Samuel Merritt ELMSN-FNP 2010 - Sacramento Applicants

Nursing Students Post Graduate

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Anyone out there applying for this program? Looking for some friends to share the stress of the waiting game with!

Specializes in Pediatrics, Labor & Delivery.

Good luck to all of you applying to the ELMSN-FNP ! I was in your same shoes Summer 2007. It seems so long ago bc there was so much work and rotations! But, I definitely remember all the emotions involved with it. I took the NCLEX Saturday and I found out today officially an RN. Be sure you write an awesome essay and be extroverted in your interview!

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Good luck to all of you applying to the ELMSN-FNP ! I was in your same shoes Summer 2007. It seems so long ago bc there was so much work and rotations! But, I definitely remember all the emotions involved with it. I took the NCLEX Saturday and I found out today officially an RN. Be sure you write an awesome essay and be extroverted in your interview!

Congratulations on clearing the NCLEX, Wishing2beanRN! So are you in the ELMSN-FNP program now?? If so, how is it??

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Labor & Delivery.

good luck to you all! jd2nurse: there's something wrong with the site so i can't read the message you posted. thanks for the congrats. i'm so glad i don't have to do that nclex thign anymore! anyhow, yes, i am currently in the elmsn-fnp program in sacramento,ca. i had actually applied to both the absn and elmsn-fnp. i got into both, but i chose elmsn-fnp. i'm in my 2nd year and the summer semester is pretty ligh right now because we mainly focus on passing the nclex. but, the first year is definitely intense. lots of rotation hours and lots of paper work that goes along with it.

i got into the first batch of interviews in sacramento, which is a good sign. however, if you do not impress them in the interviews, your credentials may not be enough. not enough usually apply to the sac program but they won't just allow anyone in, especially, elmsn-fnp. they actually extended the application deadline when i applied bc they weren't impressed by the pool of applicants.

anyhow, i was actually part of the admission panel for the upcoming elmsn-fnp applicants last summer. it was a bit surreal to be doing it. if you have any questions, feel free to ask. i can't say everything that goes on in the interviews but i can give you tips. i want to be fair to everyone applying, even though those not on these site. =)

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That's exactly what I'm doing! Applications for both ABSN and ELMS went off in the mail today! I think these applications represent the largest amount of work I've ever done on anything similar. Definitely would be interested in any tips you might have! Here's a question to get you started: What are the 5 things you desire an applicant to say/do in the interview? Thanks! Erik

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Labor & Delivery.

Well, as you probably already know, ABSN has no interview. They just base it on your application,NET,and essay. On the other hand, ELMSN-FNP is a group interview, which can be nerve wracking. As for the interview:

1. Dress professional..black can be rather drab..if you wear black, wear some color so you'll stand out amongst everyone else. Because when we debrief afterwards, we often have a hard time remember all the interviewees name.

2. Be CONFIDENT but don't be CONCEITED and think you're better than everyone else. I remember one interviewee who manage to squeeze in "STANFORD" in a majority of her answers and that person didn't get in. Be humble and be yourself.:)

3. Since it is a group interview, have answers that differ from one another. Try not to copy what another person says. Answer intelligently and thoroughly.

4. Be aware of what's happening in healthcare and FNPs right now.

5. RELAX!! SMC have some unorthodox methods in their interview but it's FUN!!! DO NOT be quiet and DO raise your hand to speak because that will go against you. Believe me.

GOOD LUCK to you and everyone else applying. Maybe, I'll be part of the admission panel in August =)

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Specializes in ER; CCT.
it's about 100K excluding rent, books, etc.

Do they at least give you a free coffee mug?

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Labor & Delivery.

Yeah..you would think you with all the tuition they get..they would get a free coffee mug!! BUt, if you get accepted, there's free coffee all the time! :p I think you get a free pen for the interview. :p

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Specializes in ER; CCT.

That's funny. I guess I just don't understand. Why would it cost so much? I think I spent around 3K for my ASN, 10K for my BSN and around 9K for the MSN. I know the ASN was a while back but the BSN/MSN deal was recent.

If I dropped 100K on the deal, wasn't able to work during school, graduated with the same in a tough job market and lucked out landing a 100K/year job, I'm thinking that would be a third of my salary paying back loans for at least 4 years or so. Is that how it pencils out or do they give free grants and things?

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Labor & Delivery.

Yeah, that is definitely the main draw back of the school. $$$$$! But, when it's so difficult to get into a nursing school right now, I'm willing to pay it. Some nursing school have waitling lists, raffling, etc. Some professors at our school even recommend to just take the RN and just leave the school and get your FNP somewhere else that's cheaper. Oh, also all those applying..here's a big tip on saving money. If you take pharmacology and pathology somewhere else that's acceptable to the school (jr.college,etc.), you will SAVE A LOT OF money your first year. I did that. So, your first year won't be as stressful and you can just have the class audited and sit through it.

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Well, as you probably already know, ABSN has no interview. They just base it on your application,NET,and essay. On the other hand, ELMSN-FNP is a group interview, which can be nerve wracking. As for the interview:

1. Dress professional..black can be rather drab..if you wear black, wear some color so you'll stand out amongst everyone else. Because when we debrief afterwards, we often have a hard time remember all the interviewees name.

2. Be CONFIDENT but don't be CONCEITED and think you're better than everyone else. I remember one interviewee who manage to squeeze in "STANFORD" in a majority of her answers and that person didn't get in. Be humble and be yourself.:)

3. Since it is a group interview, have answers that differ from one another. Try not to copy what another person says. Answer intelligently and thoroughly.

4. Be aware of what's happening in healthcare and FNPs right now.

5. RELAX!! SMC have some unorthodox methods in their interview but it's FUN!!! DO NOT be quiet and DO raise your hand to speak because that will go against you. Believe me.

GOOD LUCK to you and everyone else applying. Maybe, I'll be part of the admission panel in August =)

Thank you for all your advice. I am too waiting to hear from SMU ELSMN-FNP (Sacramento Campus). I'm currently taking Patho (UCLA extension), but I was a bit worried taking it now --feeling that I might forget most of the info. before the start of the program (if I get in). After reading your post about taking patho & pharm beforehand, I'm glad I decided to take it now. I've heard such great things about SMU's instructors and campus. I actually went to visit and met w/ another FNP student and she had only positive things to say about SMU. I'm very anxious and nervous, but very excited. Thank you for your post! And good luck in the program!

:)

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Labor & Delivery.

You'll really be grateful for taking patho and/or pharma before you get into SMC. However, be sure you submit your paperwork and tell them immediately you already took the course(s) and would like to be exempted from taking them. One of my classmates missed the deadline eventhough he had already gotten A's in both. So, he had to retake them both again. You'll save almost 3 grand maybe? (tuition keeps going up) And, if you fear you'll be missing out, I just paid about $100 to just sit in class and listen to the lectures of patho and pharma but i wasn't pressured to get an A. And, I still arranged to be in group projects and present eventhough I wasn't getting a grade. Patho and pharma are the hardest classes the first semester. And, you'll be taking more advanced patho/pharma in the graduate track. So, I think the more you are exposed to pharma and patho, the better. =)

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Anybody heard anything about their application/interviews yet??

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