Anyone Out There Doing College Network - Lpn To Rn Asn?

[The College Network]

Decisions about your education are very important and can often be difficult and confusing. There are many educational options and an overwhelming amount of information to sort through, interpret, and use when it comes to furthering your education. It is important that you make a well-informed decision that suits your lifestyle, educational needs, and your budget. With so much information, it is often easy to become confused or misinformed. That is why The College Network always provides free academic evaluations and highly recommends you research all of your options. We also know questions will surface along the path to your degree, which is why we are always available to work with our customers.

[Christiangal]

Decisions about your education are very important and can often be difficult and confusing. There are many educational options and an overwhelming amount of information to sort through, interpret, and use when it comes to furthering your education. It is important that you make a well-informed decision that suits your lifestyle, educational needs, and your budget. With so much information, it is often easy to become confused or misinformed. That is why The College Network always provides free academic evaluations and highly recommends you research all of your options. We also know questions will surface along the path to your degree, which is why we are always available to work with our customers.

This is a typical response from the College Network and Excelsior. If things go wrong, it must be the student's fault. It couldn't possibly be theirs. They will say the student is confused or they didn't pick the right program or they didn't give it their all. However, I can easily prove I was lied to in the seminar with my paperwork. They left one entire course out, they told me my previous credits would be accepted (they were not) they claim if you pass the test in the back of their textbook you will pass the acutal exam, and several other things I found out were not true. They don't tell you that Excelsiors fees go up on a regular basis and that some of them are repeated yearly. The figure they gave me for what my education would cost and what I actually paid are worlds apart, with the latter being far higher. At the seminar they have to sign students up I was hesitant when the high pressure salesman was practically salivating over the table for a check to start the program with (he said if you wait it will take a long time to get your first book). My husband encouraged me, and I really wanted my RN. How I wish I had done what another nurse in the room did. She was suspicous as well and she left without signing up, despite his pressure. One of the reasons I went in the first place was that the card I got in the mail advertised clincials in your hometown. However, when I got there I was told that was for RN to BSN only, not LPN to RN.

As for their so called "availablity" for their students, they hung up on me once, and when I complained about the course they left out, I was asked to fax my paper from the conference for proof because they did not believe me. When I did and it showed I was telling the truth I asked what they planned to do about it. I got silence. What's it to them? It's me that has to dish out another outrageous fee, not them.

I think they are interested in one thing only, money. I never even heard from them after 3 months. They don't call to see how you're doing, or even when you finish the academic portion, or how your clinical went. Once they have your money, they don't care about anything else; that was my experience.

[fyrefyter14]

I met with a representative of The College Network today, 3-20-2007, I was obviously a scam form the first word. He treated me like a off the street junkie from word one even though I have been a paramedic for over 5 years now. I asked him specific questions that he had no direct answers for. Instead he referred be back to the great "benefits" of the program. When he attempted to get me to sign the gauranteed finicial agreement at 12% I asked about the highlighted statement at the bottom of the page....."The College Network is in no way affiliated the Excelsior College." At this point in time he informed me that the listed Excelsoir College charges were outside The College Network Charges. He then informed me of the additional 6,000 dollars in College Newtork charges at the 12% interest rate. I advised him I would not take the high interst rate and would look into my own finances. He was on a bee line out the door! I asked him a question, a loaded question, reference to Excelsior being accepted in my state. He then stumbled and gave me an "addendum" that stated I would have to test out of state then request endorsement by my home state to be reviewed to become licensed in my home state. Watch this scam and ask the questions.... They will become uneasy and leave you "with information to call them back." Do your research here.

[Christiangal]

I met with a representative of The College Network today, 3-20-2007, I was obviously a scam form the first word. He treated me like a off the street junkie from word one even though I have been a paramedic for over 5 years now. I asked him specific questions that he had no direct answers for. Instead he referred be back to the great "benefits" of the program. When he attempted to get me to sign the gauranteed finicial agreement at 12% I asked about the highlighted statement at the bottom of the page....."The College Network is in no way affiliated the Excelsior College." At this point in time he informed me that the listed Excelsoir College charges were outside The College Network Charges. He then informed me of the additional 6,000 dollars in College Newtork charges at the 12% interest rate. I advised him I would not take the high interst rate and would look into my own finances. He was on a bee line out the door! I asked him a question, a loaded question, reference to Excelsior being accepted in my state. He then stumbled and gave me an "addendum" that stated I would have to test out of state then request endorsement by my home state to be reviewed to become licensed in my home state. Watch this scam and ask the questions.... They will become uneasy and leave you "with information to call them back." Do your research here.

