Northcentral University concerns

Hello all!!! I have been thinking ahead as I have about 14 credits remaining on my BA and have been interested in NCU's MBA program. Northcentral University has an attractive price being that I'm paying for all my education out of pocket. My question is I have read many unfavorable posts concerning this school. I am not quite as schooled on these topics as most of you here and only really discovered DL a little over a year ago.

I would appreciate everyone's two cents on the matter as they have a great price and mixed review reputation. My most important concern here is making sure I graduate from a legitimately recognized school that will be around for a while. I don't want to sink in money and find them losing accreditation during my completion of my MBA or something to that effect which would be my luck!!!!!I have read all the posts and have searched the topic but need more info. Please help all as I would appreciate it!!!! The CAT

 

Cat,

Use the search option on this forum, as NCU has been a topic of many discussions held here.

Good luck.

'Nova

 

This question was just asked in the last few weeks. There were zero replies as they pertain to the masters level program. All the consternation appears to be focused on the PhD program. I agree it appears affordable and is one I'm looking at as well.

 

If you're looking for a gravy train degree that requires little work, then go for it.

I was able to finish LS6010 in only eight days. Actual working time probably equaled about three days. This was for the doctoral track. I presume that the bachelors or masters track is similar, if not easier.

Here are some threads on NCU:

• ncu experience
• Ncu - Ls6010
• Northcentral University?????
• Northcentral University
• NCU Phd study - how long will it take?

Hope this helps.

 

I understand the statistics class can be pretty tough.

 

There are several that think this school is sub-par. There are others who disagree with that perspective. I don't know from first person. But I have come to the conclusion from reading this board and from my own personal experiences with learning, that ease is very relative. Some people are mathematically inclined and find most math logical and easy. I, on the other hand, find it extremely difficult no matter how hard I work at it. Must have to do with the way I'm hard-wired, don't know. I just know that just because someone thinks something is a cake walk doesn't necessarily make it so for someone else.

This school invokes some very strong opinions. I am also concerned with all the talk here about AIU, NCU, and Touro either being in trouble or not worth their accreditation status. It's a problem. How do you determine that someone else's ease means that accreditation may be an issue with an agency? It's just very hard to determine. These issues are debated endlessly here. The discussions are good for all of us.

 

One of the courses I had actually required about 1 day of work (not counting attendance), and WRONG submissions got full credit!!! It is graduate-level, three-credit, B&M RA, major state university. Other classes were reasonably difficult, some unreasonably difficult.

I feel that Me again simply had the material of this LS6010 course taught in his Masters program, and had this expectation that "doctoral-level" course somehow should be more difficult. I am sure that folk who didn't have research training and statistics before found this class rigorous. And, again, NCU is not Harvard or even USF. It is still better than unaccredited schools, because it is regulated and can actually lose its status.

 

Thanks all, it kind of reminds me of a poll I'm running in the Off-Topic area. I asked in the poll which of the Big 3 Schools is your favorite? The poll is pretty even and that the same result as NCU, pretty even. Some hate, some defend, but I guess as long as their accreditation persists, we'll have to see!!!

 

This is not Ad Hominem

No, I didn't learn that stuff in graduate school. But I confess that I did learn it in my undergraduate studies at International College. I learned nothing in LS6010, with the exception of how to write an annotated bibliography. However, if a student doesn't know how to navigate in an electronic library, then I can see how they may have some difficulty with LS6010.

I firmly believe that the academic coursework at NCU is a gravy train, particularly when it is compared with what I have experienced at over 10 other colleges and universities. My own experience at NCU, coupled with the numerous comments from other students at NCU, have led me to this conclusion. I have even read this at NCU's own bulletin board, which can be found here (unless it has been removed).

The following statement may appear to be loathed with animosity, but it is not. It is simply loathed with contempt at the sub-par academic requirements at NCU: "A moron could get a bachelors or a masters degree from NCU because the academic standards are so low." The sub-par academic requirements are a great disservice to the degree holders of NCU; and it also cheats potental employers, who assume that the NCU degrees are rigorous, simply because they are RA.

If I were an employer, I could not, in good conscience, send an employee to NCU, nor would I pay the costs of tuition for such sub-par academic work. In this instance, being RA is simply not enough. NCU lacks academic rigor and quality and is, IMO, simply a hodgepodge of dumbed down coursework. Again, none of these statements are motivated by malice.

