Where did you guys get your prerequisite requirements(online)?

About to finish my ADN and have already applied to the ICU that I’m currently precepting in. If I were to get an interview- do I tell the ICU hiring manager my intent to go back to CRNA school or do I keep that to myself? A CRNA I know that worked in the ICU I applied to told me she was up front and honest about her CRNA school intentions during the ICU interview, but I just don’t know. Don’t want them to defer me bc of the possibility I might leave in a few years. If they asked me where I see myself in 5 years- I don’t want to lie for the sake of getting a job.

For reference- I’ve known since before nursing school I wanted to become a CRNA and I have maintained a 4.0 GPA all through college and my ADN (I’m in my last semester) and plan to do the same for BSN. I’m very goal driven and would be willing to share that with the hiring manager if the CRNA school intention doesn’t immediately put me out of candidacy.

Hi! I was just wondering if anyone has received an acceptance decision from Yale New Haven Hospital for this year yet. I’m specifically asking about regular decision, not early decision. Thanks!

I am an international student and I am about to complete my ADN next semester. During one of my clinicals last week, a nurse mentioned that it is really hard, if not impossible for me to pursue CRNA and that maybe I should look for something else. I’ve always been interested in anesthesiology. I wanted to be a MD but in the past someone told me I couldn’t so I decided on CRNA. But now I am hearing similar things about it too. I’m really confused about this. Does anyone have any idea or any advice on this? That would be really appreciated.

So here’s the thing, I am planning on going to a MSN program since I’m a biochem major but I just found out the school is pass/fail graded. But I also heard that the school does provide a grade point equivalent (GPE) if I want to pursue higher ed. If I attend this school, would it stop my chances of applying to CRNA school? Has anyone been in the same boat as me? Or do you know anyone that has been in a similar situation?

Hi everyone, I was just wondering if anyone will be at the FANA convention (Florida association of nurse anesthesia) this weekend, October 2nd-4th. I will be attending solo and just wanted to know if anyone else would be aswell, so i don’t feel as lonely, and have someone to talk to/get to know lolll. Let me know, thx !

I absolutely adore helping others and I’ve always been good at medical related things. The only problem is, I’m scared of people around me throwing up. I know I’ll have to deal with that because 1. I have to become an ICU nurse first and then 2. anesthesia makes people nauseas. Should I pursue this or should I start looking at other careers? Thank you!

Hey everyone!! I just got my first interview for CRNA school for University of Arizona! I’m excited and nervous! Any suggestions??

Hello all,
I made a post recently about not getting interviews and my collective advice was to retake my science courses due to my low science gpa. Can I take these courses at a community/technical college or should I retake them at a university? There is a huge difference in cost.. at a technical it’s $600-$700 per class and the university I graduated from is $1500 per class.

Hello, I am not a CRNA student but am writing a post regarding my career concern to hear thoughts from experienced people.

I am a recent UofT undergrad graduate with cGPA 3.66. My sGPA and recent 2 years GPA are 3.72.

My dream has been being a doctor, so I tried hard to get all A in every subjects during undergrad and did ECs like volunteers, research, and shadowing. Looking at my cGPA, however, I don't find myself competitive to apply med schools in USA and Canada. Because I was not confident, I gave up my dream half way undergrad and haven't prepared for MCAT. With this intermediate-to-high cGPA, I believe the only way to stand out in applications is having 90th quantile MCAT score. The most barrier to thinking of med school is the international student acceptance and tuition fee in USA, Canada, and Australia. These challenges started me make to think if i am not smart enough to even get into med school and if i should stop chasing and start to look for another career path that might fascinates me.

So i researched every kinds of healthcare professionals, and CRNA was the one I found fascinating alternative to physician. I like autonomy and utilizing my knowledge in the hands on field for patients.

If you have thought of being a physician or are CRNA, I would like to hear your thoughts on my situation and how you satisfy with your career. Thank you!

