Which schools are "hard" to get into

[apaisRN, RN, CRNA]

I know that there are such competitiveness rankings for undergrad admissions and probably for programs like law and medicine. CRNA is different because there are relatively few programs and most take under 30 students a year. Also, it is growing more competitive - from what I understand, 15-20 years ago it wasn't so hard to get in. With all the differences between schools' admission policies and the fluctuating number of nurses who want to be CRNAs, there is just no cut-and-dried formula.

When I interviewed at Samuel Merritt, I asked one of the students how hard it was to get in. (dumb question, I know, but obviously I was a little tunnel-visioned that day.) She said "it can't be that hard, they let me in!" SMC is one of the few programs in the West, in a gorgeous city that everyone wants to live in, and it ties for 10th on the stupid-but-interesting US News & World Report list. I'm guessing it's a little harder than one in the Dakotas, which are less populated, have terrible weather, and are near the Midwest where there's a ton of programs. But this girl thought she wasn't a strong candidate. It's all a matter of how you look at it. All you can do is make yourself as strong a candidate as you can, research programs to find one that you'll like and will like you, and spread your applications around. Oh, and be persistent.

[Athlein1]

But this girl thought she wasn't a strong candidate.

No, she is just humble and self-deprecating. Anesthesia school tends to do that to you.

[apaisRN, RN, CRNA]

No, she is just humble and self-deprecating. Anesthesia school tends to do that to you.

I haven't started school yet and I'm surprised they accepted me too! Not trying to discount what you say - but it underestimating yourself tends to be a female quality.