You're In, Now What?
Congratulations! You’ve nailed your interview with the help of our Mock Interview Service and received your acceptance letter. So now what? Those few months before school starts may seem far off, but trust me they are going to fly by. Here are a few things I suggest you do with the time you have left:
Don’t ruin your reputation- just because you’ve been accepted to school and are about to embark in a new direction, doesn’t mean you should disregard everything you’ve done up until this point. What I mean is, continue to be a hard worker in whatever unit you work in. Don’t act like you are above your colleagues, or as though you are too good to be there anymore. You will be surprised at how often this happens and I’m telling you, it’s an ugly trait to have. Make sure that you maintain your reputation and level of respect until the very last day you work. It is a shame to work so hard on a unit and get a good name, only to ruin it by being lazy and rude your last few months there. On my last day at work I brought in doughnuts and coffee for everybody and wrote a thank you card to my fellow nurses for all I learned there and their years of camaraderie.
Start minimizing your life- Anesthesia school is expensive and time consuming. In the months leading up to your first day in class, I suggest minimizing expenses and making some real changes. I, for example, moved from a beach-side condo to a small one bedroom apartment that cost a fraction of what my condo rent was. The money I saved went towards groceries and gas during school. There is always room to minimize and save money. I highly suggest you do what you can before school starts.
Should I start reading/ studying? – There’s really no right or wrong answer here. It's totally up to you. Of course, some programs may assign readings before day one, and those should obviously be done. What I will say is that you will be provided with all the information you need once school begins, and trust me there will be a lot of reading to do. If you start early you will certainly be coming in with an upper hand, and might even impress a few of your professors and preceptors. But is it a must to start reading and studying before day one? My answer to that is, NAH!
HAVE FUN!!!- Seriously enjoy your last few months of freedom. Spend a lot of time with your family, friends, and loved ones. You're gonna be gone from their lives for the next three years. If you’re able to, take a vacation; you might not get one for many months to come. I prepared for CRNA school by quitting my ICU job three months before school started and backpacking through Colombia. Yes, the country! I came back refreshed, rejuvenated and ready to start school. I’m not saying everyone should do this, obviously we all unwind in different ways. But make sure to take some time off before the first day of school, it will do you wonders, trust me.
