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Penn Foster College Reviews

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25 Most Recent Reviews

SCHOOL IS ACCREDITED

School recommended by Katrisha Scott on November 13, 2009
Review not yet rated

I've noticed some people have made suggestive comments that Penn Foster is NOT accredited. I did some thorough research and found out that Penn Foster is DEFINATELY an ACCREDITED institution. For those who are skeptical or disbelieve, you may check the schools credentials on www.detc.org In any case, school is what you make of it; PERIOD. Every school has complaints. I am a current student at Nova Southeastern University for my B.S. in Management and I could tell you a lot of issues I have with them. In any case, NO SCHOOL IS EVER PERFECT. Be sure to check your state's requirements for certification before enrolling in any program. I RECOMMEND PENN FOSTER's program for Pharmacy Tech.

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Medical Transcription

School not recommended by Dawn on November 11, 2009
Review not yet rated

This school doesn't at all fufill you academically as it portrays to. I am on the last course of this program and all of a sudden everything is set up different, there's no direction. And communication with the school??? Good luck! My last course i sent in the required 10 reports to be graded, i got them sent back to be corrected as i scored to low. I corrected the reports and sent them in along w/the originals.....I got it all back and my corrected copies weren't even graded!!!! AND, i got an 84% when you can only get a high of 70% on a make up. whatever. I am absolutley frustrated that i wasted my time and money on this!!!

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Penn Foster Diesel Technichian

School recommended by V Swann on September 15, 2009
13/13 people found this review helpful

Penn foster schools are as adequate as any vo tech type degree, you must under stand that what you put into it will directly affect your outcome. MOST jobs in the Vo-Tech arena dont necessarily REQUIRE school at all to get the jobs, Much, like many diesel technicians have never been to school.

However, In this tight job market, the Penn Foster school was excellent priced to obtain books and study materials I needed to pursue ASE masters status, I could take these exams with or without Penn Foster, But honestly the books would have cost MORE to obtain on my own than through Penn Foster. SO: I saved money, Had direction for studying, Had obscure books I couldnt even locate on my own "Allison Transmission electronic controll devices" Ect. Ect. And now, On a resume I can say, Exp. Diploma, and ASE. You may get jobs you wouldnt even be considered for otherwise.

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constant disappointment

School not recommended by Lisa on September 14, 2009
9/10 people found this review helpful

I am a disabled graduate student who was enticed several years ago by Penn Foster's online medical billing course. I have had nothing but trouble with the course, expectations and requirements were not explained to me when I embarked upon my studies. There seems to be no one in charge of monitoring student progress, either. My course was supposed to last for a year, but I have been contending with mis-communicattion by my instructors for two-and-a-half years, was informed by one that I all I needed to finish my course was to submit an essay. Apparently, not everyone got that message though, because my project was returned to me with demands that I resubmit the coursework I had already supplied, thus, I haven't the forms I need to complete the course, and nobody there seems to understand this. My impression is of a school where staff work in isolation, and I am very unhappy with it

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Pharmacy Technician

School recommended by Anonymous on September 10, 2009
29/33 people found this review helpful

I really DO NOT understand why there are websites out there questioning if the school is a scam? First of all, the phone numbers for student help and all of that is completley legit and so helful. Secondly, I am using military funded tuition, meaning the department of defense has to approve the school and see if its legit and accredited for them to even waste their time or money on it. Lastly..I just started and everything has been smooth, paid for, and very helpful and educational. Im learning alot and it works for me..maybe self study isn't meant for everybody!

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Vet Tech

School recommended by Amber on September 05, 2009
19/22 people found this review helpful

Don't listen to the bad reviews. This course is perfect for those who have the motivation and can work on their own. I know in the first semester many people quit because they feel they aren't learning anything relevant to being a Vet tech, but actually the opposite is true, it helps a lot to learn biology and anatomy and physiology when you get to the more advanced classes (pharmacology, pathology, radiology etc) And the books are NOT outdated, or at least not as of 2009. I am about to start my 3rd semester and am very satisfied.

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Vet Tech Program

School not recommended by Jitterbug277 on September 04, 2009
8/13 people found this review helpful

First off, I had a terrible time getting PF to accept my transferred credits from my previous B.A. degree. They kept "losing" the paperwork and cost me time and money to keep asking my previous college to keep resending the transcripts.

