University of Pittsburgh CRNA 2025 Start

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What Members Are Saying (AI-Generated Summary)

Members are discussing starting their program in 2025 or 2026, housing options, course schedules, tuition costs, dress codes, and Facebook groups for their cohort. Some users were initially rejected but later accepted due to an increase in student intake. There is also confusion about the Facebook group for the class of 2027 and questions about enrollment procedures.

Hello, is anyone applying to University of Pittsburgh's CRNA program for Spring 2025?

Those who got offered an interview mind sharing their stats? Thanks guys and congrats ! 

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Specializes in Trauma ICU.

So I think they've had 6 interviews of 20 people so far, making the total 120. They wanna interview 140 and they've been doing interviews every two weeks since the may deadline so I have a gut feeling the last interview is mid June and then calls should be rolling out shortly afterwards. That's just my best guess 

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Specializes in SICU.
BRAbsn said:

Those who got offered an interview mind sharing their stats? Thanks guys and congrats ! 

3.8 overall 

4 years experience and currently at teaching facility in SICU. 

minimal charge and preceptor experience. 

volunteer here and there. 

nothing else really plumped up my app. Maybe it was my personal statement. 


LET ME IN 😭

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Did you go to Pitt undergrad?

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Specializes in SICU.
akill93 said:

Did you go to Pitt undergrad?

I did not. I went to a technical college and just got my BSN recently online. 

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Suggameeupdex said:

I did not. I went to a technical college and just got my BSN recently online. 

Great man! It's my first time applying and I don't think I'm even gonna get an interview offer but I wanted to try to see what I can do better. I graduated in a foreign institution, really rigorous and I've never seen anybody graduating with a GPA of 4.0. I have 5 years of nursing, 1.3 in a CVSICU, science GPA 3.9 but overall 3.26. Started precepting, committees, trained on devices (ECMO, impella, HM3, CCRT, etc), lots of open chest patients and resternotomy bedside, I really like the environment. But I guess my GPA and having only 1.3 years in the ICU will put me way back in their system. If you guys have any tips to improve my application I'm open. I'm retaking some science classes that I got Bs. 

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Specializes in ICU/PICC Team.
BRAbsn said:

Those who got offered an interview mind sharing their stats? Thanks guys and congrats ! 

Sure. I'll start by saying I was completely shocked that I was offered an interview, but it tells me that there is no magic formula and that every school values things differently. Whether or not what I have is enough to actually get me in, we'll see. That's probably more to do with how I interviewed than anything else.

Grades:

So I have 2 college careers: a bachelor's I got in 2013 (Economics, LOL) with around a 2.5 GPA, and then from '13 through '21 I got an associate's of allied health science when I became a Paramedic, ASN in '18 and BSN in '21. My overall GPA ( almost 300 credit hours) is only like a 3.01 depending on how its calculated and if retakes are counted or not, last 60 (heck, even last 120) is like a 3.6 - 3.7. BSN - only was a 4.0, so I definitely have shown a major turnaround in my academics since I discovered healthcare (which is a large portion of my personal statement)

Experience:

EMT/Paramedic for 5 years, almost 6 as an RN. ER RN for a year, ICU for 3, PACU for about 10 months, currently spilt my week between PICC and ICU. The two ICUs I've worked in are both medium/large-ish (30+ beds) and only one of them was in any sort of trauma system (level II), one is a MICU, one is an open ICU (the level II) I did have the chance to train as an ECMO specialist and got quite a bit of experience during COVID.

Extracurriculars:

No charge experience (honestly I've avoided it like the plague)

I've precepted pretty much everywhere I've worked

No committees or research, but I did help put together and teach an ECMO course for the ICU I work in now to help train RNs that are new to ECMO.

No volunteer experience that's worth listing on my resume

One shadowing day (8 hours)

Other:

All the normal certs; BLS, ACLS, PALS and CCRN

I took the GRE, got a 314 (153 Q) (161 V) (4.0 AW)

I feel like my personal statement is very strong, and I spent a ton of hours working on it and getting it edited by people I trust to be objective. It very clearly explains my "why CRNA" and also addresses my concerning academic past, which I used in a positive way to show how I've turned it around.