I think you mean '08. : ) Nothing you said surprises me. Their goal is to get you to sign so that they get money. FYI, Excelsior College isn't any better. They raise their prices regularly, and I found most of the clinical instructors (examiners, I should say, they don't let you call them instructors because they don't give you any instruction) to be unprofessional. I heard from someone that they got into trouble because they failed too many students in clinical. I think this happened in the 90's sometime. I think they're back to their old tricks. I was in clinical with a girl who had just been told that her state no longer accepted Excelsior credits, and she said they took so long to send her the study guide for clinical that she had no time to study. The whole time you are enrolled at Excelsior there are fees, and getting them on the phone means a maze of "press one" "press two" and usually long waits, you know the game. But when you owe you're annual enrollment fee, or any money, you will be contacted via mail and/or email every time you turn around until it's paid. I just wish I had done a better job investigating. I'm glad that you did. You don't realize how much grief and money you saved yourself.

[successfulintentions]

Let me begin by saying that I work for The College Network but I certainly do not present our programs the way it has been described here. In fact, most Program Advisors I know really have the welfare of the person in mind when they meet with them.

Several members have been unhappy with online programs in general. That is really unfortunate and I wish that wasn't the case for them. There are several that are happily making progress in their programs - I know because I ask them, if they don't mind, to call me after they take their exams. They all happily call and tell me they passed!

This isn't about one student is better than the other. It is about which mode of learning are you most comfortable with. Like the moderator Rica indicated in her post in 2007, some of us need to be in classrooms. But keep in mind, we meet quite a number of LPNs who did the classroom route, and they didn't complete that program either.

Having said that, I know there are several LPNs who are left with no choice but to do distance learning because of circumstances. Full time jobs (at times 2 jobs!) and a family. And yet they yearn to be an RN because it is fulfilling financially and psychologically. In my last presentation with LPNs two days ago, I emphasized the fact that online programs aren't for everyone, that it is challenging and there will be times when you will be tempted to hang the hat. However, one of the LPNs stood up and said the following: The obstacles are just ways to prove to yourself how much do you really want something! I asked her if I can quote her in my future presentations.

So, if becoming an RN is something you truly want - believe that it is yours. You manifest it in your life. Don't rush into making decisions. Test it out yourself and see if you can do distance learning by reading a novel (preferably a boring one) and see if you can stick to a self-imposed schedule. If you do your due diligence, you are likely to make good decisions. And remember - You become what you think about most. Think you are an RN, and you will soon be one!

Take care . . . . .

[Christiangal]

Let me begin by saying that I work for The College Network but I certainly do not present our programs the way it has been described here. In fact, most Program Advisors I know really have the welfare of the person in mind when they meet with them.

Several members have been unhappy with online programs in general. That is really unfortunate and I wish that wasn't the case for them. There are several that are happily making progress in their programs - I know because I ask them, if they don't mind, to call me after they take their exams. They all happily call and tell me they passed!

This isn't about one student is better than the other. It is about which mode of learning are you most comfortable with. Like the moderator Rica indicated in her post in 2007, some of us need to be in classrooms. But keep in mind, we meet quite a number of LPNs who did the classroom route, and they didn't complete that program either.

Having said that, I know there are several LPNs who are left with no choice but to do distance learning because of circumstances. Full time jobs (at times 2 jobs!) and a family. And yet they yearn to be an RN because it is fulfilling financially and psychologically. In my last presentation with LPNs two days ago, I emphasized the fact that online programs aren't for everyone, that it is challenging and there will be times when you will be tempted to hang the hat. However, one of the LPNs stood up and said the following: The obstacles are just ways to prove to yourself how much do you really want something! I asked her if I can quote her in my future presentations.

