Samuel Merritt University ABSN Fall 2023

U.S.A. California

Published

Hi everyone. I wanted to start a discussion about the ABSN Samuel Merritt program for Fall 2023. I have applied to the Sacramento campus and hoping to get accepted. has anyone else applied? or be in the program I would love to hear more about it. 

LeeroyJenkins said:

 

I was watching the application process for Summer 2023.  The application deadline got moved from December to February at that time.  At the time I guessed that they're having issues filling the cohort because of that.  Now the deadline for Fall 2023 gets moved back AND HESI/TEAS are optional now.  Plus I just got called with an offer to move my application from Fall to start in the Summer cohort.  

I got offered the same for San Mateo but I declined. Did you hear anything when you declined their offer? I emailed them saying no but did not hear anything back about my application for fall still being OK.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Student.
Absnnursingstudent123 said:

I got offered the same for San Mateo but I declined. Did you hear anything when you declined their offer? I emailed them saying no but did not hear anything back about my application for fall still being OK.

I actually just declined today.  The May 1st start date was too last minute for me to wrap everything up to start school.  I'm holding out for Fall.  My guess is that your application for Fall should be unchanged.  If you accepted they would be pulling your application from that pool for the Summer vs. doing nothing if you didn't' accept.

iNP said:

Oh wow I did see that the HESI/TEAS was optional too but congratulations on the offer to start sooner!! you applied for the Sac campus or San Mateo? 

I applied for San Mateo only.  Got a house and family so San Mateo/Oakland are my only choices.  Oakland doesn't have the Fall start which I am looking for.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
LeeroyJenkins said:

I actually just declined today.  The May 1st start date was too last minute for me to wrap everything up to start school.  I'm holding out for Fall.  My guess is that your application for Fall should be unchanged.  If you accepted they would be pulling your application from that pool for the Summer vs. doing nothing if you didn't' accept.

I applied for San Mateo only.  Got a house and family so San Mateo/Oakland are my only choices.  Oakland doesn't have the Fall start which I am looking for.

That is what I was thinking also. But I declined two weeks and never heard anything back them

Up Vote Up Vote ×

hi all,

I also applied to the sacramento campus. I'm going kinda crazy waiting for news (I received my preliminary review email on April 11 and nothing since) but I'm also now pretty nervous hearing all of this! I don't think I'd decline if offered admission as I don't have any other options for this term, but I'm definitely worried. 

has anyone already looked into financial aid options? are we just supposed to take out $100k in private loans?! the max federal amount is $12.5k and the scholarships I see are like, $2k at the most so it wouldn't make much of a difference...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Student.
Absnnursingstudent123 said:

That is what I was thinking also. But I declined two weeks and never heard anything back them

I actually got a reply back that I'll remain in the Fall pool.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Student.
summersquash said:

hi all,

I also applied to the sacramento campus. I'm going kinda crazy waiting for news (I received my preliminary review email on April 11 and nothing since) but I'm also now pretty nervous hearing all of this! I don't think I'd decline if offered admission as I don't have any other options for this term, but I'm definitely worried. 

has anyone already looked into financial aid options? are we just supposed to take out $100k in private loans?! the max federal amount is $12.5k and the scholarships I see are like, $2k at the most so it wouldn't make much of a difference...

The loans aren't ideal but there's such a shortage in nurses all over the US right now that repayment shouldn't be too difficult as long as you can pass and get your RN license.  If you're young and unencumbered, per diem and travel nurse gigs seem like a good way to repay the loans pretty quick.  

 

I also looked at possibly attending a program through the public/community college systems but the math didn't seem to make sense for me.  Most community college programs seem to only offer the RN program vs. the BSN.  If you want to move to advanced practice in the future (like NP or CRNA) then you're going to need your BSN anyhow.  The programs are in super demand so it can be difficult to get into.  I also looked at it from an opportunity cost point of view.  I can finish the ABSN in 1 year instead of 2.  That means an extra year of work/experience that can go into boosting your pay (It looks like average staff nurse pay in the bay area is around 120k starting and more with experience).  Depending on where you work, there's a good chance you can find overtime opportunities too.  I've talked to nurses who are pulling in 300k+ (with no life).  You could keep your expenses low and hit it hard for a year or two and be debt free if you really wanted.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

@LeeroyJenkins that's my exact thought process too – I could wait however many years to get into the local city/state college program, then spend two years in school, THEN start working, or I can just suck it up and start working in a year, work like hell for a couple years to pay down the loans (and apparently get the experience I won't be getting at smu?) and THEN slow down and have a life again. all my nurse friends/family tell me that nursing school is just to pass the NCLEX and everything else comes from actually working in the field!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Seriously, @coffeebeans is right. I'm currently at SMU and everything they said is true. 

