"Washout" Thread

Oh, Yeah! I Forgot!

In 1989, during my three-year career (1987-1990) as a drill press operator in a steel fabrication shop, I washed out of the welding certificate program at Lake Washington Vocational Technical Institute (now known as Lake Washington Technical College) in Kirkland, Washington. At the end of the semester, Professor Ed Martinson told me that my progress was so slow that I would likely take five years to complete a one-year program. As I was merely using steel fabrication as a job opportunity (while living with the parents) to save lots of money to go back to grad school, I wanted to be out of the steel fabrication field altogether in a much shorter time horizon than five years, so I quit.

 

I "washed out" at Western Governors University undergrad business program
in January 2008.I was on academic probation,my fault,but was starting to catch up on my classwork,when,bam,my pc dies out.Since I am a underfunded student(readoor/need financial aid to attend) I could not fix it quick enough to get things finished on time,so it was bye bye badproduce.

I was 50 credits in towards my degree,now I'm a student at Grand Canyon University,hoping things go better this time around.

 

I am not sure if this is considering washing out, but I have just left Walden University's DBA program for Capella University's Ed.D program. Nothing was wrong with the DBA program at Walden, except that it just would not meet my future career goals and due to the residencies.

 

My wife is still hanging in there at Walden. Boy oh boy, they have worked her tail to the bone. She worked two jobs and attended UH-Victoria's MA-Ed program, but she has never come across anything like this. She has and will (she says and I know she will) continue her 4.0. She is almost done with her coursework. Good luck at Capella.

 

I agree with your statement, people who think the for profit institutions are a free ride, better think again! You will work just as hard. The courses in the DBA program were 8 weeks and about two papers were due each week, along with 2 discussion board questions. This may not sound like a great deal, but I also have a full time job and am an adjunct for 4 universities and a consultant for one, so needless to say it was a struggle, but I was able to keep my nice 3.8 GPA.

 

Washout Tales

Hello,all!! This is a great idea!!! I'm afraid that I only have ONE washout story. I dropped out of AMU's Emergency Management and Disaster Response Master's Program.I didn't see the red flags as they lapped knowingly and menacingly in my face.They couldn't get my financial aid straight and thus my my start date was pushed back THREE MONTHS!! I tried to register and the computer belched and farted and refused to accept my course reservations.In a fit of frustration,I vented at the tech support " Fix your go*damned computer system!!" This earned me a letter from the Head of Student Affairs putting me on "official warning" for so-called "abusive language"!! I was pissed at their piece of crap computer system,not anyone human! I went ahead and enrolled anyway and took two courses.One instructor was great..the second one sucked butt.He took two weeks (in an 8 week course!)to respond to an email and,when asked for suitable topics for a research paper,simply said" re-read the syllabus.." I complained to no avail and got the hell out of Dodge...You guys have given me my self-esteem back by letting me know that it ain't just me!! On to University of London,Keele Univ.,or Oklahoma Univ.!!!

 

Washouts

Troy University - 2006, enrolled in BS in psychology, took one class and quit, wondering why I enrolled in the first place

Widener Law - 2001, became bored after Corporate Law course and returned to active duty military. Torts was fascinating, though.

Touro - 2005, dropped out of MBA program - didn't like the DVD format

AMU 2005, - dropped out of Masters in Political Science and the undergrad English program

Norwich University - 2004, dropped out of Master of Diplomacy after argument with one of the profs

AIU - 2004, dropped out of Masters in Instructional Technology

California Coast - 2002, dropped out of combined MS/PhD in Psychology - program didn't seem legit to me

Excelsior - 2001 and again in 2002, dropped out of programs in English Literature and Psychology

Capella - 2002, dropped out of Masters in Psychology after completing two courses while trying to take courses simultaneously at Capella and at Excelsior

Duquesne - 2003, dropped out of Masters in Leadership and Liberal studies after two courses, which I loved but was in a depressive phase and felt unable to continue

