Penn Foster

Just letting you guys know in case you didn't, because I know a few people were asking about it. I am enrolled in Penn Foster (and love it) and I just received a letter today stating that they are now Penn Foster College. Looks a little better than Career School anyway...

 

Penn Foster College

It sure sounds better the name Penn Foster College than Penn Foster Career Schools.

May I ask , Ryan, what program you are in ? Why do you enjoy it ?
Are you in the first semester of a college program ? Tell us about the texts ?

 

I got the same letter:

"Dear Student,

I am pleased to inform you that we recently became licensed in Arizona as Penn Foster College. Under this new name we are authorized to award Associate of Science Degrees. All students in our degree programs will now become part of Penn Foster College."

I am glad to see the name change from Career School to College. It didn't hurt me when I was looking for a job. In fact, the fact I was currently studying at ANY school helped me get my current job (for more money, I might add). I am also glad to see they are changing the name of the degrees to Associate of Science, rather than the somewhat strange "Associate of Specialized Business".

I am torn between finishing my AS with Penn Foster, whose program I have really enjoyed so far, or leaving at the end of my first semester to finish my BS faster through the use of CLEP and DANTES. Excelsior says I have about 80 credits which I earned through my military training. Now that I have a new job, the time factor doesn't seem quite so pressing anymore. The courses I have taken at Penn Foster so far have helped me in my new job, because the course work is very applicable to real-life circumstances.

Despite my quandry of trying to choose between continuing with Penn Foster or leaving to finish my BS with Excelsior, I would HIGHLY recommend Penn Foster College to anyone.

 

I like the name Penn Foster College. I'am not enrolled with Penn Foster College, however I'm enrolled in the high school program & spanish program. I wanted to do an associates degree with the school but I didn't like the name Penn Foster Career School. But now that it's Penn Foster College I will definately be doing my associates with them. I also noticed it's licensed by Arizona now.

 

vnazaire,

I am in the accounting program. And yes, I am in my first semester. I have only been doing it for a little more than a week, but have finished two classes so far. I'm waiting on my shipment for my intro to business class to arrive in the mail so I can move on to that (it contains an actual textbook that I need, on some classes, everything is on-line)

I'm the type of person that always hated school. I hate sitting still listening to someone talk for hours upon hours. Plus with the fact that I work two jobs, I just don't have time for it. With this, it just lets me do it on my own time, when I feel like it.

Honestly, I would probably like any distance learning program. I just feel that Penn's classes are well laid out, easy to follow, and it all flows together. Finished 2/3 of a class, and they send you the stuff for your next class.

That with the fact that I will be putting $500 down each semester, and paying only 50 a month and it will be paid off by the time I have my degree is a plus. Along with it's accredidations. I plan to go onto my BS so that was something I was looking for.

I just feel with the name change, now I'll be able to put it on a resume and be proud of it. It might be silly, but it makes me feel better.

 

Good news Ryan. I think the name of a school is very important.


Take care,


Abner

 

Penn Foster COLLEGE

Well, Tchord and Ryan, you both have well said it : the name, the cost, the payment facilities, the layout of the text.

Ryan,I wish you well in your drive to become a professional accountant!
Tchord, I understand your dilemma but it is a nice one to have and I am sure you will choose what is best for you.

It would be nice though if Penn Foster kept a Forum site reserved for its Associate Degree students !

 

" All students in our degree programs will now become part of Penn Foster College."

I wonder if non degree students or "a la carte" students are part of penn foster college or penn foster carrer school.
I rather have penn foster college on my Excelsior Transcript.
I like the new name / Great news............
I'll call them .....
Pilot

 

Much better name, I notice the web site is Penn Foster College - not sure if that is new or not but I would think so

 

Any drawbacks of the program? I have a friend looking at their High School program. Any thoughts?

 

I do know that Penn Foster's high school program is regionally accredited, which is what you want when studying in that type of program.

The only drawback I can think of is you are truly studying on your own. You have to be motivated to study...nobody is there to tell you to hand in assignments by a certain time. I should have already finished my first semester in January...but I got sidetracked by a family illness, and then jut procrastinated. I'm trying to get back on track.

Other than that...no complaints from me at all.

 

I am taking the high school program this is my second year taking the program, however it can be easily completed in 9 months. I think the program is really good it covers everything. Nothing is really wrong with it except you do not write many papers, its mostly multiple question. Also I have never had any problems with the school my emails are answered the next day and when I complete a set of books, I receive more books in the mail about 2 days later.

 

Will they ever offer anything above the A.S level? I know Ashworth started out with only A.S degrees and then later added many Masters programs. It would be nice if they went beyond the A.S level.
any info on this?

 

Penn Foster High School

Hi Michael1988,

Thanks for telling us about your High School experience.

You said you hardly write but rather answer multiple choice questions; is it multiple choice questions also for courses like English and/or History ?

How many assignments have you written so far ?

 

I was enrolled in this program two years ago. All tests in all subjects were given in a multipe-choice format. I can recall having three writing assignments throughout the entire program.

