[bhamlpn]

Hello all! I'm an LPN from Birmingham,AL and am seeking information and requesting opinions on any self-study/online LPN to ASN or BSN schools or programs. I've requested info to different programs and haven't gotten much luck; seems like they're either very costly due to having to take tests at learning centers(which are profit organizations and do not accept financial aid), or they just seem too good to be true- and generally that tells you something.

More specifically, is anyone familiar with College_net.com?
They claim to be accredited and affiliated with some reputable colleges such as Boston University, but when I typed that in on the National Nurses' Accreditation website, it stated it was not found. I want to be absolutely sure about something this significant to move forward. A college advisor called me from that program and stated it would be apprx. 100$/mo. for about 48 mo. financed through their credit union, and then I would have to come up with the (apprx. 9 for me- according to the classes I need for my associates) test fees that were NOT included, which are 150-200$ per test at say, Sylvan Learning Center. Then there would be one 3-day clinical in Atlanta for approx. $2,000. That one fee, he said MIGHT be eligable for financial aid, but at that point, Excellisor College would handle that. I was also told by him the pass rate for nclex was 99.6% yeah... that seems believable!!??!!

So, any other options for a single-mom, lpn, with a strict 8-5 clinic job that needs to get back to school desperately?? Have no family around, and don't want to be a stranger to my daughter either. This is pretty much my only option... please lend some advice, or whatever info you may have for me. Thanks a billion!!

[RainDreamer]

Hi and welcome to allnurses!!

[Thunderwolf]

You might want to check out the All Nursing Schools-Online&Campus Universities section.
Also, you may want to post a question in the Pre-nursing student forum or the Nursing Career Advice forum.
Wish you the best.

Welcome to allnurses!!!

[bhamlpn]

Originally Posted by RainDreamer

Hi and welcome to allnurses!!

thanks for the welcome!!! nice screen name- pretty unique; glad to have people alike to chat with and learn something- wish i learned of this sight sooner.

best wishes to you!! Barbi Dunaway(bhamlpn)

[bhamlpn]

Originally Posted by Thunderwolf

You might want to check out the All Nursing Schools-Online&Campus Universities section.
Also, you may want to post a question in the Pre-nursing student forum or the Nursing Career Advice forum.
Wish you the best.

Welcome to allnurses!!!

Thanks!! I haven't really explored the sight all that much until after the post. Appreciate all the help and look forward to chatting with so many nurses here.

Barbi (bhamlpn)

[Sparkle]

Greetings Bhamlpn,
I'm glad you asked.
I believe you are referring to College network.com which is found at http://www.college-net.com/ or specifically for nursing:
http://www.college-net.com/healthcare.htm
They are a publishing company. They sell $study guides and will advise you on your study path through Excelsior College. Check the Long DIstance Education Forum part of Allnurses.com for more advice. College network guides ARE very good. I am using them.
Excelsior offers FREE study guide OUTLINES at http://excelsior.edu/ I am an LPN, on my way to RN through Excelsior College. I LOVE this program. It is not easy, I feel I am gaining a thorough education by using this system. Not ever one is suited for this self disciplined form of education. Excelsior is very doable, for those commited. Don't enroll until you have passed your prerequistes and NC1 and NC2. Check ebay for those study guides you originally asked about. You will be pleasantly surprised.
Hope this helps. I'm glad you asked.
Studiously
Sparkle

[bhamlpn]

Wow, lots of good info!! Ebay is like a girls' best friend; what a good idea. When I spoke with the "college advisor" he made it sound like the program was a college- maybe a misunderstanding or miscommunication- however, I won't knock it until I've tried it. From what you have wrote, I am more interested in researching it farther.

How long have you been in Excelcior and do you find that the college network guides are more help than the free outlines on the Excelcior webpage? Are you working at the same time, and how often/long do you study? I know everyone studies at different levels and paces, but sometimes just getting a general idea helps to see if it is at all possible for me or others.

And last but not least, where did you go for your prereqs(nc1 and 2)? I will definitely keep that in mind to pass those before moving on. You have been a great help-- good luck with your studies and your nclex!

