Achieve test prep?

Nursing Students Excelsior

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I was considering attending achieve test prep, I was wondering if anyone had attended the school and had information? It almost seems too good to be true

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

You understand that it is not an accredited, degree granting school but a test prep program (just like the program name implies), right? (From their website " Achieve Test Prep is not a college and does not issue any degrees.")

You are in group sessions to prepare to take Excelsior College nursing challenge exams. The costs are in addition to the application, registration, exam, tuition and other fees required by Excelsior College. They are neither affiliated nor endorsed by Excelsior College.

Some people enjoy the group tutorial sessions to prepare to site for the exams. According to the website, students completing the sessions at this company have a greater than 90% pass rate of the Excelsior College challenge exams so clearly the program works for many of their customers.

There are other student that prefer self-study and utilization of text books and the exam content guides provided to enrolled students at Excelsior College and are very successful. You should also look directly at Excelsior College to understand your options of self-study for the exams using the school provided content guides vs. utilizing an outside resource such as Achieve Test Prep to study and prepare for the exams.

it is a personal decision. Moved to Excelsior College forum as this program is a study/prep program specifically to prepare students for the Excelsior College program.

It should be noted that Excelsior College's position on utilizing an outside test prep company, there are some great questions that you should ask before signing any agreement: Exam Preparation Advisory - excelsior.edu

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Yes I understand but said they prep you for test for the excelsior school and you take the test at a Pearson vue testing center, once you pass the test, those credits are received and are transferable to most colleges, also they prepare you for the NclexRn their pass rate is 92-97% both written and clinical for the 1st time

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
Yes I understand but said they prep you for test for the excelsior school and you take the test at a Pearson vue testing center once you pass the test, those credits are received and are transferable to most colleges, also they prepare you for the NclexRn their pass rate is 92-97% both written and clinical for the 1st time[/quote']

Not all schools accept Excelsior College exam credits, especially for nursing classes. The pre-req credits are often done as a CLEP exam and those are more widely accepted. The A&P and microbiology credits are not lab based so most schools will not accept credits for those exams (something to think about if you wish to pursue a BSN) All Excelsior exams are taken at a Pearson Vue center. You have more choices of centers for the EC exams (I had a choice of 3 for the NCLEX (closest was 45 miles away) but I have a choice of 22 for EC exams, closest 5 miles away). You can't receive credits (nor can you take any of the nursing exams with the exception of 1) until you are accepted and enrolled at EC (application fee is $80 and enrollment fee is just over $1000, practice exams are $75, and exams cost begin at $380.) the cost at Achieve Test prep is in addition to the enrollment, tuition, practice exams, exam fees, etc. Excelsior's degree isn't accepted for initial licensing as an RN in all states and not accepted for endorsement in CA.

You should check directly with Excelsior College first before signing a contract for a non-school test prep service. If you feel you need a test-prep tutoring service, Excelsior has a series of questions to ask the service before signing and clues to a less than scrupulous service. That said, compared to some of the other test prep services Achieve is pretty forthcoming as to their offerings and limitations(most are not) They cannot offer federal financial aid as they are not a school but they can offer private loans to help you finance their program.

If you look at the one link I provided above, you can see the questions Excelsior suggests that you ask as an informed consumer.

I know one person who signed up for Achieve & Excelsior. They failed miserably BUT they were unmotivated, not proactive and probably would have failed if their Achieve tutor sat next to them when they took an exam and told them the answers. They were the type of person that lacked personal responsibility and should have never tried Achieve or Excelsior. ;) they failed before they started.

Achieve Test prep works for many of their clients but it is not for everyone. Then again, a self-directed distance education challenge program like Excelsior is not for everyone either. Only you can decide if this program will work for you and will be more of an asset than a burden. If you are motivated but prefer the classroom prep but with the flexibility a traditional program doesn't offer, then Achieve could be for you.

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I've taken some prep classes with them and I enjoy it

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I also agree with justbeachy...you have to be motivated! You can be 'prepped' but if you don't put in the time to study and rely on all resources of information you are wasting your money.

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I would be careful signing with them or any other service. If you decide that EC is not for you you still owe the test prep money. I didn't use anything but EC books and SG101 and am now studying for the CPNE, it can be done if you are motivated!

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Specializes in Operating room.

yeah it is true that it can be done with just the books. But i would highly recommend taking one of the exam classes before you enroll so you can see if it for you. However I would also highly recommend the excelsior Practice exams.

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I wanted to use Achieve Test Prep but my monthly payment would have been around $300! That's not including the enrollment fees and testing fees at Excelsior. During months that I am testing, my total cost could have been $700! Way too much. I just could not justify that. Excelsior is actually offering some of their nursing classes online now, and they qualify for financial aid. Might be a cheaper and better option than these "test prep" services.

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I just have to check with my local community to make sure all credits are transferable, i just want to get my general edu classes out the way and then take the challenge and enter into the nursing classes

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Don't do it, just go to the community college or find a real nursing program. I tried ATP, it was too expensive, the cost was not explained until AFTER I signed up and it costs you to unenroll once you have signed up. All in all, they have some very questionable business practices you don't want to be dealing with. I haven't taken a class with them in over a year and I'm still trying to pay them off so I can drop from their program. Avoid ATP at all cost.

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Don't do it just go to the community college or find a real nursing program. I tried ATP, it was too expensive, the cost was not explained until AFTER I signed up and it costs you to unenroll once you have signed up. All in all, they have some very questionable business practices you don't want to be dealing with. I haven't taken a class with them in over a year and I'm still trying to pay them off so I can drop from their program. Avoid ATP at all cost.[/quote'] thanks, yea unfortunately I'll have to go bac go community college it just takes so long , thanks for your advice
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