Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) Admission Requirements

Samuel Merritt University welcomes the opportunity to help you learn more about our Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program. The ABSN program is our 12 month nursing program for students with a baccalaureate in a non-nursing field. Please see the information below to learn more about applying to the ABSN program.

PLEASE JOIN US FOR A 3-DAY SUMMER SEMINAR FOR ABSN STUDENTS

Underrepresented students (African American, Hispanic/Latino and male) are invited to participate in a 3-day summer program, Nursing Success! Seminar.  Please click here for more information <http://www.samuelmerritt.edu/nursingsuccess>

ABSN Applications for Summer 2013 - Application Update

Applications are still being accepted for Summer 2013 with locations in San Mateo (April and June) and Oakland (May).  Applications will continue to be accepted until the classes are full and waitlists have been established.  Before submitting an application, the TEAS must be completed and a score must be available. Do not submit an application without the TEAS as it will be considered incomplete.

Completion of prerequisites:  For the cohorts which start in April and May, all prerequisites must be completed by the end of fall 2012;for the June cohort prerequisites must be completed by the end of spring 2013.  Under no circumstances may prerequisites be completed concurrently with the ABSN program.

ABSN Applications for Fall 2013 - Application Update

For Fall 2013, Applications are being accepted, and will continue to be accepted until the class is full and a waitlist has been established.  The Fall cohort is for the San Francisco Peninsula Learning Center (classes will be in San Mateo and the clinicals will be in the greater San Francisco Bay Area).  Before submitting an application, the TEAS must be completed and a score must be available. Do not submit an application without the TEAS as it will be considered incomplete.

Completion of prerequisites:  All prerequisites must be completed by the end of summer 2013.  Under no circumstances may prerequisites be completed concurrently with the ABSN program.

For a timeline of the application and admission process for fall 2013, please click here.

IMPORTANT UPDATES TO CAMPUS LOCATIONS

Please note that effective with the April 2012 cohort, the San Francisco Learning Center will merge with the San Mateo Learning Center. However for the April and November cohorts, the clinical options will remain in the greater San Francisco Bay Area.

Summer admission:
April - Classes will be taught in San Mateo, and clinicals will be offered in the greater San Francisco Bay Area.
May - Classes will be taught in Oakland, and clinicals will be offered in the greater East Bay Area.
June - Classes will be taught in San Mateo, and clinicals will be offered in the greater South Bay Area.

Fall admission:
November - Classes will be taught in San Mateo, and clinicals will be offered in the greater San Francisco Bay Area.

Spring admission:
January - Classes will be taught in San Mateo, and clinicals will be offered in the greater South Bay Area
January - Classes will be taught in Sacramento, and clinicals will be offered in the greater Sacramento Area.

Learn more about the ABSN program:

Virtual Drop-Ins Now Available - Join an ABSN chat room online
We are pleased to offer virtual drop ins to prospective ABSN students.  You are welcome to virtually “drop in” and ask quick, general questions of an Admission Counselor.  This is entirely online.  Dates and times are:

Please note that all times are Pacific Standard Time (California time zone).

Please click here for more information about the VIRTUAL DROP INS.  After you have reviewed the general chat information and are ready to start the chat (see dates and time above), click here to join the chat.

Drop-In Counseling (Oakland only)
If you have a quick question or just need to know one or two things, drop-in counseling may be perfect for your busy schedule. No appointment is needed. Drop-in counseling is available on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. These are brief visits designed to provide you with some quick information. Drop-in counseling is not available during the weeks of Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Year's.

Counseling Appointments – Oakland, Sacramento and San Mateo

We look forward to welcoming you to our campuses in Oakland, Sacramento and San Mateo.

Oakland - Appointments are available weekdays, during regular business hours. These appointments are usually 30 minutes in length and the main purpose is to review your transcripts for prerequisites. Please bring unofficial or official transcripts with you to the appointment. Please call 510.869.6576 to schedule your counseling appointment.

