Western Career College??

Nursing Students LPN-RN

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I am an LVN, and I just started taking classes at my local community college to apply to their RN program. Then I got a postcard from Western Career college. Thay have an acceleratede LVN to RN program. It would be much more expensive, but faster than community college. I just wonder about their reputation. It is a new program, and Western Career College is known for their Medical Assistant and Dental Assistant programs.

I already calle WCC to find out more, but the "representative" didn't know anything, since it is a brand new program. She said someone would contact me. Of course that was before Christmas, and I haven't heard anything......

What do you all think?

i'm curious...why would you spen $41,000 for an associates degree from a local program when you can do the Indiana State LVN-BSN program for around $20,000?

The $20,000 total is the fee IF you need all the general ed courses.

I just don't see the sense in spending that much for an associates when you will spend half that for a BSN degree through ISU's newly approved program.

just my opinion.

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Specializes in Knuckle Dragging Nurse aka MTA.
i'm curious...why would you spen $41,000 for an associates degree from a local program when you can do the Indiana State LVN-BSN program for around $20,000?

The $20,000 total is the fee IF you need all the general ed courses.

I just don't see the sense in spending that much for an associates when you will spend half that for a BSN degree through ISU's newly approved program.

just my opinion.

Maybe the hassle of of setting up your clinical experience through ISU turns people away. (How exactly do u do it?)

Western is a part time program that includes clinicals in the area. Flexible scedule..weekends, evening classes etc.

Western is a school known to "pass everyone" (statement from former students, I can't confirm or deny it). While jr colleges will drop you in a second, Western is not so eager to as it is a for profit school...the longer you are in, the more they profit.

Western can get you in FAST..and you will be done within a year or so.

An associate degree in nursing is a lot easier to obtain... not all of us can pass the advanced chemisty and math needed to get the BSN, especially when some have been out of school so long.

Western is too expensive for me, but it is an option that is out there for LVN's.

ISU seems very difficult in comparison.

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I'm in the program and so are about 7 of my co-workers....the clinicals through Indiana State University are done at a facility of your choice. You can do it at your own work place ...you just can't get paid for it. You shadow a preceptor for 'x' amount of time a week...the 'hours' are set between you and your preceptor.

once you choose the clinical facility, you let the Clinical Coordinator through ISU know where you want to do the your clinical hours. The Coordinator will contact that facility and get everything set up. that's it....

In phase 1 of the program, you test out of your gen ed courses, phase 2...same thing except you take the exam, online, through ISU. Phase 1 and 2 are self paced...you study at your convenience and you take the exam when you're ready.

The gen ed courses in phase 1 aren't that bad. Have you checked out what the requirements are? Chemistry 100 is the only chemistry required and Algebra and Statistics are required. that's it for the chem and math requirement. All of us needed about 7 gen ed courses cuz we had most of the others done already. those include intro to religion, ethics, pathophysiology, literature, technical writing, stats, a history class..i can't remember the other ones right now. I have a study guide, one for each course, and all the info that i need to know is in there. It's not a guessing game...we know what to study.

then, in Phase 3, you do all of your nursing courses online through ISU too. there are no set times that you have to be online, so it's very convenient.

when comparing and associates to a bachelors degree...there are going to be a lot of differences....it's a bachelors degree. however, for anyone who is wanting to further their education, the best way to learn about the program is to check it out, ask questions.....i was leary at first, but i did my research and found out that it's not that difficult to understand or do.

i'm glad that there is an option for LVN's if they are looking for an ASN degree....it's too bad that Excelsior was stopped 3 years ago!! however, i was also extremely excited to know that there is now this option available.

Good luck to everyone with what ever you do.

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Specializes in Knuckle Dragging Nurse aka MTA.

Thanks for the info critter.

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It's not $41K for an AA, it's $41K for the LVN program.....Which is too pricy for me....I'd have no paying that amount for an RN program.....but $41K for the LVN program plus the costs for the RN program (no matter where you might go) would just be way too much....

