Realistic chances of being accepted into a CRNA program

Published

Hey guys wanted to see if any CRNAs or SRNAs (or anyone else) had any insight on how competitive I would be for getting accepted into a CRNA program based on my credentials?

I am a 27 year old male with a BS in cell biology GPA 3.5 (however during my first two semesters of college I made a few F's in English 101, Biology 121, Math 112, and Chemistry 101 due to not going to class and a few C's as well, but the F's have been retaken with A's made in all but I Know Nursingcas still calculates them.)

I have a BSN which was an accelerated 12 month program that was a bridged BSN/MSN program where I graduated top of my class with a 3.9 GPA and made A's in all 4 of my Master level classes. So my overall GPA is around a 3.77 with replacement grades and around a 3.4 with all my grades added. My last 60 hour GPA is a 3.93 and my science GPA (from my first degree because I believe nursing courses do not count) is a 3.5 with replacement grades and a 3.0 (completely horrible) with all my grades added. My GRE score is a little weak at 1100 and for most programs required courses I have looked at my GPA would be a 3.78.

ACLS/PALS certified, planning on becoming CCRN certified soon, 2 years in a Surgical ICU at a Level 1 Trauma center.

My main concern is that my science GPA will not be looked at as well a 3.0 is low but in all his upper level courses (200-400) and after his first year of college he made all A's in his sciences, but rather as 3.0 is too low and we don't think he can complete the program.

Any thoughts would be appreciated,

Thanks

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU.

You will be fine. I had a GPA of 3.14 with my first degree. I think my nursing GPA was 3.8 and I was also in an accelerated program. (I also had to make up grades like you :-p) Can't tell you much about your GRE scores because I took it with the new system in place.

I honestly got interview everywhere I applied. For the most part every school pretty much asked about why my college GPA was so low and also asked me why I was a Bio major. I told them the truth about going for MD first but I made a lot of bad decisions and what I did to correct all my mistakes from then on. (Hence the better grades)

The SICU at a trauma one is great. Your current app imo will get you interviews, it's how you conduct yourself and how well you answer their questions that will determine if you get in or not.

TL.DR - I got in this year and we pretty much have the same qualifications/story

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Just apply. Why would you let anything stop you? Can't have that mentality.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in SICU.

You'll get an interview

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Get your CCRN, shadow a CRNA, and include both of those topics in your admission essay. You shouldn't have a problem getting interviews to at least half of the school that you apply to. When I applied to four different programs, I had 10 months of ICU and nursing experience at a 180 bed community hospital. My GRE score was only a 295. I graduated with a 3.81 gpa, worked as a monitor tech for 3 years during nursing school, and got my CCRN about a month before my first CRNA school interview. Of the four schools I applied to, I was offered four interviews. I was accepted into two programs and waitlisted at one.

In my opinion, this is the order of what most schools are looking for. 1) GPA 2) How well your interview goes 3) CCRN or not 4) Your ICU experience 4) shadow experience 5) your GRE

Hope this helps you and best of luck.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks for the advice everyone

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion