Samuel Merritt University Reviews

"I do not like to write negative reviews but I feel compelled to do so because anyone who invests the amount of money and time required to become an FNP should look elsewhere for a quality online program. Please take the content on their webpage (fnp.samuelmerritt.edu) with a grain of salt: It is very misleading. Your learning will largely come from textbook chapters and links to articles. "Lectures" are powerpoint presentations with low quality slide narration. Your "instruction" will be comments/ suggestions made on your assignments. There are no "interactive learning experiences" as they claim on their website, there are discussion posts and asynchronous videos. SMU claims to have state-of-the-art on-campus simulation facilities. You will not have access to these if you do the online FNP program. Unlike other online programs, they do not have occasional on-campus intensives, even though they say they do on their website. This makes important courses such as Advanced Physical Assessment very challenging: You can expect to learn most of your physical assessment skills from YouTube videos. Lastly, SMU's Clinical Coordination is frustrating and lacking. If you choose this program, just know you will ultimately need to coordinate your own placement at some point along the way. You will also need to "stay on top of" your clinical coordinator (as I was advised to do by one of my instructors) because they are notorious for delayed communication. If doing an online program is your only option for graduate school, please do your research carefully and seek a program that gives you a quality education worthy of the $65,000 you will pay at SMU.Read Less"

"For anyone looking into the podiatry program at CSPM, please do whatever you can to avoid this school. The dean (stamps) only cares about profits, he works part time at kaiser, teaches a 1st year class, a 2nd year class, a 2nd year rotation, a 3rd year class, and a 3rd year rotation, all while allegedly “running” the podiatry program. You will he expected to attend mandatory courses taught by professors that don’t care. U will be responsible to learn everything on your own without any guidance or resources. The school will try to sell you on early clinical experience, which is the only advantage they can talk about, but they don’t tell you, you’ll also be required to take up to 6 classes during those rotations. The administrators are incompetent and will lose paperwork and prevent you from getting into your clerkships. All of the grading is completely subjective and you will not be given any chances for a rebuttal. The clinic experience will solely be nail trimming patients as fast as possible. There is no diversity of cases. You will leave the program with no clue on how to practice medicine, but you’ll be great at trimming nails. AVOID THIS PROGRAM and go literally anywhere else. Don’t believe me? Look at board scores/pass rates for part 1 and 2. This school is failing it’s students and charging more than any other podiatry school in the USRead Less"

"Samuel Merritt has a good reputation in Northern California but outside of that, no one has heard of them. That is not the reason I chose this school, however. I chose the FNP program because of its convenience with online courses. The school, however, is very expensive. I cannot recommend this school, however, due to the poor quality of clinical coordination. They have a high turnover of coordinators who suddenly just disappear and you are left hanging waiting for a clinical assignment after the semester has begun. This has happened to many of the students in my courses, not just me. If you do choose this school, I would definitely attempt to find your own clinical preceptors even though you are paying for this service from the school. It is extremely frustrating and stressful to begin the semester with no clinical assignment all 3 clinical semesters. One other thing, every course requests that you submit a course evaluation. Its all really a waste of time since the same errors keep happening each semester. The courses are not updated properly, links don't work. Again, very frustrating and frankly, I except more professionalism from this school and the instructors.Read Less"

"I currently attend Samuel Merritt University (SMU) at their Sacramento campus in their Entry Level Masters of Science in Nursing - Family Nurse Practitioner program. I chose SMU because of their great reputation of providing their students with the tools and knowledge to successfully graduate, find a job and start their career. While attending SMU, Ive had the pleasure of working with some of the most caring and intelligent professors and clinical instructors who really make sure you understand the material, feel comfortable with your patients and want you to do well not only in the program but afterwards in your career. The Sacramento campus in particular is such a small and close knit community that it allows you to form lasting relationships with professors, staff and students. The program is fast paced, especially in the first 16 months during pre-licensure. I would recommend this program to anyone who is self motivated and ready to make the sacrifices needed to complete an accelerated program.Read Less"

"I would feel comfortable recommending my school to others. The PA program is extremely beneficial, as it will prepare me for working in the medical field. All of my professors where helpful, and took the time and effort to make sure we succeed. Only negative would be some of the schools resources, because I found them disorganized. For example, the financial aid office was not helpful, and I often felt confused when it came to school finances. Overall, the Physicians Assistant program at Samuel Merritt University is preparing me for my career, and successful in teaching me the skills to achieve my dreams!Read Less"

"This is an amazing school for PT, they have high expectations for their students and they make great PT by your 3rd year. The clinical hours is near double the expected norm and they have ton of connections with clinical sites that are amazing. I would recommend this school hands down for anyone interested in become a great PT."