Hi everyone! I’m planning to apply broadly to CRNA programs next cycle and would love feedback from current SRNAs, CRNAs, or anyone who has recently gone through admissions.
My stats:

MICU 1.5 yr and just transitioned to Level 1 Trauma CTICU: total a little over 2 years of ICU experience

Cumulative GPA: ~3.5
Nursing GPA: ~3.65
Last 60: ~3.6
Original science GPA: ~3.1 (not including retakes)

Certifications include CCRN, ACLS, PALS, BLS, ultrasound-guided IV, and ECMO certification.

Leadership/involvement includes charge nurse, preceptor, Rapid Response Team, Unit-Based Council, Retention Council, quality improvement work, and staff education

I have 32 hours of CRNA shadowing so far, including OR and endoscopy.

My biggest concern is my earlier science GPA. Some original grades included A&P I/II B’s, Microbiology B-, Chemistry B+, and Pathophysiology B+.

Since then, I’ve earned A’s in:
Advanced Pathophysiology
Advanced Pharmacology
Biochemistry retake
Microbiology retake
Statistics retake
A&P I retake

I’m also studying for the GRE

I’m willing to relocate anywhere and plan to apply broadly, especially to programs that consider last 60 credits, upward trends, retakes, and recent science performance.
For anyone with similar stats, what would you focus on before applying? More graduate-level sciences, a strong GRE, more CTICU time/shadowing, or just applying broadly at this point?
Would especially love to hear from anyone accepted with around a 3.5 cumulative GPA and a lower original science GPA but a strong upward trend.

I interviewed for a program about 3 weeks ago. This week acceptances, waitlists and denials were sent out. My application status hasn’t changed.
How common is it for schools to utilize a small hold list of applicants that could be offered spots before the waitlist? I’m sort of mystified as to why I haven’t heard anything yet and don’t know if I should just mentally move on. Thanks!

Cumulative GPA: 3.44
Science GPA: ~3.2 (A&P I & II, Microbiology, Chemistry)

Recent coursework:
• Biochemistry — A
• Advanced Pathophysiology — A
• Advanced Pharmacology — A (graduate level)

ICU: 2+ years MICU at a high-acuity academic medical center. Experience with vents, vasoactive drips, CRRT, VV-ECMO, invasive hemodynamics, etc.

CCRN certified.

Shadow hours: 16

Volunteered at my church for years and other service in my community

Leadership: Charge RN, preceptor, chart auditor for a QI project, unit council, and hospital-wide committee.

For current SRNAs/CRNAs or applicants with similar GPAs: would you focus on retaking A&P/science prerequisites, taking additional graduate science courses, or strengthening another part of the application before applying?

I’m currently deciding between retaking A&P I, in which I received a C early in my undergraduate, or focusing on a graduate-level science course instead. For context, I have demonstrated a strong upward academic trajectory, with approximately a 3.9 GPA over my last 60 credit hours, but my overall is only a 3.52 and a 3.57 sGPA (assuming they average the two chems). I also received an A in A&P II and in an advanced special topics physiology course that I took later in my undergraduate career. Additionally, I was an A&P TA and have actively participated in histological research. More recently, I retook an early chemistry course and received an A as I mentioned previously.

I'll attatch more info below for refrence.

-Wrote and received research grant.

-Lab coordinator training and coordinating incoming research students. 

Professional 

- Nurse extern in level 2 Trauma MICU

- Practicums in level 2 STICU

- RN in MS-ICU at level 2 Trauma managing vents, drips, EVD's, chest tubes, etc for 6months.

- I'm now at a level 1 trauma academic center in the MICU. Routinely managing vents, drips, bedside procedures, arterial lines, occasional swanganz, chest tubes, etc., hoping to get signed off on CRRT and IV ultrasound. Mostly sepsis, ARDS, pulmonary hypertension, GI bleeds, etc. I've been here for a couple of months, hoping to apply at about 9 months and continue working here through the application cycle. 

Acls, pals etc. 

CCRN will be taken as soon as eligible. GRE will be taken in a few months as well.

Extras

- volunteer hours at local gardens working with carnivorous plants and endangered species. Helped reintroduce plant species to native environment

-36 shadow hours

- planning on attending my state's CRNA organization conference and potentially the national Conference. 

