College is giving me a hard time getting my Bachelor's

I attend Axia college online which is part of University of Phoenix. I will be done with my Associate's next week. I told my graduating counselor I wanted to go for Bachelor's in IT security. He told me I had to reapply like I did when I started this school. So I did. I didn't have to fill much out cause it was the same information that I had entered 2 years ago. My counselor calls me back the next day saying there is a problem. He said because I was homeschooled my highschool diploma does not count and I would need a GED. I was very upset. Number one they knew I was homeschooled when I applied 2 years ago and they said it was fine and to just fax them my highschool diploma which I did. There was never an issue that I was homeschooled and I even told them from the beginning I would be going for Bachelor's. I have a highschool diploma, I have a note from my state(MIssouri) ackowledging my graduation, and I scored well and have a copy of my ACT. Right after graduation I applied to some big colleges in Missouri which I got accepted to but ended up moving to Arizona. What I do not understand at all is I have all of this evidence of working hard and graduating high school and I am grduating associates in a week but that's not good enough?! It makes NO sense whatsoever. They led me to believe everything was fine and should be, and that my associates which is way harder than a GED would not count. Let alone getting a GED is pretty much throwing all of my hardwork in highschool down the drain. I feel like UNiversity of Phoenix is not being Legitimate....

 

For a start I would suggest you look for another school for your bachelors degree - not because I have objections to the quality of education at UoP and its other colleges but because of the cost. Why not spend money you can put towatds a masters degree, fund your 401K, or buy a home or car. I'm sure other posters can direct you to good schools for IT security.

Re your particulr case I suspect the counseler misunderstands the rules - most often colleges take an AA degree (or above a certain age) as meeting entry requirement. If you still want to attend Axia download and read their catalog - I'm sure it would include program entry qualifications.

 

Ask to speak to a supervisor, and then if necessary her superivisor, and then if necessary her supervisor, all the way up to the Dean if necessary. Someone has just screwed up somewhere.

 

It is interesting that a counseler told the OP he does not meet requirements for enrollment - quite the contrary that some posters would have you believe about UoP enrolling just anyone. Just a side thought.

 

One would think an associates degree would trump a high school diploma. Most schools ask, "Do you have a High School Diploma or GED? Yes or No. I have never encountered a school that wanted to see a diploma or get a high school transcript, especially for the adult learner. Very odd!

 

You seriously need to look for another school. I'm sure there are a 1001 schools that will be more than happy to accept you into a BS program in your chosen field. - i mean schools that have better reputation, and are waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay cheaper than UoP. Again, don't delay at all in looking elsewhere. When you look back years from now, you'd realize how lucky you were at Uop's decision. Good luck with deciding...

 

Also: Congratulations on earning your associates degree.:You_Rock_Emoticon:

 

Over the years I have faced the same problem. I dropped out of college when I was 13 and attended a community college for many years. When I was 16 I took the California High School Proficiency Exam. This allowed me to transfer to San Diego State and earn a BS degree. Since then I have attended and applied to numerous graduate programs. A couple of times I have encountered hostility towards my non-traditional secondary education. Sometimes you can find a reasonable administrator to set things straight. Sometimes you have to find another program. If you really want to continue attending UOP/Axia then some persistence should see you through to a solution. However, I would encourage you to take this opportunity to look at other options.

BTW - I have taught for both Axia and UoP. They don't seem to have any problems hiring someone without a GED!

 

Should take a look at Western Governors University's BS in Information Technology - Security. Earning your certification on the way.

 

I agree with much of the above. You should go with something like TESC or Excelsior. Not only are they much cheaper, they are more liberal with their entry requirements. I'm not sure how they would react to the lack of a high school diploma though. However, I would think that your AA should count for something.

 

I agree. The only reason why I'm still with Phoenix is because I'm getting my tuition paid for courtesy of the Post 9/11.

OP, there are a lot of other alternatives that you can, and should look for. TESC would be a good option, and they may take your general education credits.

Phoenix is legitimate, but one of the major downsides to the school is they are far too large, which makes customer service a lot stickier.

Good luck.

 

Contact HSLDA first thing Monday morning (your family is a member or at least was when you were in school I hope?) and have them draft a letter to Axia on your behalf. I have no idea of the specific laws that govern your state's homeschool policy, but they do. They will help you. They will fight this and bring legislation if necessary- bigger issues are at stake.

Oh, and an associate degree trumps a GED or high school diploma. While this is probably a simple clerical error on the admission's dept, I'd make a loud HUGE issue of this. Huge. Their ignorance (bias?) needs to educated, and you are the one to do it. Don't walk away, fix this for the people coming in behind you. Please don't just talk to a supervisor and enroll.

And, do not, under ANY CIRCUMSTANCES go out and take the GED exam.

 

UOP/Axia manages to get a significant number of students in one program to enroll in the subsequent program because they eliminate many of the barriers to application and basically make it an easy transition. Before you can even figure out that there are better options, you are already scheduled for your next class in the new program. This is the case in both the AA to BA and BA to MA transition. I have taught in graduate programs at UOP and when I ask students why they chose to continue on from a BA at UOP to an MA the response is usually centered on the ease of application and transition.

It sounds as if the OP is being asked to jump through hoops because of lack of clarity in the standard and application of the rule.

 

The problem in this case may be related to a recent change in Federal financial aid policies, not to UoP specifically. If this is the case, then changing schools may not help.

Until recently, for-profit schools like UoP aggressively marketed their college programs to students who lacked a formal high school diploma or GED. Such students could still enroll in college, and qualify for federal financial aid, if the schools found that they had the "ability to benefit" from college-level education.

Unfortunately, there is a perception that some for-profit schools abused this system. For example, UoP aggressively recruited drug-addicted high school dropouts at homeless shelters, on the grounds that they had the "ability to benefit" from college education. As such, they qualified for Federal financial aid dollars, which then went to UoP.

It turns out that students admitted under the "ability to benefit" program are particularly likely to default on their Federal student loans. The government is therefore now requiring changes to this program (and on other practices of for-profit schools), as stated on this blog:

Since the OP lacks a high school diploma or GED, he may be defined as an "ability to benefit" student, even though he has an AA degree. The regulations may not have foreseen this situation.

 

Of course UoP won't enroll "just anyone". They will only enroll anyone who can pay.

If the lack of a high school diploma or GED is a problem in terms of Federal financial aid eligibility, then it will also be a problem in terms of UoP admissions.

 

Except that the OP doesn't lack a high school diploma??

 

But is it a state-recognized high school diploma?

The OP says that he/she was home schooled in Missouri. The State of Missouri says:

So the State of Missouri apparently says that home school diplomas don't count, and that home-schooled students should get a GED. If that's the case, then it seems rather consistent with what the OP's counselor says:

 

This would mean that UoP does not require a high school diploma or GED for their Associate Degree (the original poster said he/she is completing an Associates degree soon with them). The way I've always understood this is that schools do not require to see your GED if you have a degree higher than GED, Why? Because you needed a GED to even be admitted into that higher degree in the first place; in this case, an Associates degree. Same for requiring to see your Associates degree for a master's degree admission, if you have a Bachelor's degree to show. Maybe I've always been wrong....