USAGPAN 2023

Published

This years thread for usagpan applicants to share information and ask questions 

Specializes in MICU/SICU/CCU.

I was wondering can you put in an application as a VA applicant AND as a Civilian to increase your odds of getting in? Or are you only allowed a single application?   I really want to stay with the VA until I retire. I am thinking of going the civilian route because as a VA applicant, my greatest weakness is my GPA though, it is about a 3.2.  I worked hard on my GRE to get a near perfect score, but I heard that is the lowest priority item when admission committees review applications.  I have my CCRN, CSC and CMC. And volunteer experience as a DEMPS volunteer, a charge nurse and a preceptor. I started at the VA as a new graduate nurse, and I worry that I won't be able to stay with the VA because of my low GPA.

Does anyone know someone who has obtained the coveted USAGPAN CRNA spot with a low GPA like mine?  

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I was wait listed for both USC CRNA and Loma Linda CRNA. I was going to use the STRAP or HPSP but looks like it's not a for sure thing I'll get in. I just started my USAGPAN application. Hopefully it won't be too difficult since I have already done most of the requirements for the other schools. I'm more concerned about being away from my family (two kids and a husband). More likely ill be at the school while they stay behind until we get our clinical site location. Then hopefully only one more move after that. Any other students with similar situations that do it with young kids?

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Specializes in Critical Care / U.S. Army 66S.

Hey Pam, 

First of all I wish you luck in this process. Secondly, I acknowledge that although I do have have kids (all girls; 12, 10 and 6); the fact that I'm the dad changes the calculus of the situation. Moms know this intuitively. But I can offer that this perspective; I'm an active duty RN applying to the program. When I completed my BSN my two oldest kids were babies. My career has involved multiple overseas moves. And the one constant has always been my wife having to shoulder a substantial portion of the burden. With that said, every decision (to include applying to USAGPAN) we've made together. It's always been and will be "we" and not I. If because it's most stable for your husband and kids to stay put for that first didactic year, then that's the best option for you. If they're taken care of, then by virtue so are you. But, again except for various training missions and COVID deployment, I've have not yet had to spend that amount of time separated from them. 

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8 hours ago, Pamsw23 said:

I was wait listed for both USC CRNA and Loma Linda CRNA. I was going to use the STRAP or HPSP but looks like it's not a for sure thing I'll get in. I just started my USAGPAN application. Hopefully it won't be too difficult since I have already done most of the requirements for the other schools. I'm more concerned about being away from my family (two kids and a husband). More likely ill be at the school while they stay behind until we get our clinical site location. Then hopefully only one more move after that. Any other students with similar situations that do it with young kids?

Most of us have children. It’s difficult but it will be at any program. My wife is in grad school and my daughter is 3 and it’s a challenge. She shoulders almost all the load with our child. Many other classmates have multiple children and make it work. My friend has a 3 year old boy and had twins during phase 1. It stinks to say it though, school is the priority unless something insane happens. 

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Specializes in Neuro ICU, Trauma ICU, CVICU.
43 minutes ago, MikeyD said:

Most of us have children. It’s difficult but it will be at any program. My wife is in grad school and my daughter is 3 and it’s a challenge. She shoulders almost all the load with our child. Many other classmates have multiple children and make it work. My friend has a 3 year old boy and had twins during phase 1. It stinks to say it though, school is the priority unless something insane happens. 

Thanks for your insight. How is the day to day schedule in phase 1? Are you home most nights for dinner? Is class Monday through Friday? 

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On 4/2/2022 at 12:04 AM, VA_at_VA said:

I was wondering can you put in an application as a VA applicant AND as a Civilian to increase your odds of getting in? Or are you only allowed a single application?   I really want to stay with the VA until I retire. I am thinking of going the civilian route because as a VA applicant, my greatest weakness is my GPA though, it is about a 3.2.  I worked hard on my GRE to get a near perfect score, but I heard that is the lowest priority item when admission committees review applications.  I have my CCRN, CSC and CMC. And volunteer experience as a DEMPS volunteer, a charge nurse and a preceptor. I started at the VA as a new graduate nurse, and I worry that I won't be able to stay with the VA because of my low GPA.

Does anyone know someone who has obtained the coveted USAGPAN CRNA spot with a low GPA like mine?  

For active duty yes I do know people with a GPA comparable to yours 

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1 hour ago, RyanScimeca said:

Thanks for your insight. How is the day to day schedule in phase 1? Are you home most nights for dinner? Is class Monday through Friday? 

Always home for dinner. Yes m-f. You’ll spend most of your free time studying. Especially in the fall. Class time depends on the day. Duty day is “0800-1430” but you’ll be there earlier quite a bit. 

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Specializes in Neuro ICU, Trauma ICU, CVICU.
15 minutes ago, MikeyD said:

Always home for dinner. Yes m-f. You’ll spend most of your free time studying. Especially in the fall. Class time depends on the day. Duty day is “0800-1430” but you’ll be there earlier quite a bit. 

Great, I figured as much. Helps to be able to at least have dinner with the family. Were your interviews on zoom last cycle? My recruiter wasn’t sure if they were switching back to the in-person/shadow interview yet.

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2 hours ago, MikeyD said:

Most of us have children. It’s difficult but it will be at any program. My wife is in grad school and my daughter is 3 and it’s a challenge. She shoulders almost all the load with our child. Many other classmates have multiple children and make it work. My friend has a 3 year old boy and had twins during phase 1. It stinks to say it though, school is the priority unless something insane happens. 

Makes me feel better knowing other parents are taking this journey too. My husband actually thought USAGPAN was a better deal than going through a civilian school but I wanted to try anyways first. If I were to go to a civilian school I would commute at least 2 hrs each way so it would be difficult on our family anyways. My kids are 3 and 6. I do have family in the Austin area so I could visit them as well and the kids can stay there on school breaks. My husband is a federal officer and changing his home port takes a while so it wouldn't be beneficial for us to try switching his port when we are only there for a year, of course unless we stay for clinical. 

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7 hours ago, RyanScimeca said:

Great, I figured as much. Helps to be able to at least have dinner with the family. Were your interviews on zoom last cycle? My recruiter wasn’t sure if they were switching back to the in-person/shadow interview yet.

??‍♂️ Did my interview pre-Covid. FY21 cohort. 

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So what do you do between the start of the program and the end of your army training that happens at the beginning of the year?

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Specializes in ICU.

Can anyone tell me what kind of questions they ask in the phase II interview? Mine is in person next week, not via zoom!

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