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 !

Hi everyone,

I am new here, just found this thread! I sent my application in November for the ABSN Summer cohort. My 1st choice is Oakland and 2nd San Mateo. I live in the tri-valley so Oakland would be a closer commute. ? Good luck to us all!

Did anyone take Pharm or Patho online through SMU Pre-requisites program? I am just curious!

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Hi Izask1986,

I took both Pharm and Patho this year through SMU. They were both challenging but good.

1
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16 minutes ago, klc said:

Hi Izask1986,

I took both Pharm and Patho this year through SMU. They were both challenging but good.

Thank you for letting me know! I am nervous about taking these classes, even more online... ? Do you have any tips on how to succeed?

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I agree, online can be tricky. I found a couple of YouTuber's very useful...for Patho, ****** ******** and ****** ********* both have complete playlists of Patho lectures. Also, for our class, we were required to create concept maps for certain conditions and I really liked using Lucidchart.

For Pharm, Professor ***** covers quite a few topics. His class is geared for Dental Hygienists but I still found his lectures useful. I would also recommend buying a copy of Davis's Drug Guide for Nurses, I used it a ton throughout the course. It's a bit on the pricey side, but I've heard it's one we'll use in nursing school and beyond. Hope that helps!

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@klc Thank you so much! I will look into the book and videos ?

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On 12/12/2019 at 7:08 PM, Chongcolatealmond said:

No, the bio and chem sections were not in the test at all. It was only sections that SMU needed (math, english, A&P). I would recommend you just taking the Hesi with the school code that will have all the sections you need (as the schools can take the sections which they need). I hope this clarified it a bit lol

Thanks a lot for clearing that up. I only decided and began preparations for ABSN/ ELM MSN last summer and I completed 13 science prereqs in about 11 weeks. CHEM, AP, MICRO. Its so hard juggling life and while pursuing even the admissions process of meeting every schools random checklists.

Im pretty good on tests but I am so invested and of course desperately wanting to get into programs that I am over stressing an already stressful situation. I read amazing resumes and stories with high gpa & test score & healthcare experience which I am striving to follow in their foot steps. I probably wont be able to have great related or volunteer experience because I am barely able to keep up with LA's living costs, accelerated science course time allocation/cost, etc.

I am studying for both HESI and TEAS which I should have to complete within the month and I worry due to my less than favorable application/resume/experiences.

I am getting 90's + on PocketPrep HESI A2
Almost a decade ago, I scored 2100 (1400 equivalence) on my SAT's and having a B.S and background in Finance I am confident with every subject except chemistry biology and A&P. Not confident meaning.... I don't know if I will get near 100% as I am hoping for. I crammed too much in too short of a time so it's hard to excel the way I would like to.

I want to be able to meet every schools deadline and not waste precious time searching through the entire internet for my much needed answers.

I would appreciate all your help. I will purhcase ATI teas practice tests and
I already paid for like 2 or more apps and site like Study.com for HESI but I want to purchase a solid practice test & etc and was thinking of Mometrix
but I dont even know which apps or sites have the most realistic approach to the questions or practice tests.

I find my main three study source; Study.com , PocketPrep, and Hesi A2 greatly differ from each other. And other free questions or quizes I find usually cover the same most basic easy to answer questions. Either the information is the same and over easy or the level of difficulty varies.

I guess I worry alot and I am the type to seek the most direct source of experience, knowledge, advise/wisdom otherwise I will not be able to calm down and stop being so anxious.

So if anyone knows information, have advice, or very useful study materials/suggestion It would be such a blessing. I know theres all these youtubers and internet presence writing their stories or talking about this but I have navigated through everything Nurse related over and over again and I end up back where I started with more worries and more questions.

I rambled on and forgot to mention one of my main priority which is to find all viable A&P 2 accelerated programs other than those provided by SCUHS. I originally planned to apply to MSN programs but adjusted my strategy to include every a-bsn program which requires Science Prerequisites to be completed by the application deadline. Im cutting it close as it is but SCUHS for some reason is having a funky schedule with A&P 2 ending february but the LAB allocated in March/April.

Amongst the absn and elm programs, CSUN is one of the more financially friendly of a choice and I wouldnt want to miss it!

I apologize for not revising and writing a long whiny rant here but Im sure someone could empathisize and use this information as well.

Many California Nurse programs have application deadlines and requirements that are opposite and not aligned at all as if it was purposely made that way for perhaps "obvious" reasons, that makes each school more independent in their application periods and process. So many posts talk about accelerated courses and after many hours and day revisiting this topic, I see nothing but un answered questions or advice to take online lab course which does not help an applicant from LA where every school rejects online labs even if credited from UC or Ivy league extension programs.

