SMU (Samuel Merritt University) BSN Spring 2020

Lety86 · Jul 11, 2019

Hey guys ! I applied for the second time ! This past cycle I was waitlisted at #27 and moved to #20 this past week. I have spoke with others who got in and I would say GPA and HESI scores aren’t everything they are looking at! Some had really high GPAs and Scores while others were lower. SMU seems to really look at the whole package as far as work experience and volunteer work and LORs. I revamped my application and am crossing my figures this time around. I have a 3.67 science GPA and 3.4 last 60 units GPA. My overall HESI score was a 84%. As of now I am working on more recent volunteer work and community engagement just in case I have to reapply for the dec 1st deadline. Good luck to you all !

LaurenB87 · Jul 11, 2019

14 minutes ago, Tiffany Tereba said:
I have paid for the nursing CAS to do my transcripts for me, anyone do this? It says they still have not received them!

I’m not sure, originally I was going to use them, but then on Samuel merritt website said that it takes a long time for it to process. Try calling NursingCAS they have been very helpful with questions.

Lety86 · Jul 11, 2019

@LaurenB87 I used them. After my schools sent my transcripts it took them only about a week to input my grades. I would suggest calling the school/schools to see if they have sent your transcripts in .

Tiffany Tereba · Jul 11, 2019

@Lety86 how do you see where you are?

Lety86 · Jul 11, 2019

@Tiffany Tereba they send you a email once they have selected students. I just noticed that this tread was for BSN. I have applied and or apply for the ABSN program but I would imagine that the process is the same ! Those who have applied to the ABSN program I plan on starting a ABSN program tread so we don’t confuse each other! Things are already stressful as it is !!! ?

cmerenda · Jul 11, 2019

26 minutes ago, Lety86 said:
Hey guys ! I applied for the second time ! This past cycle I was waitlisted at #27 and moved to #20 this past week. I have spoke with others who got in and I would say GPA and HESI scores aren’t everything they are looking at! Some had really high GPAs and Scores while others were lower. SMU seems to really look at the whole package as far as work experience and volunteer work and LORs. I revamped my application and am crossing my figures this time around. I have a 3.67 science GPA and 3.4 last 60 units GPA. My overall HESI score was a 84%. As of now I am working on more recent volunteer work and community engagement just in case I have to reapply for the dec 1st deadline. Good luck to you all !

It’s my first time applying for the BsN. Out of curiosity, how long do they keep the waitlist going? Or does it reset after the cohort ends? Also, did you references have to resubmit or do they just carry that over?

Tiffany Tereba · Jul 11, 2019

@Lety86 I am also applying for the ABSN program!

Lety86 · Jul 11, 2019

@cmerenda they week the waitlist until the week before classes start and then the waitlist gets deleted and then people have to reapply. Everything on my application carried over except my LORs and essays. So your LORs have to resubmit.

Lety86 · Jul 11, 2019

Ok guys I just start a tread for the ABSN program applicants! its called " 2020 spring SMU ABSN program "

emslee43 · Jul 13, 2019

On 7/3/2019 at 10:35 PM, cmerenda said:
Hey all! Seems to be a mix of those who applied. I applied to the BSN. Does anyone know how NursingCAS account for academic renewal/ grade forgiveness? I haven’t been able to figure that out since I have classes from college in 2008 from a previous major that were forgiven.

Hello Cmerenda and Others,

Just to confirm your question and for others who might have the same concern in the future about NursingCAS's academic policies.

For their overall verified GPA calculation, NursingCAS counts all grades possible, except for INCs, Credit/No Credit, or Withdrawal Officials.

So basically,

- No academic forgiveness policies

- Repeated grades are not averaged on their scale. Each course and grade that has been taken is calculated into their overall verified GPA. If you have repeated the same course from the same University/College, they are not averaged.

- W's, INC, Cr/NO Cr are not counted against GPA

- WU's/Withdrawal Unofficials/Failed Withdrawals are calculated as F's into GPA

cmerenda · Jul 13, 2019

56 minutes ago, emslee43 said:
Hello Cmerenda and Others,
Just to confirm your question and for others who might have the same concern in the future about NursingCAS's academic policies.
For their overall verified GPA calculation, NursingCAS counts all grades possible, except for INCs, Credit/No Credit, or Withdrawal Officials.
So basically,
- No academic forgiveness policies
- Repeated grades are not averaged on their scale. Each course and grade that has been taken is calculated into their overall verified GPA. If you have repeated the same course from the same University/College, they are not averaged.
- W's, INC, Cr/NO Cr are not counted against GPA
- WU's/Withdrawal Unofficials/Failed Withdrawals are calculated as F's into GPA

Awesome thank you for that info! Do you happen to know how SMU will look at this? Do they recognize the academic renewal policy or just look at the GPA NursingCAS provides?

MamaKat916, BSN · Jul 13, 2019

1 hour ago, emslee43 said:
Hello Cmerenda and Others,
Just to confirm your question and for others who might have the same concern in the future about NursingCAS's academic policies.
For their overall verified GPA calculation, NursingCAS counts all grades possible, except for INCs, Credit/No Credit, or Withdrawal Officials.
So basically,
- No academic forgiveness policies
- Repeated grades are not averaged on their scale. Each course and grade that has been taken is calculated into their overall verified GPA. If you have repeated the same course from the same University/College, they are not averaged.
- W's, INC, Cr/NO Cr are not counted against GPA
- WU's/Withdrawal Unofficials/Failed Withdrawals are calculated as F's into GPA

I was told that W’s were not calculated into the GPA. But then again... I seem to be hearing conflicting statements all the time, so maybe the person in Sac who told me this (before the current admissions counselor) gave me incorrect info?