Roll Call-November 2012 LPN Program at Galen College in Tampa

Peterjoy93 · Sep 24, 2012

Is Galen accredited? If not don't go there, USF will not recognize them. Did you talk to anyone at USF yet? I would before committing to Galen, that is why I did not go to Galen, Keiser or any of those other "nursing" schools. Go to HCC.

Red35 · Sep 25, 2012

USF will accept credits from Galens LPN program ( not the RN though). Also, USF will accept Keisers credits...USF will accept the private schools credits as long as they are NLNAC accred.

Peterjoy93 · Sep 25, 2012

Galen is not accredited; NLNAC at least. I work with someone who wanted to get their BSN with Ohio U. and was they had to retake many classes they already took at Galen. I would just check with USF before enrolling and not just take Galens word for it. It would be a shame to spend all that money based on what Galen says.

KKJA8855 · Sep 25, 2012

Thank you both for the information. I am actually only doing LPN at Galen due to my daytime work schedule then plan on doing RN bridge at HCC then BSN at USF. I appreciate your responses and heads up, this site and the positive feedback I've been getting from the nursing community is awesome!

KKJA8855 · Sep 25, 2012

Also just to add, I've learned the hard way that USF does not accept HCC's science courses because at HCC they are taken on the 1000-level rather than USF's 2000-level. So I'll be re-taking A&P 1/2 as well as Micro but I'm sure there are worse things...

Red35 · Sep 25, 2012

Galen is not accredited; NLNAC at least. I work with someone who wanted to get their BSN with Ohio U. and was they had to retake many classes they already took at Galen. I would just check with USF before enrolling and not just take Galens word for it. It would be a shame to spend all that money based on what Galen says.

That is why I stated USF will not accept Galens RN credits ( they will however for Galen's LPN program )...I have spoke with USF several times as I was looking at the LPN option.

Gradius · Sep 27, 2012

KKJA8855... I've never met you nor do I know your real name, but based on our interactions on the HCC Spring 2013 board, I indirectly think of you as a friend already. And as your friend I want to share my opinion even if it is the opposite of yours. So please understand that. That said...

Re: Galen...

Don't. And there are countless reasons why.

1) You still might win your HCC Spring 2013 appeal.

2) You have at least an alternate level GPA for Fall 2013 at HCC. We know this based on the Fall 2012 HCC thread. You will have your Trig class done by January so your GPA could rise, making your chances even better.

3) $18K Galen tuition. There are far cheaper LPN options in your area, for example:

Practical Nursing | pTEC | Pinellas Technical Education Centers

PTEC even has an online LPN program which you could mold around your work schedule. And PTEC isn't the only choice I'm sure.

4) Weren't you telling me the other day that an ABSN (for me) would be far cheaper (of course quicker) than an ASN-BN? Not only are you taking the "long way" by going to Galen, you'd be paying $18K for an LPN when you can get a BSN at any state school for the same price if not less. If you say "but I need to work" then still, HCC at night (even if it's Fall 2013) will still be maybe $7K.

5) Re: retaking Anatomy 1, 2 and Micro because USF won't take HCC's credits: no one says you have to go to USF for your BSN. Pretty much all of the other state universities (e.g. UCF) have fully online RN-BSN programs for the working ASN. HCC's Anatomy is BSC1085/1086 right? And isn't USF's BSC2085/2086? If that is the case, THAT IS THE SAME COURSE. It's Florida law, if the last 3 numbers are the same they are identical and have to be accepted. Let me share the VCC link I shared with you before:

2012-13 Official Catalog in PDF

6) Accreditation issues as a couple other people already mentioned on this thread. You are playing with fire for your future employment possibilities if you go to a school that has "sketchy" accreditation, let's just say that.

I could go on and on about this, especially since you're pretty much down the road from me so it's like you're a "neighbor," lol. But here will have to do.

