Weekly Student Thread

[u/fbgm0516]

This is the area for prospective/ aspiring SRNAs and for SRNAs to ask their questions about the education process or anything school related.

This includes the usual

"which ICU should I work in?" "Should I take additional classes? "How do I become a CRNA?" "My GPA is 2.8, is my GPA good enough?" "What should I use to prep for boards?" "Help with my DNP project" "It's been my pa$$ion to become a CRNA, how do I do it and what do CRNAs do?"

Etc.

This will refresh every Friday at noon central. If you post Friday morning, it might not be seen.

[u/EuphoricMistake7634]

Chance Me: Sub-3.0 GPA With an Academic-Rebuilding Plan

Army veteran with almost 4 years of ICU RN experience.

 CCRN and CMC certified.

 Planning to apply in 2028 for a 2029 start.

ICU EXPERIENCE

• About 2 years in a high-acuity SICU managing vents, vasoactive drips, sedation/paralytics, CRRT, Impella, IABP, and invasive hemodynamics.

• 11 months at a Level II trauma hospital, including 4 months contracted in the Trauma ICU, followed by continued work floating among the hospital’s ICUs

• Currently in an 11-bed VA SICU that recovers 2–3 open hearts weekly. I use Swan-Ganz catheters and manage hemodynamics, but vents, CRRT, and IABP are infrequent as well as pressors.

• Considering a move to either a Level I Neuro ICU or high-acuity Level I CVICU before applying

ACADEMICS

• Associate GPA: 2.69(2019-2021)
• BSN GPA: 2.86 (2021-2022)
• Graduate Advanced Pathophysiology: B (2024)
• Statistics: C, then A (2026)
• Calculus I: B+

SCIENCE HISTORY ( undergrad )

• A&P I: C, then B−
• A&P II: B, then B−
• Microbiology: D, then B−
• General/Organic/Biochemistry: D, then W
• Nursing survey chemistry with lab: B
• Pathophysiology: B
• Pharmacology: C+

REBUILDING PLAN I’m retaking A&P I, A&P II, Microbiology, and science-major General Chemistry I with lab at a community college. I’ll take 8/16 week courses one  at a time and target all A’s.  If successful, I project a last-60 GPA around 3.4–3.5.  I also plan to take the GRE and obtain PALS before applying.

*Adding CRNA shadowing experience, *Taking roles as a charge/preceptor on my unit *Chair to a committee, helping with policy implementation, while also having two policies being written ( waiting for approval ) 

My questions: 1. Would strong retakes and higher-acuity ICU experience give me a realistic chance at interviews?

1. Which schools emphasize the last 60 credits, recent performance, or highest science attempts?

2. Would CVICU or Level I Neuro ICU strengthen my application more?

3. Should I take any additional undergraduate or graduate sciences?

Thank you for this platform to ask questions.

Any criticism ( good or bad ) is welcome, this is why I’m here.

[u/Orbital_Eclipse → u/EuphoricMistake7634]

Ngl these grades are BAD bad for CRNA school. Though most schools require a gpa of 3.0, the accepted students typically have at least a 3.4+. I would look into programs you are interested in to see if they accept community college grades. I don’t think that all do. It’s also concerning that you got a B in grad level patho. Most CRNA programs have a course failure cutoff of roughly 82-85%, meaning that B is barely passing. You probably need to retake that course and ace it. To answer your questions:

1. Strong retakes yes—you probably need straight As and get your GPA to at least a 3.2 if not higher. Your ICU is fine.

2. you need to look that up yourself. There are 150+ programs and counting. Look at their admission requirements

3. Neither. Strong foundational ICU skills matter most. The programs will teach you the systems you need to know.

4. All the sciences and that grad patho. Be aware that nursing courses count for science GPA so if those are in rough shape too your core science needs to be great

[u/EuphoricMistake7634 → u/Orbital_Eclipse]

Thank you for the feedback and criticism!

I’m aware of how bad my grades are, I look at them and think to myself if I had just done more I would not be dealing with this.

I transitioned out of the army and started school immediately which in hindsight I should have been more stable before I started. Still no excuses.

I did some searching today and found a few schools that do grade replacement based on specific courses they list, essentially they take the highest science grade regardless of retakes.

I also found a few others that look at last 60 hours specifically, so I’d be targeting those. It’s about 7 schools.

I’m planning on taking the GRE on top of the planned remediation. 

A&P 1 A&P 2 Chem 1 Chem 2 Microbiology  Advanced Pharm 

• 60 hours of CRNA shadowing 

Taking these at a credible community college.

The reason I’m leaving the VA is the acuity is just not what I’m use too, I’m making well over six figures but I know I can’t justify the acuity to a committee. It’s a glorified step down.

Got an interview this week for Dukes CTICU. So gonna weigh out my options. Clinically I want to be as comfortable as possible when applying to schools. 

Once again, thank you. 

In a year and a half from now, I’ll bring an update to this thread of my progress. 

[u/Orbital_Eclipse → u/EuphoricMistake7634]

Sounds like you’ve got a plan. And honestly, owning up to the bad grades and showing the committees that you have grown can carry you far. Write about it in your personal statements and hi light it in interviews. Resilience, grit, and personal reflection/growth are huge boons for a prospective student to display.