another ivy tech post

Ceteris Paribus · Oct 11, 2006

Well you make some good points:

a. Your TEAS test in Indy (which is always open M-F basically 9-4 PM although you must arrive by about 1PM to test) will count at ANY Ivy Tech campus.

b. I have found MOST requirements to be the same, but there are some differences. Specifically, I found that some of the Ivy Tech campuses (Muncie, and Columbus) told me that my Science prerequisites were good for only FIVE years not the ten that Ivy Tech Indianapolis will take. If you are willing and able to commute you could exponentially improve your odds by applying not only to Indianapolis, but also Richmond, Muncie, Columbus, Bloomington, Kokomo, and Terre Haute.

c. How can you afford Marion College? I considered U of I, but it was going to cost me 18K per year OUT OF POCKET not including books (that's after loans and other Fin aide).

d. I think that Ivy Tech Indianapolis overrelies on the TEAS test. Essentially, to be a successful applicant you need scores that put you in the top 5% of all test takers. I believe that this especially discriminates against minority applicants and may serve as the basis for a lawsuit in the future (there is a theory in equity/ affirmative action law known as "disparate impact" which essentially states that a policy which results in substanially fewer minorities can be discriminatory and actionable EVEN if that is not the intent). I noticed at the information session that probably 30 to 40% of attendees were minorities, and I will be interested to see on Nov 9th (when our class first meets for an information session) how many of these applicants were accepted. I have no problem in using something like the TEAS as one part of a larger process it is the overreliance upon the test (it essentially makes up about 50% of the points in the admission process) to which I object. It would be better to look at more than four prerequisite classes as well as to consider adding an interview/essay component to the admission process (as they already do for the RT and Rad Tech programs).

e. Also you might consider the LPN program at Ivy Tech. It is easier to get into and you will be out in a year earning money (I personally know an LPN who works in home health and earns 80K per year with overtime). Also the LPN/ASN bridge program is much less competitive since you are only competing with other LPN's for the spots.

bethin · Oct 12, 2006

c. How can you afford Marion College? I considered U of I, but it was going to cost me 18K per year OUT OF POCKET not including books (that's after loans and other Fin aide).
e. Also you might consider the LPN program at Ivy Tech. It is easier to get into and you will be out in a year earning money (I personally know an LPN who works in home health and earns 80K per year with overtime). Also the LPN/ASN bridge program is much less competitive since you are only competing with other LPN's for the spots.

I'm assuming your questions were directed at me. Honestly, years ago I would say I would never attend a college that cost 20k a year. I applied for financial aid and received ALOT in grants and that cut the cost in half (basically 10k, the same I was paying at BSU) and the other half I'll take out in loans. I'm single, working as an aide so I do not have much of an income. Plus, I am lucky - my grandparents left me money so I can pay for books, gas, etc while working PT. God bless them.

I tried the LPN program at Ivy Tech. When I called all the nearby campuses, I inquired about LPN and RN programs. Each campus was different, esp btw Lawrenceburg and Madison. I couldn't get a test date in Feb for either LPN or RN. That's when I decided enough is enough. I've been taking BS classes at Ivy Tech just to keep sharp on studying. I would gladly do LPN first but at the Ivy Tech campuses near me it is very competitive. I live 2 hours from Indy, 2 hours from Cincy so that puts me in the middle of nowhere. I have to think of that when it comes time for clinicals. I had been attending Columbus, by far the closest campus.

It's going to be hard. Really hard. I've already had panic attacks thinking of the money I will owe. But I want nothing more than a degree and I can't put a price on that. Like I said, I'm single so I don't have to worry about husbands and feeding and clothing kids. I figured it out and I would make enough as a new grad to pay back the loans.

I actually was going to attend U of I this fall but they called me 2 days before classes start to say I couldn't attend clinicals because I had dropped Advanced Physio at Ivy Tech. You cannot drop any science class for any reason at any time and expect to get into clinicals at U of I. Would have been nice if they had let me know before I wasted my time driving there, doing orientation, changing my schedule, etc.

