Questions for extracurricular tasks for CRNA school

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Hello all,

I realize that this is a great source for feedback for potential CRNA students so I'm looking to see what others think.

I earned a 3.5 GPA in my previous bachelor's degree - didn't study at all, could have easily made it 4.0 but I didn't care at the time. That was 8 years ago. Then, I received a 3.5 or so in my nursing degree. Now, I have a 3.92 in my BSN (will be a 3.94 if I get an A in these last 3 courses ending in December). My GRE - 321 (approximately 1360 on the old scoring system) with a 5.0 writing. I have ACLS, PALS. No CCRN.

I have an interview at Pitt and York College so far (will hear from a third school in January/February). In the spring of 2013, I am going to be taking chemistry II, pharmacology, and biochemistry. I only registered because I did not think that I was going to be getting accepted, and I want to drastically improve my chances for next year. Now that I have received 2 interviews, I am pretty sure that I meet the qualifications. I have always viewed the application as applying for an interview, and then interview is the application for acceptance. I've read others that have thought the same thing.

My place of employment - CTICU in a large teaching hospital. Tons of vasoactive drips, ECMO, CRRT, balloon pumps, CABS, heart valve repairs, heart- and lung-transplant patients, Pulmonary Artery lines, arterial lines, mechanical ventilation, trachestomies, open chest. blah blah. I've been there 2 years.

Since I've been studying for the CCRN to prepare for interviews, should I bother taking it? And should I drop the classes in the spring? I don't mind too much on taking the courses, though I don't want to spend the money. Having more free time for a baby on the way would be helpful, too.

Thanks for any advice!

Ryan

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Specializes in ER/ICU/STICU.

I would keep planning on taking it because it is surely going to come up in the interview. I don't know when your interviews are, but if you can take and pass the exam prior to your interview than it will only make you a stronger candidate.

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Hello all,

I realize that this is a great source for feedback for potential CRNA students so I'm looking to see what others think.

I earned a 3.5 GPA in my previous bachelor's degree - didn't study at all, could have easily made it 4.0 but I didn't care at the time. That was 8 years ago. Then, I received a 3.5 or so in my nursing degree. Now, I have a 3.92 in my BSN (will be a 3.94 if I get an A in these last 3 courses ending in December). My GRE - 321 (approximately 1360 on the old scoring system) with a 5.0 writing. I have ACLS, PALS. No CCRN.

I have an interview at Pitt and York College so far (will hear from a third school in January/February). In the spring of 2013, I am going to be taking chemistry II, pharmacology, and biochemistry. I only registered because I did not think that I was going to be getting accepted, and I want to drastically improve my chances for next year. Now that I have received 2 interviews, I am pretty sure that I meet the qualifications. I have always viewed the application as applying for an interview, and then interview is the application for acceptance. I've read others that have thought the same thing.

My place of employment - CTICU in a large teaching hospital. Tons of vasoactive drips, ECMO, CRRT, balloon pumps, CABS, heart valve repairs, heart- and lung-transplant patients, Pulmonary Artery lines, arterial lines, mechanical ventilation, trachestomies, open chest. blah blah. I've been there 2 years.

Since I've been studying for the CCRN to prepare for interviews, should I bother taking it? And should I drop the classes in the spring? I don't mind too much on taking the courses, though I don't want to spend the money. Having more free time for a baby on the way would be helpful, too.

Thanks for any advice!

Ryan

I am not sure about taking the CCRN if you end up getting in without it-but if they already know you are going to take it and the other classes then I would follow through. They will take you at your word that you are planning on doing those other classes. I took a bunch of classes before I applied as I wanted to be as prepared as I could be to succeed in school, not playing catch up with ideas that I could have learned a little about before hand.

good luck!

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Specializes in ----.

I think if you can get accepted without having to take all of those classes then why spend the money? Your stats are great, you shouldn't have a problem. I think I worked in the same hospital as you before, but a different unit. The unit you work in is excellent experience. I kind of think that they will teach you everything you will need to know in the program, so why take all those extra classes if it's not necessary? As far as the CCRN, I would probably go ahead and take it. With your experience, you should have no problem. It's only a little bit of money and it will make you look even better as a candidate. Will you find out if you're accepted to the program before those classes are meant to start? Good luck.

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There is a chance that I could hear from Pitt before the classes start. I will hear from York College on the first day of classes. So, obviously, if I get accepted there (or hear from Pitt), I am dropping them. However, if I don't get accepted, I'll probably take all three classes, because I won't hear from the other two school until February or March.

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I would take the CCRN. I got into VCU for 2013. During my interview I did ask them about being a competitive applicant. Your GRE scores are definitely high enough, but a lot of schools are not considering the CCRN to be more important or just as important as the GRE. It wasn't a hard test. I just studied the gasparis CDs. Good luck!

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