Chelle2780

Do you mind me asking what your topic was? If I knew that I would atleast get to choose between a few topics I would feel so much better. How big was the audience anyway? and are you being video taped during the speech?

I purchased a study guide for the Principles of public speaking and I am really having my doubts about this. I don't have a problem speaking in front of people......especially if I have had time to prepare my materials. But....I just don't think I can pull off a speach on a topic that I may not know anything about. If I could choose my topic I might have a chance but being given one at random? Has anyone else taken this that can give me some words of wisdom? How do you prepare for and have enough material to speak on a subject if you know nothing about it? I feel like I a good writer and can be a good speaker but not quick with words. When I write, I can stop, erase, think some more and start again.....with a speech you don't have that luxury and I don't want to get up there and look like a rambling idiot:uhoh21:

You said you passed both....what other test did you take? I am also wanting to take the Technical writing w/essay. Congratulations!

NHRNmomof3-Did you get your reulsts back yet? I am planning to take the Dantes exam for public speaking. I am not overly concerned about the written portion, just the impromptu speach portion, the ten minutes you get to prepare is not a lot of time......and 3 minutes is a long time if you dont' have much to say about a topic. Did they give you a choice of topics or just assign one to you? and did you find it hard to reach your 3 minute mark?

I think he should have said that they can *help* you pass the tests. You can use any study material you like to take the tests. I think the CN was helpful to me but yet on the verge of being dishonest with stuff they didn't tell me. Luckily, I didn't get trapped in a contract with them.

Shannon- I know exactly what you mean. I spoke to Marcia also and she was very nice and very helpful. There is a chart that shows you what classes specifically transfer over from indiviual colleges. I think the grey area is when you are getting credit for proficiency exams or classes that aren't the exact equivalence of the ones they have. I find it frustrating that there is no exact chart of X will transfer to X and so on but can also appreciate that they accept a wide variety of equivalencies. Yes, I have been extremely confused with it all....I am thinking, "I'm a fairly smart person (think I am anyway) and I *cannot* figure this all out" I mentioned that to her on the phone and she understood. The program is still in the development stage so a lot of things aren't concrete. She even mentioned that they are working on having a summer session which would mean that I could finish even sooner. I do have faith in the program though just because of what school it is and its accredidations. You are in a RN program now? I thought you were interested in the LPN to BSN but you must be looking at the RN to BSN? I have submitted my online application, had my transcripts sent (directly from my school to ISU), submitted my police check, immunizations, copy of my license, cpr card, and a few other things that were listed on the email I forwarded to you. I am waiting to hear back from the man who will be evaluated my transcripts and in the mean time I am taking Clep tests to get phase one of the prereqs done. I had college network eval. my transcripts but I have a little more faith (and trust) in the man at ISU. Got to run.....

I talked to them today about the accelerated track. She said that people who do it full time do ok with the accelerated track but that they have had bad luck with people trying to do the accelerated track along with working full time. She said they have had some trying it who have failed out in the first month. That being said, I am still leaning toward trying it. I work nights (often with time I could use to study) and only work 3 days a week (12 hour shifts) so I think I can squeeze it in. I will start at the regular rate of 2 classes per semester though before I jump into 4. I am also planning to take as many prereqs this summer as I can (since nursing classes start in the fall) so I have more time to double up. I have a sheet that I got from College Network and they have me down for Technical writing w/essay since I have already had Freshman English Comp. The technical writing w/essay is a Dantes exam according to this sheet. The lady I spoke to advised me to email my ISU advisor about whether each class or test I am considering will transfer so that I have a paper trail of approval. In other words, if I email them saying that I want to Clep test out of Lifespan Dev. Psych. by taking the Human Growth and Dev. clep I will have on paper that they said "yes" it will transfer. She also said that they are already starting enrollment for the fall semester so the sooner the better as far as getting prereqs done, getting registered with ISU and getting all of your paperwork turned in. If I think of anything else she said I'll let you know.

I'm sure she is telling you the truth, you would probably have to ask her specifically about the accelerated trac. The man from TCN told me that it is not something they push becuase they prefer for you to take it slowly but if you request it they will let you accelerate and get done sooner. I will try to give the lady from ISU a call and ask her specifically about the accelerated trac.

That is the normal length of the program but you can apply for the accelerated trac and be approved to double up on your classes. I think the school reserves the right to refuse your request to accelerate (depending on your grades and such) but will let you if they feel you can handle it. I plan on taking my first semester at regular speed to see what the work load is before I request to accelerate.

Ok, I tried it again:)

Shannon-I sent yours. Nurse Hobbit-Did you get yours?

Yours is on its way too:)

Done:specs:

It's on its way:)

Thanks for the warning....at this point, I am very glad that I cancelled and didn't buy the $6000 in study guides. They are very helpful and have very slick marketing, I can see where many people hear what they have to say, are eager to get started and sign without investigating it......you only have 3 days to cancel. From what I understand, College network sells you study guides. You then go to a test center and take a test, what I learned (and they didn't tell me) is that I can go to that test center with or without them and take the test.....it isn't *their* test center. The man I met with actually gave me a bit of pressure pitch to sign (since I was unsure at the end of our meeting) saying that if I didnt' sign that day he would have to drive all the way back to my house. I signed and he told me that all I had to do was to call him and tell him not to submit the contract the following monday and he wouldn't. I called and told him and he was very nice about it. I was nervous about trusting him but I have heard nothing from them since and left my option open to buy some study guides from them in the future if I change my mind. I have heard good things about their study guides but have found them way cheaper on Ebay.

