critter1972

now that i'm doing the TCN program, i have access to their online chat rooms...in these chat roms, there are other students that i can talk to about what i'm reading. we have each others emails and we set up times to be online at the same time. So, if we agree to read Chapter 5, we can get online and talk about what we read and learned. Plus, the Advisors from TCN can answer questions for you if you need help. have you found that when you mention using TCN's study materials, people rip you a new one? LOL...it's like some sin that you spent the money to get the materials directly through the place that ISU recommends. I've had people even call me a troll in one of these forums! In fact, i hardly get on this website much any more. It seems like this site is for people who want to complain about something or tell us what we should and shouldn't do. I don't mind advice, but that's all it is and always will be. i'm a grown adult and i can make decisions on what is best for me....and i did and i'm glad that i made the choice i did. I just encourage everyone to make their decisions based on their own wants and needs. These people telling me (us) that our decisions are bad.....well, will i ever meet you, will you be someone making an impact on my life? I know that this sounds harsh and i apologize...but, if someone is taking my comments personal....maybe you are one of these people. too many people can dish out comments and tell everyone else what they should and shouldn't do....but.....i know that in 3 years, i'll be a BSN....where will they be? will they still be complaining that they are doing the work of an RN and not getting paid for it? Life is too short to complain about something...you have to do what it takes to make improvements in life. yeah, it may be hard, but life isn't easy..you get out of lilfe what you put into it. You're right though....it takes WAY too much time going from site to site to link to link to search for materials to read. I was worried that i'd spend too much time looking for something that i wasn't sure would prepare me. That's why i went through TCN and got their materials. I knew that i had academic support, online and phone, i knew that i could chat with other students, i learned about the gaurantee, I READ THE PAPERWORK that i signed....i knew what i was getting into. I met with an advisor who i met with at a starbucks...we talked about everything, what the clinical requirements were, where i would do them. I took my transcripts with me so that the advisor could look through them and give me a rough estimate of what i would still need to take (gen eds). once i started, TCN pulled my official transcripts and the Academic Advisors reviewed them. I ended up needing a few more than what we originally went through, but that's okay, that's part of it. Anyway, i'm very pleased with my decision. Yes, there are days when i don't want to study, so i don't, but i make it up. I know what my goals are and i know what i have to do to reach them. good luck to all.

I'm in the program and so are about 7 of my co-workers....the clinicals through Indiana State University are done at a facility of your choice. You can do it at your own work place ...you just can't get paid for it. You shadow a preceptor for 'x' amount of time a week...the 'hours' are set between you and your preceptor. once you choose the clinical facility, you let the Clinical Coordinator through ISU know where you want to do the your clinical hours. The Coordinator will contact that facility and get everything set up. that's it.... In phase 1 of the program, you test out of your gen ed courses, phase 2...same thing except you take the exam, online, through ISU. Phase 1 and 2 are self paced...you study at your convenience and you take the exam when you're ready. The gen ed courses in phase 1 aren't that bad. Have you checked out what the requirements are? Chemistry 100 is the only chemistry required and Algebra and Statistics are required. that's it for the chem and math requirement. All of us needed about 7 gen ed courses cuz we had most of the others done already. those include intro to religion, ethics, pathophysiology, literature, technical writing, stats, a history class..i can't remember the other ones right now. I have a study guide, one for each course, and all the info that i need to know is in there. It's not a guessing game...we know what to study. then, in Phase 3, you do all of your nursing courses online through ISU too. there are no set times that you have to be online, so it's very convenient. when comparing and associates to a bachelors degree...there are going to be a lot of differences....it's a bachelors degree. however, for anyone who is wanting to further their education, the best way to learn about the program is to check it out, ask questions.....i was leary at first, but i did my research and found out that it's not that difficult to understand or do. i'm glad that there is an option for LVN's if they are looking for an ASN degree....it's too bad that Excelsior was stopped 3 years ago!! however, i was also extremely excited to know that there is now this option available. Good luck to everyone with what ever you do.

i'm curious...why would you spen $41,000 for an associates degree from a local program when you can do the Indiana State LVN-BSN program for around $20,000? The $20,000 total is the fee IF you need all the general ed courses. I just don't see the sense in spending that much for an associates when you will spend half that for a BSN degree through ISU's newly approved program. just my opinion.

