Samuel Merritt interview process (ABSN)

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Hi! I'm scheduled in for an interview on the 25th with Samuel Merritt College for the ABSN program, and I was wondering if anyone here has any experience interviewing for this program (or knows someone who has)... What was it like? Did you feel prepared to answer the questions? And what was the essay portion like?

I'm a bit nervous, so I figured I might as well ask. I saw some information on the ELMSN and CRNA interviews, but not much on the ABSN... is it any different?

Also, does anyone know any current students who I can talk to about what the program is currently like? I've heard opinions from students in their BSN and ELMSN programs regarding what they've seen people in the ABSN program doing (and how high the workload and stressload can get).. It would be nice to be able to talk to someone currently in the program about it. =)

About 200 people were there, but I think some of them were couples (student+spouse etc). It started off with powerpoint presentations on the ABSN and ELM programs. They said the entering class size was 48 for SJ, SF, and Oakland, but only 26-32 for Sacto.

After the presentations, they had a Q&A with a panel of ELM/ABSN students. Nothing earthshaking there. Then they had us divide into groups, and a couple of the ABSN students take us on a walking tour. One of tour guides in my group was someone I knew from one of my pre-req classes. I talked to her, and she said that in her cohort, the average was about a 3.5gpa, 60 NET.

One thing all the panelists emphasized was that if you get into the program, you'll have to make it the center of your universe for the duration. Or you'll crash and burn.

With so few slots, I'm concerned about my chances of getting in.

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One thing all the panelists emphasized was that if you get into the program, you'll have to make it the center of your universe for the duration. Or you'll crash and burn.

With so few slots, I'm concerned about my chances of getting in.

I think it can only help that you were accepted to the program once before. If you were good enough the first time, why not this time around, right?

This waiting might drive me crazy! I check my email about 10 times a day and check the snail mail as soon as the mail lady closes my box.

I've spoken with Liza a few times over the last year and every time she made a point to say that students in the ABSN program eat, breathe, live nursing for 12 months straight. I say...bring it on!

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Hi turbohound,

You had mentioned one of the absn students said that the average in her cohort was a 3.5 gpa, do you know if that was all college gpa or just nursing pre-req's gpa?

I got into Dominican University's pre-nursing program, but would rather do SMC's Oakland ABSN program since it is only one year and it is closer to home.

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I believe she said her cohort GPA averaged 3.5 in the pre-reqs.

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turbohound,

i thought SMC doesn't do interviews for the ABSN program?

Also, did you guys take Patho as an online class? I'm taking it this semester as online at Yuba College. It sounds scary..

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I believe she said her cohort GPA averaged 3.5 in the pre-reqs.

Everyday, I wait for the mail, and practically mug the mailperson. Hoping to see an envelope from Samuel Merritt granting me an interview.

Hey Pug, how'd you do in Patho? I missed an A by 4 points (damn) :(

Should've studied harder.:angryfire

Hey turbohound! I did end up getting an A in patho but I dont feel like I retained much. Poynter had little to no input in the course. She took for ever to grade our assigments.

I had a cruel little thing happen to me the other day. I walked out to the mailbox as soon as I got home and opened it to see an envelope from Samuel Merritt. My heart was instantly beating so fast! Of course I ripped open the envelope to see...............A dvd for Samuel Merritt. I'm on their mailing list. :o This waiting is killing me...

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turbohound,

i thought SMC doesn't do interviews for the ABSN program?

Also, did you guys take Patho as an online class? I'm taking it this semester as online at Yuba College. It sounds scary..

SMC-Sac still does interviews for all of their programs. Only the campuses in the Bay area no longer do them.

Who do you have for patho? I just finished the online course at Woodland with Poynter. It wasn't horribly bad. Just a lot of reading. Turbohound had Scroggins so he can tell you about her class.

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pug540, well good; i'm glad there are no interviews for the ABSN program; one less thing to stress off. i'm taking patho with williams and will be bidding on the textbook on ebay; cheaper way to get books than the campus bookstores :)

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Nathanielandarianna, I took Patho through Yuba, this past summer with Scroggins and she was pretty good. Slow on grading, but fair. Keep up with the reading and you'll do fine. Also, if you get a used book, you'll still have to purchase an access code from the publisher, since they do the testing and run the website. I think its $30, maybe less. I'm keeping my Patho book, its a great reference.

Overall, a very useful class. But like Pug says, taking it in summer made it hard to retain.

:monkeydance:

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Hi,

First post. Just wondering if anyone has heard anything regarding interviews for the ABSN sacramento program? I, like most of you, have been anxiously awaiting any news, whether good or bad.

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Specializes in SRNA.

Would anyone be able to shed light on why SMC required interviews for Oakland and Sac but not SF? Is it not the same program, merely in a different location? I'm applying for Fall 2008 in SF (only because I'd like to start in the Fall) and I'm just surprised that there is a difference in procedure. Don't get me wrong, part of me would be glad I don't have to do an interview, but on the other hand I would definitely enjoy the ability to meet them and give them a bit of an impression of my personality. :confused:

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Specializes in ED, Cardiac-step down, tele, med surg.

I also chose the SF ABSN program b/c of the start date and was surprised when there was no interview. I even went out and bought a special outfit for the occasion and was a little disapointed that they don't interview. But the BSN degree is the same regardless of the campus (right?), so I don't see why they interivew is req'd in Oak and Sac. Has anyone asked?

J

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