College Network vs. Rue vs. Excelsior

beckyboo1, BSN, RN · Jan 29, 2006

Technically you don't need Rue or College Network. You realize that Rue and College Network are just publishing companies right? You have to get your testing and credits through an actual college like Excelsior. All Rue and College Network sell you are books and workbooks to study from.

HTH

Becky

RN34TX · Jan 29, 2006

I graduated from EC by going straight through them. No College Network, Rue, any of them.

Their reps will try to fool you into believing that you need their study guides in order to make it through the program, and Colllege Network seems to be doing a great job of convincing people that they are a school that grants nursing degrees, when in fact, they only sell materials that are supposed to help you to pass exams through EC.

In all fairness, there are some here who say that these companies sold great materials and that they were very helpful, but they are VERY expensive and you get trapped into signing contracts with them.

Many people have started going through E-Bay and buying these study guides second hand for a much lower price, I would suggest at least checking that out first.

But please talk DIRECTLY to EC first, not these publishing companies. Take the first nursing exam and see how it goes. If you find that the exam was difficult and need additional help, then fine. But you may discover that you can study the material and pass the exams on your own without signing a contract and ending up with a much more expensive ASN degree by using College Network.

One more reason to get in touch with EC directly is that they will give you more accurate info than College Network, here's an example:

You mentioned that College Network told you that doing the ASN would be "better" for your circumstances than the BSN. I guess they either forgot to mention, or probably don't even know, that you as an LPN are not even eligible for the BSN program, it's open to RN's only. So you have no choice here. You need to get your ASN first, and then you can go on to the BSN if you want.

Do your research before you sign a contract with any of these companies. There are numerous threads on this topic here and you should read through them.

RN34TX · Jan 29, 2006

Does Excelsior offer the prereqs along with everything else?

Excelsior offers its own "CLEP" type exams allowing you to test out of all of the prereq's if you want to.

I went through a local community college and took all of my sciences and other prereq's and then transferred the credits toward my EC ASN.

You can do it either way.

Lorie P. · Jan 29, 2006

college network is very expensive, i actually had a rep come to my house and after reviewing all the infor changed my mind. they want you to sign a contract and pay them 145.00 a month for 6 years and that is just for their material. their study guides are 470.00 each and then an extra 200.00 to 400.00 to take exams that you pay for. so please be very very careful

they end up going thru excelsior at the end anyway.

if you would like more info pm me and i will give it to you. i still have all the paper work from the visit as i call it.

just remember to do your homework and shop around.

scrmblr · Jan 29, 2006

I graduated without using a publishing company. When I recieved the study guide from excelsior I would look at the recomended text. I could usually find it on amazon.com for peanuts. Or, I could buy "handmedown" books from people desperate to sell their rue books.

I get kinda grumpy at the publishing companies. They advertise in a way that makes you think you cannot possibly pass without this valuable system. (not true!)

angelgirly · Feb 9, 2006

i need some help in trying to figure out how i'm going to get my rn. i was in school in 2000 to get it when my husband of 25 yrs died. i had to drop out of the transion program here because i just couldn't concentrate any longer. please help me !!!!!!! i can't afford to go to school the traditional way, i'll have to go thru ec . awaiting reply. thanks

yvette7719 · Feb 18, 2006

I am in the same boat you are. I chose EC. Its cheaper and highly acclaimed. :balloons: However, you have to do what is best for you. The other two programs will go through EC anyway. Why not do it from the beginning?

dotty865 · Mar 11, 2006

Does EC have a web site that I can look at ? I'm considering going back for my RN ,i've been an LPN for 21 years . I can't take time off work right now to go to the Community College. College network called me yesterday and according to them i would still have to do clinicals at the CC. My DON at work said that she would help me in any way she can but to get started.... that's the problem .

EricJRN, MSN, RN · Mar 12, 2006

www.excelsior.edu

angelgirly · Mar 16, 2006

yes my question is, do i have to go thru excelsior or college network in order to take the exams and clinical ? i know people that used to go straight thru regents college and get all their clinical and tests done. i have all the books and study guides to take the exams. anyone please help !!!!!!!!!!!!! i want my rn !!!!!!!!!! :confused:

RN34TX · Mar 16, 2006

yes my question is, do i have to go thru excelsior or college network in order to take the exams and clinical ? i know people that used to go straight thru regents college and get all their clinical and tests done. i have all the books and study guides to take the exams. anyone please help !!!!!!!!!!!!! i want my rn !!!!!!!!!!

you can go straight through excelsior (formerly regents).

if you have all of the study guides and books like you say, then college network wouldn't do you any good because all they do is sell study guides for the exams.

even college network people still have to take all of their exams and clinical exam through excelsior.

college network is not a school or degree granting institution of any kind.