This is a new thread for anyone that has applied to Samuel Merritt's Accelerated BSN programs in San Francisco, Oakland, or San Mateo for 2010 entry.
This is my second application for admission. San Mateo had a July 1 and Nov 1 deadline, I applied to both. I received a letter the first week in November (in regards to the July 1 deadline) that I was number 48 of 50 waitlisted. This was the first I heard from them regarding that application!! So I am pretty sure I will not be offered admission to that program. Does it seem like a long time that it takes approx 3 1/2 to 4 months to hear anything regarding admission?
I don't know if being waitlisted once will help my chances of getting into any of their other programs or not. I emailed them shortly after the November 1st deadline to find out how long before we will hear anything. And they said they will not be sending out admission offers until at least mid-February!!
I would love to hear from anyone else that has experience with Samuel Merritt's admission process especially from those that were accepted recently. Does anyone know how many applications they receive?
This is a really odd question, but trust me, I have a good reason for asking it.
If I have completed an ADN program but not yet taken NCLEX, can I apply to an Accelerated BSN program at Samuel Merritt, preferably on the Peninsula (San Mateo)?
I know that this is a very bizarre way to do it, but I'm willing to go through clinicals all over again, and go through all of the nursing education again, in order to meet my goal of becoming a military nurse.
The military WILL NOT accept ADNs, RN-BSN online programs, or non CCNE-accredited programs. Now here is the real problem: I am up against the age limit for the military nursing programs. And all of the "on campus" RN-BSN programs in the Bay Area have long waiting lists that will put me beyond this time limit. Another limiting factor is that I am stuck in the SF Bay area due to financial and family issues.
Again, I am aware of the fact that what I am talking about here is going through nursing school ALL OVER AGAIN! which seems insane, I know. (It's OK, I'm a little insane anyway :] ... ) But this is what I want to do. Plus, the Navy will pay me a stipend and GI bill that I can comfortably live on until after 1 year when I will become a Navy Nurse, my true goal and dream.
So, can I "redo" nursing school, or will the BRN or NCSBN or other body see this is "taking up a spot" that someone else could take? Or will a private school like SMC happily take my money if I am crazy enough to retake all of nursing school at the BSN level? Why not?, I say- there are few or no entry level/ new grad jobs right now anyway, and it's better than sitting around at home unemployed or devoted to a fruitless job hunt (which I cannot afford timewise or financially right now). My only job lead right now is to return to the Navy and they told me that I am a strong candidate because I'm willing to deploy, I have points for time served, and I know I like it. As long as they are going to employ me, I'm willing to go into debt for them (something I have never done and would rarely be willing to do for any other reason).
Again, I don't mind how hard I have to work or how much I have to pay for this, I don't mind that I've already completed an ADN progam (it will just give me better and better skills to do it again), and I don't mind that I MIGHT be able to find a civilian nursing job with my ADN degree... I am seeing hospitals specifically asking for BSNs and managers telling me "go get your BSN", etc. And that's fine. I can only learn more and with greater depth by repeating the courses if I am willing to do it.
The only thing I really care about right now is how soon I can get a letter of acceptance into a CCNE-accredited BSN program, apply to the Navy, and then graduate with a BSN. By any means necessary! Take no prisoners! ;]
So- does anyone know (or have an opinion about) whether I can "apply to Samuel Merritt's ABSN program if I already have a BA degree + ASN degree completed" on my transcript? And whether it matters or not if I've taken the NCLEX yet? Is this all just too crazy for anyone to understand?
I will go see a counselor, but I'm posting this to see if anyone has EVER encountered this question before, wondered about it, or asked it themselves!
I realize that I may be the first person to ask this question.
What I hope is that nursing programs will have an open mind with regard to having students come to them from all walks of life, all kinds of situations, with varying goals and paths toward those goals.
mmm33, the ABSN is for BA or BS graduates in a non-nursing degree. I'm sorry, I don't think an ADN will let you qualify for the ABSN program. You may have to just suck it up and do a BSN program.
And believe me, we're all in your boat...waiting to get in somewhere. Glad you at least finished your ADN. Congrats! :spmstmp:
I don't believe any of that matters, but if you don't have a BA or BS degree in something i don't believe you will be eligible to apply to SMU. Best of luck to you.
I do have a BA degree from UC. I also have an ADN. I know it's hard to understand, but I need to get a BSN because the military doesn't give any regard to either my BA or my ADN, and the only program I can finish before I'm too old is Samuel Merritt's ABSN.
I understand this entails doing nursing school all over again and I'm willing to do it.
