Excelsior College or College Network

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Apr 24, 2008

Wow, you clearly have no idea what you're talking about... sad. You can't take people's advice from here. My actual Nursing school told us to NEVER enroll with Excelsior!! So none of us did. To each his own, somethings work for some people while other things work for others. Whatever an individual deems best for themselves is nothing for other people to get hateful about... just because they got burned because they didn't get accepted is no one's fault but their own. Or whatever the case may be.
TCN provides you with the coursework so you don't have to attend actual college courses, in person, on a time frame that doesn't meet your schedule needs. No, they don't award you a degree, but they set you up with admissions to colleges and YOU DO NOT have to go to Excelsior. There are two or three courses that are Excelsior coursework, that's it. You're not actually attending Excelsior nor will you ever have to. You can get your pre-req's from TCN and they'll help you apply to ISU, who then takes over and helps finish the admissions process. If you haven't actually gone through this process how can you advise others? All people are looking for here is guidance from those who have actually experienced the process. There's no need for hatefulness!!

Well, actually, we DO have a good idea of what we're talking about. TCN will try to make you believe that the only way to attend Excelsior is through them. That's the dishonesty to which we are referring.

MeganMLPN · Apr 24, 2008

Well, actually, we DO have a good idea of what we're talking about. TCN will try to make you believe that the only way to attend Excelsiin or is through them. That's the dishonesty to which we are referring.

Hmm, my TCN adviser actually told me the opposite... And I mean, if you don't check into things for yourself then yeah, you're gonna get suckered in because you're not taking matters into your own hands and doing your own research. I mean, a quick search of google brought up the link for Excelsior (https://www.excelsior.edu/) in 0.08 seconds.

And for that matter, here's the homepage for TCN, and look at that, Excelsior's not listed on the Education Partners box... very weird for an organization claiming the only way to attend Excelsior is through them...

If you don't have 0.08 seconds to spare and would rather waste months or years "hating on" TCN for "being dishonest" then carry on, please! It's not my life you're wasting! But don't try to discourage others from something they're interested in because you didn't take the time to do the research on things and get a clue yourself. :nono:

I do mean to be slightly sarcastic, but not hateful in case you're wondering. I just think it's ridiculous how so many people on the website discourage others from continuing on their education. So something didn't work for you, so what, but as we can see clearly from this thread, to each is their own perception. So basically, do the leg work yourself, research things before you sign contracts and what not, and don't let others get you down if you think something's right for you. Just because someone else says it's not the right way doesn't make it true for all.

rescuegroomer · Apr 24, 2008

ok...but if people ask then why is YOUR take on TCN ok to post, but ours isn't. We have a view on it too, and if someone is asking then I sure as heck am going to tell them what I know...just like YOU did. Then they can make a truely informed decision after knowing the different views to research. If someone later feels like they are screwed or happy with it..at least they heard BOTH sides before signing the expensive dotted line. Right? You DON'T have to go through TCN to go to school. You decided to...GREAT for you. For me...I would be devastated if I spent all that money and didn't have to. Esp if I ASKED on a forum where people know both sides of the story and NO ONE told me and I had to find out the hard way. Anytime I can save someone the heartache my friend has experienced...OF COURSE I am going to tell them. I think it would be "Hateful" not to.

MeganMLPN · Apr 24, 2008

ok...but if people ask then why is YOUR take on TCN ok to post, but ours isn't. We have a view on it too, and if someone is asking then I sure as heck am going to tell them what I know...just like YOU did. Then they can make a truely informed decision after knowing the different views to research. If someone later feels like they are screwed or happy with it..at least they heard BOTH sides before signing the expensive dotted line. Right? You DON'T have to go through TCN to go to school. You decided to...GREAT for you. For me...I would be devastated if I spent all that money and didn't have to. Esp if I ASKED on a forum where people know both sides of the story and NO ONE told me and I had to find out the hard way. Anytime I can save someone the heartache my friend has experienced...OF COURSE I am going to tell them. I think it would be "Hateful" not to.

