DMooreRN

Congrats on getting interviews! I got invited to interview with UMaryland as well, but not sure if I will have to accept my previous offer by then or not...will keep you updated. Good luck!! :-)

Thanks, everyone! I am very excited...still can't get over the fact that I got accepted, haha. My next step is to start looking into loans and the housing situation...as much as I love Boston, I am not looking forward to going back to such a high cost of living...but it will be worth it! Kevindma, I was originally planning on applying to BC, but because they only admit in the spring, I wouldn't be able to start their program til January 2014 and I wanted to start a little earlier...also, I am more familiar with NU since I did my undergrad there and know that they will provide me with a great education. Not to say BC wouldn't...I hear they're super competitive and usually only take around 15 - 16 students per year. Are you currently in school and where?

Thanks, Marco! I actually attended NU for my undergraduate nursing degree, so I'm pretty familiar with Boston already, but thank you for offering me info on the area! I love Boston and am excited to be moving back to that area, especially because all of my family lives in New England. What programs have you applied to? Is this your first time applying? Best of luck with interviews and keep me posted on your progress!! :-)

Hi guys, Swimincatz I'm sorry I haven't replied to your private message...it isn't letting me for some reason, I think because I haven't had enough posts... I haven't heard anything about an interview for UMB either. I just found out today, though, that I got accepted to Northeastern University's program for fall 2013 and since it is my top choice I will probably end up going there. If you are looking for some interviewing advice, you can look at the Drexel University thread in the pre-CRNA inquiry forum...I just posted a bunch of the questions the admissions committee from NU asked me on there! Good luck hearing about interviews...I'm sure you will get them!! Keep me updated! :-)

Hi everyone, Just found out that I got accepted to NU'S CRNA program for fall 2013! I am most likely going to attend since it is my first choice but still have an interview at Drexel University next week. Has anyone else gotten accepted to NU for this upcoming fall??

Another update...just got an email saying I got accepted to the NU program!! I can't believe I found out so quickly...what a RELIEF! I have never been so happy in my life...all the hard work to get into a program is definitely worth it when you get that acceptance letter! Best of luck to all of you...I'm sure you will do great on your interviews! My advice to you is to walk into the room confidently (as hard as it may be), take a deep breath and just focus on each individual question and answer as concisely as possible and look at each interviewer directly when answering. They understand that you are nervous, and if they're good people, will try to make you feel as comfortable as possible. The first question they asked me was to describe the kind of unit I worked in/general types of patients I take care of. Then they asked me to describe a patient that I have taken care of recently (specifically a very critically-ill patient). They wanted to know details...pt's medical history, admitting diagnosis, specific meds they were on...try to talk about a patient on multiple vasopressors if you can...and know their mechanism of action, what receptors they work on, and a couple major side effects....the committee loved that I knew these for three different pressors and that in itself I think got me in...know your patient's blood gas and an idea of what you would do with vent settings based on the blood gas values, and finally, the patient's outcome). The patient I talked about was on VA ECMO, so they asked me to describe ECMO. My patient had also gone into full PEA arrest, so they asked me exactly what PEA stands for and a general idea of what you do to get a patient out of PEA. As for non-clinical questions, they asked me why I chose anesthesia as opposed to a nurse practitioner program, how I would feel challenged by being an anesthesia provider, what sort of support system I would have while in school, how I deal with people/describe what I would do if a new resident approached me with a therapy that I did not agree with. They cannot condemn you with being honest, and I think they will know if you're BS'ing them so don't do it! And like everyone on here has mentioned, if you do not know the answer to a question, don't hesitate to say you don't know...they'd rather hear that than some BS answer because they will know whether it is right or wrong...I hope this helps all of you!! :-)

Thought I'd give an update about my interview at NU yesterday! It was a little nerve wracking...I had to interview in front of two panels. The first panel had three people and the second had four. I felt pretty good in front of the first panel...was able to answer specifics about three different vasopressors and describe my sickest patient. The second panel was a bit more intimidating...they didn't seem too impressed that I only have PICU experience. So we'll see...should know by the end of December. There were also four students there and were able to answer a lot of questions, which was nice. The waiting process is going to be painful but at least the first interview is behind me! Keep me updated on all of your journeys and I will do the same!!!

