The College Network

U.S.A. Washington

Published

Hello has anyone heard of The college network. Please can i Have your Feedback.

I live on Cape Cod and there was only one RN school close for me with a 2 year waiting list. I wanted to save some money tried doing Excelsior without the college network. After one year I had taken ONE class, Microbiology. Excel. claims to save you money but they wanted me to buy a bunch of books from the EXCELSIOR bookstore and charged me for practice exams and hardly answered the phone. I met the local guy from college network at my work and he was very direct and honest(maybe all their reps aren't be he was great). I think he sensed my frustration and lack of commitment and he toled me that if I wasn't commited to studying ,to do the program locally. He went over the programs costs, clinicals ect. I was hesitant after my time before with Excelsior so he came back two months later to go over it with my husband and I and then do the paperwork and gave me the first book. Like he toled me, You still have to study but they can work out all the other obstacles. I've been doing it about a year now and have 2 nursing classes and the clinical tests left. Then I take the boards and get a $12 raise. I'll have all my school paid with my raise for the first year as an RN. If your committed to studying then this is a good option. If you need someone to stand over you in a classroom then do it locally.

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I just signed up with TCN, I only have two pre-reqs to do and then just the nursing stuff :), I choose to only finance the modules and all that and just pay for the test as they come up because it was cheaper that way! I'm wondering if they have changed because they way it is for me is I have phase one and two of paying; one is all the modules and test including nursing and test, and phase two is the other stuff. I'm just wondering why you have three different ones listed? Or maybe I just miss read. Anywho I am really interested in hearing about your progress!!

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You are the first person to have something positive to say about tcn...i will be starting the lpn to rn program really soon...i know you have to stay focused and be self-motivated in order to complete a program like this...if you could send me a message or anything, i would be glad to hear how everything turned out for you...i find it very inspirational...thanks in advance!!!

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I just recently signed up with The College Network for the LPN to RN program. I found TCN to be very organized and straight forward on what I needed to complete, (that's what you are paying for). It's true that they are not a college but, they are like an agency that provides you with everything you possibly need to pass the tests required. It is somewhat like a travel agent meaning: you have a trip that you want to go on and have to stay in many locations and will be traveling for a while. You can: (a) look up and search for all of your tickets and hotels on your own, also your tours and what ever else you may need on your trip or, (b) you can just hire the travel agent to set it all up for you. Particularly, for me, my preference was to pay a little more money for a service I know I needed verses spending all that time searching for study guides and not knowing if they were sufficient enough and risking more time wasted. The gentleman comes to your home and explains everything in black and white. They also had an option that was to just pay for the pre-reqs (I needed everything) so, I am not actually financing a huge amount- Only $4400. ( broke down to $300 down and then $97 per mo. for 60 months) You can also pay it off early with no penalty. This covers all the study guides, online modules, and other online services, a chat blog with other TCN students, THE ACTUAL EXAMS at excelsior- ALL INCLUDED. Then, after I complete all of the pre-reqs, It is my choice to re-sign up with them again for the nursing portion or, I don't have to. If I re-sign it will be about another $4400 for TCN and after that there would be $4100 to finish up with Excelsior (that fee includes the CPNE!) My first study guide was for Life Span- I can choose to read the material from the book or, I can go online and do the modules (or both) which is what I like to do. Also, they have practice exams that are free as well. I find the online services very useful- especially the blog of students whom have taken the exams and tell you what to focus on. The bottom line is, you have to actually read the materials and go take the exams to become the RN whether you choose to use TCN or not. I felt that it would be much quicker for me to achieve my goals by taking this route. Plus, I will be an RN sooner making more money- so, the money evens itself out.

For anyone interested in TCN you can just give them a call and someone will come out to talk with you. Please just understand that you don't have to sign up, you are just getting all the details. If you don't like it then DON'T SIGN UP. Please be smart and read everything and ask questions! They do let you cancel but it has to be within 3 days. So, just don't sign up until you are sure. As for me, I have the peace of mind in knowing that once I am finished with this study guide, I can call them to set up my exam and send out the next subject (also you can do 2 at once) I will keep anyone updated on my progress if your interested. Just curious, anyone that has signed up with TCN and has complaints about owing them, have any of you received your degree elsewhere yet? By the way, I am a LPN and in no way affiliated with TCN other than I am just a student in their LPN to RN program. Thank-you to all for reading this! My first post on all nurses!

You are the first person to have something positive to say about tcn...i will be starting the lpn to rn program really soon...i know you have to stay focused and be self-motivated in order to complete a program like this...if you could send me a message or anything, i would be glad to hear how everything turned out for you...i find it very inspirational...thanks in advance!!!

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Specializes in Med.Surg, Geriatrics.

I have been with them too unfortunately did not work well with me,,clinicals or cpne for excelsior is really tough once you failed you lost your extra amount of thousand dollars plus I rather go to a college that has no cpne but clincals on site. Lamar State College Port Arthur is a legit school rn-lvn program..anybosy can check thier wwebiste very affordable price you finished in 15 mos. will be starting the next program sept.19 no stressing for cpne...you guys check out Lamar's website. Good luck

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Specializes in Med Surg/ Pedi, OR.

I got my refund back in time thanks to all the posts on this board. So whenI checked my credit report, they went ahead and gave me a loan anyways. I am upset. I have demanded that they take this off my name. ! Don't be a fool this school is not a school !

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This may have been answered already, I have been looking all over at different posts to find the answers...

I have been looking into the college network for the lvn-bsn through Indiana State University ( I live in california)..not sure if I will go through tcn or not, but I am interested in ISU. I did read that you can buy the study guides on ebay instead of going through the college network and pay lots more. My question is how does that work...I looked around on ebay, amazon and other places where I can buy the study guides I need for good prices, I found all but 2. If I were to buy them, study them, then do I schedule an exam, If I pass do I get a paper or something proving a passed, how do I provided that information to ISU when its time for me to apply for addmission. Not sure how it works but I'm interested in finding out more info about how I can do this without signing a contract with tcn. I would love to hear from people who have done this themselves, without going through tcn. please any advice in this would be great, thank you!

-Kelly

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You got to be sure your state board approves this as a nursing program...california does not. just fyi!

I have been with them too unfortunately did not work well with me,,clinicals or cpne for excelsior is really tough once you failed you lost your extra amount of thousand dollars plus I rather go to a college that has no cpne but clincals on site. Lamar State College Port Arthur is a legit school rn-lvn program..anybosy can check thier wwebiste very affordable price you finished in 15 mos. will be starting the next program sept.19 no stressing for cpne...you guys check out Lamar's website. Good luck
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Fyi..Its on the state board of reg. nursing that the program is acc. in CA!

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Hi all! I don't know how many of you will find this post, but I have created a petition on change.org to stop TCN from scamming. Go to this link: http://www.change.org/petitions/stop-the-college-network-tcn-from-scaming-americans-i-want-the-college-network-to-stop-scamming-hard-working-americans?share_id=cJCZxwbdRT to sign the petition and require TCN to be clearer and to stop taking so much money from us all. Good luck to everyone in their endeavors!

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