Apparently there are a whole lot of people out there that don't do their own research and rely on others for information, taking that information whether it be correct or not. What I am doing is merely defending my choice as you all seem to so vehemently disagree with it. (and so far no one has been able to say anything besides "well I was told..." Someone SAYING something to you is much different than someone providing you with FACTS. What I am suggesting here is to whoever chooses to explore Excelsior or TCN is to get the FACTS, then they won't have to weed through various comments about peoples "horrible" experiences, or their friends "horrible" experiences. Had those people gotten the FACTS in the first place instead of posing questions on a forum where people often mislead others, then they could have made the right choice. It's one thing to share experiences, I have no problem with that. But it's an entirely different thing to try to convince people what they're doing is wrong because they "heard" one thing or another from someone besides them self, or didn't take the time to find out the actual truth for themselves.

So, lets state some FACTS:

Fact: TCN (The College Network) is a company which furnishes students with course/study guides which prepare them to take either a CLEP, DANTE or in some cases an Excelsior test exemption.

Fact: TCN and Excelsior are not one in the same, nor are they partners, nor must you attend BOTH.

Fact: You may use TCN's pre-req. program to obtain the necessary pre-req's for acceptance into a 4 year university, such as Indiana State, without ever attending Excelsior, to attain your BSN. Per the Academic Planner for Indiana State University LPN/LVN to BSN Program "11 courses must be successfully completed prior to enrolling into the ISU College of Nursing, Health and Human Services. Credit for courses may be obtained through a combination of transfer credit previously awarded from accredited college/universities, and/or successful completion of equivalency examinations. You will prepare for these quivalency examinations during Phase 1 by using The College Network's Comprehensive Learning Modules."

I never said you shouldn't post, but if you do, don't post about a friend or a friend of a friends bad experience where they made a decision based on mis-information and later found out they didn't want to do whatever avenue they chose. (I'm not specifying your comments, I'm speaking in general terms) It's not TCN (nor Excelsiors) fault for that matter, that people have bad experiences, it's because those people didn't gather the factual research necessary to make an informed decision. That's all I'm saying. Feel free to post away, I'm just cautioning others to take a step back when reading from peoples "horrible experiences" and research things for themselves. Having advice from others is fine and typically welcomed by others, but lets not base things of hearsay.

MeganMLPN · Apr 24, 2008

And it doesn't even matter any more, because the original poster already chose Excelsior. So it's all good, they chose the school they felt right for them, and good like to diamond!

txspadequeenRN, BSN, RN · Apr 24, 2008

lol, it always amazes me when people get suckered into the tcn thing and will fight tooth and nail to defend a company that is taking thousands of dollars from them... it is like you are defending the person that just stole your wallet. point is you don't need tcn for either program isu or ec. companies like rue, tcn and those others are in it to make money and as long as people buy into it...they will keep getting richer and richer as the poor student keeps making those monthly payments.

MeganMLPN · Apr 24, 2008

lol, it always amazes me when people get suckered into the tcn thing and will fight tooth and nail to defend a company that is taking thousands of dollars from them... it is like you are defending the person that just stole your wallet. point is you don't need tcn for either program isu or ec. companies like rue, tcn and those others are in it to make money and as long as people buy into it...they will keep getting richer and richer as the poor student keeps making those monthly payments.

actually, tcn was over $1000 cheaper then doing the courses through our local community college, and i was able to go straight for my bsn rather than waste time getting an associates. sorry you didn't do the same!

lholland · Apr 24, 2008

I would like to say the one good thing TCN did for me was to give me the worksheet for LPN-BSN so now I know what I will need in regards to pre-reqs. But they listed next to those where I could get them (clep, dantes, exclesior, etc) so why would I use TCN when I could go and do all of this myself without them as a middle man charging me $$$? The only benefit, that I see, in using TCN is that you don't have to go search out study guides to pass the tests. But I have seen through AN that many needed additional study guides as well, TCN wasn't enough to pass. When I met with the rep, I asked him, point blank, why I needed them and it seemed to me it was simply convenience. They pulled all of it together for you. My feeling is that if you are computer literate at all, you can definitely do it without TCN. The only issue that I foresee with ISU is the 4 CSM's that even ISU tells you you should get from TCN. But I think there is probably a way around that as well since they are partnered and they have a reason to tell you to use TCN.

