

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You are graduating with your BSN correct?

For CRNA school you have to have your BSN and 1-3 years experience in critical care, preferably SICU. Were you working an and RN in ICU and now getting your BSN? Or have you not started your cc experience? I think improving your Spanish is a great idea! It could be very comforting to your patients. I mean, that is part of the job right? Comfort? If you have time to make those two B's, A's too I would! That's awesome you have CRNA's to shadow!

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Yeah I will have my BSN in nursing this may. So i just started my last semester. I'm currently just a student so i have no nursing experience other than my clinicals from past semesters.

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Specializes in critcal care, CRNA.
I've been looking at the requirements for CRNA programs and the GPA is mostly a 3.0 or greater. The question I have is does that mean your nursing classes need to be at least a 3.0 or do they factor prerequisite classes as well. I've been told different things. Some say it's just your nursing gpa and others say it's all college classes. If you could help clarify this that would be great. Thanks. [/quote']

Allowable GPA and avg of those they actually take can be a big difference. I retook one chemistry class because I had a C and they required a B. I wouldn't retake a class unless it is under the requirement or will make a big difference.

Best thing to do is call your potential school and ask. They are usually very helpful. Remember that the people answering you have gone to different programs or aren't even near the application process yet. If you have a specific program in mind I would ask specifically about that so that you get more accurate responses.

Good luck.

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