Gurnick LVN program... Me=enrolling update

collegegirl209 · Oct 8, 2010

Nevermind. Not going.

caliotter3 · Oct 8, 2010

May we hear why you changed your mind? Something to do with the program?

collegegirl209 · Oct 8, 2010

Here is a message about it that I posted yesterday... and for some reason I can't find it on the board anymore. I wonder if it was flagged. Anyway, here is a decription of why I made my decision....

I finally made it down to this place. This is my accounting of my experiences with Gurnick Academy of the Medical Arts in MODESTO:

1.) Wouldn't tell me much on the phone. Unprofessional.

2.) Took an hour long "entrance exam". Very remedial stuff.

3.) Had to tell them to give me a tour, which was a very short walk down a hallway. She didn't describe anything. They didn't show me any equipment and told me that I couldn't go into some of the rooms. My 1st apartment was bigger than this place.

4.) Gave me a list of things to do, like... add Gurnick to FAFSA, write letter of intent, send away for h.s. transcripts (which cost me $27 online). They told me call them "right away" to let them know that I did all of that. There was only a few spots open to get into the program (ya right).

5.) I called to let them know I had did everything... I never got a call back. Called again today, there was no record of my previous calls, and a different girl asked me how I was going to pay for the pre-req class. I said that I assummed that financial aid was covering it. She laughed and said no. I'd have to make TWO payments of $800 in Nov., then in Dec. or take out a private loan (which requires great credit or a co-borrower).

I said no thanks and hung up. I then took them off my FAFSA and now I'm writing this. Gurnick is a classic "for-profit" school with seriously bad customer service. The employees need to be trained better or at least act like they give a ****.

So, I'm back to the traditional way, finishing-up my pre-reqs then getting my RN from Modesto Jr. College or CSU Stanislaus. I KNOW I can afford them, + they are always super helpful.

caliotter3 · Oct 8, 2010

Rude and inconsiderate staff that deal with the public will do a lot to lose business for an institution or company. I made the same decision regarding ISU for much the same reason. Now they send me glitzy ads in the mail and inundate my email address with their advertising spam when their rude indifference to me lost me as a customer.

collegegirl209 · Oct 8, 2010

Yes, rude indifference is a great desciption of how I felt too. You'd think that if they're asking someone to pay 26K for a LVN (!) program PLUS 1600 for ONE pre-req class, they'd make a little more effort. Makes me wonder what the current students were thinking when they signed up, or if they were thinking at all. It doesn't take a lot of smarts to get into this program. The entrance exam was ridiculas. I scored a 39 and the min score to be accepted was 19. I left THREE questions blank! (I hate work problems) I know that when I get my pre-reqs done for ADN or BSN, I will have completed chem, microbio, etc... which is no cake walk. At least I'll have some respect for the program. :)

Christine2009 · Oct 8, 2010

I have not dealt with the Modesto campus, but going to start at the Concord campus. I had a really good experience with them there. Everyone is so friendly and helpful. Even got to sit in on a class!

I would not bash Gurnick in general though...you had a bad experience with ONE campus and not all the campuses are like that! I am sorry that you had this experience, but I do hope that you find a program that fits your needs

collegegirl209 · Oct 8, 2010

Everything was directed at the Gurnick in Modesto. No worries.

Christine2009 · Oct 8, 2010

Your posting in one of my threads, sounded as though it was against the whole Gurnick system! That is why I said something. Best of luck to you finding a school to meet your needs.

Smilin2005 · Oct 10, 2010

Here is a message about it that I posted yesterday... and for some reason I can't find it on the board anymore. I wonder if it was flagged. Anyway, here is a decription of why I made my decision....
I finally made it down to this place. This is my accounting of my experiences with Gurnick Academy of the Medical Arts in MODESTO:
1.) Wouldn't tell me much on the phone. Unprofessional.
2.) Took an hour long "entrance exam". Very remedial stuff.
3.) Had to tell them to give me a tour, which was a very short walk down a hallway. She didn't describe anything. They didn't show me any equipment and told me that I couldn't go into some of the rooms. My 1st apartment was bigger than this place.
4.) Gave me a list of things to do, like... add Gurnick to FAFSA, write letter of intent, send away for h.s. transcripts (which cost me $27 online). They told me call them "right away" to let them know that I did all of that. There was only a few spots open to get into the program (ya right).
5.) I called to let them know I had did everything... I never got a call back. Called again today, there was no record of my previous calls, and a different girl asked me how I was going to pay for the pre-req class. I said that I assummed that financial aid was covering it. She laughed and said no. I'd have to make TWO payments of $800 in Nov., then in Dec. or take out a private loan (which requires great credit or a co-borrower).
I said no thanks and hung up. I then took them off my FAFSA and now I'm writing this. Gurnick is a classic "for-profit" school with seriously bad customer service. The employees need to be trained better or at least act like they give a ****.
So, I'm back to the traditional way, finishing-up my pre-reqs then getting my RN from Modesto Jr. College or CSU Stanislaus. I KNOW I can afford them, + they are always super helpful.

