I got my acceptance into Excelsior and now I am waiting to see if my classes will transfer. I have taken a bulk of the pre-reqs at my cc for the ASN program. I just need to complete my sciences. I am so happy I went thru with this decision to further my degree online. I have been stalking the EC threads for over a year and got the push when my co-worker broke the information down and told me how much she enjoyed it and of course the reviews here.
Specializes in LTC, Urogynecology, Nurse Management,.
Hi Everyone!
I haven't been here in quite awhile, but I have a question (s)...I have been accepted into my local CC for pre-req's..I am also looking into excelsior..My thought was to do my pre req's at the community college and then take all the nursing exams through Excelsior. I thought this would be a little less costly since I can get Financial aid at my community college.However, I would have to wait until at least 2011 here in NY to get into the nursing program at the CC. I have been an LPN for almost 6 years. I guess I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts on the matter? I can be very disciplined and study at home for my tests, but what difficulties am I looking at with Excelsior? Please let me know, I really appreciate all of your help in advance. I also heard that I could take tests before I enroll at Excelsior, any comments on that?
So if you want to take tests before enrolling, do you just sign up for them or do you still need to get transcripts evaluated? The program sounds great (for my husband) but I have to admit all the info on their site is very confusing to me.
And OP- congrats on getting in!
I highly recommend paying the $75 admission fee and getting your transcripts evaluated. Once you get that done, EC tells you everything you need to take. You can take all the prerequiste before enrolling in the nursing portion of the program along with the first nursing exam. All you do is establish a username and ID number on the EC website and pay for the specific exam your need to take. You also need to register with pearsonvue.com and find a location to schedule a particular exam.
Specializes in LTC, Urogynecology, Nurse Management,.
Thank You NC Girl,
So are you saying to go ahead and apply to EC first, pay the 75...then instead of going to CC for all my pre req's see what they say? In that case are you rec. that I just do all my pre req's by test at EC? As i said before i am eligible for financial aid at CC, however, I would be willing to go the quickest route and am not looking forward to the pre req's at the CC. It is at least a 40 minute drive one way from my house and I am a single Mom of three. I understand that difficult will not be the word to describe the challenge ahead of me, but I don't believe Impossible would be the word either. Any help from fellow nurses would be and is greatly appreciated. I would love to get started right away. I cant even start pre reqs at CC until the end of Jan. and was thinking of how much I could accomplish by testing with EC prior to that. Thoughts?
So are you saying to go ahead and apply to EC first, pay the 75...then instead of going to CC for all my pre req's see what they say? In that case are you rec. that I just do all my pre req's by test at EC? As i said before i am eligible for financial aid at CC, however, I would be willing to go the quickest route and am not looking forward to the pre req's at the CC. It is at least a 40 minute drive one way from my house and I am a single Mom of three. I understand that difficult will not be the word to describe the challenge ahead of me, but I don't believe Impossible would be the word either. Any help from fellow nurses would be and is greatly appreciated. I would love to get started right away. I cant even start pre reqs at CC until the end of Jan. and was thinking of how much I could accomplish by testing with EC prior to that. Thoughts?
Thanks So Much!
Sincerely,
Liz
Liz,
I highly recommend that you pay your $75 and get your transcripts evaluated through EC first before starting at the CC classes. EC will tell you what classes you need to take to complete their program. Then once you get your unoffical transcript evaluation, you can register for those classes at CC. My friend did all her prerequistes through CC and did the nursing classes by exam. Good Luck! EC is a great program. Me and my friend did the program together in 1 year. She finished in 10 months and took about 12 hours of classes at CC.(talk about motivated!). It took me 12 months(I needed was Micro and info literature as prerequisites.)
Specializes in LTC, Urogynecology, Nurse Management,.
Wow! Thanks for the advice! I will definately check with ec first. It would be worth the 75 dollars to save me a few classes if I didnt need them for EC. I get a bit nervous about the financial aspect at EC since there is no financial aid..I have read a little about some help with certain costs at EC, like the cpne. Have you heard of anything? Once again, being a single mom with three kids at home, has proven to be a hardship on the finances. Need whatever help I can get.
i was pretty nervous too, at first! i finally had them review my transcripts and all i need is a&p, micro, and info lit. so, i went ahead and got in on their discounted plan which is now obsolete. but, i'm getting through the nursing part and while i wait for my cpne date, i'll work on those other 3 classes. then, hopefully, it will all finish together, probably by may or june, depending on how quickly i get through these essentials! fortunately, my job is paying for most of my tuition, but excelsior also has payment plans which sound pretty flexible, and you never know...what about the vfw or american legion? i got a scholarship from them once, just had to write an essay...good luck, whatever you decide, i know i'm extremely excited about excelsior, cause my rn wasn't gonna happen at the cc!
