ECPI versus Wake Tech, DTCC, Wilson, or Barton

TruDivaRN, BSN, RN · Dec 16, 2006

Leave ECPI and their bull alone :no:

I paid their $100 application fee, did all of the paper work. I took my TEAS result with me since I had just taken them. I was told there would be no problem with me getting in. Then I saw the figures, a little over $23,000 for the LPN program. With the grants and loans that I had I still would have to come up with an additional $5,000 out of pocket. NOOOOO WAAAAAYYYYYY!!!!!!!!

Three months later I got my acceptance letter for the RN program for the school I currently attend, which only costs me 1,100 per semester including books; all of which is paid by pell. Any way getting to my point I received a letter from the Sallie Mae folks and they said I should start making my payments as soon as I graduate in July from ECPI!!!!! :eek:

It turns out that there is a serious mixup concerning my ECPI loan application. Even though I never attended ECPI, the Sallie Mae people are insisting I owe $7,000 for a student loan I never received for a school I never attended. Its like pulling hens teeth to get them to see their mistake. Well needless to say I'm not paying it, and I'm still in the process of trying to straighted this situation out.

carolinapooh, BSN, RN · Dec 21, 2006

Leave ECPI and their bull alone
I paid their $100 application fee, did all of the paper work. I took my TEAS result with me since I had just taken them. I was told there would be no problem with me getting in. Then I saw the figures, a little over $23,000 for the LPN program. With the grants and loans that I had I still would have to come up with an additional $5,000 out of pocket. NOOOOO WAAAAAYYYYYY!!!!!!!!
Three months later I got my acceptance letter for the RN program for the school I currently attend, which only costs me 1,100 per semester including books; all of which is paid by pell. Any way getting to my point I received a letter from the Sallie Mae folks and they said I should start making my payments as soon as I graduate in July from ECPI!!!!!
It turns out that there is a serious mixup concerning my ECPI loan application. Even though I never attended ECPI, the Sallie Mae people are insisting I owe $7,000 for a student loan I never received for a school I never attended. Its like pulling hens teeth to get them to see their mistake. Well needless to say I'm not paying it, and I'm still in the process of trying to straighted this situation out.

This is unsolicited, but if I were you, I would pull my credit report from all 3 credit bureaus to see if that loan has been reported as outstanding debt. If it has, dispute it immediately as erroneous information; this will tag your bureau and stop any further reporting of the debt until the credit bureau looks into your report.

I would then request a copy of the SIGNED PROMISSORY NOTE from SallieMae (if you didn't sign one, they're not going to have one, and looking for this will give them something to do) and a check number for the disbursement check (something else they obviously won't have) AND a copy of the cancelled check (which they probably also won't have if one was never cut - see where this is going?). Request it all in writing, send it to them certified mail/return receipt, and keep copies of everything. You could even call them, tell them you want all this stuff, and tell them that a written request is on its way and have them record the tracking number from the certified mail receipt on your account notes. Keep anything they send you and do everything in writing - even though it SUCKS, you then have copies of everything and they can't talk their way away from or out of anything they've put in print.

Get a letter or statement from the school saying you NEVER matriculated. I can't imagine them not doing this. Also find out from the financial aid office if you have a file there, and find out what's in it if they say you have one - it could be the financial aid office literally didn't get the memo from the admissions office (it happens) or that they never stopped your paperwork from going out in the big batch they submit to SallieMae every semester (I did work-study in a financial aid office when I was in college eons ago; I think it's all electronic these days though, but the principle is the same). Get copies of anything they'll give you copies of.

Collect all the paper you can. Submit it with a well-written and professional cover letter to SallieMae. NUMBER every single document and ENUMERATE in the letter what the number of the document is and what the document is (example: "1. Statement of ECPI, recording that I never matriculated at the school"). COPY the entire stack, send the originals to them certified/return receipt. Safely file the whole copied stack away. You want to copy it to show exactly what they were sent. Call SallieMae and tell them it's coming; have them record the tracking number in your account record.

