Samuel Merritt University ABSN Program Prerequisites

valencia305b · May 20, 2009

Hi I just read your reply and I have a couple of questions. I am a recent college graduate with a 2.95 GPA and I was just wondering what kind of grades you have to have to apply to SMU. I repeated some classes and was not able to achieve my fullest potential because of family issues but I really want to be a nurse. I still need to take patho and pharm which could bring my gpa up but I was just wondering if there is even a chance based on your acceptance.

sholmsen · May 20, 2009

My GPA is about a 3.6, but if you are able to pull yours up to a 3.0 I think you will be a pretty competitive applicant. I just spoke with the admissions director at Samuel Merritt yesterday and she told me that the cut off is usually a 3.0 unless you are really outstanding in another area. Don't worry, I'm sure you'll get in to a good school. If you are able to address your less-than-perfect (but still good gpa) in your admissions essay, and discuss your personal/family problems I think that would take the focus off of the gpa and bring it more toward why you think you'd make a great nurse. Good luck! (BTW, I am not even sure if I have been accepted to SM. I won't find out until early June.)

valencia305b · May 20, 2009

ok thanks for the advice. I appreciate it.

lizzy8 · May 20, 2009

Sholmsen: You're not alone in feeling that online patho and pharm classes leave you feeling unprepared. I am in the last week of my online patho class and I wish I would have had it in the classroom. Online classes don't allow you to actively engage with the material and fellow classmates. I took these classes for SMU but have since been accepted elsewhere that require them and am GLAD i'll be taking them over. Given the fact that SMU program is an accelerated one, I don't think I would have felt comfortable relying on the these classes as my only source of knowledge in these subjects. Good luck!

kwanee · May 21, 2009

do u know any online accelerated nursing school that will accept fall application now? please reply asap.

scistav · May 21, 2009

Hello Sholmsen,

I'm in the Summer Oakland cohort. We start on Tuesday!

I also feel like I didn't learn much with online path and pharm though I received A's in both. It was a pretty common worry at our orientation. Two students from this year's graduating class were there and were asked this very question. They said that the instructors know that we have varying backgrounds in these subjects and will review as necessary. You learn the meds for each section as you go.

The most reassuring part was SMU's stats. The ABSN program has nearly a 100% NCLEX pass rate and very high completion rates. The current graduating class has 47 of the original 48 students. The one who didn't make it had a baby and is completing the program with the San Mateo group. So the instructors must be covering/reviewing what we need to know.

Good luck with admission!

sholmsen · May 21, 2009

First off, that's awesome. CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!! Wow, scistav. That REALLY helps! I thought it was just me. Just out of curiosity, what was your GPA? Did you have to have an interview? Once again, congratulations! That's great.

scistav · May 22, 2009

My overall GPA was 3.8, science GPA 3.7, NET score 93. I have no healthcare experience. No interview was required!

sholmsen · May 22, 2009

Thanks!

blustar46 · May 30, 2009

sholmsen, I too applied for the SF branch... and haven't heard anything yet. Oh dear... are you as nervous and freaked out as I am?! Of course you are... silly question, sorry. What are your stats? I got a 84 on my TEAS, Overall GPA 3.5 and science GPA 4.0. I know the competitiveness for all nursing schools is going up!!

sholmsen · May 31, 2009

Hi BlueStar- I did talk with someone a couple of weeks ago and she said that so far, the only people that have heard back are people who have been denied acceptance. So if you haven't heard back then I guess that's good news. She said to expect final decisions by mid-June. I hope she's right! I'm really eager to find out. I got an 87% on my NET and I have a science GPA of 3.5, overall GPA of 3.8. I'm taking the TEAS tomorrow for College of Marin's program. Have you taken that test? Where else did you apply, and have you heard back from any of them? Well, good luck on SM! Is that your first choice?