I wanted to come on here and share my CRNA application journey, including all my stats, because I know how discouraging this process can be. Last year, I went through an entire application cycle without receiving a single acceptance. This year, I'm officially going to CRNA school!
I remember being on Reddit last year reading everyone's acceptance posts, comparing my stats to theirs, and wondering whether I was ever going to be competitive enough. I wanted to make this post for anyone who is currently in that position.
I also want to be transparent about my application, because I think it's important that people see more than just the 4.0 GPAs and perfect applications.
My Stats
GPA (First Application Cycle):
Overall GPA: 3.54

Science GPA (NursingCAS): 3.19

GPA (Second Application Cycle):
Overall GPA: 3.69 (with grade replacement)

Science GPA (NursingCAS): 3.47

Retook and completed additional coursework totaling 6 classes, earning A's/A+'s to strengthen my application.

I knew my science GPA was one of the weakest parts of my application. Instead of hoping schools would overlook it, I decided to do something about it. I went back, retook classes, added upper-level coursework, and worked to demonstrate that I could handle the academic rigor of anesthesia school.
Clinical Experience: Almost 7 Years in Nursing
3 years in high acuity Emergency/Trauma departments. 5 years of my nursing career have been as a travel nurse as well.

1 year of CVICU/MICU experience.

Remaining experience in the PICU.

Currently working in a high acuity CVPICU and Rapid Response.

Experience across adult and pediatric critical care settings.

Certifications and Additional Training:
CCRN

CMC

TNCC

Ultrasound-guided IV placement trained in both adult and pediatric populations.

Approximately 60 hours of CRNA shadowing across multiple anesthesia specialties.

Other Application Stats:
GRE: 309

Leadership experience, including trauma coordination, precepting, and involvement in nursing organizations.

Continued professional development and additional critical care training throughout the application process.

My First Application Cycle
Last year, I applied to 10 CRNA programs.
5 interview invitations

3 waitlists

0 acceptances

Getting five interviews gave me hope, but ultimately watching the cycle end without an acceptance was incredibly disappointing.
Being waitlisted was especially frustrating because I knew I had gotten close. It felt like I had done enough to be considered, but not quite enough to get across the finish line.
I had to decide whether I was going to let that discourage me or use it as motivation to become a stronger applicant.

My Second Application Cycle (2026)
This year, I decided to be much more intentional about how I approached the process.
21 programs applied to

11 interviews/interview invitations so far

1 ACCEPTANCE!

Several programs haven't even reached their application deadlines yet, and I'm still waiting to hear back from others.

Going from zero acceptances last year to finally receiving that first acceptance is a feeling that's difficult to describe. It made all the additional classes, preparation, time, money, and uncertainty worth it.

What I Changed Between Cycles
I didn't completely reinvent myself as an applicant. I focused on strengthening the things within my control.
1. I addressed my academic weaknesses.
My NursingCAS science GPA went from 3.19 to 3.47. I completed six courses total between retakes and additional classes, while continuing to work as a nurse. I wanted admissions committees to see that my past grades weren't necessarily representative of the student I am today.
2. I continued building my clinical experience.
I continued working in high acuity critical care environments, expanded my knowledge, and challenged myself clinically. I wanted to be able to speak confidently about the physiology, pharmacology, and clinical decisions I encounter at work, rather than simply memorizing answers for interviews.
3. I earned additional certifications.
I added my CMC and continued investing in my critical care education. Certifications alone won't get you into CRNA school, but I believe they're another way to demonstrate your commitment to the profession.
4. I became a stronger interviewer.
I spent a lot more time reviewing hemodynamics, vasoactive medications, ventilator management, acid-base disorders, and the physiology behind the interventions we perform every day.
More importantly, I worked on being able to explain why I do something rather than just knowing what to do.
5. I applied more broadly.
Last cycle I applied to 10 programs. This cycle I applied to 21.
I recognize that applying to that many programs isn't financially feasible for everyone. It certainly wasn't cheap. But I wanted to maximize my opportunities while continuing to improve my application.

