Admission Events and Counseling
Is Samuel Merritt University right for you? Find out by attending one of our upcoming admissions events or schedule a personal appointment.
We’re happy you’re interested in SMU! Our friendly admission team is ready to help you learn more about our programs, locations, faculty, student life, and hands-on learning opportunities. You can start getting to know us by visiting our events calendar for details about upcoming info sessions, campus tours, college and university visits, conference exhibits, and more.
Attend a Webinar
We offer a variety of general and program-specific webinars throughout the year to help you prepare for admission.
Attend a Virtual Q&A
Have a question about one of our programs? Admission staff host hour-long virtual Q&A sessions catered to each program. Visit our Events page for upcoming sessions and additional details. No RSVP is required.
Attend a Virtual Student Panel
Virtual student panels offer the opportunity to speak with current students from our BSN, CRNA, or DNP-FNP programs. (This is currently available for prospective BSN, DNP-A and DNP-FNP students only.)
Schedule an Admission Counseling Appointment
We can meet one-on-one by phone or Zoom to review and discuss your transcripts and provide additional information. We’re available for appointments virtually Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Appointments last 20-30 minutes. We encourage you to attend an information session or webinar prior to a counseling session. To schedule an admission counseling appointment, visit the Calendly link for your program of interest (listed below).
A Prerequisite Evaluation Request Form is required for ABSN, BSN, and ELMSN appointments; click link below for details.
Prelicensure Nursing Programs
BSN, ABSN, and ELMSN: https://samuelmerritt.tfaforms.net/217785
RN to BSN
RN to BSN: https://calendly.com/rn-to-bsn
Postlicensure Graduate Nursing Programs
MSN-CM: https://calendly.com/msn-case-management
DNP: https://calendly.com/d/432-9h5-wkz/doctor-of-nursing-practice
DNP-FNP: https://calendly.com/d/432-9h5-wkz/doctor-of-nursing-practice
DNP-PMH: https://calendly.com/d/432-9h5-wkz/doctor-of-nursing-practice
DNP-A: https://calendly.com/nurse-anesthesia-crna-dnp
DPM: https://calendly.com/smu-college-of-podiatric-medicine
OT: https://calendly.com/occupational-therapy-1
PT: https://calendly.com/physical-therapy-1
MSW: https://calendly.com/master-social-work
MPA: One-on-one appointments not available; see note below.
Due to the number of applicants to SMU’s Master Physician Assistant (MPA) program, it is not possible for us to meet with each prospective student one-on-one. However, we want to make sure you have ample opportunity to learn as much as possible about the program and SMU, and to ask any questions you may have. We offer preview days, virtual Q&A sessions, and webinars for applicants to the PA program.
Students with Disabilities
Accommodations may be requested by emailing the Disability Resource Center at drc@samuelmerritt.edu. Please provide as much notice as possible to allow ample time for setup.
In addition to info sessions, admission counseling, and campus tours, we offer application workshops and one- and three-day immersion experiences to personally introduce you to SMU.
Amanda Robertson
| Bachelor of Health Sciences Master of Health Administration Master of Social Work | Oakland, Sacramento | |
Anne Seed | Doctor of Physical Therapy Occupational Therapy (Master/Doctorate) | Oakland | |
Ashley Shilling | Master Physician Assistant
| Oakland | |
Michael Greenbury
| Bachelor of Health Sciences Master of Health Administration Master of Social Work | Oakland, Sacramento |
Join us for this special event on the SMU Oakland campus (in-person) to learn more about our outstanding Occupational Therapy program. Attending one of the SMU OT Immersion Day will qualify you for a $500 participation incentive.
While the agenda is still being finalized, we expect to feature/highlight:
OT Information Session
Student panel with currently enrolled OT students
Meet OT Faculty
Experience interactive OT labs
In addition, there will be an opportunity to schedule follow up phone or zoom appointments to review transcripts for academic prerequisites (bring unofficial copies of college transcripts with you). Advance registration is required, and lunch will be provided. See our 2024-2025 schedule below and register today!
