Penn Foster update for March

I haven’t written much about the vet tech program at Penn Foster because so far, there’s not much to say.  I’ve received a few emails asking for information, however, so I’ll do my best to pass along what I’ve experienced.

I’m taking a self-paced course composed of four semesters.  Each semester includes an average of six classes, and I have a study guide for each class.  At the end of each study guide, I have to pass a test (open book/online/multiple choice), before I can proceed to the next class.  For all the specific veterinary technology classes (as opposed to classes like English Composition or Introduction to Psychology), I have to attend at least two hours of online discussion in a chatroom, and I’m also supposed to participate in online forums.  There’s no specific rule defining “participation”, but I’ve tried to read many of the forum threads even though I haven’t posted.  There’s also no participation rule for the chatroom, you just have to be in the room from start to finish during a specified classroom meeting time.  With over 100 people in the chatroom at any one time, and students in different stages of the program, it’s impossible for the chat to be in sync with the study guides.  From what I’ve seen, chats contain material which is supplemental to the study guides, and which won’t be tested.  The chats are interesting, but very slow, and each two hour chatroom session would probably translate to about 30 minutes of time in a real classroom.  My biggest problem with the chatroom sessions has been remembering to attend, but the twice-weekly sessions are held at reasonable times (my current class is held Sunday and Wednesday evenings).  When I finish up a few more classes, I’ll finish a semester.  At the end of a semester, I have to take a proctored, closed-book exam.

Someone wrote and asked about the practicum, and I’ve got no answers for that.  The practicums are the “real world experience” which must be completed at the end of semesters two and four, and as I’m only halfway through semester one, I haven’t been given any information about them.

The program is definitely fitting my needs and schedule, and there’s no way I’d have time (or transportation) to go to the local community college for their vet tech program.  However, Penn Foster’s program requires a lot of self-discipline, and students need to feel comfortable “teaching themselves”.  If you need charts and handouts and notes written on a blackboard, obviously a distance education program might not be your best choice.  There are instructors available via phone, live chat, and email, but there are literally hundreds of students enrolled, so an instructor may not have much time for “one on one” assistance.  I’ve been annoyed by the inability to communicate with administrators at Penn Foster about certain things—I’ve phoned in and been greeted by hold times of half an hour or more.  I’ve had more than one email completely ignored by the administrative offices, too.  If you sign up for this program, you’ll either have to be content being almost entirely on your own, or you’ll have to be comfortable making a lot of noise to be noticed.

I just want to finish my classes, complete my practicums, and study for my licensing exam.  That’s really what it all comes down to.  A person now needs a degree to sit for the licensing exam, but otherwise passing the exam is the whole point of this experience.  Penn Foster can certainly help me conveniently (and inexpensively) attain my degree, but I’ve got no idea how prepared I’ll be when it comes time to sit for a national exam.

I hope someone searching for information about Penn Foster will find the above information helpful.

Posted by Leigh-Ann on 03/05 at 10:52 PM

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  1. http://www.foothill.edu/bio/programs/vettech/youmight.html

    I saw the list and I thought of you.

    Frankly, I can’t eat while cleaning up Parvo. Or right after cleaning up Parvo. And I cannot abide canned Science Diet z/d because it smells like and appears to have the texture of canned Parvo poo. It’s an unforgetable nauseating smell.

    Posted by Georg  on  03/09  at  06:53 AM

  2. Thanks! I just enrolled (Literally 20 minutes ago) in the vet tech program at Penn, and I was a little leery about it’s too-good-to-be-true attitude… This helped me feel more comfortable about it, and i’m looking foward to recieving my first lesson… yeah, two weeks down the line, lol.

    Just wanted to say thanks and good luck!

    Posted by Ket  on  03/16  at  03:07 PM

  3. Georg, I totally forgot to reply to the link you posted.  I loved it!  My favourite may have been, “You can keep your milkshake frozen in the freezer near all the “pupsicles"." That’s definitely happened around here, and even now we have to move a dead fish around in the freezer when we buy ice cream.

    And Ket, I’m sorry I’m late replying to you, too (you should see my inbox… it’s a disaster).  Good luck in the program, I’m sure you’ll do fine.  Just follow the occasionally silly rules and you shouldn’t have any trouble!

    Posted by Leigh-Ann  on  03/25  at  11:15 PM
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