2.9 GPA Help me get into CRNA school

Nursing Students SRNA

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Specializes in MICU.

I currently have a 2.9 GPA totally messed up with my first degree. I am coming up on 1 year MICU experience at a level 1 trauma center. Soon as I am eligible I plan to take CCRN, get trained for charge and precept. I am writing to find out what people have done in my in situation to get into CRNA with lower GPA's. Should I take graduate level courses or take some undergraduate science classes? Positive advice only. Thanks!

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Moved to SRNA forum

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I currently have a 2.9 GPA totally messed up with my first degree. I am coming up on 1 year MICU experience at a level 1 trauma center. Soon as I am eligible I plan to take CCRN, get trained for charge and precept. I am writing to find out what people have done in my in situation to get into CRNA with lower GPA's. Should I take graduate level courses or take some undergraduate science classes?

Need a few more details on this one. You mention your "first degree"--was this in nursing or something else? How long ago was it? How does your GPA since your first degree measure up? What is your science GPA and what sciences have you taken? Have you reached out to the anesthesia programs you're interested in and asked for advice specific to your situation? If so, what were you told? (And if you haven't, at some point you should.)

Having a low GPA from a first degree isn't an automatic disqualifier necessarily (I speak from experience), but there are a lot of factors--as indicated above--into how much that matters and the strategies needed to compensate for it.

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I agree, more background is needed and contacting programs that you are interested in to ask them how you can become a stronger applicant is helpful as well. I had exactly a 2.9 for my B.S.N and it is the only undergraduate degree I hold. I am currently a SRNA with 6 months until graduation. I say this to say there is hope. However, I waited 5 years before I applied, working in various ICU's (Burn,MICU, etc. ),did a little travel nursing as well, participated in unit committees and projects, and arrange my schedule to day shift (I am a loyal night shifter) to precept local university students . I retook some of the undergrad sciences that I had C's in and a general chemistry course because my state nursing programs did not require it. I took a graduate level statistic as well which was required by one of the schools I applied for. Ironically, my G.P.A was never a topic for discussion in my interviews . Since schools are getting more competitive I would suggest taking graduate level science course to give yourself an edge. Show that you can handle graduate level work. Shadow SHADOW SHADOW, keep a log if necessary. Programs do not just look at G.P.As, they look at applicant's as a whole. Good luck on your journey!

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I would recommend you to take first the "required courses" based on the CRNA program you are eyeing. And after meeting all the minimum requirements (GRE, CCRN, CRNA Shadowing, Required Courses: Biochem/Chem courses, Letter of Recommendations, etc) except GPA of at least 3.0, then I would recommend retaking some science courses like Anatomy , Physiology Undergraduate courses. I don't think graduate courses would make such impact since your goal would be to increase your GPA (knowing that graduate courses are tougher and hard to find), unless you're confident that you can get at least 3.3 on a graduate course.

Just to clarify things, when I say meeting minimum requirements, it's usually stated on the program's website. For example, on the school that I applied, it was specified to meet at least 2 of the following requirements: GRE>300, GPA >3, Chem courses within 3 years of application, ICU exp atleast 1 yr, CRNA Shadowing. Meaning I don't necessarily need to have ALL the requirements, that I can still be invited for an interview even if my GPA is not >3.0 , or my GRE is not >300 but I should have at least 2 of them in order to be considered for an interview (Chem course within 3 years of application, CRNA shadowing exp, 1 yr ICU exp ). And the rest will be based on the how you will perform in your interview.

That's why I will recommend you to ensure meeting the minimum requirements and not focusing too much on your GPA. Surely, high GPA is a PLUS but there are other factors that the school are looking into, like the applicant's readiness to study again, the willingness to sacrifice their social life, their devotion on this intense program , financial status and other factors.

Upon doing my research, I saw a bunch of applicants with Science GPA of 4.0, impressive ICU exp, invited to an interview but not accepted to any program.

I personally have 3.23 GPA, GRE 295 3.0 Writing, 1 1/2 yr MICU exp but on my 1st application, I got into the program. So don't lose hope and get petrified or intimidated by other's impressive stats. Good luck!

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Hey if you don't mind would you disclose where you applied and what tye of unit you had experience in? Thank you

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@Koai19

Hey if you don't mind, can you please tell us where you applied and what type of unit you had experience in? Thank you.

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Specializes in Nurse Anesthesiology.

Grad level courses and apply in 2-3 years after more experience.

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@koai19

Which program did you apply to, if you don't mind me asking? Just looking to apply soon and trying to figure out exactly where I should apply

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