Texas Christian University (TCU) vs Texas Wesleyan University CRNA

[mhike]

Interested in both programs.. can anyone post up their experience with either.. how was it? hows the staff? how did clinicals go? basically any info you can post would be greatly appreciated.. thanx again..

[constantdreamstate]

Hey mhike, here are my stats and such... I just got accepted into the TCU DNP program for next year. I did not apply to Wesleyan, though most of the people I know that applied for one, applied for the other... I just chose not to. I had a 3.55 GPA, GRE was 740 - math and 580 - verbal. By the time I start classes in august, I'll have 3 full years Medical ICU experience in a major teaching hospital. I have my CCRN (it's required at TCU but not TWU). I can't speak for the programs yet, except for what friends say, but that's all second-hand, grapevine info... Just thought I'd give you an idea of what got me in.

[Phynix]

TCU grad here... I interviewed at both schools and found the interview process to be vastly different between the two programs. TWU will grill you on clinical knowledge non-stop with only cursory interest in your background/personal reasons for wanting to go into anesthesia. Since TCU requires that you have your CCRN, I think they figure you already know how to be a capable RN and focus more on your personal reasons of why you want to be in anesthesia and if they feel like you would be able to handle the pressure of being in their program. This is based on my interview experiences 3 years ago so they may have changed it up, who knows. The staff are great and seem to care about you as an individual and genuinely want you to succeed. I had some friends that got into TWU at the same time as I was at TCU and they said they felt more like dollar signs than actual people. I know that TWU accepts more students than they have clinical spots for in order to account for their attrition rate. When looking at any anesthesia school I feel that you should look at attrition rates, starting class size/graduating class size, passing rates on boards, some history on the program, accreditation history and current status, whether the program is front loaded or a mixed load curriculum (front load fan myself), and available clinical sites. I know that both programs put out excellent CRNAs and both programs are front loaded and both teach you the same stuff with each program having a few different "hard" classes such as TWU's Chemistry is much more difficult than TCU's while I feel like TCU's Pharmacology was more challenging than TWU's from what my buds told me (horrible run-on sentence I know). Wherever you go, realize that you will have a grueling experience for the duration of your program that no one can explain to you until you go through it. You will essentially cut all contacts with the outside world and CRNA school will come before ANYTHING ELSE. If you think that you will still be able to catch a few shifts as an RN in your spare time then don't bother applying because you will wash out. If you think that you will be able to get by with only studying 6 hours a day, move on to something else because CRNA school isn't for you. If you think you will enjoy the times you DON'T study THINK AGAIN because you will feel guilty every minute you don't have your nose in a book/notes/etc. (unless you're drunk heehee). It will be one of if not THE toughest thing you have ever done, but if you want it bad enough then you will do it and it will be worth it. Best of luck to you in whatever you decide.

[iheartpropofol]

I am currently at TWU and do not feel like "just a number". The professors are always available to meet or speak with you. They give out their cell phone numbers even! You have an entire building dedicated to the CRNA program and the entire campus will do anything for you (because the anesthesia program is probably the only money maker there!) The interview process is very different. If interviewing at TCU, don't mention if you have children. I had a 780 math and 540 verbal, 3.8 GPA, CCRN, 6yrs ICU experience at a big Level I trauma center, took care of everything but burns, was a charge nurse, completed my undergrad at TCU....none of that mattered. Both my interviews at TCU involved very personal questions about my son and how I was going to care for him during school. 45 minutes of "what happens if he's sick? What happens if your husband gets sick? Does your husband understand that he'll have to care for your child? What happens if you have a test and your son wants attention?" At one point when I said my mother-in-law helps care for him, they pointed out that the divorce rate in school is very high, so who's going to care for my son should my husband and I split?!? Oh, and "why aren't you wearing purple since you graduated from TCU?" I don't feel like there was any personality assessment, just the judgement on their part that people with children can't complete the program. Well, I've completed the first semester at TWU and have one of the highest grades in the class. Sorry if that offends anyone, but that's my opinion as someone who use to be a very proud horned frog.

[soonershok]

I can assure you that many students at TCU have children and do just fine. I do not believe for a minute that they segregate students based upon whether they have children or not.

[mhike]

Id like to thank everyone who responded.. thanx for taking time out of your day to respond to questions like these. As you can imagine, knowing everything about the school is top priority and I greatly appreciate your information.

[sk8701]

Hey past applicants! I got an interview for August for the Winter2025 TCU cohort and am super nervous. Anyone able and willing to share interview tips? Questions you got in the past? Any help or suggestions are appreciated!