College Network vs. Rue vs. Excelsior

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What would stop someone from going directly through Excelsior rather than through Rue or College Network? Does Excelsior offer the prereqs along with everything else? I am possibly signing with College Network on Monday for their LPN to ASN, but I am wondering if just going through Excelsior would be better. I was going to go for BSN, but the rep told me that ASN would be better for coming straight from an LPN. So, If anyone has any suggestions, I welcome them. Thanks!:)

I know these study guide companies get kicked around for their high prices and misleading information, but I too agree that I am glad I went with a study guide company. Yes, the price was high, and some information was misleading (they never directly say they are a study guide company), but in the long run I don't think I could have done EC without the direction of the study guides. I went with a company that hasn't been mentioned yet (DLSI), but have found their guides to be pretty good. I know I would not have had the ability or gumption to follow the EC outlines to study all the details and in depth material required. Having the study guides was like having a teacher right there showing you the way. And having the required textbooks included with the study guides was also convenient. Maybe I am a 'sucker' (as per Nascar nurse's description on an earlier post), but I am a happy sucker who is pleased with my decision to go with a study guide company.

I do my share of warning people about getting ripped off by study guide companies here, but by no means do I consider anyone who uses them to be a "sucker".

I just think that there are a lot of people who do in fact believe that "College Network" and other comapnies are actually degree granting institutions and that these companies convince people that that you "need" to use them in order to get a nursing degree from Excelsior.

If paying for a publishing company's study guides has helped you to get to where you need to be, then it was money well spent, IMHO.

I was so terrified of the CPNE that I paid for, and went to Excelsior's CPNE workshop twice! Was I a sucker?

I don't know.

Would I have passed the CPNE anyway even if I hadn't gone to their workshops and therefore wasted my money?

I don't know.

All I do know is that I'm an RN today and didn't have to repeat the CPNE to get there.

If going to those workshops twice over did nothing more than give me a tiny little boost of confidence that I needed in order to be successful the first time around, then it was money and time well spent.

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Specializes in LTC, Hospice, Case Management.

Jeez O Pete's.. I didn't mean to call anyone in particular a "sucker". Lets not blow things so out of proportion.

Truth be told, I WAS A SUCKER. I THOUGHT I had to buy into this whole contract thing, I paid a whole bunch of money that I didn't have and didn't need to pay to get these study guides. My whole point was you can buy these exact guides for $50 or so off ebay - not hard to find there at all, no scouring the whole internet required. These publishing companies are high pressure salesmen/women.

I am NOT saying the study guides are bad OR the people that use them are bad.. but the point is why pay so much more?

I am nearly 40, graduated from LPN school nearly 20 years ago (a LONG time to be out of school), and have 2 school age kids in every after school activity imaginable. I understand how hard this program can be and how anyone can use all the help they can get.

Peace:bow:

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Specializes in NICU, Psych, Education.

Bottom line: There's more than one way to skin a cat.

I'm glad I found Excelsior, as it gave me an opportunity that otherwise might not have been feasible. I think most of us feel the same way. As far as the actual material though, we all learn differently. Some people can assimilate a great deal of information from various sources and some people prefer to have it outlined or organized in the form of a publishing company study guide.

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Truth be told, I WAS A SUCKER. I THOUGHT I had to buy into this whole contract thing, I paid a whole bunch of money that I didn't have and didn't need to pay to get these study guides. My whole point was you can buy these exact guides for $50 or so off ebay - not hard to find there at all, no scouring the whole internet required. These publishing companies are high pressure salesmen/women.

Absolutely right on!

It's the high pressure and often deceptive tactics that these publishing companies use to trick people (who aren't as familiar with the EC program) into believing that they NEED to buy their study materials in order to get their nursing degree that I object to.

It's not the material that they are selling.

I met several people at my EC workshops who were very pleased with Rue and felt that their study materials were "right on" with the actual exams.

That was the only company ever mentioned at my workshops.

If people are buying these study materials in an effort to help them better prepare for the exams, and are well aware that these are optional supplementary materials, not required, then I think that's great if an outside company is helping people achieve their goals with their study materials.

However, I still read posts on this forum on a regular basis from people who are under the impression that College Network and some others are actually accredited nursing schools who will be granting nursing degrees.

The only reason that so many people are under this impression is the unethical sales tactics used by some of these companies who want people to believe that they are either an actual school or are somehow a part of the requirements for getting an ADN or BSN from Excelsior.

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After seeing the high prices some of the publishing companies were charging, ( $100 plus a month for 6 years as was posted earlier) I checked my contract with the publishing company I used. It was a whole lot less than that! WAY less! So maybe that's why I am satisfied with using a publishing company....I didn't pay near as much as some people. So I guess I got an educational bargain.