Currently, I am halfway through the program and would like to transfer those credits to the Vet Assistant program. I keep getting a runaround regarding who I need to contact to do that. No one seems to have any answers, the program director is difficult to work with and I'm very frustrated. I feel as if I've wasted 2 1/2 years of time and too much money!!

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Dental Assistant

School not recommended by Stacy on September 04, 2009
16/20 people found this review helpful

This school is a joke! I have my diploma and graduated top of the class. That is about the only thing. I didn't learn a thing, and wasn't able to use my diploma to get a job. Spent money and time for nothing! I suggest looking for a reputable school-and this is not one! I hope this helps and wish someone would have told me not to go here.

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HVAC

School not recommended by John Doe on August 10, 2009
17/27 people found this review helpful

I paid a LOT of money for this program and was not even able to use the books for the State Exam. Penn Foster is a RIP OFF.

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Graphic Design

School recommended by T.D. on August 08, 2009
23/25 people found this review helpful

I'm getting my Associate's in Graphic Design from Penn Foster College. The textbooks are up-to-date, everyone is very helpful; I've never had any problems. And they are an accredited school. I received a Dressmaking and Design diploma from Penn Foster Career School in 2005, and that worked out great also.

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Dog Training & Vet Assitant

School recommended by Rosie on August 03, 2009
14/15 people found this review helpful

Im very pleased with Penn Foster, I took the Dog trainer program finished it in 4 months, It gave me the knowledge I needed to train my dogs which were out of control, The program helped me decide that I do infact want to join the Animal Medical Field, so I enrolled into the Vet Assistant program, My boyfriend was also impressed with the timely manner of the school, and For people in our current work field its perfect. =)

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Vet Tech program

School not recommended by Nicki Andersen on July 22, 2009
13/21 people found this review helpful

I do not recommend this program to anyone who is serious about being a V.T. I have been in the field for 6 years and the program teaches you book work, but not life situations. The program director is very difficult to work with. This program is not self paced and classes are on their time not yours.

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Vet Tech

School recommended by gertiesmom on July 20, 2009
23/23 people found this review helpful

I am very pleased with my studies. I am approx. 50% of the way through the program. I have received respect from the local vets and techs that I speak to about my schooling. Think twice about going to school online if you need someone to push you. The only thing I could complain about is waiting for shipments, but if you pay for the sememster in advance, they will send you all of your books at once

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Bookkeeping

School recommended by Pearl Lewis on June 30, 2009
22/25 people found this review helpful

I had to write this review, i haven't even finished i am still doing bookkeeping/accounting, but what i can tell anyone is to try it, when i begun i didn't know what a General Journal or Ledger was. doing this course i pulled my hair, i got angry, i even e-mail them to tell them i don't understand a thing! they promptly gave me a contact number for them to explain the work to me, i did not contact them, i tried and tried for days, but i never gave up. i didn't get the 100 i got 84 doing it on my own, not getting help from the other site who gave answers because, well its like this - when i get a job concerning my courses i can't call them to give me answers. So what i will tell everyone is that Penn Foster is the best.

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Art program

School recommended by soni on June 28, 2009
17/19 people found this review helpful

I enjoyed taking the program. I learned alot of different techniques and information. My assignments were always graded quickly and had a lot of helpful input by the teacher on anything that i needed to fix or work on. I always took my tests online and got my grades back at the end of it. I never had to use the teacher help thankfully. I also thought the price for the course was great! I liked taking the art program.

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Jewelry Design & Repair

School not recommended by Lisa on June 20, 2009
17/25 people found this review helpful

Do not waste your time on this college. The info on the website is not entirely accurate. They prefer to mail a brochure( even if you don't want one). I was told by one admissions clerk that the "registration fee" wasn't even right. They insist on getting lots of personal info before even answering 1 question about the classes. they transfer you around too much, they say "I give you my word that you will get a call on Sat.". didn't happen.. the supervisor is so rude.

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Medical Transcription

School not recommended by Kim on June 10, 2009
22/34 people found this review helpful

I am so frustrated with this school right now. When I first researched this school, I asked If your account is not paid in full, would you still get your diploma.. and the lady that I talked to said "yes". Now that I've completed the whole course, I find out that, you have to have your account paid in full to receive anything! If I would want a copy of my transcripts its an addition cost, and it will state that my class's are incomplete, because my account is not paid in full!!

