University of Phoenix Reviews
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UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX OR AKA AXIA COLLEGE
School not recommended by
Tian
on
March 11, 2010
1/1 person found this review helpful
The classes themselves were okay and the instructors are good. But like students this is a second properity for them. The finanical aid deptment is awful! I drop after I finished my last class, I sent a offical drop too FA and they were still sending me notices two months later to fill out my loan information for next class. dud? I e-mail them at least ten times called was told lines were too busy and the school itself refused to fill out forms needed for my current school.
Futhermore trying to get my transcript is not going to easy either. I have my hands full for the last three months tring to transfer my info over to my new college. I still have not had no respond on the credit in my account there. So I doubt I will get that back..
Beware of this place the classes and fees are total 1070.00 each there are two class for every nine weeks of schools.... I would not recommend to go there...
Learn More about University of PhoenixA Sitting Duck
School not recommended by
Ashley Sovie
on
March 04, 2010
20/27 people found this review helpful
I decided to attend University of Phoenix because I work full time, have a heavy commute (3 hours a day), and a toddler at home. I knew there was no ability for me to attend school whether day or night classes as my down time doesn't start until about 10pm.
I am five classes short of receiving an associates degree. Initally I had signed on the Elementary Education program. Unfortunately, I didn't ask too many questions as I was just in a rush to get started. I received a call a few weeks ago from a "transition" counselor who is there to help aid me from the associates degree to the bachelors.
In discussing the program she informed me there is a 12 week long internship required before graduation. I guess most everyone knows it is required to "student teach" before you can graduate, however I had no idea the internship was this long. As I mentioned before I am a full time working mother, and cannot quit my job for three months to go back to school, otherwise I would be in a traditional college. I hit a wall and didn't know where to go from there.
The counselor quickly tried to talk me into another degree, and I had almost signed on, until I realize that the price per class runs about 1700!! So, from the point of earning my associates and graduating I would have accumulated 34k in debt, not to mention what I already owe thus far (about 13k).
I had raved about this school prior to really looking into the costs- so much so that I got my husband enrolled for IT. Thank god he's only two classes in. We're working on pulling him out as quickly as possible. Who can afford 50k in student loans? The payment on that is about 600 a month, unless you extend it paying interest only for years and then you could actually accure an additional 50k in interest, totaling 100k in loans! You could be a doctor!
I'm left now with 13k I owe and no degree, and not sure what college would even accept my credits from this school. It's all quite disappointing as all I had wanted to do was be a good role model for my daughter. I'm putting school on hold for a while until I can get this all sorted out. I can't make the same mistakes again.
The "Counselor" is a sales positioin
School not recommended by
T in Nash
on
March 03, 2010
13/18 people found this review helpful
Good morning to all! I've read the comments here and I would like to add something that might help you all out.
1) The counselor that contacts the students is referred to as an "enrollment counselor" and basically it's a sales like position. Their profit is made from how many potential students they can lure into UoP, enroll them into the program and then uphold the retention of those students. Now, do they actually care for the student? Well, they claim they do. That's why they harass you when if you fill out the basic interest information. Their pay is pretty good. Although they have two reviews a year of which you have to meet or exceed projected sales goals. If you do, then you'll get a pay raise, if not they your salary is decreased! Be cautious about what you get into.
2) UoP is actually the Apollo group (http://www.apollogrp.edu/). If you look at their website and look at UoP's website, doesn't it look similar? Reps from UoP call it the "mothership". REALLY?!?
3) How do I know all this? I was involved in a "group assessment" interview with the company. It was about 12 other people (half of which had extensive sales backgrounds)in the group and the regional rep as well as 4-5 other reps meet in a conference room to discuss the position, the company and their expectations were. On paper, the position seemed to be a great, rewarding career that proposed actually meeting and counseling with students but alas, that wasn't the case.
I hope this sheds light on what UoP does. It is a for profit school and this position is a profit based position meaning if you don't meet the sales goals and bring in a mother load of students then you will not bring in your base salary. If you feel comfortable with online universities, PLEASE do your homework/research and find out what these institutions are really all about.
