ISU advising potential students to buy TCN study guides

Nursing Students Indiana (ISU)

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:crying2: a potential student received info about phase ii--the isu challenge exam. note the info i have highlighted in red. isu is now advising potential students to buy tcn study guides. the study guides are nothing new and the same info is contained in the nursing textbooks for the subject of the challenge test as well as comprehensive study guides for the subject. even if you bought the newest nursing books and comprehensive study guides from amazon, you would pay less than $150 total. the tcn study guides offer the same info, and isu is advising students to buy the guides at a cost of $525+ each. :down:

personally, i did buy both tcn study guides, and the amazon's nursing textbooks, comrehensive study guides. after i passed each exam the first time, i compared the info in the books and the study guides. i found that many of the test questions were never discussed in the tcn study guides. :down:

the info, fortunately for me, was in the other books i bought :up:. i speak from experience--do not waste your money buying the tcn study guides. i am at a loss why isu would advise its potential students to waste $2000+ buying the tcn study guides. :mad: based on the statement below, i do not believe isu is acting in its potential student's best interest. buyer beware................

phase ii: admission applications and nursing challenge exams (csms)

ø step 1: apply for and be granted admission to indiana state university: [color=#234786]http://www.indstate.edu/admissions/applications/transfer.htm

ø step 2: contact the college network academic support department at 800-634-1443 or by e-mail at [color=#234786][email protected] to order the nursing challenge exams/customized study module (csm), if you have not already done so.

ø step 3: complete the four nursing challenge/csms examinations for n106, n224, n328, and n330: [color=#234786]http://www.indstate.edu/nursing/pdfs/testing-program-docs/nursing-challenge-exam-instructions.pdf

ø step 4: take the test of essential academic skills (teas) exam: [color=#234786]http://www.indstate.edu/nursing/programs/testing/pre-admission-testing.htm

ø step 5: apply for admission to the college of nursing, health, and human services: [color=#234786]http://www.indstate.edu/lpn-bs/admission-criteria.htm

ø step 6: start looking for a registered nurse who is willing to serve as a preceptor for n304, your first clinical nursing course (you do not need a clinical site for this course). you should also start planning where you would like to complete the clinical components of the remaining clinical nursing courses, three (3) to six (6) months prior to the start of the clinical course. clinicals will be completed in the state where you reside, under the supervision of a preceptor at a local facility.

ø step 7: complete remaining general education and prerequisite courses (if applicable).

hi redge03,

"i was also told by the tcn rep that isu will accept the following subjects w/o labs:

a & p

micro

chem

biology

so i would take these with them, cz i might even need to use their tutor ;-}

yes, these classes are classes that have a lab component."

i know they have lab components....but is it really true, that is one takes them thru tcn, isu will not req. the lab component? thank you.

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"i was also told by the tcn rep that isu will accept the following subjects w/o labs:

a & p

micro

chem

biology

so i would take these with them, cz i might even need to use their tutor ;-}

yes, these classes are classes that have a lab component."

i know they have lab components....but is it really true, that is one takes them thru tcn, isu will not req. the lab component? thank you

the best thing to do is call the nursing dept to confirm what is correct. the tcn rep is a salesperson and gets a commission on what he sells you. confirm with the university to see what they will require. only isu can give you the correct information.

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"i was also told by the tcn rep that isu will accept the following subjects w/o labs:

a & p

micro

chem

biology

so i would take these with them, cz i might even need to use their tutor ;-}

yes, these classes are classes that have a lab component."

i know they have lab components....but is it really true, that is one takes them thru tcn, isu will not req. the lab component? thank you

the best thing to do is call the nursing dept to confirm what is correct. the tcn rep is a salesperson and gets a commission on what he sells you. confirm with the university to see what they will require. only isu can give you the correct information.

thanks ladyinscrubs, i was just under the impression that i wouldn't be able to get this info from isu...i'm hoping the person isu connects me to in isu is not connected to tcn, like their rep or something, then i feel like this person would not be helpful or would give me mis-information/evasive....etc. etc.. thk-u

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Thanks LadyinScrubs, I was just under the impression that I wouldn't be able to get this info from ISU...I'm hoping the person ISU connects me to in ISU IS NOT connected to TCN, like their rep or something, then I feel like this person would not be helpful or would give me mis-information/evasive....etc. etc.. Thk-u

Just a heads up that if you take the classes(with lab) from TCN and you decide to go to another school, those classes may not transfer to other accredited schools. Essentially, you are locked in to going to ISU or Excelsior because they accept those classes--which are not accredited. If your decision is based on whether or not you receive a tutor, compare the cost of a regular course and hiring a separate tutor versus the TCN. I have no idea how much personal tutoring you will receive from TCN. Make sure you confirm the tutor situation from TCN before you sign up. BTW you can always call the ISU nursing dept to confirm whether you have received the correct info from the TCN rep.

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just a heads up that if you take the classes(with lab) from tcn and you decide to go to another school, those classes may not transfer to other accredited schools. essentially, you are locked in to going to isu or excelsior because they accept those classes--which are not accredited. if your decision is based on whether or not you receive a tutor, compare the cost of a regular course and hiring a separate tutor versus the tcn. i have no idea how much personal tutoring you will receive from tcn. make sure you confirm the tutor situation from tcn before you sign up. btw you can always call the isu nursing dept to confirm whether you have received the correct info from the tcn rep.

to ladyinscrubs.... "essentially, you are locked in to going to isu or excelsior because they accept those classes--" yes you are correct (i wonder which material tcn uses, ece,clep or dante for these courses with lab?).

"i have no idea how much personal tutoring you will receive from tcn."

according to other post elsewhere...no help :confused:.

"btw you can always call the isu nursing dept to confirm whether you have received the correct info from the tcn rep. "

you have no idea how happy this information right here made me feel like....i really needed to hear someone in the nursing dept will speak to me without shoving me off to a tcn rep

when i contact them, i'll post my findings here k? thk you!

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you have no idea how happy this information right here made me feel like....i really needed to hear someone in the nursing dept will speak to me without shoving me off to a tcn rep

when i contact them, i'll post my findings here k?

if you feel you are not getting the information you seek, go higher up---the dept chair or the dept dean. tell them what you have written and ask for info and/or an explanation. isu is a state institution and it should be answering questions--they may refer people to their website--but they should be answering questions. it may be those higher up have no idea what their underlings are doing.

i would specifically target your statement that isu is advising potential students to buy the isu study guides to the dean and/or higher up. isu is a public institution and should not have a preference where the student gets their study information. it is true that they are linked to tcn but the link is not mandatory (unless the student fails a challenge test--then they mandate the student buy the study guide for that subject.) tcn stated they provide tutors if necessary, and i would hold them to that statement. if i were to buy the expensive tcn study guides, i would get their statements in writing and specifics about tutoring.

i have been posting about isu for quite some time. my posts are honest and are pro and con, where necessary. what i have also seen is many potential students are clueless, do not do their due diligence, and think that dl classes are an easy way to obtain their degree. the bottom line is isu is a university. the potential student must do their research to find the best program for them.

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I will do just that, this involves an enormous amount of commitment, time and monies from my part. The way I go about this is rather analytical and systematic, in writing is the rule...after reading all the horrific experiences by other students with TCN, there is no other way...thank you for being so forthright...the world is a better place because of people like you.:specs:

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Mtn top you have probably completed the ISU program at this point since it is now 2014. Can you offer any advice because like you when you were starting this process you had lots of detailed questions. One of the most important is that so many people have bought study guides but I can never seem to find them on Amazon or ebay as suggested. Was this program a positive experience and do you have any beware tips while in the program? Thanks

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