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:

I got accepted to the Oakland campus. Here are my responses to your questions:

1) I've worked in health care for seven years, performing neurocognitive evaluations and running a neuropsychology service. I also did 100 hours of volunteer work at a hospital in the East Bay, working in the ER and the day-surgery unit.

2) I wrote about why I wanted to be a nurse; specifically, I mentioned why I wanted to be educated beyond the master's degree in psych that I already have. I also wrote about why I like working in health care and why I like working directly with patients. And I made sure to mention my volunteer experience in my essay--I wanted them to know that I had seen nurses working first-hand.

3) My current supervisor (a neuropsychologist) and my former supervisor (also a neuropsychologist) wrote my letters. They were each able to address different strengths of mine, which I think was nice. Current boss was able to talk about my administrative strengths, and former boss was able to talk about my clinical and interpersonal skills.

I think it's really important to get across that you have an understanding of the difficulties involved in working with patients (which is why healthcare experience is a plus in the application process) and let them know why you want to be a nurse. The people who write your letters need to be people who can really say something substantial about you--you don't want someone who can only say "Well, he/she was always on time and seemed nice enough". You want them to be able to specify what made you a good employee/volunteer/whatever, and how that will translate into you being a good nurse.

Hope that's helpful--good luck with your applications!

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I got accepted to the Oakland campus. Here are my responses to your questions:

1) I've worked in health care for seven years, performing neurocognitive evaluations and running a neuropsychology service. I also did 100 hours of volunteer work at a hospital in the East Bay, working in the ER and the day-surgery unit.

2) I wrote about why I wanted to be a nurse; specifically, I mentioned why I wanted to be educated beyond the master's degree in psych that I already have. I also wrote about why I like working in health care and why I like working directly with patients. And I made sure to mention my volunteer experience in my essay--I wanted them to know that I had seen nurses working first-hand.

3) My current supervisor (a neuropsychologist) and my former supervisor (also a neuropsychologist) wrote my letters. They were each able to address different strengths of mine, which I think was nice. Current boss was able to talk about my administrative strengths, and former boss was able to talk about my clinical and interpersonal skills.

I think it's really important to get across that you have an understanding of the difficulties involved in working with patients (which is why healthcare experience is a plus in the application process) and let them know why you want to be a nurse. The people who write your letters need to be people who can really say something substantial about you--you don't want someone who can only say "Well, he/she was always on time and seemed nice enough". You want them to be able to specify what made you a good employee/volunteer/whatever, and how that will translate into you being a good nurse.

Hope that's helpful--good luck with your applications!

Sorry, the above response was meant to quote IWant2BeRN's message!

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I am glad I am not the only one that has an empty mailbox...I really thought I would hear from SM by today. The waiting is torturous. I will be thrilled to get in, but is anyone else besides me still nervous about the cost of attendance?

got in and happy but scared to death of cost of attendance. I applied to another school that I should hear by Sat or Monday that is paid for by local hospitals out of state. If not I will be running my deposit up on Monday.. The waiting is sooo hard.

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1. What is your experience in Health Care? ie, do you volunteer or work in HC?

2. What did you write about in your paper?

3. Who wrote your letters of Rec? A Professor? Nurse? Boss?.

Thank you all!

I have volunteered for 5 years at John Muir. I am now taking a cna course which I think I put in my letter. I wrote about that I had given up a very good job after 15 years to make a midlife change. I wrote about my volunteer experience. For my letters I believe( I applied to tons of schools) that I used supes and the head of the volunteer dept and a professor. hope that helps.. I got into most private schools but didn't stand a chance at the public ones.. which of course are sooo much cheaper..

And wish the rest of us luck :)

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I applied to a scholarship that SM had posted on their website. I have made it to the final round of applicants. Although the scholarship I applied to is closed now, I encourage everyone to apply to as many scholarships as possible to increase your odds. Especially since we all already have Bachelor's degrees, and many federal grants are not available.

Besides, people spend 50k on their cars and this is our education that we are talking about. It is hard to know what the future will hold, and I know that some people have a hard time getting hired as a new grad in this economy....but have you ever talked to someone who went to nursing school and never found a job....ever. I have not.

