exelsior: questions/advice (again)

RN34TX · Mar 20, 2005

I graduated in 2003 so I think my input should still be fairly current but maybe a current student should chime in as well.

Excelsior is not an "online" program, but it gets lumped into the online school category due to it's distance learning factor.

Online programs have actual online courses that you would log into instead of going to an actual class. With EC, you are a lot more on your own.

Yes, they will mail you the study guides free of charge, but every time you are ready to take an exam, YOU need to call them and request one for EACH exam you take.

The only thing that you would really need your computer for is now I've heard that they have online practice exams that you can take ahead of time to determine if you are ready for each exam.

The only thing that will come to you automatically in the mail is the CPNE study guide which will show up after you have met all course requirements for taking the CPNE.

You can call at any time, but you pretty much have to initiate most, if not all, contact with them throughout your program.

Believe me, the program is not for a student who needs their hand held and they will be quick to tell you that.

Jo Dirt · Mar 20, 2005

hey its me agian with more questions about excelsior.
once you become an official student is that it? are you on your own for the rest of the program or do you have to keep calling them every time you have a question? and all the study guides are mailed to you right? do you actually need the computer for anything? b/c everytime i go to the excelsior website and try to log in it always give me that "page not found" error. i already contacted excelsior about it but they were'nt much help and its not my computer, itried it from 3 different ones. is this happening to anyone else or just me? ok sorry i played 20 questions today
thnx 2 all!

I started Excelsior in November of '04 and take my last test (before the CPNE) in ten days. I don't undertsand what you mean when you ask once you are enrolled is that it???

Once you are enrolled that means you can go ahead with NC 3-7 if you are in the ADN program. They will send you the study guides but you have to request them first. And as far as I know they won't be calling you to see how you're coming along or anything like that. From the time you enroll until you graduate you are responsible for registering for your exams and finishing them within the alloted time frame.So, in that sense, yes, that is about it. Until it comes time to graduate, then I believe you will have to fork over a graduation fee of $450...I guess I had better be finding out about that for sure though.

I have never had any trouble logging onto the website....maybe you could try it from a library computer to rule out that it isn't on your end.

Spazzy Nurse, RN · Mar 27, 2005

Back in my day (graduated in 2003 also) they would send me more than one study guide at a time if I asked them to. You could always do that so that you don't have to request each one and wait for it to come.

Katmease · Mar 27, 2005

You will also be assigned to an advisor that you can email or phone to ask questions. Personally, I loved the program but it's not for someone that needs the structure of a regular classroom with schedules & due dates. You are responsible for yourself. Best wishes!

peedyER · Apr 2, 2005

Thanx 2 All That Replied Your Input Has Been Great...one Last Thing,

When They Send You Ur Packet After Applying, Do They Give You Information On How The Whole Thing Works? Do They Tell You Wht Chapters Read And Such? Or They Just Tell You The General Areas Of Study And Leave It Up To You To Read As Much Or As Little As You Think Is Necessary? And Did Any Of You Use The Study Workshop For The Cpne Or Did You Just Use The Study Guide, Thanks Ahead Of Time For All Your Help And Advice.

Lots O Love!!

shawne embry · Apr 4, 2005

I started Excelsior in November of '04 and take my last test (before the CPNE) in ten days. I don't undertsand what you mean when you ask once you are enrolled is that it???
Once you are enrolled that means you can go ahead with NC 3-7 if you are in the ADN program. They will send you the study guides but you have to request them first. And as far as I know they won't be calling you to see how you're coming along or anything like that. From the time you enroll until you graduate you are responsible for registering for your exams and finishing them within the alloted time frame.So, in that sense, yes, that is about it. Until it comes time to graduate, then I believe you will have to fork over a graduation fee of $450...I guess I had better be finding out about that for sure though.
I have never had any trouble logging onto the website....maybe you could try it from a library computer to rule out that it isn't on your end.

could i talk to u directly about exc thanks i grad in 80 days i would like to know all i can about exc from someone in the program i have many questions

trennas · Apr 5, 2005

Hi, I am currently in Excellsior. I have my last test (abnormal psychology) this month and am scheduled to take the CPNE in Racine the beginning of June. It has been quite easy actually. They have changed their website so there are pages you can't view until you are enrolled. Before you enroll, call or email the admission office. They are more than willing to help you decide. They sent me a very honest cost quote and breakdown of courses I needed. You have a year to take each test after you have paid/registered for it. My testing center is 20 minutes away. It would have been a lot harder if I'd had to drive hours each time I tested. If you have no pre-requisites, you'll have about 14 tests to take averaging around $175 each. The 7 nursing concepts tests cost $250. It costs around $750 to enroll and $400 a year. I have been enrolled 3 years. It took me 5 months to get up the courage to take the English exam. The content guide just wasn't clear and I didn't know what to expect. I passed the first time, but how do you study for a writing exam when you don't know what you'll be writing about? It would have been easier to just take the dang test and find out what it was all about and do it over if I had to. I also spent 7 months FAITHFULLY studying for Anatomy and Physiology. After those two, I got up my confidence and things went much quicker. You request a study guide, or download it and print it out from your computer and it tells you what to study and which books to use. You can order them from the school, but I've found it much cheaper to get the same books from Ebay at less than half the price. The anatomy and physiology workbook was so helpful. I call the school with questions like whether or not the coorifice I plan on taking will count towards a required area, but other than that, I haven't needed to really speak with anyone. I have never used their on-line workshops or their chat rooms. I am currently getting a little worried about the CPNE and have been searching for info on that, but I never had to find extra help. I just read what they said and always passed the tests. I did not feel that they were that hard. If you are in a hurry, one thing to keep in mind is that they do offer some test where the whole thing, or portions of it require the student to do some writing. What you've written is then sent to Excellsior by the testing center and it can take up to 45 days to receive a grade. This is the way the English test is. That was my 1st test and also the longest 45 days of my life (waiting to get my grade), so I always check with excellsior first and make sure the test I'm about to study for is completely a computer-based test. When I take the test at the testing center, after I'm done, my grade is posted right then and there before I even log out of the test. I've never know any distance learning graduate from any other school than Excellsior and I can say that a good percentage of RNs I work with at any given job are Excellsior graduates. Hope this helps.

Close to being an RN (Real Nurse)