Online Universities

[Kevin]

Don't even consider a for-profit online university. I don't care if they're accredited. They have a high number of defaults on their student loans. So much so that the administration is looking at cutting off some of these schools' access to FAFSA, which would in turn kill the school making proving you have a degree probably problematic. They're also a lot more expensive.

I'd look into your public state schools first. You could probably get a much cheaper education with a recognizable name. Here in Oklahoma, the University of Oklahoma has entire degree programs online. I believe the University of Alabama does as well (at least I heard they offered an entirely online LLM [Masters in Law], so they probably have other programs as well).

[KDCat]

Kevin is right. The quality of education from the for-profit schools is questionable.

Many state schools are running on-line degree programs now. I know University of Illinois has one and there are lots of others.

Good luck!

[NinjaPoodle]

Originally Posted by Kevin

Don't even consider a for-profit online university. I don't care if they're accredited. They have a high number of defaults on their student loans. So much so that the administration is looking at cutting off some of these schools' access to FAFSA, which would in turn kill the school making proving you have a degree probably problematic. They're also a lot more expensive.

Don't forget low graduation rates. Last time I checked, my school was at 36%.

[alum]

I work for a regionally-accredited university that has a traditional century-old campus, about 80 satellite campuses around the world, and online programs as well. Our school will not let professors teach online until they have taught at least a year in the classroom. The university is very diligent to ensure learning objectives and continuity outcomes are the same for each section whether it is taught traditionally over a full semester at the main campus or during an accelerated term here in DC or our overseas campuses or online delivery.

The satellite campuses in my area have classes on evenings and weekends, thus appealing to a working adult about 35-45 on average. When our classes are full, some students will opt for the online format. Unfortunately many students who perform quite well in the classroom do NOT do well in an online setting. It's not so much not knowing the technology, it seems to be an oral vs. written method of synthesizing information.

[adpiucf]

Originally Posted by NinjaPoodle

Don't forget low graduation rates. Last time I checked, my school was at 36%.

I think that has a lot to do with the majority of students who tend to be attracted to a for-profit institution. Many are bright and motivated, but they have a number of factors stacked against them: first generation college student, working concurrently with school, poor advisement because the only ones in their peer group going to school, and low standards for admission. Some for-profit schools don't require standardized tests scores like the GMAT for admission, so they are lowering the bar whereas those exams might have otherwise weeded or discouraged people who aren't well-suited to the rigors of those programs. Generally, the easier it is to get in, the harder it will be to stay in.

[NinjaPoodle]

Originally Posted by adpiucf

I think that has a lot to do with the majority of students who tend to be attracted to a for-profit institution. Many are bright and motivated, but they have a number of factors stacked against them: first generation college student, working concurrently with school, poor advisement because the only ones in their peer group going to school, and low standards for admission. Some for-profit schools don't require standardized tests scores like the GMAT for admission, so they are lowering the bar whereas those exams might have otherwise weeded or discouraged people who aren't well-suited to the rigors of those programs. Generally, the easier it is to get in, the harder it will be to stay in.

Nail-->head

[PhoenixAzul]

Originally Posted by adpiucf

I think that has a lot to do with the majority of students who tend to be attracted to a for-profit institution. Many are bright and motivated, but they have a number of factors stacked against them: first generation college student, working concurrently with school, poor advisement because the only ones in their peer group going to school, and low standards for admission. Some for-profit schools don't require standardized tests scores like the GMAT for admission, so they are lowering the bar whereas those exams might have otherwise weeded or discouraged people who aren't well-suited to the rigors of those programs. Generally, the easier it is to get in, the harder it will be to stay in.

This.

I went to what we could safely class as an "inner city" public high school in a major metro area. We constantly (as in two to three times a year) had hour long free info-mercial style presentations, in class, only from for-profit institutions. The reps went on and on about how traditional colleges "waste your time" with classes you don't need.

It annoyed me then, and it infuriates me now. Traditional colleges got a table in the library, no announcements of their presence, and no hall passes to go and talk to them.

What sort of message are we sending to those students? The message I got as a 17/18 year old was "You're not bright enough for real college" or "This is your only option" or "They'll never accept you". Despite the fact that a number of my peers went to Northwestern, the Air Force Academy, Gonzaga, Pitt, PSU, and a slew of other great SLACs...we only were able to do that by doing our own research, no advising help (Advisers were always available to send you to the military recruiters though.)

Ugh. Sorry. Major thread hijack.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by PhoenixAzul

This.