I had no idea theres such competition and Im guessing its more so in our state. I dont want to over describe myself but to give a little background in case someone chimes in... I gradauted 3.0 gpa with a B.S in Finance from a US TOP 50 University and have worked myself to near death my whole life and had until recently a very successful career/business/life. "off topic" I once saw a information letter while taking a summer chemistry course at LACC and the loan ammount printed for a potential freshmen student at lacc was over $30,000. That and with internet not being the internet I remember it and am used to is making this journey of mine all the more difficult especially when attempting to do so in a 6 month period, applying to every Nursing program possible. I keep trying to make time to have some extra curricular or hospital volunteer hours but I don't know how that would be possible as a self supporting independent dealing with inflation and insane rent and living costs.


This long winded rant is strongly influenced by my frustration at how hard things are today in comparison because admissions may or will not take into account social aspects and changes which make it difficult to compete with those who are blesssed and have allocated enough time and comfort to study at good pace, have the perfect entry level experiences, retake courses and etc to better present their applications. I like how Samuel Merritt instructs to explain less than favorable grades and what not. That one sentence gave me the idea of approaching every school in such voice so that I am not underestimated or overlooked as average, lacking, or lazy but quite the opposite.


Even if this get zero replies, I feel better having vented and let out thoughts that have been boiling for the past 6 months. Anyways, Thanks if you decide to reach out and God Bless! Merry Christmas! T.T

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1 hour ago, 80zbaby said:

Thanks a lot for clearing that up. I only decided and began preparations for ABSN/ ELM MSN last summer and I completed 13 science prereqs in about 11 weeks. CHEM, AP, MICRO. Its so hard juggling life and while pursuing even the admissions process of meeting every schools random checklists.

Im pretty good on tests but I am so invested and of course desperately wanting to get into programs that I am over stressing an already stressful situation. I read amazing resumes and stories with high gpa & test score & healthcare experience which I am striving to follow in their foot steps. I probably wont be able to have great related or volunteer experience because I am barely able to keep up with LA's living costs, accelerated science course time allocation/cost, etc.

I am studying for both HESI and TEAS which I should have to complete within the month and I worry due to my less than favorable application/resume/experiences.

I am getting 90's + on PocketPrep HESI A2
Almost a decade ago, I scored 2100 (1400 equivalence) on my SAT's and having a B.S and background in Finance I am confident with every subject except chemistry biology and A&P. Not confident meaning.... I don't know if I will get near 100% as I am hoping for. I crammed too much in too short of a time so it's hard to excel the way I would like to.

I want to be able to meet every schools deadline and not waste precious time searching through the entire internet for my much needed answers.

I would appreciate all your help. I will purhcase ATI teas practice tests and
I already paid for like 2 or more apps and site like Study.com for HESI but I want to purchase a solid practice test & etc and was thinking of Mometrix
but I dont even know which apps or sites have the most realistic approach to the questions or practice tests.

I find my main three study source; Study.com , PocketPrep, and Hesi A2 greatly differ from each other. And other free questions or quizes I find usually cover the same most basic easy to answer questions. Either the information is the same and over easy or the level of difficulty varies.

I guess I worry alot and I am the type to seek the most direct source of experience, knowledge, advise/wisdom otherwise I will not be able to calm down and stop being so anxious.

So if anyone knows information, have advice, or very useful study materials/suggestion It would be such a blessing. I know theres all these youtubers and internet presence writing their stories or talking about this but I have navigated through everything Nurse related over and over again and I end up back where I started with more worries and more questions.

I rambled on and forgot to mention one of my main priority which is to find all viable A&P 2 accelerated programs other than those provided by SCUHS. I originally planned to apply to MSN programs but adjusted my strategy to include every a-bsn program which requires Science Prerequisites to be completed by the application deadline. Im cutting it close as it is but SCUHS for some reason is having a funky schedule with A&P 2 ending february but the LAB allocated in March/April.

Amongst the absn and elm programs, CSUN is one of the more financially friendly of a choice and I wouldnt want to miss it!

I apologize for not revising and writing a long whiny rant here but Im sure someone could empathisize and use this information as well.

Many California Nurse programs have application deadlines and requirements that are opposite and not aligned at all as if it was purposely made that way for perhaps "obvious" reasons, that makes each school more independent in their application periods and process. So many posts talk about accelerated courses and after many hours and day revisiting this topic, I see nothing but un answered questions or advice to take online lab course which does not help an applicant from LA where every school rejects online labs even if credited from UC or Ivy league extension programs.

