Samuel Merritt University Nursing Success! Seminar

U.S.A. California

Published

Hi everyone! I'm currently a first year ELMSN-FNP student at Samuel Merritt University at their Sacramento campus. I absolutely love this website and forum. I found great support and advice when working through my pre-nursing prerequisites, applying to nursing school, as well as trying to get through the past two months of nursing school.

I just wanted to pay it forward and get it out there that if you're interested in applying to Samuel Merritt University's BSN or ABSN programs, they're having their very first "Nursing Success! Seminar" this summer at their main Oakland campus!

It sounds really amazing; they'll provide you with good advice and tips in applying for their program. Plus it's free, along with free food! Who can say no to that?

Here's the link for those interested:

http://www.samuelmerritt.edu/nursingsuccess

Okay, back to studying! I just got through five exams in the past three days. And now I have two more next week. I tell you: the work never stops! :nailbiting: But honestly, I love nursing school! I am so happy and grateful to be here. :up:

Hi, Nicole. HEHE I know we are having class now, but I just could not listen to the lecture! I sit all the way in the back of the classroom.

Hi kp32. So glad that you are looking into FNP! It really depends on what class "old" in your pre-req. I know that only Anatomy, Physiology and Microbiology have 5 years limit. Anything else on pre-req has no time limit. You may want to re-take to some to refresh your memory, but they do not care how old the course is as long as you meet the requirements. Pharmacology and Pathophysiology are only required for ABSN programs at SMU. ELMSN has its own version of patho and pharm in the program. They do not take any patho and phar course outside of the SMU (not even the ones they offer themselves for non-SMU students). It will be wasted money to take them if you are considering ELMSN programs. Volunteer is definitely a way to strength your application. You can choose whatever you want to do and I do not think they pay attention to any specific kind of volunteer as long as you are being exposed to some that is health care related. Hope this help you in some way.

Now I need to go back to the lecture because the teacher is throwing in extra stuffs not on her slides. :cautious:

0 Votes

Hi everyone,

I am in the process of preparing for application to the ABSN and ELMSN program. I would really like to volunteer my time, preferably in Berkeley or Oakland. I have looked at a lot of clinics, mostly in SF, based on what my advisor told me. HOwever, my heart belongs in Oakland, and I want to go to SMU...So my question is, which hospital is a good one to apply to? The thing I have learned in the last couple of months is that applying can be time consuming, so I'm really trying to narrow it down. Thanks in advance for your advice and tips!

0 Votes

Hi Everyone!

I was so happy to see this recent thread about SMU!

I hadn't considered doing the FNP track but I suppose I could given that I have all the pre reqs for it completed. I will be applying to Oakland and Sacramento's ASBN. I am living in Milwaukee and relocating this summer to Berkeley to wait out acceptances/rejections (ahhh fingers crossed that its not the latter).

I am in a lot of other applicants shoes. I have been working full-time (however in the brewing industry) and going to school for two years to finish my pre reqs.

What would you think is the normal GPA going into SMU? I am only really worried about stats because I got a C+. One C+ amongst A's - my grades now look like alphabet soup! How important do you think a stats grade really is?

I haven't been able to volunteer while I have been working and going to school, but I have shadowed nurses consistently. Do you think shadowing counts for some sort of experience?

Thanks for being so willing to answer questions!

Lauren

0 Votes
Hi everyone,

I am in the process of preparing for application to the ABSN and ELMSN program. I would really like to volunteer my time, preferably in Berkeley or Oakland. I have looked at a lot of clinics, mostly in SF, based on what my advisor told me. HOwever, my heart belongs in Oakland, and I want to go to SMU...So my question is, which hospital is a good one to apply to? The thing I have learned in the last couple of months is that applying can be time consuming, so I'm really trying to narrow it down. Thanks in advance for your advice and tips!

Hi there, hopefully this reply will find you. I am not sure where you can look for volunteer opportunities at that area. You may try Kaiser and Sutter Health. I was originally from SF and I know that CPMC offers a lot of volunteer position in various settings inpatient and outpatient. CPMC hosts volunteer orientation once a week and you must register before having a chance to sign up for volunteer. Good luck on your app! Which term are you going to apply?

