American Career College / Brymann / Concorde???

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These are the three places i'm looking into but need recommendations. My community college has a waiting list of like 300 ppl or something taking it about 40-50 ppl a semester ... so if you do your math we're talking forever till you get in haha.. + I'm barely still on anatomy in my prereqs so its like time is not on my side rite now

But seriously though im torn between all three. I've visited Concorde *btw these are the OC campuses...* in Garden Grove.. I like the look and everything but I wasn't buying the long drive from home. It is a possibility but like that's prolly my last resort *unless u can tell me otherwise*

Brymann.. I haven't heard much about ...actually barely ANYTHING about it so I'm hesistant to try there, but it is close in the area so yeah.

And then American Career College... from what I heard .. it's fine from Concorde... I heard that Concorde is very lecture based .. take ur notes and take ur test.... I heard at ACC its like hmwk and stuff and tests so you get more to do but maybe that's a good thing idk. + I know some ppl who are happy they passed as LVNs but uh I've heard about one person going back to get to their new RN program.

SoOoo whatcha think guys... thanks

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hi,

i actually go to Concorde in Denver. I am in their RN program and i think it is wonderful. I don't know anything about how it is were you are, but the one in colorado is a great program, not at all just lecture based. I have never heard of the other two. good luck in your decision.

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Specializes in PMHNP.

I don't think you should go for American Career College or Bryman if you're thinking about going to a trade school, because I have heard bad things such as high turn over rate for instructors and that you'll be stuck with a lot of people who don't even want to be there in the first place. Concorde is the best one (so I've heard) and remember that these programs cost a lot of money, but if you are willing to pay that much then you better pick the one that offers the best training. Where do you live in SoCal and what school do you go to now? I have heard that Santa Ana has only one year for waiting list (really, not that bad when you think about it) and that Goldenwest has expanded their nursing program to accept more people. Also, on a thread that was started not too long ago in the general forum, there was a topic on nursing schools that had no waiting lists and Cal State San Bernardino was on that. Seems like a bad drive from OC, but remember that you are going against traffic coming from that direction.

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Specializes in Emergency, Trauma, Critical Care.

I am just going to suggest something that I wish I had known about in the first place.

I went to Concorde Career Institute in San Bernardino. The program was ok for the half of us that made it through. They have very strict policies about missing class (like most programs) and grades. We lost 18 people out of a class of 32. So only 14 of us graduated. The problems I had included the changing of teachers. They could not keep staff there at all. The monotony in their teaching was also pretty bad, most of them just read straight from the book. Lastly, I had 17000 dollars in school loans after I finished. It's not that hard to pay them off, but it is an extra stress.

Have you looked into adult schools? I"m not sure where you're located, but there's an adult school near me that only requires you to have a CNA and pass a test (which you would have to do well on regardless of what school you applied to). the program is 3 nights a week so you can still work and not be totally broke. And lastly it only cost around 3000 dollars.

So please, look into that option. I wish I had, I would have been much better off right now.

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im getting like super paranoid because one of my friends just got into ROP's LVN program and yeah. she finished her fundamentals class and is good to go.

i live in the anaheim area so hopefully that helps. im looking into ACC simply because i heard of ppl who went through and passed it... yet again i also heard ppl who also went in and got back out because they didnt like the teachers * like what you described at concorde*... the concorde i visited in garden grove is like a 20min drive thats brutal *filled with construction*...im so turned off from going there and they seem too intense for me. + like you said i heard its just lectures and tests...

at other places like ACC im hearing u get work and quizzes and tests so it'll help reinforce quite a bit. ROP is tempting purely on cost on top of its past few years in 90%+ test scores of its students taking the license test.

i got an appt on wednesday to check out ACC so if anyone has already graduated or have been there let me know how it is thanks

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i went to ACC anaheim...i was in the wknd/evening program...i couldnt do full time bcuz of job reasons....i didnt have any problems at ACC..most of the teachers are very helpful and they prepare you well for the NCLEX. ACC is strict about dress code and policies...and you are required to have atleast 75% each term to proceed onto the next term....there's HESI exam at the end of each term , and i believe thats one of the reasons their NCLEX passing rate is high. I would recommend ACC over concorde...i know some people who transferred to ACC bcuz they werent happy at concorde...for me ACC was the best choice. i would suggest that you do wutever is right for you, dont listen to people complaining about schools....no matter what school u go to, u would have to study hard and stay focused....i used to study 2-3 hrs everynight and graduated with honors. Be prepared to do a lot of reading...its not an easy program...there were 70 people in class when we started....only 40 graduated...if you have any questions regarding the program or ever need any kind of help....feel free to PM or write bak....

Good luck....:D

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Specializes in School LVN, Peds HH.

I graduated from Concorde in GG in March. Honestly, they produce the best LVN's. The program is ridiculous, but you learn a lot. They started a 5 term program in the beginning of the year, and the format is a lot different from what I went through. But if you're looking for a trade school, go with them. Just be prepared for a lot of bull s**t. if you have any questions, feel free to PM me.

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I am just going to suggest something that I wish I had known about in the first place.

I went to Concorde Career Institute in San Bernardino. The program was ok for the half of us that made it through. They have very strict policies about missing class (like most programs) and grades. We lost 18 people out of a class of 32. So only 14 of us graduated. The problems I had included the changing of teachers. They could not keep staff there at all. The monotony in their teaching was also pretty bad, most of them just read straight from the book. Lastly, I had 17000 dollars in school loans after I finished. It's not that hard to pay them off, but it is an extra stress.

Have you looked into adult schools? I"m not sure where you're located, but there's an adult school near me that only requires you to have a CNA and pass a test (which you would have to do well on regardless of what school you applied to). the program is 3 nights a week so you can still work and not be totally broke. And lastly it only cost around 3000 dollars.

So please, look into that option. I wish I had, I would have been much better off right now.

you mentioned there is a "adult school near me"... which adult school is this?? thanks

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Specializes in ALL.

I would like some info on Concorde. How is the school pro and cons?

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Specializes in Emergency, Trauma, Critical Care.

http://www.bvnpt.ca.gov/education/schools/vn_schools.shtml

This list has every accredited LVN program in california, there are other links on the website which take you to passrates. Those are the two most important things when looking at a program.

I was referring to redlands adult school near me.

you live in orange county, I would look at the link above so you know of all accredited programs.

And I'm going to caution again against spending 25k on a program where you may have no job upon exit. Back when I did this there were a lot of job openings and I could quit a job and have a new one the same day. Things are not like that anymore. It's months of job searching, sometimes to no avail.

Good luck to you

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Nikki which school did you mention that you have to be a cna for> thanks

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