Samuel Merritt ABSN Summer 2016 Cohort

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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Hey Everyone!

I've used this forum for quite a while to get a point of reference on how competitive I am to eventually obtain offers of admission to several nursing programs throughout the country.

One of the programs I really want to get into is Samuel Merritt's ABSN! Being that I have not seen any threads for those of us applying to SMU for the Summer 2016 Cohort, I thought I'd start one since the application deadline has passed (unless they've extended it passed the original app deadline of 9/1/15).

Let's stick together through this nerve wracking process, get to know one another, share some stats, experiences, and key information as it arises.

Degree: BS in Health Sciences, Pre-Clinical Option at CSU East Bay in progress and projected to graduate March 2016.

Average GPA (Last 60 Semester Credit Units or 90 Quarter Units): 3.90

Cumulative Undergraduate GPA: Current is 3.39

Average Science GPA (prerequisites only): 3.58

Microbiology: A

Anatomy: A

Physiology: A

Chemistry: C+

TEAS Adjusted Total Individual Score:89.3%

TEAS Reading:88.1%

TEAS Math: 96.7%

TEAS Science: 87.5%

TEAS English: 90.0%

Key Work/Volunteer Experiences: I currently work at the Department of Veterans Affairs in Mental Health Administration in Palo Alto, CA for over a year and a half, and I volunteer at the Emergency Department of Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in San Leandro, CA (over 150 Hours worked and counting).I hope to hear from the rest of you, and good luck to all those who have applied or plan on applying!

Other Programs Applying To: Samuel Merritt University ELMSN-Case Management, University of San Francisco MSN-CNL, University of San Diego MSN-CNL, CSU Los Angeles ABSN, CSU San Marcos ABSN, CSU Northridge ABSN, CSU Stanislaus ABSN, Western University of Health Sciences MSN-E, CSU East Bay BSN, University of Colorado-Denver ABSN, Rush University GEM, and potentially a few others.

Specializes in Anesthesia.
I emailed the admissions counselor who emailed me that she received and was processing my application for June, and she said she expects answers end of February, beginning of March! Hopefully sooner than later!

Cool! Thanks for the update jdeba. I chose April Cohort, and I expect to be hearing any day now considering the program starts in just over two months... That way I can start figuring out private lenders, how I'm going to pay for the program, etc. Have you already finished Pathophysiology & Pharmacology? How do you feel about your knowledge in those courses? I know it's a huge part of the foundation for nursing, and I think I need to go back and re-look over all of that material. Just wanted to see if you plan on doing more prep for whichever program you end up choosing. Also, did you apply for FAFSA yet? March 1 is the priority deadline, and isn't it completed differently if you choose an ABSN program vs a MSN program?

Specializes in Emergency Room, CEN, TCRN.

You work for the VA, right? Have you looked into VANEEP scholarships?

Specializes in Anesthesia.
You work for the VA, right? Have you looked into VANEEP scholarships?

Thanks for letting me know about that! I haven't looked into it yet actually, however, I did a brief search on it to see what the requirements were. I don't think I qualify b/c I don't have a permanent part-time or full-time appointment, and I'm considered to be "Intermittent" since I'm only a pathways intern there. I'll double check to confirm though. Are you currently taking advantage of that scholarship? If so, how was the process in applying for it?

Specializes in Emergency Room, CEN, TCRN.

Unfortunately you have to be a full time employee that's worked for at least one year to qualify. I'm not using it. However you can only apply in March and October, interviews for my program aren't until April and if I get picked up class starts before October, so I've saved some GI bill to cover the part of the program, but my education department says I can use it for subsequent quarters if I apply in October and get approved.

There are partnership programs the VA might have though, and there's loan repayment options for title 38 employees if you decide to stay with the VA, though.

Anyone else compulsively checking email every five minutes? This is killing me!

Specializes in Anesthesia.
Unfortunately you have to be a full time employee that's worked for at least one year to qualify. I'm not using it. However you can only apply in March and October, interviews for my program aren't until April and if I get picked up class starts before October, so I've saved some GI bill to cover the part of the program, but my education department says I can use it for subsequent quarters if I apply in October and get approved.

There are partnership programs the VA might have though, and there's loan repayment options for title 38 employees if you decide to stay with the VA, though.

Thank you for all of your military service! That's good you have some $$$ left from your GI bill, and I hope you get approved for that VANEEP program. For myself, I've mainly been thinking about doing nurse corps or the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program especially if I can work at the VA, other public sector hospital organizations, or non-profit organizations that have the correct tax exemption to qualify. What other nursing schools did you apply for?

Specializes in Anesthesia.
Anyone else compulsively checking email every five minutes? This is killing me!

Tell me about it!!! Last year they told April start cohort about admission decision around feb 10. I really hope I hear from them by the end of this week. I emailed my admissions counselor around 2PM PST asking for an update. Hopefully she responds.

Check your email!!!! I just received an acceptance email [emoji4]

Specializes in Anesthesia.
Check your email!!!! I just received an acceptance email [emoji4]

I just got accepted too!!! CONGRATS =)

I just got accepted too!!! CONGRATS =)

YES! Congrats! Should we start an FB group? PM me [emoji4]

Congrats, you guys! I received an acceptance email as well! I woke up to an email notification on my phone at 8AM this morning :) Not a bad way to start the day off!

Congrats to all of you who got accepted!

Were the ones who got accepted was it only for the april cohort?

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