I changed to national university!!

Hi all,
I'm just giving everyone an update.With the help of this forum,I was able to see the truth about how bad UOP is and, I'm now enrolled in National U.

thank's to all and I'll keep everyone posted on my progress...

 

Good for you!!



Abner

 

Keep us posted as to how things are going with your courses

-John

 

I don't know that UoP is "bad," but it's certainly expensive and it does seem to have a reputation everywhere.

 

Yeah... that's kinda' what I was thinking, too. UOP certainly isn't "bad," by most any standard; but it is pricey, that's for sure. And it's completely for-profit, and all that that implies. Maybe some think that makes it "bad"... and, who knows, maybe they're right.

Anyway, all that notwithstanding, yes, good luck ran60!

 

Yes, congrats! I too have decided to attend National University. I'm going to pursue a BA in Psychology (online, of course). At $995/course, the tuition is still in the "pricey range" for me, however my company is footing the bill, so it's not a problem.

Good luck with your studies. Speaking of which, what will you be studying at NU?

- Tom

 

NU reply

thanks everyone,
I'm enrolled in the bus.adm. program. I'll keep you posted.

 

Ran could I ask what was so bad about UofP? I've been looking at them and have kept them on my list for when I start college in early 06. Let me know your opinion on how exactly they were bad.
Thanks
Theo

 

re: uop

Theo,

UOP has 100's of negitive comments that I found online, on this web site and others. They range anywhere from easy teachers,poor administration,dislike of the group setting,high cost and students who do subpar work and still recieve good grades.

I took all this into condideration, aswell as my own problems I had with them before I even started classes, such as,

1. no school catologe

2. no books but they charge a 70.00 book fee for each class.

3. high price

4. no student I.d. within one week class start. this was very important to me because you need an I.d to access thier student web site to prepare for class aswell as other things.

I just felt for 50-60,000 things should run alot smoother and all the negitive comments didn't sit well with me.... I hope this helps

thanks

 

I think this was a good move. One thing to keep in mind when choosing a school is its REPUTATION, and UoP has one alright, and it's often not good.

Some people have a good experience with UoP and it has helped them further their careers. However, just going by anecdotal accounts I have read online, those instances are few and far between.

 

I wouldn't say that.

I think people who have a bad experience are far more likely to make those feelings known than someone who was satisfied with the school, got their degree, and moved on.

I just finished teaching my first online course for UoP, and while I can't speak for the cost (since I don't know what it is), I can say that rumors of being "easy" are not true at all. The workload was comparable to my undergrad program, only packed into 5 weeks as opposed to 8 weeks in my case. I certainly didn't go easy on the grading, either. The three students who did receive "A" grades more than earned them.

The faculty recruitment & training was also very rigorous. I felt like I was applying for a national security clearance, and the training was essentially an online course unto itself that was, by no means, easy.

Every school is going to have problems, and the sheer size of UoP means they're going to have a number of them, just by the law of averages.

My sister-in-law graduated from Harvard, and she said, even there, everyone knew who the "easy" teachers were.

 

re: uop

Bruce,

Your point is well taken,but for me I saw enough first hand ,with my problems, mainly with administration, plus the other rumers floating around to seek another college.

 

Since nobody else is coming to U of P's defense I guess I'll do it.

I believe that there are several law enforcement types on this board including possibly someone who has commented previously on this.

U of P is generally respected in the LEO community where I am at due to the name recognition. The recruiter or administrative personnel don't have have to worry about this "online" education this applicant has and have to run down the hall, hat in hand to ask the HR Guru of all things accredited (who incidentally, more often than not doesn't know beans).

In government work U of P will certainly "get you there".

As for being "easy"...I have doubts. When I attended my B&M school here, the easiest class I've ever had was soon followed by the toughest class I've ever had, AND THEY WERE BOTH IN THE SAME SCHOOL!

As for U of P not giving people individual attention...I can certainly see that, but then neither will a community college. WHY? Because there are a million others just like you (and me) who need their needs met just as fast.

As for being expensive...they certainly are. So is Walden, ITT Tech, Devry, the offshoot of Devry the Keller Graduate school thingy...So is Southern Methodist University (in Texas).

