Talking to a current SRNA before you apply is one of the most underrated things you can do. I know, I know, WHERE do you find them?! Save this post so you can come back to it later. State AANA meetings. These tend to be smaller and more local, which means less noise and more actual conversation. You're not competing with thousands of attendees for five minutes of someone's time. National AANA meetings are a different story. Students make up a huge portion of attendance every year, especially applicants. If you're looking at programs all across the country, this is one of the best rooms you can be in. Open houses and university-specific events are obvious but worth saying. If a program invites you in, go. You'll meet current students and get a read on the culture that no website can give you. Emailing the program directly to ask if you can speak with a student is worth trying. Don't expect a response though. Programs get a LOT of emails and this one probably won't make the top of t...