Peace!
You get out what you put in
School recommended by
Mike
on
March 01, 2010
20/20 people found this review helpful
I'm currently enrolled at UofP and there's not much else I can add that hasn't already been commented on but I'll add my take on it anyway.
I'll start with my biggest gripe. My biggest complaint has to do with how UoP accepts their students. Unfortunately, it has very little to do with their aptitude and nearly everything to do with their credit score. This fundamental difference compared to the brick and mortar schools contributes to the negative image towards UoP. I guess the idea is that, if they're willing to accept anybody then they're willing to give anyone their degree provided they've sat through the courses and 'gotten by'. I'm not going to candy coat it and say that all my classmates have put in the effort and deserve the passing grades they've gotten so far, because there are a few that are just skating. But a lot of my classmates are able to accomplish the tasks of the curriculum and rightfully deserve to pass.
Another gripe that has already been stated is the group work. Yes, if you enroll at UofP and are one of the folks that really strives for a perfect grade then you will undoubtedly have to pick up the slack of one or more of your teammates. You can easily avoid this by actually observing the folks in your program and do yourself the service of determining which ones are worthy of being in your group. All of my instructors thus far have let us pick our own groups. Since starting the program, I've remained with 2 members from the start while having to kick a couple for not pulling their weight. The final presentation is a large portion of your overall grade and in turn is largely determined by the efforts of the entire team. It's simple, pick the most capable members of your class to be on your team. If they don't perform.....Boot 'em. Unfortunately the group method affords the slackers a perfect platform for getting by without really doing much of anything.
The aspect that grinds me the most is that the otherwise would-be failures are going to get their degree, go out into the work world and highlight their new UoP degree, and the potential employer is left shaking their head in astonishment that this person actually got a degree. This resonates to the professional community that UoP is nothing more than an institution that operates like a big box retail store. Pay me X number of dollars and we'll make sure that you get your product i.e. a little piece of paper that says "I are Smart."
Another gripe is the cost. Yes, it's terribly expensive. Although, considering my full time job and obligations to my family, I cannot afford to spend hours in a classroom multiple days a week. The time I spend in an actual classroom is ideal considering how much time I'm available to my other obligations. Needless to say that if you don't have the ability to accomplish tasks on your own then you're going to fail at UofP. Hand holding is not an option here.
Here are a few things that I do appreciate from UoP. All of my instructors thus far have at least a masters if not a Ph.D. and are currently employed in the field that corresponds to the course they are teaching. Compare that to the brick and mortar professors who got their scholastic accolades 2-3 decades ago and have almost no practical knowledge in the arena that they're teaching now.
All of my instructors have been available to answer any questions or concerns that I've had. I nearly always get a response right away. The avenues of communication are opened via the school forums, their personal email addresses and even their personal telephone numbers.
Lastly, the curriculum is pretty in depth and you're not left wanting more content to go explore, it's all there for you to dive into. I've been to other major universities and taking nothing away from them, and UoP offers a similar curriculum. So the only real difference is the format, where traditional schools test you and UoP makes you present the material.
Online schooling isn't going away, it's growing, and I implore you to do a bit of research and you'll find that most major universities are now offering distance learning and online degree programs. Technology is changing and schools are being forced to adapt.
Sorry for the wall of text....I'll give you the condensed version.
Pros - The curriculum is solid and the majority of the instructors are knowledgeable and available.
Cons - There are going to be sub-par graduates from this school who will diminish the perception of the degree earned from this school.
As for the folks that are having issues with their counselors, financial aid....whatever. That's situational. If you don't know what courses you need to take or can't handle your personal finances, then no amount of schooling can assist you. You're in more need of common sense than anything.
