Samuel Merritt BSN program waiting list

blkgurlwithwings · May 29, 2007

All I know is that that take in 50 per school, but some of those spaces (approx 7) are reserved for Holy Names (?) students.

Can someone please explain to me why SMC is such a great school? Convince me to shell out $48K!!!!!!!!!!!

Rianna1 · May 30, 2007

Hi Blkgrlwithwings, I've applied to 2 nursing programs so far and was rejected for one and the other I am number 194 on the wait list which means I have 0 chance of getting in. If I were to get into a SMC program (will be applying this year for 2008) I would definitely shell out the $50K for the education because the competition in the bay area to get into a program is so fierce that it is worth shelling it out unless you're lucky enough to get accepted into a state school or an ADN program. Also, time is money and SMC's ABSN program is for 1 year and some people can't afford to not work full time for very long. I know one person graduating from the ABSN program and right now he is looking for an employer to help pay out his loans from going to SMC. The way I look at it, if I get a BSN and graduate with a 50K loan, you get a grace period of paying back that loan and interest rates are pretty low for student loans. Then, I can go back and get a Master's and have my employer help pay for the education expenses all the while the loan doesn't have to be paid until I'm completely out of school. By then with a Master's (here's hoping) a $50K loan doesn't seem so much.

blkgurlwithwings · May 30, 2007

Thanks for your response. I've been trying to figure out what to do. I got accepted to 2 of the 4 schools I applied to and am #154 on the waiting list for Contra Costa. Gotta love California! The other school (a private school in Mass with a class of 30) denied me. I didn't list them as my first choice. Maybe I should have, but was unsure. Making this decision seems so hard to me all of a sudden, but I guess I am lucky to have options. I thought I knew what I was going to do. Whenever I mention the ABSN at SMC, people say congrats and act all excited. I get the feeling that some would gnaw off their right arm to get into this school, and I just didn't get it. It seems like a greedy institution to me...to be honest, and I felt like a number. I just didn't know what the big deal was since I was willing to move and didn't want a 2 year program. Your explanation makes sense. I should be turning cartwheels. I'm thinking that I will just accept my slot on Friday! Thanks for the insight. Anyone else accepted to SF campus at Samuel Merritt ABSN Fall 07???? Let's talk.

SoCali1234 · May 31, 2007

Hi Blkgrlwithwings! Congrats on getting into Sam Merritt. I also got in and am definately going. It is really expensive, but we'll be working as RNs in only 1 year. Have you decided if you're going yet?

blkgurlwithwings · Jun 1, 2007

well i'm dropping my deposit off tomorrow...so I'm most likely going to go. It may turn out to be simpler than a move and everything. Come March next year I'll be in the thick of it thinking...why didn't I do the 9th program at the other school!!!!!

Rianna1 · Jun 1, 2007

Hi, I wish you guys well in the program!

blkgurlwithwings · Jun 3, 2007

Thanks, and best of luck to you.

spiffy06 · Jun 4, 2007

Congratulations blkgrlwithwings and socali1234 on getting in!!! I will also be applying to their ABSN program. If you don't mind me asking, what are your statistics in terms of GPA and NET scores? What other things do they look for? Any other advice you can give me would be great. I'm dying to get in to SMC!!!!

SoCali1234 · Jun 5, 2007

Thanks Spiffy! Good luck on getting in, it was certainly my first choice. My undergraduate GPA was horribly low at 2.8 so I worked my butt off in the nursing pre-reqs and got straight As. I volunteered in the ER for 3 months then got my EMT certification. I've been working as an EMT for only about 3 months now. I was also leader of a couple clubs in college, worked really hard on my essay, and scored in the 98th percentile on the NET. Samuel Merritt is competitive, but not impossible to get into. I wish you luck!

blkgurlwithwings · Jun 5, 2007

My undergrad was 3.08. I graduated with a BS in 91 and had no medical experience and very little volunteer experience. I mention this because one of the essays you will write for entrance deals with volunteerism. My new grade point is 4.0 and includes do overs of a Psych 101, Sociology, Critical English, all the sciences, etc. I took Med term 1 and 2 which actually helped from time to time. Now I am registered to take Pharm and Patho. My Net was like 89% Composite with 93% in math 85% in Science and 77% written (which was shocking). I would have guessed it would be the other way around. There is no interview, so I guess it's just the essay. Get a copy of the application and start working on it---your letters, etc. I'd get volunteer experience and really sell yourself. Let them know why they'd be stupid not to pick you. best of luck!

amzyRN · Jun 5, 2007

Thanks for your response. I've been trying to figure out what to do. I got accepted to 2 of the 4 schools I applied to and am #154 on the waiting list for Contra Costa. Gotta love California! The other school (a private school in Mass with a class of 30) denied me. I didn't list them as my first choice. Maybe I should have, but was unsure. Making this decision seems so hard to me all of a sudden, but I guess I am lucky to have options. I thought I knew what I was going to do. Whenever I mention the ABSN at SMC, people say congrats and act all excited. I get the feeling that some would gnaw off their right arm to get into this school, and I just didn't get it. It seems like a greedy institution to me...to be honest, and I felt like a number. I just didn't know what the big deal was since I was willing to move and didn't want a 2 year program. Your explanation makes sense. I should be turning cartwheels. I'm thinking that I will just accept my slot on Friday! Thanks for the insight. Anyone else accepted to SF campus at Samuel Merritt ABSN Fall 07???? Let's talk.

I got in to the ABSN S.F. campus also for fall 2007. I think I also got into NYU and will find out soon. If I got into NYU, I'll have a tough time deciding where to go. I don't want to move, but the school is a little more well known. Do you know anything about NYU? Congrats to you though! If I do decide to go to SMC, looking forward to seeing you at one of the new student events. Take care,

jzzy88