The contract that you signed...can't be cancelled. Do you still have a copy of your contract? Read it.....i have mine and i made sure to read it completely before i signed it. There's a 3 days cancellation period. It's like buying a car, buying a home, or signing up for regular courses....if you start classes on campus, or buy a home, or buy a car...you can't just expect to stop paying for them six months later. You signed a legal and binding contract. My fiancee is an Accountant and he read the forms too... Well, you can stop making the payments, but your credit will get hit. Is is really worth it? Like I, as well as many others have stated....this is a good program for some people. you get out of it what you put into it. just bite the bullet, use the study guides that you purchased and get through this. So, you bought new study materials....so what? Aren't you using the academic support and the website to talk to other students in the program? You have to look at the outcome of this....you will become an RN and make $10,000-$20,000 more a year. I bet when this is done and over with...you won't be complaining then.... So, refer people into the TCN program/Excelsior...for each person that you refer and they start, you get a $250 referral bonus. After 6 referrals, TCN pays off your loan.....it's true....i did it. Now, i have 7 other people doing this and we have our own study sessions together. good luck and just focus....you'll get this done.

MFD727..... In the state of Florida, in order to sit for the NCLEX you must be an LPN. Every state as a different requirement as to whom can sit for the exam and you happen to live in a state that will only let LPN's sit...that's if they do the Excelsior progam. now, what you can do is take the state exam from another state, such as South Carolina. You don't have to leave your state to do this, just request to take another state's exam. Then, once you pass the NCLEX, you can transfer it in using reciprocity or licensure by endorsement. You can not take the Georgia exam, because Georgia requires that you take the exam from another state and transfer it in too. Also, in regards to those you with negative remarks about the "publishing companies"...TCN IS affiliated with the NLN. Also, yes, you get your degree from Excelsior, but look at these places like bookstores. If you walk onto any college campus in this country, there is more than one place where you can purchase your materials. Same thing here....excelsior is the school that you get your degree from. some people don't like using all the textbooks that excelsior and rue provide...that's why some, like me, went through The College Network. TCN provides one guide per course and ALL the research has been done. So, for those of you wondering what to do....all i say is, "do your own research." everyone has an opinion, but YOU have to do what is best for YOU!!!

a troll? i see that our intelligence level has lowered some to name calling. isn't it something how most people have to problem bad mouthing my decision to do the TCN guides, or any other guide through those 'publishing companies.' however, when i defend my decision....it makes you mad? that, is a double standard, my friend. you ask about the current version? well, if i'm paying $75 or $200 for a testing fee, i want to make sure that i'm prepared. by me buying NEW guides, i'm guaranteed to have the most up to date material. so, if buying used guides works for you, then so be it. that is your choice....my opinion is my opinion....and so far, my decision has proven to be right (for me) because i haven't failed an exam. i feel good about my decision. i thought that this website was to talk about our experiences and find support, motivation for those of us who work full time, have kids, and still find the time for our education. however, the quality of some of these threads are little to be desired. i find that if i'm going to put that much effort in defending myself, i would be more productive actually studying. So, thank you for making me realize that i can do this on my own and that others opinions don't really make or break me.

thank you.... :wink2:

plus, doesn't the thread on this section say: College Network....wouldn't it make sense that if i'm in the program.....i would talk about it, or yet...defend it?

perhaps what? the fact that I'm in the program and am using the study materials...and that i'm doing well and feel like i have to defend my decision? is there a problem with that? there doesn't seem to be a problem with people bad mouthing it, but there is a problem with me defending my decision.....that's little of a one sided comment from all of you. we all do what we can to get through the programs and i thought that this forum was to share our experiences....am i wrong? if so, i'll just go back to yahoo's rnstudygroup.com account.

