Baker College - Auburn Hills - LPN - questions

U.S.A. Michigan

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I have read a number of posts on Baker but they are mostly for other locations rather than Auburn Hills. I saw a LOT of angry and unhappy people and only one person that was happy with Baker. I am concerned. I would REALLY appreciate your help by giving me your thoughts and feedback on your personal experiences as soon as possible because I have registered for the Baker in Auburn Hills classes for January 2009.

I need three classes as pre-reqs to the LPN program. I decided to go that route rather than the RN - ADN program in Flint because I will be able to receive my LPN in one year and the Auburn Hills campus is applying for its PERMANENT approval from the State of Michigan for their LPN program. They expect to receive it, and I was told by the state that schools generally receive permanent approval without problem if no changes have been made to the program from the initial approval.

When Baker Auburn Hills receives permanent approval they plan to apply for a LADDER program and offer the RN - ADN program that will be a ladder moving from the LPN certificate seamlessly into the ADN - RN program. The good news is that they hope for approval of the ADN - RN program quickly and they hope it will be only an additional 3 months on top of the LPN program.

That was good news.

Also, I chose Auburn Hills because the LPN program accepted ALL of my eligible classes completed at other schools, and the Flint ADN - RN program only accepts a maximum of 25 credits from other programs.

1 - I am concerned because I have to compete with other students for entry into the LPN program and I don't know how hard the classes are or what grades I will get.

What grades do you need to have to get into the program?

How hard are the pre-req classes?

What is the competition like?

2 - I am concerned because none of the classes transfer to a 4-year univ and I definitely will complete my RN and then either go on for a BSN or MSN completion. But I definitely will NOT stay with only a LPN.

Do you think we will be able to get good jobs with a Baker LPN degree?

Do you think we will be able to go on for a RN and then a BSN and then a MSN if we want at another school when the Baker classes don't transfer?

3 - They are 2-3 times more than community college costs - but I can't wait 2 years to get into a 1 year program and I can't get fin aid for comm college because I have too many transfer credits. I am trying to obtain No Worker Left Behind $10,000 FREE money but so far I have not been able to move it forward until I receive an acceptance letter INTO the actual LPN program. Because they cost so much they are taking money I need to live on and it is a real commitment on my part.

What kind of quality of education will we get at Baker for the money they charge?

4 - I have A&P 2 with Moutafian and Into Algebra with Govil and Med Term with Olley. Has anyone had any experience with these teachers?

I cannot afford to pay for this school use a lot of my fin aid and then not get into the program. Any thoughts?

Just as a side note, my Admissions Rep is really great and the Director of the LPN program has been very helpful.

Thanks for your help! :wink2:

Let me say first that I have no experience with the Auburn Hills campus, just Clinton Twp. I think that Baker is a great school. They have small class sizes and you do get a lot of individual attention. I think that some of the posts you have read as far as people being unhappy relate to how hard it is to get into their programs. The admissions counselors there are very nice and helpful, but what they don't tell you is that if you don't have a nearly perfect score on your entrance exam and a 4.0, you will not get in. Know this before you start. It is crazy competitive, and I heard that the LPN program is the same way. I believe you have to take the Hesi. If you work hard and have a good score on your Hesi, you should be ok. But just know in advance that you will be going up against people with 4.0's and scoring in the high 90's on the Hesi. Good luck to you.

Specializes in Home Health Clinician.

I have all my classes finished and could potentially apply for the LPN program at AH. The only issue for me, is that it is a certificate and not a degree. Once you get the prereqs done, you have 4 quarters of the lpn program, as opposed to 5 quarters for the rn program. It just doesn't seem worth it to me, unless I have no option but to go that route.

You CAN get financial aid for CC, you have to fill out an appeal form and have a plan to get the degree.

For instance this is the form for Macomb: http://www.macomb.edu/NR/rdonlyres/BF4444D8-DA65-4DDC-9DCA-0CCF517CE6A7/0/SatisfactoryProgressAppealForm0809pdf.pdf

I am certain that other schools have this too.

I took one class at the AH campus and I loved it there. I just decided against that route as only a last resort.

Good Luck!

I agree with you Gemberly, as far as doing this as a last resort. Just think of it as a way to get to an RN. It may not be what we planned but at least we will get there! Lets stay positive about getting accepted for Spring!

I have all my classes finished and could potentially apply for the LPN program at AH. The only issue for me, is that it is a certificate and not a degree. Once you get the prereqs done, you have 4 quarters of the lpn program, as opposed to 5 quarters for the rn program. It just doesn't seem worth it to me, unless I have no option but to go that route.

You CAN get financial aid for CC, you have to fill out an appeal form and have a plan to get the degree.

