Tyler AndersonFounder, CRNA Mentor · Founder, CRNA Mentor

Open Houses: Why Faculty & Student Connections Matter Most #shorts

Name: Open Houses: Why Faculty & Student Connections Matter Most #shorts
Uploaded: 2026-06-12T04:43:29+00:00
Duration: 1 min 13 s
Channel: Tyler Anderson
Description: In this short dialogue, two speakers discuss the critical role of interacting with faculty and current students during open houses and information…

12 Jun 2026 · 1 min

Watch on YouTube

1:13

In this short dialogue, two speakers discuss the critical role of interacting with faculty and current students during open houses and information sessions for prospective applicants. Speaker B emphasizes that such interactions bring transparency, allowing applicants to gauge whether a program feels like a good fit and whether faculty are supportive and accessible. Speaker A shares experiences advising mentees, noting that impressions from open houses can shift a school’s ranking for a candidate when the personal connection is lacking. The conversation highlights that evaluating fit is a two‑way process: applicants must assess the program, and programs must be a fit for the applicant. Speaker A also recommends directing prospects to current residents—such as a nurse‑anesthesia resident—who can answer deeper, candid questions that applicants might hesitate to ask faculty. Overall, the speakers advocate for maximizing applicant exposure to both faculty and student perspectives to make informed decisions.

Chapters

Why is it important for applicants to interact with faculty or even current students during these open houses and information sessions?
I think it brings transparency. It, it allows prospective applicants to determine whether it's a good fit, but it also gives prospective applicants a chance to see how they relate to the faculty. Whether they feel a connection or whether they feel faculty are readily available and supportive and who they are.
And I've had, you know, more than a handful of mentees that, you know, they're going through this process and like, this is my top school, this is my top school. And then I talk to them and, oh, how was the information session? How was, you know, the open house? It's not my top school anymore. It felt off. It felt like, you know, I didn't have the connection that I thought I would. And I think that's why these are so important to, you know, again, not just are you a good fit for the program, but is the program a good fit for you? And I think you can really gather that, especially talking to faculty, especially talking to some of their current students.
I want prospective applicants to have as much information as possible about what this really is and what it really feels like from a student's perspective.
It's like, you know, people enjoy talking to me at some of these conferences, but then if there's a nurse anesthesia resident, I'm like, here, go talk to them because I know you're gonna ask them all the deeper questions, you know, maybe the questions that they don't feel comfortable asking faculty or staff.