Aerospace Engineering
School not recommended by
Mike
on
February 25, 2010
10/21 people found this review helpful
Not really a review per se, since I never attended or knew anyone who attended UofPHX. It appears that many who attended did so because it met certain personal requirements, and it was the best or only available option for them. More power to you, and kudos for attempting to further your development. However... If anyone enrolling at UofPHX is considering a career in Aerospace Engineering, you are wasting your time and money. I'm a UCLA Mechanical Engineering graduate with over 3 decades experience in spacecraft and launch vehicle structures with NASA and the major aerospace contractors across the country. I've worked with literally 1000's of multi-disciplined engineers and scientists over the years, and the one thing I can say is that none of them attended the UofPHX. Our industry does NOT recognize UofPHX, and never will. Most of the employment applications are automated, with pull-down screens to enter where you obtained your degree(s) and major field of study. The universities listed not only include those in the US, but also the more prominent foreign ones as well. The minimum necessary to work in this field is a BS Engineering from one of these recognized schools, so if you graduated from UofPHX, you do not qualify. It won't make a difference if your instructors were CalTech or MIT PhD's, If YOU didn't go there.
Make an informed decision. It is your future. Don’t just jump the wagon.
School not recommended by
China
on
February 25, 2010
22/25 people found this review helpful
I entered University of Phoenix believing that their Master’s program/curriculum is something of value and essence. I wanted to further my education, be able to sit in the CPA exam and an online class is my best alternative considering I am a busy mother with a job and a family to juggle.
I must admit I did not do an extensive research or ask too many questions about this school. I wanted to get into the program immediately and finish. To make the story short, I got too easily, not too may questions, not too much probing on my transcript of records.
I started the program and thought I would be impressed. I did not. There is this one lady whose grammar is so off that I wondered how in the world did she get in? It is a master’s curriculum for heaven’s sake. To say the least, the master’s program came to me like I was in an undergraduate school paying a graduate price.
I am not here to degrade the school. I am trying to say to all of you out there considering this school is “Please make an informed decision. Don’t rush yourself thinking that they have a great masters program.” Take your time. See all other options out there. More importantly do not waste your money and your time.
The worst part of the experience is that my master courses are not transferable to the Brick and Mortar University I am in (thank heavens they offered online classes). In short, all my money and my time wasted and I am very disappointed and there is no word as to how disappointed I am with the waste.
I decided to write this because this is my only way to help all of you out there to make an informed decision.
Good luck!
Going back to UoP
School recommended by
Linda
on
February 19, 2010
12/13 people found this review helpful
I started on my MBA at the UoP online about 9 years ago. I took 2 1/2 courses and then had to drop out for personal reasons.
My brief education with UoP was enlightening. I felt more challenged and put more effort towards completing my assignments than I did in the traditional college campus environment.
I was able to continue working my full-time job, have a personal life, and further my education at the same time. My company also believed in UoP and offered tuition reimbursement for attending.
Nine years later, I am ready to continue pursuing my MBA. UoP is my first choice because it has what I need as far as courses and flexibility. In the UoP online environment I also get to meet and work with other professionals from around the world who are employed with well-known companies. (To me that is a great networking and learning opportunity.) I don't think I will get much of a diversity in the traditional classroom environment in my local area.
School not recommended by
Theo
on
February 11, 2010
26/42 people found this review helpful
I would never recommend anyone to go this school. There online program sucks. There financial service sucks even more and the counselor will harass you, call and email you crazy. Very annoying.
The first online class is an intro class to the school to get you to know the online program and the charge you for that, $1000 just to walk you through the online school site, that's bulls*** it should be free or cheaper. $1000 is to much for a get to know the school class.
Yes they charge $1000 a class, in my case i did not pass a class, they put me into the next then they take me out of the class and I get charged $500 for attending the class half the time, another bulls*** move by them. So know i would have to take the same class later and get billed for it again. That would be $1500 for the class. So if you don't pass a class you will have to pay out of pocket for that class, you will know be able to continue until you pay for it, even if you have financial aid. Yes i messed up, but it should not be this difficult to go to school, the school bills you for everything.
Bulls*** school, after many complaints I have talk to people that also hate this school. I should have done more research, which is my fault. So this is warning to others, this school will rob you.
This place gets no starts, that one is just to post this.
What are your education needs???
School recommended by
Mario Perez
on
February 10, 2010
21/21 people found this review helpful
My apologies for the long posting.
