Should I go to the Vo-Tech or the Private School

Sierralee · Mar 15, 2005

Okay here it is, I was thinking about the Vo-Tech, and how much time I would spend there M-F 8a-3p. Then I remebered when I went for my CNA class, the school that I was going to had an LPN class. There class has much better hours that would allow me to work and it is an evening class, M-F 5p-10p. The Vo-Tech class is 18 months, the private school is 17 months. Tuition for the Vo-Tech is $500 per semester (4 semesters including summer), but I can get a pell grant to cover my tuition, the private school is $7500, for the whole program, and I can't get a pell grant because they are a private for profit vocational scholl, but there is a program in my state where I can get $6000 of my tuition paid, so I will only have to find $1500, and they have a payment plan. The Vo-Tech, starts up in August, and the private school won't decide when their program starts until, their next TABE test, and I don't know when that will be until the woman calls me back at the end of the week (I am hoping they will start in june). But when I was taking my CNA, class a person in the class wanted to go through their LPN program, so he took the TABE and passed, and the next program started for them this month (my CNA class, was in July).
So what should I do, just go for the Vo-Tech, or take the TABE for the private school, and the Vo-Tech, and go with whichever starts first? Let me know what ya'll think.

I went to a Vo-Tech school. The graduation rate and passing the NCLEX test has been about 97% of the students. I have friends going to private school and from what I have heard them say about their schooling. I don't see any difference. I know their pass rates weren't as good as ours. I like the hours better at the Vo-tech. M-F 8-3 including clinicals!!!

FocusRN · Mar 15, 2005

The private schools clinical hours, are the same as it's class hours, plus I would only be in school four days a week, not five, and only 5 hours a day, and not 7.

As you can most likely tell, I am leaning toward the private school, esp. since I have been there before and know the programs director's and instructor.

I think this is what it really boils down to, I will go to the one that accepts me (they both will if I pass their placement tests), and which on starts first.

Sierralee · Mar 16, 2005

The private schools clinical hours, are the same as it's class hours, plus I would only be in school four days a week, not five, and only 5 hours a day, and not 7.
As you can most likely tell, I am leaning toward the private school, esp. since I have been there before and know the programs director's and instructor.
I think this is what it really boils down to, I will go to the one that accepts me (they both will if I pass their placement tests), and which on starts first.

Sounds good! I think you do know which direction you are going. I would have done the same thing. I looked into both kind of schooling. It was by luck that I found the Vo-tech, but I had every intention of going to the other even if it was an hour drive from my home. It all comes down to not the schools but how hard you study to get what you want. I wish you the best of luck!! Let me know how it goes.