Then (and even while you're doing all this) I would go to the NC Bar Association website (I'm assuming you're here in NC) and find a pro bono lawyer. Pick this person's brain for a bit of free legal advice - I've done this myself. They're there; trust me. They'll help you sort this out. You may not even need them if you get enough paperwork and evidence gathered on your own. (You can also then use the phrase, "under the advice of counsel" truthfully, and people don't like it when you can use that phrase; it makes them aware that you're serious.) But if worst comes to worse, a well-placed letter from an attorney, which would cost about $200 and provided everything you're saying here is legit, just might be cash well spent to get SallieMae off your back - because if they're convinced you owe them, they just might not take your no OR even all your evidence for an answer, even if it's the right one. They do, however, tend to listen to a lawyer, so don't be afraid of attorneys - they're not all crooked. :-)

I might get edited for all this, but I really want to help. I would tell my best friend all of this and urge her to act; unfortunately these days we are our only advocates in most matters. I am very leery of student loan people. CFI here in North Carolina reported me ninety days delinquent on my loans to ALL THREE CREDIT BUREAUS. I got my loans years before consolidation existed, so that meant I had SEVEN MAJOR BLACK MARKS on my credit report. That's like having seven credit cards reported ninety days late. What was interesting was, they reported me as paid current in June, July, August, and September, and suddenly in October I was 90 days overdue (obviously impossible). I flipped out, but they admitted their mistake. I sent them cancelled check copies, copies of all my loan statements from the months in question showing I was never behind, and a scathing letter, after I called them and alerted them of their error. If I hadn't pulled my bureau on a whim one evening I wouldn't have known it until I'd applied for my latest loans - their records showed me paid current, but they REPORTED me delinquent. NICE. So they DO screw up, but of course you're the one who has to do all the work to shut them up.

Good luck at any rate. I would not ignore them even if you're completely right and you owe them nothing. They won't just go away overnight. Just keep everything they send you and even though it's expensive, send everything to them certified/return receipt, and then you can prove SOMEONE there picked it up. And you really should check your bureau as a start. I think you can get a free copy of your bureau annually. OH - and then check your bureau about three months after you believe this is cleared up, just to make sure they've had the loan taken off if they put it up there initially, or they didn't report it wrongly as bad debt. I've learned not to trust anyone who loans money. :)

bullcityrn · Dec 21, 2006

I would have started my pre-reqs in January but have money issues. I was looking into Watts and Mercy School of Nursing In Charlotte. How easy was it to get into Watts and what are the class times? Currently I live and Clayton and wouldn't want to drive everyday.

Watts is not extremely hard to get into but there is a process that can take about a month to complete -- application/written statement/references, the PSB test (which is not difficult but can trip you up if you do not read it carefully) and background check. Once accepted, a semester (18 hours) of prerequisites that need to be finished prior to starting the nursing courses. But since you live in Clayton the drive may be more than you want to do. Hours are subject to change but from what I understand are typically 9-3 in the classroon 2-3 days per week and then 6:45-3 clinical 2 days per week. We won't get our final schedule until orientation so that's all I know for now. Hope this helps.

Good luck whatever you decide to do!