Sacramento - Appointments are available weekdays, during regular business hours. These appointments are usually 30 minutes in length and the main purpose is to review your transcripts for prerequisites. Please bring unofficial or official transcripts with you to the appointment. Please call 510.869.6576 to schedule your counseling appointment; please specifically state that you wish to be seen on our Sacramento campus.

San Mateo – Appointments are available twice a week, week days only, between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. The main purpose is to review your transcripts for prerequisites. Please bring unofficial or official transcripts with you to the appointment. Please click here for the dates we will be in San Mateo and information on scheduling your counseling appointment.

ABSN Information Sessions

Please join us for an ABSN Information Session.  The prerequisite and financial aid information provided is common to all campuses that offer the ABSN program.  So please join us whether you are interested in applying to the campus locations in Sacramento, Oakland or San Mateo.  Because of limited time there will not be the opportunity to ask individual, specific questions, but you are encouraged to make an individual counseling appointment for a future date where those questions can be answered and transcripts can be reviewed for prerequisites.

*The dates marked with an asterisk will have a particular emphasis on completing the application for admission.  Subject to change. 

Oakland Campus

• The Information Sessions will be held at 3100 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland, CA 94609, on the 4th floor in Room 4002.  This is Building 3 on the campus map.
• Please park in the parking structure, not the parking lot of Building B on the parking map.
• Payment for parking is by check or cash only.  There is no ATM convenient to the event, so please plan ahead. 

San Francisco Peninsula Learning Center

• The Information Sessions will be held at 1720 South Amphlett Boulevard, San Mateo, CA 94402
• Parking is free and plentiful, adjacent to the building.

Sacramento Regional Learning Center

• The Information Sessions will be held at 2710N Gateway Oaks Drive, Suite 360 (3^rd floor), Sacramento, CA 95833
• Sacramento Informational Sessions will cover the ABSN and Entry Level Master of Science in Nursing, ELMSN, programs.
• Parking is free and plentiful, adjacent to the building.

RSVP

• You do not need to RSVP for the event.  The rooms being used hold approximately 40-50 people; the room on 5/8 holds approximately 20 people. 

For more information on the information sessions, please visit the Admission Events page.

Admission Statistics Admission Statistics about all of SMU's programs are available on our statistics at a glance website.

Admission Application

The application for the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at Samuel Merritt University can be printed directly from our website. Please see: http://www.samuelmerritt.edu/admission/application.

Application Deadlines

*Spring Entry

Sacramento
Application Deadline: July 1
Start of Program: January
Classes will be taught in Sacramento, and clinicals will be offered in the greater Sacramento Area.
All prerequisites must be completed by the end of the fall term.
However, it is highly recommended and preference in admission will be given to applicants who have all prerequisites completed by the application deadline.

San Mateo
Application Deadline: July 1
Start of Program: January
Classes will be taught in San Mateo, and clinicals will be offered in the greater South Bay Area.
All prerequisites must be completed by the end of the fall term.
However, it is highly recommended and preference in admission will be given to applicants who have all prerequisites completed by the application deadline.

*Summer Entry

San Mateo
Application Deadline: September 1
Start of Program: April
Classes will be taught in San Mateo, and clinicals will be offered in the greater San Francisco Bay Area.
All prerequisites must be completed by the end of the fall term.
However, it is highly recommended and preference in admission will be given to applicants who have all prerequisites completed by the application deadline.

Oakland
Application Deadline: September 1
Start of Program: May
Classes will be taught in Oakland, and clinicals will be offered in the greater East Bay Area.
All prerequisites must be completed by the end of the fall term.
However, it is highly recommended and preference in admission will be given to applicants who have all prerequisites completed by the application deadline.

San Mateo
Application Deadline September 1
Start of Program: June
Classes will be taught in San Mateo, and clinicals will be offered in the greater South Bay Area.
All prerequisites must be completed by the end of the spring term.
However, it is highly recommended and preference in admission will be given to applicants who have all prerequisites completed by the application deadline.