The books I received for the class seemed incomplete, like they were written by a teacher.

Spend the few extra $$ and go to a community college.. I sure wish I had.. the way my payment plan is set up, I won't see a diploma for another 18 months! And I finished the course a month ago.

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Penn Foster Vet Tech Program

School recommended by Amanda on April 09, 2009
72/75 people found this review helpful

I just wanted to write about my experience at this school. I am almost done with my first semester and I have to say that the materials are NOT outdated. The first 2 short lessons are books that are published by the school and written by the instructor, but after that I received current textbooks for computers, biology, and animal anatomy and physiology. For animal AP I got a text, a medical dictionary, and another book that has photos of inner and outer workings of a dog.

I am considering changing majors, but not because of not being happy with the coursework, simply because after dealing with my sick dog and horse, I'm not sure that vet tech is the job for me (shots, blood, yuck lol). The program is accredited by the AVMA (it's listed on the AVMA site) and is the program needed to test for a license.

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Vet Tech Degree

School not recommended by Carla on April 02, 2009
35/49 people found this review helpful

I am very upset with this school and program. I had high hopes until i got my first shipment. The books are so outdated and cheap its sad. Actually i think my books were actually written by my teacher not a real author. I was ready to cancel so i called to tell them and it took me a week to get a call back. Then they informed that me since i took the math and reading test already i owe them $530? I didn't even do any course work yet. So basically listen to me don't waste ur time or money on this. Learn from my mistake. PPl who tell u its a great school are just so far into the program they can't afford to back out. Hope this helps somebody make up their mind.

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Dental Assistant

School not recommended by Cassandra on March 08, 2009
98/112 people found this review helpful

I attended Penn Foster for the Dental Assistant program. I was a little unsure you could take this course online, but they assured me that they were accredited and that I could work in Minnesota as a dental assistant. When it came down to it, they had no idea that I was unable to work in Minnesota and it was a tag-a-war with the board of density and Penn Foster to prove to the school that they are not accredited. I would not recommend a school that does not even know what they are or are not accredited in.

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Child day care management

School recommended by Courtney on March 03, 2009
47/52 people found this review helpful

I took this course and it was great. I got to work at my own pace which helped me out a lot. I liked that you can do all your tests online and see the grade right away. It helped me by seeing the ones I got wrong so I could go back and check my answers. I feel that I have really done well and will soon be able to follow through with my dream of opening up my own day care center!

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Pet Grooming

School not recommended by LuvMyPoochies on February 17, 2009
33/44 people found this review helpful

I am currently enrolled in their pet grooming course only to have the certification. I HIGHLY DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS PROGRAM TO ANYBODY. They say you can go at your own pace.....lets put it this way, I have been waiting 5 days for my test to show up online and it's still not available. They told me it will show up 24/48 hours after a shipment is mailed but it's been 5 days. The material is very vague- no pictures, and the only reason I know what they are talking about is because I am volunteering at a local saloon. The material is written at a 5th grade level and does not give you any advantage to learn how to become a professional. Good luck and only sign up if you want a certification.

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Criminal Justice

School recommended by Sam on December 09, 2008
54/64 people found this review helpful

If anyone is interested in pursuing a law enforcement career, or simply want to know more about criminal justice, then this is the online course to take. Self paced, challenging, and rewarding. Staff is always helpful with excellent communication. Price is very reasonable. Penn Foster College also has bachelor degree programs and many other majors, so check it out. I highly recommend this school.

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Small Buisness Owner

School recommended by Cathy on April 25, 2008
47/53 people found this review helpful

I AM SO HAPPY WITH THIS COURSE IT WAS THE BEST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED TO ME I'M ALMOST DONE WITH MY COURSE AND IF I WAS IN SCHOOL I THINK I WOULD'VE HAVE NEVER DONE IT. HIGHLY RECOMENDED ;)

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Veterinary Assistant

School recommended by Jenny S on March 17, 2008
65/73 people found this review helpful

I attended PennFoster and received my vet assistant. The site offered a nice online library. I could study and learn at my own pace and take the tests when I was ready. The course materials were great and on time. I never utilized the online professor help although that was an option had I needed it. Online learning is for the highly motivated self starter. people who need structure will not do well with self paced learning.

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