Bottom line, I don't feel that using TCN is a crime and it doesn't make anyone stupid. But if you just put a little legwork in, you don't need to pay them the extra money.

I'm all for making it easier on myself but I don't have an extra $5000 - $7000 to spend when I can accomplish this on my own.

txspadequeenRN, BSN, RN · Apr 24, 2008

ok then explain..break this down for me.

actually, tcn was over $1000 cheaper then doing the courses through our local community college, and i was able to go straight for my bsn rather than waste time getting an associates. sorry you didn't do the same!

MeganMLPN · Apr 24, 2008

ok then explain..break this down for me.

see, this is what happens when people don't the whole thread. :banghead:

you are more then welcome to go back through the previous posts to see how tcn is allowing me to obtain my bsn but i'm not going to waste time explaining it again.

and as for the cost, it's just over $8000 to get your rn associates degree at our local community college, why would i get my associates when i can spend less $$ and time to get into isu and get my bsn? that doesn't make any sense. so while the rn's at our local comm. college are finishing their pre-req's for acceptance into the a.s. program, and then while they wait one year after that for their actual start date, i'll be half way through my bsn. and once i get acceptance to isu i'll pay the amount for obtaining my bsn and we'll be all set. so, less $$ to complete pre-req's and get into isu, therefore less $$ to get my associates (which is a waste because i'm getting my bsn) and get my bsn. make sense?

txspadequeenRN, BSN, RN · Apr 24, 2008

lol, your so hostile... i don't see anywhere in your post where you have broke down your cost that leads you to believe that tcn is cheaper than any of the other options out there. i have read the whole thread as a matter of fact i was involved with this thread long before you ever started nursing school...

rescuegroomer · Apr 24, 2008

It ALSO doesn't make any sense to spend the extra amount on ISU that you are spending when you didn't have to. I think it will work for you...never said it wouldn't. But for people who have not yet signed through TCN....YAAAAYYYYY!! Now they can research and see how much more they are spending when they go this route. It is so deceptive. YES.. Part of doing research is asking questions...and it is a FACT that my friend got in dept because of these over priced study guides. Go to the search bar up top and type in The College Network. There are dozens of people on this forum who have an opinion about it. (Based on THEIR facts of THEIR situation) Go to Ripoffreport.com, go to Ebay and look around. ANd OF COURSE ISU is going to recommend anyone who lines their pockets. Don't think they don't get a cut if they are "partners". Seems as many people that have gotten screwed by the college network...EC is right NOT to endorse them. It's the whole "Contract" thing that is impossible to get out of that I think is unethical. What if you have a change in your life that prevented you from finishing via TCN. You can't even send the stuff back or end the contract. What kinda crap is that? Why not do a pay as you go type of program if you MUST have study guides. If there is a cheaper way to obtain these "must Haves" then I see nothing wrong with informing people who may not know. Oh...you can get them all at once..yes. BUT...if someone offered you $5,000.oo to shop for them seprately and for cheaper you would do it. It's not like you need them all at once anyway. Wait a day and it pops up on Ebay or craigslist. It's NOT worth the cash you paid to save a little time getting them all at once. That's foolish. I understand your desire to defend them since you went this route...but I am saying you didn't have to...and you shouldn't encourage others to when there ARE cheaper ways that don't leave you with 5,000.oo worth of regret.