Back
Seven applications. Three interviews. Zero acceptances.
You can have the experience, the credentials, the passion—and still get rejected from CRNA school. It’s one of the hardest truths about applying to any Nurse Anesthesia program. And it’s exactly what happened to Bailey.
She was a highly qualified, deeply committed ICU nurse who checked all the boxes.
On paper, she looked like a sure thing. But her first application cycle ended in seven rejections.
This isn’t a story about failure—it’s a story about what happens when you stop doing more and start doing things differently.
Bailey didn’t go back to the drawing board. She built on what she already had—and this time, she got multiple acceptances.
If you’ve been spinning your wheels, wondering what went wrong, or thinking you’re just not cut out for this… you need to hear what changed. Let’s hear from Bailey below!
Join the Free CSPA Community!
Connect with Aspiring CRNAs, Nurse Anesthesia Residents, practicing CRNAs, and CRNA Program Faculty Mentors who are ready to support you. Get real answers and expert guidance in a welcoming space that’s free from misinformation and negativity. You don’t have to do this alone! Join Now: https://www.cspaedu.com/community
Get access to application & interview preparation resources plus ICU Educational Workshops that have helped thousands of nurses accelerate their CRNA success. Become a member of CRNA School Prep Academy: https://cspaedu.com/join
Want Guaranteed CRNA School Admission? Learn More about the CSPA 12-Month Intensive Here: https://www.cspaedu.com/meblfkto
—
“I Did Everything Right—And Still Got Rejected.”
Bailey shares her story.
I need to tell you about Bailey—because her story is one I hear versions of all the time, and it deserves to be told exactly as it is.
She’s a mom of two. A nurse with seven years of experience in Cardiac ICU, the Cath Lab, and PACU. In 2023, she returned to the ICU just to make her application stronger.
She added extra science classes. She sat for the GRE. She collected certifications like armor—CCRN, CMC, TNCC, PALS, Certified Sedation Nurse. She did everything right.
“After seven years in Cardiac ICU, Cath Lab, and PACU, I thought I had what it took. I went back to the ICU in 2023, took extra science classes, earned my CCRN, CMC, TNCC, PALS… and still—nothing.”
She applied to seven CRNA schools. Got three interviews.
And still—only rejections.
“It was a difficult moment, but I knew I couldn’t give up.”
Rejection into Acceptance: Bailey didn’t need more credentials. She needed to refine what she already had and learn how to show up like the CRNA candidate she was becoming.
And that right there? That’s where so many would stop. That’s where a lot of good nurses talk themselves into waiting another year or walking away from the CRNA career path altogether.
Bailey didn’t.
She Didn’t Start Over—She Got Strategic
Later that same year, Bailey joined the CSPA 12-Month Intensive.
Not because she was lacking—but because she wanted to stop spinning her wheels.
She didn’t need more credentials. She was already very competitive. She needed to refine what she already had and learn how to show up like the CRNA candidate she was becoming.
“Jenny and the faculty helped me refine my application, strengthen my interview skills, and build confidence in my nursing expertise.”
What did that look like, tangibly?
- Interview prep that didn’t feel scripted or generic
- A stronger personal narrative that told the full story of who she is as a nurse and future CRNA
- Honest feedback that pushed her forward—instead of leaving her guessing
She didn’t reinvent herself. She just finally had the tools to communicate who she already was.
And that changed everything.
Second Cycle? 100% Interview Invites.
“With the support of CSPA, I entered my second cycle in 2025 with renewed determination. Every application I submitted resulted in an interview invitation.”
Let that land for a second. From 7 rejections…to every single school wanting to interview her.
And then came the moment she’d been working toward for years: “The moment I received my acceptance letter was surreal—I had finally achieved my dream.”
Her top-choice CRNA program said yes. And others soon followed. That’s right. Seven rejections into multiple acceptances, within less than a year!
Can You Relate?
Bailey isn’t some outlier. She’s you, in so many ways.
She didn’t come from a Level I trauma center. Her GRE score wasn’t perfect.
She studied during her kids’ naps and after night shifts.
She carried the weight of being a working mom, showing up for her patients while also fighting for her future. And she still found a way through.
“There were moments of doubt and failure, but I never let them stop me. I kept pushing forward, knowing that persistence and preparation would eventually lead to success.”
It did.
The Part I Don’t Want You to Miss:
Every single student who has completed the CSPA 12-Month Intensive has been accepted into CRNA school. Every. Single. One.
Bailey’s not the exception. She’s the evidence that with the right preparation, your second chance can look completely different from your first.
“If I can do it, so can you.”
If you’re tired of wondering what went wrong last time…
If you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure how to move forward…You don’t need more guessing. You need a game plan that actually works.
👉 Apply now for the CSPA 12-Month Intensive
This isn’t a maybe.
It’s the move serious CRNA applicants make when they’re ready to win. Click here: https://www.cspaedu.com/meblfkto
Until next time, we’re rooting for you, Future CRNA!
— Jenny Finnell, MSN, CRNA
Founder, CRNA School Prep Academy
Important Links
Want Guaranteed CRNA School Admission? Learn More about the CSPA 12-Month Intensive Here: https://www.cspaedu.com/meblfkto
Get CRNA School insights sent straight to your inbox! Sign up for the CSPA email newsletter: https://www.cspaedu.com/podcast-email
Book a mock interview, resume or personal statement critique, transcript review and more: www.teachrn.com
0 Comments