Your GPA is one of the most important factors for CRNA school admissions. According to surveys, the average GPA for accepted CRNA students is around 3.6. With many top programs only accepting applicants with a high GPAs, getting those A's has never been more critical.
Let's break down everything you need to know about GPA requirements, calculations, and strategies to boost your admissions chances. You'll learn how different programs assess GPA, the GPAs you should aim for, and what to do if your GPA is on the lower side.
CRNA schools can look at several types of GPA when evaluating an applicant. The main ones are:
Not every CRN program will look at all of these GPAs. It's important to look at what each school requires so you know what GPAs they will focus on. Having strong grades in your science courses and most recent classes can help make up for a lower overall GPA from earlier in your college career.
Each school calculates GPA differently. Some schools look at overall GPA, science GPA, or other subsets. But even schools looking at the same GPA type may calculate it differently.
For example, two schools could calculate your overall GPA, but come up with different numbers. One school might use grade forgiveness while the other does not. If you retook a class and got an A after a previous lower grade, the school with forgiveness would omit the old lower grade from the calculation. This would result in a higher GPA versus the school that counted all grades.
Some schools also have different policies on which classes count toward science GPA. One school may include pharmacology while another sees it as a nursing class and omits it.
The bottom line is that GPA calculations vary, so you need to dig into each school's policies.
When applying to CRNA school, it’s important to know what GPA ranges are considered competitive. Here are some general benchmarks for overall and science GPAs:
For overall GPA, a range of 3.6-3.7+ is considered strong when applying to CRNA programs. If your overall undergraduate GPA is below a 3.5, it will be tougher to get accepted to some of the more competitive programs.
For science GPA specifically, you'll want to aim for 3.4-3.6+ to be in a good spot. Science GPA tends to be scrutinized more closely than overall, so strive for those A's in your core science prerequisites like anatomy, physiology, biology, chemistry, etc.
Remember that these competitive GPA ranges are general guidelines only. Every CRNA program weighs GPA differently in their admissions criteria. Thoroughly research the programs you plan to apply to in order to determine their specific GPA requirements and expectations.
So what if I'm one of those people that has a lower overall GPA? I want you to focus on boosting your science GPA. Take a look at all the science classes you've ever taken. Go down the list. See what you got a B minus or below in. Retake those classes and retake them at a higher level.
You got a C in chemistry? Take organic chemistry. Take biochemistry. You got B's in most of your science classes - you're just a B science class student. And when you're competing against people who have A's in their science classes, why don't you go ahead and take a graduate level course and prove that you can handle graduate level curriculum.
Your strategy is now going to be to focus on graduate level curriculum and make sure you can prove to the admissions committee that you can succeed at the graduate level. Take a graduate level course and go down the list of your science classes, flag everything that you got a B minus or below in.
In conclusion, GPA is a critical component of your CRNA school application, but it's not the sole determinant of your success. By understanding the nuances of GPA requirements, researching individual program criteria, and implementing strategic approaches to strengthen your application, you can enhance your chances of admission to CRNA school. Remember, you're not alone in this journey. With determination, perseverance, and strategic planning, you can overcome GPA challenges and achieve your goal of becoming a CRNA.
In 30 seconds, you'll have a tailored plan, 3 free downloads, and resources hand-selected for you.
The One Thing That Will Change Your Entire Application Journey
Making the Most out of Your Year in the ICU
What Should You Really Care About When Choosing a CRNA School?
Your Secret Weapon When Applying to CRNA School