I have recently graduated from UoP with a BSB/Administration after 2 years of Business core classes only; I had previously taken my lower courses at a brick and mortar school in my early twenties. I think that UOP is an excellent option for working/married adults who cannot attend a traditional school to get their undergraduate education (UOP has stolen a lot of students from state schools in El Paso just because of its flexible schedule). Let's face it, we no longer have the patience to sit in a campus classroom with 40 young students who can easily beat us at math; but, on the other hand, they would not understand our working experience during class discussion.
REASONS TO ATTEND (UNDERGRADUATE): 1) Excellent text books and online learning tools (state of the art) 2) Excellent classrooms 3) A lot of presentations and talking on public 4) A lot of papers (APA format) 5) Flexible schedule (4hrs class - 10hrs recommended to read the chapters - 2/4hrs meeting with your team outside of class - all these per week)
POSSIBLE ARGUMENTS FOR NOT ATTENDING (UNDERGRADUATE): 1) If you are young and free to attend a traditional school 2) If you are more comfortable with straight academic-learning instead of bringing your work experience to classroom discussions 3) Cost: very expensive, however check with your employers if they have tuition reimbursement (mine did) or financial aid 4) The eternal thing about learning teams, common! we all know that teamwork on the corporate world means good people making up for bad people, that is everywhere you go. However, you have the responsibility to post a team log every week and you can log the parts you were responsible for; (if you are striving to become a leader you will know that the people working for you will not always think and do things like you) 5) The instructors: if you read your weekly chapters, follow the syllabus, take advantage of electronic tutorials and labs, you will just relax, ask questions when not clear, and listen to their work related stories. 6) If you think that there is a significant difference between ACBSP (UOP) and AACSB (University of Texas) certification at UNDERGRADUATE level.
GRADUATE SCHOOL: Traditional schools have an upper hand with their MBA programs. 1) UOP no longer has an advantage by claiming flexibility and teamwork. Traditional schools run Accelerated (COHORT teams) and Flexible programs that fit working adults - as a matter of fact, you are expected to be working - 2) Price: UOP runs at 10K more than UTEP, same time (2 yrs) 3) If you worry about your future team, traditional schools require the GMAT test for admission combined with subjective requirements, so they claim their students will be carefully selected 4) the nightmare of AACSB vs ACBSP: we are sure that good students are found anywhere and I don't mean to fall on the trap, but there is extreme prejudice by employers against MBA's that come from non-AACSB schools (like UOP). On this one you really need to do some research and make some decissions before jumping into a program, be sure you know where you want to go and don't just rely on rumors from both sides.
ONE TIP BEFORE LEAVING: University of South Dakota offers a 39-credit MBA (AACSB) online for only $10,000, I think the page is www.usd.edu
My objective assessment of the UoP MBA
School recommended by
Zuheir
on
February 09, 2010
21/22 people found this review helpful
My objective view of UOP MBA First, let me provide you all with my educational and professional background. The reason I chose to start here is simply because the UoP program is a better fit for certain profiles. I am a mid career individual at a director level working at a major Fortune 500 organization. I hold a BS degree from California State University and MBA from UoP and have held a number of managerial level positions in various industries. While my current assignment does not require a tremendous amount of travel, my earlier assignments required anywhere from 30% 80% travel. I moved 3 times in the past 6 years (cost to cost). Finally, while do not need more degrees to enhance my career (as I have built a strong resume over the years) I do enjoy learning.
OK, now on to UoP. As mentioned earlier I completed my MBA program through the UoP in 2009. I actually started the program 5 years earlier and due to my travel demands, I had to stop and go multiple times. As I read all of the posts, I think I find truth to many of them (positive and negative). Despite all of that, however, I think that the UoP MBA program is very solid and recommended for the right profile. Sure I encountered some incompetent academic counselors, but that was never a key driver for my decision to stay as I didn’t really need their direction much. I am a very capable individual and in fact found their attempts to reach me to “counsel” me to be annoying. I knew what I wanted to learn, signed up for it, paid for it (by the way my employer covered 100% of the cost), and there I went.