You are all correct...you do what you can and what works best for you. I'm sure that most of you know at least one RN that doesn't know as much as you do, as an LPN. how many LPN's out there are doing RN work and not gettng paid for it. Plus, most of the LPN's are showing the new RN's how to do their job. that's scary! just because someone can pass the NCLEX doesn't mean that they are a good nurse. my sister in law has never worked a day in life after she got her LPN license and she took her time getting her RN degree from one of the local programs. she passed her NCLEX the first time, she's book smart, but not common sense smart......because what you learn in school and how you do it on the job are two different things. i'm sorry if i offended anyone, but we are just giving our opinions. i've been on here tonight and on some threads i feel like i almost have to explain why i'm with the College Network...it works for me and for those i work with...it's been very good. We find what works best for us.

i sent you a private message.

you can go directly to Excelsior's website and count how many Textbooks you need. for just the six nursing courses, there are a total of 24 textbooks. I don't know how long ago you did the program, but there have been a lot of changes with the program in just last five years. they used to be known as Commonalities A and B, Differences A B and C...now they are called something completely different. this just goes to show that people do what works best for them. The cost is about the same if you know anything about the cost of textbooks now a days... after you add up the testing fees, the enrollment, clinical and graduation.....those are fees regardless of where you get your study materials....and again, the cost for the study materials are about the same...give or take a few hundred dollars. my question is "how long did it take you to get through one course by using the textbooks, writing things down and recording your voice, and whatever else you did? With the College Network guides....if you put an hour a day into studying, you should be taking an exam every 4-6 weeks. My girlfriend, co-worker at work did 8 of the courses in three months and passed everyone with an A! The info was right to the point, she had the academic support from The College network and could call them anytime during their 15 hours of support. I don't want to try to explain why i am doing it this way...it was my choice...just like it is for you. Everyone gets out of it what they put into it. You pay for what you get. Getting your degree is worth it. so what if you spend $10,000-$12,000 for the EC/The College Network program...first, it's going to cost you about the same anyway....and you're getting a degree that will allow you to get paid for what you do.....so, spend the money, get it done because once you start making that money in the first full year of employment, you'll be able to pay of any loan early without any penalities....well, at least through The college network.... good luck

education is expensive....who cares how you did it as long as you passed anyway? it's still less expensive than taking time off of work to sit in a classroom for 2 years.....you pay for the convenience....that, right there is worth it to me. especially since i have kids. The RPT program is through Independence Univ., formerly the California College of Health Science. you do your clincial hours by shadowing a RRT. you learn how to do it online and then go and do it at the clinical hours. call The College network or the school and find out how it works. you aren't obligated to start a program just by calling asking. if you don't want an appointment with a local rep, ask to speak with an advisor over the phone. TCN has advisors on staff for immediate answers.

oh people.....have any of you ever done anything through The College Network and know how they work? if not, then....shush... this forum is to give advice based on our experiences, not through rumors. The College Network and Indiana State University have a partnership, which means, that ISU recommends that you get your study materials through TCN for Phase 1 and 2. yeah, go ahead, go to ebay and buy them cheaper from someone who's had them lying around for years....however, are they up to date? do you want to take that chance and then go pay a testing fee for an exam that you hope you pass? some of those testing fees are about $190! by the way, the testing fee is what the testing site charges, not The College Network. I have had no trouble using TCN guides. I can call them anytime and their advisors help with whatever questions i have....because they work WITH ISU oh, and they work with Regis University, Independence Univ. George Washington, Cornell and Boston. They have partnerships with these schools to help US get our degree....which by the way is our goal anyway right? You know that if places like this weren't around....we'd still find something to complain about....probably complaining because of all the textbooks we have to get instead of using a self contained "guaranteed" guide. that's my two cents.....

plus, if someone needed the whole program...the study materials through Excelsior would total about 50+ textbooks.....who has time for that? Through The College Network, i got one guide per course...for a total of 13. They have live academic support and guarantee my success with a gaurantee that is hard to pass up.