This is my first time applying. I have worked in the PICU for the past two years...hoping 2 years' experience will be enough to get in! :-) Is this your first time applying as well? I got an invitation to interview for Northeastern University's program as well...that interview is scheduled for Nov 3rd, so before the Drexel one. I am so nervous that I have two interviews within a week and a half of each other, but it will be nice to get them out of the way so quickly! Are you CCRN certified? I have started reviewing material for the pediatric CCRN but don't have a test date or anything yet...I want to study hard so that I can pass it the first time. I am hoping that not being CCRN certified won't hurt my chances of getting into a program...I guess I'll just have to wait and see.

Ms. B, huge congrats to you on getting accepted to your #1 choice!! That is amazing! How was the interview? Was it as hard as you thought it would be? I am getting so nervous for my interview in November but at least I have a little over a month to prepare... ShoogleBear, I am also applying to Northeastern University (which is where I did my undergrad), University of Maryland, and Boston College. Boston College is for spring 2014 and isn't accepting applications until the spring/early summer so I have a while on that one...but it feels good to be done with all the other applications and with one interview scheduled! I chose to apply to Drexel for several reasons...one, if you get accepted into the CRNA program you can take the core classes online so you can focus all of your energy on your anesthesia courses by the time you start the full-time program. I also chose it because ideally I would like to specialize in pediatric anesthesia, and if you are interested in that you can do a month-long pediatric anesthesia rotation at CHOP near the end of the program. Have you applied other places?

Hi everyone! Congrats on your invitation to interview, ShoogleBear! I also got invited to interview on November 14th...so nervous but excited. And congrats YankeesRN on getting accepted...that is a huge accomplishment. If you have any pointers to offer on the interview it would be much appreciated. Good luck all!

Sorry about the late response...I have been working crazy hours lately, too!! Congratulations on getting an interview with Our Lady of Lourdes!! That is so exciting. I'm sure you will do great...I wish you the best of luck! Maybe see you at Drexel's Open House in August! Keep me updated on your application process. :-)

Update: I spoke with the person who has my application on file and she said that interviews for 2015 would not start until a another couple of months from now; she was not sure if that meant this fall or spring. They are still working through a lot of applications. She told me that a request for interview would be sent via e-mail, and those invited to interview would probably not receive that invitation for a couple of months, either. She did tell me unofficially that I was favorable for an interview, so we'll see....it made me feel better so now I'm not running to my mailbox every two seconds! I hope this clears up anything you are wondering, too!

Thanks for the response! I also heard back from them once all my application materials were received at the end of June, so online under my Drexel account it says that my application is complete and currently being reviewed by the admissions committee but a decision has not yet been made. I have been speaking to Rexine Patterson over the phone since I submitted my application. Originally, she told me that if I didn't hear anything about an interview within two weeks to give her a call. I didn't hear anything, so I called her. At that time, the director of the program who reviews the applications was on vacation. I called her again two weeks later (which was last Wednesday), and she said that my application along with others had been handed over to someone new who they just hired. She gave me her contact information so I called her, left her a message, and have not heard back from her yet. I'm just frustrated because they said it would be two weeks to hear something about a possible interview (which actually seems kind of quick....so maybe I should be more patient). My heart sinks everytime I run to the mailbox and there is nothing there!! I am also applying to Northeastern University (where I went to undergrad), Boston College, University of Maryland, and University of New England. I wish you the best of luck as well...keep me updated on when you hear something about an interview! Have you or are you attending Drexel's Open House? I am attending their Open House on Aug 28th. Maybe I'll meet you there!

Hi all, For those of you who have applied to Drexel, how long does it typically take to hear back about an interview? I submitted my application at the end of June and still haven't heard anything yet. Thanks.

Hi everyone, I am planning on applying to UMaryland's CRNA program for fall 2013 entrance. Could you offer me some info on the interview process? I know a couple people that are currently in the program and they said the interview was rough but it sounds like maybe they revamped it based on what you guys are saying. Is it a panel interview? If so, how many people interview you? What kinds of questions do they ask? Is it a lot of clinical-based questions or get-to-know-you's? Thanks for your help!!