So, if becoming an RN is something you truly want - believe that it is yours. You manifest it in your life. Don't rush into making decisions. Test it out yourself and see if you can do distance learning by reading a novel (preferably a boring one) and see if you can stick to a self-imposed schedule. If you do your due diligence, you are likely to make good decisions. And remember - You become what you think about most. Think you are an RN, and you will soon be one!

Take care . . . . .

Oh I should be a RN, but Excelsior makes more money when they fail students in clinical (for nothing) and ask them to cough up another $2,000 plus to retake clinical. After the unprofessional attitudes I dealt with I'd rather be a LPN the rest of my life than give them another dime.

I will say it again. This is a typical response from The College Network. It's not their fault, it's the student fault. The student wasn't motivated, the student needs a classroom, blah blah. I was very motivated and I studied hard. I discovered that The College Network study guides did not cover the material fully, so I used other materials in order to pass the tests, and I did pass them. When I complained to TCN I was hung up on. No one was "caring" about anything other than my money. Once they got that I was never contacted for support or anything. Trust me people, The College Network and Excelsior College care about one thing: your money. They don't care if you pass or not; they don't care about your future. If you don't believe me, enroll and you'll find out. You may be one of the lucky ones who passes, but I've talked to more people who didn't, and who were not happy with the study guides or with Excelsior College, and the money and time they wasted. I only wish someone had warned me about it.

I appreciate the kind words, but I think you just want to put a postive spin on it because you make money from TCN. There is nothing postive about it for those of us who've been taken advantage of. I wish I'd never gone to that seminar.

[successfulintentions]

I would have to disagree with what you said about me, which is kinda personal and so untrue. And you don't even know me. But I understand. I want you to know that I did not put a positive spin to this because this is how I make a living. I did so because how else can you motivate others to just keep going? But even if I were to stick to your premise - I guess all motivational speakers out there - Tony Robbins, Bob Proctor, Jack Canfield , etc - these individuals whose efforts and words have inspired thousands - they are just doing it to make money, right? I don't claim to be like them - but I do aspire to. I hope that each time I meet with someone, I would at least have inspired them to just keep going. Be it with TCN, or not.

Anyway, I am not discounting your experience. I can only imagine how frustrated you are. I hope you will not stop going for your RN degree. There are still options available.

[Christiangal]

I did not intend to put you down. I'm just describing my experience and the sort of responses I have received from TCN and Excelsior. I'm past frustration. There was plenty of that during the program. Whether TCN didn't tell me about a course I had to take or Excelsior was raising their prices yet again, there was often a reason to be frustrated. But I pressed on and continued to have hope. I made excellent grades in LPN school and was often told I should be a RN. I had good evaluations at work. So I had confidence in my abilty and I definitely had the desire to be a RN. But there were always obstacles, and they were put up by the very people who had promised to help me and who were happily taking my money. I was failed for a bogus reason, and because I have a disability, which was met with disgust by Excelsior College instructors, who treated me differently. So I pretty much don't have any hope, and I wish I had never done this program. It cost me a lot of money, and it took my dream away. If I were standing before God right now I could say with confidence that I did everything possible, and that I am a good nurse, and that I was mistreated because I have a disability.

[SarahTN]

I just got my LPN license & am realizing there isn't too much out there for LPNs anymore. I want to go back to get my RN but I want to stay away from the College Network. Any advice on how to do that?

[mla2000]

I signed up with TCN 2 years ago, but working full time plus (60-80 hours a week) I didn't take the time I needed to get serious about the program.

I did work with 4 agency nurses in Louisville, KY (I moved back to IL this past summer) who were graduates of Excelsior and went throught the TCN. They all recommended it, but stressed the importance of asking for help and being self motivated. One of the girls didn't pass one of the tests the first time, but said that they were very helpful in preparing her to retake the exam. All said the clinical was 'ok.' One of the girls did the study clinic thing for the clinical and said although it was expensive, she knew [U]exactly[U] what they were looking for. One of the girls also didn't pass the clinical the first time...she said she didn't put the bed down the whole way and didn't time, date and initial a dressing and used an abbreviation she shouldn't have...simple things, but she said she was pretty nervous.

Is there anyone in the DeKalb area that would like to study??? I am registered before September 2007, so I am in the program where I only have 7 classes.