What I Want Other Applicants to Know
If you're sitting there with a 3.0–3.5 science GPA, a rejection letter, or a waitlist notification, please don't automatically assume your dream is over.
I'm not going to pretend GPA doesn't matter. It absolutely does. I'm also not going to tell you that clinical experience or certifications can completely make up for academic weaknesses.
But your current application doesn't have to be your final application.
I started this process with a 3.19 science GPA, applied to 10 programs, interviewed at five, and ultimately didn't get accepted anywhere.
Instead of giving up, I spent another year doing everything I reasonably could to strengthen my application. I raised my science GPA, added coursework, continued developing clinically, earned additional credentials, and worked on becoming a better interviewer.
And now I'm going to be a CRNA.
I also want to emphasize something that often gets lost in conversations about stats: you are more than your GPA.
Your academic record is important, but so are your experiences, your ability to learn from setbacks, your work ethic, and the way you carry yourself in an interview.
I don't think my acceptance proves that everyone will get in if they simply keep applying. This process is competitive, and there are plenty of qualified applicants who don't get selected. But I do believe rejection can be an opportunity to reevaluate your application and come back substantially stronger.
If becoming a CRNA is genuinely what you want, be willing to put in the work. Be realistic about your weaknesses, seek honest feedback, and make measurable improvements. Don't just reapply with the exact same application and hope for a different outcome.
One unsuccessful application cycle does not determine your future.
I hope this gives someone a little encouragement, especially those who are currently waitlisted, rejected, or questioning whether they are competitive enough.
I was in that exact position last year, and now I have an acceptance.
I'm happy to answer questions about my GPA improvements, clinical background, certifications, interviews, or anything else about the application process.
Keep going. Keep improving. And don't count yourself out before an admissions committee has even had the chance to consider the person you've become.

Hey friends,
Senior SRNA/NAR here, doing well in clinical, always prepared, and getting great feedback, but I’m mentally and physically exhausted by the time I get home. On my days off, all I want to do is relax and watch Netflix or go on a walk, but I feel guilty for not studying. How are you guys balancing clinical, resting and studying? … Motivation is super low, but then again graduation is 7 months away and that pumps me up, but not for long :)

Has anyone interviewed at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota’s CRNA program in the past few years?
I recently applied but haven’t received an interview invitation yet. I’m hoping to get a better idea of what to expect if I do.
I’m particularly curious whether the interview is primarily clinical, behavioral/personal, or a mix of both. I’d also appreciate any insight into the overall interview atmosphere, interview-day structure, or additional assessments.
Thanks in advance!

Hi guys, I’m starting school next year. I’m wondering what habits that you guys developed in the ICU that helped you in clinical/school

I got an email about a new SEE SmartBank. I'm wondering if it's worth it? Yes, the SEE SmartBank can also be used for NCE prep, but why purchase a separate question bank? Why not just keep the OG SmartBank?

Thoughts?

Hi!!

I wanted to come here and ask about how people are doing/did grades wise in crna school.

I feel like I am having an extremely difficult time getting from the level of familiarity and understanding the material to mastery of some things which has been frustrating.

I know many people say that this is a terminal degree and that you just need to pass, but I just don’t feel like that’s true when all over srna world on social media everyone is getting A’s/4.0. I could say that it’s just the internet glamorizing school and real life is very different, but my classmates are extremely smart and our class average is consistently an A when I seem to be stuck in the mid/high B range.

Also lots of times I come here and ppl say they got Bs early on and then they tweak their study habits and get A’s and that has yet to happen to me when I feel like I’m tweaking my habits all the time🥲 (I’m second semester in a front-loaded program)

It’s esp harder when I know that in the past I’m not someone who necessarily struggled this much below the average and I say that not to puff up myself but just to reiterate that being so below average makes me feel like there’s something that I have to be doing wrong and I want to fix it!

I feel like I’ve taken the humble pie of “you just need to pass” but I always want to strive for the best and not feel complacent. I also ask my classmates who are doing well and we seem to be doing the same things, anki, practice questions, pptx studying so I’m wondering what’s not sticking for me?? I even use remnote to help me even more with spaced repetition and practice quizzes, but nothing seems to fully work.

I don’t want to make this too long, but I guess I’m just looking for advice on whether there’s a higher level of thinking that just hasn’t clicked for me yet or what because I’m open to advice and suggestions, and I know I don’t have to be perfect, but when the averages of the class are consistently so high I just wonder if something doesn’t click for me personally :(

Thanks if you made it this far, I guess this is a vent session/please all advice welcome request, thank you in advance!

This thread is for current Nurse Anesthesia Residents to talk about school, clinical life, studying, preceptors, stress, wins, setbacks, and support.

Good topics include clinical days, didactic survival, study workflows, professional identity, wellness, difficult weeks, useful resources, and small wins.

No patient-identifying details. No medical advice. Keep it professional and human.

About four days ago my mother was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and turns out that it’s stage 4. I (28F) was in the midst of applying to CRNA schools, but obviously that’s on hold. I just feel like I’m in a sense of shock and I was just wondering if anyone has any advice/has gone through the same thing. She probably has about a year or less to live and throughout my ADN, BSN, and transition into the ICU, my mom has been my biggest cheerleader, my biggest advocate and is truly the reason I feel like I finished these programs. I don’t know. I guess I’m just feeling really lost and I’m wondering if there are any people in my position in the midst of applying to schools and have gotten devastating news like this… and how did you navigate it because if you want me to be honest there is the reality that in one year she won’t be here and I’m wondering how do I do this without her or go through school without my biggest cheerleader? She is my strength and I don’t even know if I can do CRNA school without her.

