Whadda u think about the college network?

fuerza757 · May 19, 2007

What is TCN ?

If you choose not to use one of these companies, how do you get started ?

I am interested in Associates.

LPN-RN

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · May 20, 2007

This very refreshing to hear. A college network representitive came out to my house, I signed the contract and was very excited, but when i started going through the forums here I chickened out and signed a cancellation within the three day period they allow. Now I feel bad that I did that. I really want to get my BSN online, but it's so scary because I don't know who to go through and get the best results: A good education, a nice price and convenience. I have 2 children ages 2 and 3, and I work full time nights! Geesh:rolleyes:

Excelsior.

www.excelsior.edu, not com - College Network uses that domain name to steal business from Excelsior.

chaxanmom · May 20, 2007

Here is the breakdown that I know about
They go by phases and there are 3 of them
The first phase depends on how many courses you need
Phase 1
Number of Classes X $445 = ??
This mean from $0 - $11125
Don't forget the CLEP testing fees $0 - $3155
Then they mandate you take there NCLEX prep course $495
Phase 2
Which according to ISU they have exclusive rights too the media for these course (I have this in writing from ISU). Basiclly means to me that you must go throught College Network for these 4 classes.
$2500
Phase 3
Fees = $2794
Tutition = $9240
So it could be from $ 15029 to as much as $29309 + Books on both sides
There another line of money that is unknown and not included, and these are the books for the ISU portion of the education

Their NCLEX prep course is totally optional. I just signed up with them a few weeks ago and declined it. :) There are sooo many NCLEX books out there and the PN version was no sweat so I'm not paying $500 for that.

I did TCN because 1)it's the only LPN-BSN online program and 2)the clinicals. I've been a SAHM for 9 years so I wasn't comfortable doing Excelsior because I need the clinicals.

Also, the phase 3 part is through ISU so you can get Pell Grants and/or student loans and/or scholarships for that aspect. My only regret is getting the modules for the last few req's. I figured out after the fact that I could have simply gotten textbooks from the library for those and saved $445 a pop for 6 classes. Duh. lol!

chaxanmom · May 20, 2007

I just signed up to do the lpn-bsn bridge. I am glad to hear that it is worth it if you stick with it. I hope I can be self motivated enough to get through it...
I do have a question though... does anyone know if there is a rule for the exams?? Like if my sister wants to use my study guides to take the exams, and we split the price for the college network, is there a way that we could get in trouble??
I hope this works out!!
Thanks!
Jess

I see this was posted several months ago but in case you are still reading...I don't see why you couldn't do that. People sell those study guides on eBay. You buy the study guides, not pay for tuition so they are yours to do with whatever you choose. Nothing in my contract says you can't do that.

NYSNOWBUNNY007 · May 20, 2007

College network is just a publishing company that wants ur $$$

chaxanmom · May 20, 2007

College network is just a publishing company that wants ur $$$

Meh, who isn't these days? lol! I'm all about streamlining my pre-req's and TCN is the only way in to the only online LPN-BSN program in the country which is what I want so I'll happily toss them a few bucks for that. :nurse:

fuerza757 · May 20, 2007

Hi,

Have a few questions?

How are the clinicals arranged? Will they be local for your location?

What is the tuition like ? per class/per semester?

How does this program differ from Excelsior's?

Thanks and Best Wishes on your studies.

chaxanmom · May 20, 2007

Hi,
Have a few questions?
How are the clinicals arranged? Will they be local for your location?
What is the tuition like ? per class/per semester?
How does this program differ from Excelsior's?
Thanks and Best Wishes on your studies.

Clinicals are arranged by TCN for you. You pick the location you want to do clinicals at and then they call and set you up with a preceptor there. It's different from Excelsior because you have clinicals set up for the purpose of learning whereas Excelsior is just the CPNE which, as I understand it, is just a test. I haven't worked in a few years and I'm not working now so this works well for me. Tuition at ISU is $220 per credit hour ($9240) and then a technology fee ($342 total) and distance education fee ($360 total). ISU is accredited though so that portion can be covered by grants, loans, scholarships, etc. The TCN portion totally varies depending on how much college credit you already have. I only needed 6 modules plus the 4 nursing ones so it's not terribly expensive for me. Testing fees add up fast though since 4 of mine are Excelsior tests which are like $190 a pop...$280 for A&P. Plus the 4 nursing ones for ISU are about the same testing fee. :uhoh3: If I had more prereq's to do I'd probably get them through an accredited school with distance education though so you can get financial aid and then join up with TCN later.

txspadequeenRN, BSN, RN · May 21, 2007

tcn is only a publishing company they do not set up any clinicals for you and you do not have to go through them to get your degree. sounds like y'all need to do some more research before you get any deeper..

clinicals are arranged by tcn for you. you pick the location you want to do clinicals at and then they call and set you up with a preceptor there. it's different from excelsior because you have clinicals set up for the purpose of learning whereas excelsior is just the cpne which, as i understand it, is just a test. i haven't worked in a few years and i'm not working now so this works well for me. tuition at isu is $220 per credit hour ($9240) and then a technology fee ($342 total) and distance education fee ($360 total). isu is accredited though so that portion can be covered by grants, loans, scholarships, etc. the tcn portion totally varies depending on how much college credit you already have. i only needed 6 modules plus the 4 nursing ones so it's not terribly expensive for me. testing fees add up fast though since 4 of mine are excelsior tests which are like $190 a pop...$280 for a&p. plus the 4 nursing ones for isu are about the same testing fee. if i had more prereq's to do i'd probably get them through an accredited school with distance education though so you can get financial aid and then join up with tcn later.

chaxanmom · May 21, 2007

tcn is only a publishing company they do not set up any clinicals for you and you do not have to go through them to get your degree. sounds like y'all need to do some more research before you get any deeper..

not sure if its tcn or isu that actually sets up the clinicals/preceptors for you. sorry...i should have been more clear on that part but the point is the same which is that it is part of this particular program. no you don't need to go through them *unless* you are getting your degree through isu which they have a partnership with for the lpn to bsn program.

txspadequeenRN, BSN, RN · May 21, 2007

the only reason ever that you would need to use tcn is to get the 4 study guides so you can test out of the 4 nursing courses...however, you can get them off e-bay or somewhere else.they are much more expensive than the regular study guides. so if you can, find these somewhere else save yourself several thousand dollars. i have spoken to isu and they tell me that there is no need to use tcn and i should do everything through them in the event i decide to do isu. this was several years ago though...

not sure if its tcn or isu that actually sets up the clinicals/preceptors for you. sorry...i should have been more clear on that part but the point is the same which is that it is part of this particular program. no you don't need to go through them *unless* you are getting your degree through isu which they have a partnership with for the lpn to bsn program.

chaxanmom · May 21, 2007

the only reason ever that you would need to use tcn is to get the 4 study guides so you can test out of the 4 nursing courses...however, you can get them off e-bay or somewhere else.they are much more expensive than the regular study guides. so if you can, find these somewhere else save yourself several thousand dollars. i have spoken to isu and they tell me that there is no need to use tcn and i should do everything through them in the event i decide to do isu. this was several years ago though...

yes, you are correct in that you only need tcn for the 4 nursing courses if you do the other pre-req's through another school or test out on your own. not sure if it would work to get them off ebay and then take the tests through isu without being a tcn client but you definitely do need those modules for phase 2. it's worth checking out if someone is interested in going that route since things may have changed since you last spoke with them. for me, tcn was/is worth the money for the convenience of the modules. gotta do what works for you. :)