College Network vs. Rue vs. Excelsior

happydrunkcat · Apr 14, 2011

i met with CN this morning. and it all seemed pretty good. i have done research on a lot of schools, this one seems the best. but now i am reading sooo many negative blogs. im confused now. and what is excelsior and how is it different from CN? I live in CA so I know that makes a difference too. any responses would really help.thanks:)

Ok. One more time. In plain English. CN IS NOT A SCHOOL. It does not grant you a degree. It will give you study guides. And you will pay what is it now? $5000? You can collect a pretty good library for this money. Plus, you still have to pay the tuition to a college - a real college - Excelsior or ISU or whichever you want to go.

But. Everyone has it's own head and a bank account. So, it is your choice.

For CA - it was some problem with EC grads getting licensed in there. You can call EC and ask.

caliotter3 · Apr 14, 2011

Excelsior is a school. It grants degrees in nursing. TCN is not. It does not grant degrees at all.

BarbaraNM, ASN, RN · Apr 14, 2011

And... one more thing.... despite the misleading rhetoric from the SALES REPS from TCN (that are only trying to high pressure sell you their expensive study guides), it is absolutely not necessary to buy TCN study guides to get your ADN from Excelsior College. Go directly to the source: www.excelsior.edu

Good luck!

lcarlson3355 · Aug 23, 2011

Please stay away from College Network. The reason is that you have only 3 days to cancel and 20 days to return the materials. If they don't get the materials back (even if lost in the mail) or you cancel and never even open the book, etc. you are still obligated to pay the thousands you owe them. As per their cancellation notice: You man CANCEL this transaction, without any Penalty or Obligation, within THREE BUSINESS DAYS from the above date" and College Network is using that "without any Penalty or Obligation" wording to misrepresent that they intentionally plan to screw over anyone who fails to cancel within 3 days. They will not pro-rate or just give a penalty to those who cancel after the 3 days. They will go after the full amount of the loan regardless of what materials you are sent or how far along you used their program.

The only saving grace for class suit is the wording "without any Penalty or Obligation" used to misinform people into thinking it's pro-ration of cancellation with possible fees for penalty when they should put you will be obligated and possibly penalized if you cancel after 3 days. If you look at paragraph 4 in the Notice of Cancellation, they clearly state if the buyer fails to return the materials within 20 days of cancellation, "you remain liable for performance of all obligations under the contract". The fact that they don't make a clear statement as the latter in paragraph 1 clearly shows they are scamming people by misinterpretation through wording. If you read the promissory note (back side) it reads: Borrower's Obligation: You agree to repay this loan even if you do not complete the program. So beware--even with a 3 day cancellation notice and return of materials within 20 days, the lender can still go after you for the total amt of the loan. There is no mention of a 3 day cancellation on the promissory note nor is the promissory note dated to reflect the 3 day grace period.

And you don't get a cheaper price if you take classes outside their program once you sign the papers. For example, after reading 1 chapter of a psy class, I knew there was no way I could self-study Micro or Statistics with just text. Come to find out that if I take those classes @ a community college or through http://www.istudysmart.com/showcourse.asp?list=25 which have CD-rom options for Micro, I still have to pay College Network for Micro. This company only cares about getting money. The reps are known to lie just as my rep lied to me. They don't care if your house burns down with everything in it, they want their money and they are quick to penalize as well. Please don't use College Network unless you are 100% you can self-study by reading a text and are willing to pay thousands for nothing should something happen that prevents you from finishing. I'm out $8,000 (money owed to College Network) and that's just College Network's fee for just the 6 pre-req classes (not one dime of that is for RN classes). If you know how to read and highlight keep points of what you are reading (which most people know), just go directly through Excelsior. The condensing that College Network does is not worth the $. In addition, you can get financial aid if you go through Excelsior including FAFSA because they are an actual school. You can't get financial aid with College Network because they are a publishing company who found a way to take advantage of Lpn's wanting to get their RN. If you look online, they have a lot of complaints. I wish I had read them 1st. At 1st if appears they are from people not paying but it's the fact that they refuse to pro-rate even when you don't open the 1st book. Why should someone pay $8,000 when they don't use their service at all. I can see paying a penalty and not being reimbursed for past payments made but $8,000 sometimes even more for something you can't use??? Also be aware that not all Nursing boards except Excelsior and not all except Indiana State University. Both have a list on their website listing the states. So if you're in College Network taking pre-req for one program and you suddenly have to move and no longer need all the pre-reqs, don't worry because College Network WILL still charge you the same price even if your move has helped in only needing 1 pre-req. I'm being sarcastic. They don't care about their customer, they care about just getting contracts signed. Can you blame the people stopping their payments? They were lied to like I was and they are owing thousands for something they haven't or can't use. I'd rather hand over that $8,000 to a homeless person or burn it before paying to a company that is so heartless and money seeking but can't because they will sue me, garnish my wages, etc. Just be 100% sure you before you sign the papers if you go with College Network.

PammyRN,CEN · Aug 24, 2011

Exceksior is a college Rue, Chancellors and College Network are publishing companies... you do not get a degree from a publisher and you can get the study items second hand much cheaper imho. I am an excelsior student.

