Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) CRNA 2025 start

Published

Is anyone in here applying for the upcoming VCU CRNA application cycle for January 2025 start?

Hi All, 

Does anyone have any insight about their prgm at the different locations/campuses? Is it the same curriculum but just diff. cities? How do they do chose clinical sites, esp. if it's hybrid?  Thanks!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Neuro ICU.
CRNASC said:

Correct, I'm not sure if it was my resume or CV, but super discouraging 

Don't be discouraged. Grades are not the only thing they consider. Do you precept? Are you a charge nurse? Do you participate in quality improvement committees? Have you done any shadowing? Additionally, undergraduate school credentials also matter. Many factors are considered when they make decisions. Your resume, admission letter, and recommendation letters are all important. 

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CICU.
Lulata said:

Don't be discouraged. Grades are not the only thing they consider. Do you precept? Are you a charge nurse? Do you participate in quality improvement committees? Have you done any shadowing? Additionally, undergraduate school credentials also matter. Many factors are considered when they make decisions. Your resume, admission letter, and recommendation letters are all important. 

Do you happen to know how many people they interview usually? 

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Neuro ICU.
MCSatYS said:

Do you happen to know how many people they interview usually? 

For my cohort, there were about 600 applicants. They interviewed around 100 people and accepted about 50 across the four campuses. Again, I have classmates who got in with their first application, and others who applied four times before being accepted. Reach out to the school and try to find out why they rejected you! They are usually very transparent about telling you how you can be a competitive applicant for the next cycle.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CVICU, ICU.
WillResuscForCookies said:

More good advice from MCSatYS. 

Like it or not, there is an association between increasing age and failure rates for first-time NCE candidates. If you don't believe me, see for yourself, in Table 4, on page 3. It's a matter of public record, amidst a sea of other data related to our certification exam, that the NBCRNA publishes every year (and you'd better believe that faculty read it). For those who are browsing on their phones, the current 5-year trend for first-time pass rate stratified by age drops from 90.6% for candidates under 30 to 69.5% by age 40.

I don't think that VCU is one of "those programs," because I have about a dozen classmates who are 30 to 40+ years old. That said, if you're a nontraditional-age student and/or it's been awhile since your undergraduate degree, maybe go earn an "A" in a graduate-level course (or better yet, two) and highlight that accomplishment in your cover letter. I can't say how much of a role doing so played in my own admission, but I'm sure that it didn't hurt.

I realize these two ideas seem contradictory. On one hand, we have someone who's a rock star academically and being told here on AllNurses that they need more experience. On the other, we have seasoned professionals being told that they have to prove they can still perform in an academic setting. I guess there's a point of diminishing returns where you're seen as experienced enough to be ready, but not so far out of school that you've forgotten how to be a student. I don't know where that falls, and it's probably different for everyone, but if (like me) you aren't in that "sweet spot," then this is like anything else in life worth competing for... you need to identify the areas where your application is weaker than your peers and find ways to strengthen it.

 Beautifully said. I was thinking that, there must be a sweet spot of enough experience but not too much time out of school. This is crazy regardless, I always thought more experience was better but not too long where they think you're not "teachable "

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency (CEN) and Critical Care (CCRN-CMC)_SRNA.
registerednursejas said:

To all those who got interviews - congrats! Would you mind sharing your stats if you got an interview? I was unfortunately rejected. 

When I submitted I had 5 years of ED (non Trauma) and 1 year CCU experience (Lv.1 Trauma), 3.66 GPA, 5 graduate courses, 2000 community services hours, 17 shadowing hours, 3x specialty certifications, charge, preceptor, USGIV trained, code team, no leadership in the ICU, multiple CRNA/SRNA associated events, LORs from ED medical director, ED nursing supervisor, and CCU nursing supervisor, ACLS, PALS, BLS, NIHSS. I also asked the CRNA I shadowed if they could read my personal statement and give me pointers.

Going in with limited CCU/ICU experience forced me to buffer my application in other areas such as having robust community service hours and only applied to programs that valued service learning or giving back to the community. This made it easier to relate my personal statement to their vision and goals as an institution.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
EmergentAnesthetics said:

When I submitted I had 5 years of ED (non Trauma) and 1 year CCU experience (Lv.1 Trauma), 3.66 GPA, 5 graduate courses, 2000 community services hours, 17 shadowing hours, 3x specialty certifications, charge, preceptor, USGIV trained, code team, no leadership in the ICU, multiple CRNA/SRNA associated events, LORs from ED medical director, ED nursing supervisor, and CCU nursing supervisor, ACLS, PALS, BLS, NIHSS. I also asked the CRNA I shadowed if they could read my personal statement and give me pointers.

Going in with limited CCU/ICU experience forced me to buffer my application in other areas such as having robust community service hours and only applied to programs that valued service learning or giving back to the community. This made it easier to relate my personal statement to their vision and goals as an institution.

Did you receive direction for graduate coursework or how did you decide which courses to take? I have been out of school for some time and would like to enroll in a few courses that can showcase my ability to function as a student again. 

Is there anybody who still has not received an invitation or a rejection? For those of you who have received either, does your portal have an updated status or does it still say submitted?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency (CEN) and Critical Care (CCRN-CMC)_SRNA.
Flight2nightnight said:

Did you receive direction for graduate coursework or how did you decide which courses to take?

I was actually in a DNP dual certification program when I took those courses then withdrew in good standing. However, any graduate course can show that you're still teachable and you can navigate graduate school. Most common courses that programs recommend are: Advanced Pathophys, Advanced Pharm, Advanced A&P, research, statistics, etc.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
CRNASC said:

It's weird knowing GPA that high is an immediate no. 

The CCRN is required for the application. Not having it would makes sense for denial.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
CRNAedu said:

The CCRN is required for the application. Not having it would makes sense for denial.

No. CCRN is NOT required this cycle but is highly encouraged. CCRN requirement starts next application cycle. I have already confirmed this with Admissions Director. 

0
Up Vote Up Vote ×
IONLYAPPLIEDTOVCU said:

No. CCRN is NOT required this cycle but is highly encouraged. CCRN requirement starts next application cycle. I have already confirmed this with Admissions Director. 

Per their website:

"We require our applicants to have current Basic Life Support (BLS); Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) & Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certifications. They are required for matriculation and must be maintained throughout the duration of the program.

Our program will accept certifications from American Heart and the American Red Cross.

Additionally, applicants are required to have their CCRN (Critical Care Registered Nurse) certification." 🤷

Up Vote Up Vote ×
CRNAedu said:

Per their website:

"We require our applicants to have current Basic Life Support (BLS); Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) & Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certifications. They are required for matriculation and must be maintained throughout the duration of the program.

Our program will accept certifications from American Heart and the American Red Cross.

Additionally, applicants are required to have their CCRN (Critical Care Registered Nurse) certification." 🤷

Wish I could post the email from the Admissions Director for their program LOL. It wasn't on nursingcas website so I reached out for clarification and was told exactly that. But regardless less likely to be considered without CCRN. 
goodluck to all of us interviewing 🙂

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion