Virtual Admit Packet
VIRTUAL ADMIT PACKET
Welcome and congratulations again on being admitted to Mercy College of Health Sciences! This Virtual Admit Packet is designed to help you transition smoothly to Mercy College and contains required forms and tasks to complete, need-to-know info, what to expect next, and when to expect it.
As a new student at Mercy College of Health Sciences, you are required to attend a New Student Orientation and Registration session. This event introduces you to critical policies and deadlines, as well as available student services and activities.
At the conclusion of your session, you will work with faculty advisors to select your courses and register for your first semester. Mercy College offers two orientation formats: Online and On Campus. You’re encouraged to attend any session that is most convenient for you.
Orientation Timeline
12 weeks before semester start: Orientation sign-up will open.
- You will receive a series of email reminders that Orientation sign-up is open.
- Sign-up for orientation (signing up ≠ attending orientation).
8 weeks before semester start: Orientation event will open.
- You will receive a series of email reminders that the Orientation event is open.
- Attend and complete orientation.
Many forms of financial aid are tied directly to the completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). About 99% of Mercy College students who complete the FAFSA receive some form of aid. Students and their spouses or parents must complete this application to qualify.
Tips to complete your FAFSA:
- Google Chrome is the preferred internet browser.
- Make sure to confirm the dates of the application you are filling out.
- Use of the IRS Data Retrieval tool is highly recommended and ensures the accuracy of your application.
- Use the Mercy College FAFSA Code: 006273.
- For more detailed information on types of aid you may qualify for, visit mchs.edu/aid.
- All Mercy College students must be Basic Life Support (BLS) certified.
- Students can earn BLS certification through any American Heart Association or Red Cross training center.
- Mercy College’s Continuing Education Training Center conveniently offers this course, Heartcode BLS, and is American Heart Association certified.
How To Get BLS Certified through Mercy College Training Center:
1.) Register for a Mercy College Continuing Education Course (How To Guide)
2.) Complete Heartcode BLS course (online portion)
- Go to: shopcpr.heart.org/heartcode-bls.
- Find Heartcode BLS Product Number: 15-1400 ($31.00), click on course name, “add to cart”, checkout.
- Log in or register for an account to pay for the course.
- Activate course key to complete this online portion.
- Print your Certificate of Completion.
3.) Complete in-person skills lab (skills checked by an AHA instructor)
- Register online through the Mercy College of Health Sciences website www.mchs.enrollware.com.
- Click on course “CPR Basic Life Support—Part 2 Skills Lab”
- Use Mercy College student coupon code: mchsstudent to receive a 20% discount from in-person skills lab session cost.
- Mercy College Skills Labs offer three morning and three afternoon sessions daily. Choose a session and show up at any time within the session hours to have your skills checked.
- Bring your online Certificate of Completion to the in-person CPR skills lab.
- Complete the skills testing; skills testing generally takes 15-20 minutes.
- An eCard notification from the American Heart Association will be sent to your email within a few days after the in-person skills lab.
What is CastleBranch?
CastleBranch is an online, secure and confidential platform Mercy College utilizes for students to order their background checks and submit documentation on training and requirements online. All Mercy College students who participate in clinicals must complete CastleBranch requirements.
New User Guide
Watch our CastleBranch New User Guide video to help assist you with CastleBranch information.
Internal Scholarships
Our dozens of Mercy College scholarships are made possible by the generosity of numerous donors. We award nearly $300,000 in scholarships each year to incoming and current students. Our scholarship application is open twice a year: October 1 – 31 and March 1 -31.
Learn More
External Scholarships
There are so many great external scholarship opportunities out there, and we’ve compiled a list of some of our top choices to help you narrow your search.
We offer a variety of student clubs and organizations designed to broaden your understanding of your chosen healthcare profession. Browse our list of clubs and orgs to see which you want to join.
Browse Clubs
Dining Options
Located in Brennan Hall, the Recovery Room is a self-checkout, grab-n-go convenience store with all you need to refuel from a busy day. Offerings include everything from coffee and sandwiches, to snacks and more. Campus also has dozens of vending machines throughout offering a variety of drinks and snacks.
Housing Options
Mercy College does not own or operate any student housing facilities. Our on-campus housing, College Hill Apartments, are owned and operated by Newbury Living. Des Moines and the surrounding suburbs offer a wide-range of living options that fit what you may be looking for.
Student ID
- Your Student ID badge must be worn visibly on campus and in clinical settings at all times. Your badge will allow you to borrow books from the College library, use print services, and to access buildings and parking areas.
Parking Permit
- Parking on campus is free to all students with a campus parking permit. View our campus map to see parking options.
- Parking permit stickers are to be placed in the back right rear window of your vehicle.
How to Receive Your Student ID & Parking Permit
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After you complete the Student Photo ID and Parking Registration form via the link below you will be given directions on next steps.
Follow Mercy College on social media to stay updated on campus news and more!
From our iconic purple scrub tops to our stylish branded tees, The M-Shop lets you shop for your favorite Mercy College gear online 24/7 and have it delivered straight to your door step. Happy shopping!
Shop Now
If you haven’t taken a tour of campus, what are you waiting for?
- Purpose: Experience campus life at our walkable, eight acre campus in downtown Des Moines, Iowa, before your first day of class.
- Format: Online or On-Campus.
- Attendance: Optional, but encouraged
- Purpose: Professional Program Day is an event that welcomes students who have officially been accepted into their major and provides program-specific information including expectations, faculty, resources, and more.
- Format: Varies by program.
- Attendance: Required, however, not all programs offer a Professional Program Day. Programs that provide a Professional Program Day include:
- Accelerated BSN
- Diagnostic Medical Sonography
- Health Science
- Medical Assisting
- Medical Laboratory Science
- Paramedic (EMS)
- Physical Therapist Assistant
- Radiologic Technology