If I had never been to college -- or if I had only attended one or two other colleges -- then I could not make such loathing statements with any degree of certainty. However, I have a basis of comparison of having attended over 10 other colleges and universities -- and none of them had such a dumbed down curriculum, as has NCU. In all candor: NCU's curriculum is an academic joke. Those who find NCU difficult have obviously not had much experience at the collegiate level (no offense intended towards anyone). If my comments have offended anyone, then please accept my humble apologies for the truth, as I see it.

However, the gravy train coursework at NCU will obviously be a nice fit for some people. If you want an easy degree, then go for NCU. However, caveat emptor, both to potential students and to potential employers.

Let me reiterate: There is no malice intended by this post. Good luck to all and may your academic journey be rewarding!!!

 

All we know is that Touro College is on probation and has taken steps to respond to that probation. My view is that it is not accurate to group Touro with those other schools, because of Touro's private non-profit status.

My two cents,

Dave

 

I have a tough time believing what I'm hearing. I believe people MUST be going off old information. The current LS6010 course is very challenging. There are 12 assignments and a final assignment. Pretty much every assignment in the class requires a 1 - 2 page report in APA format with references and usually several other requirements for each assignment. I'm sure as heck learning a LOT from this class. The syllabus is very well written and contains a lot of information. They really want you to know your stuff when you get out of this class.

It is not, by any means, an easy course as far as I'm concerned. I've been working on the first assignment for the past 5 days. It's exciting because I'm actually learning a lot. And the staff at NCU has been excellent - really helpful. Their internal student web site is great - it's nothing like the public side. I'm very impressed. I mean REALLY impressed. Virtually instant responses on questions that I have – or I can just call them. I can't say enough good things - it puts COSC service to shame - and I thought they were good. No offense to COSC - they are stll good.

I'm really excited so far. I feel like they are giving me all the tools to succeed. I fell that I've made a great choice.

 

A POEM: THE PHD BUG

 

Re: A POEM: THE PHD BUG

 

I concur with what EKflag says. I am 1/3 the way thru LS6010 and so far I have found it to to be a lot of work (about 12 hours per asignment) and certainly tougher than all but one of the classes taken for my two masters degrees.

 

By the way - the first assignment took me at about 10 hours. When I turned it in it was 11 pages long. Learned a LOT though. When I got the grade back - within 24 hours I believe - the mentor even took the time to edit the document and tell me what I did wrong in certain areas. I am really excited about NCU. Very cool stuff. I can't say enough good things about the school.

 

I know a lot about "me again", and I consider his credibility beyond reproach. If he says that the LS6010 course at NCU was substandard when he took it, I'll accept that at face value.

However, I also place a lot of faith in Ian Anderson, so when he says that the course is now academically rigorous, I tend to believe him.

Maybe the firestorm here might have convinced NCU to tighten-up their requirements?

 

Yes, I too have speculated that the same course may have been tightened up, based on the current writings of current students.

 

Are you going to reconsider NCU and re-enroll?

Ike Okonkwo. PhD

 

LOL, no.

I finished LS6010 in about eight days (with about 24 hours of actual work) -- But if these guys are saying that "one lesson" is taking them up to 10 hours to complete, then maybe the syllabus has been changed? However, I'm currently in contact with students in the course and their syllabus is pretty much the same as mine was.

I hope NCU makes it. As long as they correct their deficiencies (when they discover them), then they should be "good to go" in the future. Identification of problems and correction of them an important key for any school; and it appears that NCU has a willingness to make those corrections -- or at least that's my impression.

Since I do not want to teach, I am questioning the reasoning behind pursuing a doctoral degree. I’m trying to justify spending all that time, money and work for it. Additionally, I have had a sudden financial misfortune and am unable to pursue any more academics for at least the next four years (I could use the rest anyways). Once I dig myself out of this financial mess, then I can re-consider doctoral programs. There is an Argosy University in my city, so it would probably be with them -- but they're so expensive!!!

 

I am sory to hear that. I hope that the problem will be over soon.

I think that Argosy is a better choice. Good luck.

Ike Okonkwo, PhD.