VCU Interview

Congrats on the interview. Were you sent a letter or email? Just curious. Also, you stated you work in a large level 1 CVICU in VA. Do you work at UVA?

I'm in the same boat as putu2sleep... was offered an interview at VCU today. I would love to hear any words of wisdom or advice that anyone would be willing to share about their interview process...

thanks!

I got a phone call from VCU and they gave me the choice of two different days I could do the interview. But no I don't work at UVA, I work at Inova Fairfax Hospital

Good luck to both of you, when are your interviews?

Wow, good luck to you! My goal for Fall 2010 is to attend VCU's CRNA program. Please keep us updated!!!

jjrn,

the interview is on October 9th.... waaayyy nervous already, but also super excited :)

Hey guys, I also got a phone call about an interview at VCU. I asked someone on the forum last month if he had any insights because he went there and below is what he responded with...hope it helps. My interview's on the 10th, so maybe I'll see you guys there.

--Katherine

"hi there katherine. for the interview just be prepared to answer the stock questions such as: why do you want to be a CRNA? what are your strengths/weaknesses? how do you see yourself 10 yrs from now? etc etc. And of course be prepared for clinical questions. we had 6 interviews, all one to one. 2 of the professors who interviewed me asked me questions on Sepsis (defenition, treatment, management) and SvO2 monitoring (defenition, conditions that give a high or low SvO2 reading). fortunately enough i was prepared with the clinical questions so I aced it and more. so goodluck to you, if i can make it im sure you can make it as well. -jason"

So how did the interviews go? I have one coming up next week. Starting to freak out a little!

Actually, I think it went well. I was really nervous going in, but they really did a good job of alleviating the stress. I was interviewed individually by 4 people. Which is a lot different then my last one which included me and 15 faculty members doing a round-robin interrogation!

Each interview was mostly get to know you questions. We discussed what I do to de-stress, my hobbies. I got the why do you want to be a CRNA question along with what have you done to prepare for it. What does your family think of you entering a dark hole for 2.5 years? :) Each one asked a clinical question--right off my resume, so if you listed it on your resume, make sure you know it! I got asked about the TandemHeart in one, another asked what I knew about cardiac output. In one interview, he said I had 2 minutes to teach him something (didn't have to be nursing related).

In between each interview, you went back to the conference room. There were 6 of us interviewing with 4 people, so there were a couple of times when there was 2 of us in the conference room waiting. They pulled a couple of students to answer questions that we may have that we didn't feel comfortable asking the faculty, like what kind of PDA do you recommend.

That was really it. Hope that helps! Good luck to the rest of you!

--Katherine

interviews are about 4 hours. they are laidback and just ask the regular questions, why you want this, how you've prepared. everyone was very friendly. had only one clinical question. still very very stressful but they are definitely not there to grill you. i think its a great program and hopefully will get accepted. good luck.

putu2sleep,

have you heard anything from VCU yet since the interview? Know anyone who has?

I am new to this whole blog thing. I had an interview at VCU on 10/23, I am wondering if i met you there. I have been trying to contact two of the girls that where there to wish them luck. I actually applied to attend VCU's abingdon program. I hope I get in but they are only taking 10 students, and I know of 8 people already who applied at my hospital. I am so stressed. The interview process was great they were so nice, i got all worked up over nothing. My only concern was that I did not get a lot of technical questions, and one of the guys at my hopsital said he was really drilled, so i don't know if it was a good thing or a bad thing to not be asked a lot of questions. Any opinions? Good luck to everyone!! There's nothing better than when a life plan goes as planned.