bullcityrn · Dec 21, 2006

This is unsolicited, but if I were you, I would pull my credit report from all 3 credit bureaus to see if that loan has been reported as outstanding debt. If it has, dispute it immediately as erroneous information; this will tag your bureau and stop any further reporting of the debt until the credit bureau looks into your report.
I would then request a copy of the SIGNED PROMISSORY NOTE from SallieMae (if you didn't sign one, they're not going to have one, and looking for this will give them something to do) and a check number for the disbursement check (something else they obviously won't have) AND a copy of the cancelled check (which they probably also won't have if one was never cut - see where this is going?). Request it all in writing, send it to them certified mail/return receipt, and keep copies of everything. You could even call them, tell them you want all this stuff, and tell them that a written request is on its way and have them record the tracking number from the certified mail receipt on your account notes. Keep anything they send you and do everything in writing - even though it SUCKS, you then have copies of everything and they can't talk their way away from or out of anything they've put in print.
Get a letter or statement from the school saying you NEVER matriculated. I can't imagine them not doing this. Also find out from the financial aid office if you have a file there, and find out what's in it if they say you have one - it could be the financial aid office literally didn't get the memo from the admissions office (it happens) or that they never stopped your paperwork from going out in the big batch they submit to SallieMae every semester (I did work-study in a financial aid office when I was in college eons ago; I think it's all electronic these days though, but the principle is the same). Get copies of anything they'll give you copies of.
Collect all the paper you can. Submit it with a well-written and professional cover letter to SallieMae. NUMBER every single document and ENUMERATE in the letter what the number of the document is and what the document is (example: "1. Statement of ECPI, recording that I never matriculated at the school"). COPY the entire stack, send the originals to them certified/return receipt. Safely file the whole copied stack away. You want to copy it to show exactly what they were sent. Call SallieMae and tell them it's coming; have them record the tracking number in your account record.
Then (and even while you're doing all this) I would go to the NC Bar Association website (I'm assuming you're here in NC) and find a pro bono lawyer. Pick this person's brain for a bit of free legal advice - I've done this myself. They're there; trust me. They'll help you sort this out. You may not even need them if you get enough paperwork and evidence gathered on your own. (You can also then use the phrase, "under the advice of counsel" truthfully, and people don't like it when you can use that phrase; it makes them aware that you're serious.) But if worst comes to worse, a well-placed letter from an attorney, which would cost about $200 and provided everything you're saying here is legit, just might be cash well spent to get SallieMae off your back - because if they're convinced you owe them, they just might not take your no OR even all your evidence for an answer, even if it's the right one. They do, however, tend to listen to a lawyer, so don't be afraid of attorneys - they're not all crooked. :-)
I might get edited for all this, but I really want to help. I would tell my best friend all of this and urge her to act; unfortunately these days we are our only advocates in most matters. I am very leery of student loan people. CFI here in North Carolina reported me ninety days delinquent on my loans to ALL THREE CREDIT BUREAUS. I got my loans years before consolidation existed, so that meant I had SEVEN MAJOR BLACK MARKS on my credit report. That's like having seven credit cards reported ninety days late. What was interesting was, they reported me as paid current in June, July, August, and September, and suddenly in October I was 90 days overdue (obviously impossible). I flipped out, but they admitted their mistake. I sent them cancelled check copies, copies of all my loan statements from the months in question showing I was never behind, and a scathing letter, after I called them and alerted them of their error. If I hadn't pulled my bureau on a whim one evening I wouldn't have known it until I'd applied for my latest loans - their records showed me paid current, but they REPORTED me delinquent. NICE. So they DO screw up, but of course you're the one who has to do all the work to shut them up.
Good luck at any rate. I would not ignore them even if you're completely right and you owe them nothing. They won't just go away overnight. Just keep everything they send you and even though it's expensive, send everything to them certified/return receipt, and then you can prove SOMEONE there picked it up. And you really should check your bureau as a start. I think you can get a free copy of your bureau annually. OH - and then check your bureau about three months after you believe this is cleared up, just to make sure they've had the loan taken off if they put it up there initially, or they didn't report it wrongly as bad debt. I've learned not to trust anyone who loans money. :)

Wow, what a nightmare. Thanks for the great information, I will definitely keep all of this in mind now that I'm getting knee-deep in the loan adventure myself.

How is the nursing program going? Almost finished with 1st semester, right? Hope all is well and that you like it! I'm sooooo ready to get started...

buttercup27, CNA · Dec 22, 2006

Thanks for the information on Watts please keep me posted on how the program is.

jennifer0129720 · Dec 29, 2006

Hi! I am taking the TEAS at ECPI tomorrow and I hope to get into the LPN classes scheduled for Feb. Anyway, my admissions counselor said that they could do in house financing for whatever any grants, scholarships, or student loans would not take care of. BTW if you can get a deferred loan, mabye that will help, you wont have to pay it back until you get out of school and start working. I feel a calling to go into this profession, and everything seems to be falling into place for me, although i am 30! Now is the right time. If things arent working out for you keep trying. You will find your place just as i have found mine! I wish you luck!

wasted-enough-time · Dec 30, 2006

Jennifer....

