Samuel Merritt University ABSN Spring 2021

[djpa2]

Hello!

I didn't see a thread for the SMU absn Spring 2021 cohort so I just wanted to start one!

I'm currently in the process of applying right now and working on my personal statements!

Hope you are all staying safe during this crazy time!

[Justxmarie]

@Allnurse9877 thank u! As long as clinical isn’t online, I am not worried. I’ve heard online clinical have been a hot mess at other programs. 

[anjalisharma090]

How many hours of volunteer work are needed for Samuel Merritt? Is it even needed or just recommended? Either case, how many hours? Appreciate any reply on this 

[mrsmith, BSN, EMT-B]

2 hours ago, anjalisharma090 said:

How many hours of volunteer work are needed for Samuel Merritt? Is it even needed or just recommended? Either case, how many hours? Appreciate any reply on this 

Hey, 

No where on the ABSN page of SMU do they indicate volunteer work or healthcare experience is required however, the school handbook indicates the below. 

"Selection criteria for consideration of admission to the ABSN program include, but are not limited to, prerequisite grade point average, science prerequisite GPA, prerequisite coursework completed, HESI A2/TEAS score, letters of recommendation, the writing sample provided in the application essay, leadership experience, community service activities, and volunteer or paid experience in a healthcare environment."

https://www.samuelmerritt.edu/catalog/admission-policies

P.S. I have seen other BSN programs that require 50 or 100 hours of healthcare or volunteer experience. 

[anulahatna]

6 minutes ago, hmtool said:

Hey, 

No where on the ABSN page of SMU do they indicate volunteer work or healthcare experience is required however, the school handbook indicates the below. 

"Selection criteria for consideration of admission to the ABSN program include, but are not limited to, prerequisite grade point average, science prerequisite GPA, prerequisite coursework completed, HESI A2/TEAS score, letters of recommendation, the writing sample provided in the application essay, leadership experience, community service activities, and volunteer or paid experience in a healthcare environment."

https://www.samuelmerritt.edu/catalog/admission-policies

P.S. I have seen other BSN programs that require 50 or 100 hours of healthcare or volunteer experience. 

Totally agree with this. They don’t require healthcare experience however their goal statements include questions about volunteer work. I think this is to measure one’s commitment to the healthcare field. I remember attending their info session and they look at the overall application which is why they no longer needed interviews. In my personal experience, most that I knew who got accepted have volunteer experiences or are healthcare workers (CNAS, HHAs) but don’t feel bad if you have no healthcare experience. There are several communities where you can volunteer. Although due to COVID, they are not particular about it for everyone’s safety. Goodluck to all! 

[starter12345]

Another day of nothing haah. Will at least the election is keeping me busy 

[mishie101]

21 minutes ago, starter12345 said:

Another day of nothing haah. Will at least the election is keeping me busy 

It might be a good idea to mentally prepare yourself to not receive a decision until thanksgiving. Go ahead and start on the next application and try to move on best you can. You're going to drive yourself crazy if you get up each morning thinking its coming. They sent that email because it won't be coming any time soon. If they were only a couple days late I don't think they would have sent an email saying they don't know when decisions are coming. I wish everyone the best during this extended wait time! 

[starter12345]

26 minutes ago, mishie101 said:

It might be a good idea to mentally prepare yourself to not receive a decision until thanksgiving. Go ahead and start on the next application and try to move on best you can. You're going to drive yourself crazy if you get up each morning thinking its coming. They sent that email because it won't be coming any time soon. If they were only a couple days late I don't think they would have sent an email saying they don't know when decisions are coming. I wish everyone the best during this extended wait time! 

That’s true! Thank you for the insight! 
 

I guess I should began studying now for the HESI

 

edit: I think I already went crazy hahaha 

[bwallash]

Hey everyone! Does anyone have the link to the San Mateo Spring 2021 facebook page? I can't seem to find it but would love to get in touch with the cohort. Thanks! 

[Justxmarie]

The next Sacramento cohort for ABSN deadline is sometime in Spring? I unfortunately kinda screwed myself choosing Sacramento twice, but I can’t afford San Mateo, left Benicia in July and now live maybe 5 minutes away from the Sac campus. I’m surprised I still have a chance off the waitlist.

[bwallash]

Hey everyone! I'm in the San Mateo January 2021 cohort and thought I'd tell you about my experience to help you manage expectations for this round. I didn't get into Oakland and I was 14th on the waitlist (first by the time classes started) and I don't even know what I started as when I was accepted to San Mateo's November program and got in (and then deferred to San Mateo's Jan 2021). They didn't reach out to me in either case to tell me I had been waitlisted and I'm pretty sure they updated my SMU Portal from "being reviewed" to "waitlisted" the week before classes started. LOL I wouldn't expect them to reach out to you unless it's with an acceptance letter and get ready for everything to take longer than anticipated. My impression through all of this has been that they're probably understaffed and still figuring out how to do this while WFH. Good luck! 

[User9877]

2 minutes ago, bwallash said:

Hey everyone! I'm in the San Mateo January 2021 cohort and thought I'd tell you about my experience to help you manage expectations for this round. I didn't get into Oakland and I was 14th on the waitlist (first by the time classes started) and I don't even know what I started as when I was accepted to San Mateo's November program and got in (and then deferred to San Mateo's Jan 2021). They didn't reach out to me in either case to tell me I had been waitlisted and I'm pretty sure they updated my SMU Portal from "being reviewed" to "waitlisted" the week before classes started. LOL I wouldn't expect them to reach out to you unless it's with an acceptance letter and get ready for everything to take longer than anticipated. My impression through all of this has been that they're probably understaffed and still figuring out how to do this while WFH. Good luck! 

Thank you for sharing your experience! I am a bit confused though. So they have already determined who is starting January 2021 in San Mateo? That’s the intake I applied for LOL 

And still haven’t heard back 

[bwallash]

2 minutes ago, Allnurse9877 said:

Thank you for sharing your experience! I am a bit confused though. So they have already determined who is starting January 2021 in San Mateo? That’s the intake I applied for LOL 

And still haven’t heard back 

The only reason I'm in the January 2021 cohort is because I got COVID last week and they let me defer. I don't know if they've sent out acceptance letters for the rest of the cohort yet. Good luck though!