Living2Learn

And foremost, congrats! Getting an interview is the tough office part of the whole process. Pitt is very holistic in their recruitment approach and look at a lot of things aside from just grades. I interviewed over zoom, but the process is pretty much, the same. You'll get multiple mini interviews (3-4) most of which are situational and emotional intelligence questions. There's one section that has a clinical component, but it is very straightforward and not intimidating at all. They are really just looking for students who are research-minded, approachable, and will fit in with the personality of the cohort. feel free to PM me if you have anymore questions.

They don't have an explicit science GPA requirement or certain classes use to calculate. In fact, they don't recalculate any GPAs for you. They look at your BSN GPA and as long as you meet that threshold, you're good. Of course they're going to look at your science grades to make sure they're not a red flag, but they don't recalculate a sciGPA.

Nope, it's @sirbeatness - feel free to add me and we can chat more!

Maybe because you're new to this site and haven't posted enough? But yes feel free! Or if you wanna message me on Reddit or IG?

Thanks! And yes, I totally get that. I have lots of information and notes re: the route of CRNA going through a peds ICU - feel free to DM me on here and we can talk more

So glad it was helpful and congrats on your offer! Yep, I stayed! I was staff for 2 years, traveled for a year and now I'm in CRNA school. I am actually on an assignment now (my first semester or two is light and I'm able to work). I'm working at a large academic PICU that's does hearts also.

Hi there! I'm actually at Pitt now and went through this just last year. Pitt uses your BSN GPA in a sense - that is, they use the GPA printed on the transcript which conferred your BSN. While they do use NursingCAS, they use it more as an application tool to stream line things rather than relying on it for other admissions functions. They do not utilize the transcript feature on NursingCAS nor do they utilize GPAs calculated from NursingCAS. After submission, you will see some GPAs calculated by NursingCAS, but they are not used or considered. Pitt takes a very human and holistic approach with their entire selection process. This GPA requirement is meant to be a more inclusive factor because it really is just takes into account the nursing courses and affiliated sciences as opposed to every class you ever took. The one potential down side is that you don't really have the opportunity to increase your actual GPA by taking other classes (but this doesn't seem to be an issue for you) Feel free to reach if you have any other questions!

I don't know anything more about the point system as it's not something that's at all published. I just know that the scoring system exists because this is what the director told us all after the interviews. It is how they internally and holistically rank their pool of applicants. I don't know for sure which things are weighted more, but I assume experience and GPA are weighted the most. However, the more things you do to improve your application, the better. Other items they said that they look at and assign points for are: research, graduate courses, leadership/unit involvement, GRE, CCRN & other certs. Re: GRE, I'm sure you know most schools are moving towards lowering the impact that the score has on admission or eliminating the requirement entirely. That being said, I'd aim to get above the 50th percentile (which will likely be higher than 150 for each section, just look it up on ETS) and you'll be fine. Getting a super high score more than likely won't sky rocket you to the top of their radar, so I'd say do your best, but no need to aim for a 320+ (more on this later). Re: experience, if you're applying with 1.5 years, it should be a very strong 1.5 years of experience. Level one trauma, in a specialty ICU or a very acute MICU, in a big academic center or well respected regional hospital. If your experience isn't this strong, it may hurt you more than an applicant from a more acute facility or one with more experience. For a glimmer of hope, I applied with a substantially lower GPA than you and just one more year of experience. What I did was try to pad my profile as much as possible: I included my research (from undergrad), international volunteer experience, graduate courses, extra certs, etc. I also retook my GRE and got a much higher score, but by the time they actually got my new score I was already accepted so I think it was a waste. I hope this was helpful! If you want more information or insight, feel free to PM me!

Oh, haha. That makes sense. Hopefully you get in! I withdrew my application because I was accepted elsewhere so that’s one more spot for you all!

What do you mean exactly? The applications are rolling and have been since Feb, so most people have already gotten in for 2023.

