Any of you former hygienists ever heard of "Apollo Colleges"?

[eric275]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I have a sister that has been an assistant for 10+ years and is looking into a hygiene program offered at Apollo College in Boise Idaho. From what I have learned off of the web Apollo has several colleges, one in Boise and several in Arizona. Has anyone ever heard of the quality of education received at these institutions, pro's or con's? She does not currently have internet access so I'm trying to do some research for her.

Thanks

 

[J2AZ]

I have a sister that has been an assistant for 10+ years and is looking into a hygiene program offered at Apollo College in Boise Idaho. From what I have learned off of the web Apollo has several colleges, one in Boise and several in Arizona. Has anyone ever heard of the quality of education received at these institutions, pro's or con's? She does not currently have internet access so I'm trying to do some research for her.

Thanks

I am not a hygienist but my mother is and I am familiar with Apollo college because I live in AZ. Hygienists are not that in favor of colleges such as Apollo college b/c they will flood the market with hygienists lower the earning potential of hygienists. Dentists are in favor of Apollo college and other such programs for this very same reason.

About the education. It will be considered as substandard due to the fact the credits your sister earns will not be transferable to CC, JC, or University institutions. She will probably be able to skirt some pre-reqs that other hygienists needed to take. It is those extra credits/courses that make hygienists more than just technicians. Apollo takes what used to be bachelors degree and turns it into a 16 to 24 month program. Even those who earn associates in dental hygiene go to school for 3+ years.

Your sister will come out with a ton of debt. She will be paying out the nose for nontransferable credit from a school that current hygienists dont support only to drive down the earning potential of herself and future hygienists.

However, these schools probably are the wave of the future do to a market demand and the strong backing of dentists. The only way to stop them is to not enroll. She would be better off taking a longer route and going to a JC or University.

 

[eric275]

I am not a hygienist but my mother is and I am familiar with Apollo college because I live in AZ. Hygienists are not that in favor of colleges such as Apollo college b/c they will flood the market with hygienists lower the earning potential of hygienists. Dentists are in favor of Apollo college and other such programs for this very same reason.

About the education. It will be considered as substandard due to the fact the credits your sister earns will not be transferable to CC, JC, or University institutions. She will probably be able to skirt some pre-reqs that other hygienists needed to take. It is those extra credits/courses that make hygienists more than just technicians. Apollo takes what used to be bachelors degree and turns it into a 16 to 24 month program. Even those who earn associates in dental hygiene go to school for 3+ years.

Your sister will come out with a ton of debt. She will be paying out the nose for nontransferable credit from a school that current hygienists dont support only to drive down the earning potential of herself and future hygienists.

However, these schools probably are the wave of the future do to a market demand and the strong backing of dentists. The only way to stop them is to not enroll. She would be better off taking a longer route and going to a JC or University.

I totally understand what you are saying. I was looking over thier website after she told me about meeting a lady she had met last weekend that was attending the Idaho school. The appeal of the program for my sister is that she is a 34 year old single mother and does not have all of the pre-req's for a traditional program completed. She has worked as an assistant for 10+ years and was considering returning to hygiene school but the time to get her pre-reqs done and then complete a 2-3 year hygiene program has intimidated her decision.

According to thier website, Apollo's, they award an AA in dental hygiene at the completion of the program and the 20 month program costs 43k, which really isn't to bad when you consider the earning potential for a hygienist. Also it is accredited by the ADA.

I'll keep doing some more research and see what else I can find out. Thanks for the info and food for thought J2AZ, I'll pass it on.

 

[Comet208]

I dont know anything about that school but i do know that my sister is trying to get her AA in dental hygiene at a CC on a part time basis and it is a lot cheaper than 43K (something like $300/class).