Schools without GRE!

KimberRN1 · Sep 16, 2005

I think standardized test like the GRE are a racket.....It's nothing more than a money making machine and I'm glad more colleges and universities are seeing the light......I guess like some say it's a way to weed out people based on who has the highest GRE score, but really they could be missing out on a great nurse who can be an even better NP or CRNA....Yea I sucked it up and took my GRE and I'm in a CRNA program...But you'll never convince me the GRE has a damn thing to do with anything other money...

TLC RN · Sep 17, 2005

Oakland University is not to far from Toledo. If you have a GPA over a 3.5 you don't have to take the GRE.

Corvette Guy · Sep 17, 2005

Let me see if I understand you correctly.. Rather than sucking it up and taking a test that costs a little over 100 bucks, youd prefer to incur the cost (and stress) of moving and having to pay the extra thousands for out-of-state tuition?
The GRE is, at best, a waste of a friday afternoon, and you will likely 'waste' many friday afternoons studying for it, but the options it will yield will more than offset the 'stress' of taking it.
Like yourself, I am in the midst of the application process. The more SRNA's and CRNA's I talk to, the more respect I have for them and the profession itself. Sure, there are some folks who apply on a whim, get in, and make it thru, but most applicants (myself included) have been working towards this profession for years, and are willing to do whatever it takes to get there. Seems to me that taking the most ridiculous exam ever contrived is one of the easiest hoops we will have to jump thru in order to reach this goal.
Perhaps the one thing the GRE is good for is weeding out the people who lack the willingness to do whatever it takes.

I totally disagree with your GRE logic of weeding out the people who lack the willingness to do whatever it takes.

I have a 3.756 GPA, plus an "A" in several science related courses [A&P, Microbiology, Chem 1, and even Statistics (math not psych). I graduated my ADN program in 1998 all the while working full time as a Certified Scrub Tech, AND raising my two teenage sons as a single parent. Then, graduated my online (w/campus time) RN-BSN UTMB program while working full time as an RN (ADN), plus a member of the USAR Nurse Corps.

I've taken the GRE twice with a very expensive Kaplan GRE Prep course in between. My scores are still below the required minimum in two of the three areas. I did write the min. 3.5 on the second try. However, I found writing the essays to be very stressful d/t to only given 45 mins. on the first one & 30 mins. on the second essay. I'm 44 yrs old and never was a speed demon on the keyboard. So, I don't mind doing essays, yet not under such time constraints. At least my GPA is well above the required minimum.

Anyway, you have NO RIGHT TO TELL ME I HAVE NOT PUT OUT THE EFFORT. I had no problem passing my NCLEX over 7 years ago, which is set up similar to the Computer Adaptive Testing [CAT] mode of the GRE. However, I've talked to many a CRNA which are in agreement how unrelated algebra, and especially geometry are to there everyday task as nurse anesthetist.

Yes, I agree the GRE is one of the most ridiculous exams ever contrived, yet for some it is DEFINITELY NOT one of the easiest hoops to jump thru in order to reach the goal of becoming a CRNA.

Corvette Guy · Sep 17, 2005

Oakland University is not to far from Toledo. If you have a GPA over a 3.5 you don't have to take the GRE.

Too bad I don't live in Cali :uhoh3:

Focker, CRNA · Sep 17, 2005

:biggringi I just recently discovered that some schools don't ask for GRE! I have an anxiety to take the test and was really relieved. I already sent my papers to one college and will be sending to a couple more! I will have to relocate because every school in Ohio does require GRE...
I still believe- if you don't have to take a test why get additional stress?!
Any comments?

