Excelsior Package Pricing Option to be Discontinued

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I recently just applied to Excelsior College for the ADN Program, and I am awaiing my unofficial evaluation. I received this Email today regarding their pricing package opton which will be discontinued. I'm just trying to understand clearly what this means.

Earlier this year Excelsior College introduced a Package Pricing Option for associate degree in nursing students. In keeping with our mission of access, our intent in offering this payment option was to encourage students to begin their nursing studies early on by "packaging" the cost of our nursing theory examinations with other fees. By using this plan, we believed that students would engage in their studies earlier all while having full access to our academic advisors and the various student and academic support services we provide.

Over the past months we have heard from students that the Package Pricing Option was actually an impediment that has had an opposite effect, causing them to delay enrollment. The Excelsior College School of Nursing is one of only 13 Centers of Excellence in Nursing Education nationwide as designated by the National League for Nursing. We know that the most successful students are those who are actively working toward completing their degrees and are accessing our many support services which are available only to enrolled students.

Because it appears it may be a barrier, we are discontinuing the Package Pricing Option for our associate degree in nursing program. If you want this payment option you will need to enroll with the College by close of business on Friday, October 2, 2009. Of course, our Standard Fee plan will continue to be available.

We will continue to explore ways to make our associate degree in nursing program as affordable as possible, including alternative payment plans. Until another option is available, beginning October 3, 2009, only our Standard Fee schedule will be in effect. As in the past, monthly payment plans are available to help budget your educational expense.

~White Stockings~

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Specializes in LTC/Behavioral/ Hospice.

Well, they are right that it can delay enrollment, but dang it's so much cheaper than the Standard Package! I hope they can figure out something equally as inexpensive for those who will be enrolling soon. I got in with the Package Pricing Option and am so glad I did!

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Specializes in Pediatrics/Adult Float Pool.

me too! i was so excited about this package, it made this program seem so much less intimidating to me...one package, one price, then the cpne...it doesn't surprise me that they aren't keeping it around longer though, you know, if it's too good to be true...just glad we're in it! how many tests have you guys taken yet? i take my first tomorrow...deep breath and jump in! good luck all!

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Specializes in Wound Care, LTC, Sub-Acute, Vents.

i received the same e-mail as well. i applied already and just waiting on one more official transcript from my other school then i will enroll right away.

it seems that i won't be able to enroll before the cut off date because i think it takes 2-3 weeks to evaluate my transcripts. i will write excelsior an email regarding this because i really want to be in the package pricing option. i hope they will let me enroll before the deadline.

i do not understand how this package could impede some students to enroll as both standard and package options are available to students. after the deadline, it would just be the standard option. so what is the difference? the standard option is already available to students now. plus, this second option if i am not mistaken only started last july 1st. it has not even been 3 months yet.

anyway, i hope i am able to enroll before the cut-off date as it would save me a lot of money. you know what, in addition to my e-mail, i would also give them a call.

good luck to all of ec students.

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Well, they are right that it can delay enrollment, but dang it's so much cheaper than the Standard Package! I hope they can figure out something equally as inexpensive for those who will be enrolling soon. I got in with the Package Pricing Option and am so glad I did!

Lisa, I've got a few more days until my review comes in. I was planning on doing the Package deal; however I need to understand how using the package deal delays enrollment before I do so. Can you explain?

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Specializes in Hospice/Palliative Nursing.

I just enrolled using the packaged pricing plan and there was no delay.

I don't understand their reasoning for discontinuing the packaged pricing plan...

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Specializes in LTC/Behavioral/ Hospice.

It may delay enrollment for some students who would rather take all their prereq's before enrolling because it's way cheaper to do it that way with the packaged pricing plan. Sounds like the school wants you to enroll before prereq's are done so that you can have access to all of the benefits of enrollment. With the packaged pricing plan, it's cheaper to pay for nursing classes and finish in a year. I didn't enroll until I was ready for the Chronicity test for that very reason. Does that make sense? If not, I'll try to hop on later and spend some more time on this. I'm heading out the door right now, but I will do my best to explain when I get back. :)

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OK, so I'm beginning to understand it now. I just got accepted to EC but I plan to take all of my prereqs before I enroll. I have to start from the bottom as I have to take all of the General Ed components.

~White Stockings~

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Specializes in Wound Care, LTC, Sub-Acute, Vents.

i wrote an e-mail to excelsior regarding the discontinuance of the package option and received a prompt reply. thanks ec!

thank you for your inquiry.

if your goal is to enroll into the package pricing option by the deadline of oct 2, then you would have to request for us to waive your application review and just admit you to the program.

what this means is that we would not review any of your previous credits towards our program before you enrolled. once you enrolled your academic advisor would then give you an official evaluation of your credits.

so the only risk is you won't know for sure what we will accept of your previous credits before you are enrolled and committed the $1560.

now, as long as your credits are from a regionally accredited institution and you received a c or better, they will be eligible for transfer.

otherwise, you are correct, if we proceed with your application review, it would not be completed by the deadline.

i would recommend you call our admissions office to discuss your options with an admissions counselor, or email us back requesting us to push your application through the process so you can enroll by next week.

if you do have us waive the review, your application should be complete within 2-3 days and you would be able to enroll online as soon as you get the email notifying you that you have been accepted.

please get back to us with what you would like to do either at this email address or by phone at 888-647-2388, ext 27.

we look forward to hearing back from you.

so i will just do that. i wrote them an e-mail waiving the evaluation process for now so i can enroll. i will also give them a call tomorrow verifying it. i know they will accept my credits so i am not worried. i already have all my pre-reqs except lifespan and i will clep that.

i also took the first nursing exam already back in january so i will go on to the third one. i know i can finish this program in less than a year as long as i give my 100 percent.

angel

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Cool. Yoiu can certainly do it in a year if you commit.

I never even knew there was such a package,

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Specializes in HOME HEALTH.

The payment plan did seem to good to be true. Wonder if they were not bringing in as much revenue and decided they couldn't afford it? Just a thought.

I suppose I will have to hurry and get enrolled ASAP.

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The payment plan did seem to good to be true. Wonder if they were not bringing in as much revenue and decided they couldn't afford it? Just a thought.

I suppose I will have to hurry and get enrolled ASAP.

Your thought sounds very likely, more likely then the explanation excelsior gives. Actually, their explanation doesn't even may any sense to me. Weather one use's this package, or the standard way, it's not going to make you enroll any faster, then what you were going to do anyway. But, telling would be students, register by oct, or spend more money later, now that may make someone register quickly. They should tell the truth, it's all about the money:twocents:

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