Anyone attending Gurnick Academy LVN program??

Christine2009 · Sep 6, 2011

I am a student in Module 2 at Gurnick in the evening class and DO NOT listen to these threads. Yes, there is a little disorganization, but what school does not have that. I can say first hand I love my experience there.

My advice to you is to stay out of all the drama, be there for YOU and YOU ONLY! If you make friends along the way great if not, then that is okay. The prereq class consists of A&P, Drug Dose Calculations and Medical Terminology. I started in January this year and it is amazing how this time there is flying by.

Module 2 & 3 are going to be a challenge because there is no break between the two modules. Pharm is intense, but doable if you study. Med-Surg is okay, again if you study.

The prereq class and Module 1 are the easiest ones in my opinion. Let me know if you would like more info or advice.

iamjennifer · Sep 7, 2011

Christine,

Thanks so much for responding and thank you for the advice! It makes a huge difference hearing input from someone who is an actual student there. I feel I've made the right decision to attend that particular school rather than any of the other local private schools. I'm super excited to get started! Is there any material or any particular books that I should be reading/studying that will better prepare me? I currently work full-time, so I would like to study now and stay as far ahead as possible.

Thanks

Christine2009 · Sep 7, 2011

You might want to start reading Memmler's The Human Body In Health and Disease by Cohn. This is the book they use in A&P class for prereq's and in Module 1. The first test is over the first 3 chapters and is a lot of chemistry stuff. I got the book ahead of time and read it all the way through before the start of the program. When the program started, I had a clear understanding what the heck they were talking about and did not look like a "deer stuck in the headlights" like my other classmates...lol...

Are you attending the evening or day class?

SparkleShine · Sep 7, 2011

I am looking at this school as well. I live near Fremont so my main concern is the commute time. It would be nice to find someone to carpool with if i get in. I was pleased to find that the tuition at Gurnick is nearly $6000 less than another school I am looking at although that school is 10 minutes from my house i just can't come up with the $3500 for the pre-reqs that is not covered by financial aid. Does anybody know if the $1600 for the pre-req class here is covered by financial aid? Even if it isn't I'm going to apply, at least $1600 seems more attainable for me to try and come up with than $3500.

Christine2009 · Sep 7, 2011

I am looking at this school as well. I live near Fremont so my main concern is the commute time. It would be nice to find someone to carpool with if i get in. I was pleased to find that the tuition at Gurnick is nearly $6000 less than another school I am looking at although that school is 10 minutes from my house i just can't come up with the $3500 for the pre-reqs that is not covered by financial aid. Does anybody know if the $1600 for the pre-req class here is covered by financial aid? Even if it isn't I'm going to apply, at least $1600 seems more attainable for me to try and come up with than $3500.

The prereq class is not covered by financial aid, but you are able to make monthly payments on the cost. Also, if you are looking into Unitek, my advice is not go there! We have a lot of Unitek and Carrington students that started the program there and now at Gurnick.

I drive from Oakland everyday to this school because it is worth it! I am getting a quality education, and the staff and instructors are absolutly fabulous and very friendly along with helpful.

SparkleShine · Sep 7, 2011

The prereq class is not covered by financial aid, but you are able to make monthly payments on the cost. Also, if you are looking into Unitek, my advice is not go there! We have a lot of Unitek and Carrington students that started the program there and now at Gurnick.
I drive from Oakland everyday to this school because it is worth it! I am getting a quality education, and the staff and instructors are absolutly fabulous and very friendly along with helpful.

Thank you. I was looking into unitek mainly because its so close to me and the program is shorter but I do worry about their program being too compressed and intense and the pre-reqs cost is just not attainable for me, I did like the campus though when I went down there but not the admissions rep or financial aid rep I spoke to, they were both very abrasive and not to helpful, hurrying me through the tour just to get to the next appt quickly and the financial aid rep just kept saying call me after you do your FAFSA, like she didnt have time to answer my questions thoroughly. I figured I could suck it up and just deal with these people till I get in and never really have to talk to them again yanno but why do that if I have another option. Carrington with their $42k price tag was not even on my list, I just cannot get over that they are charging that much when other schools with better NCLEX pass rates are charging 10k-15k cheaper.

