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Discussion

Educational Dilemma

I am torn between community college and for profit school. The dilemma is that in community college I would have to put in 16 wks to earn my PCT. In the for profit school I would only have to put in 6 wks for my PCT and it includes all books, scrubs, and any tools I may need. Can anyone give me some advice on which way to go? Does anyone have for profit school education an did it serve you well? Any advice is welcome. Thanks

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    • Featured Replies

    I can't wait to read some of the responses you get. I had to watch a video on "for profit" schools in my Sociology class. Depending on the school...some of their certifications/degrees were not worth the paper they were written on. Some were on the up and up. In any case, they were very expensive, sometimes twice the cost of a 4-year college. Yikes!! I have thought about going to a "for profit" if I am not accepted into the nursing program at my current school. The community college I attend only take 40 students in the day program and 20 in the evening. Last semester they had 400 applicants.

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    Is there a significant difference in the cost of tuition between both schools? If not, just pick the one that works best for your schedule. The quality of your education really doesn't matter- the stuff you learn at both places will be the same, and it's easy.

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    • Expert

    If the Community College has a good reputation go there -- even if it is inconvenient. While some for-profit schools offer a good education, many do not -- and are incredibly over-priced, leaving their graduates with debt burden that ruins their financial lives for many years.

    Knowing that the for-profit education is such a "racket," some people will question your education there and it may prevent you from advancing in your career as fast as you would like. You also need to check the accreditations of both programs. Some for-profit schools do not have the best accreditations -- and that may prevent your credits from transfering to a BSN program later. Don't invest in academic credits that are not respected enough by the academic community to transfer to other reputable schools.

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    The OP is just going for PCT- isn't that a non-credit certificate course?

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    • Author

    Yes it is, but I also want the best training possible. If I am going to get educated I want to do it right. I can get all of the training I need at the Community College, but the For Profit school offers it all in one course. The Community College does not.

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    • Expert

    I would definitely choose the community college course over the for profit school. I have never met anyone who praised the education they received from a proprietary school. At least you will get college credit (usually) at the college program, and (usually) it is cheaper. You should also receive a better exposure to potential work sites through their clinical placements as well as having a chance to meet some future school and work references. Just better all the way around, even if it takes longer.

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    • Author

    Thank you for all the advice! My wife is encouraging me to go for phlabotamy first and then if I want to get more educaton move on from there. I am leaning much more toward Community College after some of the responses here. Thanks again!

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    I agree with the above; for-profit schools might drag you down a path of unnecessary debt. For a PCT certificate, I would do community college. I personally would not cross the line into unfamiliar for-profit-school territory, unless I don't get into nursing school and need to make a last-ditch effort.

    Good luck with your phlebotomy training! :)

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