Looking for the golden ticket into your dream CRNA program? Spoiler alert: it’s not just about having a 4.0 GPA or years of high-acuity ICU experience. If you want to get into CRNA school, you have to nail your interview.
With programs receiving hundreds of applications for only a handful of seats, standing out on paper is one thing, but standing out in the interview is the key to acceptance. Learn how to do so in the post below!
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After speaking various program faculty from across the country I have learned what the golden ticket into an anesthesia program is all about.
You are not guaranteed a spot because of your 4.0 GPA or even several years of high-acuity ICU experience.
In reality, your application is only as good as WHO is behind it. This process, known as the CRNA School Interview, where program faculty in charge of your future are trying to figure out WHO you are, is not perfect.
Sometimes it comes down to a whopping 10 minutes.
Your interview for anesthesia school will make or break you.
I know a lot of you are busy trying to do all the things to boost your application. Which you should be. But do not forget that doing WELL in your interview is just as important as getting the interview- if not more.
You can have a stellar application and the interview committee could be looking forward to meeting you.
However, once you walk through those doors or hit enter on the Zoom meeting this is where your actual acceptance is on the line.
Your application will GET you the interview but the INTERVIEW is what will get you ACCEPTED.
Let me repeat that: Your application is what will get you the interview. Your interview is what will get you accepted.
Programs are receiving literally 100s of applications for sometimes only a few seats per cohort. Standing out on paper is one thing– standing out in the interview is crucial.
Therefore, preparation should start way before you get asked to interview. Yes, way before you even submit your application!
Time and time again, I receive frantic messages from aspiring CRNAs who have recently been invited to interview, but they have not started preparing, and now only have a month or even a few days to do so!
Why does this happen?
If you plan to apply, you should plan to interview.
The vast majority simply think they WON’T get asked to interview. This leaves me scratching my head a little.
You are putting AT LEAST a year’s worth of effort, time, and money into your application (between ICU leadership roles, CCRN, GRE, Shadowing, etc.). Don’t stop after you apply!
Some schools only give a 4-8 day notification before the interview.
4-8 DAYS… not weeks. If you had not been preparing all along, you literally will not have time to do so by the time you find out you have an interview.
Your success depends on you preparing for your interview from the DAY you step foot into the ICU or from the MOMENT you decide CRNA is 100% the career path for you.
How do I begin preparing for my interview now?
- Research your school and get to know them. What’s their culture? Mission statement? While knowing their interview style can be helpful, please don’t rely on this one detail alone in your preparation as things can change year to year or even interview to interview!
- Network with current Nurse Anesthesia Residents (can be done by job shadowing opportunities and asking for connections or by attending open houses)
- Take the courses inside CRNA School Prep Academy’s Critical Care Learning Library. These courses are taught by practicing CRNAs and CRNA Program Faculty. They are invaluable in helping you to understand pharmacology, pathophysiology and more with a Nurse Anesthesia twist. Talk about a great way to stand out in your interview!
You should be challenging your knowledge when you see unfamiliar drips or disease processes. You should be asking WHY and HOW in these situations. Learn as you work.
I know the application process is BUSY and leaves very little time to study also. This why learning as you work will set you up for the most success. However, once you hit submit on your application, PLEASE do not take a leave of absence. Study and prepare like your future depends on it. Because…. it does.
Over the year, I have heard over and over from CRNA interview panels that sometimes unimpressive applicants do great in the interview and gain acceptance while impressive-on-paper applicants completely bomb the interview and get rejected.
Practice, Practice, Practice!
I try to tell my students the interview is like preparing for the world series, a TED talk, or a championship game. You need to PRACTICE! Most of us do not routinely interview all the time and possibly have only done so less than a handful of times in our adult career.
This means you will not be ready for that TED talk or championship game unless you have been preparing all along.
Talking about yourself is challenging for most of us because we do not spend a lot of our time self reflecting. Sometimes self-reflection can be disappointing or even hard.
However, I encourage you to get to know yourself. Your strengths and weaknesses. Once you identify your weaknesses come up with a plan to experience them more often and try to adapt or change so you can make improvements. By putting yourself into situations that you are uncomfortable you will grow and learn from them. You can then use these learning points to express growth when your interview panel points out your perceived weak points or asks you to do so as a self-identifying exercise.
Do not underestimate the power of practice and remember one, two, or even three NO’s does not mean it is over for you. It is all practice until it is not and you get that YES.
Now let’s nail that interview!
Important Links
Check out the Mock Interview Library, the 5 Day Interview Prep Challenge and more inside CRNA School Prep Academy here!
Grab your FREE copy of 150+ interview questions here!
Join the Free CSPA Community! Connect with a network of Aspiring CRNAs, Nurse Anesthesia Residents, practicing CRNAs and CRNA Program Faculty Mentors here: https://www.cspaedu.com/community
Get access to application & interview preparation resources plus ICU Educational Workshops that have helped 1,000s of nurses accelerate their CRNA success. Become a member of CRNA School Prep Academy: https://cspaedu.com/join
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
Great content!
Thanks, Ryan!