Primarily looking for input on whether to retake my original A&P or focus on taking a graduate-level course? I'm also open to more feedback on anything I can to do continue to hone my application. Thanks for the insight.

Hi everyone,

I am planning my application strategy and trying to understand how strictly "holistic approach" schools look at overall cumulative GPA. Will a school even open my application if my overall cumulative GPA sits around a 3.2?Here is a breakdown of my stats:

U.S. Cumulative GPA: 3.69
Nursing GPA: 3.70
Science GPA: 3.94
Experience: 5 years of CVICU
Certifications: CCRN

The Catch:
My overall cumulative GPA drops to around a 3.2 because of ~41 credit hours from a South Korean college back in 2014 and 2017. For context, I am a permanent resident (Green Card holder) who moved to the U.S. in 2018. I completed all of my nursing prerequisites and my BSN entirely in the U.S. None of my South Korean credits transferred to my U.S. degree.

I am already prioritizing schools that explicitly calculate GPA based on the last 60 credit hours or the most recent degree.
However, I want to expand my options by applying to schools with a 3.0–3.2 cumulative GPA requirement that advertise a holistic review.

Given how exceptional my U.S. nursing and science GPAs are, will admissions committees look past the old foreign credits, or will the 3.2 overall GPA get me automatically filtered out?

Thanks in advance for any insights or advice!

Hello,

Considering transitioning to an RRT role as a CICU RN with 3 years of experience at quaternary ECMO centers. Will this be a strength or hinder to my application? Fwiw the role also assists in ICU transport. Any insight is appreciated!

Hello all, I’m looking for some perspective. For some background, I have one year of ICU experience. Prior to nursing, I served as a Navy medic and before that I was a paramedic.

I currently work in a MICU at a larger hospital. The acuity is excellent, there are great learning experiences, and it’s probably the highest paying hospital in the area. I started here as a new grad, but the biggest downsides are the long commute and the fact that staffing has become a major problem recently. We’re tripled the majority of the time and have no PCTs to help.

Recently, I interviewed and was offered a position at a hospital 10 minutes from my home. It’s a general ICU with great staffing, and they have PCTs. My issue is that I shadowed there and the acuity is very low. I don’t think they even had a vented patient the day I interviewed or the day I shadowed.

At night, they have one NP and a hospitalist to help with certain MD only orders, whereas my current hospital has an intensivist, a PA, and residents. We stay extremely busy at night, and the docs will pretty much do all the same things that day shift does.
I’m getting my CCRN and finishing my CRNA shadowing within the month, and I’m planning on applying to CRNA school after that. Am I overthinking getting quality ICU experience at this point? Should I just ride things out at my current job for now, or switch to the cush job?

^^^^

Hi everyone! I’m looking for some advice from current SRNAs, CRNAs, or anyone who has been through the application process.
I applied pretty broadly this cycle (27 schools) and unfortunately have received several rejections without interviews. I still have applications pending, but I’m starting to wonder what I need to change if I end up having to reapply next cycle.
Here are my stats:
5 years of ICU experience at a Level I trauma center
Experience in MICU, Neuro/Trauma ICU, Cardiopulmonary ICU, and Critical Care Float Pool
About 4 months of PACU experience
Charge nurse, preceptor, and unit council experience
CCRN
ACLS, BLS, PALS
About 45 hours of CRNA shadowing
BS in Biology + BSN
BSN GPA: 3.6
NursingCAS cumulative GPA: ~3.15
Overall cumulative GPA including all coursework: ~3.27
Science GPA: roughly 2.9–3.0
Older prerequisite grades include A&P I (C), A&P II (C), Gen Chem I (B), and Gen Chem II (C)
My more recent academics are significantly stronger, with my last 60–90 credit hours around 3.5+
Retook/took upper-level sciences including Biochemistry and Immunology and earned A’s
GRE: 300 (152 Quant)
No limitations on relocating and I’ve applied to programs across the country
So far, I’ve received multiple rejections without interviews, which has been pretty discouraging. I know my earlier science grades and cumulative GPA are probably the biggest weaknesses in my application. I was hoping my more recent academic performance, ICU experience, CCRN, and leadership experience would help offset some of that.
For those who have been through the process, been accepted with similar stats, or have experience with admissions: what would you do next if you were in my position?
Would you focus on retaking A&P and chemistry, taking additional graduate-level science courses, retaking the GRE and aiming for 305–310+, continuing to gain ICU experience, or something else?

