College Network - LPN to RN?

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I've seen the advertisement on here for The College Network for those who want to go LPN to RN. Whenever I click on the link, I get a info form so they can contact me if I have questions.

I'd prefer not to give out my personal info to College Network until I know more.

Anyone have any info or experience with them?

Thanks!

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Specializes in Home Health Case Mgr.

Hi Kate, College Network is a publishing company that sells you study guides that may or may not help you pass the Excelsior College examinations. There are several publishers out there, some good some bad. You can go through the entire Excelsior College program LPN-Rn using their (EC) study guides and buying their recommended texts. Some people feel the publishing companys are a waste of money as you don't really need them. I say it is up to the individual. I used Chancellors and found their study guides (and tapes) to be awesome. They chart your course for you and advise you what to take. They sell you guides which worked for me. PLUS, they have a practice lab, one week long, that prepares you for the clinical exam (CPNE) with Excelsiors College. I did send the money and glad I did. Some people would think was a waste. It is up to you. I do know that The College Network would have been my Second choice behind Chancellors. Then Rue would be 3rd choice. Hope that helps....look into them and their prices before doing anything.....

CSL

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Specializes in Mental Health, MI/CD, Neurology.

In the long run, it is quite a bit cheaper to just go straight through EC. You get their study guides for free either through the mail or download them off of their website, and you get a few texts to use as resources as you do your study guides. I signed with RUE and was very, very sorry that I did. I know a couple of people who were ripped off by College Network in a big bad way, so I would not suggest either of those companies to anyone. If you really want to go with a publishing company, go with Chancellor's. But like I said, you'll save a lot just by going straight through EC. And if you talk to any reps from any of the publishing companies, watch out..... some of them are very smooth and will make it sound like you HAVE to use them in order to get your EC degree, or will make it sound like it's much much easier to use them rather than going straight through EC. I am here to say that it isn't, and there are a lot of people who would agree with me.

Good luck to you!

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I second the above advisors....you don't need publishing companies to get through Excelsior. That said, I too am using a publishing company, DLSI. So far, I have done well with their guides, however, it was very expensive. For me, it was the convenience factor, and being in Canada,I may not be able to get the Excelsior recommended texts here. Now that I know the ins and outs, I would probably just look for study guides for sale on ebay, etc. There are always a lot of them available on other nurse posting sites (yahoo). Before you sign your life (and pay cheques) away, you may want to purchase one or two study guides that way to see if they really do help you. Good luck!

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I too think it is the choice of the individual. I am currently using RUE with no regrets I considered and spoke with college network and excelsior directly. I chose RUE and I don't regret it. Use whatever means you need to get it done.

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Hi all

I am currently using TCN and I am satisfied. It is a personal choice who you use. Each system has its pros and cons. It is more expensive than going through you local community college but as always there is a price to pay for convience. I am in the ISU LPN to BSN program and I am so excited to be doing this. TCN has walked me through the process. ISU recommeded TCN to me to prepare me for the program. So all in all it is a personal choice. EC has its way, Rue has their way and others etc.

Wings :saint:

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Hello All! What exactly is "EC" and does anyone have a link to Chancellors? I was visited by a representative from The College Network last week and they recommended that I go with Excelsior College to complete my LPN -> RN. It was then suggested I go with an RN -> MSN program for a total of 42 months (12 + 30). They offered also a program via Indiana State but they told me it wasn't completely accredited. This was an LPN -> BSN program that would take approximately 4 years. I didn't realize that the College Network was simply a publishing company trying to sell me study guides until I read these forums. But, if you don't use a publishing company, where do you get your books from in order to study for the exams? :confused:

Thanks for all the help in advance, I'm just trying to figure out this online stuff. What I really want is a program that is quick but I can do my clinicals locally.

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Hello All! What exactly is "EC" and does anyone have a link to Chancellors? I was visited by a representative from The College Network last week and they recommended that I go with Excelsior College to complete my LPN -> RN. It was then suggested I go with an RN -> MSN program for a total of 42 months (12 + 30). They offered also a program via Indiana State but they told me it wasn't completely accredited. This was an LPN -> BSN program that would take approximately 4 years. I didn't realize that the College Network was simply a publishing company trying to sell me study guides until I read these forums. But, if you don't use a publishing company, where do you get your books from in order to study for the exams? :confused:

Thanks for all the help in advance, I'm just trying to figure out this online stuff. What I really want is a program that is quick but I can do my clinicals locally.

Hi Jasmine. Just wanted to let you know that Indiana State is accredited. I am looking at several schools & I also looked at Indiana State for the RN-BSN track. I contacted my student loan lender, since I am applying for another Stafford Loan....and I requested some school codes to do that tedious application. Anyways, they told me they were & I did inquired about. I have a link with phone#s & emails if you want to talk to someone who is a nursing advisor whether it would be for LPN, RN or MSN tracks.

Here they are: Nursing: Academic Advisors

Nursing (LPN to BSN Program)

Marcia Miller

1-888-293-4842

[email protected]

Nursing (RN to BSN Program)

Marcia Miller

1-888-293-4842

[email protected]

Nursing (master's)

Esther Acree

1-888-293-4842

[email protected]

Also, the Indiana State does use College Network. I have never use them either, always taken classes at a brick/mortar school..so I had no clue who they were either!

A good rule of thumb, if you are applying for financial aid of some sort, like me I have to get a Stafford loan, if that college isn't offering financial aid or don't say they accept stafford loans, plus loans etc..., say they only will accept a credit card, cash etc... then you can almost bet they are a diploma mill. Sallie Mae and the lenders where I have my Stafford loans told me this.

Best of luck!

Lizzie

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Hey Jasmine

You need to call your State Board of Nursing to see if it is acredidated in your state. I am in Ohio and it is.

Wings

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I've seen the advertisement on here for The College Network for those who want to go LPN to RN. Whenever I click on the link, I get a info form so they can contact me if I have questions.

I'd prefer not to give out my personal info to College Network until I know more.

Anyone have any info or experience with them?

Thanks!

I contacted Excelsior directly regarding their program. They very explicitly told me that they were not connected to the College Network but that CN prepared study guides etc based on their courses. They also advised me to contact them (Excelsior) directly if I was interested.

I've chosen a different route (brick and mortar school) but if you're interested in Excelsior, their advise was to contact them, not the CN.

Just telling you what happened to me...

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I wished that I joined this website before I signed up with TCN. But anyway, I think that TCN will make it much easier for me to attain my RN through Excelsior. Knowing that it's too late now, I need to get my $ worth from TCN. Hey guys, do you know if I can get a student loan through Excelsior in order for me to be able to afford getting my RN? Please advise. Thanks.

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Is there anybody out there who has used the LVN to RN degree program at Excelsior via TCN? Please advise. I trying to start with the program this month and have ordered all of the study guides from TCN, but I don't know if I also need to apply at Excelsior. I'm somewhat confused. Please advise. Thanks a lot.

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