Samuel Merritt ABSN Summer 2020

Nursing Students School Programs

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Hi All,

I didn't see a thread for the Samuel Merritt ABSN summer 2020 cohort and just wanted to start one, as I know most of us are in the process of applying right now. I applied to the Sacramento campus, but am currently waitlisted. I just wanted to see if anyone has any recommendations on how to be more competitive aside from GPA (as I am going to retake some courses to up my GPAs). I love that Samuel Merritt looks at applicants holistically. Please share the wisdom , whether you are applying or you are already in the program. Thank you and have a blessed day !

Hey all,

Oakland May cohort here with a few questions and a request:

1. I heard there was some kind of an admitted student town hall regarding questions and concerns around covid 19 and how it could impact the program. Did anyone go to that? How did you hear about it?

2. What is the best place for us to check on communication about all of this? I looked at the covid link on their website, but didn't see any town hall news there. I never got any email about it, and saw nothing on the accepted student portal. (Full transparency, I have yet to get into my smu email)

3. Request: I am starting to feel a bit overwhelmed with all of the enrollment steps and websites we need to be monitoring/set up and am concerned that I might be missing something because it feels like the checklist on the accepted student portal is not the complete picture. If someone doesn't mind to just message me and let me know the complete list of what you have done for enrollment, I would be so very grateful! I just need to connect with at least one other student in this cohort to check in with.

Thanks all!!

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Current student so I have some insight - not all. First thing first, get into your SMU email. It is literally your lifeline to the university, especially at this point. Literally make that the very next thing you do.
1. There are updates on the town halls. There will be more with answers to the questions via email.
2. Yes, there are lots of portals. Don’t worry - faculty/staff will help you with questions. Notifications for anything incomplete will come via SMU email.

I would be willing to bet most of your concerns get resolved by getting into your email. If, once you’ve done that, you still have questions or feel like you’re missing something and don’t know where to go - personal message me and I’ll send you my SMU email and do my best to get you connected with the people you need!!

CONGRATS on admission ?

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29 minutes ago, NurseRojas said:

Hey all,

Oakland May cohort here with a few questions and a request:

1. I heard there was some kind of an admitted student town hall regarding questions and concerns around covid 19 and how it could impact the program. Did anyone go to that? How did you hear about it?

2. What is the best place for us to check on communication about all of this? I looked at the covid link on their website, but didn't see any town hall news there. I never got any email about it, and saw nothing on the accepted student portal. (Full transparency, I have yet to get into my smu email)

3. Request: I am starting to feel a bit overwhelmed with all of the enrollment steps and websites we need to be monitoring/set up and am concerned that I might be missing something because it feels like the checklist on the accepted student portal is not the complete picture. If someone doesn't mind to just message me and let me know the complete list of what you have done for enrollment, I would be so very grateful! I just need to connect with at least one other student in this cohort to check in with.

Thanks all!!

Not in the May Oakland cohort, but I was accepted into the June SM cohort and received an email through my SMU email that our start date has been deferred until November. I would advise you to set up your SMU email and check your inbox!

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Specializes in Hygienist.
43 minutes ago, Cpowers129 said:

Current student so I have some insight - not all. First thing first, get into your SMU email. It is literally your lifeline to the university, especially at this point. Literally make that the very next thing you do.
1. There are updates on the town halls. There will be more with answers to the questions via email.
2. Yes, there are lots of portals. Don’t worry - faculty/staff will help you with questions. Notifications for anything incomplete will come via SMU email.

I would be willing to bet most of your concerns get resolved by getting into your email. If, once you’ve done that, you still have questions or feel like you’re missing something and don’t know where to go - personal message me and I’ll send you my SMU email and do my best to get you connected with the people you need!!

CONGRATS on admission ?

I have had no luck getting a hold of any admissions counselor from Oakland regarding the May cohort. I received an acceptance phone call from Anne Seed, informing me that I should receive an email for the next steps but so far, no emails.

I have since called and emailed her and zero replies. I’m hoping perhaps you may have a way to get a response on whether I’ll get an email confirmation of my acceptance, and the next steps, or I’ll just have to sit and wait. Any info you can give me will be appreciated!!

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12 hours ago, Surfarama said:

I have had no luck getting a hold of any admissions counselor from Oakland regarding the May cohort. I received an acceptance phone call from Anne Seed, informing me that I should receive an email for the next steps but so far, no emails.

I have since called and emailed her and zero replies. I’m hoping perhaps you may have a way to get a response on whether I’ll get an email confirmation of my acceptance, and the next steps, or I’ll just have to sit and wait. Any info you can give me will be appreciated!!

Unfortunately, I don't have anyone or anywhere specific to send you, I am sorry. I am not as familiar with the Oakland personnel as I am attending the Sacramento campus. Additionally, current students are not being updated on admissions for your class so I just don't have that info.