My question is: will they admit someone who just finished an ADN program (and has a BA from UC?)
To recap:
- I have a BA degree (2004), useless in terms of military nursing.
- I have an ADN (2010), on its own, not qualifying in terms of the military nursing.
- I need a BSN: cannot be online completion program. Must be accredited.
- Most non-online local RN-BSN programs have long waiting lists. I can't wait.
- My personal needs: it must be local, campus-based, accredited, 1 year, reasonably rapid admissions- otherwise I will be too old to join.
- Only program I can come up with is SMC's ABSN. It is an "entry" nursing program, for people who are not RNs. SMC does not have an RN-BSN completion program.
pretty much like the ADN program I completed, but it's at the upper-div level (BSN level which the military requires).
- Yes I realize this is crazy, I'll have to redo clinicals, retake many courses at the upper div level- but I am willing to, I need to, and I am optimistic that I will learn more things on a deeper level and it is a good use of my time and money if it ends in me going back to the Navy and completing my career there.
- I am perfectly willing to go into danger zones, I've been there, done that, etc.
Thanks- again, I know this is very hard to understand- what can I say, I'm "unique"!
Hello all! To all of those attending San Francisco's Nov 2010 cohort, where do you intend to live? Currently I'm in the central valley so I have to move, but I'm trying to decide if I should live as close to campus or maybe look into living in the East Bay...It's cheaper to live in the East Bay but there is some comfort in being close to campus...I'd love to hear some input if anyone has any!
I am in the SF cohort and I am born and raised in the bay area. I currently live in concord and plan to remain there throughout the duration of school. The east bay is cheaper but it is about 30-45 min. to campus and you have to pay bridge toll($6.00/day) if you commute via car. I plan to take bart as often as possible but it isn't all that cheap either. If you can afford to stay close to campus I would recommend it. Unfortunately San Francisco is the most expensive place to live in the bay. if you don't mind me asking have you secured your loans for scholl? I am currently working on that portion.. Hope this info. helped.
Thanks for that. I lived in Berkeley while I did my undergrad that's why I was leaning towards living in the east bay but like you said I would have to pay for toll AND parking or bart...I think in the end I'll decide to live in the city...it might be easier and more convenient in the long run!
I haven't secured loans just yet I think I am going to go through Wells Fargo. I'm taking out the government ones and a private loan. Wells Fargo has the medcap loan which is for students in the medical field. They also have a collegiate loan with a low interest rate.
Did you go to the simpletuition.com website? It kinda helps you just need to know your credit score (which I don't) to know what kind of interest rate you'll get.
Yeah I am actually trying to get approval for the medcap loan through wells fargo. They have asked for a co-signer. I gave them 2 so far and they turned both of them down=( saying they were ineligible. To be quite honest I don't know what they want! My credit score was 713 and that wasn't good enough to secure my loan on my own. It is a true testament to the state of the economy. I own 2 properties and that makes my debt to income to risky for them. I have never had a late payment in my life. No foreclosure, nothing. I have one more person who is gonna try and co-sign for me. If they tell them no I don't know what I'm gonna do!
I live in the east bay (Castro Valley), and intend to live there while in school. Even though the BART commute is about 45 mins, and not exactly cheap, it's much less stressful and cheaper than driving, and you can always read, zone out, sleep, study on BART. My suggestion about housing would be to look into renting a room in an apartment or a house in SF in the mission district if you want to be near campus. But, keep in mind that the clincals are going to be all over the Bay Area, so living near campus will help on the class days, but there will still be commuting involved to our clinical placements. I'm so anxious to know how the schedule works, and where our placements will be...
As far as the loans go, I just met with the financial aid counselor yesterday and definitely feel a little discouraged because of the state of the economy and I know getting loans is tougher than it used to be, and we have to take out so much because we don't qualify for a lot of grants and tuition is so expensive!
Do you guys know what the max amount is that we can borrow for our "alternative loan"? I'm trying to make my budget, and just don't know how it's all going to work out ....
I believe the max we can borrow for the alternative loan is whatever we still need after all federal loans and grants have been subtracted out of the total cost of attendance. After reviewing lenders I went with the wellls fargo medcap loan. Still trying to get approval. They have turned down 2 of my co-signers already. Don't know many people w/ good credit these days or people who are willing to put themselves out on the line for that kind of money. The nice thing is that the co-signer can be removed from the loan after 24 consecutive payments have been made. Still working on it:uhoh3:
. Hope this info. helped.
preeti86
42 Posts
Hello,
Does anybody know about the schedule of classe?