Western Carolina University (WCU) CRNA - 2025

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I didn't see a thread on this one yet, so I am starting one. Good luck to everyone applying!!

fadi032622 said:

I have seen people get interviews with GRE scores of 290 and above. I know multiple people who have gotten into CRNA school in the last couple of years with a GRE of 294 and 296. I personally scored above a 310 and the average GRE score for applicants are around 306-316. Most schools who require the GRE either make exceptions to their >300 minimum requirement if the applicant is well rounded...,do you have anything else on your application that makes you stand out like volunteer experiences, committees, other certifications? 

Keep in mind that some schools toss out the application entirely if you did not meet all the requirements. Some go as far to say you won't be considered unless you've met the requirements. Don't be discouraged. There were three spots left today when I signed up and I hadn't even seen the email when it was first sent last week because it ended up in my spam folder. Make sure you're checking all of your spam folders!

I do have many years of volunteer work as a camp counselor for kids with cancer, I was planning to speak on it during an interview, but I guess in hindsight I should have included it on my resume, but I was running out space and it felt so compact and dense as it was. I did include my time on the unit council, as well as mentioned about being CRRT certified and Ultrasound guided IV certified in my hospital. I'm happy to hear your statement about the GRE though. I dread retaking it LOL. 

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Specializes in Medical ICU.

I was interviewed twice and waitlisted twice at WCU with a 295 GRE. Of course they say not a lot of weight but like I said before I know some in the program with the same / similar GRE, less experience, same GPA. It unfortunately doesn't always make sense and there's no guarantee one way or another. 
 

GRE is also useless and thankfully many programs are removing requirement 

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If not offered an interview when will the awaiting decision change on your application or do they keep that there until they've completed and accepted their cohort? 
I will add I have a graduate degree with a 3.8 (last 60) and did poorly on the GRE with a 288 as this could be the reason behind not receiving an interview. 

I have 8 years of ICU experience 

CCRN & APRN 

shadowed many CRNAs and used them for LOR. 
I'm not sure the method to how they decide although my application was not received until this week due to graduate admissions   

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Eurb said:

I do have many years of volunteer work as a camp counselor for kids with cancer, I was planning to speak on it during an interview, but I guess in hindsight I should have included it on my resume, but I was running out space and it felt so compact and dense as it was. I did include my time on the unit council, as well as mentioned about being CRRT certified and Ultrasound guided IV certified in my hospital. I'm happy to hear your statement about the GRE though. I dread retaking it LOL. 

you should have definitely included volunteer experience and professional enrichment in your resume, in addition to your research if you have any on your resume. my resume was two pages long and I have various different types of work experience with descriptions of what I did on my unit. mine was compact but it gave them a thorough idea of what I have accomplished in my nursing career thus far.

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SICURNTN said:

If not offered an interview when will the awaiting decision change on your application or do they keep that there until they've completed and accepted their cohort? 
I will add I have a graduate degree with a 3.8 (last 60) and did poorly on the GRE with a 288 as this could be the reason behind not receiving an interview. 

I have 8 years of ICU experience 

CCRN & APRN 

shadowed many CRNAs and used them for LOR. 
I'm not sure the method to how they decide although my application was not received until this week due to graduate admissions   

did you use anyone else for LOR? I personally did not use any of the CRNAs that I shadowed ( I shadowed 60 hours) and one of them is even my mentor. However, I used the people I have worked closely with, especially those who have seen me grow and improve my nursing skills in my speciality over the last three years. Those were not limited to nursing supervisors, but also APPs, surgeons, etc.

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Specializes in Medical ICU.

Yeah a CRNA shadowing reference wouldn't seem that effective to me BUT some schools require it. They don't work with you 12 hours a day for multiple months / years though. But then again, I doubt that's the reason you didn't get an offer. Too many factors and inconsistencies overall with who gets in and who doesn't. 

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It was more than a shadowing reference also was a coworker at one time I should have added. Of course I used others for reference, only one CRNA was used. My apologies 

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Specializes in csicu.
SICURNTN said:

It was more than a shadowing reference also was a coworker at one time I should have added. Of course I used others for reference, only one CRNA was used. My apologies 

 

RNMSICU said:

Yeah a CRNA shadowing reference wouldn't seem that effective to me BUT some schools require it. They don't work with you 12 hours a day for multiple months / years though. But then again, I doubt that's the reason you didn't get an offer. Too many factors and inconsistencies overall with who gets in and who doesn't. 

Some schools actually require you to document your shadow log with contact information. I actually would walk around with multiple packets in addition to my OWN personal log that if a school didn't require it, I would upload under misc. documents so they had the concrete proof that I have put in the effort to really understand the rigors of what being a CRNA entails and want to pursue this as a profession.

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Specializes in ICU.

Anyone that got an interview apply from out of state or are most of you guys local? Congrats to everyone so far!

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boop2000 said:

Anyone that got an interview apply from out of state or are most of you guys local? Congrats to everyone so far!

I'm from the north east!

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I'm local 

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Specializes in csicu.
fadi032622 said:

I got an invite as well. Unfortunately it went straight to spam and they had sent it out 10 days ago. They followed up asking if I was still interested. I jumped on the opportunity of course and was really upset with myself that I hadn't followed up...had assumed I didn't get offered an interview or there was a longer delay to the hurricane. I hope this doesn't reflect poorly on my part! When I signed up today there were three spots left. Best of luck to those still waiting to get an interview!

following up on this! got into the other only school I applied to which was my top choice! so there will be an additional spot for someone to interview now! good luck to all applicants and hope you all get your top choice school!

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