The College Network - Legit or Scam?

Nursing Students Online Learning

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Hey, I recently just signed up for TCN a day ago. I have 2 more days until I can cancel my membership. I wanted to know your guys' opinion of the college network. From what the representative told me, it is accredited. They cover all your pre-reqs fee's(books, exam fee's, etc.). But what else is there that I dont know? Is this a legit program? I searched TCN reviews and I got this - http://the-college-network.pissedconsumer.com/the-college-network-is-a-scam-20080630125757.html

It's scaring the crap outta me. I was really excited to start this program but now I am second guessing it. Can someone please help me. I need to know soon before I won't be able to cancel my contract. Thanks

oh and does anyone know of any legit online LVN to BSN/RN courses? Thanks

i have read through this entire thread and have several comments. i hope they are helpful. [... 3. phase 3: the meat and potatoes of the program to get the rn portion of bsn (the rest is your math english, sociology, etc) is 4 semesters...no less which equals 2 years b/c isu does not offer summer session or any winter session. i got this directly from "millie" who is solely responsible for clinical placement of distance learners. also, confirmed this with 3 other reps from isu.

tcn is a book store that sells books to prepare student to enter into various programs. they are not a college and they are not accredited. some schools/universities will accept people who have taken and passed the tcn program.

tcn is not indiana state university. the nursing program at isu will accept gen ed courses from tcn. the nursing program is completely separate from tcn and the nursing program is only offered from isu.

if you are talking to millie, be aware she holds two hats--the tcn information specialist & the isu laision for california clinicals/students. for calif students, millie and tcn cohort, arrange for clinical placements for calif students only. non calif clinical placements are arranged throgh isu.

for those of you who are not aware, there are two programs -- calif and non calif. the amount of time it will take the student, once the student enters into the program, will depend on how many gen ed courses the student must take. because the calif bon has regulated that calif students at isu can take only one clinical class a semester, these students will be enrolled in the isu program longer than non-calif students.

however, you mentioned isu does not offer summer or winter sessions. your statement is not correct. for example: this year both spring and fall sessions were offered. there was no summer 2011 program. i anticipate the same for the following years.

the isu distant learning program is the only on line bsn program authorized by the calif bon. one can always enter a brick and mortor authorized adn or bsn but only the isu dl lvn to bsn program is authorized for calif residents.

Just a quick correction...

I never said TCN and ISU were one entity. In fact, i stated numerous times throughout my post that they required SEPARATE applications, which is one of many things left out by the TCN representative.

Also to clarify, Summer =JUNE JULY AUGUST

Winter =Jan-Feb term all to itself

Fall = August/Sept thru Dec

Spring= Feb/Mar thru June

lady in scrubs stated:"However, you mentioned ISU does not offer summer or winter sessions. Your statement is not correct. For example: This year both Spring and Fall sessions were offered. There was no summer 2011 program. I anticipate the same for the following years"

So, the statement there are no WINTER sessions and RARELY SUMMER sessions is CORRECT.

Fact remains, once a student enters ISU for the RN portion, that portion alone takes 4 semesters (2 Spring and 2 Fall = 2years) This is a fact, no matter how you want to spin the months included in a "semester"..The point of my post is do not expect to be finished in less than 2years with all of the general education completed.

Please read a post thoroughly before "correcting" it...

phase 1 & phase 2 are a combination of completing prerequisites and transition courses for the lvn to rn role. these are tcn courses...not isu (indiana state).

in all actuality, one does not need to take tcn for any courses because they are only a bookseller not an accredited educational institution. the isu phase i consists of the prerequisites for the isu lvn to bsn program. they can be taken at any accredited college or university and transferred. the isu phase 2 is the isu challenge tests are solely the responsibility of isu. one can buy tcn study guides or one can use cheaper books or study guides. however, fail one test, and you are mandated to buy the study guide(s). either way, before one can register for the challenge exams, the potential student must apply for registration with isu and receive an isu student id.

the length of this portion varies per student, depending on how quickly you work and take the exams. true and it also depends on whether the prerequisites and gen ed classes are complete, and what state one lives in.

once phase 2 is complete, you can apply to isu for admission--actually, before one can go onto the isu phase 2, one must apply to isu and obtain a student id. nothing can be done with isu without a student id.

, but that does not get you into the school of nursing. true

you then have to take 2 isu transition courses...when those are complete, you can apply to school of nursing...

true. once the isu challenge exams are passed and the nursing program's application and paperwork is complete, an acceptance letter is sent out by the nursing department. one can accept, decline, or delay start for a semester later. either way, one will be admitted under an interim permit. to become completely admitted into the program and receive credit for the challenge classes, one must pass both the transition and the assessment courses.

3. phase 3: the meat and potatoes of the program to get the rn portion of bsn (the rest is your math english, sociology, etc) is 4 semesters...no less which equals 2 years b/c isu does not offer summer session or any winter session. i got this directly from "millie" who is solely responsible for clinical placement of distance learners. also, confirmed this with 3 other reps from isu.

isu is a semester system not quarters. there are only three semesters in the program spring, summer, and fall. there may or may not be a summer semester. however, after completing the first semester, there will be no nursing classes the second semester (some students use this time to take gen ed courses), and in the third semester, clinical classes begin.

