"Yeah, we'll call you next week..."

Okay, I can deal with talking to 4 different people to get a transcript. I am fine with professors running away when they see me because they *still* haven't looked at my paper. I do not expect perfect customer service from a university.

But how on earth is it possible that advisors don't call back prospective students to answer a few simple questions? Case in point: I talked to UoI Global Campus and had a few questions which they promised to check into and call me back. That was months ago. A few weeks ago, I was discussing a graduate certificate program with Colorado State. The new schedule/pricing for the program wasn't out yet, and the advisor promised to call me back within a few days. Never heard from her again.

I am, in many respects, the perfect prospect. I have the qualifications, I know what I am doing, and I even pay cash. All they need to do is answer some questions, take the money, and then teach me.

I wouldn't mind harassing the same people in their office hours again and again until I have my answers. But with distance programs advertised to fit a "working adult's busy schedule," this is a very bad start. Needless to say, I'm taking my tuition dollars elsewhere - UF in this case, where they seem to know how to operate a phone.

Sorry for ranting - it's just hard to understand...

 

I completed a graduate certificate at UF and they were great to work with. Which one are you going to do?

 

The Online Teaching & Learning one. It's only 9 credits, which is another thing I really like about UF. Most schools will make you take 12-18 credits, knowing that they will be the only ones accepting all the credits for a master's program. 9 credits, on the other hand, can be transferred into many programs. The advisor lady was extremely nice and helpful.

 

I agree with you wholeheartedly. I applied and was accepted to a school but found some inaccuracies in their evaluation of my prior work. I'd chosen that program because my existing credits matched their program very well and would have resulted in a quick, inexpensive finish in spite of paying their rate out of my pocket.

Never heard back from two different folks in the registrar's office and four months later received a letter from admissions to remind me that I hadn't enrolled for the term that had just ended. I requested a different degree-planning worksheet from academic advisement and never heard back from them, either.

Best wishes in your pursuits,

Sandy

 

I did the Healthcare Risk Management program. I was lucky and did it two years ago when tuition was only $800 per class and now it went up. I enrolled in the MS program and they were going to take all nine credits but the format changed (you had to participate in online / real-time classes) and the price when up to something like $700 per credit. I ended up dropping out.

 

Yeah, it's relatively expensive now; around 1,250 per course for non-resident off-campus students. But that's still cheaper than the ridiculously high regular non-resident fee. For some reasons, most Florida schools have insane out-of-state fees. Probably because so many young people like the idea of studying in FL.

 

Ditto, I'm with you there, including paying cash. One reason for so many washouts on my part. Once you're sucked in to the sweet talk and actually enroll, you then find out how poor their response time is and how difficult it may be to get anyone to call or e-mail back.

So far, I found most of the public university graduate programs that I've been in, or inquired about, have been very slow to respond to anything. Just my experience. On the other hand, the private university graduate program "recruiters" and "advisors" are very aggressive and don't leave you alone. Sigh.

The only exception I can recommend is U of N. Carolina/Greensboro's online MALS. They've been very responsive and helpful. You're allowed to enroll in up to three courses as a "visiting" student without having to apply to the program. The downside is unless you enroll the day registration opens for your course, you miss out, and even then you still might not get in. It has happened to me several times. Half of their MALS courses are at the university, half are online. They don't offer the same courses every semester. It would make it difficult to get the courses you want within the five year time limit.

 

Because of poor customer service, I decided to stay put at FHSU. My plan was to transfer to RWU and complete a BGS in Technology Leadership and Management. After I received my acceptance letter, I was told to register through my advisor. I repeatedly contacted my advisor about registering with no success.

This is not the first time I decided to pass on RWU because of slow customer service, but this is the last. I am glad I did not drop my classes at FHSU.

 

I'm starting a class this Fall at FHSU. The advisers seems to be on the ball plus the $/credit is hella cheap compare to other accredited distance institutions(except for my local community college).

I've also been talking to an enrollment adviser at Regis University and so far he has been pretty quick in answering my email. Recently I just sent him an email containing 8 questions regarding their program and he responded the next day with solid answers.

 

I like FHSU a lot. This will be my third semester with them. My advisor is super fast. Trust me, I have changed my schedule a zillion times and she approves it super fast.

My reason for trying to transfer was to complete my degree faster. I needed about 12-hrs less at RWU.

What class are taking this fall at FHSU?