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’d Love to Get to Know You
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. There are many ways to get to know us. You can start 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
Join a virtual student panel for the chance to speak with current students from our BSN, CRNA, or DNP-FNP programs. This opportunity is currently available for prospective BSN, CRNA, 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 one of the Calendly links below based on your program of interest:
College of Nursing
PRE-REQUISITE TRANSCRIPT EVALUATION FORMS— Required for ABSN, BSN, and ELMSN applicants, see forms below.
college_of_nursing_prereq_checklist_absn_2023.pdf(141.61 KB)college_of_nursing_prereq_checklist_bsn_2023.pdf(144.3 KB)college_of_nursing_prereq_checklist_elmsn_2023.pdf(180.11 KB)
Prior to scheduling an appointment, please complete the Pre-requisite Transcript Evaluation Form and send to adoggett@samuelmerritt.edu. Visit SMU's Prerequisite Course Articulation for additional assistance.
Undergraduate (Prelicensure Programs)
BSN: https://calendly.com/bachelor-of-science-in-nursing
ABSN: https://calendly.com/accelerated-bachelor-of-science-in-nursing
RN to BSN: https://calendly.com/rn-to-bsn
*ELMSN: https://calendly.com/entry-level-masters-in-nursing
Graduate
MSN-CM: https://calendly.com/msn-case-management
DNP: https://calendly.com/doctor-of-nursing-practice-online
DNP-FNP: https://calendly.com/family-nurse-practi-dnp-fnp
PMHNP-DNP: https://calendly.com/pmhnp-dnp
CRNA-DNP: https://calendly.com/nurse-anesthesia-crna-dnp
MSN-CLE: https://calendly.com/master-of-science-in-nursing-clinical-leadership-education
College of Podiatric Medicine
DPM (Podiatry): https://calendly.com/smu-college-of-podiatric-medicine
College of Health Sciences
BS KIN: https://calendly.com/smu-bachelor-of-science-in-kinesiology
OT: https://calendly.com/occupational-therapy-1
PT: https://calendly.com/physical-therapy-1
MSW: https://calendly.com/master-social-work PA: One-on-one appointments not available, see note below.
NOTE—Applicants to SMU's Physician Assistant (PA) Program: Due to the number of applications to the PA program, it is not possible for us to meet with each prospective student one-on-one. We want to make sure you have ample opportunities to learn as much as possible about the program and SMU and have an opportunity to ask questions, however. We offer preview days, virtual Q&A sessions and webinars for applicants to this 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 for set up.
Workshops and Immersion Tours
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.
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.
Each Fall and Spring, we offer an action-packed day of information sessions and campus tours. There are also current students 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.
The Nursing Success! Seminar webpage lists the next event details, dates, and application deadlines. Visit the Nursing Success! webpage for these details and to apply.
FAQs
How do I apply?
The APPLY button will be activated on the Nursing Success! webpage once applications are being accepted for the next Nursing! Success Seminar.
When is it?
The Seminar is held twice a year, typically in January and June.
Who's it 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 participants 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 SMU’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) or Entry-Level Master of Science (ELMSN) program.
During the Nursing Success Seminar you will:
- Explore the profession of nursing
- Participate in organized lectures covering relevant topics in nursing such as: reducing health disparities, international nursing, and the nursing profession today
- Learn about the SMU admission process, financial aid, and the HESI A2 exam
- Tour SMU’s state-of-the-art Health Sciences Simulation Center
- Meet and speak with SMU nursing students, faculty, and staff
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.
Costs and 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 June session and November 15 for the January session. These dates may be subject to change.
When will you know if you’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:
Shawna Holbrook
Admission Counselor
Samuel Merritt University
P: (510) 879-9222
E: sholbrook@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 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 group of individuals striving for the same positive change. Thank you for all the hard work that you, 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
CPM Podiatry Experience: Summer Enrichment Program
The CPM Summer Enrichment Program has been created for undergraduate or graduate students who are interested in podiatric medicine and surgery. The program is held annually in July. The three-day program takes place at Samuel Merritt University's Oakland campus and you will have the opportunity to:
- Explore the profession of podiatry
- Shadow current CPM students and faculty in a variety of clinical settings*
- Learn about the Basic Sciences department and its partnership with CPM
- Participate in an MCAT workshop
- Learn about the admission process, financial aid, and scholarships
- Participate in cast making and suturing.
- Learn sports medicine taping techniques, and more
*Shadowing experiences may be subject to change depending on clinical availability. Space is limited for this summer program.
Space is limited for this summer program. Once applications are open, you will be able to apply by visiting the Summer Enrichment Program webpage.
FAQs
How does one qualify for the workshop?
To be considered, complete and submit application and documentation using the application link found on the webpage above.
How many students are accepted to the workshop?
Participation in the Podiatry Experience Workshop is limited to 15-20 participants.
Where does the workshop take place?
The Podiatry Experience Workshop will be held at the Samuel Merritt University Oakland campus, at 3100 Telegraph Ave, Oakland, CA 94609. Meeting room details will be announced at a later time to accepted participants.
Are there scholarships available for program participants?
No scholarships are not available for this event. However, $400 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?
Yes. 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 also 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 are submitted online. The application portal is available through the page link above.
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 CPM Summer Enrichment Program page for deadlines and other details. These dates are subject to change.
When will you know if you've been accepted to the workshop?
Successful participants will be notified by email. This usually happens in mid-late June.
Questions? Please contact:
David Tran, DPM, MS
Assistant Professor and Associate Dean of Admission
California School of Podiatric Medicine
P: 510.879.9218
E: dtran@samuelmerritt.edu
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