USAGPAN 2021

MICU-nurse23, ADN, BSN, RN · Jan 20, 2020

On 9/7/2019 at 7:41 AM, Ryan Sellahcs said:
Hey everyone. My name is Ryan. I will be applying for the 2021 cohort. I am a prior service Marine infantryman. I deployed to Afghan in 2012 and Japan 2014. I got out in 2015 and went to Nursing school on my G.I Bill. I've been a nurse for one year at a Level 1 Trauma Center in the ER but I am transferring hopefully to the Trauma ICU this November. For everyone who wants to talk stats here are mine thus far.
Experience by commission: 1 year ER and 1 year and 2 Months Trauma ICU. I spoke to the program director and was told that ER experience counts for the Critical Care experience but I know I need ICU knowledge so I am going to make my year in the ICU count.
GPA: 3.82. I am currently taking two MSN courses and I will take the Iowa Central Community College Intro to Organic and Biochem. Hopefully, all these will be A's. How was this course? Any advice?
Certifications: I have my CEN and TCRN. Plan to take my CCRN around April. I also have TNCC and TCAR.
I will take the GRE over winter break. I have 8 weeks to study and take the test. Does anyone have any advice about the test? I am a good test taker but still nervous about it. Any study programs that ya'll used?

Hi Ryan!

The Magoosh study course is wonderful. I have learned so much from this program and has allowed me to tackle practice problems from a different perspective. One of the things with Magoosh is that it gives you shortcuts and simplifies ways to work out problems. GRE problems are not meant to have long computations. Now that I look back at the first time I took the GRE, I realize that I spent too much time on questions and I was solving problems using way too much calculations. I plan to take the GRE at the end of February 2020. I recommend the Manhattan 5 lb book with nothing but questions. You can do problems from the book and it also comes with a code for online questions. Personally, I like to practicing the online questions because it gives you a feel for what the GRE Test will be like.

I recommend the Manhattan GRE 500 flashcards for vocabulary. They are great. The Magoosh package was $120 total for 6 month self preparation. It gives you different options depending on how you learn. Some people learn by instruction and others learn by watching a video. I hope this helps.

antsrt4, BSN · Jan 20, 2020

4 minutes ago, MICU-nurse23 said:
Hi Tony! Yes, I complete my GRE but my score was a 298 with a 4.0 in writing. I plan to take my GRE again at end of February. A few questions if you don't mind?
1. Can you submit paperwork before you complete height/weight requirement?
2. How soon can you do the Phase 1 interview?
3. Will we be required to complete "new" ARMY fitness test before coming onboard with the program?
Thanks,
Beth

298 you are right there!!!! I tested with a 294 (working too much, taking organic chemistry concurrently, and not making GRE studying a priority). I take it again 3/20! Lets do this!!! we got it!!!

1. Can you submit paperwork before you complete height/weight requirement? Yes.

2. How soon can you do the Phase 1 interview? This is coordinated by your recruiter (you have to all pretty much everything submitted AND a passing GRE score)

3. Will we be required to complete "new" ARMY fitness test before coming onboard with the program? My ASSUMPTION is that this will be required (new fitness test)

FWIW Hope this helps

MICU-nurse23, ADN, BSN, RN · Jan 21, 2020

21 hours ago, antsrt4 said:
298 you are right there!!!! I tested with a 294 (working too much, taking organic chemistry concurrently, and not making GRE studying a priority). I take it again 3/20! Lets do this!!! we got it!!!
1. Can you submit paperwork before you complete height/weight requirement? Yes.
2. How soon can you do the Phase 1 interview? This is coordinated by your recruiter (you have to all pretty much everything submitted AND a passing GRE score)
3. Will we be required to complete "new" ARMY fitness test before coming onboard with the program? My ASSUMPTION is that this will be required (new fitness test)
FWIW Hope this helps

Thanks Tony!

MICU-nurse23, ADN, BSN, RN · Jan 21, 2020

I recently applied to TxWes and UAB. My heart is set on Baylor Army CRNA and TxWes. I applied to UAB just to see what the competition was like and to get a feel for an interview. I was waitlisted at UAB. I wouldn't have accepted their offer anyway. I am not a big fan of Birmingham. However, TxWes has not responded and I feel very anxious. I really shouldn't because if I had to decide today at this very moment as I am typing, I would choose Baylor Army CRNA. I think overall the program is fantastic with great passing rates and "100% employment" ?. Just don't know why I feel this way. I am two points from having a competitive GRE score and I have been working hard on this material. I also recently signed up for a half marathon in Nashville which has been a big motivation to run. I guess I am thinking too much about why I wouldn't have gotten selected at TxWes. I am thinking that my fate with Baylor Army CRNA will be the same. Does anyone else have similar feelings?

freewired, BSN · Jan 21, 2020

On 1/13/2020 at 1:05 PM, antsrt4 said:
I took this class while working full time and a PRN job at a shift/two a week. Very doable...time management is key with it (what's that right?).....this course COULD be very hard or very DOABLE IMO.....FWIW no regrets taking it here and online. Cheers!