Some things in life are expensive...education is one of them.

I'm not making excuses for poor performance on behalf of U of P...but I am trying to keep things in perspective.

U of P is the largest University in the U.S. or one of them. They are going to have problems just like any large organization...and even though they may not be recognized in the "higher learned academic circles" they are known and accepted in government work and I understand through others...private sector business have no problem with them either.

 

Hi Ran60,

Good luck w/ your program at National, I am sorry to hear UOP was not for you, but I definitely understand where you are coming from having been an Academic Counselor for a year.

The issue with service at UOP is the huge attrition rate due to the crappy pay and low/no incentive to stay. The only incentive is free school, but most AC's are required to have a Bachelor's, and most have then in the liberal arts area (i.e my english degree), and they do not offer liberal arts majors at the grad or undergrad level.

I have nothing against the curriculum, I earned my second bachelor's through them, which greatly enhanced my presentation and organization skills, and I made some great contacts and friends via my learning team and through the professors in the Northern VA area.

As I have said 2000 times now, UOP is what it is, it works for some people and doesn't for others, it's legitmate and accredited, but has several problems due to the sheer size of the organization.

 

aic,

thanks,and also I understand all schools have their good/bad points,but so far National U. just feels better and, I don't have to worry about the negitivity thing popping up.

Also Friendorfoe, what are trying to say in your first statement?I'm confused.

thanks

 

ran...


I assume you mean the following quote?

"They are going to have problems just like any large organization...and even though they may not be recognized in the "higher learned academic circles" they are known and accepted in government work and I understand through others...private sector business have no problem with them either."

I have heard that U of P is not really a degree you will see in the credentials of a lot of college instructors or professors for whatever reason. I don't know if they are looked down upon at all, but I suspect that they occasionally get the snub.

In government work, where the HR personnel are not really *up* on the whole accreditation thing, U of P has name recognition, which puts any doubts to rest.

As for private sector, I understand that many, many, many business people have a U of P degree.

 

As a law enforcement type (your words), I couldn't disagree with you more. The reputation of UoP is dubious in PA. I serve on many interview boards throughout the state and candidates with a UoP degree are considered in low regard. It's unfortunate but true.

 

That is unfortunate. I sit on an applicant board currently and find that the opposite is true in Texas, at least at the organization I am at.

I guess there is no universal truth.

 

Friendorfo,

It was the LEO part that I didn't understand,that whole sentence was a little Greek to me. But now I think I understand...you were referring to iaw inforcement.

thanks

 

friendorfoe/ran60,

I would like to give you my perspective on UOP.

In April 2004, I completed a Master of Arts Degree in Organizational Management from the University of Phoenix via the online delivery method. The program consisted of 40 semester hours (13 three semester hour classes and a one semester introductory class). The three semester hour classes where six weeks long usually with a one week break between classes.

Contrary to what I have heard from others, I never experienced problems with technical support, finance, or administrative during my 23 months with UOP. Furthermore, I never experienced a problem with a facilitator (instructor).

As far as Academic rigor, UOP is probably about the same as most State Universities. It as not difficult but required a significant amount of work to complete. There were two papers required each week (an individual paper and a team paper), participation requirements, answering of about five discussion questions, and a weekly summary. Some of the students that were in some of my classes were not properly prepared for college level work but somehow were in a graduate degree program. A large number of these students appeared to drop.

The two things that I did not particularly like was that about 30 percent of the grade was based on team assignment work and some the people did not do their fair share of the team work. However, it did not appear that UOP held these "slackers" accountable for their "non-action." Additionally, the price of the degree was fairly expensive. The cost of my degree was about 22K but since I had the old GI Bill, I paid nothing out of pocket.

For me, the utility of this degree is not in question. However, I have over thirty years of work experience. I completed a 26 year career in the Navy and have worked either in the defense contractor industry or as a government service worker since separation from the Navy. Presently, I work for the Department of the Navy, and I recently was hired by another Navy organization with a corresonding promotion based upon, in large part, my Master of Arts degree from UOP.

Fred