"I will always treasure my experience in the Transition to Practice Program at Samuel Merritt University. I would have never landed a job in one of the most prestigious hospitals known to the Bay Area without this program. The refresher courses and lab simulations all accounted for my professional growth as a registered nurse. The clinical instructors and professors were approachable, friendly, and proficient in their knowledge. The program was organized throughout its duration. Every student had a designated schedule with contact information of their peers, instructors and preceptors. The flow of the curriculum really ensured that by the end of the program, the student will be confident as a registered nurse in the acute care field. Thank you Samuel Merritt for providing me with a foundation of learning which I will always apply as a competent bedside nurse committed to quality care!Read Less"

"This program is flexible because it is all online. I recommend it to people working full time or have a family. It requires diligence to make sure you do all the homework and complete the clinical settings but the instructors are very flexible which makes it worthwhile."

"I am enrolled in an accelerated RN to FNP nursing program, requiring nonstop motivation and enthusiasm! The professors are passionate about nursing and support students fully on their path. The spirit of nursing and helping people is at the heart of Samuel Merritt and what it offers. Also, the simulation labs are outstanding and provide a unique learning experience."

"Samuel Merritt is a private, not-for-profit university with high tuition costs, which deters many students from applying. Though I do wish costs were lower, I do not regret attending Samuel Merritt. The school's reputation (among the nursing community; I can't speak for other programs) is excellent and improves job opportunities. The faculty is extremely approachable and attentive to the students' needs. I created a personal bond with almost all of my professors because of the friendly, supportive atmosphere that is created by faculty. There are also great health, financial and career resources available on campus. Yes, the tuition is high but the quality of education can't be beat. I feel prepared to enter the field of nursing with confidence that I have received proper training from a highly acclaimed institution.Read Less"

"At Samuel Merritt University, a sense of community is formed among the students and faculty that I have yet to experience at any other institution. With a total student enrollment of approximately 1,500 students, 65% of which are pursuing a masters degree or higher, a conducive environment is formed where students from different backgrounds can live and learn from one another as they prepare to become future leading medical professionals. One of the founding principles of SMU is giving back to the medically underserved community. With this principle in mind, the University has a direct purpose and role in the community, in which it promotes health and happiness to those who are in most need. This mission is reflected in their students by instilling empathy and compassion towards their patients, regardless of their background. I can say without a doubt and with confidence, from these experiences, that Samuel Merritt University provides an environment that all aspiring healthcare professionals should strive to experience as they develop increased personal and professional growth to positively change the world.Read Less"

"Samuel Merritt University is a prestigious school. Although the price you pay is high, you also get what you pay for. There is much support for students including, but not limited to: academic success, tutoring, mentoring and other quirks. The only downfall to being a student is the price and lack of scholarships or financial support."

"Overall the BSN program helped prepare me well to become a RN. The professors are excellent and are very helpful during office hours. They really take the time to make sure you understand the material. Issues with paperwork and preceptorship placements occurred quite frequently however, so make sure you keep copies of everything and keep track of pending documents. They even have opportunities to travel abroad for medical missions which was an amazing experience for me."

"I am currently in the second online Nurse Case Management masters cohort. I also received my BSN from SMU. The new online master's program is rigorous and convenient. A student support adviser will assist you throughout the program. SMU worked with me to set-up a convenient payment plan. Comfort with technology is essential for the online program. My classmates are from all over the U.S. and are fantastic. I am looking forward to my precept placement next year."

"Good school education but most of it is self study"

"Samuel Merritt University (SMU) provided me with high quality education which is guiding me to become a competent occupational therapist. The faculty is made up of highly knowledgeable, evidence-based, and passionate professors who inspire and truly invest in and care for each individual student, a small faculty to student ratio (38:1) which allows for increased participation and engagement during class, and diverse clinical learning experiences which allow students opportunities to develop clinical reasoning in a hands-on manner. In conversation with peers from other universities, SMU is especially unique because of the heavy clinical exposure we have throughout the year which allows for an easier transition into becoming entry level professionals.Read Less"

"This university is has a very close-knit community and support group. With my program having such a small cohort has really helped in my study process. We are able to bounce off ideas and study skills with each other with easy. The only con would have to be the city location. Centered around downtown Oakland can have some concerning features."

"The biggest con of my program would have to be the difficulty level. It is to be expected, but that doesn't make it any easier. I am expected to learn what takes a med student four years, all in one year. Also the neighborhood of the school isn't great, but it's proximity to San Francisco and other bay area destinations make up for it. Pros of my school are plentiful. It is great to be part of a small class of only 40 students. You get real attention from teachers, you can ask questions during class, and you really get to know your classmates. I feel like I am building life-long connections with the faculty and with the students. It is really nice to have classes with the same teachers over multiple semesters. It is nice that once you figure out one teachers style, you don't have to do it again next semester, and rather can focus on learning the intense amount of material.Read Less"

"Definitely lots of work, but a fantastic program and worth it!"

"Our school has a nice simulation center to practice potential situations and we get a lot of clinical experience. Further, our faculty members always make an effort to keep up to date with the latest in news about nursing best practices. However, the tuition is extremely expensive and the surrounding area is dangerous."