@summersquash and @Leeroy Jenkins do you have exposure in nursing? Per diem and traveling are reserved for experienced nurses as a rule. The financial aid is problematic and certainly not comprehensive. SMU will not be helping you get clinical hours or creating competitive candidates for nursing jobs. They are losing professors left and right and treating the ones who are staying badly. I don't know about the coasting Oakland professor mentioned above but they are cutting the pay of Sacramento professors. E was one of their best. The dean and other senior leadership were changed with virtually no notice to students last month. Preceptorship (a major contributor to hireability) is still up in the air as well as charging us more for whatever they decide to replace it with. You will be given a schedule and be expected to pivot with a day's notice. Regularly. If you are of very sound mind with a strong support system and a need to complete your RN quickly but do not need weekends or vacations for a year, you can make this work. It is not the solid, supportive ideal education that may have been marketed to you. Gird your loins and proceed with caution if you must. The staff have no idea what it is like to be a student at this school.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Student.
MandaBeth said:

Seriously, @coffeebeans is right. I'm currently at SMU and everything they said is true. 

@summersquash and @Leeroy Jenkins do you have exposure in nursing? Per diem and traveling are reserved for experienced nurses as a rule. The financial aid is problematic and certainly not comprehensive. SMU will not be helping you get clinical hours or creating competitive candidates for nursing jobs. They are losing professors left and right and treating the ones who are staying badly. I don't know about the coasting Oakland professor mentioned above but they are cutting the pay of Sacramento professors. E was one of their best. The dean and other senior leadership were changed with virtually no notice to students last month. Preceptorship (a major contributor to hireability) is still up in the air as well as charging us more for whatever they decide to replace it with. You will be given a schedule and be expected to pivot with a day's notice. Regularly. If you are of very sound mind with a strong support system and a need to complete your RN quickly but do not need weekends or vacations for a year, you can make this work. It is not the solid, supportive ideal education that may have been marketed to you. Gird your loins and proceed with caution if you must. The staff have no idea what it is like to be a student at this school.

Wife is a NP and I interact with many nurses employed by several of the largest healthcare systems in the south bay.  Yes traditionally travel nurse jobs are for experienced nurses but the pandemic and the demographic shift have turned things topsy turvy.  All the baby boomers (largest generation right now) are retiring.  There are so many vacancies due to their retirements that every industry is suffering, not just nursing.  There is not a single clinic that is fully staffed.  Her system is having trouble hiring/retaining nurses.  This extends throughout the United States.  If you look out there and are willing to travel, you can get the experience.  Sure you may or may not be able to get per diem or travel in the first year, but I would bet good money that there's plenty of overtime available if you get hired at a large hospital system.  

I also clearly read what you and @coffeebeans posted earlier.  Clearly I could try and wait to get into a different program but then most program cycles don't start until the fall for next year.  That means an extra year of experience lost and opportunity cost of that employment as well.  This is especially true for me since I plan on going the CRNA route after I get my experience (opportunity cost is ~300k/year).  The ABSN program does say it's intense and accelerated so I'm not sure why anyone should expect to have weekends off and be able to plan a vacation during the program.  I'm going on a nice long cruise just before I start the program because I have a really good idea what I'm getting myself into.

Just based off the healthcare classes I've already taken before, it seems like it is common to have professors/teachers who are still practicing nurses/APRNs.  They have outside demands beyond SMU so I'm willing to be flexible so I can get the education I need.  

My points I made previously still stand.

TLDR: In my instance the benefits still outweigh the costs/cons. 

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
gsg92 said:

HESI exit exam is a proctored, standardized test (like the TEAS) that will test you on material you learned during your section of classes. It's random and cumulative, and worth 10% of your overall grade. You'll do it at the end of the section (week 4 or 5) and it'll be on your computer.

MCA stands for "Medical Care of Adults" and it's basically Medical-Surgical information that is relevant to all things and everything medical related. This is where you'll learn about different pathophysio, medications, treatments/interventions, and how that all ties in with your job as a nurse. The only thing you will not cover in MCA is pediatrics and maternity which is a different section of classes.

Hi there! How often are you on campus for lectures and clinicals? I'm trying to get an idea since I work.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

We currently do not meet on campus for lectures or clinicals. Lectures are all online now (recorded and/or live on zoom/webex). Clinicals are in a designated hospital and will be 1-2 times per week (Thurs-Fri, Sat-Sun). If 2 times, the clinicals will be 8-hr shift. If 1 time, the clinical will be 12-hr shift.

 

 

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hi everyone! I attended the ABSN webinar on Tuesday and was informed decisions should be sent 8-10 weeks after the 06/01/23 deadline. Fingers crossed!

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment