Published Jan 2
boop2000
8 Posts
Anybody else applying for 2025 TCU start? Any volunteer/shadowing hours? Feel free to list GPA/GRE stats as well! I'm trying to gauge how competitive my application is hahah. Would love to support one another through this!
heartylungrn
55 Posts
boop2000 said: Anybody else applying for 2025 TCU start? Any volunteer/shadowing hours? Feel free to list GPA/GRE stats as well! I'm trying to gauge how competitive my application is hahah. Would love to support one another through this!
I'm applying! Good luck to you and everyone else applying!
moananurse said: I'm applying! Good luck to you and everyone else applying!
That's amazing!! Awesome experience! Good luck to you as well!:)
CRNA School Prep Academy
6 Articles; 123 Posts
Cheering you on as you prep your applications! Remember, the application gets you the interview, but the interview is what gets you accepted! >>>The best advice we've heard from program faculty is "Start your interview prep now while working in the ICU-- the best way to do that is to ask 'why' whenever and however often you can!" Also, be sure to grab our free interview prep guide here: https://www.cspaedu.com/questions Rooting for you! You got this!
ravannah95, BSN, RN
23 Posts
I'm applying! I'll have ~18h of shadowing, I regularly volunteer for the local food bank. Cum GPA 3.6
Science GPA 3.7
Last 60h GPA 3.8
GRE verbal 163/quant 154/writing 4
I have a mixed background of 5y ICU, mainly SICU but I've also done STICU(trauma, neuro and cv) and MICU when traveling. I charge and precept, and am the PI for a research study for one of our patient populations.
Good luck to everyone. :)
Futuremurse1995, ASN, BSN
135 Posts
Looking to apply as well! I'm in Florida but I have heard TCU is an amazing school but super competitive! Good luck everyone!
SwiftieNurse9444
98 Posts
I will be applying!
Stats are as follows:
Nursing Experience: 2.5 Years Cath Lab, 1.5 Years ICU
GPA: 3.4
Last 60h: 3.6
GRE: 156 V 149 Q
CCRN Certified
Anyone applying or get in with Neuro ICU experience?
sfw7134
5 Posts
I sent in my application just recently- here are my stats:
STICU RN at level 1/magnet hospital for 2.5 years (worked cardiac step-down for 1.5 year prior)
2 Bach degrees (1 in Biology, 2nd in Nursing from accelerated BSN program)
GPA: last 60 hrs: 3.98, Science: 3.67, Cumulative: 3.79
GRE: 318 (162 verbal, 156 quant, 4.5 writing)
shadowing hours: 20
CCRN, PALS, working on TCAR/TCRN cert
Everyone is so qualified and has great stats! Good luck everyone!
nursinglongtime
3 Posts
Hi,
I'm currently in the December 2026 cohort (January 2024 start). Hopefully, this will give you guys some insight. I've been a nurse since January 2015. I've mostly worked at large academic teaching facilities. This was my first time applying I got accepted into 2 schools. My biggest advice I can give you guys is to no place all eggs in one basket, apply to multiple school, and see which ones are a better fit. You will be paying a lot of money for your education but you want to make sure you're getting the most out of it. Now, that's out the way.
My stats: Cumulative GPA 3.2, Science GPA 3.6, CCRN, GRE 297 (150 math, 147 verbal, 3.5 writing). CVICU (high acuity unit local to DFW), ECMO, charge nurse, preceptor.
For The grades, I got a C in physiology and pharmacology in undergrad. I retook A&P 1&2 (8 hours total) at local community college, and pharmacology online. I got an A in both classes. The school only cares most about your science grades. My best advice is if you took ANY science class in undergrad and got a C. You need to retake that class and get an A. Even if you took a higher level science class, you must retake that specific course. Save your money and don't overthink it. [example: you got a C in undergrad general chemistry, but you decided to take organic chemistry instead cause you FEEL it looks better on transcript....just retake the general chemistry class (LOL)] keep it simple!!
For those that get an interview, you will have roughly a 50% chance of getting in after the interview. For my cohort, it was 250 apps, 141 interviews, and 80 acceptances.
Your interview is really what determines your acceptance. Doesn't matter if you were 4.0 GPA and 310 on GRE, if you're interview doesn't go well, then your chances are slim. Mock interview, mock interview, mock interview!!! I can't stress that enough.
the interviews are pretty chill. They ask maybe 2 or 3 clinical questions specific to your unit and the rest is emotional intelligence and who you are as a person. It's 2 separate 15 minutes an interviews so this is your time to shine and stand out. It's OK if you don't know an answer to a question, speak to what you know about it. They want to make sure you are going to be safe in OR. Be honest, humble, and be yourself. They interview tons on people so they know if you are BSing. If you bring it up in interview, be able to speak about it. Don't say too much, don't say to little keep it simple.
In my interview they asked me the difference btw levo and epi. I just explained the receptors they worked on. They then asked which one causes tachycardia more——> epi cause it has more beta 1 effect.
Again, Keep it simple and don't overthink it.
They then asked me what's the anion gap in dka? I literally told them verbatim "I don't know if the gap is high or low, all I know is when the gap is closed they are out of DKA" they both laughed. He KNEW I wouldn't know cause I don't deal with dka patients in CVICU, but again it goes to your emotional intelligence and how you will attempt to BS an answer. Again, are you going to be safe in the OR.
I hope this gives more insight to the whole application process
gonewiththeWend
Does anyone know if the Kira assessment ask clinical questions? Not sure how to prepare for it.
layanegg, BSN
49 Posts
gonewiththeWend said: Does anyone know if the Kira assessment ask clinical questions? Not sure how to prepare for it.
Did you get an email for the Kira assessment? Was it after submitting your application?