Its getting close to the start date of the pre-req class at Gurnick so i have to make an appt and get down there asap. Thanks again.

iamjennifer · Sep 8, 2011

You might want to start reading Memmler's The Human Body In Health and Disease by Cohn. This is the book they use in A&P class for prereq's and in Module 1. The first test is over the first 3 chapters and is a lot of chemistry stuff. I got the book ahead of time and read it all the way through before the start of the program. When the program started, I had a clear understanding what the heck they were talking about and did not look like a "deer stuck in the headlights" like my other classmates...lol...
Are you attending the evening or day class?

Christine! You've been such a huge help, thanks! I plan on picking the book up this weekend. (I might as well get a headstart! lol...) Would you happen to know the edition? BTW, I will be attending the day class!

iamjennifer · Sep 8, 2011

I am looking at this school as well. I live near Fremont so my main concern is the commute time. It would be nice to find someone to carpool with if i get in. I was pleased to find that the tuition at Gurnick is nearly $6000 less than another school I am looking at although that school is 10 minutes from my house i just can't come up with the $3500 for the pre-reqs that is not covered by financial aid. Does anybody know if the $1600 for the pre-req class here is covered by financial aid? Even if it isn't I'm going to apply, at least $1600 seems more attainable for me to try and come up with than $3500.

SparkleShine,

I think Gurnick is the best bet when it comes to cost, believe me I've done my research! However, I did come across a school that was surprisingly cheaper and the Pre req. class was only $595 but unfortunately the tuition cost was not covered by financial aid, so that was out of the question for me...let me know if you decide on Gurnick, maybe we can study together!

SparkleShine · Sep 8, 2011

SparkleShine,
I think Gurnick is the best bet when it comes to cost, believe me I've done my research! However, I did come across a school that was surprisingly cheaper and the Pre req. class was only $595 but unfortunately the tuition cost was not covered by financial aid, so that was out of the question for me...let me know if you decide on Gurnick, maybe we can study together!

I'm going to the San Mateo campus this Friday for my 1st meeting so I'll keep you posted.:)

Christine2009 · Sep 8, 2011

Christine! You've been such a huge help, thanks! I plan on picking the book up this weekend. (I might as well get a headstart! lol...) Would you happen to know the edition? BTW, I will be attending the day class!

11th edition. Make sure you let Ann know that you already have the book so it can be deducted from your tution. Just tell her a friend of yours had the book and did not use it and so you bought from her in case she asks.

Christine2009 · Sep 8, 2011

Thank you. I was looking into unitek mainly because its so close to me and the program is shorter but I do worry about their program being too compressed and intense and the pre-reqs cost is just not attainable for me, I did like the campus though when I went down there but not the admissions rep or financial aid rep I spoke to, they were both very abrasive and not to helpful, hurrying me through the tour just to get to the next appt quickly and the financial aid rep just kept saying call me after you do your FAFSA, like she didnt have time to answer my questions thoroughly. I figured I could suck it up and just deal with these people till I get in and never really have to talk to them again yanno but why do that if I have another option. Carrington with their $42k price tag was not even on my list, I just cannot get over that they are charging that much when other schools with better NCLEX pass rates are charging 10k-15k cheaper.
Its getting close to the start date of the pre-req class at Gurnick so i have to make an appt and get down there asap. Thanks again.

From what I have heard, Unitek is only out for the money. I inquired about their bridge program and was told that when I came down there after filling out my FASFA they would give me all the info I needed...the more I asked questions about the program, I was told that he had other people waiting to talk to but to make an appt to come and see the campus and do the financial aid stuff.

Now, why would I fill out a FASFA if I never even got my questions answered? I basically told him that I was not interested in going to a school that only cared about the money and he told me that when I was serious about doing their program, to call him back! :mad:

Gurnick is in the stages of putting a BSN program together so I think that once I finish the LVN that I might look into that if I have any sanity left...lol...