Ad for an MA program

[psu_213]

Ok, so maybe this will get moved to a new forum...so be it.

I just saw an ad for a medical assistant program at a for profit school. A young lady talks about how great it would be to work as an MA ('cutting edge technology' and all that fun stuff that we know MAs deal with all the time). However, the part that I found funniest--and most annoying--was at the end of the ad, the young lady turns 90 degrees and say "plus, there is all the cute scrubs!"

Sorry if this post sounds rude, but I found the ad particularly hideous (and I hope this person gets a job where they make her wear a uniform of solid white scrubs!).

[dirtyhippiegirl, BSN, RN]

As much as we rag on for-profits, I think your typical colleges/universities also suck.

My sister, bless her heart, failed out of CC once. Second time around, her grades have been great. So she applies to a rad-tech school. Doesn't get in. She goes to the ******* career counselor, who I swear told her:

a) her AA degree is useless, which is truth.

b) that, based on some random test, my sister should be a historian or a museum curator.

I almost beat my head into a while that night.

[SopranoKris, MSN, RN, NP]

My step-daughter got sucked into the "I'll make SO much money if I become a MA" spiel. The program was 7 months in length for about $16K

She went for 6 weeks and ended up dropping out. Just in the 6 weeks alone, she spent over $2K in her college fund that could have been used at a CC or university. I sat down with her and explained that everything she was supposedly learning in the for-profit "school" was easily obtained in 2 semesters at the CC for less than $500. She was just so gung-ho to become a MA that she wouldn't listen to us when we tried to talk her out of going there and going to a CC instead.

These kids see $12/hour as a "lot of money" when they're used to making minimum wage. They just don't get it that the cost-benefit is not worth it! I'm glad she learned the lesson, but it was a costly mistake to make.

I cannot believe some of the "schools" around here. $4K for a CNA in 6 weeks (full time classes 8 AM to 5 PM daily) when you can go to the CC for 8 weeks, 3 days a week part-time for only $350 and you get the SAME certification as the fly-by-night "school". Unreal!

[psu_213, BSN, RN]

What does one learn in MA school? It seems like most of the stuff can be taught in a one week orientation.

The cynical side of me wants to think they have a lecture on "how to pass yourself off as a nurse."

If someone really wants to be and MA, that's great. I am all for people having a job they love. However, I think it really says something about a profession when they think (and they want everyone else to think) that the biggest plus of the job is 'cute scrubs.'

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

I've seen one like that. They advertise their business school then show the young man, presumably a new grad from their program, in a board meeting in a fancy conference room at the top of a skyscraper. Sorry, but the only way a new grad is in that room is if they are delivering the coffee. That is not a criticism of the person who went there for school...it is a criticism of their slime ball advertising.

And I'd be placing the emphasis not on 'new grad' but 'new grad Associate Degree business major'. Because when there are (and there are) MBAs who are struggling to find work, what's the guy with the two-year CC degree gonna do?

[psu_213, BSN, RN]

And I'd be placing the emphasis not on 'new grad' but 'new grad Associate Degree business major'. Because when there are (and there are) MBAs who are struggling to find work, what's the guy with the two-year CC degree gonna do?

Make sure you ordered everyone's favorite varieties of danishes?

[KimberlyRN89, BSN, RN]

I can't believe this slipped my mind...but many of the ppl I see on my Facebook timeline who are enrolled in these MA programs like to say that they're in "medical school":uhoh3: That just irks me. You're not studying to become a doctor!

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

There has been talk for several years about the government investigating for profit schools. Given how many Americans are in debt, especially with school loan, it is surprise to me that they false promises and contribution to young people's debt that these schools have not faced greater criticism. Then again, this all proceeds under the false assumption that politicians actually care about their constituents (those than donate big bucks to them).

But think of it another way: why should government, politicians get involved at all, really? Isn't it up to the adult who enrolls in these schools to weigh the pros and cons and then be held accountable for their decisions? We are a capitalistic society, and if people want to pay money for classes, who is to say that government should take it upon themselves to tell people 'no'? It's a case of "Let the Buyer Beware", imo. For-profit schools are there to do just that, and if someone is foolish enough to do it, isn't that the grand part about being an American--choice?

I think it's stupid to smoke (I know, whole 'nother topic) but cigarettes aren't going to be outlawed any time soon.

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

....are enrolled in these MA programs like to say that they're in "medical school" That just irks me. You're not studying to become a doctor!

Perhaps I should tell people I'm studying to be a neurosurgeon. I read an article on it very recently, you know....AND saw a video.

[Okami_CCRN, BSN, RN]

Especially since they finish with no degree (it's a certificate of completion) after spending at least as much as anyone paying for an actual ADN.

The shame here is this person didn't think to do any research at all before signing up for this shellacking....certainly a simple Google search would have cleared it up fast. You said you were on a date; I'm picturing it didn't work out.

Oh it didn't work out, I quickly ran away from that situation. My ADN program is about the same cost as the "Sanford Brown MA course" and I finish with an Associates and Diploma :-]

[PghRN30]

But think of it another way: why should government, politicians get involved at all, really? Isn't it up to the adult who enrolls in these schools to weigh the pros and cons and then be held accountable for their decisions? We are a capitalistic society, and if people want to pay money for classes, who is to say that government should take it upon themselves to tell people 'no'? It's a case of "Let the Buyer Beware", imo. For-profit schools are there to do just that, and if someone is foolish enough to do it, isn't that the grand part about being an American--choice?

I think it's stupid to smoke (I know, whole 'nother topic) but cigarettes aren't going to be outlawed any time soon.

I think the reason for government potentially "going to be" getting involved in it isn't a "we need to protect people from themselfs" type thing. It has to do with the fact that government grants end up paying a chunk of it. Which government grants operate on the assumption that helping with getting someone a degree puts them in a better place to provide fore them selfs, which reduces their need for assistance, and then they also feed back into the tax basis of assistance, and into the economy. With these schools aiming at people that almost all will be eligable for those grants, and does not put them back into a better situation, its pretty much the govenment dumping money into a company to make people feel like they are improving their lives.

[psu_213, BSN, RN]

But think of it another way: why should government, politicians get involved at all, really? Isn't it up to the adult who enrolls in these schools to weigh the pros and cons and then be held accountable for their decisions? We are a capitalistic society, and if people want to pay money for classes, who is to say that government should take it upon themselves to tell people 'no'? It's a case of "Let the Buyer Beware", imo. For-profit schools are there to do just that, and if someone is foolish enough to do it, isn't that the grand part about being an American--choice?

I think it's stupid to smoke (I know, whole 'nother topic) but cigarettes aren't going to be outlawed any time soon.

I am not a fan of government being involved in everything, but this is a case of false advertising, plain and simple. The ad gives one the impression that you will be working at the doctor's side with their (the doctor's) 'cutting edge technology.' If someone is foolish enough to be swayed by 'cool scrubs' then they will also be influences by the false claims made by the 'school.'

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

I think the reason for government potentially "going to be" getting involved in it isn't a "we need to protect people from themselfs" type thing. It has to do with the fact that government grants end up paying a chunk of it. Which government grants operate on the assumption that helping with getting someone a degree puts them in a better place to provide fore them selfs, which reduces their need for assistance, and then they also feed back into the tax basis of assistance, and into the economy. With these schools aiming at people that almost all will be eligable for those grants, and does not put them back into a better situation, its pretty much the govenment dumping money into a company to make people feel like they are improving their lives.

Ah, now I see your point...and I agree.