KKJA8855 · Sep 28, 2012

KKJA8855... I've never met you nor do I know your real name, but based on our interactions on the HCC Spring 2013 board, I indirectly think of you as a friend already. And as your friend I want to share my opinion even if it is the opposite of yours. So please understand that. That said...
Re: Galen...
Don't. And there are countless reasons why.
1) You still might win your HCC Spring 2013 appeal.
2) You have at least an alternate level GPA for Fall 2013 at HCC. We know this based on the Fall 2012 HCC thread. You will have your Trig class done by January so your GPA could rise, making your chances even better.
3) $18K Galen tuition. There are far cheaper LPN options in your area, for example:
Practical Nursing | pTEC | Pinellas Technical Education Centers
PTEC even has an online LPN program which you could mold around your work schedule. And PTEC isn't the only choice I'm sure.
4) Weren't you telling me the other day that an ABSN (for me) would be far cheaper (of course quicker) than an ASN-BN? Not only are you taking the "long way" by going to Galen, you'd be paying $18K for an LPN when you can get a BSN at any state school for the same price if not less. If you say "but I need to work" then still, HCC at night (even if it's Fall 2013) will still be maybe $7K.
5) Re: retaking Anatomy 1, 2 and Micro because USF won't take HCC's credits: no one says you have to go to USF for your BSN. Pretty much all of the other state universities (e.g. UCF) have fully online RN-BSN programs for the working ASN. HCC's Anatomy is BSC1085/1086 right? And isn't USF's BSC2085/2086? If that is the case, THAT IS THE SAME COURSE. It's Florida law, if the last 3 numbers are the same they are identical and have to be accepted. Let me share the VCC link I shared with you before:
2012-13 Official Catalog in PDF
6) Accreditation issues as a couple other people already mentioned on this thread. You are playing with fire for your future employment possibilities if you go to a school that has "sketchy" accreditation, let's just say that.
I could go on and on about this, especially since you're pretty much down the road from me so it's like you're a "neighbor," lol. But here will have to do.

Thank you Gradius, I appreciate your concern and looking out for me. My intention is to get only my LPN at Galen then transfer to HCC and do the bridge program to RN. I will not officially enroll with Galen until the end of October, and by then I will know if my appeal is accepted for HCC and of course, HCC will be my first choice. I have been pursuing my nursing goal for too many years now and I am running out of time to make this happen. This is a personal choice, one I have thought through carefully. Ptec is suspending their evening LPN program because their evening program instructor is retiring. I've also heard from students at Ptec that their evening program (especially the online portion) is poorly organized and they feel they are not getting the quality education or training they need. Erwin Tech was another option for me however their next start date is not until August or September 2013.

You do make vaild points, however. Galen is very costly. That is about their only downfall pertaining to the LPN program. I would not by any means consider them for my ADN due to reasons stated earlier on this thread.

Another possibility I am considering is Ridge Career Center in Winter Haven. Their LPN program starts January 2013 and they are part of the Polk County Public School system so their tuition is much more reasonable (I would estimate between 6k-7k), however their classes start at 4:15 and I work in Tampa so I am not confident their schedule would work with mine unfortunately.

Gradius · Sep 28, 2012

Thank you Gradius, I appreciate your concern and looking out for me. My intention is to get only my LPN at Galen then transfer to HCC and do the bridge program to RN. I will not officially enroll with Galen until the end of October, and by then I will know if my appeal is accepted for HCC and of course, HCC will be my first choice. I have been pursuing my nursing goal for too many years now and I am running out of time to make this happen. This is a personal choice, one I have thought through carefully. Ptec is suspending their evening LPN program because their evening program instructor is retiring. I've also heard from students at Ptec that their evening program (especially the online portion) is poorly organized and they feel they are not getting the quality education or training they need. Erwin Tech was another option for me however their next start date is not until August or September 2013.
You do make vaild points, however. Galen is very costly. That is about their only downfall pertaining to the LPN program. I would not by any means consider them for my ADN due to reasons stated earlier on this thread.
Another possibility I am considering is Ridge Career Center in Winter Haven. Their LPN program starts January 2013 and they are part of the Polk County Public School system so their tuition is much more reasonable (I would estimate between 6k-7k), however their classes start at 4:15 and I work in Tampa so I am not confident their schedule would work with mine unfortunately.

Well then I can only offer 3 comments.

a) I'm intrigued by why you are "running out of time..." however you don't have to share if you don't want, whether it be here or a PM to me. I'm guessing you're 25 or so, and I'm 31 so honestly you got me curious, that's all.

b) You will regret having loans if you get them. Trust me. It will be a stranglehold on your life if you get them. Me and about 95% of the students in this country with student loan debt I'm sure would go back and never get them if we could help it. I would rather work my way through school even if it takes longer (which is why I was gonna go HCC anyway).

c) Re: Ridge Career Center... can't you work something with your job like working 9 hour days on your days of class to compensate for an early exit from work? I would have tried to do that had HCC not denied me for this Spring.

Thank you for respecting my opinion earlier, and good luck in whatever you do.

~G

pjny11 · Oct 5, 2012

I'm awaiting PHCC which isn't far from Tampa. I have both letters for LPN and RN awaiting approval. I'm thinking of staying as an EMT and retaking the entrance exam for next RN if I don't get into the January class. I went to HCC but they now want College Algebra, so I'll prob. be taking that at HCC in Spring 2013 so I have another option. Anybody take that class recently? Is it offered online? Thanks

KKJA8855 · Oct 7, 2012

Yes College Algebra is offered at HCC online. I took it a year ago online and ended up with a B because I was taking other classes. If I would have had more time with it I would have made an A. The curriculum toward the end of the course I took started to get into Calculus so just be aware of that. But overall it was a fairly easy class and I'd recommend it online unless you're not strong with math- then I'd recommend taking it on campus. Good luck to you!