Keep getting rejected

heythatsmybike · Feb 29, 2020

I'm with you. I feel like I'm just throwing thousands of dollars in the trash applying to these places and finding out on here that they have already offered the majority of the interviews out before the application deadline has even passed. I've retaken as much as I can, and am re-taking the GRE next month. Getting all the certifications, moving ICU's, working at a university hospital, have all the letters, and it's still not getting me an interview. Contacting these schools has come up with nothing. Most don't even email back. It's really starting to get to me. This is my dream and I am unsure how much longer I can last doing bedside, working nights with no light at the end of the tunnel.

asd asd, BSN · Feb 29, 2020

I've been applying for 3 years and got my first interview, 1 of 11, just keep trying

loveanesthesia · Feb 29, 2020

3 hours ago, heythatsmybike said:
I'm with you. I feel like I'm just throwing thousands of dollars in the trash applying to these places and finding out on here that they have already offered the majority of the interviews out before the application deadline has even passed. I've retaken as much as I can, and am re-taking the GRE next month. Getting all the certifications, moving ICU's, working at a university hospital, have all the letters, and it's still not getting me an interview. Contacting these schools has come up with nothing. Most don't even email back. It's really starting to get to me. This is my dream and I am unsure how much longer I can last doing bedside, working nights with no light at the end of the tunnel.

How long have you been in the ICU? What makes it intolerable?

Max · Mar 18, 2020

I am a newly retired CRNA who for a couple of years chaired the admissions committee at our school of anesthesia.

Who is selected for admission at our school is largely a numbers/scoring process. After an interview the committee discusses and rates the applicant in several categories. When all interviews were done, all applicant’s scores are displayed on a board and are reviewed one last time before voting. The problem arises when you have 100 applicants vying for 10 or 15 positions. The whole group can be pretty fabulous but with a large number of applicants a lot of great potential CRNAs do not get picked. Case in point; I know a fabulous nurse who worked in ICU. She’s smart, very capable, well liked, all the CRNA’s encouraged her to go to anesthesia school. We didn’t know her academic history and unfortunately she was not able to compete on that front with other applicants. We were all very sad but the selection process requires some necessary objective measurements (grades) to predict success. Unfortunately a nurse who would have likely been a good CRNA was disqualified but it would have been unfair to the process and other applicants if we accepted her without her having what was required to be accepted.

Some specifics (I don’t mean the OP specifically when I say “you”):

#1 mistake. Do not say “the money” when asked why you want to be a CRNA. We all know that’s a big factor but you better come to the interview with something other than that response. Many on the committee don’t hear anything else you say or care how great your GPA is if salary/the money/pay is your stated rationale.

2. Do some sort of mock interview with a service that will honestly assess your presentation. They will tell you if you’re dressed appropriately, speaking succinctly, making eye contact, etc. I know the OP tried to get info from some of the schools but try again. Ask the head of the school if they can recommend ANYONE who might do practice questions with you and provide honest feedback. Ask to shadow a CRNA. Let them get to know you and see how interested you are.

3. Keep working on the grades. You’re likely competing with one or more straight A interviewees. There are plenty with Bs here and there but anything but top grades in A&P, Chemistry, etc could be an indicator of an applicant’s ability to master advanced science classes/concepts.

4. Despite what I just said about grades you will be asked about what you do for fun or relaxation. Even if you’re a straight A applicant and say you read scientific journals for fun the committee is going to wonder if you’re going to be able to handle the stresses of school/career, or just maybe the applicant is just pandering which is a little insulting.

5. Be willing to do almost anything to go to school. I don’t know how many times I heard “I work in the ER so shouldn’t have to work in ICU”, “I’m a podiatrist, lawyer, etc and shouldn’t need a degree in nursing”, “my supervisor doesn’t like me/has it out for me so I won’t get a good recommendation from them”.? Needless to say, there are a lot of applicants who never get to the interview stage so you’re obviously doing a lot of things right! If it were me I’d keep asking past interviewers for feedback explaining that you are very interested in doing what you need to do to get into school.

Please remember that the interview process is imperfect and the committee knows that an application and 30 minute interview cannot tell the whole potential of the person, but we have to work with a process that addresses the needs of the school and career path.

Best of luck to you and keep it up. As others have said keep working in the ICU as long as you can. You’ll appreciate the experience when you’re dealing with a crisis in the OR and the rest of the anesthesia staff can’t come to help, or if you’re in a solo practice depending on your own expertise.

The effort is very much worth it!

Jeff G · Apr 1, 2020

To get the best grades possible, choose your courses wisely and pre-study the material. I give this advice to all the pre-professional students I advise.