2017 CRNA School Applicants: General Thread

[mrdearmas]

Hey Everybody!

I wanted to make a spot that we all can throw in on to talk about the schools that we are applying for, how we are prepared and still preparing for them, important dates, interviews, etc. Ill start it off!

I have my app in for TWU (Texas Wesleyan University) for the Arrowhead Regional Medical Center. I have my supplemental app in for USC, and the director said to look for the actual app after the 15th. I am getting everything together for Loma Linda, and will be applying to Kaiser CSUF when they open November 1st. Those are my 4 options to keep me living here and not having to uproot my wife and kids for a couple of years.

I don't have a lot of experience as far as the calendar goes. I have been working for only 1 year. If I got in this round, I would have 2 years of experience at time of matriculation. Last year's admitted class to USC was an average experience of 3 years, so there were some 2s in there! However, I literally work 6 nights per week, so my hours really are double. Although on paper that doesn't count, I like to bring it up. I started in ER/Trauma at a very busy and critical Trauma center. I cross trained to ICU after 4 months and have been working ICU since. The ICU is Trauma, cardiac, neuro, medical, and surgical. I moved to another hospital 2 months ago, also a trauma center. We do everything the same except cardiac. The ER/Trauma was great experience, and I think will really help me with well rounded skills.

4.0 BSN with my PHN

I take my CCRN on the 27th

I have my TNCC

GRE 315

I will be at USC on the 22nd for the information session if anyone else is going. I was told I will have an interview with TWU sometime in October.

I am looking forward to hearing from everyone!

[renardeau, BSN, RN]

Hi! I am applying this cycle as well. I am a 2nd degree RN with my undergrad GPA 3.6 and BSN 3.2 (...did a 14-month BSN that was riddled with personal problems at the time ). Got my CCRN over the summer and took my GRE 327.

Worked at a trauma I hospital cardiac IMC for a little over a year, a different trauma I hospital CCU for almost 2 years. Active preceptor and unit committee member in both jobs. In ICU, also a charge nurse and on the code blue committee, have also picked up a fair amount of overtime, though I know that isn't outwardly apparent. I am on the east coast and plan to stay there. So far have just applied to UMD, but hoping to finish up apps to a few more northeast schools as well.

I'm studying for interviews now... after reading some of the interview threads, I'm trying to get all the patho and pharm that I stopped studying as hard after the CCRN

[mrdearmas]

Got an interview for Texas Wesleyan at the Arrowhead Regional Medical Center site (CA). Application all in for USC.

[ProgressiveThinking, MSN, CRNA]

ill be interviewing with you at TWU

[mrdearmas]

That's awesome! What time is yours? Mine is at 8:45.

Where else are you applying?

[mrdearmas]

Last week my Texas Wesleyan interview was changed from November 17th to this morning and by telephone. I was accepted to my first choice, the Colton site (California). I start in August.

[babiiphatt]

Hello everyone!

I will be applying in 2017. I have 4 year icu experience in CT surg, CCU, MICU, SICU at multiple hospitals.

I have my CCRN-CMC-CSC

ACLS PALS BLS AND ENLS

Board director of Greater Boston Chapter aacn

Member of the icu committee

Taking my GRE in March- studying now so I'm hoping to achieve high scores before applying.

The only problem I have is my current GPA OF 3.2 since I worked fulltime and went to school full time

Hopefully I can get some interviews next year. What schools do you guys recommend?

[renardeau, BSN, RN]

Take a course or two (but one at a time, so you definitely get an A) if you're worried about GPA. Schools particularly like upper level sciences like organic/biochem/adv pharm/physiology etc. Otherwise your experience is more formidable than mine.

If it's at all reassuring, my GPA was 3.2, but I still have interviews everywhere I applied (no acceptances/rejections yet though before I speak to soon...) If you can do well on your GRE, that also helps to temper a lower GPA, as most schools that want it use that as a gauge for how well you'll do academically.

[babiiphatt]

Ty. My GPA is 3.1 to 3.2. As long as I land interviews I believe I will do okay. Which schools did you apply to?

[daggie82]

Hi all! I'm applying for Murray State's CRNA program starting Fall 2017. I have been a nurse almost 8 years with 5 in ICU and 3 in flight. My BSN GPA was 3.76, and I have my CCRN and several other certs. I have an interview Dec 3-4, and I'm so excited about it! Anyone else applying for Murray?

[renardeau, BSN, RN]

Sorry, I meant to reply and then I thought I'd just wait until after I interviewed everywhere so I could post a re-cap and then I sort of forgot for a while

So all in all, I applied to 3 schools: Georgetown, UMD, Columbia, interviewed at all 3, and was ultimately accepted to Georgetown and UMD, rejected at Columbia.

Thoughts are as follows:

Georgetown: my first interview---program directors and faculty were very gracious and welcoming. They definitely had looked over all their applicants when picking out the questions they wanted to ask at the interview. Besides basic interview questions, they also pointed out perceived weak points of my application (for me, this was my grades) and asked me to explain why things were the way they were and how I hoped to improve on this in the future. For another applicant, it was their choice to leave the ICU and work outpatient instead of staying critical care, for another it was their short duration of ICU experience, etc. No clinical questions, though I have to add a caveat that they know my hospital very well, so perhaps that was a factor. People felt that the interviewer's reactions to questions were difficult to read, but I would say that my interviewers were willing to smile and I didn't feel they were as cold as some people said :)

UMD: I'm actually surprised I was accepted here as the interview did not feel like it went well. Again, no clinical questions, but interviewers definitely pushed me to answer questions on things like coursework past nursing school, CRNAs in policy and advocacy and why I had/had not done certain things in these areas. They also had some more curveball interview questions. My interviewers seemed generally dissatisfied with my answers and pushed for clarity. I got a lot of "you're skirting the question" or "that's not exactly what I'm asking". Adrenaline/anxiety level during this interview was definitely the highest.

Columbia: Generally laid-back interview, and I thought it went okay, though obviously this was not a successful venture for me. During the waiting time, students worked with interviewees and showed them how to intubate, showed them the SIM machines, etc. I honestly thought it was a lot of fun! This was the only interview that asked me if I had a plan in place for finances/support network through school.

[buckeye925]

Hello everyone! I am submitting my first application to St. Elizabeth Hospital in Youngstown, OH (my hometown) by December 31st. I have a little over a year of med/surg ICU experience and just passed my CCRN. I have a 3.27 GPA from by BSN at Ohio State, and 301 GRE. ACLS, BLS, and getting my PALS this month. I have charge nurse experience from my first job on a general medical surgical floor. I feel that I have strong references but I'm most concerned with the interview. Do you guys have any tips on what and where to find study materials? Anyone else apply to this program? Also, has anyone read any helpful anesthesia materials that they felt helped them on interview day? Any and all advice would be much appreciated. At 19 I shadowed a CRNA who was a family friend and decided that day this is what I wanted to do in life. Now that I'm 26 and the time has come its almost surreal. Good luck to all of you!