Thoughts on Maric College?

jojo007 · Nov 7, 2005

thanx again jim, i reeeeeeeally appreciate all the info.. just one more thing: do i call maric or CPAT testing in order to attend a "test your best" session?

casualjim · Nov 7, 2005

You just call Maric. The sessions are free and as I said they do at least one a day.

Jim

anbreen · Dec 11, 2005

I actually ran into a friend at the beach this morning that's in SDSU's BSN program. She shopped Maric before she started and thinks it's around $40k from scratch. Still a little steep. I think I'll just call the guy back on Monday and ask. I'll post the results once and for all.
Jim

I would have gone to Maric for the $40k. But, they are insiting on my taking the whole, 27 month program. I have a couple of college degrees, and do not want to take English Comp, etc, again.:-(

anbreen · Dec 11, 2005

The LVN course at Concorde is 1 year, and there are two 2-week breaks. So, the next start is Jan 2nd or 3rd 2006, and the end would be mid-Jan 2007. $21,000 total cost. So, slightly less than Meric and a few months shorter. It's a daytime only program, and the program is changing to be five 10-week sessions. They were not as straightforward as Meric about the daily schedule - I need to follow up about that.
From what I understand, at Meric, all the clinical hours come in one lump at the end. At Concorde, each 10-week session begins with class, then class practicums, then clinicals towards the end of the 10 weeks.
I do not believe that classes taken at Concorde will transfer anywhere else. For me, it's a way to start practicing sooner and to get some experience in the field while making progress towards an ADN. Also, I'm single and I have a limited amount of time that I can go without a full-time income.
The recruiter at Concorde said that most of the people she had spoken with about the LVN program for the next start were in their late-20s to mid-30s... for me, that's a good thing. :)
There's a healthcare job fair coming up where all the major hospitals will be respresented. I'm going to go and ask what they generally think about the graduates coming out of each school.
-Meloney

I'm doing what you're doing, Meloney.. and for the same reasons. Concorde looks like the quickest way, so far. Most of the students whom I saw were quite young. I'm a middle-aged careeer change. But, they told me that they have a few older, 2nd degree students, and they find that older students "bring a lot" to the classes.

Sheri257 · Dec 12, 2005

Get the clinical as fast as you can. You have years to get the experience.

I have a real problem when people say things like this. As was pointed out on another thread ... and California hospital was sued for staffing a floor with too many new grads with too little experience. A child died as a result, and the new grads were held liable in addition to the hospital.

You need to get as much experience as you can before patients lives are in your hands, not after.

:nono:

anbreen · Jan 4, 2006

I wanted to go to Meric. I'm a middle-aged career change.

I have a BA, and an MA, and over 20 years in a medically-related field. I am a CCM.

I got a VERY high score on the entrance exam.

But... they wanted me to take the whole 30 month program.. including all the general ed. classes. Like Psych (I am credentially to TEACH Psych at a J.C. level), English Comp, etc.

I got them my college trascripts. But, they wanted me to also get my high school transcripts, and transcipts from JCs where I only took one or two classes. Then, I was supposed to attend a financial aid seminar (though I am ineligible for financial aid because of my education), and write an essay.

In short.. every time I completed a step, I was told that there were more steps.

So......I enrolled in Concorde for LVN, and will bridge at the local JC.

Care4life · Jan 10, 2006

Hi
I threw my story out on another thread. I'm just finishing up 20 years in the Navy most of it was in Naval Special Warfare where I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to cross-train as a medic. As I was looking for a 2nd career I kept saying things like "I can do this, or I can do that." I finally came to realize that what I "wanted" to do was be an RN. It's a good way to take some of the lessons that I really didnt want to learn working for "Uncle Sucker" and put them to good use helping someone else.
but I digress
I'm starting my classwork as best I can prior to my actual retirement date but I'm getting a little frustrated when the people at the college I'm going to keep telling me how it'll be at least 2 years from the time I finish my pre-req stuff (A&P, chem & microbiology) before I can get into the "core" ADN program. In some things I can show quite a bit of patience, in things like this, not so much.
I'm posting because Maric College is boasting that they have no waiting list, and a better than 85% pass rate on NCLEX-RN. I just keep getting a intermittant alarm going off when I talk to anyone there. It has that slight scent of diploma mill. Not that I have anything against a diploma mill but will the diploma that I get from there do anything for me in the future if I decide to trade up to a BSN? Most importantly is the training that you get from there up to speed?
Just curious if anyone has any experiance with Maric?
Thanks in advance
Jim