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Specializes in Knuckle Dragging Nurse aka MTA.

In northern california WCC charges $19,000 for the RN prereqs and $33,000 for the LVN to RN program. That is still out of my price range.

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In northern california WCC charges $19,000 for the RN prereqs and $33,000 for the LVN to RN program. That is still out of my price range.

Yeah! That's alot of dough......I was willing to pay $26K for an ADN at a Tech school and that is including pre-req's. But, I have since changed my mind.

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I've been a lvn for a while now, and I applied every community college around my area here in northern california for the lvn to rn program, still getting denied due to low GPA, does anyone know if Western Career college accepts students with an average GPA or lower, I even completed most the prerequisite classes still getting denied. pls help. thanks.

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I've been a lvn for a while now, and I applied every community college around my area here in northern california for the lvn to rn program, still getting denied due to low GPA, does anyone know if Western Career college accepts students with an average GPA or lower, I even completed most the prerequisite classes still getting denied. pls help. thanks.

Unfortunately, because there are so few programs up that way, they use the grading systems which really is sad. I know it is important to get good grades but, just because you may not be so good at Chem but do well in biology....neither can suggest what type of nurse you may become. You may be the best nurse out there and you cannot even get a chance. I feel for ya! Here in phoenix you just need to pass all your pre-req's which seems fair to me. I have always maintained a 3.8-4.0 until I took college algebra. So frustrating!!!

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Specializes in LTC.
I've been a lvn for a while now, and I applied every community college around my area here in northern california for the lvn to rn program, still getting denied due to low GPA, does anyone know if Western Career college accepts students with an average GPA or lower, I even completed most the prerequisite classes still getting denied. pls help. thanks.

It is sad that they sometimes base admittance entirely on grades. My sister got lucky and got into an RN program through the lottery at City College SF. She had a low GPA (below 3.0). By all accounts she is a very good nurse. She has worked at UCSF in cardiology and currently works at SF General in the ER. You can't base someone's abilities entirely on their GPA.

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Specializes in Knuckle Dragging Nurse aka MTA.

WCC doesn't weigh the GPA that much. You have an enterence exam to take though. WCC is the easiest /fastest way to get your LVN to RN imo.

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WCC doesn't weigh the GPA that much. You have an enterence exam to take though. WCC is the easiest /fastest way to get your LVN to RN imo.

I think BigB keeps hitting the nail on the head.

YES. WCC is obscenly expensive. So is Harvard, and no gaurantee of paying THAT loan off in a year, either.

YES. WCC is the fastest way to become a LVN. Some of us are nearing the END of our working careers, not the beginning (or even the middle.)

YES. WCC is the easiest way to become a LVN. No lottery, no GPA, no waiting list, no pre-reqs (already built into the course), no CPR reqs (already built into the course), NO HASSLE. Apply, fill out the admin forms, apply for fin. aid, attend class.

FACT. If it takes me 3 years to pay off a school loan, I'm okay with that. I've done the same thing with a car loan, and my house "loan" will take me ten times that long to pay off.

FACT. I'm 44 years old, not 22. I really don't have time to sit around for years hoping that this school or that school will "accept" me. I walked into WCC, took the laughable "entrance" exam, three weeks later, they called and said, "Welcome!" Bloody good enough for me.

FACT. Student financial aid, along with grants, etc. are helping me pay off a good chunk of the tuition, so my ACTUAL student loan is far less than I originally thought it might be.

FACT. The LVN-to-RN Bridge program at my local CC is only $1500. I can get that from my change jar, so THAT is not a consideration.

FACT. I don't have to spend one or more years chasing after pre-requisites (that is IF I get into each class EVERY semester and IF I don't have to repeat any) BEFORE I can apply to the LVN program.

FACT. I can get my CRP card in ONE NIGHT at the local AHA. I'm not forced to take any school's "reqired" 6 week CPR class.

And on, and on, and on...

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