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

EM-RN · Feb 21, 2009

hey everyone.. so i got my letter of acceptance for the sf cohort the first week of february.. they gave us until the 20th (today) to turn in our letter of intent checking whether or not we accepted their offer along with a non-refundable tuition deposit of $350..

Did you send in the deposit? Will you go to SMU in April? Congrat , BTW.

... thats just my take on it i guess.. could be wrong but thats the only explanation i can think of...

Your guess is pretty good. That explains why SMU has to wait with sending out the rest of the acceptance letters after 2/20 so that it can make a closer estimate of the number of SF seats left for those who don't get their first choice in Oakland.

dmskoka · Feb 22, 2009

I really thought though that they took everyone together and then picked the top people and then went down the list filling the holes as they are still open.. but maybe I am confusing this with another school......I am really reconsidering with the cost of attendance and the reality of no jobs in the bay area.. thats okay if we need to relocate but makes it hard when you have a huge debt overhead... when will this economy pick up!!!

EM-RN · Feb 22, 2009

I really thought though that they took everyone together and then picked the top people and then went down the list filling the holes as they are still open...

Why did SMU make its decision on the "top" SF candidates only? What about the "top" candidates for the 2 other campuses? May be they are too inundated with applications this year to make fast enough decisions?

I am really reconsidering with the cost of attendance and the reality of no jobs in the bay area.. thats okay if we need to relocate but makes it hard when you have a huge debt overhead... when will this economy pick up!!!

Right on! It's up to us to do the due diligence to avoid a large regret in both our personal finance and education.

frozenocean · Feb 22, 2009

Does anyone have details on the student orientation for the ABSN program at Oakland? I'm trying to book a trip before classes start (assuming I'm accepted) but don't want to miss orientation if we are expected to be on campus before the actual start date.

Good luck to everyone waiting for acceptance letters.

gdmartinez0903 · Feb 23, 2009

late bloomer, yes i turned in my letter of intent along with the deposit on friday.. i had to think about it a little though.. i must admit, i was a bit hesitant to accept the offer..

I, like many of you, am concerned with how much this program is going to cost, how good (or not good for that matter) it's going to be, and what the job market will be like once we graduate.. i came to the decision that i am going to go for it.. my goal in life is to become a nurse.. that is what i want to do.. and unfortunately, there are not too many options out there for me in terms of schools.. i don't want to relocate outside of the bay area and so i am a little limited on choices.. yes, the program will be expensive but you earn your bachelors in nursing in one year flat.. that's a pretty good deal if you ask me.. and as far as how good the program is going to be.. i am optimistic that it will be fine.. and as with anything, it will be what you make of it as well.. and i am definitely planning on making the most of it.. as far as the job market goes.. it is pretty scary to think of how most places right now are not hiring new grads or anyone really.. but i actually hope to become a nurse practitioner eventually and so i would want to go to another school next fall (2010) to start studying for a masters degree.. and so if i get accepted into a masters program, i would not have to worry about the job market right away since i would be continuing my education.. and if i don't get accepted into a masters program, then i would try my best to find a job with the BSN and RN license i would be getting from my education at samuel merritt.. im hoping that things will look a little brighter a year from now.. and as someone had mentioned in one of these forums earlier, it's not a question about if you will get hired.. it's a question about when.. eventually, you will find something out there for you.. i truly believe that everyone that has put the time and effort to get an education and earn their degrees will be successful in life.. sometimes, it just takes a little patience..

of course, everyone's circumstances are different and for some, they really just can't afford to take the risk of coming out of school with a ton of debt and no job market.. especially those with mortgages to pay, kids to take care of, and other large expenses.. so it really does depend on your own personal situation whether or not you should take the opportunity.. if you feel like you can afford to take the risk, then i say you should go for it! ..i don't see anything wrong with trying to earn a higher education, no matter at what cost it may be.. especially if it's what you really want!

well good luck to you all and I truly hope you all make it to where you want to be, whichever route you may take!

EM-RN · Feb 23, 2009

gdmartinez0903, Thanks for sharing your thoughts. You seem to know what you want and are willing to work for it, placing youself way ahead of many people your age. Good for you! Congrat once again and best of luck with your nursing school and career!

EM-RN · Feb 25, 2009

A harsh reality faced by an SMU ABSN graduate (It could be ours soon):

Hi, I'm a Dec '08 BSN grad looking for a new grad position in the SF Bay Area. Earlier this week, I hit the "Big 100" as in I've submitted 100 applications for New Grad and Staff Nurse-1 positions with local hospitals. So far, I've gotten interest from 1 hospital. I graduated with honors, have approximately 1200 hours of hospital clinical time, BLS/ACLS, but don't know what else to do.
Went to a job fair today (Kaiser Modesto) and wasn't allowed to even give my resume to any hiring managers because only nurses with at least a year of med-surg experience were being allowed into the conference center to meet with hiring managers.
What do you have to do, to get your first nursing job? Without at least 6 months of experience in acute care, you are unemployable as a nurse. And no one wants to give you a chance to get that experience. Nursing pre-requisites were hard, and nursing school was harder, and the NCLEX was harder still.
But I never thought that once I overcame had overcome all of that, that I might not be able to find a job.
Nursing shortage? It's all a bunch of lies.

nursetobein2010 · Mar 3, 2009

I received an acceptance letter to the ABSN program, Oakland today.

My intention is not to brag. I just wanted to let the rest of you know that your decision letter should come in the mail today or tomorrow. I know I was dying to know here!

To the person who asked about orientation - in our welcome packet, it says there is a mandatory orientation in Oakland on May 14th. More info will be sent later.

Iwant2beRN · Mar 3, 2009

Congratulations Nursetobein2010! I'm so happy for you!

If anyone got anything for San Mateo, please alert us!

Thanks! Good luck to us all!

leoruby · Mar 3, 2009

Hello everyone,

I also got my acceptance letter for the ABSN Oakland campus today, it came in a large white envelope. Just wanted to let you guys know that the letters are on its way.

yukitiki · Mar 4, 2009

Hi!

Got an acceptance letter to San Mateo today.

leoruby · Mar 4, 2009

Congratulations!!! :yeah: