Anyone Applying to Samuel Merritt ABSN April, May, June 2009?

sherin036 · Sep 29, 2008

Hi guys,

Does anyone know which of the three is the easiest to get into? Also I'm worried about my NET score. I got a 76 composite. If you're a current SM student, please let me know if this is too low. I talked to admission and they said it was fine, but I'm worried.

rayeraye09 · Oct 1, 2008

HI!!!

I just discovered this forum and am really excited to meet someone who is applying as well. I am taking pharmacology through samuel merritt right now, and am planning to take pathophys in the winter. Also, I have been working on my personal statement. Yuck!

I went to an admissions session in SF and they told us that there is no difference b/t the programs, but Oakland is the hardest to get into b/c it is their main campus. San Mateo has free parking, and from what I can gather it's their least crowded program. I personally want to go to SF b/c I really want to live in the city! But San Mateo is my second choice, and Oak is 3rd (I have no desire to move to Oakland).

As for the NET, I have not heard anything about 85 being a "shoe-in" but the admissions lady said 70 and above are competitive. Less than that she recommends taking it again.

Where are you applying as your first choice? Are you applying to any other schools? Good luck and I look forward to communicating on this forum!

StarryEyed, RN · Oct 2, 2008

When you're talking about the NET scores are you talking about the personal percentage, or the percentile rank?????

rayeraye09 · Oct 2, 2008

It's the composite percentage which is the average of your math and science reading sections.

sherin036 · Oct 3, 2008

hi rayeraye,

it's really nice to hear that anything above a 70 is good. i think sf would be my first choice too cuz it starts in april, but i have to think about it a little more. i think san mateo would be easier to live in because of the commute. but whichever one takes me is good :)

StarBelly · Oct 4, 2008

Hi everyone! I am also working on my SM ABSN application for Spring "09. My first choice is SF. I'm really nervous about getting in! I'm not sure what my GPA is - I think it's like 3.5 or so. I got an 83 composite score on the NET. :) BUT I don't have any hospital volunteering experience at all! :down: I just know in my heart that I'm called to do nursing. :nurse:

I'm just now starting on my essay. I'm having a difficult time getting started. Any suggestions on how to get started and not feel bad that I don't have any volunteering under my belt?

Good Luck to everyone!!!:heartbeat

stripec30 · Oct 5, 2008

Just a heads up: Samuel Merritt is notifying people this week about the Spring 09' ABSN program.

Mochi57 · Oct 5, 2008

Hello everyone! I'm also applying to the ABSN program for spring admission. Like StarBelly, I'm struggling with personal statement since I don't have any experience working in the healthcare industry. I hope that doesn't disqualify me from the program. This many seem like a silly question but when they say "1-2 pages" for the writing sample, they mean single-spaced, right?

Does anyone know how heavily they consider NET scores in comparison to GPA? I scored pretty high on the NET but my undergrad GPA leaves a lot to be desired... :cry: Do they evaluate your most recent 60 semester/90 quarter units (including prereqs) or rather, of your undergraduate studies?

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!

lisa333 · Oct 5, 2008

Hi all,

I'm applying to at least the SF and Oakland campuses this month. That's a good question about the essay being single-spaced, I'm curious about that too.

One of my recommendation writers sent his letter directly to Samuel Merritt, so I emailed them to ask if they've received it but they haven't gotten back to me. I guess I should call them, I don't want to assume that they got it and find out in a few months that it disappeared along the way.

Good luck everybody!

2bttnurse84 · Oct 6, 2008

Good luck everyone in the application process! I will be starting the ELMSN program in Sacramento this January, so I thought I'd try to make this process a little easier since I know how stressful and confusing all of it can be..I believe that they use a very similar admission process (if not almost the same) for the ABSN application as well from what I was told from the school...

My personal statement was double-spaced, but I must admit that I manipulated the margins and space between each lines a lot to fit A LOT more information into the 2 page max. The last 60 sem/90 quarter units includes all the units taken after your first degree also. For instance, I took around 40 semester units post undergraduate. When they calculated my GPA, only 20 semester units from my undergraduate education were included in the calculation (which was great since my less than stellar grades were during my earlier years in college). From my interview with the faculty members, they directly told me that they weigh every part of the application pretty evenly. Samuel Merritt really strives for the "overall" performance of the individual; which was what I really liked about the school b/c I don't believe grades determine a person's potential. If you scored really well on the NETs, it may offset your lower GPA. I also think that your pre-reqs, especially in science, is weighed a little higher since these classes are the basics you should really know prior to acceptance. Therefore, it will help you stand out a little more in the crowd if your pre-reqs are done and you received good grades in those particular classes. The head of admissions also told me that volunteer work in the health care field is also good to have also b/c it's good to know the actual role of a nurse in the "real-world"....it doesn't neccessarily have to be in the hospital tho. I did a lot of my volunteer work in community organizations.

I hope my little input based on my own experience helps and gives you a little information to answer some of your questions. Good luck!

justwant2banurse · Oct 6, 2008

the oakland campus is the hardest to get in bc it has the most resources (counselors/library/dorms) and is most central; you'll need at least a 70 on your math and 70 on the the reading in order to be considered. 2nd would be the sf site. i haven't heard anything about sm since it's quite new. they look at gpa, exp, references, and then the net. i don't know if they do interviews anymore. net is just to qualify you but they don't weigh much on it unless you're applying for oakland. you can take that test 2x; they'll take the higher of the 2. good to have references from someone in the medical field. good gpa on your science prereq is important. go to their orientations; i found it pretty helpful.

good luck. i have a friend that graduated from the absn program and is working at stanford; she highly recommends the program. she went to the oakland campus. i hope you don't plan on working while you go to school. it is very intensive.