Concorde Arlington, Texas work/school

MTips · May 25, 2009

I'm not referring to someone's outright inability to pass the NET.
I'm referring to the people who can easily pass it, but achieve average scores. Community colleges are only going to take the people with the highest NET or HESI scores first, which is the way it should be (merit-based). However, this leaves the people with average test scores behind. A person with excellent prerequisite grades and average test scores does not inherently deserve to be left behind. Hence, trade schools do play an important role, in my opinion.
My prerequisite GPA from TCC was a 3.67, which is not competitive when I am competing with people who have 4.0 GPAs. I scored a 70 on the math portion of the NET and 91 on the writing skills. Again, people are going to have better scores than me. Does this mean I am not deserving of ascending the career ladder of nursing?

I do see your point; but at NCTC this past year whenever I took the net I honestly felt like I bombed it and I still got in. On the reading section no one in my test class even finished the section. I left about 10 questions blank and still passed. In orientation the director of the program said that generally anyone who passes the net according to their minimum standards usually gets in.

Im sure that in other areas around the country its much more competitive and you might have to get an awesome net score to be considered. But I was referring to NCTC since the original post said that they lived close to NCTC.

kat7ap · May 25, 2009

I do see your point; but at NCTC this past year whenever I took the net I honestly felt like I bombed it and I still got in. On the reading section no one in my test class even finished the section. I left about 10 questions blank and still passed. In orientation the director of the program said that generally anyone who passes the net according to their minimum standards usually gets in.
Im sure that in other areas around the country its much more competitive and you might have to get an awesome net score to be considered. But I was referring to NCTC since the original post said that they lived close to NCTC.

Congrats on getting accepted to the program! Unfortunately NCTC is not in a realistic commuting distance to most of those who live in the Forth Worth and Arlington areas. In fact I don't believe Tarrant County has any vocational nursing programs that are not trade schools. The only ADN program that I know of is TCC which as TheCommuter explained is extremely competitive to get into. This does not leave very many options. I attended a Vocational Nursing trade school and was well aware that my "credits" do not transfer to any college or university. However when I do plan on transitionsing from LVN-RN I will receive credit for my LVN licensure no differently than someone who attended a community college program.

I checked out the course work for NCTC LVN program and it looks as though none of your "credits" will transfer to the RN program because the A&P is worked into the program just like a trade school, and is not the same level of A&P required for the RN program. So basically you will have to complete all the required prereqs for the RN program if you wish to transition, just like a trade school graduate. However the cost of a community college is major advantage. I do think trade schools are overpriced, but for some of us it is worth it for the convience. That certainly does NOT mean that they are not as good or the graduates are not as competent. TheCommuter can be my nurse any day of the week! I would encourage anyone considering nursing education to do extensive research and form their own decision based on what is best for them, instead of outright telling them not to go to a certain type of school.

MTips · May 26, 2009

I agree that more open availability is a major advantage of trade schools! Im sure if I wasnt lucky enough to be close to a community college that wasnt that competitive to get into, then I would consider a trade school. Some colleges are unreal with their waiting lists. I would rather pay a lot more to start a program and start my career than to wait 2 years or more on a waiting list. And like you said any lvn licensure transfers to a RN bridge program no matter how you got your LVN licensure whether it be a college or trade school. Its all the same in the end!

kell374 · Apr 8, 2010

I am going through the samething, I only have a 3.32 GPA and the college wants a 4.0. But atleast if I go to Concorde in Arlington,Texas I'll have half of my goal completed! I have to work, and have not choice on that. And I looked at the website: Board of Nursing for the State of Texas, Concorde is an approved school for the LVN program. So I was happy with that. I'll work my 6 months then bridge over for the RN program. Good luck for those who have to work it that way.

watermelonchoochoo · Feb 18, 2012

Hi there, I'm currently in the position you were in. Took my prereq's at TCC didn't get accepted (duh). I'm going back to Concorde for a second follow up for their LVN program. I really need help on information for finding a job after graduation, (How/Where do I apply? How did you find a job? Where can I work in the DFW area...). I have two boys (1 and 3) and while doing research I kept reading forums of how hard it was/is to find a job with the diploma. I just want to be fairly certain that I can support my family soon after the debt I will receive.

Anything Information will help!

Thanks so much!

-Russell :)

watermelonchoochoo · Feb 18, 2012

Hi I am in the same place you were in, can I email you for some questions?

[email protected]

mgray30 · May 7, 2012

I was reading these messages from '09.. Actually Concorde is one of very few accredited by the Texas Nursing Board.. Their program is accelerated which means you don't spend 2 yr on a worthless degree just to take the NCLEX through the state. :) Research research research!