Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts or Institute of Medical Education??? help.

Christine2009 · Oct 22, 2010

I plan to apply this month in a LVN program. Can you tell me about these schools? Gurnick in Concord and San Mateo, and IME in Oakland. I checked out Mission College, but there are many prerequisites, and the application date is around February/March (for Fall 2011) so I won't have enough time to finish the prereqs. Gurnick starts in January (Concord) and in April (San Mateo). IME starts in June. So I'm deciding which one of these I'll go to. Need help about the reputation of the school, HOW GOOD instructors are (if they're RN's, LVN's, etc), if you really learn at the clinical sites (hands-on?) and stuff that will really help me choose.
Or if you could suggest another school.
THANK YOU.

I am planning on starting at Gurnick in Concord in January. I can tell you that from my research, Gurnick has a wonderful reputation. I spoke with a student that just graduate there and she had nothing but positive things to say about the school. She told me that not all instructors are the same....they do not teach the same...and so she advised me to study ahead of time (A&P, Fundamentals, Nutrition, and Drug Dose Calculations) before school starts.

I was able to credit grant the first module and prereq's because I was in another LVN program at a JC and was dropped at the end of the Spring semester because I did not pass Pediatrics by a 10th of point! I am planning on auditing the prereq's and module 1 because there was a lot of stuff I have not learned for one and a lot of stuff I was not taught at my previous program.

I also contacted IME as well and found that their program does not start until June, and really could not get any info out of them about the program. Actually, they told me they are not really sure when the next program will start, but hope it will be in June.

I like the flexability of the Gurnick schedule as well. I am able to keep my job and go to school at the same time. My other program did not allow us to work. If you go to Facebook, in the search section, type in Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts in Concord and their page will pop up. This might also help you in making a decision.

Hope to see you in January at Gurnick...I am going during the evening so we might be classmates if you decide to go there.

IvanM · Nov 9, 2010

Hey Christine,

I am currently enrolled at Gurnick in Modesto. I read that you applied for WIA and got approved. I will be finishing the last of the four sessions required to meet with the counselor. What do you recommend that I say in the interview to maximize my possibilities of receiving aid for the LVN course? What do they look for?

IvanM · Nov 9, 2010

I am new at this so I'm not sure how it works.

Christine2009 · Nov 10, 2010

Hey Christine,
I am currently enrolled at Gurnick in Modesto. I read that you applied for WIA and got approved. I will be finishing the last of the four sessions required to meet with the counselor. What do you recommend that I say in the interview to maximize my possibilities of receiving aid for the LVN course? What do they look for?

First and foremost, if you have already started classes, they will not except you into the program.

Secondly, they only will pay $4000 and want you to show proof of how you are planning to pay the remaining balance. I gave them a copy of what I got from Financial Aid showing my Pell(s) and Student Loans and what I left over that was not covered.

They will ask how you plan to pay any outstanding balance after they pay the $4000 and if finding a job after you graduate will be a problem. Because Gurnick has job placement this is not a problem. They also look at your current employment status. I work in the medical field as it is so I was told that I was a perfect canidate for the program. Also, they told me that it takes about 1 - 2 months to get your funds.

Take everything you have about the program with you to your appt with the counsler...brochure, financial aid stuff and schedule of classes. The more info you have to give them helps "back up your case" to get accepted into the program.

HTH! Feel free to PM with any add'l questions you might have.

IvanM · Nov 10, 2010

Thanks for the info. So what you are saying is that if you are currently working int he medical field then you are a better candidate for the program? So to qualify, you don't have to be unemployed? Also, I am scheduled to take the "preq-challenge test". What should I study or look for in order to be more successful? I am scheduled tomorrow to take the test.

Christine2009 · Nov 12, 2010

Thanks for the info. So what you are saying is that if you are currently working int he medical field then you are a better candidate for the program? So to qualify, you don't have to be unemployed? Also, I am scheduled to take the "preq-challenge test". What should I study or look for in order to be more successful? I am scheduled tomorrow to take the test.

OMG! I have to take the same test, but going to audit A&P and Drug Dose Calculations before I take the test...I was told that the test was on:

A&P: all the body systems, chemistry, microbiology, ect.

Drug Dose: Roman Numerals, Basic Math

HTH and Best of luck to you!

diana82 · Aug 4, 2011

I wish i had done better research, I ended up going with IME which was the biggest mistake I had ever taken. I have been talking to a few people that are enrolled in other programs and I have heard lots of good things about Unitek College's and Gurnicks VN program.