I went to what we could safely class as an "inner city" public high school in a major metro area. We constantly (as in two to three times a year) had hour long free info-mercial style presentations, in class, only from for-profit institutions. The reps went on and on about how traditional colleges "waste your time" with classes you don't need.

It annoyed me then, and it infuriates me now. Traditional colleges got a table in the library, no announcements of their presence, and no hall passes to go and talk to them.

What sort of message are we sending to those students? The message I got as a 17/18 year old was "You're not bright enough for real college" or "This is your only option" or "They'll never accept you". Despite the fact that a number of my peers went to Northwestern, the Air Force Academy, Gonzaga, Pitt, PSU, and a slew of other great SLACs...we only were able to do that by doing our own research, no advising help (Advisers were always available to send you to the military recruiters though.)

Ugh. Sorry. Major thread hijack.

Wow. Take a bow, PPS. That's hideous. I hope they've stopped that in light of all the shadiness that's been brought to the forefront about these schools.

[PhoenixAzul]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Wow. Take a bow, PPS. That's hideous. I hope they've stopped that in light of all the shadiness that's been brought to the forefront about these schools.

It is truly hideous. None of my friends who went to suburban schools had this experience. I was lucky- my parents pushed my brother and I to go to college (as in: non-negotiable since we were in diapers) despite not having gone themselves. But not every kid had parents around riding their butts to turn in forms and essays and applications and show up on time to their SAT's and ACTs with calculators (hello, classmate, I'm looking at you and you're welcome for my spare calculator that I happened to have on ACT morning), and the school certainly wasn't there to guide anyone along the way.

I'm thinking about investigating becoming a Pittsburgh Promise mentor to see if I can help kids take more of a risk in getting in to college...broader horizons than Allegheny county and seeing that they truly can do well in a challenging environment, if they take the leap.

It just kills me, because I know so many kids I went to school with are resourceful, intelligent, hardworking people who never were offered the option of four-year college, where they would have done well. We were almost universally "for profit" or "community college then transfer!" or "try to get in to a satellite school first" tracked- never pushed to go for honors colleges, Ivy League, SLAC's, or other opportunities.

[KSUViolet06]

In addition to preying on the poor, they also prey on individuals with special needs.

For example, there are some kids with learning disabilities or intellectual disabilities who while they may not be a good fit for say, 4 year college, have the potential to go into a career-technical education program (ex. auto tech, administrative, etc.) and do very well.

Generally speaking, college is not for everyone. This is also true for these kids. In many cases, they just know "I want to go to college" but do not know what it entails, that it costs, and that they may not be able to handle college level courses. School counselors and special ed teachers don't DISCOURAGE checking out college, but also make sure to present them opportunities to check out these types of non-4 year degree programs (run via our local career centers and other non-profits) or other career paths in addition to state universities and such.

The big for-profit schools KNOW that these kids are not aware of what it takes to get a college degree. They prey on that by presenting at special needs HS transition fairs (events that help to prepare kids with disabilities for life after HS.) Parents (especially those who have never been to college) buy the whole "your kid can totally graduate from For Profit U! don't listen to what the SPED teacher is saying. Come register with us!" Mind you, many of these kids need certain accommodations to access their HS classes IN PERSON. There's no way they can handle an online learning environment if they've never done it before.

They register, pay $$ to take a class, kid fails. For Profit U does not care because it just made a ton of $ preying on kids/parents who just want their kids to "have degrees like everyone else."

There's a particular for-profit who notorious for this, to the point that most Directors of SPED in the area don't invite them to things like Life After HS Day for their special needs students.

[*winter*]

Originally Posted by PhoenixAzul

This.

I went to what we could safely class as an "inner city" public high school in a major metro area. We constantly (as in two to three times a year) had hour long free info-mercial style presentations, in class, only from for-profit institutions. The reps went on and on about how traditional colleges "waste your time" with classes you don't need.

It annoyed me then, and it infuriates me now. Traditional colleges got a table in the library, no announcements of their presence, and no hall passes to go and talk to them.

What sort of message are we sending to those students? The message I got as a 17/18 year old was "You're not bright enough for real college" or "This is your only option" or "They'll never accept you". Despite the fact that a number of my peers went to Northwestern, the Air Force Academy, Gonzaga, Pitt, PSU, and a slew of other great SLACs...we only were able to do that by doing our own research, no advising help (Advisers were always available to send you to the military recruiters though.)

Ugh. Sorry. Major thread hijack.

Word! And...she's from Pittsburgh

These schools are notorious for preying on the poor. Just call off work one day and watch all the commercials on daytime TV. Get your Associates for only $40,000 and enter the workforce making $9/hr.

/hijack