Immaculata College - 1996, dropped out of Masters in Psychology because I didn't want to share a journal about my feelings with the class

Penn State University - 1999, finally washed out when the commute from Delaware to PA became too taxing. Completed 12 credits of a Master of Education in Instructional Systems program with a 3.7 GPA

Wilmington University - 1996, washed out of an MBA program in the middle of the first course and dropped out of an MEd in Elementary Education after completing two courses

Lincoln University 1977 - dropped out in the Spring semester of my first year. I felt that the courses were an insult to my intelligence since I had already learned the material in 10th grade

Somehow in the middle of all of this I completed a BS in Human Resource Management at Wilmington University (Delaware) in 1993, and a Masters degree in Law and Public Policy at the California University of Pennsylvania in 2008. The latter was quite challenging and I thoroughly enjoyed the program despite my "knock-down drag-outs" with Dr. Nemeth. In fact, out of all of my educational endeavors, I found this one the most interesting and exciting.

I was in the military during the majority of my wash-outs, and stationed overseas in either Korea or Africa. I really have no legitimate reasons for many of the wash-outs. I would just be in the middle of doing something and then decide that I didn't want to do it anymore. I am retired from the military now (effective April 2008) and since I have been unable to obtain employment, despite my advanced degree and 20 years of experience, I will be attending Widener University's full-time MSW program in September. Funding, courtesy of the Post 9/11 GI Bill.

 

Looks like we have a winner! If you never try, you never know. What a great list of experiences.

 

Yup, I have to say that's the winner!

For some reason, that made me laugh out loud.

 

Ah-h-h...I see the irony now, and I'm laughing too.

 

Why did you leave Argosy?

Do you mind sharing with me why you left Argosy and went back to NCU? I'm considering both schools.

 

Awesome post! I was about to say unfortunately I only washed out of one school, but I forgot my very first experience in higher ed.

in 1999, I went to Sawyer School of Business for four months, decided since I was a computer networking AS, I should at least see a computer. Actually the school couldn't afford computers, and had one pristine lab to lure students in, and then we read out of text books and watched the prof do all the other stuff, I learned more about networking playing Diablo and starcraft at school than taking the classes. Funny thing is, after I left, the school folded a month later. Score.

Also, somewhere while I was doing my MA I decided it would be an awesome idea to do an MA in Diplomacy from Norwich (i was going to do Military History, but that was pretty much what my MA was at a B&M, also AMU which had way better selection was not regionally accredited yet). So I was taking 15 credits at the B&M school (I was trying to get ahead and was taking a 6 credit course on top of the normal 3 courses) and did the 12 credit half year for Norwich. Too much work... too expensive, considering I have always been funded before, taking loans to pay for a degree I was not sure how to use was just not worth it. Also, the first professor was good, the second one I had was god-awful. Poor commenting, poor grading, poor reasoning skills. It didn't shine a bright light on the school from there on out. Considering the adjuncts there get paid tons of cash (I was told it was 6k a course????? really???) I thought he could at least facilitate the class properly. I am going to need to pick up 6 more credits in foreign relations so I can teach it at CC level I think. Or maybe poli-sci and see if "diplomacy" credits count towards poli-sci.

Anyway, speaking of the future, I still really want to get an MS in Space Studies at AMU, that sounds fun... mostly useless I am sure, but then I can at least claim to be a scientist. That would be sweet! Also, while writing my dissertation, I might pick up an MLS at one of the local ALA accredited universities in the area.

 

Gee, now I don't feel so bad!