You can get a test outline and study guides for the EC exams for free? I went to their site and saw where you could take online practice tests for $75 but didn't see the free ones. Can you point me in the right direction? and also you don't need to be a registered EC student right? I am planning to get me degree through ISU but would like to take some of my prereqs through EC. Thanks!

I talked to ISU and you do not have to be a LPN for two years before starting the program. I asked this on another thread but I think it is worth asking here too. I met with a man from the College Network and he gave me a paper with all the classes marked that I will need to complete the LPN to BSN program at ISU. After each of these classes is a letter, e, d, or c. Referring back to the chart on the paper this stands for excelsior, dantes or clep. Does that mean that I will take my prereqs at a variety of testing centers and through different proficiency exams? I find it to sort of confusing, when he was here he made it sound really simple like I would study for a test and then go to their test site and test on it but now that I am looking and learnign more about the College network I realize that *they* don't test me at all, just sell me materials that will hopefully help me pass the tests. Am I correct? I would call me College network guy and ask him but I cancelled and decided not to buy the $6000+ of study guides from him so he probably wont' be nearly as helpful as he was.

I'm still trying to figure this out too.....can I take excelsior exams for things like microbiology or technical writing w/essay without being enrolled at excelsior college? ETA, I am going through ISU to get me BSN degree, so I can still take EC exams to transfer to ISU? Where do I go to take EC exams? and are they sort of like a clep test or a dantes test as far as being a proficiency exam? I have a paper that the College Network gave me. They evaluated my transcripts and left me with this paper that has check marked all of the classes that I need to take to graduate from the ISU LPN to BSN program. What confuses me is that after each of these classes is a little initial, some say ©, some say (e) and some say (d). The c is for Clep, the E is for Excelsior and the D is for Dantes. So, what I am guessing is that I will just take a variety of exams from different places to pass or test out of all of these classes? I would clarify this with my College Network man but I have decided not to buy the $6000 package he is trying to sell me so I dont' think he will be nearly as willing to help me now...... Help anyone?

If you would send me your email, I will forward you the email that ISU sent me. It has attachments that describe the program in more detail and answereed a lot of questions for me. The actual nursing classes through ISU only start in the spring and fall like traditional college classes but you can use the summer (like I'm doing) to get prereq's done. The email attachment tells you all this but there are ten prereq's that you must have complete before you will be accepted into the program. These include things like Intro to public speaking, Informations systems, Anatomy/Physiology, Micro, Chem, Psych, Socioloty, Lifespan Dev., English Comp, Algebra. Like me, you probably have a few of these done from you LPN tract and a few of the others should be easy to take Clep tests for. The program was explained to me as a program that is set up for you to succeed.....not a jam packed "how fast can you get it done" program. But.....if you are in a hurry (like me) you can get the prereq's done as fast as you can, either through your local community college, Clep test or a test center like Collge network uses. Then you can request an accelerated tract when entering the program. From what I understand they look at the accelerated tract request on an individual basis, at your GPA and such, to see if they feel you can handle it. The next entry date into the ISU LPN to BSN program is in August and I beleive you must have your application in by July 1. The email has a lot of this information too. I didn't get an exact figure but I believe, if everything works out like I have it planned, I should be able to complete the program in 18 months from the time I start the nursing classes.....not as fast as I would like but I feel like this program is going to give me an education and I really like the hands on clinicals. I don't like the idea of someone standing over my shoulder waiting for me to make a mistake and flunk me for a weekend. I like more of the hands on, watch me do this procedure and if I do something wrong correct me and teach me how to do it properly next time way. If I can answer anything else just ask:)

I will be starting ISU's LPN to RN this fall. Right now I am completing my prerecs through Clep tests and online courses. A friend of mine at work is doing it and is loving the online nursing classes. I'm very excited about it and have heard nothing but positive reports from people. My plan is to get as many classes out of the way as I can through the spring and summer so I can do the excelerated track and finish sooner. Michelle

Oh, well that certainly simplifies things. So I just get the book and teach it to myself. How do I find out more about the course, like how many tests are involved? I'm assuming you don't just take one test and test out of it do you? Thanks, Michelle

I am considering EC to get my ASN. If I take micro through them how do I get my clinical component in? Do I have to travel to a site? Thanks!

I think this will work well for me. I had the option of 2nd shift but with that I would literally *never* see my children during the week. 3rd will give me the luxury of being home on the afternoon/evenings with them....homework, dinner, family time, and then I can sleep while they are at school. I'm lucky enough to have children who are 11 and 15 so they can be quiet and let me sleep if I need some extra. Thanks for all the input! Chelle

I would be very interested to hear this too, I am planning to take a position that is 3rd shift in about two weeks. I've never worked 3rd shift, or 2nd for that matter......I'm wondering how to organize myself to make the best of it. Chelle

They called back today to offer me a position, I told them that I was interested in the staff position. If I am not going to get extra $$$ for PRN I would just assume having the insurance and benefits. Marie O'brien-Do you mind me asking what city you work in? That is incredible pay. Where I am at I think @$30 is good for PRN rate. Chelle