0 Votes
Hi Everyone!

I was so happy to see this recent thread about SMU!

I hadn't considered doing the FNP track but I suppose I could given that I have all the pre reqs for it completed. I will be applying to Oakland and Sacramento's ASBN. I am living in Milwaukee and relocating this summer to Berkeley to wait out acceptances/rejections (ahhh fingers crossed that its not the latter).

I am in a lot of other applicants shoes. I have been working full-time (however in the brewing industry) and going to school for two years to finish my pre reqs.

What would you think is the normal GPA going into SMU? I am only really worried about stats because I got a C+. One C+ amongst A's - my grades now look like alphabet soup! How important do you think a stats grade really is?

I haven't been able to volunteer while I have been working and going to school, but I have shadowed nurses consistently. Do you think shadowing counts for some sort of experience?

Thanks for being so willing to answer questions!

Lauren

Hi Lauren! Grades are not the most important factors of all. SMU really looks each applicant as a whole. I did not have the best grades out there neither my TEAS, but I got accepted first time applying. As long as you can strength your application in other criteria that they look at, you can be a very competitive candidate as well. Moreover, FNP and ABSN programs are different programs within the school and the admission committees are different as well. I will recommend to look through each program and make up your mind. However, I am not saying that you can not apply to both programs at the same. You just have to convince each committee what you have to offer and why you are a good candidate for the program. Hopefully, this will answer all your questions. If you have more, I am happy to answer. It may take me sometimes to reply because it is almost the end of the semester. Finals and so many other things are just around the corner. Good luck on your application!

0 Votes

Thank you very much for your quick response!

SMU is the only school that requires the TEAS so I am not familiar at all.. was this test difficult? How much studying would you suggest to someone who didn't do so hot on the ACT/SAT? (Granted, that was a decade ago)

I may have other questions to ask in the coming weeks. I am applying to SMU, Regis in Denver, UC Denver and the MSN program at the University of Arizona... fingers crossed I will get accepted somewhere.

0 Votes

hi elegant.lil.lady im new on this site and would like to ask you some questions on the SMU FNP program I am applying for fall2014 oakland campus. please PM if you have time. Thank you.

0 Votes

May someone clarify the 10 semesters for me? I was wondering if we stay in Sacramento the whole 10 semesters. I know some programs allow you to take classes online and come on campus twice a semester. I estimated the program to cost 125k for just tuition, is that correct for the ELMSN FNP program?

0 Votes

Hi, yes you stay in Sacramento all 10 semesters. All classes are in person and a lot of clinical rotations are attached to them. So you'll be attending numerous hospital facilities in the Sacramento area. As a result, if you're not from the area and applying to the Sacramento campus, you'll definitely have to move closer. Hope that helps. :snurse:

0 Votes
Specializes in NICU.

I have an interview in a few weeks for the FNP program in sac! So excited! If anyone has any interview tips please share! :)

0 Votes
Hi, yes you stay in Sacramento all 10 semesters. All classes are in person and a lot of clinical rotations are attached to them. So you'll be attending numerous hospital facilities in the Sacramento area. As a result, if you're not from the area and applying to the Sacramento campus, you'll definitely have to move closer. Hope that helps. :snurse:

Thanks for your response elegant.lil.lady! I'll have to tell my husband the news if I get accepted.

0 Votes
I have an interview in a few weeks for the FNP program in sac! So excited! If anyone has any interview tips please share! :)

Congrats! That's so great! You might even meet a few of my classmates. Some 1st-year ELMSN FNP students will pop in to give you some good tips. I won't be there because I have critical care clinicals on those days. But ask them any questions you have; everyone's really nice!

I honestly can't remember what happened in my interview. One year feels like such a long time ago haha. If you use the search bar above and look up past SMU threads, you'll find lots of good tips. That's what I did when prepping for my interview.

Good luck! :up:

0 Votes
+ Add a Comment