From 0 interview invites to 3/3 acceptances
I start CRNA school this summer and I wanted to share my journey in case anyone is considering giving up after multiple applications. Believe me, there were so many times I was ready to give up. Every rejection made me question myself, but it also pushed me to improve with each application.
Background: I come from a high acuity ICU where I started as a new grad. I started applying to CRNA school with a cumulative GPA 3.36 and science GPA 3.2.
1st year applying: applied to 2 schools -> 0 interview invites. I knew it was a long shot given my GPA and only 1.5 years of ICU experience at the time. I spent the next year working my butt off. I worked up to charge, joined unit council, asked for more critical patients, and took CCRN & CSC. I also took two graduate level science courses.
2nd year applying: applied to 3 schools -> 2 interview invites -> 0 acceptances. I was so excited that all my work paid off and I was getting interviews. I was hesitant to pay for mock interviews so I went with the most affordable one I could find through TeachRN with a current SRNA. Unfortunately, my interviews went horribly. I was thrown off by many of the questions and did not feel well prepared at all.
3rd year applying: 4 schools -> 3 interview invites -> 3 acceptances. There were two things I focused on this round that I believe made these acceptances possible:
#1: I attended my state’s CRNA association conference as well as the AANA conference where I networked with faculty, program directors, and current SRNAs. These events are not cheap, but honestly so worth it. I gained so much knowledge about the CRNA profession, which provided me with a lot more content to talk about in my interview.
#2: I treated interview prep like my 2nd job. Some of my favorite resources were YouTube (Ninja Nerd & ICU Advantage), study guides from BecomingCRNA on Etsy, and Barron’s CCRN book. I highly recommend doing a mock interview with someone who is experienced and not just going with the cheapest option. I went with BecomingCRNA. I liked my experience so much that I did a 2nd interview with her as well.
If anyone is in the position I was in — discouraged, doubting yourself, or wondering if you’re ever gonna get in — feel free to DM me. I know how isolating this process can feel.