I'm new to this site, but have been following the allnurses posts regarding Samuel Merritt program applications religiously for a while now. I recently applied to the ABSN and ELMSN - FNP program for the July 1 deadline. Thought it would be great to have a place to provide insight, stay updated and share experiences with all of you through this terrifying journey. I mean we ONLYYY have to wait until October - November to hear anything. Let the wait begin.....
I volunteer in an ER currently and my letters of rec were from my anatomy and physiology professor, a previous ABSN sac graduate that works as an RN in the ER I volunteer in, and a Samuel Merritt BSN graduate who also works as an RN in the ER I volunteer in.
I think you're fine! During my interview of ELMSN, my interviewer had reiterated that they look at the applicant as a whole, rather than just the grades or experiences or personal statements.
My stats:
Science GPA: 3.7 (pharm and patho in progress)
Last 60: 3.4
I work as a medical assistant and medical scribe and have over 2000 patient care hours. My LOR are from 2 PA's I've worked with, a physiology professor and an anatomy professor to whom I've worked closely for a few years during undergrad.
I think you're fine! During my interview of ELMSN, my interviewer had reiterated that they look at the applicant as a whole, rather than just the grades or experiences or personal statements.
I hope so! I was within all the ranges they have on the Samuel Merritt site for accepted applicants from 2017 but I still haven't heard back and the GPAs are higher for the people who were accepted so far. I opted to retake chemistry this semester (originally got a B, but I took it almost 10 years ago) just in case I don't make it in this round but I'm definitely losing hope for making it in this time with every wave of acceptance letters they send out.
Hey everyone! I've been following this forum for quite a while. Got wait listed for sac last application cycle. Haven't heard anything yet this time. Last time I had 2 classes in progress and no healthcare experience. This time all my prerequisites are done and I have since started working at Kaiser. Let's not lose hope!
I don't know about you guys, but I don't have any hope that there will be more letters sent out today. It seems like they send a batch out in the morning and then wait until the next day? And this is in contrast to last year when it seems like people found out acceptance and rejection letters at the same time.
I was wondering, has anyone heard anything about Chamberlain College? Samuel Merritt is my first choice, but I want to open up other avenues if I have to re-apply. I can't seem to find anyone who has first or second hand knowledge of the program over there. I know it's a traditional BSN track, but if it's a good program, then at least it's another option. I've retaken too many classes to qualify for CSUS. And I have a family and roots here, so I can't move to go to school. If anyone has info, I'd love to hear about it.
I feel like they're releasing decisions as they make them. So decide on a few people per day and send out emails to them the following morning. Maybe that way IT doesn't get swamped with questions all at once? Or admissions doesn't get swamped all at once?
I don't know about you guys, but I don't have any hope that there will be more letters sent out today. It seems like they send a batch out in the morning and then wait until the next day? And this is in contrast to last year when it seems like people found out acceptance and rejection letters at the same time.
I don't have hope that we will hear back today either. But I also doubt that the rest of the letters will go out tomorrow with how many they would have to send out since waitlist and rejection letters haven't gone out at all. But I hope I am wrong and everyone finds out one way or another soon. The wait is brutal and I have already started trying to plan out what to fix for the next application cycle because I am just so down about this round.
I don't have hope that we will hear back today either. But I also doubt that the rest of the letters will go out tomorrow with how many they would have to send out since waitlist and rejection letters haven't gone out at all. But I hope I am wrong and everyone finds out one way or another soon. The wait is brutal and I have already started trying to plan out what to fix for the next application cycle because I am just so down about this round.
It's sad to know that I'm not alone in already trying to figure out how to make the application better for round 2...
I'm already on round 2. I would be on round 3 if I don't get in again. I'm definitely going to look into Chamberlain as well. I know my sister was going to go there. I believe they have a very relaxed admission process and most people get in. Mainly since it's eye-popping expensive and I don't think they do FAFSA. It is 3 years but since we already have a bachelors, maybe it could be cut down to 2 years or 1.5?
The other thing that is difficult is that pretty much everyone has stats that fall within the 50% range of accepted students for the 2017 cohort. That meant that 25% was above and 25% of accepted students were below the stat range given on the website. When I met with admissions back in early 2017, she clearly said that they take people in the lower 3.0 range if they had a good HESI and had other attributes that make them a good candidate. So for everyone who has shared stats, I would have no explanation of why you shouldn't get in. It's perplexing to see past cohorts stats and acceptance/rejections. Sometimes it seems like there's no rhyme or reason to it. I know they must have one, but I don't think it's anything we will be able to pick apart on our own. Still, best of luck to everyone while we wait.
I'm already on round 2. I would be on round 3 if I don't get in again. I'm definitely going to look into Chamberlain as well. I know my sister was going to go there. I believe they have a very relaxed admission process and most people get in. Mainly since it's eye-popping expensive and I don't think they do FAFSA. It is 3 years but since we already have a bachelors, maybe it could be cut down to 2 years or 1.5?
I did call and talk to them a 2 years ago and asked if having my BA would cut it down, they said no. So I didn't continue talking with them.
Based on past stats and what was listed on the Samuel Merritt site I figured I would be good since, like you said MamaKat916, there should be people getting in with lower stats than what I have. Its been a very disheartening process so far and I am glad I am not alone in trying to figure out what I need to do for next time at this point. I just hope that we hear back soon because not knowing what we need to be planning for, with a program start date only a few months away and registration dates coming up for next semester at other colleges, is very nerve wracking.
As far as Chamberlain goes, what I heard is that it is relatively competitive, minimum gpa overall is 3.0 but I was told that competitive overall gpa is above 3.5. It's a new campus so there isn't as much known about how good the program is with clinical sites and hiring once you complete the program. It is another option if you fit the criteria and don't mind not having stats on likeliness of being hired upon graduation (there weren't any when I talked to them because they are still so new).
ceenursing
49 Posts
I think you're fine! During my interview of ELMSN, my interviewer had reiterated that they look at the applicant as a whole, rather than just the grades or experiences or personal statements.
My stats:
Science GPA: 3.7 (pharm and patho in progress)
Last 60: 3.4
I work as a medical assistant and medical scribe and have over 2000 patient care hours. My LOR are from 2 PA's I've worked with, a physiology professor and an anatomy professor to whom I've worked closely for a few years during undergrad.