Nursing Success! Seminar
SMU’s Nursing Success! Seminar aims to diversify the workforce and reduce health care disparities.
Explore the Nursing Profession
Samuel Merritt University is not only dedicated to educating students to better serve diverse client populations. It also is committed to diversifying the nursing workforce. Our annual Nursing Success! Seminar was designed to introduce participants from underrepresented groups to the profession and to our campus. Held at our Oakland location* each summer and winter, this free, interactive, three-day event gives participants the opportunity to explore the nursing field by:
Hearing from experts and practitioners on relevant topics such as reducing health disparities and international nursing
- Touring SMU’s state-of-the-art Health Sciences Simulation Center, labs, and classrooms
- Meeting and talking to current nursing students, faculty members, alumni, and staff
- Learning about the SMU admissions and financial aid process
The Nursing Success! Seminar is free, but space is limited and an application is required.
Eligibility
This application-based seminar offers two tracks:
Track 1: Bachelor of Science in Nursing Direct Entry
This track is open to participants who are currently completing pre-nursing coursework at a community college or four-year institution, but do not yet hold a bachelor’s degree and wish to transfer to SMU’s bachelor of nursing program. These applicants should have completed at least 24 credits of college-level coursework. (Limited to 25 participants.)
Track 2: Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing/Entry-Level Master of Science in Nursing Program
This track is open to participants who either have or will have a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field and are interested in SMU’s accelerated bachelor of science in nursing or entry-level master of science in nursing program. (Limited to 25 participants.)
Application Details: What You’ll Need to Apply
To apply for the program, you’ll need unofficial transcripts from all of the institutions you’ve attended since high school as well as a personal statement of up to 1,000 words explaining what you hope to gain from the program.
Applications are due April 29 for June session and November 15 for the January session. These dates may be subject to change.
Applications for the Nursing Success! Seminar January 2025 Session, will open early October 2024. For more information, please contact: admission@samuelmerritt.edu
Applications may be submitted through the APPLY button below once they are available.
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.
Each year, we welcome more than two dozen future nurses from around the country and world to campus to explore the profession and learn how SMU can help them each their career goals. Here’s a look at participants in action. Click on image below to view video highlighting experience of our scholars.