Barbi

Originally Posted by Sparkle

Greetings Bhamlpn,
I'm glad you asked.
I believe you are referring to College network.com which is found at http://www.college-net.com/ or specifically for nursing:
http://www.college-net.com/healthcare.htm
They are a publishing company. They sell $study guides and will advise you on your study path through Excelsior College. Check the Long DIstance Education Forum part of Allnurses.com for more advice. College network guides ARE very good. I am using them.
Excelsior offers FREE study guide OUTLINES at http://excelsior.edu/ I am an LPN, on my way to RN through Excelsior College. I LOVE this program. It is not easy, I feel I am gaining a thorough education by using this system. Not ever one is suited for this self disciplined form of education. Excelsior is very doable, for those commited. Don't enroll until you have passed your prerequistes and NC1 and NC2. Check ebay for those study guides you originally asked about. You will be pleasantly surprised.
Hope this helps. I'm glad you asked.
Studiously
Sparkle

[nursewendy2000]

Originally Posted by Sparkle

Greetings Bhamlpn,
I'm glad you asked.
I believe you are referring to College network.com which is found at http://www.college-net.com/ or specifically for nursing:
http://www.college-net.com/healthcare.htm
They are a publishing company. They sell $study guides and will advise you on your study path through Excelsior College. Check the Long DIstance Education Forum part of Allnurses.com for more advice. College network guides ARE very good. I am using them.
Excelsior offers FREE study guide OUTLINES at http://excelsior.edu/ I am an LPN, on my way to RN through Excelsior College. I LOVE this program. It is not easy, I feel I am gaining a thorough education by using this system. Not ever one is suited for this self disciplined form of education. Excelsior is very doable, for those commited. Don't enroll until you have passed your prerequistes and NC1 and NC2. Check ebay for those study guides you originally asked about. You will be pleasantly surprised.
Hope this helps. I'm glad you asked.
Studiously
Sparkle

Hi Bhamlpn and sparkle. I am going through RUE and they asked about my prereqs but didn't say anything about NC1 or NC2...can you clarify what those are? I know its more money going through RUE but I really need the help with organization...I have heard great things about Excelsior! - Sparkle, how far along are you?

[Sheri257]

I guess it depends on what you mean by legit. Excelsior is legit in a lot of states but not all of them. In the past year, California and Kansas have disqualified the program. Other states are considering taking the same action but, who knows if anything will come of that.

Just something you may want to watch out for in making your decision.

[Sparkle]

Dear NurseWendy2000 and BHamLPN,
Excelsior is based in NYstate, Albany to be exact. (( Lizz is correct, Ca and KS don't except new Excelsior grads without 2 years clinical experience. That leaves 50 other states for new grads. Now that this info is out of the way... : )) South Carolina, and Alabama currently accept Excelsior RN Licensure.
Preregs consist of Micro, A and P, a higher level math, English (written compostion required), Life Span ( a sociology component). Etc, depending upon your previous studies.
NC1 and 2 = Nursing Concepts ONE and Nursing Concepts TWO. These are two exams you may sit for ( Prometric exams) before you have to formally apply to EC. ( THen starts the annual student fees.)
Please check Excelsoir College directly to see their free study guides OUTLINES. They have them available, open for the public. You must create a free user account to view them. They will detail what NC1 and NC2 classes are about. They recommend the specific study textbooks to reference. They TELL you the subjects, subcatagories, and topics which WILL be on the test. The exam does follow the Outline. This is not a study guide, it's an OUTLINE of a study guide. This outline will help you organize your studies. I fill one notebook full of notes, and build memo flash cards for the details I need. I write and rewrite, I take self tests, to see my weaknesses, and follow up on them. I use highlighters, and rewrite notes. REVIEW REVIEW. eat it up and make it mine! Some people are visual learners; others are more auditory. Learn your best method.
About me? It took me almost one year of study, before I sat for my first one; my Micro test. I felt so challenged. I passed with an A. There was so much information to master. I could have made it my life long study! LOL! I learned to Love Micro! I went into more details than required.
I am currently studying NC4. A snow/sleet storm forced me to reschedule my NC3 test. I'll take that mid Feb. I need to travel 1 1/2 hour to sit at a Prometric testing site. All testing is done at a secure site, ID required and video taped. No way to cheat. I like that secure part of the training. I plan to take my exams consecutively, NC1 to NC7; not every student does. One has the freedom to schedule exams when ready, and to schedule them in the order you would prefer. I still have my ENGLISH to finish. I think I'll take that at a local CC. I would like more feedback on my compositions as I progress. This credit will transfer to EC.
Please check out those EC study guides (.PDF files) The other advisors such as Rue and College-Network eventually will direct you to them. Please read more posts at the Long Distance Learning forum.
I wish I would have asked a few questions here, before signing on with my study guide provider. I am content with my notebook guides, but I have paid dearly for them. ALtho it is solo studying, you won't be alone.
Thanks for asking. ~~ Sparkle ~~