Samuel Merritt ABSN Spring 2011

U.S.A. California

Published

Starting a new thread for the Spring 2011 SMU applicants for the Sacramento Campus and all others as well.

Post your stats, any other important information you might have heard about the applicants, questions, concerns, anything!!

My stats:

Already been in nursing school- Dropped OUT- UGH, why????? *I digress...

*Received a degree from Sac State already, Cum Laude

Science G.P.A.= 3.4

Overall G.P.A. = 3.5

Teas= 84.1

1 year of healthcare experience

1 year of nursing school experience

Multiple community involvement experiences- ERG's, Volunteer on Diversity teams, Church, internships, mentoring, tutoring

*Hoping that this may be the year because I'm going no where fast in my current job field and I want to return to a profession that I have a passion for and am good at!!

=)

Lauren4268

65 Posts

hello! I'm also planning on applying to this program, since I would mean I wouldn't have to move =) my current undergrad is about 3.45 and my science is about 3.0, but I'm retaking the second A&P and hopefully will be getting an A to increase my GPA!! I'll be graduating from sac state as well in december and turning around and starting nursing school, hopefully, either at SMU or Duke, or Creighton.

Did you go to the campus info session at the sac campus? It was one of the reasons I decided to apply...I loved how it seemed like tey had small classes and really cared about the students. The state schools in Ca just dont have the resources to meet with students anymore, and SMU made me feel like they would do everything to help me succeed. Good luck to you!! are you going to apply to the other campuses (oakland/san fran) as well?

Victory925

72 Posts

Hello Lauren. So you do live in Sac? I am going to the session this Thursday. I don't think I am going to apply to any other areas because I cannot afford to live there! ;) Yay for you graduating! I actually loved Sac State! I still have to finish a pre-req, interpersonal communication? I have a bachelors degree and a half *lol* and I have never taken that class... Amazing!!

Lauren4268

65 Posts

Yea I live in the Citrus Heights/roseville area, so the commute to sac state kinda sucks lol. I wouldn't live in the bay area either if I got in, would maybe have to commute or more to davis to kinda be half way. Did you already take the communication class? I took group speech (331) at arc and it met the requirement. it was a pretty easy class...I feel like I have a bachelors and a half! lol I was pre-nursing for 3 years, and afer not getting in at sac state twice, I changed my major to health science since it had a lot of the same requirements for the undergrad. are you applying out of state at all?

greatpyr_mom

75 Posts

I am going to apply to the ASBN in Sacramento too. I went to an info session several months ago, but now with the new NursingCAS application system, I have been emailing Lisa O. various questions that deal with the new application procedure.

I was super bummed out that I have to manually enter every class that I have even taken in my college career! That's 2 degrees worth of classes from multiple schools!

I heard that they calculate the GPA based on your last 60 credit hours.

*Science GPA = 4.0

*GPA for last 60 credit hours = 3.97

*TEAS = I have not taken it yet, signed up for 6/24 date

*Volunteer at UC Davis Med Center- cardiac floor for 6 months

*Honors from bachelor's program

*Not too many community service activities- did limited volunteering and charity work- this is my weakest category

* other pertinent work experience

Lauren4268

65 Posts

Hi greatpyr_mom,

wow, sounds like you have some great stats =) congrats, and well done! I volunteered for about 6 months at UCD as well, floated between trauma nursing and ped's floor. for the TEAS, I would reccomend getting the study guide. the stuff on the test isn't "hard", but the manual gives a good refresher in areas you may be weak in. I took the test cold the first time, and used the guide the second time and rasied my score 10%. There were some really off the wall science questions on there as well, like rocks and clouds lol. I hadnt taken a physical science class in years, so that kinda took me by suprise! good luck!

greatpyr_mom

75 Posts

Thanks for the TEAS input. I do have the study guide and I am working through it. I'll also pay to take the online TEAS assessment too. I'll just be glad when it's over. For me, I am most worried about running out of time on the test. I am a slow test taker, even if I eventually choose the right answer!

Victory925

72 Posts

Hey all. How are you enjoying the new application process? Have either of you turned in your apps yet?

greatpyr_mom

75 Posts

I am going to turn in my NursingCAS this week and mail off my transcripts. I was just wanting for semester grades to be posted.

I really didn't enjoy inputting all of the college classes that I have taken for the last 20 years!

Also, I don't like the fact that you only get 495 words for the personal statement. I had already written the essays according to the old Samuel Merritt application, you know the one where you answer the questions with 1-2 pages each. I had written some great responses illustrated with examples, but alas in the 495 word restriction, I can't be nearly as eloquent! I just don't see how they can get a 'feel' for the applicant in 495 words.

Victory925

72 Posts

I am going to turn in my NursingCAS this week and mail off my transcripts. I was just wanting for semester grades to be posted.

I really didn't enjoy inputting all of the college classes that I have taken for the last 20 years!

Also, I don't like the fact that you only get 495 words for the personal statement. I had already written the essays according to the old Samuel Merritt application, you know the one where you answer the questions with 1-2 pages each. I had written some great responses illustrated with examples, but alas in the 495 word restriction, I can't be nearly as eloquent! I just don't see how they can get a 'feel' for the applicant in 495 words.

I just wanted to clarify that you are personally not mailing off your transcripts, because they won't accept them if they are stamped "issued to student".

The actual school has to mail them with a copy of the NursingCAS transcript request form stapled to the transcript.

greatpyr_mom

75 Posts

Is that correct about the transcripts? The copies of the transcripts that I have are sealed and say 'official', but do not say anything about issued to student. I'll have to call NursingCas and ask them.

Victory925

72 Posts

Is that correct about the transcripts? The copies of the transcripts that I have are sealed and say 'official', but do not say anything about issued to student. I'll have to call NursingCas and ask them.

  • Q: Can I send "Student Issued" (unofficial) transcripts to NursingCAS?

    A: No. NursingCAS accepts official transcripts directly sent from your high school and/or registrar's office ONLY. Unofficial, student-issued, and hand carried are not acceptable.

My understanding was that you had to send the CAS transcript form IN ADDITION TO your schools transcript request to your previous university. The registrar must then staple the CAS transcript request directly to your transcript and mail it to NursingCAS.

If it is not sent directly from the school, then technically it is considered issued to student even if it isn't stamped that...

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