The College Network is made up of crooks, just like Excelsior College. Both are only after the money of the students and they do NOT give the support they claim they will give. The student is basically left on their own and then once that student reaches clinical they are failed in order to get more money. The College Network LIED to me and did not give me all costs up front, and failed to inform me about a computer course that was required. When I complained I got nowhere, so don't make laugh when you say you'll address my complaints. I was hung up on one time when I complained. The only time either the College Network or Excelsior really pays attention to the student is when they are billing them and taking their money. And, fellow students, if you do complain about how they treat you, they will smugly tell you that some students just can't handle this type of format and are not disciplined enough for self study. It's always the student's fault with them. Take it from me, and others, it's bull.
I appreciate it Rick, but I tried to address these issues when I was in the program and it got me nowhere. I don't know why now would be any different. Nothing personal, I know you're just doing your job.
I did contact support, more than once. I was told in the seminar when I signed up that the study guides contained ALL of the material needed for the Excelsior exams. When I took the tests I found that this was not true. The tests contained a lot of material that was never covered in the College Network study guides. I left one test in tears because I had to guess at almost 1/3 of the test. I called the College Network about it, and all I got was denials and the usual shifted blame that somehow I didn't study well enough, and I was hung up on, as I mentioned. I only failed one test, but I had to pay another $200 plus fee to retake it. So what I started doing was reading other materials. I took the subjects and I read nursing books, articles, even health sites online. Whatever I could get my hands on. Once I stopped relying solely on the College Network study guides I started getting A's and not panicking about missing material. For the huge price I paid for these study guides this should NOT have happened. I said this to the College Network, but nobody wanted to hear it.
Rick,
You can say that your materials are sufficient all you want. It doesn't change what happened to me. I'm not stupid. I made excellent grades in LPN school and I got the highest score in the class of 25 on the much dreaded Endocrine System test. I have had very good evaluations at work and no complaints against me or my license. I don't mean to toot my own horn, but I am beyond sick of the excuses made by the College Network and Excelsior College. It's always the students fault. Well that is bull, and I will tell everyone I possibly can.
By the way, Rick, if Excelsior College deems the College Network's materials "sufficient" then why do they have a disclaimer about the College Network on their site and why do they offer students other materials (with plenty of extra fees, of course) for the exams and highly suggest that they student use these? I don't put much stock into what Excelsior college says. They are unprofessional and dishonest. What do they have to lose if the student fails? They get another huge fee paid for by the student to retake the test.
Rick, At the time I was a student Excelsior college specified on their website that companies that sell study guides (such as the College Network) do not supply sufficient material to pass the test. I believe that neither the College Network or Excelsior cares if students fail and they are both out for money. Both made my experience a nightmare and neither had anything to say to me when I failed other than Excelsior's request for another $2, 000 to retake the exam. The unprofessional, uncaring attitudes that I encountered spoke volumes to me. I spent twice the amount I was told it would cost by the College Network and I have nothing to show for it because of a greedy organization. I ran into other people with similar stories, and it's my understanding Excelsior got into trouble over high failure rates back in the 1990's, they ADMITTED that. I used my own materials to prepare for the tests, and that is how I made better grades and passed them.
The only reason you're talking to me now is because I am making my experience public. When I complained before no one cared. All I got was "it's your fault" and that was it.
Miesha, if I were you I would not go into this program. I spent twice what I was told it would cost. Excelsior raises the prices on a regular basis, and they charge hidden fees that Excelsior did not tell me about. Some fees are annual too, and I was not told that by the College Network. You will have to travel for the clinical exam unless you live in one of the few states it is offered. When you review the material you will see they have it set up so that they can easily fail you. Believe it or not, in the material it said if you don't greet the patient the way they say you should it is considered "emotional abuse" and it's grounds for failure. I mean, the stuff they come up with is unbelieveable. I was failed because I did not chart that my instructor put a pillow behind my patients back. My patient was happy with me, and they could not find anything in my care plan, so they made something up. At first I thought they were joking. Make no mistake, these people are out for money, they don't care about you. In the 1990's Excelsior got into trouble for failing too many students. They admitted this to me, and they haven't changed. I wish you luck, but take it from me, you don't want to go into this program. Once they have your money they don't care what happens to you.
Well Rick, that "sounds" nice. The program "sounded" nice on paper and looked affordable. However, reality does not reflect what you are saying or what was put on paper by the College Network at my seminar.
I believed the man at the seminar when he said, "If you can pass the mock test in the back of the study guide then you can pass the actual test." I had no reason not to believe him until I started taking the tests and I discovered that what he said was not true.
I had no reason not to believe him when he told me what my education would cost. Then I found out about hidden costs, extra courses, annual fees, and additional study materials I would have to pay for.
I had no reason not to believe him when he told me I would have support from the College Network. But when I called with my complaints and concerns I was told the same, generic statements that the study guides are sufficient, etc etc. I even gave the person on the phone examples of questions containing material not covered in the study guide.
I had no reason not to believe Excelsior would be fair, but in clinical I found out they were anything but fair. If it is in Excelsiors "best interest" for students to pass, why would they fail such a high number in the 90's in the first place and risk tarnishing their reputation?
Again, Excelsior's website had a disclaimer about the College Network study guides, and I was directly told by the college that they do not vouch for these study guides and that the material may not be covered fully in them. I don't know if they still have a disclaimer on their site or not, but they did at the time I was there. They sold their own materials on this site as well.
Anytime I have ever complained to either the College Network or Excelsior I have gotten a response along the lines of "some students find self study to be too much of a challenge" etc. I think it's all a scheme to get as much money as possible from students, esp with Excelsior. I regret that I ever heard of this program. I regret the time, the money, the unprofessional attitudes, and the overall lack of support. I cannot turn the clock back, but if I could I would go to a traditional school.
Rick,
How can you help me if you're not part of Excelsior College?
Thanks, Rudy. If your sister would like to contact me I would love to talk to her. I would like to take our case to the media against Excelsior College. If we can warn others about it then they won't suffer the same fate. Why should we take this lying down? If I can find others who are interested I would gladly talk to any media who is willing to listen to expose Excelsior and their scams.
Regardless, I wish your sister the best of luck. It had to be dishearterning for her to pay that insane fee yet again just to be failed over something frivelous. It's terrible to know that you are a good nurse and you worked and studied hard, but because Excelsior is money hungry you are not where you should be in your career. Keep me posted. Take care.
Kathy
Hi Heather, I understand what you are saying, but to me it does matter how you get there. If more people stepped up and took action, maybe these things would not happen. Obviously to retake the clinical each time you had to pay the insane fee, travel, pay for a hotel, and give your time and effort. I also know the seminar costs a lot of money. I paid for tapes and study guides for clinical as well. The "expensive lesson" is that Excelsior cheats it's students, and they need to be exposed. I have worked many years as a LPN, and my patients and families are happy with me. I was failed for a ridiculous reason, which was not charting that my insructor put a pillow behind my patients back. Number one, you don't chart the work of other people, and number two, I didn't even know she did it. They were seeking to fail me, probably for money. From what I gather, they have a history of doing this. And there is no appeal for the student. This school is not interested in fairness, your career, or anything other than money.
It's a horrible feeling, isn't it? You realize that you spent a lot of money, studied and worked hard, and you believed you were dealing with an honest company. And then you find out that all they're intererested in is money. And no matter how you plead your case no one will help you. If anyone is interested I'd like to form a group of people who have been wronged by this horrible company. If we can't sue them then at least we can start a website and warn other nurses. I can't tell you how much I wish someone had been there to warn me. Reply to me if you're interested.
If you want to form a group then please email me. We should get together and speak out, and maybe we need a class action lawsuit.
With all due respect, EC, your condescending post (complete with poor grammer) makes me think that you probably work for Excelsior College. You sound a lot like them. And they will readily throw the College Network under the bus when defending their own issues.
You were not there at my clinical, were you? So how do you know what happened, and if I was treated fairly or not?
I made excellent grades in LPN school, and I have received many compliments on my work by supervisors, patients and families. So take your dictionary and, well, you know the rest : )
Sara, I am more than willing to file a class action lawsuit against Excelsior College.
You could file a complaint with the Dept of Education, but I didn't get anywhere them when I did. They believed everything the teachers said (without proof) and nothing I said. Until people get together and speak out and file lawsuits, nothing is ever going to change. They will continue to take advantage of people.
Hey Matt, let me know if you sue, I will gladly join you.
I'm willing to bet you are a plant from Excelsior or the College Network. I can't understand why anyone would come on to a COMPLAINT site to say good things about about a business or a product and thenargue against people who have had a bad experience with that business or product.
I had no problem teaching myself. I got good grades on my tests. What I have a problem with is the dishonesty I encountered, and a lack of living up to the promises and claims advertised, hidden expenses, and a clinical with a high failure rate in order to get students to cough up another huge clinical fee just so they can make it to the finish line.
I hope it doesn't happen to you, either, Queenbee, but the truth of the matter is I haven't had any trouble running into people who have been ripped off by Excelsior College. I'm sorry for your experience. Your professor reminds me of the kind of people I dealt with at Excelsior.
Sure, Equusz (what kind of a name is that?), I bet. Some questions:
WHY would you come to a COMPLAINT site to COMPLIMENT a business?
What is in it for you to fight for Excelsior or TCN?
How do YOU know what my experience was when you were NOT there, and you don't even know me?
Why are you so passionate about it, enough to be a vulgar jerk about it? It's just a school. If I went to a store and I was happy with my experience but another customer wrote to complain I would tell them to "shut up, nut up, and put up." I would be adult enough to realize that just because I had a good experience it does not mean everyone does.
Do you honestly believe every business has either a. complaints only, or b. compliments only? NO, because some people have good experiences, and some do not.
So, "Equuaz", you shut up, nut up, and go back to work for Excelsior.
Don't listen to Equuaz and the rest who lavish praise on Excelsior and blame anyone who failed. I believe they are plants from Excelsior. I mean, what are people who claim to like Excelsior doing on a COMPLAINT site, and WHY are some of them ANGRY and fighting with people who are complaining? They were NOT there for our clinical experiences.
I have had no problem at all running into people, in person and online, who were victims of this greedy joke of a college.
Mr Sorry, nothing you say shocks me at all. I would suggest that every single one of you file a complaint with the state Board of Education (another waste of money). It didn't do me any good, though. They believed everything the teachers said and nothing I said, regardless of proof or lack of proof, and they didn't bother to answer my questions. They were in with the school from the start, but I believe there is power in numbers, and eventually if enough people complain they may have to do something. People have also talked about a class action lawsuit, but so far nothing has materialized that I know of. I would be willing to particpate, so if you want to do something like that let me know.
I suggest that all of you talk about your experience online, at your job, and anywhere else you find other nurses. If someone had warned me or you, we would not have wasted our money and time. You'll also find that you too often run into people who are victims of Excelsior College.