JuJuBee3 · Aug 24, 2011

College Network almost reeled me in last year. They made it appear as if they were an actual school when in fact all they do is sell you uber expensive guides. Today I actually saw some of their guides on craigslist for $10 a pop. I suggest getting them used and saving yourself a bunch of money. Whatever you decide good luck in your endeavor to become an RN! It can be done!

nursetaminator · Aug 24, 2011

Yep, I got suckered in by RUE and to me they lagged behind the others in their study material. I actually bought CN stuff off the internet and used it to study instead of RUE's material. The internet makes it so easy to find all the study material you need and cheap at that.

But part of the problem is it's hard to know all this stuff up front. And the book publishers they lay a line of b.s. a mile long. Live and learn I guess.

t-lo · Aug 24, 2011

Since RUE has made their changes...aka no longer provides the text books with their study systems, I agree the price is to high to pay. I was a RUE student BUT....prior to the changes and had nothing bad to say about their products. I do know that their Online Classes are good to keep students on track, motivated and they are structured to get the job done. But they are not easy are pricie and you have to have the time to do them.... aka read a lot and do homework assignments... but they are effective.

moomoo111 · Oct 24, 2011

I am using The College Network and I'm pleased with the way they are preparing me for my RN. It's half the wait and money for me and you are allowed to work at your own pace. I'm happy with my decision even though I have a good ways to go. I'm confident and faithful that I will reach my goal and both The College Network and Excelsior have gone the extra mile to assist me. The only worry I have is the clinical part and plan on finding a preceptorship program to help me with that once I'm finished. I've been told that with the nursing shortage being so high in my state that they are willing to help you gain that experience. Even if I have to pay extra for that, I feel it's going to be worth it for me. I am interested in furthering my career and learning more about nursing and the information they provide is very good in my opinion. I'm better at online learning being ADHD and like having it at my own pace and in the privacy of my own home. I'm 49 so the younger generation is much different and I'm too distracted in class as technology as grown. Cell phones, texting, computers, talking while instructor is teaching are just some of the examples I faced while taking my LPN and I struggled, actually slept with my books and had to work very hard. A lot of my pre-req's were online as I got off the wait list faster than expected and had to buckle down to be ready. I did it and I'm going to succeed and reach my goal whatever it takes. In my state, unemployment is only 12 months, 18 if you are lucky. So I'm using that time to study when not out trying to find work. Lpn's are just being phased out in hospitals and long term care is just about it but there are skills there in that setting as well depending on the facility protocols. I'm happy with my decision! If you want it bad enough, set a goal and keep the faith, it might not be your way but I'm confident with my way of achieving my goals! :yeah:

happydrunkcat · Oct 24, 2011

moomoo111 - can you clarify some moments, please?

first - " I will reach my goal and both The College Network and Excelsior have gone the extra mile to assist me." + "It's half the wait and money for me and you are allowed to work at your own pace" - doesn't make sense to me. You can work with Excelsior at your own pace, that is true. But in your case you are paying Excelsior AND College Network. I payed around $6000 for my RN trough EC. That included CPNE workshop, airplane tickets and hotels. Are you saying you have to pay HALF of it??? Sorry, do not believe you :) Plus, there is no waiting list at Excelsior.

Another thing is - what preceptorship program are you talking about? You can attend a workshop to pass CPNE, there is a tons of information on this site.

There is also yahoo group - freehelpexcelsior. Very friendly and very helpful.

I wish you good luck with your study, but it seems to me that you do not have enough information about Excelsior program. You can contact them directly, they are very helpful.

happydrunkcat · Oct 24, 2011

Moomoo - I just saw your post in another thread. Please, do not sign with College Network! You can cancel the contract within 3 days if you just signed it.

You can go directly to Excelsior, you do not need College Network for that.

There is no waiting list. You take exams when you are ready. 3 day clinicals - it is not "Clinicals", it is a 3 day test.

Go to http://www.excelsior.edu, get the information. Call Excelsior adviser, there are very helpful. Calculate the amount of money that you have to pay EXTRA to College Network for studying materials (which you can buy from e-bay if you do really want them).

Please, think before making a decision. Read posts in this thread, at least.

moomoo111 · Oct 24, 2011

No, I'm not on a wait list with Excelsior, I'm in. The schools here have lost many nursing instructors so the wait list would be 2 or more years. It would have cost me over $20,000, even with financial aid and pell grants. Plus, I'm a single mother with twin daughters in college and have to work. School 5 days a week, work and help my daughters would be too much. I'm also 49 so online is better and everything was all inclusive. The College Network supplies the books that is included. They have also just changed their program so all exams are taken in your own home, provided you have a web cam so they can watch you. They just started that, so that keeps me from travelling an hour away to take exams, with the exception of state boards.

Thanks for the advice on Yahoo and preceptoship programs. I'm not sure how that works in my state. One out of three schools in my area require that, at your own expense prior to allowing you to take state boards for RN. Don't really know how that works for LPN's using this type of school. I've inquired about that on my State's forum on this site. Tried our State Boards of Nursing web site, but did not get much information on that, guess I need to call them. Thanks again!