Hey everybody! I'm getting ready to apply to USAGPAN for the 2017 start date, and I just wanted to start a thread to connect with others who are applying. I'm sure that I wont receive many responses until closer to the application deadline, but I wanted to use this thread as a means of tracking my progress throughout the application process as well.
This program is my #1 choice, but I am requesting that MEPS grant a medical waiver (I had a football-related injury 10 years ago, but my recruiter said I should be good to go since waivers are much easier for medical personnel to obtain), and I still need to take the GRE, so there is some uncertainty there. I recently began studying for the GRE, and have been doing okay on the practice tests. However, I keep putting the exam off because I didn't apply myself in high school and focused pretty much on sports and good times. I'm currently reteaching myself high school math (ha)! I'm rocking the verbal portion though, so I plan on taking it next month.
I will be applying to a couple of back-up schools as well, but the military is something I've always wanted to do, and I'm not getting any younger (I'm in my late twenties). I actually almost joined the marines after high school, but ended up opting for college instead. The thought of getting paid to fulfill both life and career goals without having to pay tuition is enticing. I think that for me personally, the stress of having $0 in loans from CRNA school, serving my country, not having to worry about living expenses while matriculating, and the top notch education(DNP) I would receive far outweigh, "making 150k/year in the private sector." ..and hey...I wouldn't mind getting some cool trauma experience overseas from a tour or two!
Are you all planning on applying to the USUHS Program as well? Their app is a little more involved and their program is supposedly a "little more competitive" to get into. I will probably put an app in there as well lol for some reason I find myself exhausted after completely just the entry requirements. But anyways, still marching forward. Finally found out I got a 4.5 on the writing portion of GRE, enough to get in at least. How close are you all to scheduling your Phase 2 Interviews?
I couldn't find a recruiter who knew anything about direct accession for USUHS. I know that there are less slots for their program, so I'm only applying where I statistically have the best chance of getting accepted. Good job on the GRE. Feels good now that it's over with right? I almost have all of my letters of rec and references in for the Army app, and my recruiter said once I have all of this in she'll forward my CV and transcripts to phase 2 sites. She said she'll send me to any of the hospitals that accept my request to shadow. It took me 4 hours to fill out the army app, and between letter of rec, character references, personal references, job references, and housing references....I've had to get contacts from like 16 people since I've had a few jobs and lived in a few different places. Very time consuming, haha.
I should hopefully have everything in by the end of the month, and should hopefully do my phase 2 interview in April or May. I guess we have until July, and don't find out about acceptance until August though. It will be interesting to see how the entire process unfolds. How'd you do on the GRE?
Passed the CCRN. Sending CVs to phase 2 sites now. Starting to question if the major life change (moving all over the country and leaving friends and family) will be worth it, but I think I'm just getting a little burned out by the application process because my recruiter seems to need something new every other day. We'll see what happens!
Had a mini vacation. Now rejuvenated and stoked about USAGPAN. Going to go to MEPS within the next month (hopefully) prior to my interview. Have to get through MEPS prior to getting phase 2 interview paid for, which I think is reasonable. MEPS videos look interesting. Curious to see how it goes! Ready to duck walk...
I'm applying to USAGPAN direct accession as well. Looking to do my phase II interview in May sometime, but like you I have to get through MEPS first, which will likely happen at the beginning of May since I'm going in knowingly attempting to get something waivered.
Hoping my stats are competitive enough: 3.6 BSN, 3.1 overall (lots of units from a couple of other prior degrees when my focus was football and girls), 3.3 science, 303 GRE (1130 old scoring) 5.0 writing as well, and CCRN. I currently work in an ICU with the second busiest ER in California, so we see a lot. Lots of traumas and all that good stuff. I have about 4 years of RN experience between VA float pool, and this current ICU. I can currently pass APFT. Part of me wants to retake the GRE for a higher score since I hardly studied, but part of me is over it and never wants to take that test ever again since I surpassed the 297 requirement.
My recruiter seems to think I'm competitive, so hopefully I can get in. Going through the app process makes me understand why the army needs active duty CRNAs. Between the NEU app, army app, additional paperwork, MEPS, and other small requirements, the app process is both exhaustive and exhausting. Just when you think everything is in, BAM, something else is needed. It seems never ending, but I'm hoping I get that acceptance letter to make it all worth it.
I want to apply to other schools that wouldn't require me to move, but I'm not sure if the debt is worth it as a California RN (I'm one of those Cali RNs who makes over 100k). It would also be hard to live in my area with little income while in school. USAGPAN would be a pay cut for me, but the lower cost of living in Texas and other phase 2 sites(HI excluded) offsets that. I mean sure, sometimes I'm not so sure that it would be fair to uproot my wife and dog so that I can be professionally satisfied. The wife is on board though, and It's my dream. I'm not really doing anything else other than working. Can't wait until August to know if I'm in or not.
I want to apply to other schools that wouldn't require me to move, but I'm not sure if the debt is worth it as a California RN (I'm one of those Cali RNs who makes over 100k). It would also be hard to live in my area with little income while in school. USAGPAN would be a pay cut for me, but the lower cost of living in Texas and other phase 2 sites(HI excluded) offsets that. I mean sure, sometimes I'm not so sure that it would be fair to uproot my wife and dog so that I can be professionally satisfied. The wife is on board though, and It's my dream. I'm not really doing anything else other than working. Can't wait until August to know if I'm in or not.
thats something I was wondering... Can you bring your family with you?? I just have a husband and dog but being away/deployed for a year or more would be pretty rough I think.
You can take your family to school with you, but you certainly can't take them on a deployment. The off-school clinical sites I'm not sure about.
In USAGPAN, students are stationed at Ft. Sam Houston for phase I, then they PCS to a MEDCEN for phase II. Your family can go with you to both places, just like a regular duty assignment. The only part where you might not be together much is the Basic Officer Leader Course (BOLC) at Ft. Sam, it's the 11 weeks of initial officer training. But as you are considered "permanent party" while at BOLC (meaning you will not be leaving the area after BOLC), I am pretty sure your family can move to San Antonio when you report for BOLC.
If you're concerned about deployment length, look at joining the Air Force. Our deployments are generally (not always) ~3 months in length compared to 9 months for the Army.
Progressive, I tried to PM you but Allnurses wouldn't let me because I do not post on the site enough I guess. Anyways, just got back from Phase II Interview a few days ago. Everything went well. Actually just paid for and submitted my NEU app. I guess I just wait for the board in July now and hope to receive an acceptance letter in August/Sept.
custerjc3
11 Posts
Are you all planning on applying to the USUHS Program as well? Their app is a little more involved and their program is supposedly a "little more competitive" to get into. I will probably put an app in there as well lol for some reason I find myself exhausted after completely just the entry requirements. But anyways, still marching forward. Finally found out I got a 4.5 on the writing portion of GRE, enough to get in at least. How close are you all to scheduling your Phase 2 Interviews?