Samuel Merritt University ABSN Fall 2023

[Mbldnursing]

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, BSN]

Chocolatecake112 said:

Hello,

I just submitted my application for Spring 2024 Sacramento campus. After I have been reading the reviews, I'm scared. I'm seriously scared right now. Can you all please tell, how is it like for first semester? How many classes are there in one semester? 

The curriculum is broken down by semester, class names and units on the ABSN portion of the SMU website.  

[Guest1041882]

Congratulations to those accepted! Is there a letter of intent submission deadline?

[Honely]

aspiringnurse02 said:

Congratulations to those accepted! Is there a letter of intent submission deadline?

I confirmed with (MODERATOR EDIT OF NAME) that the letter of intent is just accepting the offer and paying the deposit, not an actual letter submission. Your acceptance email should tell you when the intent and payment is due. Mine was 2 weeks from the email I got. 

[summersquash]

Honely said:

The "Letter of Intent" is just us clicking accept and paying the $350 deposit right? They don't actually mean typing a letter and sending it to them.

Correct, you just click accept and pay ?

[bbwambi]

Honely said:

The "Letter of Intent" is just us clicking accept and paying the $350 deposit right? They don't actually mean typing a letter and sending it to them.

when you did this did you type in the $350 or was the statement posted already? I want to make sure I did it right?

[Honely]

bbwambi said:

when you did this did you type in the $350 or was the statement posted already? I want to make sure I did it right?

Yeah I just typed 350 and paid for it. It did charge me like $9 for the credit card fee. I didn't get any confirmation though. 

[xmlvgp]

Hi everyone,

I'm very new to the chat! Just graduated from Sac State last May and applied for the Fall 2023 Cohort for the San Mateo campus as they had extended the due date to June 1st, made TEAS/ HESI optional, as well as allowing Public Speaking/ Oral Communication acceptable in place of Interpersonal Communication. Reading this forum made me a little nervous based on the reviews regarding management which is wild as how can the school be unorganized and leave students in the dark, especially with the uncertainty of exit projects, pinning ceremony, etc. I understand the price as it is a private school. But, knowing this program is already half the time of a regular program and with all the concerns current students are mentioning, I'd rather not want any more added stress but I don't think I'd decline if given the offer as most of the programs I am also looking into are for Spring '24 and I am eager to start as soon as I can. It's just so crazy as I've been joining many of the ABSN Q&A Zoom sessions and the advisors make it seem like SMU is a whole experience, you'll get a great education, etc. 

[PuzzlePie]

@Veronica P, your concerns are valid. I'm currently in the program and it was not my first choice, it was my back up plan. My first choice, put their program on hold because of lack of educators and I was worried they would not reopen. I did notice SMU is lowering the admission bar with a lot great incentives  like extended deadlines, no entrance exam, but they are also currently in the process of also lowering the amount of clinical hours students receive, reinstating preceptorships for the main Oakland campus but not the satellite campuses and still charging the same amount of tuition money to all. When I was considering joining this program, I was given the advice to only accept if I had no other options and that is the situation I found myself in. I truly wish I had some school pride and could recommenced the school but the price just doesn't match the experience they are currently offering. I know people who attended this school ten years ago when it was being run differently and I think that's where their good reputation comes from. SMU used to be a respected institution, but many things are shifting at this school right now and not for the better. At approx $1700 per unit for the ABSN program, I just don't believe it's worth it.

[summersquash]

I'm honestly not worried. every nurse I've spoken to has told me that nursing school (no matter where you go) just teaches you how to pass the NCLEX and you learn how to be a nurse on the job. so I'm paying for a one-year program that will get me to that point sooner than if I were to wait for the CC lottery and then a two year program. the nursing shortage is bad in california, so finding a job shouldn't be a problem. a few weeks of one-on-one isn't going to be the defining moment for your career. the pandemic obviously caused a lot of things to change, but I can't change anything about this program so I'm just going to make the most out of it. 

just learn everything you can during lecture/sims, show initiative during clinicals to get as much hands-on experience as possible, and pass the NCLEX. I understand that current students are frustrated, but these comments resurfacing the negativity seem so unnecessary right now as we've already covered this, we understand what we're signing up for, and we're now at the point where we're excited to get started. the fall 2022 cohort is almost done – just get through it and once you're working you can put this all behind you! 

[iNP]

A little off topic to the stuff going on but was wondering if anyone started a facebook group for San Mateo campus? was also wondering if anyone is going work full time during this program. I am debating on it but I can't really gauge it until I'm registered for classes. 

[xmlvgp]

@iNP Not sure if anyone made a Fb group, but advisors have recommended not to work during the time of the program since it is accelerated. They've mentioned that those who have worked during their program ended up failing and having to drop out. 

[mnsmith]

you guys, I still haven't heard anything!! I have reached out and even called with no response. I must be the only one from the looks of this chat. I'm curious if I should just go ahead and apply for Spring 2024 just in case.