Friday, October 25, 2024 9:00AM -3:00PM | RSVP Here
Friday, January 24, 2025 9:00AM -3:00PM | RSVP Here
Friday, March 14, 20259:00AM -3:00PM | RSVP Here
*A finalized agenda will be sent to registered guests
Ashley Shilling
| Doctor of Podiatric Medicine | Oakland |
The College of Podiatric Medicine Summer Enrichment Program has been created for undergraduate or graduate students who are interested in podiatric medicine and surgery. This three-day program is held annually in July and takes place at Samuel Merritt University’s Oakland campus. Attending this program will give you the opportunity to:
*Shadowing experiences may be subject to change depending on clinical availability. Space is limited for this summer program.
When applications are open, you may apply on the Summer Enrichment Program webpage.
FAQ
How does one qualify for the workshop?
To be considered, complete and submit the application and documentation using the application link found on the webpage above.
How many students are accepted to the workshop?
Participation is limited to 15-20 participants.
Where does the Summer Enrichment Program take place?
The program will be held at Samuel Merritt University’s Oakland campus, 3100 Telegraph Ave, Oakland, CA 94609. Meeting room details will be announced to accepted participants at a later date.
Are there scholarships available for program participants?
Scholarships are not available for this event. However, $400 in reimbursement for flight and accommodations may be available. Visit the Summer Enrichment Program page for details.
Will there be other out-of-pocket expenses I can expect as part of the program?
Participants may need to arrange and pay for a portion of their own flights, hotel accommodations, daily transportation to and from the event, and parking, if applicable. Parking on the Oakland campus is $28/day.
The University may have travel accommodations available via a travel agency partner. Details will be shared with admitted participants.
How do I apply for the Summer Enrichment program?
Applications can be submitted online at the Summer Enrichment Program page.
Where can I find the letter of reference form?
The letter of reference form is located in the application.
When is the application deadline?
Please visit the Summer Enrichment Program page for deadlines and other details. These dates are subject to change.
When will I know if I’ve been accepted to the program?
Successful participants will be notified by email. This usually happens in mid to late June.
Questions? Please contact:
David Tran, DPM, MS
Assistant Professor and Associate Dean of Admission
California School of Podiatric Medicine
510.879.9218
dtran@samuelmerritt.edu
Join SMU admission staff for a NursingCAS application virtual Q&A session. Prospective students are welcome to virtually “drop in” and ask quick, general questions related to the NursingCAS application. This is for Q&A only; there is no formal presentation. Q&A sessions are hosted periodically throughout the year.
Preview and RSVP for the next scheduled session from the full list of admission events in the link below.
Alyssa Doggett
| Master of Science in Nursing – Clinical Leadership Education
| Oakland | |
Joe Schaffernoth jschaffernoth@samuelmerritt.edu
| Accelerated Bachelor of Science Nursing
| SF Peninsula | |
Kiera Agee
| Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing Bachelor of Science in Nursing Registered Nurse to Bachelor in Science Nursing Entry-Level Master of Science in Nursing – Case Management Entry-Level Master of Science in Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner | Oakland, Online | |
Krystle Rutledge | Doctor of Nursing Practice – Family Nurse Practitioner Doctor of Nursing Practice – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Doctor of Nursing Practice Family Nurse Practitioner – Certificate Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner – Certificate | Sacramento, Online | |
Michael Greenbury | Master of Science in Nursing – Case Management Master of Science in Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner | Sacramento, Online | |
Teyler Mosley | Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing Entry-Level Master of Science in Nursing – Case Management Entry-Level Master of Science in Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner | Sacramento | |
Vanessa Sierra | Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing | Fresno |
Each Fall and Spring, we offer an action-packed day of information sessions and campus tours. Current students will be in attendance to help answer questions on a wide array of topics. Click below for further details.
Underrepresented students (low-income, first-generation, and underrepresented minority students) who are interested in Samuel Merritt University’s BSN, ABSN, and ELMSN programs are encouraged to attend our three-day Nursing Success! Seminar. Students learn about the admissions process; meet current students, faculty, and staff; and tour the Health Sciences Simulation Center (HSSC) during this semi-annual event.
During the Nursing Success! Seminar, you will:
Visit the Nursing Success! Seminar webpage for the next event’s details, dates, and application deadlines.
Nursing Success! FAQ
How do I apply?
The APPLY button will be activated on the Nursing Success! Seminar webpage once applications are being accepted for the next seminar.
When is the seminar held?
The seminar is held twice a year, typically in January and June.
Who is the seminar for?
