NEED HELP! The college network a scam? Does Excelsior College work?!

buckshot · Jul 17, 2012

It is a good thing that you came here to research before you signed on with TCN! Excelsior is in no way affiliated with TCN and they posted that on their website. Excelsior's content guide states that all material and information needed for each is exam is provided. I met with College Network too and I am SO SO SO SO relieved that I did not sign on with them. Some people who are going through TCN say it is great and everything, but you can get the same type of material through studygroup101, the recommended textbooks, content guides, AND *Excelsior Practice Exams*

Another thing to consider is that if you sign on with TCN and there are any changes in the program through Excelsior, you will not find that information through TCN and any contract that you sign through TCN might not include any changes that occur in the program, and we all know nursing programs are in a constant state of change!

Simply put, DO NOT sign a contract with TCN, Excelsior gives you plenty of resources all in itself.

maggie1990 · Jul 17, 2012

Hi,

I know TCN isn't affiliated with Excelsior, however the rep yesterday told me that I'll get updated materials as things from Excelsior changes. I also heard (from the rep) that Excelsior gives you an overload of materials to buy-and that's why TCN is so great (because their materials are condensed and focused to help you pass the exam. TCN goes through all of the resources Excelsior gives and then focuses it). If I did sign up with TCN, then do they register me in Excelsior? This whole thing is very confusing and it seems like everyone is unhappy with TCN. :/

caliotter3 · Jul 17, 2012

There is a ton of reponses about TCN and Excelsior on this site. As valid today as it was in 2006.

frankie,RN · Jul 17, 2012

I used tcn to do Excelsior last year. I will still be paying for it for a long time. i wish i had known about this board before i signed my life away. one thing thats true, the tcn books do prepare you for the exams; but they are so expensive. my advice, try to see if you can purchase the tcn books off of something like ebay. i wish i could sell mine on ebay.:)

but it wouldnt even put a dent in what i owe them.

Peterjoy93 · Jul 17, 2012

Do not use TCN! Once you sign the contract you have to pay them even if you drop out. They don not pay for your exams; that's another fee. They do not pay for you to be enrolled in EC. I have used Studygroup101 and the EC practice exams. I only have two more exams and not failed one yet. I take an exam about every two weeks. You can get TCN books on Ebay much cheaper also.

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Jul 17, 2012

Have you read this from Excelsior: About Test Preparation Services - excelsior.edu

TCN reps are sales people, their job is to promote the "service" that they are offering. The contract usually includes a loan (the "payment plan" for the study guides is a third party loan not subject to federal student loan regulations, and for some people the interest rate is extremely high.)

For some these study guides are very helpful. For others not so much.

monalisa lpn · Jul 17, 2012

I used tcn and I'm still paying for it. Plus im failing exams dont sign your life away just used required textbooks or practice exams. The rep makes it sound but their material is not straight to the point and its alot of extra notes. I too wish i knew about this forum before signing my life away two

Years ago im still paying the loan off with the ridiculous interest rate

PomPomRN · Jul 17, 2012

I too used TCN. I really do not have anything horrible to say about TCN. I knew exactly what I was getting into. I loved the convenience of having all the learning material in one place, it was portable so I was able to take it everywhere I had to go (kids at sports practices and games, etc) It came out to about $445 per learning module, expensive but worth it for me personally. I have already paid the balance off and I am currently doing the FCCA and hopefully will be preparing for the CPNE>

I passed all of my exams (16 total) on the first try. TCN was very willing to provide all updated learning modules for the ones that were no longer relevant. I decided to pay it forward and let my friend use all the learning modules and pray she passes all the exams also.

That being said, TCN is definitely not for everyone, but it was key for me and I will never regret my choice to utilize the convenience of their program.

Good Luck to all testers!!

RTsoonRN · Jul 18, 2012

Hi Everyone!
I am in need of some guidance from someone who is either enrolled or who recently graduated from Excelsior College. I just graduated from my LPN program in New Jersey and have not yet even taken my NCLEX, however I am already eager and ready to start an LPN-RN Bridge program. I was looking into my local community college, but you have to work for at least 6 months and I have prereqs to take. Yesterday, a rep from The College Network came and explained their program and Excelsior-but after doing some online research, it seems that a lot of people are unhappy with TCN. I've seen some posts from this forum about TCN and Excelsior, but they were from 06. I just need to know if TCN's materials are helpful, and if they are really the monsters that everyone says they are. (Difficult to deal with, unexplained charges, and if you cancel you have to pay regardless). Is it better to go directly to Excelsior? The way that the TCN rep explained excelsior is that they overwhelm students with materials and TCN takes the list of books and narrows it down which guarantees that students will pass the exams. I like the flexibility of this style of learning-but not if I'm going to be scammed! If anyone has any good info, please help!

Sounds familiar, I used RueEd and they have nothing to do with Excelsior. They did nothing for me except schedule for their "prep" classes and I'll still be paying them for another 4 years. Listen to Excelsior when they say they have NOTHING to with these programs they are a rip-off. Sigh.....I should've just used Excelsior.

maggie1990 · Jul 18, 2012

Hey Everyone!

Thanks for all of your comments. After looking into it and talking it over with my parents we're deciding against it. The rep came yesterday so I'm still in the 5 day period to cancel. I've made copies of the cancellation notice and my dad made his own cancellation notice as well. Hopefully it will go smoothly and will keep everyone posted! Thank you so much!

maggie1990 · Jul 18, 2012

Well, most of the responses I've been reading from the forum were from 06-and the rep did say that things have just recently changed. That's why I was looking for someone who has enrolled more recently to see if they had a better experience than those in 06.