Samford CRNA Program Interview: Format, Dates and Who Gets In
Samford University's Nurse Anesthesia DNP is a full-time, 3-year (nine-semester) program in Birmingham that admits about 32 students in one class each year and requires an on-campus interview. Applications open December 1 and close May 1 online through Slate, and Samford's admission timeline lists July 2027 for interview and admission decision dates after the July 2026 cycle closed. Here is what we know about the interview, how you get one, and how it decides your offer.
Samford requires an on-campus interview for its nurse anesthesia DNP and does not publish its format. Its admission timeline lists applications opening December 1, closing May 1, and interview and admission decision dates in July 2027, following the July 2026 cycle. Applicants apply online through Slate with a video response, three letters of reference, at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA, GRE scores within five years, and at least 1 year of full-time critical care RN experience, and offers come from a holistic review.
Key facts (May start)
- When
- Applications open December 1 and close May 1. Samford's admission timeline lists July 2027 for interview and admission decision dates, following the July 2026 interviews and admission decisions.
- Format
- A personal interview on campus. Samford does not publish its length, structure or interviewers.
- Online or in person
- In person. Samford lists an on-campus interview as an admission criterion.
- Who is interviewed
- Applicants with a nursing degree, at least 1 year of full-time critical care work (or the part-time equivalent) and a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
- How offers are decided
- A holistic review of GPAs, GRE scores, letters, the personal interview and the length and type of your work experience.
- Tests
- GRE required within five years, with 153 verbal, 144 quantitative and 4 writing preferred. CCRN is encouraged but not required.
- Class size
- Samford lists a cohort of 34 students, and its FAQ says it admits about 32 students in one class each year.
What happens at the interview
Samford tells you where the interview is but not what it involves, so plan for a formal, in-person conversation.
- On campus. Samford requires an on-campus interview at its Birmingham campus.
- A personal interview. Samford names the personal interview as one of the factors in its review.
- Format not published. Samford does not say how long the interview lasts, who interviews you or whether it includes clinical questions.
Know its values. Samford describes a faith-based, service-minded program with medical missions and community service learning. Be ready to talk about why service matters to you.
How offers are decided
Samford considers applications on a competitive basis and makes decisions through a holistic review.
- What counts. Your GPAs, GRE scores, letters, personal interview, and the length and type of your work experience.
- Decision timing. In the most recent cycle, interviews and admission decisions were both listed for July 2026.
- A $1,000 deposit. If admitted, you pay a nonrefundable $1,000 deposit, which goes toward your first semester's tuition.
How you get an interview
You apply through Samford's own Slate application, which includes a video response.
Critical care experience
You need at least 1 year of full-time RN work, or its part-time equivalent, in a critical care setting.
- Accepted units. Cardiac care, cardiovascular recovery, medical, neuro, neonatal, surgical, burn, trauma and pediatric ICUs.
- RN years count. Your critical care experience is counted as years worked as an RN. There is no separate requirement for time as a BSN nurse.
Grades, tests and paperwork
- Degree. A bachelor's or graduate nursing degree from an ACEN or CCNE accredited program. An RN to BSN must be conferred before the deadline.
- GPA and courses. At least 3.0 cumulative, with general chemistry and research courses at a B or better. Samford calculates cumulative, last 60 credits, science and math, and graduate GPAs.
- GRE. Required for every applicant, even with a master's degree, and taken within five years. The MAT is not accepted.
- Three references. One academic, one immediate supervisor and one professional colleague, on Samford's form. If you have been out of school a long time, a second colleague may replace the academic one.
- Statement, resume and video. A personal statement on your career aims and readiness for graduate study, a resume and a video response.
Treat the video as a first interview. Samford does not publish the prompt. Practice short, clear answers on camera before you record.
Dates and other details
Samford admits one class a year, and the program runs from May to May.
The timeline
- December 1. The application opens.
- May 1. The application deadline.
- July. Samford's timeline lists July 2026 for interviews and decisions in the cycle that just closed. Confirm the next dates with the program.
The program
It is a full-time, nine-semester, 3-year DNP. The first two semesters, summer and fall, are online, and you may keep working then. In January you move to on-campus classes.
Samford reports an 87% first-time certification pass rate, 3.1% attrition and 100% employment within six months for the class of 2026. Graduates averaged 759 total clinical cases in 2026 and 804 in 2025 compared with 650 required by the COA, with specialty clinical opportunities without competition with physician anesthesia residents and four full-time and eight part-time faculty members.
How to prepare
With little published about the format, prepare for personal, values and clinical questions.
- Know your unit cold. Review the drips, ventilator modes and monitoring you use every shift, and why each one works.
- Bring service stories. Have a real example of serving patients or a community beyond your job description.
- Know the program. Samford highlights a front-loaded curriculum, rural and city clinical sites, and a wellness program called Thrive. Link one of these to your goals.
- Attend a preview session. Samford offers preview sessions and sit-downs with its graduate student services director.
Say what you don't know. If a clinical question goes past your knowledge, say so, then explain how you would find the answer safely.
Practice questions
Questions in the style of a On-campus interview station, written for applicants to Samford University, Moffett & Sanders School of Nursing, Nurse Anesthesia DNP. They are practice questions, not the school's own. Open one for what a strong answer does.
Tell me about yourself.
Give a two-minute story from nursing to now that ends with why anesthesia is your next step.
Why do you want to be a CRNA?
Root it in a real moment from your ICU work or shadowing, not in salary or independence.
Describe a time you advocated for a patient.
Show what you noticed, who you spoke to and how the patient benefited, in plain steps.
What personal and professional attributes make you uniquely suitable for this career?
Pick two traits and prove each with a short, specific example from your work.
Tell me about your most challenging ICU patient.
Pick one patient, walk through your reasoning and actions, and end with what it taught you.
How would you explain anesthesia risks to an anxious patient?
Use plain words, check what the patient understands, and show calm, honest reassurance.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Samford CRNA interview in person?
Yes. Samford lists an on-campus interview among its admission criteria for the nurse anesthesia DNP.
When are Samford CRNA interviews?
Samford's admission timeline lists July 2027 for interview and admission decision dates, following the July 2026 interviews and admission decisions. Applications open December 1 and close May 1.
Does Samford require the GRE or CCRN?
The GRE is required for all applicants and must be within five years, with 153 verbal, 144 quantitative and 4 writing preferred. CCRN is encouraged but not required.
How many students does Samford CRNA accept?
Samford lists a cohort size of 34 students, and its FAQ says it admits about 32 students in one class each year.
Can I work during the Samford CRNA program?
Possibly in the first two semesters, which are online. From January of the first year, classes are on campus and full time.
Sources
Official pages only, read on the date shown. Schools change their process every year, so check the school's own page before you apply.
- Samford University: Nurse Anesthesia (DNP) · read October 26, 2026