Sam Merritt ABSN worth it?

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Hello,

I am looking into Sam Merritt as it is a fast way for me to get my RN. Background, I am working and in Bay Area and would be my second career. I currently already work in the healthcare field. Right now I am debating to stay in my current field or move onto nursing. I've always enjoyed helping people and want to be more hands on than I am now. But I can't really afford to wait for community colleges or state school or move...and SMU has 3 application days?

Just wondering if Sam Merritt is worth the price tag and how did people pay for the schools?? Experiences?

Thank you!

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Hi

I can't answer your question as I have not attended SMU, but I wanted to suggest that you might want to post your question on one of the posts for the people who have already applied there and have been accepted.

Not sure if you are looking for the ABSN or regular BSN, but there are a few posts which already exist from people who have applied. You may want to search for SMU ABSN 2018 or 2019 and see what pops up. Pick one where the people are already midway through the program and I'm sure they will tell you what they think about it.

Also, the ABSN is the one for people who already have a bachelors degree. The regular BSN if you do not have one. The ABSN has 3 separate application deadlines - not 3 days to apply.

Check out the SMU website and they go through the whole process, the dates, and what you need, etc..

Good luck!

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Specializes in Primary Care, Geriatrics.

Hey Starter!

I graduated from SMU's ABSN program last fall. I was in your shoes and your experience sound similar to mine when I applied. I chose SMU because of location and to obtain my RN faster. Accelerated worked for me because I had no responsibilities and lived with family. I just focused on school and occasionally went back to work during holidays/school breaks.

The program was very fast paced. Every 5 weeks, you rotate to new courses and there is an exam for each class almost every week. There are math exams that you must pass and can only miss 1 or 2 questions. You go to your clinical rotations 2 days a week (10-12 hours per day in the hospital). Some courses also have labs 1 day a week. In lab, you practice clinical procedures, get checked off, and do simulations with your group. After midway into the program, you will feel more confident and at ease. You have a couple of courses that are 5-10 weeks long (so 1 day a week in clinicals). Overall, you must maintain an average of 73 = C+ on your theory exams and primary assignments to pass each course. Taking it one day at a time, studying with my clinical group, and getting help from tutors really helped me get thru this program.

I was afraid of the cost at the beginning too. But, I just went for it and used my savings/took out some loans because you will eventually pay it off and make it back. So, do not worry about the cost. Focus on getting through the program first.

SMU was really challenging, but prepared me well for the school's exit exam and NCLEX. Majority of my cohort passed on our first attempts. SMU also has a good reputation to bay area employers.

You should definitely go for your RN if that's your goal! I wanted to move up, have a set of skills to do more for my patients, and expand my scope of practice. Recently, the first time someone asked for my role in a medical setting, I stuttered and questioned, "I'm a...R...N..?" haha cus it still doesn't feel real to me.

Let me know if you have any questions.

2
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Hi! I am currently in the Samuel Merritt ABSN - in my last "semester!" I did not bother applying to ADN programs or to any CSU's. I knew private school was my only way to go, and the pricetag is worth only being in school for one year. You'll make the money back.

I ended up using some money from savings, all the money the government would give (~$25k), and another $10k in private loans.

I've heard that the San Mateo campus June ABSN is the most surefire way to get into the program. They usually admit everyone from the waitlist. Good luck!

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On 1/25/2020 at 4:57 PM, amochafrapp said:

Hey Starter!

I graduated from SMU's ABSN program last fall. I was in your shoes and your experience sound similar to mine when I applied. I chose SMU because of location and to obtain my RN faster. Accelerated worked for me because I had no responsibilities and lived with family. I just focused on school and occasionally went back to work during holidays/school breaks.

The program was very fast paced. Every 5 weeks, you rotate to new courses and there is an exam for each class almost every week. There are math exams that you must pass and can only miss 1 or 2 questions. You go to your clinical rotations 2 days a week (10-12 hours per day in the hospital). Some courses also have labs 1 day a week. In lab, you practice clinical procedures, get checked off, and do simulations with your group. After midway into the program, you will feel more confident and at ease. You have a couple of courses that are 5-10 weeks long (so 1 day a week in clinicals). Overall, you must maintain an average of 73 = C+ on your theory exams and primary assignments to pass each course. Taking it one day at a time, studying with my clinical group, and getting help from tutors really helped me get thru this program.

I was afraid of the cost at the beginning too. But, I just went for it and used my savings/took out some loans because you will eventually pay it off and make it back. So, do not worry about the cost. Focus on getting through the program first.

SMU was really challenging, but prepared me well for the school's exit exam and NCLEX. Majority of my cohort passed on our first attempts. SMU also has a good reputation to bay area employers.

You should definitely go for your RN if that's your goal! I wanted to move up, have a set of skills to do more for my patients, and expand my scope of practice. Recently, the first time someone asked for my role in a medical setting, I stuttered and questioned, "I'm a...R...N..?" haha cus it still doesn't feel real to me.

Let me know if you have any questions.

hi,

May I know which campus did you go to? Is there any support for employment after you graduate? Thanks.

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On 1/25/2020 at 4:57 PM, amochafrapp said:

Hey Starter!

I graduated from SMU's ABSN program last fall. I was in your shoes and your experience sound similar to mine when I applied. I chose SMU because of location and to obtain my RN faster. Accelerated worked for me because I had no responsibilities and lived with family. I just focused on school and occasionally went back to work during holidays/school breaks.

The program was very fast paced. Every 5 weeks, you rotate to new courses and there is an exam for each class almost every week. There are math exams that you must pass and can only miss 1 or 2 questions. You go to your clinical rotations 2 days a week (10-12 hours per day in the hospital). Some courses also have labs 1 day a week. In lab, you practice clinical procedures, get checked off, and do simulations with your group. After midway into the program, you will feel more confident and at ease. You have a couple of courses that are 5-10 weeks long (so 1 day a week in clinicals). Overall, you must maintain an average of 73 = C+ on your theory exams and primary assignments to pass each course. Taking it one day at a time, studying with my clinical group, and getting help from tutors really helped me get thru this program.

I was afraid of the cost at the beginning too. But, I just went for it and used my savings/took out some loans because you will eventually pay it off and make it back. So, do not worry about the cost. Focus on getting through the program first.

SMU was really challenging, but prepared me well for the school's exit exam and NCLEX. Majority of my cohort passed on our first attempts. SMU also has a good reputation to bay area employers.

You should definitely go for your RN if that's your goal! I wanted to move up, have a set of skills to do more for my patients, and expand my scope of practice. Recently, the first time someone asked for my role in a medical setting, I stuttered and questioned, "I'm a...R...N..?" haha cus it still doesn't feel real to me.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Hi,

This was super useful information-thank you so much for sharing! How many times is the math portion given? For the exit HESI exam, what is the passing score; and the passing scores for the HESI exams for each class?

For the schedule, is there clinicals over the weekend as well? I'm trying to figure out my work schedule if I were to get into the ABSN program.

Thank you!

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