Mass application vs Eggs in a Basket Approach

BeatOU · Aug 13, 2005

PS

I have applied/am applying to the following schools and would like to hear from fellow applicants and/or current students with their thoughts..first five responses gets a six pack of Schlitz...

1. Univ. of Minnesota

2. Decatur Memorial Hospital / Bradley

3. Oakland university

4. Univ. of North Dakota

5. New Britain

6. BryanLGH

7. UT Houston

8. Ark. State

9. LSU

10. Raleigh

thanks,

Bevo

kmchugh · Aug 13, 2005

Personally, I don't recommend a "shotgun" approach to school applications, mostly for the reasons you mentioned (cost, scheduling conflicts, time investment, etc.) I generally recommend that people do a little research into various programs you might be interested in. Find out which meet your learning style, distance requirements, etc. Call the program directors at these institutions, find out how you might stack up against other applicants. While they cannot give you specifics, they might be able to give you a pretty good idea how well your application will fare.

Having done that, I would suggest you only apply to two, or at most three programs. Concentrate your efforts, rather than spread yourself too thin. When I went to school, I applied to only one program. That program met all my needs, including location, cost, and time involved. (I chose to attend a 24 month program.) It worked well for me, and I was accepted first time around. However, even if you are not accepted first time, most directors will have no problem discussing with you the reasons you were not accepted, and how you can make yourself a more attractive candidate for the next application process.

Kevin McHugh, CRNA

nilepoc · Aug 13, 2005

Read this thread

old thread on how many applications to send.

good luck.

SigmaSRNA · Aug 13, 2005

Okay....First, if you are from texas you need to consider 2 more schools, Texas Wesleyan University and Texas Christian University (both in fort worth).

Second, there is no cookie cutter approach; you can apply to one school (i did) or you can apply to 20..Doesn't matter as long as you get in. That's the key. Having said that, call the schools your interested in and get a feel if you would be competitive. If you get the feeling, from your initial phone call to a program, that you would not be competitive or you don't hear what you like, don't apply. If you do, apply. Don't apply to just 2 schools and not get in either one. As long as you have the money and the means, apply to 50 if you can. Oh yeah, I start at Texas Wesleyan this fall. 100% board pass rate, puts out more nurse anesthetist than anyone in the country and one of the oldest programs in the country. And you don't have to leave the state. Something to think about.

William_SRNA · Aug 13, 2005

I personally think the shotgun approach is a good one (6 or less schools) and is what the CRNAs I shadowed also recommended, but make sure they are schools you really want to attend. As for flying around it can get expensive i was travel nursing at the time so i was clearing $2000/week so for me it was not a big deal. But remeber every year you do not get accepted that is about $100,000 out of your pocket (I'm from the midwest where $19/hour was envious).

BeatOU · Aug 14, 2005

thank you all for your input.

Nilepoc---thanks for the past post...

DSAC · Aug 14, 2005

I recommend the shotgun approach. It worked for me. I start at TWU next week. I applied to about twelve schools, and interviewed at 3. I was an alternate at one and accepted to one. I was accepted the day of my interview, which happened to be my first choice anyway. I cancelled 4 interviews after that day. I researched almost every program listed on the AANA website and received packages from most. I narrowed the list down to the twelve programs, I thought I had the best chance at. I placed phone calls to all of them and spoke with the program director of most. Although, I had my preferences of schools that I wanted to attend, I felt that I would have a better chance of acceptance the more I interviewed. I can tell you that every school I interviewed at asked me how many schools I applied to and why. In the end, the important thing is that you meet the goal you set out for, and get into school. For me, it was worth the money. Good luck in whatever you decide.

Damon

Roland · Aug 14, 2005

I recommend the shotgun approach. It worked for me. I start at TWU next week. I applied to about twelve schools, and interviewed at 3. I was an alternate at one and accepted to one. I was accepted the day of my interview, which happened to be my first choice anyway. I cancelled 4 interviews after that day. I researched almost every program listed on the AANA website and received packages from most. I narrowed the list down to the twelve programs, I thought I had the best chance at. I placed phone calls to all of them and spoke with the program director of most. Although, I had my preferences of schools that I wanted to attend, I felt that I would have a better chance of acceptance the more I interviewed. I can tell you that every school I interviewed at asked me how many schools I applied to and why. In the end, the important thing is that you meet the goal you set out for, and get into school. For me, it was worth the money. Good luck in whatever you decide.
Damon

My main problem with the "shotgun" approach would be references. It will be hard enough for me to find three or four people who don't think I'm half crazy let alone thirty six! On the other hand given that I will go into my interviews with profound in your face honesty (Mr. Roland what is the most important reason that you want to be a CRNA. Me: well for the money of course let me explain.... as I go into a thirty minute diatribe of neo/conservative/libertarian rhetoric) it would probably take at least ten interviews for me to even have a shot.

