Do I even have a chance getting into CRNA program?

[ICURN6000]

I'm a multidisciplinary ICU nurse of almost 2 years here, been working at a world renowned hospital in the ICU for 7 years (5 as a PCA, 2 as an RN). We do transplants (LTX and heart), MICU, SICU, neuro. I do VAD, Impella, CRRT, and soon balloon pumps.

I'm on committees and do unit based research. Great letters of recommendation including from our chair of ICU. 

I'm taking my CCRN soon. 

However, I'm a little scared to begin the strenuous journey of CCRN, GRE, and shadowing.

Many coworkers have recently been accepted to CRNA school and brought up how they were questioned about their 1 C in undergrad they retook, or whatever the case. 

I guess it didn't come to my attention until now that retakes can potentially be frowned upon? 

My cumulative GPA is 3.5; Science is 3.4, Nursing core courses GPA: 3.9. Not phenomenal but also not the purpose of this post. 

During my prereq years (18-21) I retook MANY courses. I had extremely unfortunate circumstances beginning my senior year of high school- about 6 months before I began nursing school. These included homelessness (sleeping in a car or couch surfing through family/friends), supporting my minor brother (driving him to school, being his parent as he lived with an extended family member), working 2-3 jobs (night shift as CNA, to school, to fast food job or nannying, take care of my brother/study, nap, then back to work). This opened the doors to living with a bad person, I became a victim to domestic violence for 2 years (all during pre reqs). My parents didn't do their taxes and I was under 24 and didn't get emancipated prior to turning 18, so I got no FAFSA and had to cash pay all through community college. My brother got into an accident one fall and I was his caretaker for a while after he lost a kidney. It was neverending for a few years.

I eventually escaped the DV with help and legal resources and was able to get back on my feet. I got into nursing school. During nursing school I had AMAZING support from my now husband and was able to go to just one job, part time. During nursing school I maintained a 3.9 and was obviously able to focus on school, I graduated with my BSN without a hiccup in grades. 

My life really turned around and it reflected on my grades.

I was also a first generation graduate with no concept of how college worked and how much my pre reqs could affect my future. There were several times where an advisor would tell me a course I was already in was no longer required for my nursing program, so if it was too late to withdraw I would just stop participating in the class. My thought process was that I already didn't have the time so I could then take my time from the now irrelevant course into my science classes. Not bright. I should have also not overloaded my course load like I did, but I was young and naive.

If I apply, I'll try to summarize my adversities into my personal statement. I'm just not sure I'll get far enough into the process for someone to read it. My life is so different now, I'm a very different student. My life revolves around medicine, my husband is even an anesthesia resident! 

Okay here's the bad:

Human anatomy & physiology 1: retook once. Turned my C into a B.

Both Into Bio & Micro: Retook both courses once, turned my F's into a B's (the first attempts for both I just stopped going to class to focus on my other courses). Not bright again. 

Gen chem: Retook once; turned my C into an A. 

I saved the best for last:

Human anatomy and physiology 2: Retook THREE times. (F, C, C, and then FINALLY and A). 

All the retakes didn't count towards my final GPA. 

Not so hot things still on my transcript:

Sociology: C

Nutrition: C

Cinema: D (I'm truly embarrassed, stopped doing course) 

American Government: C

The rest of my sciences are all A's.

All of nursing school I got 1 B and the rest A's. 

Will these community college mishaps break me? Will a school even look my way with this transcript? 

I'd hate to spend all the time, energy, and money pursuing my dream to be immediately shut down by programs due to community college transcripts.

TIA for reading and input! 

[KittynurseTCK, BSN]

I can't say one way or the other about your chances because I am trying to figure the same things out for myself, but wanted to say I am immensely inspired by your post and that you have some things to be very very proud of!  If you can figure out a way to convey your hardships into your personal statement, I think it would make for a very powerful "why" and that is a question that I think a lot of people struggle with.

If you apply to programs that use Nursing CAS, be aware that CAS doesn't replace the classes that you retook; I'm pretty sure the GPA is figured with ALL grades so don't be surprised if your GPA is significantly lower than what you have figured out. Maybe reach out to the schools that you are most interested  to see how they handle classes that have been retook. Some will replace them, and some will average them.

Good luck!

[Shanneliz SRNA, DNP]

I'm not sure what specific schools you are looking into and I know the qualifications are all different, but I agree with what the person stated above. First of all, WOW on all of your accomplishments. Reminds me of myself. I actually failed nursing school the first time through, got below what I needed for pharmacology and in the same semester I also received two C's in health assessment and Pathophysiology. But, like you did, I came back even stronger. Got all A's when I started back and was stronger than ever the second time around. I was an alternate when I applied for CRNA school. My cumulative GPA was a 3.5 and nursing GPA was a 3.2. I got called pretty quickly off that alternate list. I had a hard time with didactic, but with great study habits and determination, it was enough. didn't fail one class in CRNA school and I just took boards and passed first attempt. They do take grades into consideration, but it isn't the only thing they look at either. I would talk to the schools youre interested in and see if its a possibility. Or even just apply and see what they have to say!  I was not expecting to even get in, but I applied and got accepted in the first year I applied!  It might not be as common, but it is possible!! Good luck!

[londonflo]

ICURN6000 said:

Will these community college mishaps break me? Will a school even look my way with this transcript? 

Call and make an appointment with the Dean or Assist Dean. Bring a copy of your transcript with you with notes on how you have improved with retakeing classes. Write out all the strategies you have for academicsuccess - does the school have a "student success" program? Contact them a head of your appointment and ask for documentation that you have seen them. A community college program is NOT to REJECT students...only to help those students in the community to assist with providing or improving a community with education and professional employment that benefits the population as a whole.. 

[Nursing_1995]

I think it depends on the school you're interested in!