If I were you, I would look to connect with another person who has been accepted to the Oakland Cohort and see what information they have - maybe they have a name/number you could continue to try. Or, look up some other folks on the website and send them some inquiry emails. With the offices closed, certain jobs may be reassigned (thats a guess, again I don't have access to how those departments are operating).

I would also try looking at the admitted student portal - those credentials are not issued by the school and should be ones you set up. That portal is where your acceptance "check list" is and should have a bit more information for you.

Best of luck.

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Thanks again all! I got into my SMU email (May Oakland cohort) and if you haven't yet, I would highly encourage anyone with questions to make sure that is the first thing you do. We got an email yesterday stating that they are looking into whether or not we will be able to start on time, given that no hospitals are accepting nursing students in them right now, given the pandemic and shortage of PPE. They want us to be able to start and finish within the 12 month time frame. They did offer to anyone that doesn't want to wait and see about this time frame, that we can defer to a later term (For example, San Mateo has a September and a January start term), but would need to contact them to request so.

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19 minutes ago, NurseRojas said:

Thanks again all! I got into my SMU email (May Oakland cohort) and if you haven't yet, I would highly encourage anyone with questions to make sure that is the first thing you do. We got an email yesterday stating that they are looking into whether or not we will be able to start on time, given that no hospitals are accepting nursing students in them right now, given the pandemic and shortage of PPE. They want us to be able to start and finish within the 12 month time frame. They did offer to anyone that doesn't want to wait and see about this time frame, that we can defer to a later term (For example, San Mateo has a September and a January start term), but would need to contact them to request so.

Are you sure San Mateo has a September term? From what I see at the Registar's site, it is Sacramento that has a September term and the next term after June is November in San Mateo. I say this are someone in the June cohort that is getting pushed back to November.

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Oops! Sorry, I meant a November San Mateo start. Thanks for the correction!

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Hey guys, not sure if everyone saw the update on the SMU website. Looks like June ABSN San Mateo is getting pushed back to November. Other programs have been impacted too. Such a bummer!!

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1 hour ago, Ali A. Flores said:

Hey guys, not sure if everyone saw the update on the SMU website. Looks like June ABSN San Mateo is getting pushed back to November. Other programs have been impacted too. Such a bummer!!

That is a bummer for you folks, sorry to hear it. BUT, now you have a little more time to prepare!

Some advice from a current student: If you happen to still be working, start to stack your savings if possible. Very few people in my class are working during the program, so having a little more savings helps take your mind off finances so you can focus on school.

If you took pharm and pathology online, I would go back and review those topics. For Pharm - don't try to memorize every drug but it'd help if you were decent at the classes of drugs. It's not necessary, but it would be helpful. For Patho - GO BACK AND REVIEW.

If its been a while since you took anatomy and physiology, go review that too. Khan academy and Crash Course on Youtube provides some great instruction. Getting through the amount of material in the accelerated program will be much easier if you don't have to go back and review as much while in the program.

Like I said, none of this is necessary - but if I could speak to myself from a few months ago that is the advice I'd give myself.

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Specializes in New Grad RN.
2 hours ago, Cpowers129 said:

That is a bummer for you folks, sorry to hear it. BUT, now you have a little more time to prepare!

Some advice from a current student: If you happen to still be working, start to stack your savings if possible. Very few people in my class are working during the program, so having a little more savings helps take your mind off finances so you can focus on school.

If you took pharm and pathology online, I would go back and review those topics. For Pharm - don't try to memorize every drug but it'd help if you were decent at the classes of drugs. It's not necessary, but it would be helpful. For Patho - GO BACK AND REVIEW.

If its been a while since you took anatomy and physiology, go review that too. Khan academy and Crash Course on Youtube provides some great instruction. Getting through the amount of material in the accelerated program will be much easier if you don't have to go back and review as much while in the program.

Like I said, none of this is necessary - but if I could speak to myself from a few months ago that is the advice I'd give myself.

Super helpful! Thank you for the advice and reminder to review. It’s been a while since I’ve taken these classes so I’m a little concerned. I will start reviewing ASAP! Thank you ?

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2 hours ago, aheld said:

Super helpful! Thank you for the advice and reminder to review. It’s been a while since I’ve taken these classes so I’m a little concerned. I will start reviewing ASAP! Thank you ?

aheld, don’t be too concerned - I’m just trying to give you guys helpful study spots to focus on during the wait time. When you get in the program, if you’re rusty on a prerequisite topic, you’ll be able to use some of the resources in your books - it’s just helpful time-wise to not have to do that as often.
Go back and get a basic refresher of that stuff. Like..know the 3 basic layers of skin, but if you forgot about the stratum lucidum - you’ll be alright. You picking up what I’m putting down?

Also, I’d look into practicing and finding some enjoyable hobbies or stress relief activities. The students doing the best seem to be those who can focus when it’s time, but also know when it’s time to say enough and get into some recreation or leisure. Just my 2 cents.

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