NEED HELP! The college network a scam? Does Excelsior College work?!

Nursing Students Excelsior

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Hi Everyone!

I am in need of some guidance from someone who is either enrolled or who recently graduated from Excelsior College. I just graduated from my LPN program in New Jersey and have not yet even taken my NCLEX, however I am already eager and ready to start an LPN-RN Bridge program. I was looking into my local community college, but you have to work for at least 6 months and I have prereqs to take. Yesterday, a rep from The College Network came and explained their program and Excelsior-but after doing some online research, it seems that a lot of people are unhappy with TCN. I've seen some posts from this forum about TCN and Excelsior, but they were from 06. I just need to know if TCN's materials are helpful, and if they are really the monsters that everyone says they are. (Difficult to deal with, unexplained charges, and if you cancel you have to pay regardless). Is it better to go directly to Excelsior? The way that the TCN rep explained excelsior is that they overwhelm students with materials and TCN takes the list of books and narrows it down which guarantees that students will pass the exams. I like the flexibility of this style of learning-but not if I'm going to be scammed! If anyone has any good info, please help!

Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Make sure you check your dates most contracts only have a 3 day cancellation clause not a 5 day. This is where the expense of registered mail or certified mail comes in handy. (I was once told send important notices fax, regular & certified that way you know they get it even if they "forget" to pick up the certified.----not necessarily referring to the college network, just general practice for sending important notificati

Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

Is this TCN's latest spin? That EC is asking students to learn too much? Haha. Whatever. There are better ways to not overwhelm yourself with study material than to pay $400-whatever per learning module to TCN. I never could understand how TCN's study materials cost more than the corresponding EC exam ... no logic!

Maggie, I'm glad you did your research. You'll find a lot of helpful studying information here. And if you do like the TCN modules, you can usually find them for sale on eBay for a fraction of the cost. Other students like studygroup101.com's notes as well -- much less expensive!

Specializes in Mental Health, Hospice Care.

I am a newer student to the TCN course work....I am planning on using this to transition into the LPN to BSN Program at Indiana State University....so far so good.....The convienience factor is huge with this program, being that I have my wife and family along with demanding hours it really is great for me....that being said, I would agree that it is not for everyone....the self discipline required is high, and some really flourish in the classroom setting more so than on-line....sounds like you have made your decision and I wish you the very best!....but so far my expierience has been excellent....

Community college with in-state tuition is going to be a much better choice financially than a private online program, even if you do have to do some pre-reqs. The extra time it might take you is well worth it. Online programs are great for convenience, but if you don't already have huge family responsibilities (and it sounds like you're young and single), really consider being patient and going the community college route.

I made the mistake of signing with Rue which is similar to tcn and I hated it! I am abandoning them and just continuing with excelsior only! So far the content guides practice exams and other resources seem to be working much better for me! Good luck!

Good choice, Maggie! :) You will not regret it.

Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

OP...... I'd listen to lunah!!!!!!

Don't sign with TCN! I am a EC grad and a RN working on my BSN at Arizona State University. If you do the required reading (there is a lot of it) and you make notes to go with the study guide you get from EC with each course you will do great! So many different things to buy are out there, Look at it this way --EC wrote the exam and they put togeather the study guide. You will do best to stick with EC. Maybe if you want get the practice test from EC. I never looked at any other material. Several friends did TCN and never made it through the program. Congradualtions on the LPN and blessings on your RN studies.

@justbeachynurse: Usually it is a 3 day cancellation notice, however TCN does give five (and actually this is the 3rd day and the cancellation notice just went in the mail express delivery with signature required, so it will be there tomorrow by noon!) But thanks :)

@wildirish: It's not so much about the self-discipline of school work-i want the flexibility to work and go to school. It's just if I can do it at a less of an expense than TCN I'd rather do that, you know?

@lunahrn: Yes! The rep said that they take all of the resources that excelsior gives us to buy and narrows it down. And he goes through the reference section in the back and says that all of those are what we're given to read..and it's 'overwhelming' for students.

@prayernurse: I agree! I'd rather go through the people who actually wrote the exams! :)

Thanks Everyone!!! :D :D

Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Good to know....I know someone who got burned because the TCN rep said they had 5-7 days to cancel when the contract said 3 days.

Best of luck in your studies!

If you can take a speed reading course first! LOL! EC is hard! And that is a great thing, if it is easy will you pass NCLEX? I am a 4.0 university student and it is because EC is not a short cut school I worked hard for my RN. I choose EC because I have a daughter on hospice care and can not do traditional school right now. I am so thankful for EC. PM me as you go through EC!

@Prayernurse: I want to do traditional schooling because that's what I'm used to, however once I pass my nclex I need to get a job and I don't want to pick a class schedule before I have a work schedule. But then I have to wait for the next semester. At least online I can pace myself. What about EC is hard? The amount of reading? or the subjects?

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