The seminar is presented via two simultaneous tracks:
Track 1—BSN Direct-Entry: Open to participants currently completing pre-nursing coursework at California’s community colleges or four-year institutions. This track is only available to prospective students who have not yet earned a bachelor’s degree and who are interested in SMU’s direct-entry transfer BSN program.
Track 2—ABSN/ELMSN: Open to participants who already have (or will have) a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field and who are interested in the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) or Entry-Level Master of Science (ELMSN) program.
How does one qualify for the seminar?
Successful applicants to Track 1 must have completed a minimum of 24 semester units of college-level coursework at either a California community college or four-year institution. Applicants to Track 2 must have earned or will earn a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field. Applicants may not have been previously enrolled in a nursing program. Your overall college GPA will be taken into consideration; since there is limited space, expect acceptance to be competitive.
How many participants are accepted to the seminar?
Participation is limited to 25 participants for each track.
Where does the seminar take place?
The Nursing Success! Seminar will be held on the main campus in Oakland, CA.
Are there any costs or out-of-pocket expenses?
There is no program cost associated with the seminar. Seminar participants will be expected to cover their own travel and parking expense to and from the campus. Breakfast and lunch are included as part of the seminar.
How do I apply for the Nursing Success! Seminar?
In addition to a complete application, please submit a complete set of your unofficial transcripts from all colleges attending/attended (merge all transcripts into one document before uploading to the application) and a typewritten response to the personal statement.
When are the application deadlines?
Applications are due April 15 for the June seminar and November 15 for the January seminar. These dates may be subject to change.
When will I know if I’ve been accepted?
Successful participants will be notified via email about 30 days before the seminar, around early May or December. These dates may be subject to change.
Questions? Please contact:
Rudy Torres
Admission Dean
Samuel Merritt University
rtorres1@samuelmerritt.edu
Applying to SMU in the future?
While attending the SMU Nursing Success! Seminar will not guarantee you admission into the BSN, ABSN, or ELMSN programs, we hope it will ease some of the stress of the application process. There will be some additional benefits to you should you choose to apply to SMU after your participation in the seminar. These will be discussed during the seminar.
What do students say about the Nursing Success! Seminar?
“I can truly say the Nursing Success! Seminar was a life-changing experience for me. You did an awesome job coordinating the event with valuable content about the nursing industry and speakers! Thank you for the genuine effort to make a difference in the ‘faces of healthcare’; diversity is always more progressive!”
Natalie Lucas
Nursing Success! Seminar, 2016: Accepted for Fall 2018 ELMSN-FNP
“Thank you for this wonderful seminar! I had a great time and I learned a lot. Samuel Merritt is certainly a great school with a mission statement that resonates strongly with me. This seminar ended up being far more special than I thought a three-day seminar could ever be, and hopefully I will return to this school as a student in the future.”
Daniel Klein
Nursing Success! Seminar, 2016
“I just wanted to thank you again for hosting the Nursing Success! Seminar. It was a truly life-changing and one-of-a-kind experience. I have never been in a room full of intelligent, kind-hearted, and diverse individuals striving for the same positive change. Thank you for all the hard work that you do, along with the student ambassadors and staff, to create such a well-organized, detailed, informative, and inspiring event. I left feeling united with my peers and even more excited to apply to Samuel Merritt University.”
Lisa Soohoo
Nursing Success! Seminar 2017: Accepted for Spring 2018 BSN
“Thank you so much for the wonderful experience as I have learned a lot and gained valuable information about nursing careers from amazing speakers. I really enjoyed my experience as it was very empowering to be in a program full of other like-minded students who have similar goals and interests. This experience solidified my interest to pursue a career in nursing.”
Dahae Hwang
Nursing Success! Seminar 2019
“I wanted to thank you again for such an informative and immersive experience. I had a great time meeting so many like-minded and intelligent people that I could to relate to on many levels. The seminar calmed my nerves and provided me with a lot of information to prepare for the nursing application as well as a career in nursing. I was not expecting how deep and emotional this experience would get after hearing how passionate my peers were about becoming a nurse and helping the community. It was truly inspiring and felt right.”
Kendall Miller
Nursing Success! Seminar 2019
Our nearly 2,800 students range in age from 18 to over 35, come from every ethnic background, and bring different life experiences to their education. One thing they have in common, however, is a dedication to serving local communities and underrepresented populations.
Learn MoreOur information sessions, special preview days and seminars, and campus tours offer you a glimpse into the SMU experience.