Fall Entry

San Mateo
Application Deadline: March 1
Start of Program: November
Classes will be taught in San Mateo, and clinicals will be offered in the greater San Francisco Bay Area.
All prerequisites must be completed by the end of the summer term.
However, it is highly recommended and preference in admission will be given to applicants who have all prerequisites completed by the application deadline.

The dates listed above are considered postmark deadlines. Applications may be filed beginning two months prior to the application deadline, keeping in mind that it is to your advantage to include as many available grades as possible with the application for admission. For example, with the postmark deadline of March 1 for fall entry for San Mateo, you should wait to submit an application until your fall grades are available.

*Please submit only ONE application for your first choice campus if applying for the spring or summer ABSN admission cycle.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Completion of baccalaureate and all prerequisites by the designated prerequisite deadline for the term for which you are applying from a regionally accredited institution.
• Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on the last 60 semester units or 90 quarter units
• Minimum science GPA (science prerequisites only) of 3.0 or higher
• Letters of reference - Two letters are required and should address academic preparedness for study in an intensive program and potential as a nurse. Suggested references are professors, supervisors, or health care professionals (strongly preferred) who know you well through volunteer or paid work experiences. All required letters of reference should be submitted with your application for admission.
• Writing Sample - Three distinct writing samples are required as explained on the application for admission.
• Basic computer word processing skills
• CPR - certification at the healthcare provider level, earned prior to the start of classes from the American Heart Association, www.americanheart.org.
• If you have attended a nursing program at another college or university, a statement explaining your reasons for seeking a transfer will be required. Additionally, a letter from the Dean or Director of your nursing program indicating that you are in good standing and eligible for continued enrollment in the nursing program will be required. This letter should be submitted with your application for admission.
• TOEFL (U.S. citizens or international students) - The need for TOEFL will be assessed based on information provided on the application for admission; if required, a score of 100 must be achieved and official score results must be provided, www.toefl.org
• Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS). The TEAS is used as one of several important factors in determining admission and is required for all applicants to the ABSN program by the deadline date for applications. It is highly suggested that your scores meet or exceed the national score averages for your particular TEAS exam. These national score averages are posted on the transcript that have your TEAS score results that you receive from ATI.

Please click here for a list of TEAS FAQs.
Please click here to register for the TEAS. <TEAS Exam>

Program Prerequisites

• Prerequisites may not be completed concurrently with the program.
• Your classes do not expire. However if your science prerequisites were taken more than 5 years ago it is recommended that you take a refresher course unless you are currently working within the healthcare field.
• Prerequisites must be completed with a grade of "C-" or above.
• The prerequisites listed in the table below must be completed by the stated deadlines.

Prerequisite Course Equivalencies At California Community Colleges And Other Course Resources

• Oakland / San Francisco Bay Area
• Sacramento Area
• San Mateo / San Jose Area
• Approved Pharmacology courses
• Approved Pathophysiology courses
• Challenge Exam and Online Course Resources

Grade Point Calculations and Course Repeat Policy

• GPAs are calculated using a 4.0 scale
• GPA's are calculated with the grades available at the time of application
• If a course has been repeated, only the most recent grade is included in the GPA
• Science GPA is calculated using the four prerequisite science lab courses: Anatomy, Physiology, Microbiology and Chemistry

International Students and Transcripts

Please note that international students can only be admitted to study on the Oakland campus. We are unable to administer student visas at our Sacramento and San Mateo campuses. All foreign academic transcripts must be evaluated by a U.S. evaluation service that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluations Services (NACES) for degree, course content, semester unit equivalencies, and science and cumulative GPAs prior to the application deadline. Information on NACES may be found at www.naces.org.

Frequently Asked Questions

For a list of FAQs, click here.

*These courses are often taught at Samuel Merritt University fall, spring and summer terms. They are designed for prospective students; you will find the information regarding the upcoming courses here: SMU Special Status Courses.