credit by examination

[Older Male LPN]

achieve test prep a ripoff / Excelsior College

A sad reminder -Buyer beware - achieve test prep a ripoff - I feel so stupid

I contracted with Achieve Test Prep for test prep to pass College class exams- I paid in full because of a discount to pay for the full program. I asked at the time of the contract what would I be charged if I find out this doesn't help me - I was told that my discount would depend on how many classes at the time I had already taken. After a couple of classes - the College connected with Achieve Test Prep tripled its rates for Nursing classes adding $8,000 to the total cost of my program. A significant change - I paid over $11, 000.00 and took 2 classes. They were on;y going to refund me less than $2,000. keeping $9,000 in the contract I was quoted to paid $375. pre-class - to pay in full was just a gimmick to get your money I am a 58-year-old LPN - I wasn't trying to get over - I just need to reasonable way to advance myself in a way I could afford and manage, I do know a couple of BSN nurses that are successful that did an online program - Seemed legit at the time - didn't read the contract - and there seems that there is no resource to make this right and fair.

[caliotter3]

Excelsior, formerly Regents College, has regularly raised their costs over the years as a matter of policy. When I first became aware of this school, subject exams were $65 and the CPNE was about $950, give or take. The yearly enrollment fee alone is now a moneymaker for the school, coming from those students who take the maximum enrollment time instead of getting in and getting out as soon as possible. With the current wait times for the CPNE, the days of completing the entire program in 9 months are long gone. So, Excelsior is guaranteed that first anniversary enrollment fee. Over time, I grew jaded with the money grab attitude that supplanted the promises of the past. I used to wholeheartedly recommend this program, then I changed to recommending it as a last resort. Now, I would caution prospective students on whether they should get entangled at all. A shame how the program has degenerated over the years.

[Older Male LPN, LPN]

The problem is that now more than ever- Justice is for sale and there are significant costs for legal action. Consumer protection agencies are ineffective under funded mostly informational. (that has to change) Companies file suits to remove bad reviews /complaints from websites - regardless of truth or lie. They get their way regardless in most instances as most people won't show up in court to defend their review.

[Older Male LPN, LPN]

On 12/31/2019 at 8:59 AM, Waiting for Retirement said:

I'm not sure I understand this exactly. You paid a company that offers study tools, guidance to better prepare for exams, I think that much is clear, and you paid in advance. After that I'm a little unsteady--are you attending a college that requires the purchase of this supplemental study program, and you paid in advance? And after starting school the college jacked up the cost of tuition by $8K, going from your expected $3K to $11K?

If you signed a contract to pay a set amount for study/prep materials, then that's the cost of the program. Can't change later---it's a contract.

If the college increased its tuition by more than triple after you started, I'm not sure what to do with that but it would be a HUGE red flag to me about the college's nursing program! And what does any of this have to do with "credit by examination", the title of your thread?

Something just doesn't make sense here.

I paid a study Prep company, , Achieve test prep to as the name says to prepare me for examinations that result in college credits from Excelsior College - the test prep is pretty pricy $795 per class. The College decided to no longer offer Credit by examination Last December as they decided to offer on-line classes of their own. I was still working on prerequisites. No big deal I figured Achieve test prep would refund me the 8 exam preps for which there was no longer any exam I would go to the local college for the rest at frankly a much better price - and real class. Achieve test prep wants to charge me over $7000 penalty for "canceling" Test Preps - they say because They are still willing to prep me for the test regardless if they exist or not - but If I want a refund there is a penalty for getting anything back. I know it sounds crazy but I have the e-mails to prove it. My point being is that these companies are not your friends. They are not honest - don't care about you - have tons of unresolved complaints - and don't give a *** about you. Taking them to court is a nightmare and if you actually read the contract ( which I didn't) You will be smarter than me. BEWARE As you know they go around the internet and use every possible legal trick to remove reviews from people they have ripped off. I know that on-line classes help some people but until there is some kind of government regulation enforcing consumer rights don't expect a fair shake

[londonflo]

On 1/1/2020 at 9:58 AM, Older Male LPN said:

I contracted with Achieve Test Prep for classes to prepare for the exams - Everything is teaching to the Exam these days.

No, 'teaching to the exam' is not learning.