LPNMOM2B

I have left 6 messages with 4 different people at Ivy Tech and only one has returned my call. I am starting to wonder if I need to know a secret password to get my call returned.:wink2: I have heard all wonderful things about their nursing programs the only negative is that everyone says it is SO difficult to get into. Right now I am thinking about there Medical Assisting program since I have heard from several people that it is much easier to get into. I first thought that I wanted to go for an RN but since I have never worked in the medical field I decided that I wanted to get me feet wet with the MA program. That way I will only have roughly 2 years invested instead of 4 or more if I decide that is wasn't what I thought it was going to be. Good luck to you and please let me know whats happening and how things work out.

thanks you guys!!!:wink2:

I am looking at going to a school that offers a Medical Assistant program. I read that the only way you can take the CMA Certification Exam is if you go to a school that has CAAHEP or ABHES accrediting. The school I want to go to only has ACICS accrediting. So I called my college and they said with there program I would earn an Associates degree and that it was not neccesary to take the exam to become certified. IS THIS RIGHT? Is it just an option to take the CMA Certification Exam or do I have to, to be able to get a job??? I don't want to waste big bucks and a lot of time to take a program that won't allow me to work when I'm done. Somebody please help me. Is there a difference between a MA or a CMA. :(

Has anyone out there done the medical assistant program at Brown Mackie College? I'm wondering what kind of exam you have to do at the end. I know to take the AMT or AAMA exams you have to have gone to a school that is CAAHEP or ABHES accredited and I don't think the Brown Mackie (South Bend) college is. Can anyone shed any light on this?? Also BMC offers 2 programs 1. Medical Assistant & 2. Medical Assisting - anyone know the difference. I'm also wondering what the differences are between a MA, CMA,and RMA. Thanks for any help you can give me.

I read that to take the cma certification exam you have to have graduated from a CAAHEP or a ABHES accredited medical assisting program. I don't think the Brown Mackie (South Bend) I looked at is. Was the BMC you went to accredited? Did you take AAMA Certification exam?

I am also looking at going to Brown Mackie college. I am a stay at home mom with two kids so I will need major financial aid. When I filled out my fafsa forms they said my EFC was $2175. and that I was eligible for Fed. Pell Grants. Do you mind me asking what your money situation is and if you had a hard time getting enough help to cover 85%. Once you talked to the financial aid person at BM how long did you have to wait to find out what would be covered? Thanks!!

Hi, I was looking at doing LPN or Surgical Tech. too. The research I did said that on a national average LPNs make more then Sur. Tech. but in our area that Sur. Tech.s were actually making 1-2 dollars more an hour. Also I called around to some of the hospitals in my area (Elkhart-South Bend) and they are no longer hiring LPNs in the hospitals but are hiring Surgical Technicians. Hope that helps. Good Luck!!

PLEASE HELP!!! I want to go to school to be an LPN. I first looked at Brown Mackie College in South Bend but after all the negative things I have heard and read ( not to mention the huge tuition) I decided against them. Then I looked into Ivy Tech (South Bend) while everyone seems to have positive things to say about the teachers and the cirriculum they also say how hard it is to get accepted into the nursing programs. I even read that one person had waited a couple of years!!! I am a stay at home mom with two young babies. I can't take the chance of getting my gen. ed. classes done and then having to wait that long before I might get accepted. Has anyone gone to any other schools in the Northern Indiana area besides Brown Mackie or Ivy Tech? These seem to be the two most popular. I am looking for a 1 to 2 year program that is not going to cost me a fortune and where I have to wait forever to just be accepted into the program. Am I just dreaming here? Any advice would be welcomed. Thank you!!

If you are still considering Brown Mackie I would strongly advise against it. I too was thinking at going there because I could start the LPN program right away but after hearing and reading so many bad things I have decided against it. You should look at the thread "looking for brown mackie students from merriville indiana" One of the repliers graduated from there and it sounds like she wasn't impressed. Also, the tuition is outrageous!!!

I was looking at going to Brown Mackie in South Bend but after reading some awful things and then hearing from people who went there I changed my mind. First of all it is awfully expensive, almost double what Ivy Techs tuition is. Also, the credits are not transferable. I talked with a nurse who had worked with a graduate from Brown Mackie and she said that the graduate had almost no clue what she was doing. After reading the above post about the classes there being very easy it makes you wonder how useful of an education you are getting for the high price you are paying. Anyway, I too am going to take my chances at Ivy Tech.:wink2:

Hey there! I am a stay at home mom of 2 and have been out of high school since '99. I too am looking at going to Ivy Tech (South Bend). Are you planning on getting any financial aid? The reason I ask is because I am and I am looking for information on what is available for people like me who have children and are living on only 1 income. If you or anyone reading this can offer information I'd appreciate it

Hello, I am looking to go back to college after being out of school since 1999. I want to get my LPN and am trying to decide between Ivy Tech (South Bend) and Brown Mackie (South Bend) I know Brown Mackie is a LOT more expensive but I have also read that their classes are not as good as Ivy Tech. Brown Mackie I would be able to get into the LPN classes with no problem but I have heard that the Ivy Tech nursing program is hard to get into. Anyone have any info?

Hello, I am looking to start Ivy Tech in South Bend this January. I am wanting to take the LPN program. When people say it is hard to get into, are you talking about the RN or the LPN program? Does anyone have any info on the LPN program that might be helpful?