The Benefits And Drawbacks Of Private For-Profit Schools
Prospective students are often faced with the decision of which school to attend. Many of these students are considering attending private for-profit institutions of higher learning. The purpose of this article is to explore the benefits and drawbacks of private for-profit schools.
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An increasing number of prospective students are becoming rather fed up with the long waiting lists, lottery-style admissions practices, tedious prerequisite courses, difficult entrance exams, and other aspects that frequently characterize the competitive process of getting admitted into the nursing programs at their local community colleges, state universities, and private not-for-profit universities.
Do any faster alternatives exist in the realm of higher education in the United States? Does any other type of institution exist that can possibly save a student some precious time while adding a degree of much needed convenience in his/her already harried life? This is where the private for-profit trade schools come into the picture.
Some of you have probably viewed the tantalizing commercials that advertise these private for-profit trade schools while watching daytime television. Start training to become a registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, massage therapist, respiratory therapy technician, medical assistant, dental assistant, X-Ray technician, or dialysis technician. A rewarding healthcare career can be yours in as little as one year!
Private for-profit institutions do serve a well-defined purpose in higher education in the United States. Some benefits certainly proliferate for the numerous pupils who choose to attend these types of schools. However, the for-profit trade schools are also full of drawbacks. I will readily list the benefits and drawbacks below.
Benefits for those who attend private for-profit trade schools:
Waiting lists are typically nonexistent: Most of these schools offer almost immediate admission without having to languish on a waiting list.
Lottery-style admissions are unheard of: I'll reiterate that most of these schools enable students to be admitted with minimal red tape.
Some trade schools do not mandate that prerequisite courses be taken and passed prior to admission: Instead, the classes become 'corequisite' courses that pupils take alongside their nursing courses.
In many cases, the entrance exam requirements are lenient: I personally know of a school that allows prospective students to take the NET test monthly (for a fee) until they pass.
The school's 'campus' is usually small and easy to navigate: While most community colleges and universities are located on large campuses with multiple buildings, many private for-profit trade schools are set up in office parks, strip malls, or other convenient spaces.
Drawbacks for those who attend private for-profit trade schools:
Tuition is prohibitively expensive: Frequently, the tuition for many healthcare programs exceeds the graduate's projected first-year earnings. A generic BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) program flourishes at one of these schools with tuition of $132,000.
Lack of regional accreditation: The overwhelming majority of private for-profit trade schools are not regionally accredited, which negatively affects transferability of credits earned. Most of these schools are nationally accredited by entities that only accredit other for-profit institutions.
Lack of nursing accreditation: Many private for-profit trade schools are not accredited by the NLNAC (National League For Nursing) or the CCNE (Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education).
Employment opportunities are limited: The Veteran's Administration, Department of Defense, and other federal employers shy away from hiring RNs whose nursing programs lacked nursing accreditation.
An unspoken bias is present: Some hiring managers admit, on the condition of anonymity, that they will toss a resume into file number thirteen (a.k.a. the wastebasket) if a private for-profit trade school is listed.
As you can see, the decision to attend a private for-profit trade school is permeated with a whole slew of benefits and drawbacks. However, each benefit and drawback should be pondered carefully, and no snap decisions should be made. After all, one's choice to go to a for-profit trade school can have implications that will last throughout the remainder of one's natural life.