My pathetic list (all of these were/are primarily distance learning):
1. Cal State Dominguez Hills -- MA Humanities/Music concentration (was about 3/4 through), got sick, dropped out. I even had my thesis subject approved. Sigh.
2. Master of Liberal Studies, U of Oklahoma (got my Bachelor's with the College of Liberal Studies), attended the three week intro seminar; didn't like the core reading for the next courses, dropped out.
3. MBA, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, Scotland (completed the three "soft" courses), dropped out because I couldn't take the boredom of an MBA.
4. Back to U of Oklahoma, had to start over in the MLS and attend another intro seminar. Dropped out again after the seminar (and after paying for a full year's tuition) because I didn't like the *new* core reading assignments. Guess I'm stubborn and a slow learner.
5. Enrolled in MA/Psychology at Walden U, backed out before any classes started. I discovered I really don't care for the "online" learning format.
6. Currently enrolled in Harrison Middleton U -- MA in Philosophy/Religion. I think I've finally found my niche because we design our own courses and write our thesis accordingly. I also enjoy the Great Books so I might finish this degree. So far, so good and I really love this program.

Current course direction at Harrison Middleton: God vs. Satan, Armageddon, the "final battle."

 

Welcome to the boards, cutedeedle! Always good to have another philosopher onboard!

 

Ted!

Awww, thanks!

I answered the other day but the post disappeared. Anyway, I vote for this thread to be called "Still exploring our options." Sounds better, eh?

 

Let's see, in 1994 I flunked out of Pre-Pharmacy at Northeast Louisiana University (I didn't know what I wanted to do, and mom & dad pushed me in that direction because of the money you can make). Went to Louisiana Technical College (basically a vo-tech) in 1995, left in 1996 to work in network provisioning at a long distance carrier. Went back to NLU (now called University of Louisiana at Monroe) in 1997 taking Computer Science. Flunked out of that, and in 1998 started at Louisiana Technical College again. Unfortunately the former instructor lost most of my grades for the summer session of 1996, and they couldn't just give me credit for them. Left there again in 1999 to work at an ISP and I've been scraping by on work experience and certifications ever since.

I'm probably going to start saving up for a "education" fund as soon as my car is paid off and decide what I want to do. Work won't reimburse me (only for certs & training), and I'm trying to see what's more do-able for me either B&M (ULM for the third time LOL) or WGU.

 

Charles Sturt University in Australia offers a Bachelor of Industry Computing degree via distance education.

DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois, offers a Bachelor of Arts in Computing degree via distance education.

And of course look into Charter Oak State College, Excelsior College, and Thomas Edison State College for additional degree options. Some certifications are eligible for credit.

 

Charles Sturt University in Australia offers a Bachelor of Industry Computing degree via distance education.

DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois, offers a Bachelor of Arts in Computing degree via distance education.

Fort Hays State University offers a Bachelor of Science in Information and Networking Telecommunications degree via distance education.

And of course look into Charter Oak State College, Excelsior College, and Thomas Edison State College for additional degree options. Some certifications are eligible for credit.

I would recommend earning an associate-level degree (AA or AS) before tackling the bachelor-level degree (BA, BS) for two reasons: (1) only requires 60 credit hours so you have an educational credential sooner, and (2) you can get all the general education requirements out of the way. If you are good at taking standardized tests you might consider using CLEPs, DANTES, and DSSTs to complete most or all of the associate degree. There are many threads on degreeinfo as well discussing testing-out.

 

Washout

1. Concord Law School---good school but due to my job I did not have the time to keep up with the work load.

2. South University---MS Leadership. I liked the school but the due dates for assignments were mid-week so you can't use your weekends to write and research papers. Example, week starts on Monday and your papers are due on Wed or Thursday. Rarely did my classes allow for a full week to write papers and turn them in. To me this was very un-friendly for a working adult program.

Now I am attempting the MS in Conflict Management at Sullivan University; wish me luck!

 

While I haven't officially "washed out", my first semester at Andrew Jackson University will likely be my last. It's a good school and I enjoyed my courses, but trying to take four courses concurrently (three at AJU and one at Penn Foster College) was a bad idea. I ran myself ragged trying to finish all of the course assignments and study for the finals. I did manage to finish my semester at AJU with a 4.0 GPA.

After I wrap up my remaining semester at PFC, I will likely transfer all of my credits to Excelsior College and finish my BA there.