Excelsior application process

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Specializes in Emergency, Case Management, Informatics.

Obviously, there are tons of threads on here about Excelsior, but I can't seem to find any directly related to my question.

Unfortunately, real life got in the way of my brick-and-mortar RN program, so I had to withdraw a few weeks ago. I immediately started the process of getting in with Excelsior in the hopes that I could complete the degree in the same time frame as the LPN-to-RN program at my school.

Anyway, long story short - I've already taken and passed the first nursing exam, gotten all but maybe 2 gen ed courses out of the way, and now I'm sitting here twiddling my thumbs. I sent my application and fee to Excelsior, along with transcripts directly from my school. Unfortunately, the school was slow to send the transcripts, and Excelsior just received them a couple of days ago.

I called Excelsior admissions and asked if there was any way to bypass the unofficial evaluation, which they claim takes 2-3 weeks, and apply for admission based on the fact that I meet their minimum requirement of having an unencumbered LPN license, and based on the fact that the unofficial evaluation is, in fact, unofficial and has nothing to do with my being accepted for admission.

The "advisor" didn't really seem to understand what I was asking (she kept bumbling her words and said "ummmmm" a lot), and just said, "At this point you have to wait two or three weeks for the unofficial evaluation to be completed to see what credits you need for graduation".

I know that in the long run, 2-3 weeks is nothing, but I'm ready to do it now! :) I thought that the unofficial evaluation was just a service to help you decide if you actually want to go through the program, because as I understand it they also do an official evaluation upon enrollment.

Is there any way to bypass the red tape and get started, or am I just in limbo for the moment?

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

You're probably in limbo, unfortunately, from an "official" perspective. But unofficially, you could certainly start studying for the next exam (Essentials of Nursing Care: Chronicity; I'm assuming you'll be able to skip Essentials of Nursing Care: Health Differences with your LPN license). That way once you get your unofficial eval, you can enroll and test without losing any time, really.

I'm sending you a PM. :)

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Hi DonaldJ,

While I am not an LPN, I have completed more than 1/2 my RN program at a community college. I have been waiting 4 weeks for my evaluation. I applied 5.5weeks ago and they have had the transcripts for 4wks. I talked to them yesterday and they said that it will probably be a few more weeks. It is very frustrating, because like you, I am ready to get going.

Good luck. :rolleyes:

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I agree with pp.. go ahead and study for the next exam so you don't have to wait longer. It doesn't matter if they evaluate it now or later.. the test will be the same no matter when you take it so be ready!

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Specializes in Emergency, Case Management, Informatics.

Thanks all for the replies and thanks Lunah for the content guide and info about CPNE workshops. I do plan on spending this time studying for Chronicity, but I hope it doesn't take 4+ weeks for them to review the transcripts. I work better under pressure, so it's easier for me to schedule the exam and then start studying than to do it the other way around, but I guess I have no choice right now. ;) Thanks again.

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DonaldJ,

I got some good news today. I called EC and although they are not done processing my classes to be accepted, they did say I was accepted to the program. I guess I wasn't asking the right questions before. I always asked if they were done reviewing my profile and it was always well it will be a few more weeks. So call and ask if you were at least accepted.

Good luck.

-Traci :nurse::yeah:

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Specializes in Emergency, Case Management, Informatics.
So call and ask if you were at least accepted.

Congrats and thanks for the advice. I'll call back and see. Does that mean they let you go ahead and enroll? I could care less about the outcome of the evaluation, since I'm 99.999% sure I know exactly what I need. I just wanna get in. ;) Will post with an update after I call.

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Donald, that's a great idea - I'm sure you're accepted, and you KNOW you need all the nursing concepts courses except for #2. So call and ask if you can start scheduling them.

And you'll become buddies with the folks ate Pearson Vue.

:)

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Specializes in Emergency, Case Management, Informatics.
And you'll become buddies with the folks ate Pearson Vue.

LOL. One of the test administrators there already knows me because I've taken my PN boards, EMT boards, and 3 other exams there. ;)

I just called back and worded myself as many different ways as I possibly could, and was told that I would have to wait for the transcript evaluation before I could enroll, and that I could not register for any more nursing exams until after enrollment. Ugh.

To make things worse, I took a DANTES exam last week and had it sent to them. The advisor said that they received the results today and that it may delay the evaluation. :banghead::cry: I feel like I'm being penalized for trying to progress. :rolleyes:

Oh well. Back to the books!

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Specializes in Emergency, Case Management, Informatics.

Woohoo! Finally got accepted for admission, 3 weeks to the day of their receipt of my transcripts. Thanks everyone for your help, especially Lunah.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

Congrats!! :)

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Great! Just continuing doing you thing!

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