How I Got a 4.0 GPA in CRNA School: Study Tips That Work
If you would’ve told me when I started CRNA school that I’d graduate with a 4.0 GPA, I probably would’ve laughed.
Not because I didn’t think I was capable, but because from day one, the goal wasn’t perfection.
The goal was survival. Learning. Growth. Becoming a safe and confident CRNA who could take care of people in real life-or-death moments.
Still, somehow along the way, I did manage to earn a 4.0. and I want to share how I studied differently to make that happen, what strategies actually worked, and why GPA truly isn’t the end-all-be-all in CRNA school.
Because at the end of the day, no one cares about your GPA in the OR.
They care about how you show up for your patients when it counts.
How You Study Matters Way More Than What You Study
One of the biggest lessons I learned early on was that it’s not about what you’re studying.
It’s about how you study.
In the beginning, I read all the chapters and tried to memorize what felt like the entire textbook, rereading lectures three or four times, and still feeling completely overwhelmed before exams.
I realized if I wanted to not only survive but actually thrive in this program, I had to figure out a way to study smarter — not just harder.
The Study Strategies That Helped Me Earn a 4.0 in CRNA School
Here’s what truly made the difference for me (and what I wish someone would have told me earlier):
Learn how you learn
One of the biggest turning points for me in CRNA school was realizing that everyone learns differently — and that’s okay. Once I understood how I learned, studying became more efficient, less overwhelming, and way more effective. If there’s one thing I wish every student knew, it’s that there’s no one “right” way to study — the real key is finding your way.
Visual Learners – “I need to see it to get it”
Love color-coding, diagrams, charts, flowcharts, concept maps.
Learn best from infographics, drawings, or watching procedures.
Try: drawing drug charts (like I did!), using a whiteboard, annotating slides, or apps like Notability or Canva.
Test it: Take a complex topic like the coagulation cascade and turn it into a color-coded diagram. If it sticks better than reading a paragraph, you’re probably a visual learner.
Auditory Learners – “If I hear it, I remember it”
Learns well through lectures, podcasts, discussions, and teaching others.
Benefits from saying concepts out loud or listening to themselves explain something.
Try: recording lectures, using voice memos, or studying with a partner and quizzing each other out loud.
Test it: Record yourself summarizing a drug class and play it back while driving or doing chores. If you retain it better that way, this might be your style.
Reading/Writing Learners – “Give me the text and let me take notes”
Prefer written words: think textbook readers, list-makers, and heavy note takers.
Love outlines, rewriting notes, or creating written summaries.
Try: reading and summarizing in your own words, writing essay-style practice answers, or keeping a study journal.
Test it: Read a section from your lecture notes, then write a one-paragraph summary from memory. If that feels natural and helps things stick, this could be your lane.
Kinesthetic Learners – “I learn by doing”
Thrive with hands-on learning, movement, or physically acting things out.
May struggle with long lectures but excel in clinical, lab, or sim scenarios.
Try: using physical models, drawing body systems on paper, walking while reviewing flashcards, or “air teaching” the material to yourself while moving.
Test it: Try reviewing meds while doing a task (like walking, folding laundry, etc.). If you focus and retain better while in motion, you’re probably more kinesthetic than you realized.
2. Visual Learning Tools: Pharmacology Charts
I quickly realized in CRNA school that I’m a highly visual learner. I don’t just need to read the information, I need to see it, organized clearly with colors, charts, and structure. That’s why I started creating my own pharmacology drug charts. Instead of flipping between ten different lectures and re-reading power points, I built something visual that helped me make connections faster and recall the info more confidently during exams and clinical. After making them, I got to the point I could recall where on the chart the information was and in what color.
Use color with purpose: Don’t just highlight everything. Assign meaning to each color (e.g., blue for side effects, red for contraindications) so your brain starts to link color with content.
Organize by comparison: Tables that compare similar drug classes side-by-side can help you see patterns and differences, especially helpful for agents like beta blockers or inhalation anesthetics.
