The University at Buffalo CRNA interview format

The University at Buffalo School of Nursing's CRNA DNP admissions page says an interview is required for all graduate programs. For the nurse anesthesia program it says that after all applications are reviewed, the school invites 60 applicants to campus for an in-person interview, with invitations sent by email and interview spots scheduled first come, first served.

Item	What Buffalo says
Delivery	In person, on campus
Who is invited	60 applicants, after all applications are reviewed
Scheduling	First come, first served after you receive the email invitation
Interview days for the summer 2027 start	September 11, 22, 25 and 29, and October 6 and 13
Application window for that start	July 1 to August 14, 2026
Length, panel makeup, question types, scoring, any exercises	Not published

Because the interview dates have mostly passed for this cycle, this guide is most useful if you are planning to apply next year. Check the page for the next cycle's dates.

What Buffalo looks for

Buffalo describes the program as preparing registered nurses with critical care experience to take on clinical, educational, research and leadership positions in nurse anesthesia. The page does not list interview criteria. Its admission criteria show what it requires before you reach the interview:

A BSN equivalent with a GPA of 3.0 or higher, an overall undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher and a nursing GPA of 3.25 or higher.
An active unencumbered US RN license.
At least two years of US-based ICU experience at the time of application.
ICU defined as a setting where you routinely manage invasive hemodynamic monitoring, cardiac assist devices, mechanical ventilation or vasoactive infusions. Examples include surgical, cardiothoracic, coronary, medical, pediatric and neonatal ICUs.
Applicants from other areas may be considered if they can demonstrate competence in managing unstable patients, invasive monitoring, ventilators and critical care pharmacology.

The application in brief

Materials: online application, $75 fee, official transcripts, a resume that highlights RN and ICU experience and includes your most recent nurse manager's contact, a personal statement, and proof of certifications such as CCRN, BLS, ACLS and PALS.
References: three from a graduate-prepared professional or a healthcare professional you have worked with in the last five years.
Presentation: the school asks all applicants to view its CRNA admissions presentation before applying, and notes criteria are subject to change.
Dismissal rule: students dismissed from other nursing programs are not eligible for admission.

How to prepare for Buffalo

Prepare for a conversation about your unit. Buffalo does not publish the interview structure or question types, so prepare for both behavioral and clinical questions without assuming a structure.
Know your ICU numbers and cases. Two years of ICU experience is the minimum. Be ready to discuss invasive lines, vent management, drips and a case that went wrong.
Explain why CRNA in specifics. Describe what you have seen anesthesia providers do and what pulled you toward the work.
Plan the day. It is in person, so plan travel, timing and professional dress and book your slot as soon as the email arrives.
Ready your references. Your manager's contact is in the application. Tell your manager and references what the program values.

Buffalo CRNA practice questions (written by us, not Buffalo)

Buffalo does not publish its interview questions. These are ours, built from the criteria and typical CRNA themes. Answer each aloud in about two minutes.

Why do you want to become a CRNA, and what have you done to learn the role?
Describe the sickest patient you have managed. What did you do in the first five minutes?
Tell me about a time you recognized a deterioration before the monitors did.
A surgeon pressures you to proceed when you think the patient is not ready. What do you do?
Tell me about a mistake in your ICU practice and what changed afterward.
How do you work with physicians, respiratory therapists and pharmacists when you disagree?
Doctoral anesthesia training is demanding. What have you done to prepare yourself academically?
Describe a time you led a team through a code or crisis.
What would you tell a nurse on your unit who wants to follow your path?
Where do you see yourself in five years after graduation?

For more, see our panel interview guide, and our nursing school interview tips.

A drill for an in-person CRNA interview

Write a one-page case summary of your most memorable ICU patient: presentation, your actions, the outcome, what you learned.
Say it aloud in two minutes, then answer three follow-up questions a friend invents.
Practice a 60-second "why CRNA" and a 60-second "why Buffalo".
Run a 20-minute mock with someone playing a skeptical interviewer who interrupts.
Repeat with a different case.

Confetto's CRNA school interview prep uses AI mock interviews with clinical and behavioral questions and follow-ups on your answers, with rubric-based feedback afterward. The question bank has over 500 questions, and you can start with a 7-day free trial.

University at Buffalo CRNA interview FAQ

Is the Buffalo CRNA interview in person?

Yes. The school says it invites 60 applicants to campus for an in-person interview.

How do I get an interview slot?

After your invitation email, spots are scheduled first come, first served.

How much ICU experience does Buffalo require?

At least two years of US-based ICU experience at the time of application.

Does Buffalo say what the interview covers?

No. The page says only that an interview is required for all graduate programs and describes the invitation process.

What was the application window for summer 2027 entry?

July 1 to August 14, 2026.

Looking at another program? See our guide to the Ohio State CRNA interview, or our CRNA school interview prep page.

Sources: University at Buffalo School of Nursing CRNA DNP admissions page.

Confetto isn't affiliated with the University at Buffalo. Everything here about the program comes from its public admissions pages, checked in October 2026. Formats and dates can change between cycles, so go by your invitation email.