Interview Blues

Trauma Tom · Nov 12, 2004

Gaasgurl,

Don't be too hard on yourself. While the interview is important it is only one part of the entire process. You have outstanding qualifications and high GRE scores with a perfect GPA. You said you felt good about the interview initially. It is easy after the process to be hard on yourself. One of the schools that I had my best interview with turned me down. I had the same experience as you with one of my other interviews. I felt good about my answers to their questions, but after talking with some other applicants after the interview I realized that some of my answers to their clinical questions were incorrect. I felt for sure that I must have blown my chances at that school. Yet I was accepted at that school. One of the things you will discover after interviewing is that your first choice may not be your first choice after you complete all of your interviews. I had always planned on going to my first choice. But after all of my interviews were completed, I no longer felt comfortable with my first choice. I discovered a program that was a better fit for me. I was an alternate at that school and an alternate at what had been my first choice. The other school called first and I accepted. I turned down the alternate position with what had been my first choice, so I never knew whether I would have had a slot there or not. I am thrilled where I am and have never had any regrets. Good luck with your other interviews.

I just had my first interview at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center Nurse Anesthesia Program. At first, I felt good about the interview; but in hindsight, my answers seem lackluster. The panel seemed nice enough, but my nerves were running so high. So much rides on this one interview. Does anyone know if the academic record and test scores weigh heavier than the interview? If the interview is the deciding factor, then I blew it. Is it adviseable to wait a week or two and drop in on the Director to show her that one-on-one I have more composure? This was my first choice in schools. Let me preface this by saying that I had a 71 on the MAT, 1300/5 on GRE, 4.0 GPA for two years while working full time with two children....CCRN, TNCC, PALS, ACLS and 10 years of nursing with 5 in CCU and I am 31. And yet, I had a perma-grin and could not gather my thoughts to answer their questions fully. I still have 2 more interviews (Charlotte and Raleigh) but Baptist was my 1st choice. Live and learn.

TraumaNurse · Nov 12, 2004

I agree with Trauma Tom, don't beat yourself up over the interview. You are a strong applicant and should be able to get into just about any program with your stats. It's easy in hindsight to second guess all your responses and to think you flopped. Hang in there and try not to think about what you can't change. I wish you luck! Let us know how it turns out.

PS: Welcome to the board. :)

Gaasgurl · Nov 12, 2004

Thank you so much for your replies. It is hard trying to explain to people how frustrating and exasperating the application process truly is. You know all the basics of what each program seeks, but not the subjective requirements. I met people who had not gotten in with similar stats to me, and I just want to know why.(I didn't want to embarass them by asking "Why?") Of course,I don't know what came out in their interview that hurt them (attendence, insubordination, etc..). I'm just going to pray, cross my fingers and try, if I can, not to dwell on it. I'll just focus on the next interview.

Thank's for welcoming me to the board. I've been a passive listener for far too long.:)

Q: BTW, should I still stop by in a week to see if the program needs copies of my official test scores/CCRN score report as a ruse to interact in a more composed, natural manner with the Director?

purplemania, BSN, RN · Nov 12, 2004

I am sure they look at the total package. It would seem unnatural for someone NOT to feel anxious at an interview. I would be leery of that person. Good luck in your career.

jewelcutt · Nov 12, 2004

The best part about your experience is that you have had practice. My first interview was not with my first choice and I felt very nervous, so much so that I think I didn't do as well as I could have. This made me more determined to beat the next interview, my first choice school. I had gotten over most of the nervousness because it really wasn't so bad looking back on it. I went in there determined to make sure they knew how much I wanted this and it worked. Don't beat yourself up, you have great stats.

sonessrna · Nov 13, 2004

I interviewed at one place where I swore I did terrible...i got in!. I thought I interviewed very well at another place and I was an alternate. Whatever.

I just had my first interview at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center Nurse Anesthesia Program. At first, I felt good about the interview; but in hindsight, my answers seem lackluster. The panel seemed nice enough, but my nerves were running so high. So much rides on this one interview. Does anyone know if the academic record and test scores weigh heavier than the interview? If the interview is the deciding factor, then I blew it. Is it adviseable to wait a week or two and drop in on the Director to show her that one-on-one I have more composure? This was my first choice in schools. Let me preface this by saying that I had a 71 on the MAT, 1300/5 on GRE, 4.0 GPA for two years while working full time with two children....CCRN, TNCC, PALS, ACLS and 10 years of nursing with 5 in CCU and I am 31. And yet, I had a perma-grin and could not gather my thoughts to answer their questions fully. I still have 2 more interviews (Charlotte and Raleigh) but Baptist was my 1st choice. Live and learn.

kmchugh · Nov 13, 2004

Q: BTW, should I still stop by in a week to see if the program needs copies of my official test scores/CCRN score report as a ruse to interact in a more composed, natural manner with the Director?

Not sure. I think if you have something you really need to get to the director to "complete the packet" you could go ahead and take it in. Remember, though, they are in the midst of interviewing potential students. This is not a time when the program director has just a whole lot of time on his/her hands. They may simply take the material, thank you and walk away. I think I'd let it rest.

Besides, the director is only one member of the interview board. Your interview is over and has been scored by the entire board. Visiting with the director now probably wouldn't have any effect on the outcome.

Kevin McHugh, CRNA

Athlein1 · Nov 13, 2004

I agree with Kevin. Just let it go for now. If further communication would make you feel better, then why not send a follow-up thank you letter?

For what it's worth, my first interview was a disaster. Generally speaking, I don't interview well. I answered a few tough questions all-too-honestly. Sometimes, the hardest thing is to graciously accept that some of your answers could have been improved and let it go at that. But, also remember that we are our own worst critics, and chances are that you did just fine. Also realize that your stats likely better than the majority of people in your interview pool. Your stats will probably get you into a program even if your interview is not spectacular!

On the dowhill slide and seeing the light at the end of the tunnel - SRNA Athlein

Gaasgurl · Nov 13, 2004

Thank you once more everyone! I will follow your sage advice and send the "Thank you" note. I will fax the other score reports to complete my file and then I'll sit on my hands:) . I think the hardest part is the waiting. The middle of December cannot come quick enough!

Just a CRNA · Nov 15, 2004

It's OK to answer "I don't know" if you draw a complete blank. We'd rather hear that than to watch you try and make something up. Honesty is certainly appreciated in an interview.

Gaasgurl · Nov 15, 2004

This may make me sound even worse, but the questions I drew a blank on were the ones that I have thought about for the past two years: Why do you want to be a CRNA? When shadowing, what did you see in those CRNA's that made you believe that you could do this? Do you share similar qualities to those that you followed? You've had 6 absences in a year, do you think that is too many? Where do you see yourself 4 years from now? You see, there really is not a right/wrong answer- just a good/bad answer. Eventhough I could speak at length on any of these questions with excellent answers rolling around in my head...When it came time to verbalize my thoughts, I couldn't come up with the right words. I went blank, stumbled and formulated what I could. But, it felt like I gave pretty flat answers. I don't think I was dishonest, just nervous. Clinical questions have a right/wrong answer. If I were unfamiliar with the scenario/drug they provided, I would have no problem saying "I dunno" because I don't know everything...There is just so much to know in critical care and medicine.