Hello,

I wanted to know if you decided to attend Maric College and any experiences or feedback about their Associate Nursing Program?

Sincerely,

"Sherrylee"

casualjim · Jan 10, 2006

Hi Sherrylee

yep I made up my mind and applied to Maric. I started it all about 2 months ago. I've got to tell you my experiences with them arent all that bad. They accepted all my credits from National University, Southwestern College, Northern VA Comm college, and gave credit for experience from the Navy from my SMART transcript. I did have to write a goofy essay (so what, I've done more annoying things to get something I wanted) I had to take the cpat test (pretty easy). Now the hardest thing is waiting to see if I made it this quarter. They're classing up at the end of the month, and they'll make the annoucnments by the end of the week who's in and who's got to wait another quarter. Keep your fingers crossed for me.

As far as what I've seen of the program loooking in from the outside. I like it. I know of a few people that have graduated from there (both rn and lvn)and they're all working and doing great. I'm pretty stoked, and really hope that I start this month.

aloha

Jim

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jan 10, 2006

Keep your fingers crossed for me.

I am keeping my fingers crossed for you. Good luck!!!

GoldenFire5 · Jan 10, 2006

Jim, that is great that they've accepted the credits from your other schools. Small victories, you know?

I don't know what your long term career goals are (or if you're going for an LVN or an RN), but here is something to think about: if you're interested in doing an RN to BSN (or MSN) program somewhere down the line, I do not believe that SDSU or Cal State San Marcos or UC schools will accept units from Maric to qualify for those programs (they are looking for candidates graduating from Western Assn of Colleges and Universities accredited programs). It is possible that a program like UofP would, I don't know.

I'm not trying to discourage you from Maric at all, it's just an issue I've come across when researching schools and thinking about BSN or MSN programs. I could be wrong, though.

In any case - good luck to you! I hope you get in this quarter.

Care4life · Jan 10, 2006

Hi Sherrylee
yep I made up my mind and applied to Maric. I started it all about 2 months ago. I've got to tell you my experiences with them arent all that bad. They accepted all my credits from National University, Southwestern College, Northern VA Comm college, and gave credit for experience from the Navy from my SMART transcript. I did have to write a goofy essay (so what, I've done more annoying things to get something I wanted) I had to take the cpat test (pretty easy). Now the hardest thing is waiting to see if I made it this quarter. They're classing up at the end of the month, and they'll make the annoucnments by the end of the week who's in and who's got to wait another quarter. Keep your fingers crossed for me.
As far as what I've seen of the program loooking in from the outside. I like it. I know of a few people that have graduated from there (both rn and lvn)and they're all working and doing great. I'm pretty stoked, and really hope that I start this month.
aloha
Jim

Hi Jim,

Thanks so much for the insight!

I have an appointment with Maric College on Tuesday evening, 1/10th. Do you know how long there Waiting List is and if they use any lotto system for picking students?

I wonder how much the cost of housing is in San Diego.

Well Jim, I wish you the best into the Nursing Program! God bless your endeavors in your passion to become a Registered Nurse.

Take care,

"Sherrylee"

kitten77 · Jan 10, 2006

I am going on 2nd hand information but want you to know of my friend's experience with Maric. She lasted only about three months in their LVN program, then quit. She said "most of the class and teachers are from the Phillipines, they are given priority for tasks and extra encouragement over people who don't speak their language". She mentioned the teachers would say catch phrases in Tagalog during classroom lecture leaving those who don't understand the language in the dark. There might be more than one location for Maric but honestly this was her experience.