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Can't say I know anything about Keiser. I just started at ITT Tech. Yes, PTEC and SPC are cheaper in the long run, IF you can get in the program. I tried 3 times to get into PTEC. It's by far the cheapest program and in 18 months you will be an LPN.. but in 27 months I will be an RN with an ADN degree, not just a vocational certificate.
For me, it's worth the extra money to get that RN and degree. Why I couldn't get into PTEC? Simple: too much competition. At the last of the 3 orientations at PTEC that I went to (the orientation is mandatory even just to apply to to PTEC's program) there were over 600 people there.. it was literally standing room only. All of us wanting to try for one of 24 open seats in the nursing program. Talk about insane odds.. and PTEC doesn't do a waiting list anymore. ITT had the best schedule for me and since they just expanded to St Pete from Tampa, everything and I mean everything in the lab is brand new (plus the classes are small, which means more attention from the teachers.) Plus they seem very focused on helping you succeed. I like that.
I'm taking 3 classes a quarter. That's how they do it. This time around, the science class is entirely online.. I have a Strategies class (study skills, using Outlook for classwork, etc) class on Thurs afternoons runs from noon - 430 and Nursing 100 is on Friday AM from 9AM-1230 pm. Our Strategies teacher comes in an hour early to help us with the online Science classwork if we need it. Yes, that's it. Two days a week. My class is only the second class to start at this school.. the class before mine also attends two days/week, but I think they go Wed/Thursday. Right now they have math, nursing 102, and A&P I. I am told that next quarter (starts in March) that our math class might be available as an online option for people who want to take it online, but the nursing classes will always be in a physical classroom. We won't start clinicals until September in my class. Clinicals will add at least a day to the weekly schedule, I am pretty sure.
No idea what days the next class starting in March will be attending on, but I suspect they will be going 2 days/week as well. FWIW there's only 6 of us in my class and I think 4 of the 6 work full time. We started Dec 5.
Their BSN program (once you have the ADN 2 year degree) is -entirely- online.
I wanted to do PTEC's online program, oh yeah.. if I could have gotten in, I so would have. Sigh. I'm really happy about one thing.. at least for the ton of money this is going to cost me, that I am going to be an RN after its done. :)
That doesn't sound to bad but I hear that its really expensive.I went to the seminar last Wednesday and their was about 250 peolpe their but they have one online and two traditional so I hope I get in.Most of the people haven't even taken any of the test or done their shots and the deadline is the ninth.idk I'll try this time and if I don't get in I'll goto spc.Have you taken the teas at ptec
Expensive is right. They will completely max out your PELL and student loans. You don't get a dime of it, it all goes to the school. and they help you with the fin. aid paperwork, it was really easy. Books and everything are included though.. On the first day of class they handed me a huge stack of textbooks (just for 1st quarter mind you) and said "here ya go, all books included in tuition. Can't wait til I get my nursing kit bag with my BP cuff and a stethoscope in it (a Littmann!) in a few months. It was a relief actually that I didn't have to figure out how to pay for the books and the rest. But I don't have to pay the school anything up front either; repayment comes starting 6 months after I graduate, just like every other federal student loan.
Make sure every inch of your PTEC paperwork is in order and pray you get picked. They gotta pick someone. :) I've been to 3 of the orientation things already at PTEC; I could probably stand up there and give the orientation word for word. I did everything else, including all my blood/lab work for the titers because I didn't have my shot records from way back in public school (omg 6 vials of blood and $$$ at the health dept for that mess) to get into PTEC but I didn't take the TEAS there; I got the lab results back too late
to apply for the PTEC class I was wanting to get into at the time. I figured I'd just hold on to the paperwork and try again.. I was waiting for the next mandatory orientation
which was not even scheduled at the time. Then I heard about ITT's nursing program coming to St Pete.
You don't need a hep c series to get in, you can sign the waiver, but you do need to prove that you had all your shots when you were going to grade school. I had to get the lab bloodwork done to prove mine. If you have to do that, do it NOW, takes forever to get the results back.
I did take the HESI entrance exam for ITT, had to. They paid for it and I took it right there at the school before signing any papers. They told us right away if we passed or not. I'm pretty sure PTEC tells you the same for the TEAS too but not totally sure. We will take a more advanced HESI test again halfway through school as well, to see how we are doing and if there's anything we need to focus on before the final HESI test and then the big NCLEX-RN to get our FL licenses.
anyway sorry to go on so long, hope it helps.
ITT WILL tell you the cost up front. All you have to do is ask. As others have said, it's not cheap. It's upwards of 45K for the whole RN program (2 years & 3 months.)
If you're paying cash, why aren't you going to SPC or USF? You can get a BA or BS degree there in 4 years for less. (assuming you can get IN to the RN program at SPC, anyway. Lot of demand for it and not enough places for people to take the classes.)
erica1223
197 Posts
Has anyone attended any of these collages? If so would you recommend anything.