Choosing Good LPN School in/near Chicago?

U.S.A. Illinois

Published

Hi,

I would really appreciate all your guys help!! I have narrowed down my choices for LPN School here in Chicago.

My 3 choices are

-International Career Institute (ICI)

-Northwestern Institute of Health and Technology

-Ambria College of Nursing (Americare Institute)

I met with someone for all except Ambria wich i will be attending the info session this friday, but so far i really liked ICI the best, I just liked the admissions person I met with and felt like I could see myself there. Northwestern felt a little more iffy but I have seen the Pass Rates and theres are pretty good, so Im sure its still a good school. And I have heard many good things about America/Ambria. Im just really confused and would like your input!! Im hopefullly going to make my decison by next week! Also I am very nervous about the Math and Anatomy pre-reqs for some of these schools, if anyones taken them with any of them can you let me know what exactyl the classes were about?

Thanks!!!

:nurse:

Brown Mackie, its in indiana but all my classmatesa are from IL like the city, joliet,aurora, they're far out there! Right now to get into BMC you have to take a tease test and pass the compus, not diffucult btw. Tuition is high I pay 800 but most of my classmates get finacial aid and they pass all the way down to 150$ ! It's 15 months long with 2 fails acceptable and yea clincal sites are around the school, I like the one class a month thing lets me focus more. Good Luck!

So their LPN is 15 months long?? What classes do they require for your pre-reqs? How do you like Brown Mackie? is it the one in Merrillville? Do they have an ADN program or just LPN?

CS21, I'm not sure which school I'm going to attend. I am in the process of checking them out right now so. I have been to J Renee & Ambria so far for "tours"....I am leaning toward J Renee right now for three reasons. 1. it's closer 2. I spoke with two people from work who spoke well of it--one went to cna school there and liked it and the other has a family member who graduated from the lpn program and was easily able to find a job....so, we'll see. Wish they had FAFSA, though! 3. I also got a chance to talk to the nursing teacher at J Renee and I liked her. It seems more...low key...I guess you could say than Ambria which appealed to me. We'll see.....

Oh, yeah those schools are pretty far, and I know driving an hour or more away would not make me happy lol

Ambria is really the closest that I like. And I spoke to another nurse at my job (part time @nursing home) and she also graduated from ambria she told me that this was her first job but she felt when she first got there she knew more and a lot than other lpns at the nursing home, so she really reccomended them, she did tell me about j renee and that they offer it there also but ambria is more conveniant, well I think I'm going Monday for the placement test in math and then see when I can start math there! Yay so glad I made my choice!

CS21--good for you! Sounds like you are making a good decision, then!

Oh, yeah those schools are pretty far, and I know driving an hour or more away would not make me happy lol

Ambria is really the closest that I like. And I spoke to another nurse at my job (part time @nursing home) and she also graduated from ambria she told me that this was her first job but she felt when she first got there she knew more and a lot than other lpns at the nursing home, so she really reccomended them, she did tell me about j renee and that they offer it there also but ambria is more conveniant, well I think I'm going Monday for the placement test in math and then see when I can start math there! Yay so glad I made my choice!

So are you going to go to Ambria then hon? I just took the TEAS there on saturday. I have to take the COMPASS test on Wednesday and I think that's all I need to do. I still need to get my CNA but I'll so that sometime this summer. I also applied to St. Xavier...but I doubt I'll get accepted.. and USF...not sure if I'll get in there or not.

yes I decided on ambria, only because recently two people who graduated from there really reccomended it to me, so I feel like it can't be too bad. The only thing they did warn me was about being on time because they said instructors are pretty strict there? Well anyway I'm going to take the compass test soon and the teas hopefully this week!

I went to st xavier my freshman year of college, I dormed there, and I have friends who are graduating the nursing program in 2012, one of my good friends is graduating and she has no complains I mean they're really known for being a good nursing school. But honestly they're really money hungry and administration there is a little unorginazed also! But good luck if u get into sxu I'm sure its veryy good!

yes I decided on ambria, only because recently two people who graduated from there really reccomended it to me, so I feel like it can't be too bad. The only thing they did warn me was about being on time because they said instructors are pretty strict there? Well anyway I'm going to take the compass test soon and the teas hopefully this week!

I went to st xavier my freshman year of college, I dormed there, and I have friends who are graduating the nursing program in 2012, one of my good friends is graduating and she has no complains I mean they're really known for being a good nursing school. But honestly they're really money hungry and administration there is a little unorginazed also! But good luck if u get into sxu I'm sure its veryy good!

Cool!! I'm seriously 98% sure I won't get into SXU :lol2: If I did get into USF though I might go there..I dunno.. depends on the hours I guess since it's in IN... otherwise Ambria is top choice.

So are you going to start Ambria in Sept??

Yes! I'm hoping to start in september! That's the goal!! I just need to take their math class that starts soon. So that way hopefully I can start in sept.

I'm sooo bad at math though so I'm kinda freaking out! I'm hoping I can pass it and be able to get into the lpn program on time!

That's when I want to start too...in Sept. I'm sure you'll do fine in the math.. I'm horrible in science... so if I can pass science.. anyone can pass anything..:lol2: I really like Ambria! The only way I won't go there is if I get into an ADN program instead.

Okayy! Well I changed my mind last minute! I will not be attending ambria. Instead I'm going to j'renee!!!

I was actually going to keep working on the math pre req but they couldn't even tell me what day the next math class is going to begin, i have children so id like to kno these things in advance to be prepared with letting daycare know!! Anyway a good friend of my sisters friend told me not to go to ambria she didn't want to talk bad about it but she told me some pretty unfair things about the school and basically it wasn't reccomended at all, she started at ambria but then transfered to j renee and really feels like its ten tiems better, so I went in to go talk to them and they were sooo nice! She was able to tell me exact days and when pre reqs and classes begin! And even tho as of right theyy do not have fin aid they are hoping to get it very soon within the next months she said they are still waiting on the gov. Well the place in general didn't give me that greeeat of an impression but that's ok because they are moving to another building in elgin, which makes it awesommee cuz it wudnt be so far from me now! I mean I honestly thought I was going to end up at ambria but after having that chat wiht former students I def think word of mouth counts a great deal when finding a good lpn school, I just didn't like the things that were said about ambria and wud rather go somewhere else that isn't too hyped up and values teaching mor than $.

I actually might be going somewhere else also..LOL I have to go somewhere that has financial aid though. I do like ambria.. I've only heard good things from other students..but everyone has their opinion. I do not like the way they changed the whole thing with the COMPASS test vs testing out of a drug proficiency class... I'm guaranteed a seat there because I scored above the required TEAS score...but I'm still looking at other schools too.

Yeah I like that ambria has fin. Aid but I think w/out it I can be able to do I also. And its true because a few nurses told me they went to ambria and they liked it so I'm sure it can be a good school I was just told that its too money hungry and not at all organized the way things should be and how there are a lot of things that change and I also heard there's !!A LOT of drama there, soo no thanks lol plus the rumor about them being sued is true, a nurse told me it was going on around the time she was there..so ehh.. lol I think I'm just sticking with j renee right now because I know its good and I got a good vibe from the admissions lady. And the pre reqs are so doable for me to finish so I can begin their lpn program august 8th yay.

What other school are you considering??

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