Congrats! I applied at the very beginning of August and haven’t heard anything quite yet. When is your interview?

Very awesome - congrats!

Did you get an offer elsewhere?

They conduct interviews once a month, generally. However, they’re skipping August because the incoming class is starting, so they’ll resume next month. I applied about 3 weeks ago and was told that I’ll most likely hear back about an interview (considering I’m selected for one) in possibly September, but more than likely October.

Congrats and glad that you accepted! Yes there was! “Pitt CRNA DNP Cohort 2023-2026”

Congrats! I just got this email just as I was done emailing someone about the same topic! First year is gonna be scary, ngl. There is no sugar coating it. You’re going to see some sick patients, have some intense days and learn ALOT in year one. Here are some tips for a new grad. If you’re at a large children’s hospital and you’re a new grad, I’m sure you have a formalized residency. Take advantage of this and treat it like school, not work. There is so much information to learn about being a nurse, let a lot about the population you’re caring for. Take notes, ask questions and read. Learn your patho. Especially your defects, shunting, and blood flow. Don’t just learn what TOF is, but also what the defects mean for the body and how that will present. You won’t know everything in the first year, but having a basic understanding of that will make life much easier and more enjoyable. Cherish residency and lean on your preceptor. Swing big and they’ll catch you when you fall and ensure safety. They’re supposed to be there to help you learn while keeping the patient safe. You won’t have that type of security ever again, so utilize it! Give yourself grace! This is the most important part. You’re going to have ups and down. You will feel like you’re underprepared. Imposter syndrome is real. Just know that everyone knows you’re new and they want you to succeed. Celebrate your wins and learn from your losses. Hope this helps! Feel free to PM me if you have any other questions. Congrats on your new job! Peds cardiac is a truly a special place.

No, you don’t have to take any courses if you don’t want to. Graduate FT status is 9 units. Most of the semesters are less than 12 units anyway. I think that saying that by the time you hit 12 units you need to have a 3.0. I think the verbiage is freaking a lot of people out, but it’s literally no different than what was explained to you: if you’re admitted PT, you can take courses if you want to up until you start the Spring 2024 cohort. If you’re admitted FT, you can take courses in Fall 2022 and you’ll start in the Spring 2023 cohort.

This is the PT offer. You can take courses if you want, and if you do, make sure you get a B or higher. Since the cohort starts Spring, if you want to take Fall 2022 courses you’d need to be admitted into the school as a PT student. Then in Spring, you’ll be FT status (meaning you can take more courses, but that doesn’t mean you’re in the cohort). You can take courses up until you start the Spring 2024 cohort. I wouldn’t get too caught up on the verbiage and the appointment of statuses as that’s mostly an administration thing. It’s the same as they explained it.

I was accepted full-time and got the same email. This is basically saying you can take a course or two in Fall 2022 if you want or get a head start. You’d be PT for Fall 2022 and be FT in Spring 2023 when you start the program. If you want to take courses PT in fall, coordinate with your advisor and email the contact that’s listed later in the email.

I do think the slots are predetermined. As in they decide the people they want FT & PT then adjust accordingly

I’d imagine they do. When I got my call they said they wanted to offer me a full time spot in the cohort and was specific about it being full time. I imagine the same would happen with PT.

Just got my call! I’m in! It’s happening everyone! ?

Exactly! I was having a similar convo with a friend who applied to another school back on March 1 and JUST heard back today that she was accepted (after being waitlisted 2 weeks ago). There is definitely hope!

OMG, it must be DAAYYSS. I feel bad for future cohorts that look online to see pages and pages of useless banter regarding how we haven’t been contacted and speculating on when we will hear back, haha

I think those people who heard back were prioritized because they applied by the priority deadline. During my interview, I believe that she said that we’d hear by phone first, regardless of the decision. But as I think about it, it certainly is strange for them to call an applicant just to tell them they’re denied.