 

Hope this helps! 

Edit: if you're wondering, no I did not go to Pitt. Got my ASN in the southeast at a technical community college, BSN online, currently work out West. Also, I flew to Pitt with 5 days notice when I could have done a virtual interview. IMO, there's no substitute for an in person interaction, and I hope that it showed them how serious I am about this.

 

Final Edit: I don't think it's your grades. I don't know what it was that kept you from getting an interview, maybe they just flip a coin at some point cause we can't all can't look THAT different on paper, but I'd probably start by looking at your personal statement and make sure it actually answers the question "why?" And, if you really want this, I would cast a broad net. My wife and I are willing to move literally wherever and whenever to make this happen. I'm not a unicorn candidate that has "perfect" everything, so I've resigned myself to the fact that I can't bank on just one or two schools to fulfill this dream, I've got to cast a net far and wide. I just need one to say yes, though.

 

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FutureGasPasser90 said:

Sure. I'll start by saying I was completely shocked that I was offered an interview, but it tells me that there is no magic formula and that every school values things differently. Whether or not what I have is enough to actually get me in, we'll see. That's probably more to do with how I interviewed than anything else.

Grades:

So I have 2 college careers: a bachelor's I got in 2013 (Economics, LOL) with around a 2.5 GPA, and then from '13 through '21 I got an associate's of allied health science when I became a Paramedic, ASN in '18 and BSN in '21. My overall GPA ( almost 300 credit hours) is only like a 3.01 depending on how its calculated and if retakes are counted or not, last 60 (heck, even last 120) is like a 3.6 - 3.7. BSN - only was a 4.0, so I definitely have shown a major turnaround in my academics since I discovered healthcare (which is a large portion of my personal statement)

Experience:

EMT/Paramedic for 5 years, almost 6 as an RN. ER RN for a year, ICU for 3, PACU for about 10 months, currently spilt my week between PICC and ICU. The two ICUs I've worked in are both medium/large-ish (30+ beds) and only one of them was in any sort of trauma system (level II), one is a MICU, one is an open ICU (the level II) I did have the chance to train as an ECMO specialist and got quite a bit of experience during COVID.

Extracurriculars:

No charge experience (honestly I've avoided it like the plague)

I've precepted pretty much everywhere I've worked

No committees or research, but I did help put together and teach an ECMO course for the ICU I work in now to help train RNs that are new to ECMO.

No volunteer experience that's worth listing on my resume

One shadowing day (8 hours)

Other:

All the normal certs; BLS, ACLS, PALS and CCRN

I took the GRE, got a 314 (153 Q) (161 V) (4.0 AW)

I feel like my personal statement is very strong, and I spent a ton of hours working on it and getting it edited by people I trust to be objective. It very clearly explains my "why CRNA" and also addresses my concerning academic past, which I used in a positive way to show how I've turned it around.

 

Hope this helps! 

Edit: if you're wondering, no I did not go to Pitt. Got my ASN in the southeast at a technical community college, BSN online, currently work out West. Also, I flew to Pitt with 5 days notice when I could have done a virtual interview. IMO, there's no substitute for an in person interaction, and I hope that it showed them how serious I am about this.

 

Final Edit: I don't think it's your grades. I don't know what it was that kept you from getting an interview, maybe they just flip a coin at some point cause we can't all can't look THAT different on paper, but I'd probably start by looking at your personal statement and make sure it actually answers the question "why?" And, if you really want this, I would cast a broad net. My wife and I are willing to move literally wherever and whenever to make this happen. I'm not a unicorn candidate that has "perfect" everything, so I've resigned myself to the fact that I can't bank on just one or two schools to fulfill this dream, I've got to cast a net far and wide. I just need one to say yes, though.

 

Wow. I have a 3.75 GPA, magna cum. Member of honor societies and AACN chair member for my chapter. Volunteered in my community. Did Covid volunteer work in San Fran. Preceptor, mentor, 2 committees, 8 years nursing 3 in a trauma 1 medical cardiac ICU, ECMO, PAC, CRRT. 3 strong reference letters, and not even an interview. Not even a courtesy rejection to interview. 

