Worried! Am I "Good Enough"?

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Specializes in ICU.

I've narrowed down my top 5 schools to apply to for ACNP. But I'm feeling that a few of them are "out-of-my-league." I'm seriously doubting that I'm "good enough" to get in...and wondering if I should lower my standards. I really want to go to an amazing school with an excellent (nationwide) reputation. But I only have a few years of nursing experience (and only 1 in ICU so far)...and my GPA from my RN-BSN is lacking (3.4). I've been involved in a couple volunteer opportunities- but nothing that will really make me stand out.

So I guess I need some honest truth from some strangers! :) My hubby and kids are super supportive and willing to move anywhere for me to do this! They make me believe I can do Anything!! So- I could use some real-world advice...chances of getting in? Need to lower expectations? Ways to improve chances? Anything would be helpful at this point (before I spend the time, effort, and money applying to 5 schools)! Thanks!!

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Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.

Absolutely shoot for the best school; you sound like a strong candidate and with the time/money investment you want to go to the best place you can get in.

If you get rejected? so what. You may get rejected from one top school and accepted at another or you may get rejected by a less-respected school and get into the most respected.

Stay positive! Remember your GPS doesn't define you, it just helps you get your foot in the door and your application looked at.

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Specializes in ICU.

Thanks for the words of encouragement!! I'm not good at rejection (who is?)...so hopefully I don't experience that too much. I guess I just worry that I won't be accepted by any of the 5 schools...then I'll have to wait another year (for the ones that only do once a year start dates).

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Specializes in ER.

Do it! You will regret it more if you do not try.

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If you have the money, apply to a wide range of schools. Nobody is good at rejection. I promise you you'll get over it. Sometimes it is hard to figure out what these schools are looking for. I got rejected from some rather middling schools and got accepted into some top-level ones. Whatever. Sometimes the best things that happen in life were initially considered disappointments. Give yourself as many options as you can and if you get rejected by some of them, bleep em. It sounds like you have a varied enough background with lots of interesting experiences and it will be a great fit for the right schools . . .

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Specializes in Emergency.

Relatively speaking the fee for applying to a school is a drop in the bucket. I would suggest you apply to as many programs as you can find that fit with your plan. Write killer essays, and get excellent references. The worst that can happen is that you find out some don't want you, and you figure out how to make yourself a better candidate for next time. The best, some do want you and you pick a program out of those acceptance letters that you are really excited about.

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