So, as I read the comments I categorized the complaints and the recommendations in the following categories, so let me offer my genuine and objective opinion. I’m not here to defend or attach UoP. I really don’t care all that much how anyone feels about it, but since there is sooooo much debate here, I hope you find this informative. Academic experience:
In my experience, I compare the educational level and quality of my MBA program at UoP to any other traditional program including Ivy league schools. I found myself studying harder than any other time in my academic life. I didn’t have to memorize the material for the exams, but I certainly had to “learn” the content. As all other students, my program required me to spend hours researching topics and writing long papers on the subject matter, every week. I have had numerous opportunities to apply what I learned around strategy, Organizational Change Management, and Leadership at my current assignment along side with Stanford, Harvard, and Kellog MBAs. Not one time I felt less qualified or capable at delivering quality product than them. In fact, I found myself explaining to few of them how to develop strategies. Without the UoP MBA program I wouldn’t have had that capability.
Support functions (counselors and financial aid)
Again, as a mid-career individual with, let’s just say average intelligence level, I see no value in academic counselors anyway. Folks pursuing and MBA with significant career experience should not need much of direction other than some basic logistical help in signing up for and cancelling classes. I never used the financial aid side so I can’t speak for it. I think someone from finance tried to contact me once a semester to see if I needed any help, but I usually declined the offer.
Online versus class room setting OK, on-line versus a traditional class setting. UoP offers on-line, classrooms, and a hybrid model that combines both. I’ve tried all of them. Frankly there are some benefits to all of them. There were times when I wished I could just got to class and just listen to the lecture, but those were very rare occurrences. I found the flexibility the on-line method to be far more superior and convenient. Now, that said, the online experience certainly require someone with a high level of discipline, independence, commitment, and dedication. If you need hand holding simply go to a traditional school. By the way, I’ve just started another master program in organizational behavior at another school and guess what I opted for the on-line. UoP did not offer this specific designation any longer. So, bottom line the online program is a great way to get your degree if you meet these criteria. Many people think on-line is a frm of a short cut to gaining a degree. Think again. It’s not.
Accreditation UoP is regionally accredited university and the MBA program is accredited by the ACBSP. It does not hold the AACSB (which is a negative from an academic credibility point of view).
Reputation Well, I don’t need to explain this one. You only need to read all of these reviews to get a sense for it. In my experience, however, the UOP reputation was never an issue. My employer covered 100% of the costs and fully recognizes the degree.
Utilization of the degree (is it helpful in the workplace) This is BIG factor though. If you are a fairly young individual trying to land your first consulting gig at McKinsey, UoP is really not for you (at least not for now). This probably applies to many other traditional universities as well. In this case, Harvard maybe your best bet.
Otherwise, if you already have an established career, the UoP MBA can be the best value for the money. You WILL LEARN a tone and will be able to immediately apply the learning. Ultimately, your career should not be based on where you got your degree but rather how you are able to apply the knowledge.
Bottom line, the UoP MBA is a wonderful way to gain the knowledge needed in today’s business environment if you have the discipline to multitask, you still want to have a personal life, yet willing to study hard.
Good Luck to you all.
It depends...
School not recommended by
welsh
on
February 05, 2010
40/42 people found this review helpful
I'll start with the positives. The UOP online forum is very advanced and easy to use. They provide the tools you need, including the class text book. The administrative team is helpful and responsive.
However, when I rate a school...any school, I'm obviously looking at it from the school's ability to fulfill my personal objectives.
I'm a 41 year old mother of 2. I have 18 years of progressive sr. experiece in another field...but I chose a master's in psychology. I'm taking a different direction with my life. Nonetheless, I expected my fellow students to engage me in enlightening conversation and be one of the greatest contributors to my learning experience.
I, quite frankly, don't know how 80% of these folks ever got their Bachelor's degree. Is proper writing no longer a criteria for professionalism? Is the easy way out the road to a quality education?
During my 4 classes I only had one professor who was willing to be critical enough to make sure I took a learning experience away from the class. UOP touts their project team experience as valuable, but by the time you finish your Bachelor's degree, you should have a solid understanding of these skills. The quality of people on 3 of my 4 teams did nothing but make me have to work harder to retain my own quality of work (ie. I had to make up their shortcomings).
