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

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Is anyone else applying to ABSN at Merritt for Spring 2009. Let's post our experience the next 6 months here. I'm just getting started on my application due nov 1. Good luck. :up:

Hi!

Got an acceptance letter to San Mateo today.

Congrats!!

I also got accepted to the San Mateo cohort. :) Time to find a BIG loan...

Anyone else living in San Jose?

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Does anyone have any info from former students etc . on how long a commute is too long for an accelerated program?When I first applied to Samuel Merritt I figured that I could commute from Brentwood to Oakland then when it took me almost an hour and a half in non commute traffic Iknew that wasn't working.. Has anyone heard anything positive lately about the San Fran Bay area job market for new grads.. I am so scared of taking out such a huge loan and then no job- at least not at the bay area pay.... I think Samuel Merritt is a great school and happy that I got accepted but the job market has changed drastically since I applied that reality is starting to hit in.. Not trying to be negative just a little scared.. any plans ideas would be appreciated...does anyone have to move or is everyone within commuting distance...

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Hi!

I just got my acceptance for the Oakland campus! I'm looking forward to working with all of you!

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That is great news...:yeah: Congratulations!!!!

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Does anyone have any info from former students etc . on how long a commute is too long for an accelerated program?When I first applied to Samuel Merritt I figured that I could commute from Brentwood to Oakland then when it took me almost an hour and a half in non commute traffic Iknew that wasn't working.. Has anyone heard anything positive lately about the San Fran Bay area job market for new grads.. I am so scared of taking out such a huge loan and then no job- at least not at the bay area pay.... I think Samuel Merritt is a great school and happy that I got accepted but the job market has changed drastically since I applied that reality is starting to hit in.. Not trying to be negative just a little scared.. any plans ideas would be appreciated...does anyone have to move or is everyone within commuting distance...

First of all, congratulations! I personally would consider moving. If you're renting in Brentwood, you may as well rent in Oakland. If you own, that's obviously a bit trickier. I wouldn't want to spend 3 hours a day driving. But some people probably do, I'm sure!

I have heard (from a couple students at SMU) that SMU ABSN students are often offered jobs on the spot during their preceptorships at the end of the program. So choose wisely - choose a preceptorship that really interests you so you'll be really excited and eager to learn and work! You may be offered a job. Once you're a hospital employee, it will be easier to move around units. This is what I've heard anyway. My mom is a nurse manager and she has said the same. She also said she doesn't think it will be terribly difficult for ABSN students from SMU to find a job - you're getting a Bachelor's degree from a very good university.

But the program IS a lot of money, no doubt about it, so you really have to consider every angle carefully. Good luck! I know it's a tough decision. Congrats again on getting in! I hope to meet you in May!

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CONGRATS TO YOU ALL!!!

I'm very glad to hear those acceptance letters FINALLY went out.. I got into the SF cohort and received my acceptance letter like a month ago.. but the SF program starts in less than 2 months now so maybe they just needed to get the ball rolling for us.. by the way, if anyone else is going to be in the SF cohort please send me a message so that we can exchange contact info =)

as far as commuting goes, i live in the east bay and will be commuting to SF.. without traffic it would be about a half hour.. with traffic (which there certainly WILL be!), it would probably be about an hour.. plus $4 for the bridge everyday.. but the SF location is right near a BART station so that's always another option.. if you're going to be in the Oakland cohort, I'm sure you can try and catch BART as well.. I don't know how parking would be at any of the locations though.. anyone know? A Samuel Merritt representative did tell me once that San Mateo has plenty of parking..

As far as jobs for new grads go.. I heard that it is VERY difficult finding a job in the Bay Area right now.. one former student I spoke to said that they have filled out 100 applications already and has only received interest from 2 places and has only had 1 interview.. so it is pretty bad right now.. but I'm hoping that by the time we graduate, things will have brightened up a bit.. if not, you might have to settle for a job outside of a hospital that does not pay as much (nursing homes, etc.).. so I understand that people are concerned about paying so much for an education when it does not guarantee you a job at the end.. but nothing in this life is guaranteed and sometimes, you have to make sacrifices..

I personally feel that the fragile condition of the job market should not stop anyone from going to school, no matter how much it costs.. the way I see it is.. If the program costs $5,000 and not $50,000.. the job market is still the same.. it does not make a difference.. but you will have your BSN degree at the end either way.. although the cost of the program does not affect the job market, of course it will affect your personal finances.. and that is where personal circumstances and situations come into play.. many of you may not want to take the risk of coming out of a program with a ton of debt and no job market.. especially if there are important factors involved like kids, mortgages, car payments, etc.. which I COMPLETELY understand.. but I think you should totally go for it if you feel like you CAN afford to take that risk.. because like I said, in the end.. you will have your Bachelors of Science in Nursing.. =)

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I have heard (from a couple students at SMU) that SMU ABSN students are often offered jobs on the spot during their preceptorships at the end of the program. ......She also said she doesn't think it will be terribly difficult for ABSN students from SMU to find a job - you're getting a Bachelor's degree from a very good university.

I wonder how true this is for more recent graduates? I understand this was the situation up until a couple of years ago. Any recent graduate?

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Hello!

Is anyone out there who's graduated from SMC's Sacramento Campus???? I'm appying to both their ELMSN-FNP & ABSN program. I've heard there's a quite a difference between Oakland & Sacramento. Oakland is my first choice, but Sacramento is closest to where I live now & it's cheaper for me to go to the Sacramento campus. Because it's a hefty cost for the education, I just want to make sure I spend my money wisely and choose the best campus of the two.

Thanks in advance!

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hi gdmartinez0903,

i also got accepted to the sf campus and i live in walnut creek. do you live in martinez? we should exchange email addresses so that we can commute together in the very near future.

well, i was reading your concerns about tuition and job shortage and i totally understand where your coming from. the thing is we'll be going to a school with a great reputation and nurses will always be in demand, no matter what.

as far as commuting, i am planning on taking bart to the city because parking is $20/day at the school. that adds up over time, unless we find more people to commute with...

lets keep in touch, email me at h.brown0525@gmail and we can chat more. sometimes its hard to follow this nursing thread and my email address is the fastest way to get a hold of me.

looking forward to meeting everyone!!

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Has anybody that got accepted into the Oakland campus live in Contra Costa County?

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After anxiously checking the mail, I again received nothing from Samuel Merritt. Does anyone know if they have sent out rejection letters? Are there still people out there who are waiting? Thanks.

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Hi Lindsey,

I was just about to post your exact message when you beat me to it! I'm still here, still waiting. No mail today either! You're not alone in daily mailbox-checking. I haven't heard of anyone getting a rejection letter yet. I'm trying to stay optimistic but considering Lizzie wasn't really truthful about "all letters go out at the same time," I wouldn't be surprised if rejections and waitlists start trickling out after the acceptances.

I'm going to be tempted to call them if I still haven't heard anything by Monday, although I doubt it would help my chances to notify them that they're driving me insane.

Best of luck to you and all the lurkers out there still waiting!!

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