Samuel Merritt ABSN Summer 2016 Cohort

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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Hey Everyone!

I've used this forum for quite a while to get a point of reference on how competitive I am to eventually obtain offers of admission to several nursing programs throughout the country.

One of the programs I really want to get into is Samuel Merritt's ABSN! Being that I have not seen any threads for those of us applying to SMU for the Summer 2016 Cohort, I thought I'd start one since the application deadline has passed (unless they've extended it passed the original app deadline of 9/1/15).

Let's stick together through this nerve wracking process, get to know one another, share some stats, experiences, and key information as it arises.

Degree: BS in Health Sciences, Pre-Clinical Option at CSU East Bay in progress and projected to graduate March 2016.

Average GPA (Last 60 Semester Credit Units or 90 Quarter Units): 3.90

Cumulative Undergraduate GPA: Current is 3.39

Average Science GPA (prerequisites only): 3.58

Microbiology: A

Anatomy: A

Physiology: A

Chemistry: C+

TEAS Adjusted Total Individual Score:89.3%

TEAS Reading:88.1%

TEAS Math: 96.7%

TEAS Science: 87.5%

TEAS English: 90.0%

Key Work/Volunteer Experiences: I currently work at the Department of Veterans Affairs in Mental Health Administration in Palo Alto, CA for over a year and a half, and I volunteer at the Emergency Department of Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in San Leandro, CA (over 150 Hours worked and counting).I hope to hear from the rest of you, and good luck to all those who have applied or plan on applying!

Other Programs Applying To: Samuel Merritt University ELMSN-Case Management, University of San Francisco MSN-CNL, University of San Diego MSN-CNL, CSU Los Angeles ABSN, CSU San Marcos ABSN, CSU Northridge ABSN, CSU Stanislaus ABSN, Western University of Health Sciences MSN-E, CSU East Bay BSN, University of Colorado-Denver ABSN, Rush University GEM, and potentially a few others.

Mine was for the April cohort, and I would assume the others were too...?

YAY congrats!! Should we start a facebook group!?

JessieRenee12, I was accepted for the June cohort :)

Specializes in Anesthesia.
YAY congrats!! Should we start a facebook group!?

YES! Congrats! Should we start an FB group? PM me [emoji4]

I'm not really active an active FBer but I think it's a great idea!!! Maybe i'll come back to FB just for the group haha

Specializes in Anesthesia.

@robynawitz I saw you're also on the FNP thread. If you were to get into that program too, which one would you choose?!

It would be a tough decision, but most likely the FNP program despite the much longer commute. But, I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. [emoji12] what about you?

Ha, just noticed my own pun. The bridge would be a very literal one in this case.

I got my acceptance letter for the June cohort! I am seriously so happy!

Specializes in Anesthesia.
It would be a tough decision, but most likely the FNP program despite the much longer commute. But, I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. [emoji12] what about you?

I hear you! Lol where are you commuting from? As far as picking between the two, it would be a very difficult decision for me as well. Ultimately, I think being an FNP is what I want to do in the long run, however, colleagues I work with and family members who are nurses and nurse practitioners in the field highly recommend working as a nurse first as it'll be extremely difficult to get hired as an NP without RN experience. SMU states that being a nurse doesn't necessarily mean you'll be a better FNP, but I don't know if the rest of the healthcare community agrees with that especially in the Bay Area's competitive market... I understand that SMU allows you to complete the NP portion part time after passing NCLEX, but as tight as the job market is, I don't know if I can necessarily bank on getting an RN job (without having a BSN since you only get the RN license) and then finishing the program. Also, with tuition costs of about $140k+, that is a heavy loan amount to swallow. At least with the ABSN program, I can potentially start working sometime in or after April of 2017 making a comfortable salary in a profession I would love to represent and also have the potential for an employer to help fund my MSN, NP education after a couple years working as an RN. Then again, I'm thinking do I really want another bachelor's degree especially since it has to be mainly funded through private lenders? Sorry for thinking out loud, but in essence, it'll be a very tough decision to make. Like you, I'll cross that bridge when I come to it ;)

Specializes in Anesthesia.
I got my acceptance letter for the June cohort! I am seriously so happy!

CONGRATS =) That's weird they didn't just send acceptances to everyone at the same time, but I'm glad you're in!

YESSSS!!!!! Congratulations! And good luck to everyone still waiting - I hope you will get good news soon! We have all worked very hard for this and that in itself is something to be proud of. /sappy

These are pretty much my thoughts exactly. Another advantage to going the ABSN route and working as an RN in between is that we'll have a much better idea of what specialties we really enjoy working in. There are also many more options for traditional MSN programs!

I would be commuting from Palo Alto--not an unheard-of commute (in fact I think one of the current FNP students mentioned that one person in their cohort also commutes from Palo Alto) but it would be tough for me. I've been spoiled pretty much my entire life by never having had to deal with traffic. Maybe it's just time for me to pay my dues? Anyway. I'm thinking ahead. Maybe I won't even get in and I won't have such a tough decision to make!

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