Advice for acceptance into CRNA school

[TennesseeRN2015]

Hello All,

I write this after applying to a CRNA school with a competitive application I thought but was denied interview.. The school's reasoning behind this was my cumulative GPA and that I had made a C in a nursing course. Here is what my application consisted of: 3 1/2 years of Cardiovascular ICU experience, Cumulative GPA 3.2, Science GPA 3.75. Charge nurse experience and preceptor to students, new hires, and residents. I also hold several certifications ACLS, BLS, PALS, PEARS, NRP, CCRN, NIH stroke scale, Lifeguard. I have also taken graduate courses in advanced Pathophysiology and Advanced Pharmacology and have already enrolled to take graduate statistics this spring. I have also taken the GRE as well. I am also an adjunct clinical instructor for a local nursing school in my area. Does anyone have any guidance on what else I can do for my application? I know I can't repeat any undergraduate nursing courses. Not getting an interview has been a big let down for me on applying for anymore schools.

[NYNurse89]

First and most importantly, you need to apply to more than 1 school. Second, you need to gets As is the grad classes you are taking. No where that I applied ever looked at a science GPA, only cum. Most of those certifications don't matter (sorry to be blunt) except for the CCRN which shows you are capable of that material. You also need to be willing to relocate for school so you are able to apply to many different ones.

[mgfam]

Try to apply my school, University of Southern California, they more look at you integrated, not just grades. Deadline 12/15, give it a try.

[JRN1234]

I agree with NYnurse, you definitely need to apply to more than one school even if you have great stats. A resident told me you have to cast a wide net and this has proven to be true. I have great stats and still applied to over a handful of schools. Even if granted an interview there is no guarantee you will get in, your stats just get you in the door. Your cum gpa is low, you didn't mention what grades you received in those graduate courses, if A's that looks awesome. I would consider getting your CMC certification since you work in CV ICU. The other letters beside CCRN don't carry much weight and ACLS, BLS, PALS are expected to have for all programs. You did not mention any committees at your hospital, might want to consider that as well. Also shadowing a CRNA as much as possible, add that to the list, more the better. No doubt if you cast a wider net you will at least get an interview, it's pricey but it's an investment.

[ProgressiveThinking, MSN, CRNA]

Like other posters stated, cast a wide net. The wider the better. If you apply to programs with larger class sizes you generally have a better chance at getting accepted, although some people question the quality of education that comes from larger programs (I'm in a large program and it's been good).

Also, how was your GRE score? Like another poster stated, you can always get CSC and CMC as well, but at this point, aside from your cumulative GPA your application seems OKAY depending on what your GRE score and grad course grades are. Just keep on applying and eventually a program will probably accept you.

[murseman24, MSN, CRNA]

My school looked at your science GPA apart from the other classes, and placed higher weight on the mathematics portion of the GRE. I definitely think you can get in with those stats, but the cumulative GPA may be getting your resume pushed to the side before anyone can take a deeper look at it. I think you should talk with the school and mention your scores on these harder classes to get them to notice. My school took more notice to academics than to ICU experience. As long as you were taking care of sick patients with advanced modalities, the trauma ICU and CVICU I think looked a little better all other things considered, but I think academics weighed much higher. Your CRNA training will far surpass any ICU knowledge you currently have (though your experience treating sick patients will definitely help in the hospital).

[Nolander]

I saw your previous thread/post and realized you applied to the same school I did. I received an interview invitation for January. My stats are eerily similar to yours so I too am surprised you were not granted an interview. My science and overall GPA were slightly higher than yours that you listed. Are you out of state of the school, did you have any shadowing experiences, what about the strength of your letters of recommendation?

[Meall]

That's frustrating. Looks like u have everything but keep trying. May I also ask you where you took your grad level Pathophysiology and pharmaco classes ?

Thanks