When I first started my CRNA journey, I was completely overwhelmed with all of the different programs across the US! I am from California originally, but I was open to attending school in a different state, so long as the program was a good fit. While each person’s situation is highly unique, here are the top 3 factors I looked at when narrowing down the list of programs I wanted to apply to and questions to ask yourself (and the program) as you are doing your research:

1. Location

a.  Decide if you want to stay close to home or are able explore/relocate to a new city and/or state

b. Consider how being away from home might affect you (e.g., housing, support system)

2. Front-loaded vs integrated

a.  Front-loaded: Academics first, clinicals later

b. Integrated: Academics and clinicals mixed throughout the program

c. Think about what learning style suits you best. Do you need a lot of hands-on work to tie concepts together? Or are you the type who needs to know all the details before trying to execute something?

• Note: not all integrated programs are seamless in the sense that what you are currently going over in didactic *may not* match up with what you are doing in clinical practice

d. Online vs. in-person

• Is the program primarily one or the other? How do you fare with online classes, are you able to stay self-motivated?
• Determine if you learn better in a classroom or prefer the flexibility of online courses.
• Consider how the format aligns with your lifestyle and responsibilities outside of school

3. Clinical sites

a. Independent practice sites as a major factor *for me*

b. What is the volume like at the programs’ clinical sites? How do the programs’ clinical numbers match against the COA minimum requirements?

c. Does the program have specific sites for specialty rotations? (e.g., pediatrics, OB, cardiovascular, thoracic, etc). Or are these “specialty” cases sprinkled in into overall “general” rotations?

d. Does the program have “away” clinical sites? If so, is housing included?

e. Will you be competing for cases with SRNAs or MD anesthesia residents at your sites?

f. How much exposure will you have to ultrasound and regional anesthesia? This is a HUGE sector of anesthesia today!

Honorable mention: Cost

• While important, don’t let cost hold you back.
• Explore scholarships, loans, and financial aid options.
• Don’t let finances keep you from chasing your dream!! (You WILL be able to pay those loans off after graduation!)
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