Ceteris Paribus · Oct 12, 2006

Maybe, I'm not understanding something but whether or not you attend Marion, or Ivy Tech (Indianapolis) you will have to move in order to make the drive reasonable. Keep in mind that you can take the TEAS test in Indy almost any time and use it at ANY regional Ivy Tech campus. For example lets say that you took the test in Indy and then got accepted in the Richmond, Muncie or Bloomington (to name but a few) Ivy Tech ASN or LPN program, you could move there and still probably save a ton of money relative to a private college (since the 18K tuition at Marion College doesn't include room and board which is about another 5K per year). You should also consider the programs at Ball State, Purdue, Indiana State and IUPUI since they all lead to a BSN (rather than an ASN) and are still MUCH cheaper than a private university. On the other hand if you are determined to go private you might also consider Butler University in Indianapolis which has excellent PA, and Pharm D. programs (unless your heart is set on nursing). Also no matter where you go you should consider applying for this state funded scholarship http://www.in.gov/ssaci/programs/nur.html IF you plan to work in Indiana after graduation for at least two years. Good luck.

bethin · Oct 13, 2006

Maybe, I'm not understanding something but whether or not you attend Marion, or Ivy Tech (Indianapolis) you will have to move in order to make the drive reasonable. Keep in mind that you can take the TEAS test in Indy almost any time and use it at ANY regional Ivy Tech campus. For example lets say that you took the test in Indy and then got accepted in the Richmond, Muncie or Bloomington (to name but a few) Ivy Tech ASN or LPN program, you could move there and still probably save a ton of money relative to a private college (since the 18K tuition at Marion College doesn't include room and board which is about another 5K per year). You should also consider the programs at Ball State, Purdue, Indiana State and IUPUI since they all lead to a BSN (rather than an ASN) and are still MUCH cheaper than a private university. On the other hand if you are determined to go private you might also consider Butler University in Indianapolis which has excellent PA, and Pharm D. programs (unless your heart is set on nursing). Also no matter where you go you should consider applying for this state funded scholarship http://www.in.gov/ssaci/programs/nur.html IF you plan to work in Indiana after graduation for at least two years. Good luck.

Definitely not planning on staying in Indiana--way too cold for me. You'd think after 26 years of living here I'd be used to it. But I will check out that link anyway. Maybe I can live here for at least 2 years. Thanks.

Just found out last night that I will be sharing an apt with a good friend in Shelbyville. While moving there greatly increases my Ivy Tech campus choices, I am not eligible for aid if I attend Ivy Tech. Govt. says I'm too rich working as an aide. Marian and U of I are also less competitive and time is a HUGE factor for me. I'll be 30 when I'm done and I had my hopes set on law school, so I have to get a Bachelor's which will put me in my mid 30's before I'm done. I have done nothing but wait for years and I'm sick of it. Doesn't matter how many times you get knocked down, only matters how many times you get up. I pick time over money.

Oh, and don't ask why I want to go to nsg school only to go to law school. Urge to help people is too great. I love both deeply, so why not??? And don't ask about law school loans - they're expensive enough that they come with a warning.

th rn 2b · Nov 6, 2006

I don't think it's that bad. I'm in the RN program in TH, and here, they take in A&P I and II, Algebra, Psych and Dev Psych, Comp, Microbiology, and Advance Physiology, plus the TEAS. I had an A in all the prereqs except Algebra (B). I hadn't even taken Physiology yet (took it after I was accepted and made an A) so there was 32 points I didn't have. I was accepted in the first group, so don't give up. One B is not going to hurt, but, if I had a C, I'd go ahead and retake the class.

BernieRN · Nov 6, 2006

I'm pretty sure ALL Ivy Tech colleges are going to the new grading format as of January of 07. Makes it a lot tougher to get in.

mnj0105 · Nov 7, 2006

I am tying to get in for 2007 also. I go to Michigan City and will be applying to Valpo for next year. Valpo and Gary both have 80 spots available. I am getting all A's right now, and hope I can keep it up. Next semester I am taking 5 classes to get my pre req's done. Here's hoping...