Sacramento ELMSN/ABSN...Anyone applying?

labfreak · Jul 15, 2006

I am in the ABSN program now. While the teachers are incredible, I have to

say that the administration is so bad that it negates anything good about the program. The program is growing so fast and they completely neglect the actual day to day needs of the students. Somedays we dont even have classrooms. Our lab instructors have to ask us what we are doing that day. The SF cohort still does not even have their own campus after nearly a month and half of classes, so people are having to commute to Oakland every day from SF when they were told they would have an SF campus. Admissions and health paperwork gets lost and refiled and they blame you. We have academic advisors and they have yet to tell us who they are. I have paid for dental insurance through the school and have yet to receive any info about it. Its like I never even paid for it. The communications from the school is usually cold and curt. 75% of the work is dealing with the incompetancy of the administration and the other 25% is dealing with your actual homework. There are countless other things that I could list. I can only hope that you will take my word for it.

They are simply cashing in on the mad rush to nursing school. 200 students multiplied by 48,000 dollars a year is a lot of money. I Love studying nursing and will continue the program, but if I knew then what I know now after only 6 weeks of class I would not enter this program. They just dont

have their act together and are unwilling to listen to any advice we give.

Its really a very disappointing situation.

Nodean · Jul 15, 2006

Labfreak,

Thanks or your honesty... I assume you are in the oakland program? Have you heard anything about Sacramento?

labfreak · Jul 15, 2006

I haven't heard anything about Sacremento. I also know nothing about the ELMS program. Do you know where the location of the teaching facility will be? I really hope for your sake they figure that out soon. As you can imagine, it has been hard for the SF students to be on our Oakland Campus

everyday. I spoke to someone who interviewed for the ELMS program and she said they put all the interviewees into a room and made them walk around the room in their own way or something. It could be either really humiliating or really fun depending on your attitude. My interview was really short. The woman was nice and I told her of my interest in doing relief work. Apparently some girl cried in her interview, she didn't make it in.

Are you interested in the elms or the absn?

labfreak · Jul 15, 2006

Nodean,

I just looked at your admission stats and I think you have a good shot of getting in. I had no med experience but a killer gpa and an inspired statement and good referances. you have good things going for you. If you decide to enter the program i wish you the best of luck and am glad that I could at least elucidate some of the problems you may face as a member of the innagural class of a new program.

Nodean · Jul 15, 2006

Hey Labfreak,

I applied to both programs. My first choice is the ELMNS-FNP but if I don't get in I would gladly accept a spot in the ABSN program. This will actually be year two in Sacramento, they started the ABSN last year. I toured the campus and it is set up really well. I have not spoken to any ABSN students but I have spoken to several ELMSN students and other than the cost they seemed happy with the program.

iwannabeanurse06 · Jul 18, 2006

Hi,

I'm in the "SF" ABSN program. labfreak is right in saying that we have yet to have our own campus. This is the second year of ABSN in general but will be the first for Sacramento (1/07) and South Peninsula (5/07) from what I understand (that's 4 campuses in 2years!). Since the program is new there have been many glitches which has been surprising and really dissapointing. My biggest complaint is not being adequately staffed (teachers) ahead of time & the lack of communication between them. SMC is a school that has been around for awhile so you would think they could handle it. I'm a mom too and felt like I didn't have many choices for where I could go to school. SMC has a good reputation in the community. I don't regret being in the program because it gets me to where I want to be but I don't feel I have gotten my money's worth so far. Hopefully there will be resolution and improvement soon for us and for future students.

Oh and as far as stats. Last year there was approx 300 applications. They interviewd about 150 & accepted 48 into each cohort. I was accepted off of the waitlist and so were many others. My undergrad gpa was about 3.3. The prereqs I had to complete I received 8 As & 2 Bs. My NET high 70 or low 80s can't remember but most people got 85 and above. My statements were great but my interview wasn't. I think the main reason that put me on the waitlist! Put your jitters aside & show them who you are. Best of luck to you!

karmyk · Jul 27, 2006

For potential applicants who are interested in the ABSN program, I found a pretty interesting blog awhile back that's being religiously updated by a student who's currently in the Oakland ABSN program:

http://blog.myspace.com/nursekatrina

It should give you a pretty good idea about how fast-paced the classes are and how the curriculum works out. =)

Nodean · Jul 27, 2006

Thank You!

iwannabeanurse06 · Jul 29, 2006

thanks for that post. it's interesting to see how radically different other people's experiences are. here is site I found that students rated SMC teachers in 2005.

http://www.reviewum.com/searchprofessorreviews.php?school=Samuel+Merritt+College+Of+Nursing&PHPSESSID=980bad90eaf4c155635dda8253e8bf17&startrow=all

Nodean · Aug 2, 2006

I just got back from the Samuel Merritt ELMNS-FNP interview and to mirror what some have said it was a great experience. Now the agonizing wait begins...

Nodean · Aug 7, 2006

I didn't have to wait long at all. They called me the same evening and offered me early admittance! I was ecstatic but surprised, the competition was tough. Any other 2007 Sacramento ELMNS FNP students out there???