Concorde vs. American Career College

[joliemolie]

I have done my research and realize that this is the more expensive route to go, but does anyone know if one of these schools is better than the other? American starts sooner in my area, but I do not know if it is up to standard like Concorde. Thanks for the feedback! :>)

[MiamiLPNstudent]

I think it is the school. I went to the Concorde campus in Miramar, FL to enquire about the ADN program. I was ready to apply and do what I needed to start in the next class term. The counselor I met with tells me that because I dont have any medical experience I should do the MA or PCT program first, then maybe if I am good enough I can do the ADN program. He volunteered all the the info about the MA & PCT programs. I had to press him for info about the ADN program. I felt like he was trying to force me into a program that I am clearly not interested in. He even took me to financial aid and told the lady to run the numbers for the PCT program. I wound up leaving completely frustrated and aggravated.

I have already been accepted into an LPN program that starts June 1, but I saw their ADN program is 15 months and I can be an RN with only 3 months more schooling. I'll stick with Keiser where I had no problems, and they have a high NCLEX pass rate!

[ScrubBaby]

Garden Grove Concorde is notorious for anal instructors. They are so concerned about rank and status, instead of teach the students correctly. The instructors like to intimidate and use fear on the students. It's bad enough that most of the students are nervous to begin with, but using intimidation doesn't motivate them.

In my class, a lot of the students dropped out because of false impressions by the instructors. They made up intimidating stories to show their superiority and it ended up backfiring because the students quit.

I eventually left after the first semester. Then I was lucky to get into a BSN program at a university.

I've seen the inside of Concorde G.G. and I would never ever recommend anyone go there. It's not worth it.

[raebabelvn, LVN]

Hi there! :)

I graduated from Concorde's LVN program in '08. I went to the Garden Grove campus. I know things have changed since I've been there... For example, when I was in school there, there were 4 terms (there are 5 now), we started clinical rotations term 1 and in a SNF (now I think they start term 2 in an acute setting), ect... I learned a lot. Graduated. Got a job. And am one of the better LVN's out there.

I did the full-time program. I was in theory 2-3 days a week, about 6 hours a day. They broke up the theory into modules. Term 1 was basic nursing knowledge, and terms 2-4 were A&P, with each module broken down into body systems. They lasted between 1-4 weeks. We had a mid-term or final every week it seemed. If you didn't pass a module with an 80%, you had to remediate. Basically, you were forced to sit in a classroom after clinical or theory and be tutored, then you retook the final.

Clinicals were 2-3 days a week. Started at 6:30am, ended at 3pm. Sometimes you got out early though. Most clinical instructors lived by the "Don't tell the DON when we leave or when we get here" motto. I only had one awful clinical instructor, but I know she stopped teaching clinicals for Concorde when I was in term 4. You learn a lot in clinicals if you pay attention, research your patients history completely and ask questions. When I graduated, I felt completely competent.

I had classmates that failed out of Concorde in term 2 and went to ACC. They said ACC was a joke compared to Concorde. A lot of self teaching, no enforcement of rules, ect... After they graduated, they said they felt like they learned nothing. One of those nurses took the NCLEX over a year after she graduated because she never felt completely prepared. Concorde offers a NCLEX review class. I never went to it, but it helped a lot of my classmates.

Concorde is super strict. You can miss 2 clinical days, thats it. More? And you're kicked out. You can miss 10% of the scheduled theory hours. 3 tardies = 1 absence. You have to pass with an 80% or you remediate. You're allowed 2 remediations per term. Need another one? You're done.

All in all, its a decent program. You graduate prepared and knowledgeable.

[HandofGuldan]

I too am looking for a school to prepare for LVN license exam. I have worked in the IT industry for over 17 years and have always yearned in becoming a CRNA. I'm in my mid 30's and need a solid foundation while still providing some sort of income to the household.

Between ACC, Concorde, Summit & Pacific, there seems to be more positive remarks & comments towards ACC. I agree with the many users that have posted stating, whichever school is attended, "You" will make the most of it.

Still, I need assistance.. My longterm plan is to become an LVN, work @ a long term care facility for about 1-2 years while going through the LVN-RN bridge. Which of the above schools is the majority winner when it comes to the LVN program?

Saddleback College has a great bridge program and are well respected. Ultimately, BSN then to become a CRNA.

I would appreciate feedback so I may properly plan my future in the healthcare field.

Wow crazy, it was almost like I wrote that myself! However this is several years in the future, so i'm curious how things worked out for you? I am exactly the same place (years in IT, 30's etc) and worried about making the wrong choice here. If you get this can you give us an update on how things went/what you decided? Thanks