Samuel Merritt ABSN Summer 2016 Cohort

[KO.SRNA]

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.

[KO.SRNA, MSN, RN]

If there are any waitlisters for the April ABSN cohort, I recently gave up my seat. Good luck everybody on your future endeavors!

[LGDee]

If there are any waitlisters for the April ABSN cohort, I recently gave up my seat. Good luck everybody on your future endeavors!

Just wondering the reasons you're giving up your seat, KO_1219? I'm still waiting for June cohort.

[KO.SRNA, MSN, RN]

Just wondering the reasons you're giving up your seat, KO_1219? I'm still waiting for June cohort.

Fortunately, I was accepted to multiple Master's Entry Programs in Nursing (MEPN) - Clinical Nurse Leader programs. These programs are only slightly more expensive and a couple of them are actually less expensive than the ABSN at Samuel Merritt, however, I am able to qualify for federal loans with fixed interest rates instead of opting for private loans by pursing a graduate degree. Later down the line, these loans can be consolidated and/or forgiven by the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program (whereas private loans do not qualify for this type of loan forgiveness program). While time is of the essence for some, I'm not too much in a rush to begin practicing. The few MEPNs I received acceptance to include UC Davis, Rush University, Samuel Merritt Case Mgmt, University of San Francisco, and University of San Diego. I will be attending University of San Diego this fall for their MEPN program. My lady and I fell in love with the campus, brand new simulation center solely for nursing students, the general area and weather of SD, and the fact that there are several formal new grad nurse residency programs in SD. Lots of factors have gone into this decision, but had I not received acceptances to these MEPN programs, I for sure would have gone with the ABSN and SMU!

[LGDee]

Fortunately, I was accepted to multiple Master's Entry Programs in Nursing (MEPN) - Clinical Nurse Leader programs. These programs are only slightly more expensive and a couple of them are actually less expensive than the ABSN at Samuel Merritt, however, I am able to qualify for federal loans with fixed interest rates instead of opting for private loans by pursing a graduate degree. Later down the line, these loans can be consolidated and/or forgiven by the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program (whereas private loans do not qualify for this type of loan forgiveness program). While time is of the essence for some, I'm not too much in a rush to begin practicing. The few MEPNs I received acceptance to include UC Davis, Rush University, Samuel Merritt Case Mgmt, University of San Francisco, and University of San Diego. I will be attending University of San Diego this fall for their MEPN program. My lady and I fell in love with the campus, brand new simulation center solely for nursing students, the general area and weather of SD, and the fact that there are several formal new grad nurse residency programs in SD. Lots of factors have gone into this decision, but had I not received acceptances to these MEPN programs, I for sure would have gone with the ABSN and SMU!

Wow!! Congratulations, KO_1219! SD is beautiful! More reasonable housing vs Bay Area!

Do you have to have some experience in healthcare to apply to this MEPN programs? How was the interview? Was it intimidating?

[KO.SRNA, MSN, RN]

Wow!! Congratulations, KO_1219! SD is beautiful! More reasonable housing vs Bay Area!

Do you have to have some experience in healthcare to apply to this MEPN programs? How was the interview? Was it intimidating?

Thanks LGDee!!! Yes, SD is amazing and housing is definitely much more reasonable vs the Bay. We plan to eventually come back to the Bay Area after this program, but who knows what'll happen or where I'll land my first job.

With regard to my health care experience, I have interned in Psychiatry Administration at the VA Palo Alto Health Care System for 2 years and going, volunteered at Kaiser Permanente San Leandro ED for over 200 hours, and interned at Kaiser Permanente's Health Education Department in Fremont, San Leandro, and Union City locations for 90 hours. So overall, limited experience and no paid clinical experience here.

I had interviews at USD, Samuel Merritt, and Rush University. I was quite intimidated by the other candidates at all three interviews. I met many from ivy league and highly reputable schools (especially at USD & Rush), people who've been through the peace corps, people who already had master's degrees in other fields, and several with extensive paid clinical experiences. The best I could do was to try not to think about all that, remain as confident as possible, remember I was given an interview invite for a reason, and just kill the interview! Overall, I think I conveyed myself well in the interviews, and I talked a lot about the importance of more male nurses coming to the field. The toughest ones for sure were the ELMSN-CM (accepted) and ELMSN-FNP (waitlisted) at Samuel Merritt.

[LGDee]

Thank you for sharing your experience, KO-1219.

I just got my acceptance email this past Monday for the ABSN Samuel Merritt for Summer cohort. I think my approval process took just about a week after my application was forwarded from the admission office to the nursing faculty. I chose ABSN because of their Peninsula campus - closer vs SAC or OAK locations, since I live in South Bay and with kids and husband - can't really pack up and move :)

I got a lot of encouragement from the nurse leader and the nurse manager where I'm volunteering at to take the seat at ABSN. I guess that's what I'm going to do.

I'm so confused with the financial aid application tho, can someone share their experience with SMU financial aid process? Thanks.

[LGDee]

jdeba,

have you heard any decision yet? I filed my app really late and got my acceptance this past Monday at 8am.

[Nurse2b_Tuesdae]

Hi Everyone!

My name is Ruby (my legal name is Samantha, but I don't use it with my friends) and I am in the May Oakland Cohort. Super excited to meet everyone in a couple of weeks. I'd love to get to know everyone....do we have a specific facebook group for the Oakland Campus or is it the same FB group for both campuses?

Whee! So excited!

[ewang03]

does anyone in the bay area know of a community college that has an online course for interpersonal communication that would meet the requirements for the ABSN program? any help would be appreciated!

[jjuan]

Hi guys! I still need to take Pathophysiology to apply to the ABSN program. Anyone take SMU's online physiology course?

[madiams]

Hi,

I was reading through the thread and saw you got accepted into the San Mateo cohort this pass June! I just got accepted for this coming Spring. I was wondering if you could give me insight as to how difficult the program is and whether or not you commute?

Thanks!

[finnieng]

Oh that's right. I opted for the April (San Mateo) cohort as my first choice and May (Oakland) Cohort as my second choice since the dean of admissions mentioned the April one has been traditionally less popular, and I wanted to increase my chances. If I get into the April Cohort, I may consider inquiring about switching to Oakland and seeing what happens, but I'm fine with going to either campus.

Thanks for giving an update on what they're doing with our applications. Did they reach out to you specifically about your prereq issue or did they tell you upon your inquiry on your application status? I wish you the best of luck, and I hope they don't make this issue a bigger deal for you.

Hi KO! I don't know if you'll even get this message but I was recently accepted into the ABSN program at San Mateo and wanted to ask to switch into the Oakland cohort. I know you mentioned you wanted to do the same thing so I was wondering if you had any luck with that?