NEED HELP! The college network a scam? Does Excelsior College work?! - Page 3

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  1. Jul 18, '12 by
    @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!!!
  2. Asst. Admin
    Jul 18, '12 by
    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!
  3. Jul 18, '12 by
    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!
  4. Jul 18, '12 by
    @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?
  5. Jul 19, '12 by
    Motivation is the hardest part. Basing your whole grade on one test score is also intimidating, but it can be done. I've been working on my RN degree for 3 years, one class at a time, I had like 17 classes to do, and I am now down to 2 classes. It can be done!
  6. Jul 19, '12 by
    In a traditional school you have two things that make it easier than Excelsior (EC):

    1) Time, in traditional classes you are told by the school you must be there at a certain time, test on certain dates, turn things in at certain times. Not so of EC, you sign up for a exam (class) and you are given a list of books and a detailed in depth study guide. It is up to you when to study, when to test, how much to read etc. No one will tell you to do it. I did all of my classes in 10 months and finished the Clinical exam(CPNE) two months later. It is great for those students wanting to finish fast or those who need to be slower.

    2) Power points! In a class you have a professor showing power points and saying such things as "you may see this again" or "You have this before so hint- hint!" In EC you have your books, an outline and if you want two practice exams. That is it. You have to read and use critical thinking skills and really dig to learn the material. You have acess to professors that will answer your questions just a phone call away however they don't just give out answers, they guide you in thinking and finding the right answers! I have a friend who teaches at a local RN program and she would look at my outlines form EC and my study notes and comment that "the students at the community nursing schools would not know a lot that was on the guide or practice exams and that they would never pass the CPNE, She did not say this as a put down on the community programs rather that EC makes you learn so much more.

    Reading is a love of mine so it was not a hard part for me. If you hate reading it can be hard. Learing to focus on what is important is helpful. Hang in there and you will pass NCLEX! It does not matter if you do EC or Traditional schooling, just that you love nursing and that you study hard, and learn critical thinking.
  7. Jul 19, '12 by
    @Prayernurse: I agree with you-and I do enjoy the classroom IF the professor actually teaches! In community colleges I'm guessing they have teachers that went to school to LEARN how to teach instead of reading these piddly power points. I pretty much taught myself MedsurgIII last quarter because my instructor read vague power points and the info was in the book anyway. I would have rather just read it on my own at home instead of wasting time in school! lol.
    Here's what I'm used to: 30 or so page (sometimes 40 or 50) chapters and tests are usually 2-4 chapters. My problem tends to be more on application. I'm very book smart and can memorize facts-but applying them to test questions can be hard for a book learner. Since I'm used to reading and figuring stuff out for myself anyway sometimes I wonder if college is better. But I'm not sure. Thank you so much for your feedback!
  8. Jul 19, '12 by
    You would be great at the reading. And if you can figure it out and memorize you would do great on the exams untill Life Span 1-2-3. It is applying what you have learned 100% critical thinking. However by that time you know the basic stuff and Crtiical thinking is not so bad. Get a book with critical thinking questions and practice because that is the NCLEX test, Critical thinking and choose all that apply! Don't care for choose all that apply! LOL! Best to you.
  9. Jul 20, '12 by
    Prayernurse: I totally despise select all that apply! We used to get like 7 of those questions on our medsurg exams and I'd get like one right..if I was lucky haha. Thank you so much for the advice! Much appreciated
  10. Jul 24, '12 by
    @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.


    Studygroup101 does the same for only $10! I got the books anyway (I'm a real book person) although older copies - I figure I will use them on occasion even after school. Overwhelming? Yes, It sure can be - but I expect to actually learn something so I can be a good RN!
    LunahRN likes this.