St. Mary's University Rankings by Salary Score™

For the Major I chose to pursue, St. Mary's University was a fantastic environment to be in. The St. Mary's University Law School is located on the same campus as Undergraduate studies. Since I was planning on eventually attending law school, I found it very beneficial to have the law school near by. Some law professors allow Undergrad students to sit in on a class. Professors at St. Mary's vary. I enjoyed all of the professors for the classes needed pertaining to my major, but for the St. Mary's Core classes... Read More ( yes, you have to take classes specially designed by St. Marys for St. Marys to graduate) had professors that really would not work with the student and honestly are just rude. The Campus PD at St. Mary's needs desperate improvement. Whether it was an encounter walking by an Officer, or actually needing aid from University police, whatever the case was I have never had a pleasant experience with them. There may just be one out of the whole unit I find to be welcoming and would feel comfortable going to for help. Other than UPD other faculty and staff are nice and give respect unless shown they should show differently.

I became a Registered Nurse (RN) in 1996. I worked in an intensive care unit (ICU) for 12 years before I decided to return to school to get my Bachelors Degree (BSN) in Nursing to prepare me for my Master degree (MSN) in Anesthesia. I applied to 4 schools in Minnesota over 4 years; I never got an interview or an even a callback. After 4 years I was finally granted a personal interview at St. Mary's University in Minneapolis. The personal interview, your cumulative GPA, ability to succeed, and your work history... Read More was paramount in gaining acceptance into the program. Working outside of the rigorous 28-month program was not possible. I was an older RN with over 16 years of experience in healthcare. I knew I was not a typical student for the rigorous program. I was a single mother of 2 girls and a recently diagnosed Type 1 diabetic. This was not only atypical of Nurse Anesthetist students currently admitted to the schools in Minnesota but across the country. To prepare myself I took a chemistry class at Metropolitan State University on St. Paul and a Nurse Anesthesia preparation class online through Barry University which confirmed my readiness and prepared me for the endeavor I was pursuing. The personal interview is a major determining factor in being excepted into the program. My GPA was over the minimum required but was not in the top 75% of the admitted students for the previous classes. After 3 weeks of waiting, I was notified I had been accepted. I was given a chance to change my life course as well as my daughter's life course. I had applied to all 4 schools in Minnesota and had not got any interest and I was overjoyed that St. Mary's was willing to give me this opportunity. When I was admitted I began the financial aid process and realize my ex-husband defaulted on a student loan I co-signed on 5 years prior. I saw my dream disappearing as I could not work during the program and did not see a way to pay for the $400/credit 28 month program. St. Mary's helped me secure private loans and explore scholarships to help me met my need. I met the admittance criteria but was far from the typical accepted applicant. I began school in May 2005 and successfully graduated in August of 2007. I was the first African American student admitted to St. Mary's Anesthesia program in at least the previous 5 years, maybe more. I have been the only African American female Certified Nurse Anesthetist at my place of employment for over 11 years. I am a member of the Minnesota Association of Nurse Anesthetist Diversity Committee. I have volunteered for the past 7 years to help mentor high school students through Progressive Baptist Church annual Historic Black College tour which takes 50-100 Minneapolis/St.Paul high schools to various HBCUs throughout the country. This all began with the chance the Dean,  CRNA, DNP, and St. the Mary's University of Minneapolis gave me in 2004. This is another reason I am now seeking to complete my Doctoral of Nursing Practice (DNP) at the University of Minnesota.