Should I apply to crna school or wait another year?

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  1. Should I apply for May 2020 cycle or give it a shot at applying in 2019?

    • 16
      2019
    • 7
      2020

23 members have participated

Hello, I've always wanted to be a CRNA. Little background, I went straight into a nursing program when I graduated high school at the age of 18. As the result of being immature I didn't really study much in nursing school, luckily I am a descent test taker & managed to still graduate with a cumulative GPA of 3.34. My only concern is that this GPA is not good enough for CRNA school standards. Currently I have a 1 year and 3 months of CTICU experience, did med surg for a year & half prior. I come from a high acuity unit, level 1 trauma center, managing post op CABG, AAA, heart transplants, LVADS, TAVRS, ECMO etc. I also have my CCRN. If I apply for the upcoming May 2019 cycle I will have a year and a half experience in CTICU. I'm not sure if I have a chance, if I should give it a shot and apply or should I wait until May 2020 & try to make my resume stronger but getting involved in more councils on my unit, precept, and will have more experience. I also have some volunteer work such as cooking meals at the Ronald McDonald house, volunteering at my church. I appreciate your advice.

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As the result of being immature I didn't really study much in nursing school, luckily I am a descent test taker & managed to still graduate with a cumulative GPA of 3.34. My only concern is that this GPA is not good enough for CRNA school standards.

Why don't you think this GPA is good enough? Additionally, if you don't think it's good enough, perhaps taking extra science classes or graduate classes will both increase your GPA and chances for admission. I understand taking extra classes is expensive, but if you truly think your GPA is your biggest weakness then you should consider taking appropriate measures to increase it.

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Apply and go for it! Don't worry about what other people think or measure yourself against them as it doesn't get you anywhere. My one suggestion though is to throughly look at what schools you want to apply to. You can easily research items schools don't post on their website and find what they are really looking for. For example if you find that a school you want to apply to really looks at GPA and everyone getting interviews has 3.5 or above maybe don't waste your time. I had high GPA but I was in your boat where I only had 1.5 years experience in a level one CTICu as well. You will get interviews no doubt but the interview is what gets you into the program!

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Most applicants can have one hole in their resume. Yours currently has two holes, both GPA and experience. Those 2 things, along with your GRE score, get you interviews. Maybe you get in now, maybe not. But with two weaknesses (not a criticism, just objective reality) you would likely be relegated to one of the large puppy mills. Why don't you get a few more years of good, quality ICU experience, including CCRN, and responsibility positions, and then apply. You will be a far stronger candidate, do better in school, do better in clinicals, and opens up far more schools for you to apply, giving you cost, and location flexibility.

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Here's the deal: there's no reason not to apply as soon as you possibly can. The worst thing that can happen is that you don't get in, and you re-apply next year. Schools respect the fact that people who want to go will apply as many times as it takes. I don't think you have anything to lose from applying at this stage, and a lot of schools will let you know what you can do to improve your application if you don't get in the first time.

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Just apply. If you don't get in, you will at least get the experience of interviewing and will know what they will test for and ask. I was in your position and kept waiting and waiting trying to make my resume good enough. I work at a top hospital in NYC right now and will start school in August. Looking back at the process, I probably would've made it in 2 years ago if I had more confidence and tried applying.

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Take the GRE and apply yourself while studying for it. Do well and apply for the slightly bigger schools, don't apply for the ones that take 15, I've been told my 3.6 gets overshadowed by 3.7+ when I applied to the smaller schools but that was just my experience.

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Go for it. Don't waste any time. Every year more and more people apply so give it a shot and have the upper hand during next years interviews, if that occurs.

Fyi with under two years of ICU experience (they don't really care how much experience you have on other floors unfortunately in might experience) you should have a shot as long as you don't beef up your letters to make it sound like you have more experience then you do.

As a rule of thumb only put pt conditions that you are at an expert knowledge level because this is how they will interview you. Beefing up that letter too much is a good way of getting an interview but can seriously make you look clueless during the interview itself and ruin your chances for years to come.

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Specializes in CCRN, CMC, CRNI.

Go for it, i think your stats are great from accepted students I have talked to

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