Experience in CRNA school

Im starting in Jan and from what I hear: its the hardest thing you will have done up to this point. It will be constant studying. Not much of any personal life. Plus there will be call on top of everything else.

I am in the first of seven semesters of my program. I can tell you that you don't have to worry about balancing school and work.

Most programs highly discourage students from having a job while in the program. the program I am in is frontloaded and right now I am taking 16 credit hours of a graduate course load; then I attempt to devote another 30-40 hours per week studying. I don't have any clinical this semester, however we have simulation lab times weekly and have 2 videos to record demonstrating basic skills.

hello to all the current crna students and recent graduates out there. i am in the process of applying to start my crna schooling in 2012. the curriculums i've looked at, a lot of them are doing 12 to 16 credits per semester. what's troubling me a little is that i did not have the traditional college experience. i've been financially supporting myself since i was 17. after high school, i worked for a few years to save money for an associate nursing program. because i was paying out of pocket, i couldn't afford to take more than 3 classes (9 credits) per semester until i was finished. for my bsn, i also went part time and took 2 classes per semester. so, for all of my post high school schooling, i've never taken anywhere near 12 to 16 credits per semester and for the program curriculums i've been looking at, that's what's required! i consider myself a "b" student who works hard for "a". i have a gpa of 3.8. what i would like to know from current crna students and recent graduates is, how it is? how do you do it? how do you actually manage 5 to 6 classes and actually get a good grade? i really want to do this, i'm willing to work hard and i'm definitely not a quitter. i guess i'm just getting a bit nervous considering my situation and i'd appreciate a little insight and encouragement. thanks and good luck if you're still in it and congrats if you're done! :-)

i am in my first year and it is a 80 hour + a week committment. class days are long 11 hours - plus my hour drive home and then studying that night. it is really hard to imagine even stepping into a hospital on my days off because there is always studying to do. you have to make your priorities all school work. it is a challenge to juggle school and family but it can be done. make sure you know what fin aid is offered at the school you are applying at. take the money because books are expensive and the cost of travel and just notebooks and binders and all that crap most people don't think about. good luck!

Thank you very much to everyone who responded to my question. I appreciate your comments.

From what I understand have to live on student loans those months you are in school. Everyone says is it hardest thing they have ever done. You will come out in debt lots of it but they way I see it. Continue to live poor and you can pay it off faster.