Holy Names/Samuel Meritt

BerkeleyMom · May 22, 2007

I'm just wondering if any of you know about the junior college "Holy Names" apparently if you go there you get to go straight to Samuel Meritt(no waiting list). Anyhoo.. I have a friend that just finished her pre-reqs there and it was an absolute joke!!! She just finished her microbiology and not only did the teacher let her re-take tests that she had failed (multiple times). My friend needed a B on her final to pass the class, she was in tears after she took it b/c she left half of it blank. The teacher passed her with a B anyway! Can you believe that? Is this how all the private schools are? Do you think my friend will be able to make it at Samuel Meritt or is thier program just as easy?
WHERE IS THE INTEGRITY??????

A friend of mine recently finished her BSN at Samuel Merritt College, and did her upper division non-nursing pre-reqs at Saint Mary's in Moraga, after completing all of her lower division course work at a junior college. The partnership program, that you seem to be refering to, is offered through Holy Names, Saint Mary's, and Mills, none of which are junior colleges by the way. They are all private universities, and yes, you can do the BSN program with SMC if you start at one of those universities as a freshmen and meet all of the requirements. You can learn more about these programs at www.samuelmerritt.edu, which will have more accurate information than I can provide.

My friend was very busy with clinicals and studying for the entire duration of her program. Not only is she a competent and intelligent person who put a lof of effort into her studies, but she was challenged by the program as well. She has greatly benefitted from this program and now has a great, competitive, position as a nurse.

It sounds like the situation with your friend's micro class was an isolated incidence, and does not seem appropriate by any standard, as you have described. I highly doubt that any of the above named institutions would appreciate being generalized as "easy" or "unprofessional" because of one purported incident with your friend and her micro teacher.

Lets hope that this teacher gets her act togther, finds a new career, or that your friend's story is missing some pieces .... And, if she is struggling this much in micro, then she better really crack the books when patho and pharm come around!

All in all, I have only heard positive things about these schools ... not including the price of course. Hopefully you can get more feedback about the programs before closing the door completely on them.

Best of luck in your research!

--Berkeley (looking forward to starting the ELMSN-FNP program at Sam Merritt)

Testa Rosa, RN · May 23, 2007

I do business with Holy Names University daily, causing me to wait at their Green Bannana Cafe until traffic dies down. Subsequently, I've had the oppourtunity to talk to many pre-nursing students--some of whom have become study buddies.

This started because they wanted to copy my physio notes on the citric acid cycle as their professor was unclear. I had the best physio professor who posted awesome notes, and this group started using my community college professor's notes to ace their tests.

My study group shared that on average they were not very impressed with their instructors, but that they were there to basically ensure a seat at Samuel Merritt. A very expensive way to get an RN I might add. In talking to them, I got the impression that I was getting a better science foundation at Diablo Valley Community College. On the other hand, their liberal arts/GE classes sounded much better than mine.

The group I started to get to know was a bit imature and prone to complaining a lot. But, they really wanted to learn and were obviously open to seeking out alternatives to their in class lecture. Most of them have since moved on, but there is a new batch. Holy Names recently upgraded their science labs, so maybe they upgraded their instructors in the process. Haven't gotten to know this newer crowd, but am overhearing the same complaints.

blissfulee · May 24, 2007

I'm looking at going this route myself. Holy Names is not a junior college but a very expensive private University, like someone else mentioned. And you are only guaranteed a spot in Samuel Merritt's Nursing program if you maintain at least a 3.0 GPA and get a minimum score on the Nursing Entrance Test. That's as much as I know right now!

littlegreen23 · Dec 3, 2008

i am currently a student at Holy Names and samuel merrit program and I am wondering if if is worth paying for my seat so I'll have a spot at samuel merrit. Is it easier to get there by community college which is a lot cheaper or should i stay at Holy Names with the limited staff. For each science class like biology, chemistry, anat, physio, and micro there is only 1 teacher for each so theres no other option but to take it at their time. Btw half of the students end up failing or withdrawing from these classes and no summer classes are allowed. So if you fail your left with another semester there paying 12K per semester. Is it worth it to stay there or go back to community college. :twocents: :uhoh3:

Testa Rosa, RN · Dec 3, 2008

This is a way old post, but I thought I'd share my opinion. The community college route is so impacted and it takes a long time to get into some of the pre-req classes like anatomy or physio. I think since you are already in the Holy Names/Samuel Merrett program, you should stick to it. The community colleges and CSU's are just going to get more impacted with the current fiscal crisis.

Just my opinion though

anaf · May 5, 2010

Any of you know what are the requirements to get into Holy names? I wanted to go to St. Marys, but they require that you already have anatomy and physiology. I've been trying to take them at jc for almost 2 years, but it's impossible!

boochica · May 9, 2010

I am graduating from Samuel Merritt this May from the 2+2 Holy Names/Samuel Merritt partnership. I had a really good experience at Holy Names. As expected, pre-reqs aren't quite as hard as the core nursing classes. I enjoyed the science classes and the teachers I had were awesome. I transferred from San Francisco State University and although I was able to transfer a couple of my classes, I took almost all the pre-reqs at Holy Names. Samuel Merritt was not a walk in the park. The plus side is that I became really close to my classmates. I recommend forming study groups early on. I would not have survived without the support from my nursing friends! It is a really good program that has prepared me well! Good luck and I recommend taking the Holy Names/ Samuel Merritt path!

peejayheartsyou · Nov 9, 2010

I am graduating from Samuel Merritt this May from the 2+2 Holy Names/Samuel Merritt partnership. I had a really good experience at Holy Names. As expected, pre-reqs aren't quite as hard as the core nursing classes. I enjoyed the science classes and the teachers I had were awesome. I transferred from San Francisco State University and although I was able to transfer a couple of my classes, I took almost all the pre-reqs at Holy Names. Samuel Merritt was not a walk in the park. The plus side is that I became really close to my classmates. I recommend forming study groups early on. I would not have survived without the support from my nursing friends! It is a really good program that has prepared me well! Good luck and I recommend taking the Holy Names/ Samuel Merritt path!

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Hi! So I just applied to HNU's 2+2 program. I wanted to know how they decide to accept you? What's the criteria and the process? I'm a transfer student. Any infor would be great help!

THank you!