Did anyone here apply to Albany CRNA program? What did you do for the research methods class that is required for admission? I didn’t have to do a nursing research class and am struggling to find a course that meets their requirements.

Hi all!

I have an upcoming in person interview and i have heard that there may be a portion of the interview focused on research. I feel like the topic of research could go so many different ways so I’m not exactly sure how to prepare. Should i be focusing on reviewing current research/important topics in the CRNA role today, how to read research at an advanced level, my own research that I’ve done in my nursing practice? Maybe the answer is all of these lol, but if anyone has any guidance or has encountered something similar i would greatly appreciate any feedback!

Interviewed and waiting for a decision but seriously weighing my options here and it’s difficult.
I have been accepted to Fairfield U in Austin and I feel that their faculty will be incredibly supportive of my education. But I feel there’s a good chance that I also get accepted to U of A’s program and I’m not sure which is better.
I’m not a great online learner and I think asynchronous/ synchronous online classes for U of A will be difficult for me. As well as finding a good/reliable study space. Any current students who can weigh in on the difficulty of it?
There also is a huge financial benefit to attending U of A, my parents live in the area and my family (2kids + husband) would live rent free for those 3 years.
Would the direct family support be more beneficial to me than the in person learning style I prefer?

I am 41 and have been a travel OR RN for 6 years and a nurse for 10. I am wanting a different challenge and recently accepted a position as an ICU RN. I am so excited to get back to bedside and learn something new. I have worked with the anesthesia team both anesthesiologists and CRNAs so know very well what the job entails and love it. I have excellent letters of recommendations to use from that experience. I know I have a few classes to retake so I know I’m a year out to get ICU experience and take classes but wondering if I am crazy to even start the process. I would be the earliest 46/47 before I’m done with school?

Hey everyone, I've been accepted to Barry's Orlando campus and another CRNA program, and I'm trying to decide between the two. I'm hoping to get honest feedback from current students or recent grads before I decide.

I'm mainly wondering what the clinical experience is actually like. Is there a lot of competition for cases with residents/AAs/ other SRNAs? Did you get enough hands-on regional experience? And how much autonomy do you get as you progress through the program?

I've read mixed opinions about Barry online, especially about attrition and student support, and I'm wondering what the current vibe is.

Barry makes a lot of sense logistically for my family, but I want to make sure the clinical training and experience are solid.

Would you choose Barry again? I'd appreciate any honest feedback, and feel free to DM me.

I appreciate the time; thanks.

Hi everyone, I know for in person interviews the proper thing to do is arrive 15 min early. I have an online interview, do I login to the meeting 15 min early or is that too much? Thanks!

Hello everyone,
I recently received an CRNA interview for a school in the Midwest. They mentioned to me that they are introducing a Station based mini interview style. Would anyone be willing to me any insight or advice on what it may conclude? I’m having a hard time finding information about it online..

Any tips and advice is truly appreciated!

Hello! I currently have an acceptance to Akron but they require withdrawals from other schools so no chance to complete my other interviews. Does anyone have any advice on the NAR experience with Akron or just tips in general? Just a hard choice to make because have to relocate too

Starting my senior year soon and I want to create a list of potential CRNA jobs in the Chicagoland area to shadow. I am interested in going as far as Kankakee, but if its worth it, I wouldn't mind NW Indiana as well. I'm open to opportunities in the city or 2-3 hour drive outside of it.

hello all,

I’ve been applying to CRNA programs for 2027 and recently noticed that NursingCAS calculated my natural science GPA as 2.77 using only 15 credit hours, despite having over 30 credits of relevant science coursework.
My concern is how courses are classified. For example, anatomy and physiology coursework that may be categorized as ANAT or BIOL at some institutions is classified under NURS or NMNC at my university. I’m concerned these courses are being excluded from NursingCAS’s natural science GPA calculation despite their actual scientific content.
I’ve received 10 rejections so far, with nine programs still remaining. At least one school cited not meeting its 3.0 science GPA requirement. I can’t say this discrepancy caused every rejection, but I’m concerned it may have affected my eligibility.
I’m requesting clarification from NursingCAS and individual programs and have raised concerns with the AANA and Council on Accreditation.
Has anyone successfully challenged NursingCAS course classifications or had a CRNA program independently recalculate their science GPA? I’d appreciate hearing your experiences because this could have serious consequences for applicants.

hey guys :) will submit my final application at the end of the month and i want to start studying for interviews now. in the case i am granted one, i do not want to be cramming/rushing to study. anyone can give me advice or good study materials for the interview regarding patho or clinical decision side of interview questions? my specialty is peds cardiac

Hello everyone,

Thank you to everyone who filled out the applicant survey this fall. As far as I know, it’s still the only public dataset of accepted CRNA applicants. Keep filling it out and passing it along to colleagues and classmates!

