Can anyone help with Excelsior questions?

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Hello everyone!

This is only my second posting here, but I've been reading information here for quite some time and I apologize in advance as I know these questions have been asked before. I've been an LPN for about 1 1/2 years now. I want to go back to school and have been looking at Excelsior. Again, I've done some research and then today I met with a College Network rep and I am totally confused! Can anyone give me advice on how to do/start the Excelsior program not using the college network? I've read through Excelsior's site a few times and I think I understand, but it would be nice to have someone put it into "lay-men's" terms. Ha, ha! I don't have any previous college credits so I would be starting from scratch and if I understand correctly you can do all the pre reqs and one nursing course before actually enrolling in Excelsior-right?

Thanks in advance for any advice!!

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Specializes in Psych, LTC, Acute Care.
Hello everyone!

This is only my second posting here, but I've been reading information here for quite some time and I apologize in advance as I know these questions have been asked before. I've been an LPN for about 1 1/2 years now. I want to go back to school and have been looking at Excelsior. Again, I've done some research and then today I met with a College Network rep and I am totally confused! Can anyone give me advice on how to do/start the Excelsior program not using the college network? I've read through Excelsior's site a few times and I think I understand, but it would be nice to have someone put it into "lay-men's" terms. Ha, ha! I don't have any previous college credits so I would be starting from scratch and if I understand correctly you can do all the pre reqs and one nursing course before actually enrolling in Excelsior-right?

Thanks in advance for any advice!!

Welcome to the board! The EC process can be confusing. The website itself is very confusing if you don't go on it much. I do not recommend College Network because its a waste of money if you decide Distance Learning is not for you. I suggest calling EC and getting them to send you a Nursing information packet and talk with someone directly in Admissions. They walked me through the process. You can register for Essentials in Health Care Safety before you enroll at Excelsior. If you have went on EC site Download their nursing catalog and it can help you understand the program. Remember to download the nursing catalog for students Enrolling after 10/01. You will not take the NC1-7. You will take the new revises courses. This gets newcomers confused because people on this board are under the new and old curriculum's.

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Specializes in ICU, PICC Nurse, Nursing Supervisor.

hello and welcome to all nurses.

dont bother with the college network . its expensive and unnecessary. first thing is to create a free account on the ec website then from there you can order a nursing packet (or you can call them) . this will let you see what you need to do first. i think it is still 31 credits of general ed then the 7 nursing courses ( originally 8 but if you are a lvn you can skip one). many people clep their gen requirements or take ec exams. it is true that you can take the first nursing course before you officially enroll but i would focus right now on getting your general requirements out of the way.

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all good advice here :)

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

In addition to the fabulous advice above, I'll add that it costs about $75 (I think that's the price these days) to apply to Excelsior and to have your transcripts evaluated. They'll give you an "unofficial" evaluation that will tell you exactly what you'll need to take, and you can start working on those. You won't get an "official" evaluation until you actually enroll (which means forking over that $900!), but I was happy to see that the unofficial eval exactly matched my official one -- they didn't sneak anything in there after I was already on the hook. :) However, I did NOT realize that I didn't need to enroll until the third nursing exam, and I've paid the annual student enrollment penality already. LOL! It's $440 annually on the anniversary date of your enrollment ... you're smart to know that you don't have to enroll up front!

If you like The College Network's materials, you can find them used on eBay for reasonable prices. Much more reasonable than signing a long-term contract with them, should you decide this route isn't for you! :D

Just out of curiosity -- did the College Network rep imply that they had a relationship with Excelsior, or that they were the only way to do it? Or did they specifically state that they had no relationship with EC, and that they were not endorsed by them? So many people sign on with The College Network ... they must have one heck of a pitch!

Anyway, welcome to the board! :)

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Wow! Thanks everyone for the fabulous advice! You all are too kind! I dabbled a little more on the Excelsior site this evening and it's seeming to make more sense, but I will definitely give them a call and get further information.

To answer your question Lunah, the rep from TCN didn't imply they had a relationship per say with Excelsior, but I got the feeling they would lead someone who didn't know to believe they do. You're correct, they do have one heck of a sales pitch! It's sounds really good, but something made me feel like I shouldn't go that route.

Again, thanks to everyone for their replies. You have been a great help! It feels great to know that there is a group of great supporters here on the boards! Have a good night everyone!

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

Heh. I keep getting postcards in the mail from TCN lately ... "You could be an RN in as little as 18 months!" LOL!!! Yeah, sign me up ... NOT! :D

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