Merritt College vs. Las Positas EMT-B East Bay Training

Lazer

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I live in Oakland and I plan to attend one of these programs for the coming summer term but I'm not sure which one would be the best option. I live much closer to Merritt but Las Positas has much higher NREMT pass rates (94% first time) but is about 45 minutes away. Would it be worth it to attend the school with the better pass rates even though the commute would put more strain on my daily life and possibly effect my retention? I'm especially interested in the opinions of those who have attended either of these programs or worked with their graduates.

Thanks!
 
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BeachMedic

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I live in Oakland and I plan to attend one of these programs for the coming summer term but I'm not sure which one would be the best option. I live much closer to Merritt but Las Positas has much higher NREMT pass rates (94% first time) but is about 45 minutes away. Would it be worth it to attend the school with the better pass rates even though the commute would put more strain on my daily life and possibly effect my retention? I'm especially interested in the opinions of those who have attended either of these programs or worked with their graduates.

Thanks!

I'd look into either SF City College, Chabot in Hayward, or NCTI before driving all the way to Las Positas. In that order too.

I worked in Oakland for almost 5 years (with AMR until they lost the contract to PPlus) and don't know anyone who went to Merritt's program lol. Not that I didn't have co-workers there. We just talked a lot more about Medic programs than EMT programs.

Knowing what I know now, I don't think i'd commute a long distance for an EMT program.
 
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Lazer

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Knowing what I know now, I don't think i'd commute a long distance for an EMT program.

Is that because they are all the same? Or do you mean that you don't get enough out of an emt-b program to scrutinize this way?

What is it about your impression of the SFCC graduates that makes you suggest their program first?

Just a word on my perspective, like probably most other beginning ems students I want to be the best, and I guess I feel that when it comes to things like life, death, quality of life etc. you owe it to the public to be the best, so I don't intend to take these early steps lightly or any step for that matter.
 

BeachMedic

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Is that because they are all the same? Or do you mean that you don't get enough out of an emt-b program to scrutinize this way?

What is it about your impression of the SFCC graduates that makes you suggest their program first?

Just a word on my perspective, like probably most other beginning ems students I want to be the best, and I guess I feel that when it comes to things like life, death, quality of life etc. you owe it to the public to be the best, so I don't intend to take these early steps lightly or any step for that matter.

I've only been a student at one EMT school, so I wouldn't know if they were all the same or not. I went to Westmed in San Jose.

From my perspective, even with Medic school..you're only going to be as good a Medic/or EMT as you want to be. Any school can give you the right books. The will to study and improve is different in everyone though. I'd say the large brunt of learning how to do this job comes from the actual on the job training.

I know a lot of solid EMTs and Medics who went to SFCC. It's a fairly tough program to get into though. They have high standards; which imo is a good thing. That and because it's at a junior college the tuition will be a lot more affordable.

I wouldn't pick a school based on test pass rates. Too many variables contribute to that success.
 

Carlos Danger

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I know nothing about the programs in question, but barring a really good reason to go to the further one, I would go to the closer program.

Use some of the time you save commuting to do some extra studying, and passing the NREMT exam should not be an issue.
 
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