To all perspective SMC ABSN San Mateo Summer 09 students:
As the Nov 01 application deadline approaches, we should be at least finishing up with our application; some of us may have already mailed it out. Congratulations on taking an important step toward a successful nursing career!
I'm going to mail out my application this week. Currently taking English 1B and patho, I'll take speech and sociology next quarter. Life is not as hectic as when I was taking A&P and chem classes; attending both lecture and lab is so time-consuming. Now I can go zumba-ing 3-4 times a week at Clubone in San Jose. Life as a pre-nursing student is still good, even though I'm not contributing to my 401k.
Please use this thread to get to know each other, to prepare ourselves for the rigorous ABSN program, and to help each other succeed. Why? Because it's in giving that we're receiving!
hmmm. I didn't get the email that fall app deadline is extended! but that is good to know - thanks for the info. Now the challenge will be to find a microbiology class that is offered over the summer. The only classes in Cali are offered spring and fall. I may have to go out of state. If only they had let me know in time, I could have taken the spring course. Especially since their own advisor approved my pre-req.
I took the Pharm class at Barstow Community College and I would NOT recommend it! First of all it's only 8 weeks - way to short to cram in all that info. 2nd of all, the teacher I had was not present at all. The most present was when she accused us of cheating. The attitude from her was very mean. I took Patho at Santa Barbara City College and it was excellent. SBCC uses Blackboard, a very sophiticated means of online class communication. The teacher was fantastic (J. Slaughter), and I learned a lot. The courses at SBCC are a normal 12-week session, which is a much more reasonable pace at which to learn Pharm...Good luck!!
StarBelly, I don't know where you live, but there are several community colleges in the Bay Area that teach Micro in the summer (Skyline, College of San Mateo, the Peralta community colleges in Oakland, CCSF).
Good luck! I would think you could get into a summer micro class without having to go out of state.
I took Microbiology at Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill, CA last summer over a 6 week period. Not sure if they are offering it again this summer.
SFChef, RN2B, RN Hopeful: Thank you!!!!! I'm up in Sonoma county and will be working full-time, so I really need an online course. I will definitely check out the schools you suggested. That's very helpful.
Hi all! I'm new here and greatly appreciate all the information posted. Congrats to all who got it! I received my acceptance letter from the San Mateo campus last Friday.
Anyone having second thoughts about attending? I was reading other threads from students in the program about how disorganized the school can be and no show instructors at clinicals? ahh...As you all know tuition, is very expensive. I would expect better quality instruction and staff. Anyone having second thoughts?
Any current students in the program with thoughts/advice? Is it worth it? Please help advise.
Hi all! I'm new here and greatly appreciate all the information posted. Congrats to all who got it! I received my acceptance letter from the San Mateo campus last Friday.
Anyone having second thoughts about attending? I was reading other threads from students in the program about how disorganized the school can be and no show instructors at clinicals? ahh...As you all know tuition, is very expensive. I would expect better quality instruction and staff. Anyone having second thoughts?
Any current students in the program with thoughts/advice? Is it worth it? Please help advise.
I think all schools have negatives. I have been accepted to Oakland and the MOUNT in Los Angeles and am on an alt list for a free program in Tucson. I am praying I get there. The tuition is very expensive and I don't want to get into debt. I have been a volunteer at John Muir and see a lot of SM students. I always bug them and ask them questions. The general concept is that the school isn't perfect but they are happy with it . The clinical instructors that I have seen ,,, are excellent. I was really impressed... I have a big decision to make. I know how hard it is. The MOUNT in Los Angeles has the same rep down there and there does seem to be more jobs,, Still the pay is 25 % lower and housing through the roof but I guess the same as the san fran bay area. I live in east contra costa county and have a low mortgage so it seems a lot to me... If one could get a job right after in the san fran bay area then it wouldn't be so bad , but now jobs are next to impossible here.. In Arizona they cut the accepted students in half because a sponsor hospital pulled out. I guess timing is everything... I know all will work out,,,,, but I agree the tuition is scary and when you are middle aged... I can't believe I am there but it makes it even harder to think of that many more years of student loans....
Anyone having second thoughts about attending? I was reading other threads from students in the program about how disorganized the school can be and no show instructors at clinicals? ahh...As you all know tuition, is very expensive. I would expect better quality instruction and staff. Anyone having second thoughts?
Absolutely! I am having second thoughts every other day now. I didn't want to put out negativities but I thought it's better to put it out on the table now than regret it.
Every school has negatives, but if you are paying $2000/yr for CC or even $10000/yr for CSU, you would work it out somehow. We are talking $50000/yr here! You wouldn't pay extra $48000 and be content with the same service anywhere else. I have felt that some CCs are more organized and they do handle the same or possibly more number of applications. You'd think they can afford more people to sort out the administration without sending unnecessary letters to remind us of FAFSA "AFTER" its due date.
The post of a current student about clinical instructor not showing up is quite disturbing. They do seem to be only interested in collecting money and not following through.
Plus the job market...
SMU alone is producing 350ABSN, 100(?)reg.BSN, 100-150MSN graduates per year. Each CC in the Bay Area(and there are many) graduates 100-120ASN per year, plus CSUs, UCs, USF... Is that enough nurses or what?
I know that I, and many of my classmates, could not give SMC a whole hearted endorsement. The incompetence of the administration is constant and you should not expect to get anything unless you advocate hard for it. In their defense they have improved the program significantly according to previous classes. In general the instructors were good, although I can't forgive them for a couple of the people they foisted on us. Best of all were my classmates. The people in the ABSN program were smart, fun, and there to learn. I think that the one year program is tough, but reasonable. I can't say how it stacks up to the CCs, but my impression is that of the ABSN programs it is one of the worst run.
Jobs in the bay area are also hard to come by. Half of my class still does not have a job despite months of looking. This is a new development as of the last 6 months. UCSF and some other hospitals canceled their new grad programs altogether this spring. Hopefully the market will improve again, but there is no shortage of new grads here. I recently dropped off my resume where 150 people had applied for 10 openings that weren't advertised. A friend was part of a pool of 1000 people applying for 15 advertised positions.
I too have been accepted to the San Mateo ABSN for Spring of 09 and have reservations about it after reading all of the negative posts. I am excited to about starting the program and would like to find out how many other people on here are in the same class. Maybe we can start an email chain if that hasn't already been started or facebook group for support. Just a thought.
By the way, I live in Sacramento and was on the waitlist at #13 and got down to #6 but didn't get in for Jan 09. So if you are on the waitlist, be positive that if you are about 8 spots back, you might have a very good shot especially with the economy being really bad.
Hi all, I too have gotten into the June ABSN class at SMU. I am wondering what people think about getting a smart phone to use through the program, a student in the program reccomended I get one and I am wondering what others think, and which phone people recommend.
Also I have talked to a few students who think the program is a great program and they feel well prepared.
StarBelly
45 Posts
2lRoberts:
hmmm. I didn't get the email that fall app deadline is extended! but that is good to know - thanks for the info. Now the challenge will be to find a microbiology class that is offered over the summer. The only classes in Cali are offered spring and fall. I may have to go out of state. If only they had let me know in time, I could have taken the spring course. Especially since their own advisor approved my pre-req.
Good luck to you as well.