 

I had heated discussion about Education Direct cheesyness

About a year ago, I finished the "Electrician" Career Diploma program from "Education Direct" (before it became Penn Foster Career School) and received a very cheap looking Career Diploma, it had no seal or anything that gave it the appearance of being a quality learning experience. I emailed Connie Dempsey at Education Direct and told her how disappointed I was with this. She told me in so many words its the name of the school thats important and not the look of the diploma. I emailed her a second time and further expressed my disappointment in her response and told her I would not be enrolling in anymore programs at Education Direct. On a side note, I remember when Education Direct used to be ICS, International Career School, etc. and they advertised on matchbooks. They also sent out mailings with these S&H Greenstamp looking things you would put on the box and send in to enroll in a program. In my opinion, very gimmicky, when Education Direct stopped advertising that way, and had a very professional website, I decided to enroll in the Electrician program. I liked the electrician materials they sent, but a little dated, for instance, old black and white pictures in the materials from around the 70's and 80's. Recently, I noticed they changed their name to Penn Foster Career School which seems to be an improvement over the generic sounding "Education Direct". My guess is the name Penn Foster is derived from Penn = Pennsylvania (originating in Scranton, PA) and Foster = Thomas J. Foster, developer of the distance-learning method for coal miners. Just a hunch. Recently, I discovered Penn Foster Career School changed to Penn Foster College and the added Arizona address and lic. Not sure if this was a merger or ?

Can anyone tell me about the quality and age of the AST Degree programs?

Jeff

 

Hello to all:
I am new to this Discussion Board. My name is Bill and I am an Alumnus of ICS, Harcourt “Learning Direct”, Thomson “Education Direct” and a Student at Penn Foster College. In addition, I’m in the “Grandfather Category”, since I’m in my late sixties.
As Jeff mentioned, I remember the advertisements that ICS (International Correspondence School) placed on matchbook covers, in Popular Electronics and Popular Science Magazines. I do not think that was due to “gimmicky” just the method of advertising in the days before the computer age and the “Professional Website.”
Now a little about myself. Throughout my lifetime, I have pursued one educational goal after another. Beginning with my desire to complete High School, to become a radio and television Repairman, an Electrician, an Electronics Technician, an Amateur Radio Operator, and complete my BSEE. All these educational goals were met through the aid of distance learning, and in particular, Penn Foster. Starting with ICS in the late sixties, I completed my High School on the GI Bill. Following that, I was enrolled and graduated from an Industrial Electrician Course through ICS. Later in my career I was a Student of Harcourt Learning, and finally, I graduated from Thomson Education Direct’s CDS with an Associate Degree in Electronics Technology (AST) in December 2002. Recently I earned my BSEE from another university.
All of the career goals I set for myself would not have been possible without the education that I acquired through Penn Foster. Having been an Electrician (40 years), Electronics Technician (18 years), Teacher, (adult Vocational) Writer (Micro Magazine, Compute Magazine, 73 Amateur Radio) and numerous other career objectives. Much of this I attribute to my lifelong association with this institution of learning.
I am currently enrolled in the AS in Electrical Engineering Technology at Penn Foster College, not to advance my career or for employment purposes, but, because I am retired and in need of something to keep myself occupied. A person must keep on learning. It keeps mental wellness stimulated and I enjoy every minute of it.
Jeff asked about the age of the AST Programs offered by Penn Foster. The Associate in Specialized Technology degree programs were started by ICS Learning Systems (The Center For Degree Studies) before Harcourt bought the school. Long ago, I had a Forman who worked for me who was graduate from ICS with an AST Degree.

As I said, I graduated from the AST in Electronics Technology program which took 21 months, I found the quality of the material for both lessons, textbooks, and labwork to be up to date as any other school of this type. Some of the lesson materials are in single lesson format and others are commecially published books with study guides. I have found that the present AS in Electrical Engineering have mostly been commercially published textbooks with additional course outlines and study guides. The Final Lab for the course was an eleven day stay in Harrisburg Pa., where we used the facilities of the university.

Now finally I must say, I am proud to be among the Alumni of this excellent Educational Institution.

Bill AST in Electronics Technology, Penn Foster. AS in Electrical Engineering Technology, Penn Foster (in progress-fourth semester)

 

Wow! Thanks for sharing that great story and information.



Abner

 

Hello all:

To answer Pilot's question: All the non-degree courses are part of Penn Foster Career School, including Penn Foster High School.
All the Vocational and High School programs are accredited by the Middle States Association (RA). The degree programs are DETC accredited.
Just some usefull information.

Bill AST, Penn Foster

 

Bill947, What an inspiring story !

Hi Bill947,

It is really a moving and telling story about you, the Distance Learning DETC programs, and an excellent answer to those always comparing DETC and RA.

It is much , much better to have a person like you, Bill947, able to complete his high school, better himself AND society by getting his studies through a DETC school rather than a frustrated person not being able to gain admission for whatever reason to education in an RA school.

Bill947, can you do us a favor and tell us WHERE you took your BSEE degree ?
Also, I would personally appreciate you telling us how your various diplomas and degrees were viewed by your employers through your income gaining years in the workforce.

Finally Bill947, you will never imagine the power of the story you have just told this Forum and particularly me . You certainly have changed my perspective on education and life and you, Sir, are responsible for it. Congratulations !