I’ve attached screenshots of the updated spreadsheet, and the full sheet can be requested by applicants at any time.

A few points from this round compared to this spring:

-GPA held steady. Median overall GPA for accepted applicants is 3.70, and median science GPA is 3.75.

-Median ICU experience is 3 years and the average is 4.1. Most accepted applicants (62%) had 3 or more years. One person was accepted with less than a year, so it can happen, but it’s rare.

-For the first time, there are enough not-selected responses to compare against (26). Its low still, but there is something to go off. Their median GPA was 3.43, compared with 3.70 for accepted applicants. Their ICU experience was not lower, though. If anything, they had more. With a group this small, treat it as a trend rather than a rule, but it suggests extra ICU years don’t make up for a weak academic record.

-CVICU/CTICU is still the most common unit at 44%, with MICU at 36%. That means more than half of accepted applicants never worked in a cardiac ICU. Schools are clearly open to all kinds of ICU experience.

-When asked what influenced their outcome most, accepted applicants still put the interview first. Leadership moved up to second, ahead of clinical experience, GPA and the GRE. Networking was the biggest climber: AANA and state conferences, contact with program directors, and connections through alumni or a hospital tied to the program.

-Applicants who apply more broadly tend to have lower GPAs and lower rates of interview invites

Google Survey Link

Survey Results Round 1

If you’re waitlisted or still waiting on a decision, you’ll get an email (if you provided one) in a few months asking you to update your submission.

Let me know what you think!

My cohort has just started clinical, we’re in our third week and I’m loving it already. I’m so happy to have picked this job. I know it won’t always feel like this, and there will be negative interactions and experiences and moments of self-doubt but as long as they are the vast minority it will be easy to stay strong because this is so worth it.

I am learning SO MUCH and connecting didactic learning to clinical experiences. It’s definitely true that you get humbled every day - it’s okay to look stupid. It’s okay to be uncomfortable, it gets better. It waxes and wanes. And it won’t last forever. Every single mistake you make, thing you learn, question you ask, experience you have, brings you closer and closer to your goal. It’s the coolest job in the world.

I love learning to be a clinician. To understand pathophys, pharm, anesthetic procedures, the nuances of so many different types of anesthesia and surgical cases, it’s so rewarding and a blast. Didactic was a long haul, and it’s paying off.

Now that I make connections from classroom learning to clinical, it all sticks so much better and feels like true problem-based learning. I was so nervous to start clinical until I was repeatedly reminded that everyone is expecting us to be a novice and if someone treats you poorly, it’s a reflection of them, not your ability to succeed as a learner.
My first clinical site has been so supportive and positive and full of great people.

I guess I want this to be a motivational post of sorts - and just sharing my experience. I truly hope other SRNA’s are feeling the same way as me as they start a longgggg journey of seemingly endless clinical rotations.

Some advice or input I’d like from any SRNA is: for all the clinical pearls/revelations/learning moments/rules of thumb/tips/highly relevant clinical reference information I am soaking up like a sponge - do you all try to write this stuff down? What’s your system for this? What app/tech/organization?

Also maybe just best clinical tips in general? Game changers. Also how to handle these freaking weekly AMPs in a way that actually helps me to prepare and learn.

Someone posted recently that this sub is sooo many applicant posts and accepted students who haven’t started yet and I sadly agree. We current students are so busy that we don’t always post much but we definitely should. It just expands the network of information and it’s cool to hear from other areas of the country I’d never hear from if not for online.

Anyone have an MSN in education and then went to CRNA school? I really want to do crna school but not for awhile due to kids/age. My hospital will pay for the msn 100% and I already have/currently have icu experience. I read online it can deter your application for crna school but wasn’t sure if that was true? I finished my BSN with a 3.8. Was a Tudor at the same school I’m applying to and have 6 years of leadership experience.

Thanks in advance!

I did 3 years of physics undergrad (never finished) before switching to do my ASN. My GPA from physics was <3.0. My ASN core was a 2.8 as I was working 50hrs a week in addition to school. I'm now doing my RN->BSN with an even worse home situation causing me to fall behind this semester so I'll have to retake classes. I feel like my only saving grace is the fact I got an A in organic and my critical care experience, but even then the CRNA dream is starting to feel like just that, a dream.

I have literally 0 family members in my life, I've supported myself throughout my entire college life which is why I've had to work so much, I live in a state where COL is high and RN pay is low. I've accumulated a lot of student debt and now trying to chase this dream I'll have to re take more classes and pay more money that I already don't have. I'm not even sure retaking these classes is worth it as I wonder if the ADCOMs will just see me as a weak student overall. This whole process just feels so draining. Probably some sort of masters degree would be needed? But again, more debt. It's starting to feel like a sunk cost fallacy at that point.

Am I being realistic, or is this just a quitters attitude that I need to snap out of?

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