The College Network

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Sep 23, 2009

You DO NOT need to use them to do the Excelsior program. It will add thousands to your cost for study guides that you don't need and should your circumstances change and you are unable to continue TCN will NOT let you out of the contract.

http://www.excelsior.edu

caliotter3 · Sep 23, 2009

Please do a search on this site for threads and posts about The College Network. You will find plenty to think about. A thread on this subject is still in the "last 24 hrs" pages I'm sure, because I just saw it this morning.

Strawbabyshortcake3 · Sep 23, 2009

I too, was interested in their program and have decided against it for several reasons.

First off, the guy came over an hour early, great, except my fellow LVN students were going to meet at my house for this meeting at a specific time. Their rep just wanted to get it over with and didn't even want to wait for them to arrive at the time that was arranged.

The main reasons were that when I asked what their passing rate was he couldn't answer because their program is so new, no one has graduated or taken boards yet. I asked about their retention rate and he said they don't keep count of such things. Add this to fact that he wanted to give me discounts and label them as grants. Oh, I only qualified for these "grants" if I applied right then and there.

I want a school to have a rep who is more like an admissions rep offering an opportunity at an education and not a sleazy used car salesman that uses all the pressure tactics. I am now looking into other programs that are more reliable and have more experience.

Congrats on your decision for going on to the next step, not many can do that. Good luck in your search for quality education and I hope this was helpful.

booziemgm2 · Sep 23, 2009

I used the College Network and what at waste!! I was under the misconception that this product would help me get LPN to RN. I failed the first exam with their material.

YOU CAN APPLY DIRECTLY TO EXCELSIOR, AND SKIP COLLEGE NETWORK AND STILL PASS!!!. After paying College Network for their binders ( about $6500.00) :jester: , I ended up using Lisa Arends, Studygroup 101 and Minnay's (all purchased over the internet) and I am passing !!!!!!!!!!!! (Their material is alot cheaper and better!!!) I have not even used the binders from College Network for the last 6 exams. I have to take one more exam with Excelsior, the FCCA & CPNE then boards. YOU CAN DO THE WHOLE PROGRAM WITH THE ABOVE ITEMS AND PASS!!! Just write back if you need guidance. I have been there an know the system now!!

lexiexela · Sep 23, 2009

I used the College Network and what at waste!! I was under the misconception that this product would help me get LPN to RN. I failed the first exam with their material.
YOU CAN APPLY DIRECTLY TO EXCELSIOR, AND SKIP COLLEGE NETWORK AND STILL PASS!!!. After paying College Network for their binders ( about $6500.00) , I ended up using Lisa Arends, Studygroup 101 and Minnay's (all purchased over the internet) and I am passing !!!!!!!!!!!! (Their material is alot cheaper and better!!!) I have not even used the binders from College Network for the last 6 exams. I have to take one more exam with Excelsior, the FCCA & CPNE then boards. YOU CAN DO THE WHOLE PROGRAM WITH THE ABOVE ITEMS AND PASS!!! Just write back if you need guidance. I have been there an know the system now!!

hello,

i am not that familiar with excelsior and was wondering if it is a legit LVN-RN program and if they also accept it in Southern California?

How does this program work? and how much is it? how long?

thank you...and good luck to everybody!!!

2CareerRN · Sep 23, 2009

you can definitely do the ec program without any publishing co. like tcn. i used them because i didn't know any better. i ended up buying many text books and using the ec content guide. i wasted a lot of money using tcn. but it's all done and i am a rn now so....i wouldn't suggest using them.

my 2 cents

:)

elkpark · Sep 23, 2009

The main reasons were that when I asked what their passing rate was he couldn't answer because their program is so new, no one has graduated or taken boards yet. I asked about their retention rate and he said they don't keep count of such things. Add this to fact that he wanted to give me discounts and label them as grants. Oh, I only qualified for these "grants" if I applied right then and there.
I want a school to have a rep who is more like an admissions rep offering an opportunity at an education and not a sleazy used car salesman that uses all the pressure tactics. I am now looking into other programs that are more reliable and have more experience.

This is a common misconception -- TCN doesn't have "pass rates" or "retention" or a "program," because they are NOT a SCHOOL. TCN is a publishing company which publishes study materials to help (supposedly :)) people complete the ISU or Excelsior distance learning nursing programs. A lot of people don't understand this basic concept (and, apparently, the salespeople are extremely misleading) and end up having a v. bad experience with them. They are selling you a product, their study modules, nothing more. The "representatives" are salespeople working on commission, and will tell you whatever they think you want to hear to get you to sign a contract with them (exactly like sleazy used car salesmen, as you note :)), and, once you've signed the contract, you're obligated to pay the full amount for the entire set of modules -- even if you change your mind about the program or your plans change or some crisis happens in your life that prevents you from completing the program.

I always encourage anyone who posts about TCN here to please, for their own sake, take a look at the existing TCN threads here before making a decision.

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Sep 23, 2009

hello,
i am not that familiar with excelsior and was wondering if it is a legit LVN-RN program and if they also accept it in Southern California?
How does this program work? and how much is it? how long?
thank you...and good luck to everybody!!!

lexi, it's a legit program - I went through it - but CA will NOT accept it. You can use Indiana State University's program. Go into Distance Learning and you'll get more info.

:)

elkpark · Sep 23, 2009

lexi, it's a legit program - I went through it - but CA will NOT accept it. You can use Indiana State University's program. Go into Distance Learning and you'll get more info.
:)

There are a few other states that put various restrictions on licensing people from EC, also (although no one else just flatly refuses to license them, as of now), and there's no guarantee that more states won't go in that direction in the future.

smitty10 · Sep 23, 2009

hey there, check out their website. EXCELSIOR.EDU hope this helps :)

lexiexela · Sep 23, 2009

thank you all for your quick responses...well since it's not approved by CA i have to look for another program out there..thank you