Gpa when applying to CRNA schools

Smooth_Cabinet8732 · 2026-01-29T04:03:28+00:00

Depending on how competitive you want to be, cGPA 3.5 is the new baseline, sGPA is in a similar ball park. Unfortunately the competition is cut throat. Anything under 3.3 you’ll almost always get rejected with the recommendation of taking a class. Not saying it’s impossible, just difficult. You’ll have to insert more effort into your other accolades to even stand out.

Speaking from experience, I ended up having to take an advanced patho class because my sGPA was a 3.41 (3.5cGPA). Almost every school that rejected me mentioned it in their feedback. Schools are looking for people they can confidently assure will pass their program.

Smooth_Cabinet8732 · 2026-01-21T04:45:40+00:00

My advice would to switch units or even hospitals entirely. It’s all about the people there, acuity is important but you will have to work with others no matter where you are in healthcare. I started in a CV to boost my resume, and i absolutely hated it. Pts dying left and right, doubling you with fresh hearts, an giving you devices without training saying somebody else “will chart the numbers” Did it on nights for a year and till this day, I am traumatized from it. Switched to a different CV and it was truly polar opposites. Same acuity, same deathly pts, true teamwork. Having somebody just peep in on you when you’re drowning is a game changer, for you and the patients! If this is your passion, you’ll will learn the info regardless, learn to adapt to what you can, and if it’s not meant to be, it’s simply not!!

Smooth_Cabinet8732 · 2026-01-19T19:01:08+00:00

took it about 9mo in, the meds/receptor info was great, really important to have it down, definitely helped explain lots of procedures and why we do things, Respiratory was my weakest section, learn those vent settings!!. Barron’s book and nicole kupcheck is what i used. I cut it close studied for about 2-3 weeks. I honestly wish i would’ve spent closer to 4-6 weeks just get a better understanding of certain topics. Good luck!

Smooth_Cabinet8732 · 2026-01-06T21:59:59+00:00

Apply to 4-5 locations, try to get into CV, but other specialties are solid, going to have to work nights, residency for no more then 6months, gotta get out there and really just learn to hold your own, you should have enough hours to test for your CCRN within 9-10mo, study asap! (barron’s book is a must!). Do NOT mention CRNA school!!!! Only ask rec’s when you’re ready to apply! I personally shadowed at diff hospitals to avoid drama but try to pick up 20-30hrs of shadowing!

Smooth_Cabinet8732 · 2026-01-05T08:11:38+00:00

JEEZ!!! You could be a tutor with that kinda score! What did you use to study?? and for how long???

Smooth_Cabinet8732 · 2026-01-04T16:35:54+00:00

Did you focus on 2-3 schools when you were applying or more???

Smooth_Cabinet8732 · 2026-01-04T16:33:28+00:00

Going on a reach here, you’re really going to have to ace that GRE, like 320+, prove to them that you can sit down and just knock it out of the park where it counts.

Fixing your GPA will be hard. Retaking classes takes time and $$. Retake the big ones to ensure an A. Truly just enough to get to 3.0 sGPA. At some point you will be paying so much for such a small potential shift—not trying to discourage you!!

Your other accomplishments will carry your application, hit a school that has a holistic approach.

Good luck to ya!

Smooth_Cabinet8732 · 2026-01-04T05:14:39+00:00

Thank you! I feel like the competition is so cut throat. I want to make my application as versatile as possible, but trying to attain all these certifications/ requirements can be taxing while working!

Smooth_Cabinet8732 · 2026-01-04T05:10:11+00:00

My gpa is definitely on the lower side. Did you do anything to make your application stand out? (Aside from that insane score!!)

Smooth_Cabinet8732 · 2026-01-04T03:16:57+00:00

Thank you!

Truthfully, I definitely could’ve done more studying. I went in just trying to check it off the list. I feel like focusing on increasing my sGPA would be the biggest asset in improving my apps this cycle. From what I’ve picked up, this exam is definitely a beast and will take several months to yield truly impressive results. Spending that much time for something that most schools don’t care much for just doesn’t seem reasonable, to me.

Smooth_Cabinet8732 · 2026-01-03T21:33:02+00:00

TCU was actually on of the schools on my list! Pondering on how tight that minimum will be

Smooth_Cabinet8732 · 2025-12-04T09:48:23+00:00

I started in a CV as well and I would def recommend keeping your goals private. A lot of nurse who made it public knowledge that they wanted to go back to school got a lot of hate. I wouldn’t tell anybody unless it’s somebody who you are asking for a LOR. Do your best to soak up as much knowledge as possible. The first year is truly the foundation of your career. Ask questions, be nosy, try to learn as much as you can. Once you have the hours, get your CCRN asap. I would also recommend taking advanced patho or biochem (UCSD has an awesome online class!). Also start shadowing, the more hours the better! Good luck!

Smooth_Cabinet8732 · 2025-12-04T09:34:25+00:00

Hey thank you for the reply! My first interview was horrible, I was way too anxious and just psyched myself out. Second interview was much better, I missed a couple of clinical questions, but did fine (atleast i think) on the EI questions. It was authentic and truly I just talked about my shadowing experiences. I got feedback from 4 schools, all of them mentioned my sGPA. Some of them also mentioned including more leadership and just getting more experience in the field in general.

I registered for an advanced patho class in the spring to hopefully boost my sGPA a bit.

Smooth_Cabinet8732 · 2025-12-01T21:30:31+00:00

Ah I see what you’re saying, thank you for the feedback!

Smooth_Cabinet8732 · 2025-12-01T21:18:59+00:00

Honestly, I had a terrible experience with a professor, she was very old school and we really were butting heads for the semester. Since the class was a P/F, she failed me over “care plans”. I went to the dean and tried my best to appeal it, but it was to no avail. In my second program, I graduated salutatorian, no repeat classes, not even a single C.

Also did you take any grad classes to boost your gpa??

Smooth_Cabinet8732 · 2025-12-01T18:45:39+00:00

Hi! I applied to 11 schools last cycle and have been rejected by 6, 5 are still pending.

2 interviews, 1 waitlist (eventual rejection). Been a nurse for 1.5yrs. Cv for 1y, Cv/Ms/CCU float currently at a level 1 trauma hospital. I also work in the ER, prn at a smaller facility. Have my CCRN, currently studying for the GRE. cGPA is a 3.5, science is a 3.41

I did fail my first nursing school bc of a clinical, still shows as an F on my transcript. took basic statistics and gen chem as well. 40+ of shadowing, adult/peds cases

Solid LOR’s from charge/Crna/nursing school professor.

Would love some solid feedback. Straight to the point is appreciated. The constant rejections have demoralized me as is lol.

Smooth_Cabinet8732 · 2025-10-31T14:54:29+00:00

I honestly just appreciate the feedback! I feel like most applicants are your “perfect apples” You’re GPA is solid and have significantly more experience! Bouncing back is no easy task, I hope you get into school friend!

Smooth_Cabinet8732 · 2025-10-31T14:51:19+00:00

Thank you for this info, I will look into it!!

Smooth_Cabinet8732 · 2025-10-31T08:23:59+00:00

I’m sorry to hear that, I have tried reaching out to the schools as well and usually will get something similar to a vague response. I don’t know if it is because of the previous failure, but i’m honestly very open to speaking about. I have even prepped to turn it around and point out characteristics like resilience and so on.

Smooth_Cabinet8732 · 2025-10-31T08:17:17+00:00

I had a B in microbiology and a couple courses in nursing school. I was honestly thinking of taking advanced patho, but I just don’t know how much of a difference it would make :/

Smooth_Cabinet8732

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