Is anyone using RUE publishing

missnurse01, MSN, RN · Feb 8, 2005

Hi! i used RUE as well. i signed up before i knew that i didn't have to to pass the classes, that ec gives out free content guides to go by, etc etc. anyway, i have found their study guides to be pretty on track with the content guides, but i always would go back and make sure i wasn't missing anything that ec wanted. i am confused about your statement that 'it should all even out'. you are paying bukoo dinero for rue then you have to pay for your tests, student fees, etc from ec...i know that they do give out loans, but you are still paying for it. hope you do well with your studies!!

unknown99, BSN, RN · Feb 8, 2005

I do not use Rue, but I use Kaplan University online. So far my experience has been a great one. Kaplan is accredited and my student loan covers all but $95 a semester. For my ADN to BSN, it is costing approx $7900. My LPN to ADN cost more than that!!

barbiedee · Feb 9, 2005

I am using a publishing company also, but not Rue. I figure that my time is valuable, and the study guides provided by these companies usually cut right to the chase and give you the information you need without a lot of extraneous material. The company I dealt with also provides the required textbooks, usually the main one recommended by Excelsior. For most people it probably comes down to money, for me it was convenience. Not that I could really afford the $$$$ price tag, especially since I am not eligible for student loans.(I am from Canada. They don't give out of country student loans, at least not that I have found.) I always recommend checking ebay and other nursing sites for used study guides...its much cheaper, and no contract to sign! Good luck!

DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN · Feb 9, 2005

I tried RUE for one course and found it a total waste of money, and the same with Moore (istudy smart). The only one I used that I like was Chancellors and that was for ethics. I used the free study guides for all the rest. I couldn't find any info on ethics to study is why I ended up buying the Chancellors guide. For me ethics was definately the hardest class. It's been 3 years since I've graduated. Stay focused !

bellcollector · Feb 9, 2005

My study partner purchased Rue and signed their contract before we realized everything we needed was free through excelsiors free content guide and info gleaned from the net. We do use her Rue material but it is only one part of our study materials. She feels it is worth it to her but personally it isn't all that useful for me. I have done better with the excelsior free content guide and the nontradenurses site as well as yahoo's rnstudyforums. JMHO

deej · Feb 9, 2005

I went exclusively with the free EC content guides, the yahoo groups, and the EC-recommended textbooks, saving money on most of them by buying the prior edition. Don't waste your money on RUE (or any other publishing company for that matter.)

If you work through the sample tests in the content guides and in the yahoo groups and you're still a little fuzzy, the EC practice tests are definitely worth the price ($65). I struggled with two of the tests (NC5 and 6), and the practice tests definitely saved my bacon.

Laurie888 · Feb 9, 2005

Is anyone else using RUE publishing company? I know its an extra expense but they say they will finance the cost of Excelsior interest free which seems like it will make it pretty much even out. I would appreciate hearing from anyone else who has used them. -thanks

I'm not sure what you mean by financing the cost of Excelsior interest free -- are they saying, specifically, that they will pay for your Excelsior entrance fees, yearly renewal fees, and all needed test fees? Because Excelsior is not Rue, and I think some people get confused on this, most of the third-party study guides will finance THEIR materials but I don't know about the rest. Seems unlikely but then I've never looked into it. Either way, I don't think it could possibly 'even out' because you are talking about thousands of dollars in study material from Rue IN ADDITION to the Excelsior fees, which may be a little pricey in some peoples' books but is comparable to getting your degree in the 'standard' way. Even with high interest rates you are close to doubling the amount of money you need to spend.

Having said that, sometimes guides are useful. Some people just feel better having them, and stress will do you in faster than anything. As long as you are fully aware of exactly what you are signing for, it's a personal choice I would never say don't ever use third-party study guides. Myself, I haven't seen a Rue guide but I've used a couple others and have found them useful. I look for them on ebay, and resell them for generally about the price I paid when I'm done -- and I like the use it and pass it on policy. Someone is sending me their Carpenitos and I will definitely pass it on for the same price I got it at -- free -- when I am done. I just bought a used Chancellor's for NC5 because I bombed out twice, even though I am sure I know the material (had health problems that day and being my LAST exam my stress level had quadrupled! Watch that stress!) for the next 3 months I will be listening to NC5 tapes any time I drive somewhere. I really like the tapes. (And I'm looking for CPNE materials in the meantime, as well, since there is a 4-month wait the third time around!)

Rather than signing with a third-party personally I would recommend joining all the Yahoo study groups, they are great, and supportive, and the files available are every bit as valuable as any study guide you may pay for.

Spazzy Nurse, RN · Feb 10, 2005

I went with RUE and I am very sorry that I did. Not only did I spend thousands of dollars unnecessarily, but I found that their study material some at times incorrect. I even found spelling errors in it....... to me that alone does not make them trustworthy.

If I was to do it over again I would go exclusively through EC. Their content guides are FREE. Buy a couple of texts (or use some from previous schooling like I did) and you're set to roll.

deegale · Feb 10, 2005

I JUST SIGNED UP WITH RUE. I DEBATED WHETHER OR NOT TO JUST GO THRU EXCELSIOR BUT FINANCING WAS MUCH BETTER THRU RUE I KNOW IN THE LONG RUN I'LL PROBABLY SPEND MORE BUT ITS THE ONLY WAY I CAN AFFORD IT :uhoh3:THEY WILL PAY FOR EXCELSIORS PORTION AS LONG AS YOU STICK TO THEIR PAYMENT PLAN AND NOT SCREW UP. THEY HAVE PAYMENT PLANS WITH NO INTREST.

deej · Feb 11, 2005

I JUST SIGNED UP WITH RUE. I DEBATED WHETHER OR NOT TO JUST GO THRU EXCELSIOR BUT FINANCING WAS MUCH BETTER THRU RUE I KNOW IN THE LONG RUN I'LL PROBABLY SPEND MORE BUT ITS THE ONLY WAY I CAN AFFORD IT :uhoh3:THEY WILL PAY FOR EXCELSIORS PORTION AS LONG AS YOU STICK TO THEIR PAYMENT PLAN AND NOT SCREW UP. THEY HAVE PAYMENT PLANS WITH NO INTREST.

I don't understand the whole "financing" thing. Excelsior is pay-as-you-go. They don't offer "financing" because you don't need "financing."

Melody007_FNP-C, APRN · Feb 11, 2005

I JUST SIGNED UP WITH RUE. I DEBATED WHETHER OR NOT TO JUST GO THRU EXCELSIOR BUT FINANCING WAS MUCH BETTER THRU RUE I KNOW IN THE LONG RUN I'LL PROBABLY SPEND MORE BUT ITS THE ONLY WAY I CAN AFFORD IT :uhoh3:THEY WILL PAY FOR EXCELSIORS PORTION AS LONG AS YOU STICK TO THEIR PAYMENT PLAN AND NOT SCREW UP. THEY HAVE PAYMENT PLANS WITH NO INTREST.

The Rue guides can be financed with 0% interest as long as your payment is at least $125 a month. The Part they finance for Excelsior is at 15% interest.

They DO NOT finance the exams.