Specializes in med-surg, geriactrics, oncology, hospi.
Hi. Helpful & interesting to read all comments. I also am doing the Excelsior program. Accepted, not enrolled yet. I am waiting till after the 1st actual nursing course. The 2nd is waived 2* LPN.I have already took 16 months though to get where I am-3 courses away from actual nursing stuff. I started with no credits practically.But my Dad died with CA after extended hospitalizations, I had surgery for CA, many family issues since I started. Work full time c 2 grade school kids,school activities, church, etc.I study every week but not as much as I'd like. Also I'm not young anymore, & it's just hard!So far, it's been doable.f I get into financial trouble, I will use the payment plan they offer (advise to girl with kids worried about $) JUST PRESS ON!Maybe someday I'll/we'll get there.Everyone please keep writing as it is helpful to rest of us not there yet.Thanks!
Specializes in med-surg, geriactrics, oncology, hospi.
:specs::specs:
Their modules are just "ok". I used them as a resource. I bought the recommended text and bought EC practice test. I rushed through my test and completed them all in 6 months.(including 2 repeat test). I would not sign with TCN. Go to ebay and type in "College Network" and look at all the books that people are trying to sell for a fraction of the cost. You will not be sorry.
Specializes in LTC, Urogynecology, Nurse Management,.
I am so happy that i decided to research this and was redirected to allnurses...I had joined allnurses in 2007 but I had basically read comments and didnt say too much. I had had an issue with Chancellors at the time. They had charged me for an entire program when I hadn't received one thing from them. Thay had frozen my bank account etc. I ended up getting a Lawyer an we fought it. We won. Never thought It was possible because of the contract but, my thought was that I was not going to be a carpet for them to walk all over. I could have laid down and paid but what's right is right and what's wrong is wrong, so I fought. Luckily.
My advice to anyone trying to decide on distance learning is do your research. Do not go with the publishing comapanies! (just my oppinion) If this is the way you need to go with your education at this point, go right to Excelsior. You can apparently get guides and books from ebay and other sources for a fraction of the cost and no contract. (no worry of a frozen bank account )
At any rate, I had been trying to decide if Excelsior is the right route for me, or if Community College would better suit my needs. After careful consideration and so much helpful information from fellow nurses here at allnurses, I have decided to apply to Excelsior, get them to review my transcripts and tell me what I would need for them, then take a test before I enroll, to see how it works out for me.
I am going to try to get this accomplished before January, as Community College starts then and I have already got everything in place as a back up. (I am dreading that route)
I so much appreciate feedback from all of you, and give Kudos to all who have tried Excelsior's program. I understand that it will not be easy by any means however, it would definately be alot better for me and my family situation, if I can achieve my goals through Excelsior.
I am hopeful, and with all this excellent advice from those of you doing it or having done it, I feel it is very much a possibility.
Anybody who may have any advice as far as Clep or anything that could be cheaper or faster, would be greatly appreciated as I am a single mom of a 10, 13, and soon to be 16 year old. I have my LPN and no other transfer credits, so i assume I will be starting from scratch with Excelsior.
Thanks so much and sorry to have chatted so long...
I currently have my BA in business. I have been struggling the CC to get my pre-reqs for their nursing program, they keep changing the requirements, so I feel like I have constant set backs. The LPN program is a lot simpler, they do not have as many requirements, so I have been thinking about just taking the LPN program and then finishing the RN at Exelsior. What worries me is I have read some posts that some states, CA in particular will not license an Exelsior grad. I live in WI. Any thoughts on that would be appreciated. Also I worry that if WI will license an Exelsior grad, if they change the licensing requirements later, can they revoke your license?
:specs:
) 
LIZ31
23 Posts
Hi Everyone!
I haven't been here in quite awhile, but I have a question (s)...I have been accepted into my local CC for pre-req's..I am also looking into excelsior..My thought was to do my pre req's at the community college and then take all the nursing exams through Excelsior. I thought this would be a little less costly since I can get Financial aid at my community college.However, I would have to wait until at least 2011 here in NY to get into the nursing program at the CC. I have been an LPN for almost 6 years. I guess I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts on the matter? I can be very disciplined and study at home for my tests, but what difficulties am I looking at with Excelsior? Please let me know, I really appreciate all of your help in advance. I also heard that I could take tests before I enroll at Excelsior, any comments on that?
Liz LPN