I had no idea theres such competition and Im guessing its more so in our state. I dont want to over describe myself but to give a little background in case someone chimes in... I gradauted 3.0 gpa with a B.S in Finance from a US TOP 50 University and have worked myself to near death my whole life and had until recently a very successful career/business/life. "off topic" I once saw a information letter while taking a summer chemistry course at LACC and the loan ammount printed for a potential freshmen student at lacc was over $30,000. That and with internet not being the internet I remember it and am used to is making this journey of mine all the more difficult especially when attempting to do so in a 6 month period, applying to every Nursing program possible. I keep trying to make time to have some extra curricular or hospital volunteer hours but I don't know how that would be possible as a self supporting independent dealing with inflation and insane rent and living costs.


This long winded rant is strongly influenced by my frustration at how hard things are today in comparison because admissions may or will not take into account social aspects and changes which make it difficult to compete with those who are blesssed and have allocated enough time and comfort to study at good pace, have the perfect entry level experiences, retake courses and etc to better present their applications. I like how Samuel Merritt instructs to explain less than favorable grades and what not. That one sentence gave me the idea of approaching every school in such voice so that I am not underestimated or overlooked as average, lacking, or lazy but quite the opposite.


Even if this get zero replies, I feel better having vented and let out thoughts that have been boiling for the past 6 months. Anyways, Thanks if you decide to reach out and God Bless! Merry Christmas! T.T

Hi! I can feel your frustration (and totally relate). Honestly, for the longest I have pursued nursing on and off since I started my undergrad (received my degree in 2016). It took me three solid years to finally make things happen. There are so many things that I have done that I regret, but also so many lessons I have learned that are very priceless. I hope I can help you feel less frustrated as I've learned quite a few things through this process. Most labs have to be in class, so I say if you can afford it please take it at a city college (they have options for night classes, it's very rare that they would take an online lab, plus I took an A&P course that had the lecture online and lab in class that might work better for you). Also, there are Facebook groups dedicated to studying for the TEAS and HESI A2. I found them extremely resourceful as the groups acted like a study group and support group. I know living cost is extremely high in LA and there are quite a few absn programs here in norcal (where I reside). Please look into CSU Stanislaus, the central valley is quite affordable and the program isn't pricey either. I felt like giving up so many times , as I am not an ideal candidate. I have experiences, but I don't quite have the superb grades. But, if I never try I will continue living with regrets. So please don't give up. In the words of maya Angelou "we may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated". Merry Christmas and wishing you all the best !!

Ps. I made like a list of schools with their requirements (some have point matrix available, due dates for application, recommended teas/HESI score, etc) and just planned out which schools to knock out first during application season. With most CSU , you would have to apply to the school first then apply to the program during their "cycle" ( yes 2 apps for one school, extremely chaotic). Some of these CSU use nursingcas while some do the old fashion way (just gotta find out so you know what to expect, nursingcas is extremely easy to use. if you have multiple programs that use nursingcas you can easily add the programs into the nursingcas application and do it all on that platform). Best of luck to you.

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On 12/11/2019 at 12:17 PM, laifalove said:

Did anyone who applied to San Mateo as first choice NOT get a confirmation email from SMU? In other threads I've read that some campuses are better about contacting you than others. I got a confirmation email from SMU for the ELMSN at Oakland, but haven't seen anything for the ABSN and I submitted both at the same time. Everything was verified by NursingCAS too. I put San Mateo as my first two choices (there are two start dates) and Oakland was my third choice, so I wonder if that's why?

Hey there! I wouldn't freak out. I applied to San Mateo for the earlier start date and haven't gotten anything either. I applied last cycle and didn't get any emails until the preliminary review about a month later. Just shoot admissions an email to verify if you want :) Good luck to you!

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Just got my preliminary review complete email yesterday (1/21). I applied to both the ABSN and ELMSN programs, and the subject header referenced both programs. Email was very simple, just said it was complete at this time and not to contact or it'll delay things.

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Hi Everyone!

Thank you for starting this thread. At this point we have all applied for the Summer 2020 cohort. Good luck to all of you!

Has anyone heard about when we will hear back from them? I have heard that it will be some time in March but I wasn't sure if that was accurate.

Thank you!

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Specializes in Medical Device.

Hi Rachel,

From the Samuel Merritt ABSN summer 2018 thred it sounds like in 2018 decisions started to go out the first week of Feb, and in 2017 it was around Feb. 24th. So it could be soon hopefully?

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Hello everyone,

In the 'Checklist' tab on the SMU Admitted Student Portal, it says "your application is being reviewed" so I'm wondering when the next update will be. I also applied for the ELMSN FNP Fall 2020 program and checked the "Samuel Merritt ELMSN FNP FALL 2020 Oakland" forum, and noticed someone received a preliminary review email.

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