SuBLyME

Congratulations on your offer for interview with Scranton and St. Raphael's. Your probably nervous right now. I was in your shoes last year and I still remembered it like it was yesterday! Now i'm an SRNA (of a school that will remain unnamed), toiling away. I check on this website everynow and then in between my study breaks. This is for Scranton. First off, focus on your personal statement. They want to match what's on your application to the actual person. Your personal statement has got a lot to do with your offer for an interview. You have to back up what you've written in there. They'll give you a chance to meet with their students. Then a little background of all the clinicals the school sends you to. Afterwards, you get interviewed by a panel of 9 or 10 inside this room TOGETHER with 3 other students!! It gets hard to focus on your own answer when you hear the other applicants answering the same questions. Keep focused. Keep your answers short. The interviewers have probably heard everything under the sun. Keep your calm and be confident but not arrogant. Keep the school's mission and goals in mind.... Did you do volunteer work? I didn't and was honest about it too! How do you handle stress? It probably didn't reflect that I was extremely nervous at the time because I got the acceptance letter. Why did you choose Scranton? Remember their mission? Again, keep your answers short and to the point. I hope this helps. Good luck to you and your journey I know I am enjoying my own.

Hey mummer, I've had tremendous help from this website and now I am returning the favor. :nuke: I have applied and was accepted -- one of them Scranton. YES. Reading from your post it looks like your past academic record does not really indicate your present ability to pursue graduate studies. What's important is that you've gained that focus you need and are ready to accept the academic challenge. You have a strong GPA in your BSN and i believe you wouldn't have to take your GRE for Scranton 'cuz you've got > 3.0 I'm pretty sure you'll get offered an interview at Scranton. WHen that time comes you have to be ready. They have one of the nicest staff around. The faculty culture is one that is the friendliest I have encountered. Their clinical sites are all over the place. They have a lot anywhere from Wilkes-Barre all the way up to Pottsville and Sayre. The more clinical the better, I think. Teaches you the myriad of ways to do anesthesia from a bunch of different CRNAs. As for your didactics, they have one of the BEST Anesthesia Teachers around Dr. Nagelhout. He's PD for Kaiser. Scranton is big into volunteer work. Have one or two under your belt. If you research into their school's Mission, Values, etc. it would only make sense that they'd want you to have had volunteer work. I think that goes with any other schools you are applying for. In fact, include that in your Personal Statement. The school's Mission and Values should be in line with your own. As for your experience in ICU --- learn everything you can. Soak it all up like a sponge. I work in a Level I Trauma Center and our Surgical/Trauma ICU was off the hook!! I used to work in an Open Heart unit as well and learned a lot about the PA catheters. I've got a lot of CRNA and SRNA friends, my fiancee's an SRNA herself ( graduating Aug. '08, yes!) and i've been told the experience you'll get in the unit is invaluable, it will serve you well in the clinical aspect of the NA school. One last piece of advice, get STRONG recommendation letters. This is something you have total control of. If possible from an Anesthesiologist. Shadow as many CRNAs as you could. How did your interview at Mont/Tornetta go? Keep on plugging. Good Luck