I wish you all the best in attending EPCI /PN program!! I have heard from several people that ...it is a great school and that they turn out really Good Nurses and that the program is very doable!! I would have attended myself, however the cost played a major factor...Plus the long commute...

As it turns out,..just like you said..."Everything will fall into place for me"...and it did!! because thankfully I got accepted in the PN program right here at the local CC for the Fall-07 ..and the total cost including books, uniforms, etc..is only ...

$960.00!!,..as opposed to the $23,500+...and also its aprox 10 minutes max from my home!!..I could not be happier!! There is also a LPN to RN Bridge program that I will have access to once I complete my first year ( PN)

I so glad that I did not give up on my goals, cause just like you...I have found my calling!! Again Best wishes and good luck on taking the TEAS..( its really quite easy )

Anna

aculwell · Jan 30, 2007

Thanks for the information on Watts please keep me posted on how the program is.

I just graduated from Watt's in December. I take the NCLEX-RN in a week. I felt like Watts was a fantastic investment. To pay 23k for an LPN program is probably to me a real risk. Yes you can work in a nursing home with an LPN certification but why pay 23k for an LPN when you can have an RN in 2 years for the same approximate tuition. If you have your prereqs done you can get into Watt's pretty quickly, and like the person stated earlier Duke Health if you go work there will re-imburse you the tuition cost over three years. Sure you might get into ECPI and finish in 12 months or whatever length the program is but you will still only have that LPN. I'm not degrading LPN's but I think that most would tell you that if they were going to pay 23k for an LPN or an RN they would do the RN.

Just my 2 cents. LPN's are great, it's a shame that in a lot of states they are phasing them out. That is another reason to go for the RN. If I were you I would check out Watt's....it's the oldest nursing school in NC and has a great reputation here in the state!

http://www.dukehealth1.org/watts/index.asp

tarheelgrl1976 · Feb 4, 2007

Hi There! I am taking the entrance exam @ ECPI next Monday (2/12/07) and I am very nervous about it. I am not sure if I am taking the TEAS or Compass test. The math part is what I am worried about. Also, I was told that I could only take the entrance exam once a year. That adds even more pressure... :specs: Has anyone taken either of these test lately? Thanks for any advice or information you may have.

carolinapooh, BSN, RN · Feb 14, 2007

I just graduated from Watt's in December. I take the NCLEX-RN in a week. I felt like Watts was a fantastic investment. To pay 23k for an LPN program is probably to me a real risk. Yes you can work in a nursing home with an LPN certification but why pay 23k for an LPN when you can have an RN in 2 years for the same approximate tuition. If you have your prereqs done you can get into Watt's pretty quickly, and like the person stated earlier Duke Health if you go work there will re-imburse you the tuition cost over three years. Sure you might get into ECPI and finish in 12 months or whatever length the program is but you will still only have that LPN. I'm not degrading LPN's but I think that most would tell you that if they were going to pay 23k for an LPN or an RN they would do the RN.
Just my 2 cents. LPN's are great, it's a shame that in a lot of states they are phasing them out. That is another reason to go for the RN. If I were you I would check out Watt's....it's the oldest nursing school in NC and has a great reputation here in the state!
http://www.dukehealth1.org/watts/index.asp

Congrats on graduating from Watts! I have a great respect for diploma grads.

aculwell · Feb 14, 2007

Thanks! I'm happy to say that I passed NCLEX last week and now I have a job at Johns Hopkins in the BMT unit. I'm totally excited!

butterfly80 · Mar 5, 2007

Hey everyone, I haven't been on here in a while but I just wanted to say that Wake Tech is not nearly as hard to get in as everyone makes it out to be. It's a good program and inexspensive. I used to be so worried I wouldn't make it in I also considered Watts, Ecpi, etc. I'm so glad I did not go that route! The truth is if you make good grades you get in. Goods grades being mostly B's in Bios, a couple A's, and a couple C's. The more pre-req's you have under your belt the quicker you get in!! Hope this is encouraging to anyone trying to get into Wake Tech's ADN program.