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TomatoesRN said:

Wow. I have a 3.75 GPA, magna cum. Member of honor societies and AACN chair member for my chapter. Volunteered in my community. Did Covid volunteer work in San Fran. Preceptor, mentor, 2 committees, 8 years nursing 3 in a trauma 1 medical cardiac ICU, ECMO, PAC, CRRT. 3 strong reference letters, and not even an interview. Not even a courtesy rejection to interview. 

It's not over yet!! They've been calling up to two days before interviews. With dates in June, there's still a chance

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Specializes in MICU, STICU, CTICU, CCRN-CSC-CMC.
TomatoesRN said:

Wow. I have a 3.75 GPA, magna cum. Member of honor societies and AACN chair member for my chapter. Volunteered in my community. Did Covid volunteer work in San Fran. Preceptor, mentor, 2 committees, 8 years nursing 3 in a trauma 1 medical cardiac ICU, ECMO, PAC, CRRT. 3 strong reference letters, and not even an interview. Not even a courtesy rejection to interview. 

I feel a little defeated too. 😂 I have a 3.72 GPA (BSN), 3.23 (ADN), experience in STICU, MICU, CTICU, and CVICU. I volunteer, have my CCRN, CSC, CMC, TNCC, ACLS, and BLS. I've precepted in all my facilities, on the code team, rapid response team, unit based counsel, skin care team, etc. I must have written an AWFUL personal statement. 

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Suggameeupdex said:

Have no idea why that just posted^ but I will jump in and also say that I don't really know how they choose from hundreds of people when we ALL look the same on paper and have fantastic experience. 

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BRAbsn said:

Those who got offered an interview mind sharing their stats? Thanks guys and congrats ! 

Hey there! I don't mind sharing my stats. Pitt was the first interview I had this cycle. This is my first attempt to apply to CRNA school. 

Academic:

I graduated from a community college here in Pittsburgh in 2018. My GPA was a 3.3. I worked full time as a PCT throughout nursing school. 

I then started at West Virginia University for my BSN in 2019, graduated in 8/2020 and earned a 3.9 GPA, for an undergraduate GPA of a 3.5. I graduated cum laude. I was a member of Sigma Theta Tau- Alpha Rho chapter. 

I started at the University of Cincinnati for my MSN, which will be completed in 12/2024. My GPA is a 3.6, and I am a member of Sigma- Beta Iota chapter. 

Work experience 

When I graduated in 2018, I started in an ICU that was 24 beds and we cared for both medical and cardiothoracic patients, including TAVRS, ablations, CABG and valvular repairs. I was there for a year and a half. Travelled a bit. Then I was charge nurse at a hospital here in Pittsburgh. It started as a Covid ICU and progressed to a medical/surgical ICU as the pandemic became less prevalent. I was there for 2 years.

While I was there I was VP of our Unit- Based Council and implemented a process for proper collection of blood cultures. I then went to another Pittsburgh Health system as an internal traveller and I did that for 2 years, working in all levels of trauma (Level I-IV) in a variety of medical, surgical, neuro-vascular, neuro-trauma, trauma and CV ICUs. Total ICU and RN experience will be 6 years at commencement of the program. 

Extracurriculars 

I honestly did not include anything that wasn't apparent from my resume, transcripts or personal statement. I did shadow for 8 hours but did not include it in my Pitt application since it was not required. 

I have my CCRN, ACLS, PALS, TCRN  certifications. 

Other

I did not take the GRE seeing as I will have a Master's at matriculation. 

I feel that my personal statement was strong. It explained my complicated path to CRNA school, as well as what I wish to accomplish as a nurse anesthetist. 

I had really strong recommendations from my supervisors and mentors. I got about 4-5 letters (even though I think Pitt only accepted 3).

Finally, I was admitted to the University of Cincinnati. I accepted because I wanted to have a spot somewhere instead of applying all over again. My interview with them was April 6th and I found out literally the 13th of April LOL. That being said, still holding out for Pitt (I really do not want to move and upend my life here) but UC did offer a comprehensive financial package that would only require me to pay about $9000/year using federal funds. 

Good luck to you in this journey! It's a crazy ride but requires a lot of self reflection 

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