I need help... ADN at city college or Vocational School at Unitek??

Nursing Students LPN-RN

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I am currently a student at City College and I have been working on my Gen. Eds for Nursing since

'08. I feel like I am never going to get out of City College... Anyhow, I originally set up my educational planner to transfer to a 4 year university... But, after seeing the requirement on a 4.0+ for the Nursing Programs there, I backed out and dropped my transferrable courses. So right now, I am torn in between 2 decisions... My brother researched a vocational college called Unitek, he said the school had great statistics and that they were cheaper than other Vocational Schools. For some odd reason, I've always been against Vocational schools but NOW I feel like I need to finish school and going to a vocational school is my only other option. As for my Gen. Ed at City college... I have about 2 more years before I can apply for the Nursing Program here at City college and their pickings are based on LOTTERY so I dont even know if i'll be guaranteed a seat for who knows how many semesters... So I am definitely going crazy:uhoh3:... If anyone can just give me their input on which they think is better, and also if anyone can give me reviews about Unitek that would be greatly greatly appreciated! Thanks!!!!!:redpinkhe

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If you get your lvn from a vocational school, no matter what, you will STILL have to complete your pre requisites to get into an RN school, to do your LVN to RN bridge.. If you do your LVN now(assuming you'll be going full time), it will take you even longer to get your pre requisites out of the way. If you want a job sooner as a nurse, then LVN is the way to go.

Anybody who has more experience than me in this, feel free to correct me.

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@ Futurenurse310, Thanks... that was very helpful... I have been really stressing over this situation and I just want to go on the fast route now but I dont want to make a mistake. Is it easier to go LVN and then RN? I'm just wondering how much pre-reqs I will have left after I go for LVN.

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Specializes in Wound Care, LTC, Sub-Acute, Vents.

i was in the same boat as you. the community college rn program in my area kept putting me on a "waiting list" so after a year of waiting, i gave up and did the lpn program in a vocational school. i was almost done with my rn pre-reqs at a time except apii & micro. i worked for a year as an lpn and did a lpn-rn program from excelsior college and finished in one year. i graduated last october 15, 2010.

i definitely recommend doing the lpn program now since it is hard to get in the rn program in your area. you can do like i did and work for a year and have your employer pay for the rn program.

good luck,

angel, rn

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Thanks, Angel!!! That really helped! Thats almost exactly what my counselor told me to do. But i'm just afraid that I wont have time to go to school to finish becomming a RN because thats what I really want to do.

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If u have a degree u have options..if you don't yet take a look at azuzsa pacific..I don't go there but seems to be a really good school..accelerated and little easier to apply..least check them out..best of luck, I know the drain of trying to get into school in San diego

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Thanks for the advice, KeepnItReal. I will definitely check out that school. And yes, the frustration of trying to get on the right path is tough! Its a real pain when you have no idea what you're doing, like myself. I'm trying to finish school up the fastest I can but it just seems like its taking me longer and every semester I just have more and more classes to take. I feel like i'm never going to become a nurse! :sniff: But I guess I just need to keep trying. Thanks for the advice =)

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Specializes in Pediatrics, OB/GYN, ER, Geriatrics.

I strongly suggest goinig to get your LVN. I am starting an LVN program at Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts in Concord, CA and so happy with my decision. I looked into Unitek and they are just to expensive.

Once you have your LVN, you can do the online LPN to RN bridge through the Indiana State University where you do your work online and go to clinicals in your area. Also too, after you finish the LVN, you never know what benefits you will get with your job. Many places are paying their LVN's to go back to school to get their RN.

Having to wait in a lottery sitiuation is very frustrating and I felt the same way as you when I was completing my prereq's for an RN program.

Best of luck in your decision.

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To agldragonRN:

Which school did you attend for the LVN?

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Specializes in Wound Care, LTC, Sub-Acute, Vents.
to agldragonrn:

which school did you attend for the lvn?

middlesex vocational and technical school (piscataway, new jersey)

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Christine, thanks for the advice... I am really torn between what I want to really do because my family is telling me that since I am still young and single I should just go to school and get my RN as well as a B.S. So I am just feeling all over the place. But, your advice painted the LVN picture a little clearer for me.... I was thinking about doing the LVN to RN bridge but I never really knew what that meant..... Thanks for the info!

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To agldragonRN:

okay, i thought its somewhere here in CA. thanks

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