I am a new student to the Excelsior program. I am also a professional fire fighter and a full time father and husband. I have been able to minimize the number of required classes to 10 to complete my degree and my first class is Dev. Psych (Life-Span). I have found this program to be challenging, especially since I have not been in school for about 20 years.
My question is, when studying for the exam, what is the best material to review? Is it the text cover to cover, the chapter reviews, the chapter progress tests or a complete complement of all the above mentioned?
Excel is nothing more than a test prep company--and in no way do they confer any type of college credit!!!! You must take these courses at a local college or take the EXCELSIOR college exams to be awarded college credit for these courses. If I were you I would steer clear of excel...they seem to lurk in the shadow. They are not excelsior advantage but excel advantage--read some posts related to them by doing a search of this board...think it will shed some light on the issue. The best advice is to call Excelsior they will explain their testing and credit awarding procedures to you. Be cautious there are sooo many different companies posing as the college, as students, etc--just looking to make a quick buck off of an innocent unknowing victim.
Kim
I read in one of the posts the Excelsior Advantage leaves one
thinking it IS Excelsior. I have been to their website many times in the last few months and it is very clearly states that you will be getting your degree from Excelcior, not from Excelsior Advantage.
Now, this may have changed since the other poster posted back in April. But my interest is in the non-nursing classes. A&P, etc. Does anyone know if you take the course via Excelcior Advantage and their exam, do you then have college credits that will transfer to Excelsior or do you take their class then take a CLEP test to gain credits.
I love the idea of the online lectures, etc but can't see the $255 plus another $155 or so for the CLEP test. I am seriouslly interested in this because I can get financial aid throu Excelsior Advantage but not Excelsior.
You can order or download a free content guide from Excelsior that outlines what you need to know for the exam as well as what texts and chapters the exam content comes from. You can also buy used study material from other students and join yahoo groups with tons of notes and info in their files...and BTW the yahoo groups are totally free!
You can order or download a free content guide from Excelsior that outlines what you need to know for the exam as well as what texts and chapters the exam content comes from. You can also buy used study material from other students and join yahoo groups with tons of notes and info in their files...and BTW the yahoo groups are totally free!
Kim
I am not concerned about the course work. I am looking for a way to get financial aid. Excelcior does not qualify for most student loans.
I've been a nurse for so long and have never limited myself to what I need to know to get by. I have no fear of taking the tests, a little refresher with the outlines and I'll be ready to go.
The online classes for the non-nursing classes sound fun. No more than that. But, there is the financial issues lurking. I am 50 yrs old now, been an LPN since early 70s. One thing after another kept me from completing and now I my responsibilites have lessened and I can but the money is still not there. The BON politely told me they give any monies they have to younger LPNs, people who will be in the workforce for some time to come. They didn't say that I would not, under any circumstances get any help, but they made it pretty clear I shouldn't count on it. LOL
Yea, I got their name wrong, E.Advantage, but I DID know they are not the same as Exelsior. That is not the question and I completely understand the difference between one and the other (bad with names LOL)
My question was, do you need to take a clep test for college credit after completeing one of their courses or is completeing the course and taking THEIR exam providing credit?
As long as a college is acredited, Excelsior will accept their credits (with some restrictions). You do not have to get your credits via Excelsior who accepts, among many others, CLEP tests.
My question was, do you need to take a clep test for college credit after completeing one of their courses or is completeing the course and taking THEIR exam providing credit?
Their "courses" aren't anything more than just review for the CLEP. You can do just as well (probably better) by getting the recommended review materials for the CLEP (DSST, ECE, etc.) exam in question and studying on your own.
Their "courses" aren't anything more than just review for the CLEP. You can do just as well (probably better) by getting the recommended review materials for the CLEP (DSST, ECE, etc.) exam in question and studying on your own.
Is Excel Advantage the same company that offers the Boot Camp (preparation for the clinical exam)? I've heard that's really good. But for a study guide publishing company, be careful. They don't like you reselling your used study materials that you buy from them. They made a big deal about that in their online study group.
Is Excel Advantage the same company that offers the Boot Camp (preparation for the clinical exam)? I've heard that's really good. But for a study guide publishing company, be careful. They don't like you reselling your used study materials that you buy from them. They made a big deal about that in their online study group.
When I was looking at their website there were several things that did not please me. However, that financial aid available is a huge thing. Until you verify they don't provide college credit! You'd be paying for nothing! How good a deal is that? LOL
There interactive classroom does sound kind of fun, but not at that cost! I could go to Kings Island several times over (not that I've ever been there except for Christmas light time) but I could!