With that said the better applicant you are the less applications you will probably need to send. Furthermore, for some (myself included) the reality of finances and time mean that applying to more than about five schools is probably out of the question.

William_SRNA · Aug 14, 2005

My main problem with the "shotgun" approach would be references. It will be hard enough for me to find three or four people who don't think I'm half crazy let alone thirty six! On the other hand given that I will go into my interviews with profound in your face honesty (Mr. Roland what is the most important reason that you want to be a CRNA. Me: well for the money of course let me explain.... as I go into a thirty minute diatribe of neo/conservative/libertarian rhetoric) it would probably take at least ten interviews for me to even have a shot.
With that said the better applicant you are the less applications you will probably need to send. Furthermore, for some (myself included) the reality of finances and time mean that applying to more than about five schools is probably out of the question.

You can use the same references for a number of schools not all schools send out for references. The problem is if you apply to only one or two schools you may not even get an interview. The school I was accepted to had 240 applicants for 22 slots and only interviewed less than 40 applicants, and I know it is common for most schools not to interview everyone.

Roland · Aug 14, 2005

You can use the same references for a number of schools not all schools send out for references. The problem is if you apply to only one or two schools you may not even get an interview. The school I was accepted to had 240 applicants for 22 slots and only interviewed less than 40 applicants, and I know it is common for most schools not to interview everyone.

Well that's good to know I still cannot imagine asking someone for a reference. Heck, I was too shy to ask people to even sign my year books in school. As to the school that had 240 applicants that is precisely why schools should have more of a "looking glass" policy when it comes to their admission standards. For example if I knew that the schools I were interested in only accepted 22 out of 240, I would be much more inclined to apply to more schools than if I thought they would be getting say 40 for those spots. Keep in mind that most of our cogitations apply to the "borderline" applicant. Those with high GPA's, years of CC experience, and good GRE scores will tend to get in even with a small number of applications. It's no great challenge to find a date for Tom Cruise or Tom Hanks that goes well. However, setting Danny Devito (without his money or fame) up on a date with a model that ends in a marriage is much more of a challenge and requires far more deliberation, cunning, and calculation.

I've stated before and firmly believe that some schools tend to have higher average GPA's and lower applicant to accepted applicant ratios than do others. For example, I would wager that the schools in Penn, and Tenn as a whole receive fewer applicants per slot than say the schools in California. Also, I bet that the classes that start in the Winter/Spring receive fewer applicants than those which start in the fall (since more people will tend to graduate in the Spring, and thus hit their one to two years CC experience level in the Spring). I would also suppose that schools which have a 24 month program tend to get more applicants than those which require say 30 months to graduate. Also, those schools which require less Chemistry, and don't require Physics, and or the GRE probably get a few, fewer applicants per open slot (keep in mind for example that there are those with high GPA's who don't do well on standardized tests for whatever reason). All of these factors (and probably many others) can be considered and potentially utilized to give "Danny Devito" a better chance of finding love.

BeatOU · Aug 14, 2005

I've only been working in my present job 8 months, but I am a team player and always looking to to help my peers. What i have done is given my friends a maximum of four forms from the schools I have applied and asked them to write a generic, statement about myself...i.e....work ethic, etc and inevitably each of these forms has a place for them to elaborate and they can write "see attached"

Another thing that has helped is the schools I am applying to are staggered..Aug, 2, Sept 1, Sept 30, Oct. 1 Nov. 15th, etc. Thus not as hard as it seems.

As far as expenses...its tax deductible. That helps a little. so save your receipts and keep a log. Moreover, this is a major investment and just like stocks it takes capital....$400 on application fees will have a big return on cash in four years if i am accepted.

What remains to be seen is how hard juggling the interviews will be, and the fact my number 1 school is one of the last i can apply to...