**Samuel Merritt ABSN Summer 2011**

[thebread]

So, who applied?

[persistantmom]

Hi, Congrats on your acceptance. I'm just a persitant mom to a 25 yr old son and he has been decline by SMU several times, He has a degree in Marine biology. I think the reason for the decline is that he has no hospital experience , so I advise him to volunteer. Do you think this helps. Pls. advise on how he can make his application strong to the review panel. I will be very grateful for your advise.

PS. how many time can he reapply?

Thanks.

Carol

[OakRN2B]

I would say it would be VERY helpful to have both a strong community and hospital-related volunteer experience. I don't know where you folks are located but if you're in the East Bay, I know Highland Hospital has an ER volunteer program. He also should make an appointment with one of the counselors in the Admissions Department to help out also. They're very supportive and honest.

[persistantmom]

Thanks so much for your quick response. He checked Highland website and will apply.

[Kbelle19]

Persistentmom, how many times has he applied? What are his other stats? Gpa, teas etc?

[persistantmom]

HI,

He had applied several times since July 2009, he has an average GPA over 3.0. TEAS 86.7. He not discouraged yet as he thinks that most applicant that were accepted are older and have families. He will keep on applying, any advise that will make his applicant stronger will be grealty appreciated. Congrats to all that were accepted. Perseverance does work.

[ilnurse15]

Persistantmom, every year the admissions standards get higher. Please look at the SMU website and they will tell you what the average GPA, TEAS and Science GPAs are. They have been extremely high the past 2 years. I suggest taking additional courses to show that you are constantly trying to improve. If he just keeps reapplying it won't show them that he wants to be better. ( at what I don't know).

I also think he might want to take the summer to get his CNA. This way he gets credit for the GPA bump and experience when he is hired as a CNA. I know several people that have gone this route when applying to these programs.

best of luck

http://www.samuelmerritt.edu/admission/programs

[persistantmom]

Thanks so much ilnurse15. You are right. It's really very competitive . Any more advise from anyone?

[boojum]

Hello,

I am applying to the ABSN for January 2012 and am trying to decide between Sacramento and San Mateo. I currently live in the east bay, so would probably move closer to campus either way. Can anyone offer any advice? Are they equally as competitive? Which area would be cheaper to live in? Thanks

[Star2011]

I'm not sure if one is more competitive than another- but I would assume San Mateo would be the harder campus to get in. Did anyone apply for the San Francisco Fall 2011 start??

[oaktown2]

I have applied for Fall SF. Did you apply as well?

[Becky965]

I also applied for fall SF. Do you guys have any idea when we will hear at least something?

[oaktown2]

I do know that she took the first group of applications to evaluate about 1-2 weeks ago. But I was also told that this batch might take longer (not sure why or if the first batches always take longer.) Not really sure what that translates to in terms of notification time. Anyone else know anything?