[quote=cmcmillan0322;5095871]sorry for the late response ladyinscrubs been busy studying for finals
lol but i totally read over your post and i
think this is the best way for me because after I graduate this july i need to work a little more. I know this will be tougher but i have the mindset of getting through school. Im in washington state and they do approve this program. I am suppose to meet with a rep with a few other classmates on may 20th to get more detail on everything. I have all my prereqs done as well so after he knows that he probably doesnt want to deal with me as well lol Its good to know taht i do not have to use the study manuel I do have the lipinocott review book and its been been serving me well with my medsurg classes. Besides that book is their any other ones you recommend for studying? Did you have to repeat any of the challenge test? How long did it take you to prepare for each exam?[/quote]
Glad to hear you are moving forward.
1. There is no representative to ISU. The person you will be meeting with is the sales representative from The College Network. This person will tell evaluate your transcripts, discuss the classes you missing, and will try to get you to sign up with The College Network for any missing classes. I advise avoiding TCN if you can. If you do decide to go the TCN route, take the paperwork, review it away from the representative and sleep on it. If you still feel comfortable signing up with TCN, then sign the papers. The representative will not be happy giving you the paperwork to review but you are in charge not TCN. The rep may try to pursuade you to sign up right then by giving you an inducement. I doubt that the inducement will disappear if you call the rep back in a week or so and indicate interest in the program.
2. You do not need The College Network to apply to ISU. The prerequisites for the program are listed on the ISU LPN to BSN website. If you need core college classes to graduate, you can also take many of them at a jr college. Ivy Tech is associated with ISU and they also offer distant learning classes for core college courses (I have no idea if their charge is similar to TCN). When you are ready to apply to ISU, you must submit all your transcripts to the admission office, pay a nominal fee to have them evaluated, and they will give you a student number. You cannot take any of the challenge classes without the student number. Make sure you follow up with the admission office to determine that they have received all your transcripts. You have no control over when or if the transcripts arrive as they must be sent to ISU by your former institution(s).
3. If you are looking for more study guides, get a good RN NCLEX review book -- one that has the review section as well as the questions with rationale. The NCLEX review section is a good review in addition to the Lippincott books.
4. I was fortunate that I took the 4 exams and passed each the first time. I will be honest, the exams are not easy but if you study and are prepared, you should do fine.
5. I suggest that you do not sign up and pay for the challenge course until you are ready to take the exam. Just before you are ready to take the challenge exam, contact the ISU nursing dept and start the process of giving them the name of the proctor. ISU will contact the proctor and send out the appropriate info to the proctor. When ISU has authorized the proctor, your name will be given to the ISU registrar. Next thing is to sign up with the regstrar for the challenge exams. Once you pay half the challenge exam fee, you are ready to take the exam.
6. The challenge exams are taken on computer, and you will get your grade immediately after you submit your test.
7. You will need a pathophysiology class..but this is not a requirement to enter the program. If you can, take it at a community college and save money. Once you are in the ISU program and TCN notes you are missing the patho course, TCN will send you a contract stating that you need the pathophysiology course, sign on the bottomline of the contract and TCN will sign you up for the course. Because TCN has access to your transcripts (courtesy of the association with ISU), they know exactly where you are in the program, what you are missing, and how you are doing (I find this association a breach of your student privacy but ISU does not). What TCN does not tell you is you can take many courses at other colleges and save the money TCN will charge.
May 7, '11 by cmcmillan0322Also i saw you are take the program full time did they give you an expected date to graduate doing it full time after completeing the four challenge courses
May 8, '11 by LadyinScrubs[quote=cmcmillan0322;5095871]sorry for the late response ladyinscrubs been busy studying for finals
Is there a thread specific to CA ISU program participants? If not would you consider starting it?
Jun 7, '11 by caliotter3Quote from nurse805Don't know if you are directing this at the OP, but she is located on the east coast.Thank you for your very articulate insights on your experience with ISU