[color=#a0522d]once admitted into the program, there are 6 clinicals to pass and a number of other non-clinical nursing classes. the first semester's[color=#a0522d] assessment class is counted as one of the six. off the top of my head, i believe i remember a total of 10 clinical and non clinical classes (not including gen ed classes).

Specializes in ER; CCT.
3. Phase 3: The meat and potatoes of the program to get the RN portion of BSN (the rest is your math english, sociology, etc) is 4 semesters...no less which equals 2 years b/c ISU does not offer Summer session or any Winter session. I got this directly from "Millie" who is solely responsible for clinical placement of distance learners. Also, confirmed this with 3 other reps from ISU.

I'm a nursing faculty with ISU and this information is incorrect. ISU provides nursing courses all year. Presently I'm teaching N450 for the summer and have plans to teach the same and research in both fall and spring. Millie is responsible for clinical placement for California residents only.

For the rest, please do not read comments on this board and take them for fact. Contact ISU Nursing directly.

How did you do it? I feel the online programs will be the best for me. I am planning on going to LPN school soon and want my RN and more. Online school will at least keep me home with my family.

Specializes in GERIATRICS,HOSPICE,MENTAL/PHYS DISABILED.

I wish someone had warned me that I could go straight through Excelsior & not through side companies-like RUE. I'm using Rue's books but some of them don't even follow what will be on the final test of certain classes, ie.,Lifespan of Developmental Psych. I just buy studygroup cds & study them & pass with them & send their books back. Oh, my precious, wasted, money $$$$$$$!!!!!!!:crying2::crying2::crying2::crying2::crying2:

Specializes in Certified Diabetes Educator.

The state Attorney General in my state filed a class action law suit against the College Network for fraud. They paid up.

Hello,

I have been in the TCN system for 2 years and I have been very happy with the resources and support that I have received.

I have not had to buy any text books from Excelcior, and have not paid any tuition, other than the registration fee, which is what was explained to me when I signed the contract. They are not affiliated with EC which was also explained. This program is for someone who is self motivated and does not need feedback when studying, for example: listening to dumb questions from other students in class or teachers rambling on about their experiences. Just scientific medical facts are included in the modules. I have passed ALL tests, the first time I have taken them, with just the TCN modules, and a Tabers, and a colorful anatomy diagram . I got an A in anatomy and Physiology.

This is late I know , perhaps you canceled your contract, but if not, The comments above sound like there is some baggage unopened that the writers need to personally deal with and not throw at you. What is good and works for some people does NOT work for others, and I am very thankful that we are all very different.

Sincerely, Nancy

I just talked to the TCN representative. I believed that I got all the details quite well, but still have not made the decision. I understand that TCN is more like a prep step to get accepted into the ISU BSN program. It is clear to me that they help you by providing modules that would help prepare one for the "CLEP" exams. From that stand point it is like being on your own testing out of CLEP exams and accummulating all the necessary credits required to get into ISU. about 20 years ago when I went to school for engineering I did the same in high school and CLEP'd some of my classes. Back then, studying for those exams was a bit more challenging since I had to sign books out of the library and hopefully cover all the material on the CLEP exam. It was tough, from that aspect. I think that there is the service that CTN provides, the study modules allow one to get straight to the important areas with out spending much time on stuff that might not be on the exam or like some one mentione, waste time listening to absurd questions by other students and/or hear story tails that do not apply to the content that one is preparing for. That to me is a great plus, although if I can find the same or equivalent learning material for cheaper would be more attractive. The point being is that one has to be very determined and be able to dissect the material alone which can be a drawback for different type of students or perhaps the average. In that case CTN or anything alike is a waste of time and resources.

Specializes in EMT 5 yrs.LPN 3 yrs-Urgent care/Occ.med.

TCN is not a scam. they tell you everything about themselves....however they neglect to tell you that you don't need them. You can go through Excelsior and take the exams without them. Its kinda like paying someone $5 to walk to the end of your driveway to get your mail every day...makes no sense

if anyone reads this i wish i would have found these comments before i signed on the dotted line. i too have been misled and made a fool of. stay away from tcn and their so called lpn to rn program, try another route. I wasted so much money and am currently trying to get a stop on the payments. i enrolled at my community college and am thoroughly looking ahead of time for a rn to bsn or msn program. i learned my lesson real good.

The state Attorney General in my state filed a class action law suit against the College Network for fraud. They paid up.

I filed a direct complaint with the AG's office where the College Network is, and I was not only let out of my contract, but was given a full refund of all that I had already paid.

I filed a direct complaint with the AG's office where the College Network is, and I was not only let out of my contract, but was given a full refund of all that I had already paid.

Every person who posts how they were unable to extract themselves from TCN once they decided against it, should be directed to this post. Thanks for posting.

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