Applying to SF State ELM-A, USF, and Samuel Merritt ABSN for Spring 2017 Start

Published

Anyone else applying to the USF MSN, the SF State ELM-A, and the Samuel Merritt ABSN for a Spring 2017 start date? I am in a mad rush trying to finish all my pre recs. I have Stats and Physiology this summer, then Sociology, Pharmacology, and Pathophysiology (all online) in the fall. Anyone else in the same boat??

I just hit send last night on my application to SMU ABSN San Mateo cohort! And now the hard part of nerves, waiting and anticipation begins! Good luck to everyone who is applying! I hope we all get into our desired schools

Thats awesome! I couldn't apply to the San Mateo cohort bc I haven't take the teas yet, so I will be applying for the April start. Good luck!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Make sure you take a look at their website again. They have an updated test they want you to take in place of the Teas... They totally surprised me with it! It's the HESI A2. I ended up taking that one (glad I did! I found it a little easier than the teas) but I called to confirm and they said they would take either or for the Jan start but might want to double check since you'd be April they might prefer the HESI. Good luck to you to!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Make sure you take a look at their website again. They have an updated test they want you to take in place of the Teas... They totally surprised me with it! It's the HESI A2. I ended up taking that one (glad I did! I found it a little easier than the teas) but I called to confirm and they said they would take either or for the Jan start but might want to double check since you'd be April they might prefer the HESI. Good luck to you to!

they have ASSURED me in writing that I can apply with the TEAS for the April start date (I already paid for and scheduled the test). Hopefully they will not try to take that back! Basically what the website says is not actually true. It's been crazy trying to figure out what is actually requires!!! (Did you see that they added a college algebra pre rec and then removed it a month later?!)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Yes! God that scared the bejesus out of me! I was thinking man please no I finally finished my prerecs I don't want to have to do another one. When I applied it made me fill out that portion on the nursing CAS hopefully they won't think I'm lying... It would let me send my application in without it filled out that it's in progress. So glad you got that in writing! I'm now trying to get them to call ATI and refund me since I took the other test since it says "2017 start must take this" ugh annoying but hopefully I can get my $125 back!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hi Natalie513,

Just wanted to weigh in on your comment earlier about BSN vs MSN and what I've heard from a nurse I met. My dad was a patient at CPMC last year and the nurse that was taking care of him was amazing. We talked about nursing and I found out he completed the entry level MSN program at USF. He told me that he could not get hired at UCSF because he did not specifically have a BSN, even though he had a Master's. I don't know the reasoning behind it, but you are correct in that certain hospitals emphasize BSN required in their job postings. I've noticed that with UCSF and Stanford but I don't think other hospitals are as strict with that requirement.

Like a lot of others out there, I applied to both SMU ABSN and USF CNL programs. I was waitlisted at USF and accepted to SMU and am super excited about how things ended up. I think there are pros and cons to both types of programs and everyone has to decide what best fits their needs and goals. The USF program initially appealed to me because I would be getting a Master's degree and not another Bachelor's. However, the ABSN is only one year and I can start working as an RN sooner to gain experience and that also allows me to figure out what I really want to do afterwards since I'm undecided on whether or not I would pursue additional schooling (CRNA or NP). Your ultimate goal is to be a floor nurse so you technically don't need the MSN but additional education is always nice. :) I know that loans would be easier to come by with the MSNs, but you would end up owing more (if you end up at USF) and spending an extra year for a degree you don't intend to use. SFSU would be nice too since I'm sure their tuition isn't as bad - but again, it's a 2 year program. With time, you'll eventually figure out which program best suits your needs. Good luck with everything!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Hi Natalie513,

Just wanted to weigh in on your comment earlier about BSN vs MSN and what I've heard from a nurse I met. My dad was a patient at CPMC last year and the nurse that was taking care of him was amazing. We talked about nursing and I found out he completed the entry level MSN program at USF. He told me that he could not get hired at UCSF because he did not specifically have a BSN, even though he had a Master's. I don't know the reasoning behind it, but you are correct in that certain hospitals emphasize BSN required in their job postings. I've noticed that with UCSF and Stanford but I don't think other hospitals are as strict with that requirement.

Like a lot of others out there, I applied to both SMU ABSN and USF CNL programs. I was waitlisted at USF and accepted to SMU and am super excited about how things ended up. I think there are pros and cons to both types of programs and everyone has to decide what best fits their needs and goals. The USF program initially appealed to me because I would be getting a Master's degree and not another Bachelor's. However, the ABSN is only one year and I can start working as an RN sooner to gain experience and that also allows me to figure out what I really want to do afterwards since I'm undecided on whether or not I would pursue additional schooling (CRNA or NP). Your ultimate goal is to be a floor nurse so you technically don't need the MSN but additional education is always nice. :) I know that loans would be easier to come by with the MSNs, but you would end up owing more (if you end up at USF) and spending an extra year for a degree you don't intend to use. SFSU would be nice too since I'm sure their tuition isn't as bad - but again, it's a 2 year program. With time, you'll eventually figure out which program best suits your needs. Good luck with everything!

thank you for your perspective! At this point I am really thinking the smu ABSN is my best option (for financial reasons 2 years without an income will be tough for us), so I am applying to start in April. I hope I will get in and join you as an smu student! :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hey guys!! I have a question that I hope one of you will have the answer to! I am also working on finishing up my prerequisites, but I will not be done with all of them until mid December. However, applications for places like Samuel Merritt are due by December 1! Do you think there will be any wiggle room for them taking my gpa with those courses into account? I know that my gpa is going to go way up once those courses are complete, but I wasn't sure if they could take the courses into consideration.

My gpa is not that strong without my upcoming fall semester being taken into account. I have been looking at other stats and am not close to them :(

My last 60/90 unit GPA without fall (which ends about December 13) is 3.26.

I wanted to apply for both the ABSN and FNP.

Thank you in advance!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hey guys! I just got an email for an invitation to interview for admission to Spring 2017 ELMSN-FNP!

Group interviews will be held September 21-22 for the Sacramento Cohort.

Has anyone else gotten an email? I was wondering if the San Mateo will also have a cohort for the ELMSN-FNP.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Apply anyways! They will be able to see that the courses you are taking are in progress. They also look at many other factors such as letters of recs, personal statements.. and for your case, make sure your TEAS scores are high! That will compensate for your GPA. Make everything else in your app strong. If you can get a letter of rec from an RN, that would also help.

These are things they told me when I went in for a transcript assessment.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Apply anyways! They will be able to see that the courses you are taking are in progress. They also look at many other factors such as letters of recs, personal statements.. and for your case, make sure your TEAS scores are high! That will compensate for your GPA. Make everything else in your app strong. If you can get a letter of rec from an RN, that would also help.

These are things they told me when I went in for a transcript assessment.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Got accepted into both ABSN San Mateo and ELMSN-FNP at Smu!! I'll be doing the ELMSN.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion