Is this normal at Excelsior?

[mjno]

Hello all,

I have a question regarding if the people at Excelsior really try to help?
Here is my story. I am currently a student at Regis University and wanted to transfer to Excelsior, (BSGB), because, like many others, I wish to save both time and money and use the money that I saved for a graduate school. So, based on many recommendations I decided to try and transfer. This I thought would be an easy task; so far I am very wrong.
The first thing I did was call and speak to someone in admissions and they sent me to a counselor who told me that all I had to have was an application, an application fee and my sealed transcripts from Regis and she would send me the application, she did. I also explained to the counselor that the transcripts would read 48 credits by examination, 9 by classes and would list what cleps and dantes that I have taken, but I would like to be enrolled before September before the changes that were coming in the Business degree program, (by the way thanks JoAnne), and she said its not a problem. The counselor advised me to send in the transcripts with the app to expedite things and it would be alright. (So far ok). After I received the application I filled it out and called again and spoke to a different advisor to make sure that what the first counselor said was true and she agreed that all I needed to do was what the first counselor said to do. About a week went by and I took a look at their web site (I am registered) and look through the transcript received part and find out they are waiting for dantes transcripts. I called and first spoke to someone in records who verified what I saw on the web site. When I asked the lady in records what they were looking for she said that she did not know and transferred me to a counselor who also could not answer my question. The counselor then sent me to admissions and finally the person there told me that I would have to have original transcripts from cleps and dantes (that are on my Regis transcript) sent in to Excelsior. So I happen to ask if they ordered the clep/dantes transcripts and she told me that it was up to the student to do that. I also tried to explain what the other counselors had told me and she could only refer me to a supervisor’s voice mail. My frustration is that the above was not explained properly in the beginning by two counselors and Excelsior did not communicate to me that I needed to get my original clep/dantes transcripts which I happen to find by accident.
I know this seems like a long rant but my first question is if the above is what I can expect if I enroll at Excelsior.

I am also not a person to just whine about something without trying to think of a solution; so my second question is (if anyone can answer it) would I be able to enroll with just the 9 or so credits that they have, then once enrolled can I send the other 48 clep/dantes transcripts.

Any help with both questions would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Mike

[Kiwi Lover]

I know this seems like a long rant but my first question is if the above is what I can expect if I enroll at Excelsior.

I am also not a person to just whine about something without trying to think of a solution; so my second question is (if anyone can answer it) would I be able to enroll with just the 9 or so credits that they have, then once enrolled can I send the other 48 clep/dantes transcripts.

Any help with both questions would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Mike

Mike,

You can rant all you want to in this forum! That's one of the things we're here for.

First of all, you can absolutely go ahead and enroll with just the 9 credits from Regis University. In fact, you could enroll now even if you didn't have any credits, so that is not an issue. You can even go ahead and order the official CLEP and DANTES transcripts now - you don't have to wait until you are finished enrolling to order those. It will just mean that Excelsior cannot give you an "official evaluation" until they have ALL of these transcripts, but it shouldn't stop you from enrolling.

I am very sorry that you had that experience with Excelsior, and I agree with you 100% that they need to make this policy more clear. When I transferred from Regis University, I had to order my transcripts for the CLEP's I had already taken, along with the transcript from Regis (even though the CLEP's were listed on my Regis transcript).

I personally don't expect that you should have any further problems with the advisors once you are fully enrolled - based on my experience anyway. I always found that when I left a message in the "inbox" for the Excelsior Business Team Advisors (through the MyEC area), that they got back to me within 24 hours every time. Christine Foley was always great to deal with, so I would be surprised if your experience differs from mine.

Try not to get discouraged! This was only a "bump in the road" on the way to earning your degree...even though I know it was frustrating to deal with.

I hope this helps,

JoAnne

[Basket Weaver]

Sorry to hear of your bad experience at Excelsior. I found the application process smooth, but it did take the better part of the month for all of the transcripts to arrive, DTTS took the longest. Even though these credits were on my Air Force transcript, they still wanted the official transcripts from CLEP & Dantes.

JoAnne brought up some very good points (she does this often) all of which will work, the only thing I did different was I never e-mailed them, I just picked up the phone and called. I found that speaking to my advisor made it a bit more personnel and I never had to wait for a response...I'm a bit inpatient like that . I tried to keep contact down to one advisor too, while it wasn't always possible, 90% of the time I was able to. I was on a first name basis in no time at all and received exceptional service during my stay with them.

I would simply order the transcripts, enroll with what you have, and then transfer them in once they arrive. Hope your relations with them improve, Lee

[barcotta]

Not typical. Deal with Christine Foley and you should receive good service. Based on what I know and what I've read here, the first two counselors were wrong. I always email the team and Christine usually answers within a day--with GOOD information. Finally, I maintain that if some of these CLEP tests are worth 6 credits, then choosing a school and navigating the degree plans should be worth 20!

[Matymus]

I'd have to agree with everybody else here. This is just a bump in the road. Excelsior's advisors are great and the school, overall, is wonderful when it comes to student services, answering questions, etc. I agree with JoAnne, they need to make it more clear that you must CONTACT CLEP & DSST to get your official transcripts from them. Prior to applying there myself, I already knew I'd have to get my transcripts directly from CLEP & DSST programs, but it's not clear to everybody & it really shouold be.

[auminer49r]

The business advisors seem to be a little slower lately with evaluating credits. Maybe they are focusing on the students who need to have their diplomas in order to partake in commencement. That's my guess.

I've been waiting for a few weeks for some NA credits to be evaluated.:o

[mjno]

Hey everyone,

First of all thank you all for your replies, concern, and advise.


Well I spoke with Excelsior today and the supervisor that I left the voicemail with did return my call, (and was very pleasant to deal with), so with JoAnne's advise I asked her to evaluate what she could and I would have the other transcripts, (clep/dantes), sent at a later date and she agreed. Well, in less than five hours I received my evaluation and they are sending me an enrollment packet, (so maybe some whining helped). I must say that the people I spoke with today were very helpful especially after I explained what had happened to me the previous couple of weeks. I must admit as well as give credit to the people I spoke with today at Excelsior and maybe previously it was new or inexperienced people that gave me the wrong information.

So anyway thanks again.

PS. I think JoAnne posted something on this already but incase not here is the change coming in the BSGB degree in September.
(Copied and pasted directly from my evaluation)

- Business Policy**
- at least 12.00 credits of advanced level business electives

**Please note that all students enrolling on or after 9/1/2007 must complete the Business Policy core requirement by taking Excelsior College's on-line course, Bus 495: Business Strategy. If you enroll prior to 9/1/2007 you will have until 8/31/2008 to complete the requirement by another approved method other than Excelsior's on-line Bus 495 course. After 9/1/2008 all students, regardless of enrollment date, will be required to complete this requirement, if they have not done so already, by taking Bus 495.

Thank you all again,
Mike

[auminer49r]

I was planning on taking a Business Policy course. But, JoAnne encouraged me to take the TECEP Business Policy instead. Even though I haven't taken it yet; I feel confident that I made the correct decision. One thing for certain; you can count on JoAnne to be there for you and to steer you in the right direction. She's a godsend! I'm glad that you two have connected.

[mjno]

Hey, Auminer49r

(I completely agree with you).

Good luck on the business policy exam I am sure you will do great.

Thanks,
Mike

[auminer49r]

Hey, Auminer49r

(I completely agree with you).

Good luck on the business policy exam I am sure you will do great.

Thanks,
Mike

Thank you, mjno.

What exam are you taking next?