Excelsior---College Network, RUE, Istudysmart.com, ????

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · May 26, 2007

And go to www.excelsior.EDU, not .COM. College Network snagged the Excelsior domain name to get more business and imply a connection to Excelsior that does not exist. Unethical?

billyn · Aug 15, 2007

I was told that iStudySmart is the only company that meets Excelsior's best practices for test taking preparation. A call to Excelsior is probably the best idea. See what they say.

I am really overwhelmed right now by all of the publishing companies that offer LPN to RN programs. I have recently attended a meeting with College network--$8,000. Rue's program would be about $6,000. I am willing to pay the $$, but I want to make sure the program is good. I am having a really hard time deciding which publishing company to go with or going directly through Excelsior???
I kknow the publishing companies are here to make $$, that's pretty obvious by the gap in price between all three companies. It's really hard to pay that kind of money when an RN program at a technical college is $7,000 total around my area. Obviously, the waiting list is extremely long or I would just go back to a technical college.
As far as clinical work, I currently work in Occ. Health so I am not getting a lot of hands-on nursing. A plus for me is that I originally started out in an ADN program and had a lot of skills courses where we did NG, Irrigating, dressing changes, care plans, etc.
I've read the forum here and I don't know what I think. I need pro's and con's from people who have been in each of these programs. Please Email me your response.
Thanks!!!
nurseangels

Homesteader2B · Aug 26, 2007

Does anyone know if Wisconsin accepts an ASN from Excelsior College and will the state let me sit for the boards if I have an Excelsior degree?? I haven't been able to find any information on the WI BON website to answer my question.

Thanks!

Kelly

montananurse · Sep 11, 2007

Those companies charge you on top of what you would get charged through Excelsior. I paid roughly $5000 for books and tests directly through Excelsior, they give you study guides to study from and I have passed all of the exams with ease. Research before paying.

kjack · Apr 26, 2008

Hello All!

I Am Now Enrolled In Excelsior College. I Have Finished Nursing

Concepts 1-7 And A&p, Lifespan Developemental Psych. All Without A Publishing Company. These Materials And Some Better

May Be Purchased On E-bay At A Fraction Of The Original Cost.

Also Excelsior College Recommends Text Books That Go With The

Excelsior Study Guides. I Hope This Helps If Not Refer To A

Excelsior Advisor. Lots Of Cds On E-bay Starting At 9.99

caliotter3 · Apr 26, 2008

I've been able to pass the tests without using any of the publishing companies. I think they are a waste of money, particularly when one is able to find their products for sale at reduced prices on ebay. You can find lots of good, organized study material in the files sections of Excelsior study groups on yahoo. If you want to spend a little money, you can buy similar used books, tapes, etc. on ebay. No need to sign expensive contracts. However, if one wants to use the publishing companies, then do so. Your money. Others just want to point out ways that you can save money, if money is an issue for you. Good luck to all that are enrolled in or planning to enroll in Excelsior.

Complaintoomuch · Dec 16, 2008

I used The College Network and they were great, they are always there for support and to answer ANY questions you have. No other companies have support staff like TCN. They may be a bit more expensive, but well worth it. I got my ASN and completed it in 11 months. That included 4 pre-reqs and the Nursing modules. You can blow thru a module in less than a month if you study and STAY TO A SCHEDULE. That is the key. Don't blow it off, don't take a week to read a chapter, schedule the exams a month out as a deadline for yourself. The people who complain are the ones who are lazy and not motivated. Theyw ant to blame TCN for their shortcomings. It can be done, it has been done, and you can do it too. The only issue I had was the wait to take the CPNE, but that is not TCNs fault, Excelsior has too few testing locations for the number of people going through their program. hey need like 10 more across the country. Call them asap and sign up. :jester:

hardworking22 · Oct 30, 2009

This week Rue is asking $11,000. (IT's a special!! LOL) Oct. 2009

hardworking22 · Oct 30, 2009

This week Rue is asking $11,000 . It's a special deal. lol Oct. 2009

jhoefen · Nov 4, 2009

I did it through excelsior. You dont need anything else. Just go through them. I finished all of the online tests in under three months. When you get to the CPNE just put yourself on the short notice list or else you'll have to wait for 6 months or more. I did it and got in about a month after applying. Yes, Wisconsin accepts excelsior college. NCLEX was a challenge but doable. good luck to all doing it this way. for me it was the best/quickest way possible. The down side to it all is I am currently teaching myself how to be a nurse (on the job) as i was not previously a nurse.

nbrody · Nov 8, 2009

i know this is several months after these posts were made but i have a couple of ?'s....you said that you just graduated from excelsior and you are teaching yourself how to be a nurse because you were not a nurse before. don't you have to be an lpn/lvn to go through the adn program at excelsior? maybe you were a paramedic before? just curious.

secondly, has anyone that has graduated with their adn from excelsior and obtained their rn had a problem getting hired by wi hospitals?

was anyone able to get an internship while doing the excelsior program, or do wi hospitals tend to cater to the wi nursing schools?

LPN_2005/RN_10 · Nov 8, 2009

to be accepted into excelsior's nursing program who either have to be an lpn, emt/paramedic, respiratory therapist, or finished with 50% of your nursing courses. so if you were in a 2 year adn program and finished a year of it, you can be accepted into excelsior.

from what i've heard, wi hospitals does accept excelsior. there are wi excelsior grads i know working at a couple of hospitals here and had no problems being hired. the va hospitals are also pro-excelsior.

and to get the most accurate answer regarding internships, you should contact the hospitals directly and ask if they will let an excelsior student intern with them. good luck! it's great to know there's more wi excelsior students!

i know this is several months after these posts were made but i have a couple of ?'s....you said that you just graduated from excelsior and you are teaching yourself how to be a nurse because you were not a nurse before. don't you have to be an lpn/lvn to go through the adn program at excelsior? maybe you were a paramedic before? just curious.
secondly, has anyone that has graduated with their adn from excelsior and obtained their rn had a problem getting hired by wi hospitals?
was anyone able to get an internship while doing the excelsior program, or do wi hospitals tend to cater to the wi nursing schools?