While reading this thread, I'm a little confussed about something...

Your first post says that you've taken their exam and are hoping to enroll in their upcoming class. Then when you called them and found out that you actually have to pay money for the pre-reqs (what a concept) you all of a sudden decide to bash them saying how unprofessional they were, how remedial the exam was, and how small their facilty was. If that was the case, why did you still want to attend there after you took the exam??

I just think it's unfair for you to discourage other people from attending this school just because you were not happy that you had to spend money out of your pocket to go there. I have friends who are going through the LVN program at the modesto campus and they have said nothing but positive things. I myself have decided to make a career change due to the economy and am considering becomming an LVN. I actually happened to contact the Modesto campus yesterday as a matter of fact, and they also told me that they are full for the next class, but that there would be another starting next year. So it looks like they weren't lying to you when they said that they only had a few spots left.

I know people who have been waiting for years to get into MJC but they have never been lucky enough to win in their lottery system. Personally, I'd rather pay the extra money and go to a private school, than wait years in the hopes of getting into MJC or Stan State. I also looked on gurnick's website and it seems that all the info they gave you is correct. You seemed to be upset that there was a few steps you had to take before being enrolled. But I'm sure any school you would attend would require the same things if not more. I also like the fact that you do not have to already be a CNA to attend Gurnick, like you do to attend MJC.

Unfortunatly, in this day and age you have to spend some money now, in order to make a lot more later. That's higher education. Hopefully you won't let that stop you from persuing your goals. I have already started saving and I'm hoping that I can get in next year. Best of luck to you with the MJC wait list.

Christine2009 · Oct 10, 2010

while reading this thread, i'm a little confussed about something...
your first post says that you've taken their exam and are hoping to enroll in their upcoming class. then when you called them and found out that you actually have to pay money for the pre-reqs (what a concept) you all of a sudden decide to bash them saying how unprofessional they were, how remedial the exam was, and how small their facilty was. if that was the case, why did you still want to attend there after you took the exam??
i just think it's unfair for you to discourage other people from attending this school just because you were not happy that you had to spend money out of your pocket to go there. i have friends who are going through the lvn program at the modesto campus and they have said nothing but positive things. i myself have decided to make a career change due to the economy and am considering becomming an lvn. i actually happened to contact the modesto campus yesterday as a matter of fact, and they also told me that they are full for the next class, but that there would be another starting next year. so it looks like they weren't lying to you when they said that they only had a few spots left.
i know people who have been waiting for years to get into mjc but they have never been lucky enough to win in their lottery system. personally, i'd rather pay the extra money and go to a private school, than wait years in the hopes of getting into mjc or stan state. i also looked on gurnick's website and it seems that all the info they gave you is correct. you seemed to be upset that there was a few steps you had to take before being enrolled. but i'm sure any school you would attend would require the same things if not more. i also like the fact that you do not have to already be a cna to attend gurnick, like you do to attend mjc.
unfortunatly, in this day and age you have to spend some money now, in order to make a lot more later. that's higher education. hopefully you won't let that stop you from persuing your goals. i have already started saving and i'm hoping that i can get in next year. best of luck to you with the mjc wait list.

thank you! very well said and i am so happy someone else put thier two cents in as well. i am going to start at the concord campus next year and have nothing but positive things to say about the school.

i am coming from a jc lvn program where i was fortunate to get picked on the first try from the lottery, but due to the fact that the program's accreditation is on probation i decided to get out now and go to a private college. i am very fortunate that gurnick is accepting my credits from my jc and so excited and anxious to get this over with and move on in my career.

best of luck to you in journey.

Smilin2005 · Oct 10, 2010

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thank you! very well said and i am so happy someone else put thier two cents in as well. i am going to start at the concord campus next year and have nothing but positive things to say about the school.
i am coming from a jc lvn program where i was fortunate to get picked on the first try from the lottery, but due to the fact that the program's accreditation is on probation i decided to get out now and go to a private college. i am very fortunate that gurnick is accepting my credits from my jc and so excited and anxious to get this over with and move on in my career.
best of luck to you in journey.

thank you as well! i just don't want other people to be put off of a school by one person's opinion. good luck to you in the program! keep everyone posted with how it's going :)