My wife has been trying to get into CRNA school for 2 years and she has become very frustrated. I know she frequents this site as a lurker and says you guys have good advice and some of you all make some really educated responses so I thought I would sign up and see if I could get some answers for her. I've read some of the threads and you guys do seem to have some good advice/points.

She graduated from her ADN program in 1991 with a low GPA (?? 2.7). In 2002 she graduated with her BSN with a GPA of 3.5. She had worked in med surg, cancer, home care, medical surgical ICU (a small ICU) and now in the largest CVICU in our area (a teaching hospital with 900 beds). Before applyin to CRNA school she had about 8 years working in ICU settings 3 of which were in the CVICU. She also took the MAT and her score was slightly above the minimum recommended score and she was told that her score was more than acceptable for the schools she was applying. In 2008 she applied to 2 CRNA schools. She was waitlisted in both schools.

She decided that taking MSN core classes would make her a better candidate for the next year if she didn't get off the waitlist. She took 3 MSN courses and her GPA was a 3.56. She applied to both schools again and was waitlisted for a second time at both schools.

She went to the school deans and asked them what they recommended for her to get into school. School one recommended taking a basic computer course and some MSN courses and stated that her ADN grades and the lenght of time between her taking her ADN to BSN and then BSN to CRNA application as the sources of concern. (She had a lot of experience on the computer during her BSN courses and personally). School two cited that she didn't have enough experience in ICU nursing, that she needed to go to work in a large teaching facility in a CVICU or post surgical ICU where she would learn to work with drips and hemodynamics. (She had this experience so this made no sense to either of us.)

She continues to work in the CVICU in the 900 bed teaching facility, she obtained her CCRN last year, and has completed 2/3rds of her MSN Ed in a totally online program and her GPA is a 3.65. She hasn't applied to CRNA school this year yet because she is finishing her MSN and working more than full time hours - all this in an effort to prove to these schools that she has what it takes to succeed. She has put her education and career as priority #1 and will do WHATEVER it takes to succeed. She is very focused. Her coworkers and school mates do not understand why she has not gotten into CRNA school. She has rave reviews at work and frequently gets written up for her teaching others and for doing a good job. At school her instructors and advisors state to her that she impresses them and she is successful with classmates and in team situations.

So why has my wife not gotten into CRNA school? She thinks it's because she is 41 years old, has a 3.6 GPA instead of a 3.8 or better, and that she is overweight (she is heavy but far from excessive). I know she is nervous in her interviews and she has never been one to "talk herself up"; she's too honest about who she is which I think can be a flaw in her interviews.

She has become almost obcessed with trying to be "perfect" so she can get into school. What is "perfect"? One of the schools offered the suggestion that the perfect candidate would be one that was with a few years of nursing experience in an larger ICU setting (few meaning under 5) and a GPA over 3.5. She can't change the age or experience and her GPA imeets what is being recommended. Because of this, she is beginning to become discouraged. The surgeons she works with are encouraging her, her CRNA friends are encouraging her, her coworkers and classmates are encouraging her but she still feels inadequate.

Can anyone out there offer some advice to me that I can pass on to her? I've watched her work way to hard to give up and she says even though she feels discouraged she knows she has the ability to get through school and be a CRNA.
I'd hate to see her give up after all the hard work and efforts she has put forth but I do see her spirit declining.

Thanks!