Ivy Tech Vs. Brown Mackie?

U.S.A. Indiana

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Hello, I am looking to go back to college after being out of school since 1999. I want to get my LPN and am trying to decide between Ivy Tech (South Bend) and Brown Mackie (South Bend) I know Brown Mackie is a LOT more expensive but I have also read that their classes are not as good as Ivy Tech. Brown Mackie I would be able to get into the LPN classes with no problem but I have heard that the Ivy Tech nursing program is hard to get into. Anyone have any info?

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Specializes in Med/Surg, ICU, educator.

I went to Ivy Tech-Sellersburg, other end of the state, but I can tell you this: the whole Ivy Tech system has an excellent nursing program. Some locations are harder to get into than others, but very much worth the wait. I got in on my first application, others were on 3rd or 4th app. Try to get into them 1st, it is sooo worth it! Good luck!

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I graduateid from Ivy Tech for my LPN, and I have to say it was a very good school, I recieved more hands on in clinicals and was required to think in/about critical situations.

As for Brown Mackie leaves a sour taste in my mouth. I am an RN now and I see how the students recieved . I have witness unprofessionalism too slander, and the college can't seem to keep instructors. Hm, Hm I wonder why with all this bad behavior going on:uhoh3: .

From my perspective I must say Im not the least impress with Brown Macky. Hopefully its different in your state about Brown Mackey.

Anyways, what ever your choice is best of luck to you with nursing school in for alot of tears and rewards, but mostly rewards.;)

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I am in the RN program in South Bend. I have heard a lot of negative things about Brown Mackie. They are not accredited so even if you finish your classes and pass the NCLEX you may still not be able to practice as a LPN. I know they extended the deadline to apply for the LPN program in South Bend until November. The LPN program is much easier to get into than the RN program. Best of luck.

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I am in the RN program in South Bend. I have heard a lot of negative things about Brown Mackie. They are not accredited so even if you finish your classes and pass the NCLEX you may still not be able to practice as a LPN. I know they extended the deadline to apply for the LPN program in South Bend until November. The LPN program is much easier to get into than the RN program. Best of luck.

If the progam at the school is not approve by the BON and accredidted by the appropriate agency you won't be able to practice as an LPN because you will nto be give authorization to take the NCLEX.

When did Brown Mackie schools start offering the RN?

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Hello, I am looking to go back to college after being out of school since 1999. I want to get my LPN and am trying to decide between Ivy Tech (South Bend) and Brown Mackie (South Bend) I know Brown Mackie is a LOT more expensive but I have also read that their classes are not as good as Ivy Tech. Brown Mackie I would be able to get into the LPN classes with no problem but I have heard that the Ivy Tech nursing program is hard to get into. Anyone have any info?

I am a LPN graduate from Brown Mackie waiting to take state boards and It is a tough program it's excellerated.But let me just say that there has been a 100% pass rate.I'll let you know for sure when I take the nclex here this mounth. I had a hard time getting into the LPN program at IVY Tech but I heard they did away with the PSB. Good luck

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Ivy Tech is an excellent school. Starting in Jan 07 they are combining the LPN and ASN students. The entrance requirements are English, A&P I&II, and Psychology. They take your grade average from these 4 classes and your TEAS score to rank you. There are no interviews. It is solely based on test results & the 4 grades. It is a very difficult program to get into & even harder to get out. My advice for you is #1 if your grades are excellent and you test very well, wait for Ivy Tech. If you are lacking in one of these areas go to Brown Mackie. Even if the school is not as good as Ivy Tech, at least you will be in a program. You can always use supplemental study materials. From what I hear their credits don't transfer to 4 year colleges, but to get your RN you could always go through excelsior (on line) with an LPN. But I haven't heard of anything online without at least an LPN degree. So what i'm saying get your LPN any way possible that introduces you to the world of nursing. Who cares where it comes from. Just prepare yourself & absorb the information wherever you go. Oh, & if you're taking the TEAS test get the ATI study guide. It is excellent & will help you on the exam. Good Luck.

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Definitely go to Ivy Tech. I went to Brown Mackie when it was Michiana College and I believe that the same accrediting policies are still in effect. I was forced to withdraw during my last and only class because my mother had a quintuple bypass. I had to move closer to her home to care for her.

When she was well, I was ready to finish my education. I found out that none of my credits would transfer to a "real college". So I found myself, one class short of an associates degree, with $5,000 of student loans and having to start college over from scratch. I originally chose to go there because I could complete my degree in 14 months and be able to provide for my new son faster than going to "traditional college".

I know you are saying, none of that would happen to me. But take this into consideration. If you become an LPN, is that where you would want to stop? Sometime in the future, would you like to get your BSN? The credits from Brown Mackie will not transfer and you, like me, would certainly be frustrated if all of your hard work was for nothing.

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Just tonight I heard a few CNAs talk about how a lot of places won't hire Brown Mackie graduates because they push them through too fast and they don't have time to really "absorb" what they learn. I say it probably depends on the individual.

Hello, I am looking to go back to college after being out of school since 1999. I want to get my LPN and am trying to decide between Ivy Tech (South Bend) and Brown Mackie (South Bend) I know Brown Mackie is a LOT more expensive but I have also read that their classes are not as good as Ivy Tech. Brown Mackie I would be able to get into the LPN classes with no problem but I have heard that the Ivy Tech nursing program is hard to get into. Anyone have any info?
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I currently attend Brown Mackie In NKY. I was at Ivy Tech in L'Burg and the wait to get into their RN program was too long for me. They were only accepting 40 students at the time I found Brown Mackie. BM is a very tough program, yes it is accelerated and you have to study constantly but well worth the money and time you put into it. I will graduate in August of 2007.

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Hi, I am currently in the LPN program at IVY TECH/South Bend, IN. It is a good program, the instructors are great, any questions you may have are answered, the clinical experience is interesting, and the tests are not too bad. The math instructor is wonderful. I recommend going to IVY TECH/SB for the above reasons, and the tuition is very reasonable. I have two semesters left out of three, and am looking forward to graduation at the end of July, 2007. Best choice I made, too bad I didn't do it long before this. I checked out Brown Mackie a couple of years ago, and found out that it was way more money for their program than I will ever pay at Ivy Tech. Plus, the admitting registrar could not tell me if the credits transferred over to Bethel College, she could only say that some of their grads go there after their program is finished. She couldn't give me a straight answer. Go IVY TECH!

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Definitely go to Ivy Tech. I went to Brown Mackie when it was Michiana College and I believe that the same accrediting policies are still in effect. I was forced to withdraw during my last and only class because my mother had a quintuple bypass. I had to move closer to her home to care for her.

When she was well, I was ready to finish my education. I found out that none of my credits would transfer to a "real college". So I found myself, one class short of an associates degree, with $5,000 of student loans and having to start college over from scratch. I originally chose to go there because I could complete my degree in 14 months and be able to provide for my new son faster than going to "traditional college".

I know you are saying, none of that would happen to me. But take this into consideration. If you become an LPN, is that where you would want to stop? Sometime in the future, would you like to get your BSN? The credits from Brown Mackie will not transfer and you, like me, would certainly be frustrated if all of your hard work was for nothing.

I had the same questions about credits transferring but if you already are licensed it doesnt where you went to school as long as you passed the NCLEX

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