Galen San Antonio vs Hallmark College for 2013-2014

U.S.A. Texas

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Hi, I was wondering if anyone could help me figure out what the best option is for deciding between Galen and Hallmark.

I've heard about some experiences with Galen but I'm having trouble finding any info about the Hallmark program from students who have gone there.

I've been trying to compare the pros vs cons with the 2 school. So far I have the following info:

Accredidation:

Galen- just received the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate degrees. They also have agreements with a couple of schools that will accept credits towards a BSN which is important.

Hallmark- I have no idea if they are accredited are not, cannot find this information

Program Length:

Galen- unfortunately in San Antonio they don't have the 2-yr Associates, so I will have to first do the LVN, then do the LVN to RN. Total amount of time is 27 months.

Hallmark- 20 months

Admission Requirements:

Galen- Pax PN to get into LVN program, then the PAX RN for the RN program (?)

Hallmark- TEASV

Cost:

Galen- this is where the unfortunate lack of the 2-yr associates really hurts. If you add the 2 programs together it cost around $43,000 to become an RN in San Antonio. ($10,000 more than it costs to get the 2 yr associates at their other campuses)

Hallmark- cannot find any info on the cost. It's not on their website, and I can't find it anywhere else either.

So it seems overall that it's easier to get into Galen, it's accredited, and it's likely that you won't have a problem continuing on to get a BSN. But it will take longer, and it seems like it would be more expensive.

Does anyone have any more info that they can share, or maybe their experience with either school? I have found some info on classes from '09 and '10, but none too recently. I'm also curious about the ability to obtain employment with no experience and only an associates vs the "preferred" BSN.

Any info would be greatly appreciated!!

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Specializes in ER, IICU, PCU, PACU, EMS.

Moved to the Texas State Nursing Programs forum.

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HI,

I just saw your post! I graduated from the SA Galen LVN program this June and went straight into the ADN program so I can answer your questions about Galen at least. I also have had clinicals with Hallmark students and will give what ever info I know.

Accredidation:

Yay, SACC accreditation. This means they are now regionally accredited so all colleges and universities should accept their credits. The agreements are a bit outdated as now you can go anywhere. Hallmark is not regionally accredited so most BSN programs will take you but you may have to do core courses(English, history, etc) again, they will only accept the nursing courses.

Program Length:

Yes it is 27 months but for 15 of those you can be working as an LVN and got to online classes, what I'm doing, for the ADN part.

Admission Requirements:

If you go from Galen's LVN to RN program you do not have to take the PAX RN and if you have taken the SAT in the past 5 years with a certain score, you don't have to take either. To be frank I have not heard of a single person failing the PAX PN anyway. The easy part is getting in the hard part is staying in. Each quarter the class sizes shrink from people failing.

Cost:

Personally I will be paying around $36,000 total. I transfered some credits which saves money and if you don't have these try and take some CLEP tests. Also DON'T buy new. At orientation, there is a textbook and uniform sale by former students or most are on craigslist. I spent $200 for my LVN year rather than $1000 for all new.

Also Galen will be offering a BSN program by late next year. This would mean a BSN in 39 months. Admission to each program is automatic with a 2.5 GPA.

Over all I quite like Galen. The instructors are usually nice and after SAC for my last degree it is positively heavenly. After talking with some other schools and having clinicals with them I also feel more prepared skills wise as I had to show some ADN students some things!

As for jobs, almost anyone will hire a ADN including the fancy hospitals as long as you promise to get a BSN in 5 years. As RN-BSN programs are 1 year(and most entirely online), this gives you PLENTY of time. They will sometimes pay for it too. Salary isn't really increased but you have more prospects for advancement later. After all, who wants to be a floor nurse in their 60s?

Sorry this was so long but I love talking about school. If you have any questions please ask!:)

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

That's waaaay too much money to pay for an ADN, especially in TX, where annual salaries do not justify that much investment.

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Specializes in NICU( RN), Pediatric Nurse Practitioner.

It's hard to say. Hallmark has better pass rate than Galen. But with Galen you can do LVN-RN. Are those the only schools you are looking into? There is also Career Point and they have the highest NCLEX pass rate, then there is Baptist Health Professions. They are all on the pricey side though. I am doing the LVN-RN bridge program with Galen, and since I have all pre-reqs except sociology my tuition comes out to 12K for the whole program. I believe if I were to go SAC it would be 9k.. It's not that big of a difference to me. Galen is now SACs accredited and 3 of their Jan 13 grads (supposedly) are going to UTSA, which I am hoping to go to. Make sure you weigh all your options, and speak to as many people as possible. But you must remember that while people might not agree with your decision to spend a lot of money for school, it is your investment into yourself, and you are your BEST investment. Good luck with your research and schooling.

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I would recommend you to go to San Antonio college. It is much more affordable and the program is great with great instructors. I just finished my second semester in the program with only two more to go. So far it's been a fantastic experience with sac! And did I mention it is the most affordable program in San Antonio and also nationally accredited by the NLNAC. Don't do yourself a burden by accumulating thousands in loans just for an associates degree.

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Specializes in Medical-Surgical, Education, Community Health.

I graduated from Hallmark College's program this January. Theirs is just an ADN program but I was an LVN and got a fair amount of credits. I actually went to Galen in 2009 when they first began their LVN to RN program in Texas. I left after 9 months, feeling very dissasitisfied. It was a new program and had kinks to work out. I know a few people doing the online LVN to RN.

If you have any qustions regarding Hallmark, please feel free to ask away! I really liked the school. I graduated top of my class, and took my boards 2 weeks later and passed with 75 questions. So far, 9 people have taken their boards and have all passed them.

Either way, you're sure to get a good education but I'm really glad I chose Hallmark College :)

Dave

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I graduated from Hallmark College's program this January. Theirs is just an ADN program but I was an LVN and got a fair amount of credits. I actually went to Galen in 2009 when they first began their LVN to RN program in Texas. I left after 9 months, feeling very dissasitisfied. It was a new program and had kinks to work out. I know a few people doing the online LVN to RN.

If you have any qustions regarding Hallmark, please feel free to ask away! I really liked the school. I graduated top of my class, and took my boards 2 weeks later and passed with 75 questions. So far, 9 people have taken their boards and have all passed them.

Either way, you're sure to get a good education but I'm really glad I chose Hallmark College :)

Dave

Hi Dave! Do you know how many times a year the ADN program starts? Thanks!

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Specializes in Medical-Surgical, Education, Community Health.

At Hallmark, they start 3 times per year. I believe January, May and September.

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Does anyone know how competitive hallmark is?

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I just got into Hallmark University for Fall 2015. Can i ask you a few questions? Where you able to hold down a job while attending school there? Did you find a RN job right after graduating ? Did you persue your BSN and if yes, where?

Thx !

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Specializes in Trauma/Ortho/Plastics.

A couple people I know graduated from Hallmark. They worked on the weekends while going to school and once they graduated the hospital we work at offered them jobs one is in ICU the other on Med-surg.

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