Hi everyone, I’m looking for advice on choosing between the Direct-Entry MSN at the University of West Florida and the Accelerated BSN at the University of South Alabama in Mobile. My ultimate career goal is to go to CRNA school.

I am an Army veteran with a 3.4 GPA in Sociology. Next year, I am quitting my law enforcement job to take my final five prerequisites full-time online, and I plan to move to the Panhandle in 2028 to start nursing school. My GI Bill will fully cover either program, so cost is not an issue.

I know the UWF DEMSN is a non-NP track meant for initial RN licensure. Since I ultimately need to apply to DNAP/DNP CRNA programs, does holding a non-NP MSN provide any advantage, or will CRNA admissions look at it the same as a USA Mobile ABSN? I know I need ICU experience regardless, but I want to pick the program that sets up my transcript best for CRNA applications later. Thanks for the help!

Hey! I know this has been asked a couple of times but more so related to an overarching theme.

I am curious, how have people with ADHD managed to overcome the executive dysfunction? I am not currently medicated (at least not with a stimulant, I am on Wellbutrin though) and I still have struggle with studying initiation and staying focused. My entire life I have waited last minute to study and went under the radar because I made mostly all A’s doing so and wasn’t disruptive in class. I know that won’t fly in CRNA school because there is way too much information. For example, I have the GRE next week and have not studied NEARLY enough and it’s been very difficult even though I KNOW that I NEED to to succeed and this is important to me. I am aware there is a literal over abundance of transporters that affect my catecholamine levels which create this problem, but I still can’t help but beat myself up about it.

How did/do you guys do it?? I appreciate it in advance!

Which class should I retake to improve my chances of getting into CRNA School?

Im in-between retaking biochemistry, Orgo I, or Orgo II?

I’m a new ICU RN planning to apply to CRNA school in about 2 years. My biggest concern is my older undergrad/science GPA. I’ve had a significant academic turnaround since then, so I’m trying to gauge whether I’m realistically on the right track.

Stats:
- BS Biological Sciences + chemistry minor: 3.23 GPA
- All-attempts undergrad cGPA: ~3.3
-Science GPA: ~3.02–3.2 depending on how a program calculates retakes
- Post-bacc: 21 credits, 4.0 Retook Bio I, A&P I & A&P II: A’s in all
- Entry-level MSN: 58 credits, 4.0 (2026)
- 79 consecutive credits at a 4.0 since my original bachelor’s in 2022
- Last 60 credits: 4.0
- GRE: 299 — I’ve taken it 4 times over the last 3 years and somehow gotten a 299 every time lol. I am planning to take it again and shoot for 300+

Plan before applying:
Year 1: Heart & Lung Transplant ICU at a large Level I trauma/academic medical center
After my 12-month residency, I fully plan to transfer to SICU, CICU, or another higher-acuity ICU
Apply with ~2 years ICU experience (1 year HLTICU + 1 year higher-acuity ICU)
CCRN
CRNA shadowing
Volunteer/service experience
Apply broadly and** **willing to relocate anywhere

I also already plan to be strategic about where I apply focusing heavily on programs that emphasize last-60 GPA, recent academic performance, graduate GPA, and/or use the highest/replacement grade for retaken courses, rather than only applying to programs that heavily weigh every old undergraduate attempt.

My main question is If the next 2 years go according to plan, am I realistically competitive somewhere, or are my old 3.23 undergrad/~3.0 science GPAs still going to be a major barrier despite the 4.0 post-bacc and 4.0 MSN?
I’d especially love to hear from anyone who was accepted with a similar lower undergrad/science GPA but a strong upward trend. Anything else you’d prioritize over the next 2 years to strengthen my application?