For instance this is the form for Macomb: http://www.macomb.edu/NR/rdonlyres/BF4444D8-DA65-4DDC-9DCA-0CCF517CE6A7/0/SatisfactoryProgressAppealForm0809pdf.pdf

I am certain that other schools have this too.

I took one class at the AH campus and I loved it there. I just decided against that route as only a last resort.

Good Luck!

REPLY:

Thanks for your thoughts.

After I complete the prerequisites for BOTH LPN and RN programs I will be applying to BOTH the LPN program in Auburn Hills and the ADN RN program in Flint and see which one I am accepted in. I am doing the LPN prereqs in winter and the ADN RN prereqs in spring.

If Auburn Hills is approved for the ladder program the prereqs for the RN program will be required by the AH ladder program anyway so doing both will benefit me either location. If AH is approived for the ladder program the program will be 12 months for the LPN and then 3 months for the RN completion program for a TOTAL of ONLY 15 months - which is LESS than the 24 month (2 year) RN ADN program at Flint, Clinton Twp, Owosso.

I was told my Macomb Comm Coll and Schoolcraft Comm Coll that I could NOT get any financial aid from them because I have many more transfer credits than the federal government allows for financial aid at community colleges. I would hope if they thought I qualified for approval for an exception that they would have told me to apply for it.

If anyone has any input that would be appreciated.

Have a wonderful life! :wink2:

I am an lpn graduate from the AH Baker campus. I started out on the rn track through Baker completing all pre-reqs for that program. I chose to go the LPN route in order to become a nurse and to begin working much quicker. Having my LPN license has opened doors that will afford me to go on to obtain my rn license a lot easier than to start off in the other direction. I applied to the flint program and did not get in, I found this alternative route and grabbed onto it. I am currently working in an rehab skilled nursing and have had many good hands on experiences. I feel that Baker afforded me to move along a little quicker to reach some of my goals but if I had it to do over I would have gone on to UofM and went on for the BSN. Do what you feel you need to and continue moving forward, do not let anything sway you! You can reach your dream if you want it.

Specializes in Home Health Clinician.

Well, you can only apply for one program at a time at Baker. Take into consideration that you have to have RN as the program you are signed up for in order to apply for it. If you change to the LPN program that program has to be the one that you designated as the program you are in. I have pre reqs completed for both, but wasn't allowed to apply for both at the same time, or I would have.

It is a little naive to think that the counselors will tell you everything. If you screw up your financial aid in other ways, you can write a letter in an attempt to get it back (and usually they will give you another chance, many of my friends have done it through the years) but no counselor suggested it when I did that because my daughter developed a brain tumor and died. If someone should be eligible for some circumstance it would be me. But AS the mother of a sick child, I know that in ALL areas of the governent, they leave stuff out. Not necessarily intentionally, but not every person you come in contact with everywhere is an expert or knows about every single things. If you get a bad counselor, then you get bad information. Which is why the other people on here are sharing information about school so that maybe we have more options.

They don't make the forms for nothing. They want to help keep students in school who are able to finish school with a degree. If someone is just taking classes hairy kary, because they are not sure what they want to do, or keep changing their minds, they want to push them into a plan. That is the point.

I actually only know about the form, because I have a friend who is an advisor in another college. It is worth a shot to fill out the form. But if you don't want to then, more for someone else, I guess.

FWIW, I have taken a million credits, I have been in school on and off for the last 20 years, and only recently have come up with a plan, after my daughter died 4 years ago.

Hi, I can't answer all your questions, but I'll provide my input and/or what I have been told. I have been with Baker since Aug. 2007 working toward an accounting degree, but I recently decided to pursue nursing. The reason I didn't originally follow that path is because I'm moving on to a 2nd, 3rd really, career, so I did not want to compete for a spot in any program, but if I don't ever try for a seat then how can I possibly ever know if I'll be accepted? :)

I was 3/4s the way to my associate's in accounting, so I had many of the pre-reqs, but I also just finished up Nutrition and Psych online toward lpn pre-reqs. I will be starting on 1/12 at AH for Med. Term and 1/17 for A&P/Lab. That will leave me with the first aid class for health care workers and A&PII for Spring and I'll be ready to complete my background check, nursing entrance exam, etc. What I was told when I originally went in to see the advisor was that they will immediately bridge me to the R.N. program upon completion of the LPN, which surprised me because I thought only Clinton Twp, in this area, had the R.N. program, but she said that AH has it as well. However, I have never seen this in any catalog or course option, so I'm assuming they will be granted approval within the next year. I have not spent any time at the school yet, but I intend to go in next week to get my books, find my way around, stop by the Dean of Nursing's office (Christine), etc., so I will find out more about it all then. I figure that once I have my LPN - or sometime just before - I can decide whether to move on, bridge to RN, etc.