Thanks for replying, @antsrt4 Do you know how the exams are? Is it based on the homework or Sapling assignments? @Bonnie Bailey

MICU-nurse23, ADN, BSN, RN · Jan 22, 2020

On 1/20/2020 at 4:30 PM, antsrt4 said:
298 you are right there!!!! I tested with a 294 (working too much, taking organic chemistry concurrently, and not making GRE studying a priority). I take it again 3/20! Lets do this!!! we got it!!!
1. Can you submit paperwork before you complete height/weight requirement? Yes.
2. How soon can you do the Phase 1 interview? This is coordinated by your recruiter (you have to all pretty much everything submitted AND a passing GRE score)
3. Will we be required to complete "new" ARMY fitness test before coming onboard with the program? My ASSUMPTION is that this will be required (new fitness test)
FWIW Hope this helps

Tony,

Where do you currently work?

antsrt4, BSN · Jan 22, 2020

26 minutes ago, MICU-nurse23 said:
Tony,
Where do you currently work?

PM sent...

Bhebe55 · Jan 22, 2020

On 1/20/2020 at 3:34 PM, MICU-nurse23 said:
Hi Tony! Yes, I complete my GRE but my score was a 298 with a 4.0 in writing. I plan to take my GRE again at end of February.
1. Can you submit paperwork before you complete height/weight requirement?
2. How soon can you do the Phase 1 interview?
3. Will we be required to complete "new" ARMY fitness test before coming onboard with the program?
Thanks,
Beth

Current Phanse 1 FY 2019 student.

1. Yes but it will make your application process a lot smoother al long as you can pass tape.

2.Usually your interview is after your given a green light by MEPS. There is a large percentage of applicants that get disqualified by MEPS and since there is costa involved in getting you to and putting you up at phase 2 sites they want you to be cleared first.

3. The only fitness test you will have to pass before entering is the OPAT. It’s a joke. One you get commissioned you will go to DCC there you will take an evaluation PT test but it doesn’t count. Your first record pt test will be during BOLC. That you have to pass before you will be allowed to start the program.

Spots are really competitive so try to get that GRE score up. I used Magoosh and it got me to 317 which I think helped my application a lot since my overall GPA was kinda low. Also get good letters of recommendation especially if you k ow an officer already in the ARMY

Good Luck

Bonnie Bailey · Jan 23, 2020

On 1/21/2020 at 4:56 PM, freewired said:
Thanks for replying, @antsrt4 Do you know how the exams are? Is it based on the homework or Sapling assignments? @Bonnie Bailey

@freewired The exams are based on the content from the textbook and the Sapling assignments give you practice on concepts from the textbook. There are ungraded practice exams prior to each exam- I recommend taking those to gauge your score ?

MICU-nurse23, ADN, BSN, RN · Feb 2, 2020

On 9/25/2019 at 12:11 PM, Bhebe55 said:
Current Phase 1 student in FY2019 class. Let me know if yall have any questions. Good Luck to you all.

Hey Bhebe55!

I wanted to know more about the Phase 2 Interview. The only thing I am aware of is that the interview is a 2-3 day process. My question was if the interview is more knowledge based or personality questions. Would really help if someone said, "Brush up on CCRN material" or think about a time when teamwork was very efficient. Please advise. Thank you and congrats!!

MICU-nurse23, ADN, BSN, RN · Feb 2, 2020

On 1/21/2020 at 8:45 PM, Bhebe55 said:
Current Phanse 1 FY 2019 student.
1. Yes but it will make your application process a lot smoother al long as you can pass tape.
2.Usually your interview is after your given a green light by MEPS. There is a large percentage of applicants that get disqualified by MEPS and since there is costa involved in getting you to and putting you up at phase 2 sites they want you to be cleared first.
3. The only fitness test you will have to pass before entering is the OPAT. It’s a joke. One you get commissioned you will go to DCC there you will take an evaluation PT test but it doesn’t count. Your first record pt test will be during BOLC. That you have to pass before you will be allowed to start the program.
Spots are really competitive so try to get that GRE score up. I used Magoosh and it got me to 317 which I think helped my application a lot since my overall GPA was kinda low. Also get good letters of recommendation especially if you k ow an officer already in the ARMY

Good Luck

Hey Bhebe55!

So my biggest challenge would be to pass MEPS because I am not sure what they are looking for. I don't have any health problems and have never been hospitalized. The only thing I can think of would be to pass height/weight or tape measurements. I am 5"4' and weight about 185. Well I lost about 8 lbs in the last two weeks when I started Keto so My weight is about 176 now. According to the chart, I have to come in at 151 lbs which still puts me about 25 lbs over. I think I can manage to lose 25 lbs by end of March 2020. I am worried about tape measurement because I have a bubble butt.

As far as the fitness, what does the PT test include? Is it pushups, situps, and a 2 mile run?

Bhebe55 · Feb 2, 2020

So if your over your weight that doesn’t disqualify you because you then go to the tape test. It measures your waist and hip circumference compared to your height. Many people in our program have to get taped. I had to get tapes at MEPS and it was fine. What they are mostly screening out is major medical problems that will disqualify you from service seizures, heart conditions, things like that. Do NOT fail the drug screen. Most things you can get a waiver for.

The current fitness test is pushups, sit-ups and 2 mile run but it’s changing and will be the new ACFT by the time you get in. It’s more events and no different grading scales for men/women or age. Good new is as a medical provider the standards are pretty low. 10-pushups, 1 hanging leg tuck, three reps deadlift 140lbs, over the head ball throw, sprint drag carry, and the 2-mile run.