You should look at taking the test in a way that doesnt stress you out. I dont see why it should stress you to take the test, when you can always still apply to those schools that dont require it if you dont do well. It sounds like you havnt even taken it before, so how do you know you wont do well? I agree with everyone else, it doesnt make any sense to take steps like moving to another city to avoid the gre. Its a cheap test, and you can improve your results by simply studying. You follow up your initial statement saying you've always wanted to move to a bigger city, but in the statment above you directly state that you would move just to avoid the gre. Sounds like you are trying to justify avoiding the gre with weak alternate motives... oh i wanted to move anyway... the schools in ohio arent that nice to begin with (i made that one up)... etc.

berry · Sep 17, 2005

It's starting to get a little crazy on this thread. There are many paths to Crna School and different hurdles along each one. If taking the gre is just too much or you can't obtain the min score then find schools that don't require it. When I decided to become a crna, I worked in the ER and did not feel I needed to move to an ICU to go to school. I also did not want to take any more classes. I cut and pasted the list of all 90 something programs then me and another guy I worked with started weeding them down to schools we meet the requirements. I learned that schools have vastly different requirements for pre-reqs some just require a BSN no requirement on your sciences or statistics. Some require the same sciences as med school as well as 2 years of biochemistry some want graduate level stats; some want 2 years sicu some just want 1 year acute care be it icu, er, pacu, or cath lab. There are several schools who waive the gre if you have a certain gpa some accept the mat some don't even require a bsn. If becoming a crna is you end goal you have two choices choose schools you fit or make yourself fit into more schools.

I had three schools across the county I was going to apply to the first time around. Since then I smoked the gre and have spent the last year recovering hearts in sicu by doing this I have completely changed my profile there are still schools I cannot apply to, but many more I can.

The gre is not a tool to weed out people who are not willing to take a test, if anything it is a tool to compare students gpas are subjective even if looking at the same class a C in chemistry at one school may be more difficult to obtain than an A at another school. Many people have high gpas that would not have them at other schools. I remember a girl in my bsn program who failed out the first semester she had a 4.0 when she started the nursing component once she left the junior college she did not receive extra credit for "wiping off the board after class" no lie. The gre is just one way for schools to compare apples and apples.

zoozoo · Sep 18, 2005

Thank you for all the replies but I have to agree it's getting crazy on this site!

I did not lie to anyone by saying that I would like to move to a bigger city. It is my goal...Also, if I don't have to take a GRE-I will be more than happy!I took practice GRE on a CD-ROM and did not do well, but I practiced MAT and actually just took it at University of Toledo (got 388).Case Western told me that score around 400 will be acceptable.I am hoping that my score will be acceptable to them considering that 13 years ago I did not speak English at all...

Another thought I would like to share is that all the above mentioned tests are just a simple way of making money not checking and justifying a graduate student abilities.Woudn't you pay $300-400 for a test if they decide to raise a price? I definitely would just to get in!

Anyway, I went through the list of schools and eliminated some(GRE!), chose some (no GRE,MAT or no tests req.)My GPA is 3.57 but I just graduated, so I went ahead and applied anyway to Oakland and Case Western. Oakland needed ACLS certificate but I just took a class and the deadline was Sep.15. Case didn't answered me yet whether they received a package or not, but I went for an open house and met CRNA people, they recommended applying anyway without experience. I hope I will hear soon. I know that chances are slim that I will get in for next year, but who knows? Next year I will apply to more colleges that don't req. GRE. I called some of them already and I am planning to take a Microbiology course (refresh., mine is old for them!)again in January at the community college($$$).I am particularly interested in Buffalo,NY and Case Western along with Oakland.

I strongly believe that whether you took GRE or not-what counts is the ultimate goal:what kind of nurse you will be when you get your CRNA certificate... :balloons:

NTPinky · Sep 18, 2005

My school, where I'm doing an accelerated MSN program, does not require a GRE either, but the nursing school I attend is HORRIBLE. I haven't met any fellow student who likes it. So please don't base your decision on a school not requiring a GRE. If you're really stressed about it you can always do a Kaplan test prep or something for it. Also, many schools don't use the GRE as an admission tool, they just want to see what your level is, so your experience in the field is probably more important. Good luck to you!

zoozoo · Sep 19, 2005

My school, where I'm doing an accelerated MSN program, does not require a GRE either, but the nursing school I attend is HORRIBLE. I haven't met any fellow student who likes it. So please don't base your decision on a school not requiring a GRE. If you're really stressed about it you can always do a Kaplan test prep or something for it. Also, many schools don't use the GRE as an admission tool, they just want to see what your level is, so your experience in the field is probably more important. Good luck to you!

Thank you. :)