I originally registered at AH and then transferred to 100% online, so I don't know much about the campus, but I've been very happy with Baker thus far. I've had good instructors, reasonable class sizes, etc., and I would expect that to be the same at AH. I don't think we have the same instructors, so I can't help you with that. Also, Baker is a non-profit school, so the costs cover the expenses. Although the credit hour cost seems high, when I began looking at other schools, excepting Macomb or other CCs, the others were all higher. However, textbooks costs are a small fortune every quarter - I know mine are $500 for A&P and Med. Term.

Finally, I have 64 credits and a 3.96 GPA, and Nari (advisor) told me that I'm very well placed for entrance into the LPN program, providing, of course, I do well on the remainder of my pre-reqs and nursing entrance exam, so just to give you an idea.

I know these are all difficult decisions to make, but I think all you can do is choose the options that make the most sense for you and which work out best for you. Good luck!

Watch out!!! I was just looking around the site and found your questions. I WAS a student at Baker, until I found out that I most likely will never enter their nursing program:( because I transferred classes. By doing so they take points away the more credits the less points. The last nursing class to get in 180 something students 40 got in with 23.3 being the lowest student. Transfer more then 8 credits and you already lost 3 points meaning even with a 4.0 gpa, good net score so on the most points you will ever get at baker is 21 for time you apply and 22 the next. From that point you can never do anything to get more points! High debt no degree. I just signed up for wccc already done with pre classes only have to take 12 credits and I will be in:) So PLEASE beware of the Baker we don't have a wait list bull! Good Luck

Watch out!!! I was just looking around the site and found your questions. I WAS a student at Baker, until I found out that I most likely will never enter their nursing program:( because I transferred classes. By doing so they take points away the more credits the less points. The last nursing class to get in 180 something students 40 got in with 23.3 being the lowest student. Transfer more then 8 credits and you already lost 3 points meaning even with a 4.0 gpa, good net score so on the most points you will ever get at baker is 21 for time you apply and 22 the next. From that point you can never do anything to get more points! High debt no degree. I just signed up for wccc already done with pre classes only have to take 12 credits and I will be in:) So PLEASE beware of the Baker we don't have a wait list bull! Good Luck

That's odd...there is a lady who was in my A&P class and she is transferring in 10 credits and is only losing 1 point for being over the maximum 9 credit transfer with no penalty. I don't have any transfer credits myself, so I'm unsure of that. They also said that last year there were 60 students for 30 spots for the LPN program, although I can completely see 180 for an R.N. program at Clinton Twp, but I'm surprised they ever had that many for LPN. However, they did say that this year they are getting more applicants because those not accepted into the RN programs are now coming to apply for the LPN program. The other thing to remember is that the HESI is worth 12 points total, so there is an ability to make up a couple of points there, although the 12 pts is based on 95% or higher, or something like that. Finally, at a meeting I was at, they said that a lot of attention will be paid to essays this year - the essays on why one wants to be a nurse. Anyhow, I guess it depends on each person's experience. Provided I do well on the HESI, which I intend to start studying for next week (or during spring quarter), I'll have a seat, but I have told many in my classes to check with the nursing office about their specific situations (some have transfer credits and some have repeats, etc.), just to be sure about how it works point-wise. Anyhow, good luck at WCCC! Getting into any nursing program seems very difficult, but it is worth it no matter where one gets in. :)

I was just looking at that route, the Baker LPN, and I am wondering when the HESI is? I have to go to a meeting in April I was told, but no one told me about an essay to be done. I spoke with Nara and she never said a word about that. I am not transferring any credits in, I am just going to redo my nutrition class at Baker, instead of transferring it from MCC. I have two classes to take this spring and then I am done with the pre req's for the LPN. I can only hope as that this is the last stance for me.

From what I understand from my last meeting, and from a few emails back and forth, there will be a few times to register for the HESI in June. I haven't heard about the meeting in April yet, but perhaps it is another information session? I believe they are going to hand out the application packages a bit early this year, so maybe in April or May or so. It was actually Christine (DON) who told us about the essay at an information meeting. The essay will be on why you want to be a nurse. She said she will be paying close attention to those when choosing people, although GPA and HESI will play the biggest part. There will also be a psych part on the HESI, but I'm not sure it counts in the score, but rather just provides insight...I think? I took nutrition online, but you are fine either way because only those transferring in more than 9 credits lose points. Which classes do you need to take? I will be finishing up A&P II with Ross and then the first aid class. FYI - AH is trying to get approval to start a second LPN program, which they hope to have an answer about this spring or early summer. This wouldn't start until winter or spring 2010, I think. For those of us who cannot afford to try again next year, I'm hopeful they do. :)

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