I recently spoke with an elderly couple at my work. They said their granddaughter just graduated from the SM ABSN and cannot find work. My heart skipped a beat, and then the woman continued her statement. She said her granddaughter only wants to work in pediatrics and that is the only job she has/will apply to. I think that as new grads you have to just get your foot in the door and start somewhere, even if it is not ideal. I will never forget talking to a SM grad nurse at my work recently and he told me his only regret was not doing it sooner. (He is in his late 30's). Lets all think positive and remember that our dream career is worth the sacrifice!

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RN2Be,

I'm with you on cost of attendance. Once you do the number crunching, its a little frightening. I was figuring today that if tuition is approx 50k I'll probably borrow twice that to support the cost of books, scrubs, equipment and living expenses. PLUS I'm paying my loans from my B.A. in Sociology (30K). That means I'll be approx 130,000 in the hole once I get out of school!!! Yikes!! Its scary to read about new grads who are unable to find work....but I'm remaining hopeful.

Today, I spent a good chuck of time looking at Nursing Scholarships. If I get in, I'm going to need all the financial help I can get.

Also, Kaiser has a 2 year new grad program. You sign a contract to work for them and they help with student loans. The first thing I'm going to do once I get that decision letter is set up a Fin Aid appt!!

IwantobeRN,

Don't start doubting yourself!! That is the last thing you need. Many nurses I talk to said it was never this competitive for them. We are entering a whole new ballgame.

Feedback to your questions:

1. What is your experience in Health Care? ie, do you volunteer or work in HC?

I volunteered/shadowed an ICU nurse for a semester. I also worked at UCSF for over a year (administrative duties, no direct patient care)

2. What did you write about in your paper?

Volunteer, school, work and life experiences that led me to what to become a nurse.

3. Who wrote your letters of Rec? A Professor? Nurse? Boss?.

My boss and program director at UCSF.

Hope that helps.

Sara

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Hey everyone,

Congrats to all that were accepted! I just got a letter saying my application was incomplete- needless to say I'm a little shocked and upset. I've tried calling ALL the counselors and none have picked up. I took a psychology course at UCSC with a course description emphasizes that it is both life-span and focused on development yet they still did not accept it. Anyone mind sharing what psych course they took so I can compare? Thanks!

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Congrats to all you new SM students!:bow:

gosh, I still haven't heard anything either way regarding my application! I'm getting upset. If they really did mail out all the decision letters on Monday, mine should have gotten here by now, as I'm only up in Sonoma county. Maybe it'll be here today.:anbd:

The cost is pricey, but I've decided that it's worth it to finish with a BSN in one year. A less expensive school, other than the Cal State Sacramento accelerated 15 month program, would take 2 years for an associate's degree. That's an exrta year of living expenses. I think it balances out in the end.

Regarding the bleak job market, my sense is that we will have to be flexible and willing to relocate. In addition, I think it's important to be active in the student nurse association to try and change hospital policy in order to accomodate the new nurse grads that health care has called for. Our voice needs to be heard and we need to speak up about resolving this dilemma. Maybe we can write a letter to President Obama!!! After all, the nursing shortage is a national crisis situation.:nurse:

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2lRoberts - I've taken two types of Phsycology classes. General Psych AND Lifespan Psych. SMU requires that you take a Phychology class that covers the entire life span from birth to death.

Hopes this helps!

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2lRoberts: I took a child psych and a gerontology class which the counselor accepted as a combo "lifespan psych".

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I got accepted into San Mateo!

I had to call cuz I didn't get anything in the mail. The lady in admissions had to grab my file. She told me a copy of the accpetance letter was in my file and that she didn't know why I didn't receivve it yet.

For those of you still waiting, you may need to call too!

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Congrats Iwant2beRN!!!!!!!!!!!

Still an empty mailbox on my end! This is getting a little ridiculous. If the letters were mailed last Friday or even Monday I should have SOMETHING by now. I wonder what the hold up is?? I just need to know something either way.

I'm calling admissions but cannot get through to a human!

:banghead:

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