Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts LVN (Concord CA)

Christine2009 · Oct 2, 2010

I am starting there too!!! I am coming in as a transfer student so I do not have to do the prereq's. I am starting on April 4th.

I was going to start on January 10th, but going on a cruise in February for a week and do not want to miss a week of class.

Are you going to be in the day or evening program? I have to do the evening because I work full time. I think that it is a good school and program from what I have researched.

msnisha · Oct 3, 2010

Thx Christine for replying.. I have been doing some research also I have heard good and bad things about the school... So I will have to check it out for myself... I have a appt tomorrow with the school. Im not sure if I will do the day or evening class. I have to see how much financial aid with let me take out for loans.. I made to much last year for any grants are anything :.( R u taking out loans?

Christine2009 · Oct 4, 2010

I am only able to take out one loan because I have previous loans from the past so I am almost at the max for an undergrad ($57,000). What has killed me is all the interest and then I have been defering my payments all these years because I have been in school to complete my prereq's.

I know that you will really like Ann, she is so sweet and helpful. Sharon, who runs the front desk is also nice. I just got a real warm fuzzy feeling from the school.. I have research so many schools and all of them seemed to be out for the money and did not feel that way with Gurnick.

I also declined getting my books from them along with the supplies (stethescope, BP cuff, penlight, bandage scissors) because that saves me $900. I have been able to purchase the books on half.com and already have spent like $150 bucks for brand new or like new books. (Ann will give you the book list if you ask her)

Also, I am finding that if you purchase the previous edition of a book, you also save money ( I bought the nutrition book for .99 cents on ebay that was brand new in the wrapper, just the previous edition).

The book(s) are the same, just with a different cover. I got the drug dose calculations book (current edition) for example from half.com for $10 and it was brand new still in the wrapper!!! I got the Med-Surg book from there too with the workbook in brand new condition in wrapper for $15. I still need to get the pediatrics, maternity, and mental health books. I am currently bidding on ebay for the previous edition of the maternity book that is brand new in the wrapper also and just got an email that I won the bid...I only have to pay $2 for that.

I already had the stethescope, BP cuff, penlight and scissors that I got from my other program and bought those off of amazon for dirt cheap. I think my Littman stethescope was like $50, BP cuff $25, penlight $2, scissors $5.

Just an FYI to save some money. Also, because I do not have to take the prereq's and only one class for Module 1 (nutriton) which cuts my tuition down. Also, I am going on Tuesday to the WIA office (located at your local One Stop Career Center) to sign up for thier program...they will pay $4,000 of my program, so I am left with a balance of about $400 (that will be divided into 12 monthly payments)after I get my Pell and loan.

Hopefully we can start together and then we can be study buddys if you want. I am already studying for class, because I know that when school starts, we are going to get slammed with homework and reading. Let me know what happens and when you get your books. I have the chapters we will cover in Med-Surg 1 and going through those now as well as the drug dose calculations and pharmacology. Send me a PM so we can exchange email addresses and phone #'s if you want more info on the WIA program or anything else.

Christine

msnisha · Oct 4, 2010

Awwwww thanks so much Christine for all the info.... You have been so helpful... Thanks again... Well I have a student loans already also which is like 15,000... Do u think they will give me moe loans? Thats my fear that they want give me anything... Yes we can def be study buddies if I get into the program.... Wow they have a program that will pay 4000 thats really good... I know my job will give me a 1000 per year its not alot but its better then nothin...

Mayflower03 · Dec 6, 2010

Hey! I plan to start going to gurnick as well in January, but for the morning classes.

Christine2009 · Dec 8, 2010

Hey! I plan to start going to gurnick as well in January, but for the morning classes.

Congrats! Did you get your books yet? I wish I could do the morining class, but my work schedule will not allow for it so I am stuck with the evening. We all will have to stay in touch and cheer each other on. I got all my books on half.com and Amazon because I refused to pay $900 for the books and a cheap stethescope (I bought a Littman for $45 bucks off Amazon)...lol

The count down is on till school starts....

Christine

drugirl · Dec 18, 2010

Hey! I plan to start going to gurnick as well in January, but for the morning classes.

I was wondering did you take their prerequisite class in October? I saw that on their website saying you had to take and pass that class prior to starting the core program. I already taken A&P, microbiology, nutrition etc from my cc. When did you apply for their program? not sure if it's kinda too late to apply for it now.

Christine2009 · Dec 19, 2010

I was wondering did you take their prerequisite class in October? I saw that on their website saying you had to take and pass that class prior to starting the core program. I already taken A&P, microbiology, nutrition etc from my cc. When did you apply for their program? not sure if it's kinda too late to apply for it now.

I also took the same at my jc and the school accepted the credits. The reason why I am starting in January is to audit the prereq's (Intro to A&P and Drug Dose Calculations). The school I went to did not do a good job in teaching these subjects, and it has been so long since I took the classes (4 1/2 yrs) that I need a refresher per say to make sure I have a firm foundation for the other classes in the program.

As far as applying for the April 2011 core program, the class is full and they now have a waiting list. The next core date will be in September with prereq's begining in July. That is the class they are now taking applications for now or you can take your chances with being put on the waiting list for the April class

HTH!

drugirl · Dec 19, 2010

I also took the same at my jc and the school accepted the credits. The reason why I am starting in January is to audit the prereq's (Intro to A&P and Drug Dose Calculations). The school I went to did not do a good job in teaching these subjects, and it has been so long since I took the classes (4 1/2 yrs) that I need a refresher per say to make sure I have a firm foundation for the other classes in the program.
As far as applying for the April 2011 core program, the class is full and they now have a waiting list. The next core date will be in September with prereq's begining in July. That is the class they are now taking applications for now or you can take your chances with being put on the waiting list for the April class
HTH!

Hey Christine, thanks for the information! I am going to give them a call on Monday to see how many people are on the waiting list, I wish I can get in the January batch, the earlier the better. Are you going to San Mateo or Concord?:)

Christine2009 · Dec 20, 2010

Hey Christine, thanks for the information! I am going to give them a call on Monday to see how many people are on the waiting list, I wish I can get in the January batch, the earlier the better. Are you going to San Mateo or Concord?:)

I am going to the Concord campus. Last time I checked with admissions, which was on Friday there was 7 on the waitlist divided between the day and night programs. Talk to Ann, she is the admissions rep and can give you more info

msnisha · Dec 23, 2010

Hello Mayflower 03- I will be in the morning class also :)