When I was looking at their website there were several things that did not please me. However, that financial aid available is a huge thing. Until you verify they don't provide college credit! You'd be paying for nothing! How good a deal is that? LOL
There interactive classroom does sound kind of fun, but not at that cost! I could go to Kings Island several times over (not that I've ever been there except for Christmas light time) but I could!
Just do a search here for Excel Advantage and see for yourself. And do they REALLY provide financial aid? Certainly not for Excelsior's fees.
Excelsior does have some loan programs, look on their website.
You can buy used CLEP study guides online (check out half.com, Amazon, Brnes and Noble, etc.) or at most bookstores for fairly cheap. I think mine for the Sociology CLEP was $28 new, but you can find them used for much cheaper.
And the CLEPs aren't EC tests either---- they are exams that people can take to "test out" of a course. It's a pass or fail. If you pass, EC will give you the credits for that course. EC does not give these exams though. Check with your local colleges. CLEP also has a main website that I can't think of off the top of my head. It shows all of the colleges in the U.S. that give CLEPs. If no one else knows the main CLEP website I can do some digging tonight and find it.
Dantes exams are also an easy way to test out of gen ed courses. They're very similar to CLEPs. I know that EC used to accept them. Maybe check to see if they still do.
Dixie---- I know what you're talking about with the need for financial aid. Unfortunately that's how many of these publishing companies snag in new students--- by offering them financial aid loans, some being interest free. For some people that's the only way to be able to afford the program. But if you go straight through EC for your study materials by using the free content guides, and invest in a couple of used texts, all you'll be paying for (besides enrollment fee) are the exams. If you take one every couple of months, that might give you time to save up for each one? Also like Deej said, check out loans with EC. They do have them. I don't know details but I'm sure their website or someone at EC can answer questions you have.
There will be a way for you to do it. Have faith. :)
As the other person said excel courses just prepare you with the knowledge to take the clep or Excelsior exams. BTW--I don't believe you can clep A&P, you have to take the Excelsior exam. Regardless, Excel is rather suspect (at least to me a company that poses as students make their rep rather tarnished). I took all my generals at my local CC and was awarded plenty of financial aid. My advice is do it through excelsior or buy used material from other students/ebay.
Kim
Just do a search here for Excel Advantage and see for yourself. And do they REALLY provide financial aid? Certainly not for Excelsior's fees.
Excelsior does have some loan programs, look on their website.
Dixie---- I know what you're talking about with the need for financial aid. Unfortunately that's how many of these publishing companies snag in new students--- by offering them financial aid loans, some being interest free. For some people that's the only way to be able to afford the program. But if you go straight through EC for your study materials by using the free content guides, and invest in a couple of used texts, all you'll be paying for (besides enrollment fee) are the exams. If you take one every couple of months, that might give you time to save up for each one? Also like Deej said, check out loans with EC. They do have them. I don't know details but I'm sure their website or someone at EC can answer questions you have.
There will be a way for you to do it. Have faith. :)
Yes, I know what a DANTES is also. Took them for some computer courses I tested out of.
It's not the $150 or so every few months so much as it is the (what was it) $800 to get enrolled and the 1500 for the clinical. Add that to the 150 every few months with insidentals for study guides and references every few months and you come up with a lot of money coming out every payday. I'm an LPN remember. Underpaid and underappreciated! LOL
Yes, I know what a DANTES is also. Took them for some computer courses I tested out of.
It's not the $150 or so every few months so much as it is the (what was it) $800 to get enrolled and the 1500 for the clinical. Add that to the 150 every few months with insidentals for study guides and references every few months and you come up with a lot of money coming out every payday. I'm an LPN remember. Underpaid and underappreciated! LOL
I think you can divide the $800 or so enrollment fee into a few payments. Yes, the clinical fee looks like a lot, besides traveling, for many of us, to another state to take it. But for some it's still better deal than having pay for gas and childcare to go to class everyday, with all the stress and deadlines of a classroom program. But you have to be motivated to get somewhere on your own. For me, I am attracted to EC because I just graduated from a PN program, and I can't see myself going to school somewhere fulltime another year. I want to take classes part-time and work fulltime to help support my large family.
kimlpn
118 Posts
Dixi--
Excel is nothing more than a test prep company--and in no way do they confer any type of college credit!!!! You must take these courses at a local college or take the EXCELSIOR college exams to be awarded college credit for these courses. If I were you I would steer clear of excel...they seem to lurk in the shadow. They are not excelsior advantage but excel advantage--read some posts related to them by doing a search of this board...think it will shed some light on the issue. The best advice is to call Excelsior they will explain their testing and credit awarding procedures to you. Be cautious there are sooo many different companies posing as the college, as students, etc--just looking to make a quick buck off of an innocent unknowing victim.
Kim