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Hi,

Just my two cents worth. I am an RN in Texas and am getting ready to move to Illinois. I printed all the forms from the Illinois nsg website so I can get my Illinois license. One of the things it says specifically is that Excelsior is NOT an accepted educational institution. It has something to do with the clinicals (I think). You may want to check your states website about whether or not it will accept Excelsior's education.

Cindy

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Several of my LPN classmates went through RUE without any trouble. Does anyone have the link to RUE? I can't find it on the net.

www.rueed.com

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Hi,

Just my two cents worth. I am an RN in Texas and am getting ready to move to Illinois. I printed all the forms from the Illinois nsg website so I can get my Illinois license. One of the things it says specifically is that Excelsior is NOT an accepted educational institution. It has something to do with the clinicals (I think). You may want to check your states website about whether or not it will accept Excelsior's education.

Cindy

This has been repeated many times on this forum and is not entirely true.

I personally work with RN's who are EC grads and have IL licenses and worked there as travel assignments.

The problem is that many people only read the IL application for initial licensure as new RN's.

That's very different than experienced RN's attempting to endorse into IL. It's a whole different application to fill out.

The endorsement application clearly states that their is a clause allowing licensure of RN's licensed in another state who have a minimum of 2 years experience in a clinical area.

Excelsior is not entirely unaccepted in IL.

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also, theres no way out if you should change your mind and not want the study guides

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According to my contract you have 3 days to cancel your contract. I came on here reading today...wish I read this stuff yesterday!!!

My written cancelation notice with be sent certified mail tomorrow!!! and I will be shopping Ebay. Now I just need to figure out how you go about going directly through Excelsior !!!!!!

Shelley

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Specializes in Flight, ER, Transport, ICU/Critical Care.

Go directly through Excelsior. Took me 5 months for the "written tests" and 3 to schedule the clinical - which I passed in straight order (no repeats)

My background.

I was a degree level paramedic with an additional (unrelated) degree/education.

My clinical experiences at a hospital were limited, but I knew where I was weak! (Fixed it!)

Did NOT use any PUBLISHING company - heck, I didn't even read a complete nursing book. I did however, take some of my mothers nursing books that were 10 years old and review safety issues and nursing process/diagnosis. Also, reviewed a older book (I think NURSING was the publisher) on Diseases and Medications. Went and took the tests! Passed 'em all first time!

To go through EC directly:

CALL/Visit website.

1. Fill out and send application with $ and forward all transcripts to Excelsior

2. Register for the Concepts exams through EC as you are ready to take them.

3. For GenEd credits - do local Community Colleges, other colleges - the EC sponsored exams or CLEP (as a last option).

4. Take the EC Nursing Clinical. I DID do a review CarePlan lab (This IS done through one of the "publishing houses" - I did not use them for anything except this CarePlan lab - separate fee) in Fischers IN for a week, just before my clinical (Told you earlier I fixed the weak spots!- this did it)

5. Go take clinical - not difficult, just intense! Keep yourself calm and thats 50% of the battle!

PASS!

6. Send more $ to Excelsior and they send you a cute little diploma and then take the NCLEX.

PASS!

See, no problem!

No publishing company required!

My husband gets a real ($$$$$, now) laugh out of "my mail order diploma"! ;)

GOOD LUCK OUT THERE -

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Let me just start by saying there are alot of good posts here. Some are very informative. But I would like to reiterate a few things.

First, it is not a choice between EC, TCN or Rue it is a preference. The only one handing out degrees is EC. They all lead you to the same degree in one way or another but you will end up with an Excelsior College degree. That is why I say its a preference. Some of us could go through EC without any problems and some of us couldn't. I have done alot of research on all of the above and have found several things I would like to share. Also, none of them will be the right way to go if you don't take the time and make the commitment because it is not traditional education, thats the bottom line.

What I have found is that they all cost money... Do your homework to find out all the costs of each.

Rue has never claimed to me that they were associated with EC or that they were a college. TCN has never claimed they were associated with EC or that they were a college but by looking at their website I can see where you might think they are.

All three sell study materials, with the EC program there is more reserch to be done. With the publishing companies the research is done for you. I used Rue's materials to earn my ASN and found them to be useful. I did not have the time nor did I want to heve to do the research. That is the main selling point of using a publishing company to pass the courses. Again a matter of preference. It was the guarantee that sold me on using a publishing company, they guaranteed that using their material would help me pass my courses. TCN does too but I went with the least expensive of the two.

All three have support through their program to help if you need it. I took advantage of being able to talk to the professors that wrote my study guides on a few occasions. Again not everyone will have that need but I did.

One advantage of using a publishing company is that you don't have to enroll with EC right away. Keep in mind you have to pay an enrollment fee each year once you enroll to stay enrolled. You can save on that of you wait to enroll and you know you can complete your courses within a year. Just something I learned.

In the end it is a matter of preference for each of you. Do your homework on each and in the end make the decision that is best for your situation. I beleive I did.

Hope this helps!!

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