Simplify the layout: Use boxes, arrows, and bold headers to break down complex topics into digestible chunks. If your chart looks overwhelming, it defeats the purpose.
3. Spaced Repetition
(Because cramming is not a long-term strategy)
Spaced repetition completely changed the way I retained information during CRNA school — especially in pharmacology, patho, and anesthesia concepts that needed to stick long-term.
Start Early, Review Often
The key is to review material right before you're about to forget it. That’s how your brain strengthens your long term memory.
Review new material the same day you learn it (just a quick overview).
Review again 1 day later, then 3 days later, then a week, etc.
Each time you revisit, you’ll remember more and need less effort.
Use Apps Designed for It
Apps like Anki, Brainscape, or Quizlet with spaced repetition settings do the scheduling for you.
They’ll show you harder cards more frequently and mastered ones less often.
I personally used Anki in CRNA school and loved it.
PRO TIP: I made a Anki deck for each test. Then at the end of CRNA school, I reorganized them and had pre-made decks for boards!
Make It Active, Not Passive
Don't just read your notes again and again. That’s not spaced repetition — that’s rereading (and it’s one of the least effective methods).
Instead:
Use active recall: close the book and quiz yourself or a classmate!
Try teaching it out loud (to a classmate, your dog, or even your steering wheel).
Create a self-test with 5 questions on each topic.
Combine With Your Learning Style
Spaced repetition doesn’t have to be boring.
Visual learner? Add images or diagrams to your cards.
Auditory learner? Record yourself reading the cards aloud.
Kinesthetic? Walk around while reviewing them.
I made a dance that went with the blood:gas coefficients of each inhaled agent. It was dumb but it worked!
4. Study Block Scheduling (PromoDromo / Pomodoro Method)
One of the most effective ways I stayed productive in CRNA school without burning out was using study block scheduling, also known as the Pomodoro Method. Instead of trying to power through 6 straight hours of studying (and zoning out halfway through), I broke my days into planned, focused chunks of time with intentional breaks in between. It helped me avoid overwhelm and actually retain more.
My Top 3 Tips for Study Block Scheduling:
Stick to the 25/5 Rule: Set a timer for 25 minutes of distraction-free focus, followed by a 5-minute break. After four cycles, take a longer 30 minute reset.
Batch your topics: Use one block for pharm flashcards, one for reviewing a lecture, and another for clinical prep — this keeps your brain from bouncing all over the place.
Use breaks intentionally: Get up, stretch, hydrate, eat ( & no, caffeine is NOT sustenance) go for a quick walk — avoid the social media rabbit hole so your break actually refreshes you.
Why a 4.0 GPA Isn’t the Most Important Thing in CRNA School
Look — getting a 4.0 was exciting. It felt good.
But if I’m being completely honest with you, it’s not the thing I’m most proud of.
The real goal of CRNA school isn’t to have the best grades.
It’s to become the best clinician you can be.
You can graduate with a 3.0 and still be an incredible CRNA, someone who patients trust with their lives.
You can graduate with a 4.0 and still struggle if you haven’t truly learned how to apply knowledge under pressure.
Passing is important. Studying is important. But clinical excellence - critical thinking, patient safety, leadership in the OR - that’s what matters.
So if you’re in the middle of CRNA school right now feeling overwhelmed, remember:
Your GPA is not your worth.
What truly matters is the ability to continually show up, be ready to learn, and grow into a safe and compassionate provider.
If you’re reading this and grinding through school right now, I see you.
I’ve been there.
CRNA school will stretch you, challenge you, and refine you. But it will also grow you into someone stronger than you ever imagined.
You are not just earning a degree.
You are becoming someone your patients rely on in their most vulnerable time.
Focus on learning, not just earning the grade.
Focus on becoming the provider you would want caring for someone you love.
And trust that the GPA, whether it’s perfect or not, will take care of itself when you put true learning first.
You’ve got this.
