UAB 2015 CRNA application stats

rrnr · Aug 3, 2014

I have a friend that was accepted to UAB with a much lower GPA but otherwise similar stats. Just make sure you pass the CCRN and don't bomb the interview and you should be fine.

RNdiscipulus · Aug 5, 2014

Well that's awesome for your friend! That's the plan...pass CCRN and get on the interview trail!

nmpBSN · Sep 9, 2014

I have a friend that was accepted to UAB with a much lower GPA but otherwise similar stats. Just make sure you pass the CCRN and don't bomb the interview and you should be fine.

Just wondering if you don't mind me asking, what was your friend's GPA? I am interested in applying to UAB's CRNA program in the future and I've heard that they won't even give an interview to anyone with a GPA of 3.5 or higher.

RNdiscipulus · Sep 11, 2014

Update: I passed the CCRN...app is submitted so we shall see

traumaguy8 · Nov 12, 2014

I am currently an SRNA at UAB. My stats looked extremely similar to yours RNdiscipulus, even started out with an ADN. Main difference was my GPA was a 3.56 but I had a slightly higher GRE score and 5 more years of ICU experience. If I'm not mistaken, you should be interviewing around the time of my post so I may be of no help, but I wanted to respond to your message because I used to spend countless hours scouring this website back when I was preparing for school hoping to find someone to reach out to for specific questions. Your stats look perfectly fine and as long as you don't bomb the interview, you should be fine. (If you do bomb it, don't worry... I bombed my first attempt too.)

phantomfl9 · Feb 26, 2015

I am currently working on applying also. Could you please give me some insight on the questions in which they asked during the interview? What is the best way to prepare for it?

phantomfl9 · Feb 26, 2015

I am currently working on applying also. Could you please give me some insight on the questions in which they asked during the interview? What is the best way to prepare for it?

traumaguy8 · Feb 26, 2015

Hi phantom. All schools are a little bit different in how the interview is set up and the type of questions they ask. Typically, a school will ask personality based "get to know you" type questions and/or clinical based questions. I will copy and paste a response I gave not to long ago to a similar question that has my interview advice. I mention this in the post but I should reiterate, for the clinical based questions, buy an old CCRN review book (if you don't already have one) and study anything that you might see in your patient population. Most interview committees are fair and will try to stick to what your background is in.

Also, if you don't know the correct answer, DO NOT make something up. I can assure you these people know WAY more about the things they ask you than you know. And they expect you to not be able to answer everything so don't let that intimidate you.

So, here is that copy/pasted reply from a while back... (she had multiple questions that I answered but you can skip to the "interview" section if you'd like.)

Current SRNA so I might can help a lil...

* I applied to two schools. One I got an interview but not accepted. The other I got an interview and accepted. I've lurked on this forum for a long time and I'd say most people on here would advise to apply to multiple. But it gets kinda expensive traveling and if you do enough research, you should be able to narrow it down to a couple, and maybe a third backup.

* You should DEFINITELY shadow. It's a requirement for most schools and it will let you know whether anesthesia is really something you want to dive into. As far as where to shadow, not necessarily at your place of employment. Wherever you can get in is fine. Unless your place of employment is a main rotation site for a program you're interested in and there is a chance of meeting an instructor and getting your foot in the door then by all means shadow there.

* For GRE I did all study books. Princeton Review, Kaplan, and ETS were my favorites. Studied off and on for 2 months and hit it really hard for about 2 weeks before test day.

* Interviews: Be confident, but not cocky. Different schools have different interview styles but the 2 schools I interviewed at had personality/get to know you type questions and clinical scenario segments. I didn't prep for the clinical scenario because I had 7 yrs of experience in learning everything I possible could about hemodynamics, ventilators, ABGs, vasoactive drips, antiarrhythmics, etc... But if you are weak in those areas, those are what you should get familiar with. Even if you don't take the CCRN (I didn't) you can use CCRN review books as a study guide for clinical type interview questions. I didn't know how to prep for the personality questions until after the first interview. Basically, If you don't know the answer to something, say so. Don't stumble around trying to come up with something. If they ask you a question along the lines of "Have you ever made a mistake as a nurse and if so tell me about it?" then the answer is yes and be honest, or make something up. The interviewers don't judge you for making a mistake (all nurses do at some point), they want to know how you corrected the situation.

* Focus on hemodynamics and everything that affects it (drugs, monitoring, normal values, abnormal values and what causes them, etc..). Not only will it likely come up in an interview, but CRNA school will take you down into the trenches of hemodynamics.

phantomfl9 · Feb 27, 2015

Thank you so much. That was very helpful. I'm currently in Texas and I'm applying to UAB next year. I'm trying to give myself the best chance at being accepted.

phantomfl9 · May 14, 2015

Have you received any notice from UAB? If so, what did they say about your stats?

SirNurse · Oct 20, 2015

how many clinical questions do they ask at UAB?