CLH87

Thanks! That sounds retty good, I have taken some online classes before, so I know how it is. Do they provide books and powerpoints? Do you take tests with them and do you still have to take the tests at the testing centers? Any other type of info would be great!

has anyone heard of "distance learning systems"? i recently received a postcard from them, stating "no travel required" and being "online" for the lpn to rn program. anyone know anything about them?

To Critter1972: Thank you for all of your great information. It helps to have someone who is actually doing the program give advice. And because of being burned by my current school, I decided to do some research. And for anyone wanting to know, this is what I found out: I currently work for a big hospital corporation in our city, and talked with the tuition reimbursement representative, who praised The College Network's program advisor I have been talking with. They are very comfortable with this program advisor and his wife; nothing but good things to day about them; even said that they were 'good people' (which in today's world, means a lot). They are also very comfortable with The College Network and Excelsior college, as well as a few other long distance programs. They haven't heard of any bad experiences dealing with either company; they have heard of people not following through with what they need to do as a student. I checked with the Better Business Bureau. No complaints against Excelsior. There were 3 complaints agains The College Network, BUT The College Network tried to fix those problems, with no response from the people who filed a complaint. The College Network's attempts to fix those problems were to the satisfaction of the Better Business Bureau (they felt The College Network went above what it had to do to fix the complaints, but no response from the people who filed the complaint), and I actually talked with a person from the BBB. I checked with our State Board of Nursing, and they recognize Excelsior. I will be able to sit for boards with no problem. I have done some serious research on the internet, and for the most part, not many bad reviews. I know that there are some, and I didn't expect anything otherwise. I spoke with a few people (friends of friends type thing) who have done both The College Network and Excelsior and they have done well. Passed Boards and all; some are even working on their BSN right now. A couple of them didn't pass the clinicals the first time, but they said that it was their own faults. They thought that their experience would help them, but they said it only hurt them. They didn't prepare as well as they should have and said that they were used to taking 'short-cuts' because of work. But they passed the second time. So, all in all, I'm going to sign up with The College Network and Excelsior. And many of my fellow students are leaving the school we were attending and will probably do the same. It will be great to have a pretty big study group to get us all through this. So, Critter1972, thank you for all of your great information, and I hope this will help someone else make a decision. Like Critter1972 said, this isn't for everyone...my fellow students and I have been in an online program for over a year (with a bad school) so we're used to doing things on our own. It will help to have so many of us working together. Good Luck to everyone!

To Mudwoman: GOOD LUCK! You sound like you've really prepared, so I'm sure you're going to do fine. Please let us know how you did. I'm thinking of starting with Excelsior, and I just wanted to hear your opinion on the whole thing. I keep reading good and bad, and I've been burned by one school (local-online-LPN to ADN program) and I don't want this to happen again. All I want is a good education to go with my ADN. And seeing how you've almost finished, I would really like your opinion. What do you think about buying books from Ebay? I'm afraid of having outdated material (my last school did that to us) and not being prepared. Any tips you can give me on anything would be greatly appreciated. I'm sorry to ask so many questions, especially seeing how busy you are. But, I'm really concerned about all the comments out there. Thanks in advance!

The 2006 NCLEX passing rate was 82%, according to our State Board of Nursing. Their approval status is at "conditional". Half of the people in my current class are 'repeaters'. The other half (us new ones) will probably have to repeat it next quarter, if we stay. The highest test grades are coming from the ones who have previously had the class. The approximate total cost for this program is $25,000. Yes I said twenty-five thousand dollars! We have voiced our concerns to the administration and they go unheard. We all can't be stupid! And they do imply that. "Is the material too hard for you?". That's a quote from both Deans. So, at this point, I'm tired of fighting them, I'm tired of feeling stupid, and I'm afraid of not passing boards. I just want an education, and I want to feel confident in my knowledge. I don't right now, and that's a scary feeling...especially to me.

I have been thinking a lot about The College Network, and have actually met with a rep. I am currently an LPN and want to get my ASN or ADN (is there a difference?), and am currently enrolled in a local LPN-ADN program. The school I am attending is horrible! I got on tonight to do some research and have found quite a bit of info. Mostly bad....but then I found your thread....and if you don't mind, I would like to ask you a few questions... 1. Are you currently enrolled with the College Network? 2. I'm really worried about the 2 1/2 days of skills check-offs. What do you know about them? 3. When I graduate, what college would I have graduated from? Excelsior or Indiana State University? 4. I have a couple of friends who are also interested in this, but they are LPNs who have always worked in a physician's office (no 'clinical' experience). They are both worried about how they will do with the skills check-offs, how do you think they would do? I'm getting confused by all of the 'information' that is out there. I'm hoping that you can shed some light on this. Thanks!

I (actually, the whole class) am looking for somewhere else to take micro. I can't have that same instructor again, and our school refuses to see the problem. I wouldn't mind taking it there, if we had a different instructor. Like with A & P, we do our labs on Sat. It's a 4 hour lab, every other Sat. works out pretty well. Any recommendations would be wonderful. Thanks.

Spencerian College. We have assignments online (which takes place of the lecture). This is our first quarter, so we've only had 3 classes. A & P (we have labs on saturdays) English Comp I and Intro to Psych. We have to log on at least once a week, pull off our assignments, and reply to them like you would in class. Testing is online also. Timed tests. The cost is way too much $20 - 25,000. But, I guess it'll be worth it....being online.

Hello Everyone, I hate to say this but.....I'm in the ADN program at SpencerianCollege, Louisville (online). Right now I'm in desperate state. Our whole A & P class has been having some serious problems. We have a certain instructor who we can't figure out. We're not sure what she wants from us. There were 12 people in class and 1 had dropped out, and only 2 are passing. Our problem is that she will be teaching us Micro (online). I can't have her as an instructor again. I'm looking into taking Micro elsewhere (in Louisville, Elizabethtown), but I would prefer an online class (work schedule). Anyone have any suggestions? Please Help!