I've since transferred to another school. I'm much happier, but there's another side to this picture. My work stands on its own, but, at my new school, a much greater responsibility is on the student to read the material and take as much as possible away from the course.
If you're a bachelor's degree student UOP might be great, but I found their master's program to be an invitation to mediocrity. If you're proactive and dedicated to your education-NOT JUST A DEGREE-then I suggest you give other schools a try.
poor treatment when you withdraw
School not recommended by
phil caroland
on
February 05, 2010
20/30 people found this review helpful
This school is very expensive and treats you like gold until you decide to withdraw, then they act like you never exist and treat you like crap..... Don't go here, you don't learn anything really, the classes and format are poor.
No Communication!
School not recommended by
Melanie
on
February 04, 2010
21/26 people found this review helpful
I attended this school for about a year. The entire time I was there it was a mess trying to get ahold of people. I would constantly call and email and would rarely get a response.
I didn't feel like I was getting a good education. Yes, I had great grades. I rarely had to study or do anything to keep those. I like to feel challenged when getting degrees, especially for that kind of money.
I transferred to another university here in my state and they could not receive my financial aid because UoP had not done their paperwork 4 months ago like they were supposed to. They finally released everything.
It's very chaotic. Teachers never respond and counselors are worse. I would not want anyone I know attending this school. Good luck to those of you who do.
For Profit Failure
School not recommended by
Anon
on
February 04, 2010
14/19 people found this review helpful
UoP, like other for profit so-called universities allow anyone into the program. This impacts the quality of the program tremendously. In group projects, students typically have one or more peers who have difficulty with simple writing skills. The program is based on writing, which means you will pick up the slack.
There are no lectures, no tests, and very little quality controls in place. In my opinion, it is an overpriced online correspondence school. For less money, consider online programs from public schools or local colleges. You'll get a better education guaranteed and the shady Phoenix salesmen won't harass you (the first sign that something is awry.)
never ever ever try to go here
School not recommended by
William
on
February 02, 2010
21/33 people found this review helpful
Attempted one semester.. dropped 2 days after it started yet still got stuck with an $1800 bill.... tried to ruin my credit, before I finally just had to pay it to get it off of my credit. People are rude, professors are never heard from.. Not worth the money for $300 a credit hour. You are better off taking the money and going to Vegas for the weekend and blowing EVERY SINGLE DIME OF IT ON A SLOT MACHINE.
Not for everyone
School recommended by
Kyle
on
January 29, 2010
47/53 people found this review helpful
I've read a lot of negative reviews here and every single one of them, with the exception of one, complained about things that organized adults with initiative could handle. I attended this school when I was in the military, earned my associate and four years later, am now starting a degree in accounting. All I have to say is I HAD PROBLEMS TOO yet I still recommend this school. But only to those who have the time, initiative and organizational skills to tackle any situation that may arise. The team concept at the school can and, more often than not, does suck. Guess what? I took three semesters of classes at a local community college and the same situation arises, only, I don't have the time to physically be there to babysit them all the time. You will be teaching yourself the information, not doubt about it, so be prepared for that. Bottom line, if you have issues with anything about this school or any other school and feel you can't or don't want to put the extra time in to fix it, do yourself a favor and get out. Trust me when I say the issues at the school are numerous but are shared with many other schools out there. There are always counselors who don't care, I've met plenty of them at other universities and community colleges. And this is a for-profit school so you should be prepared to offer proof of what you do when they ask for more and they don't deserve it. For the person that received F's in their first two classes despite working their butt off, I had the same problem with a teacher. But I kept documentation of everything I did for that class and the grades I got for them, confronted the teacher and adviser, and finally received the grade I earned. This is not a unique problem to the school since my wife had an issue with one of her grades when she attended a brick and mortar school, kept no documentation and couldn't argue it to the school or teacher. University of Phoenix: Only for those who have initiative, REAL drive, and the ability to take responsibility for themselves. Blaming the school for having teammates that don't care doesn't make any sense to me because you WILL get that at ANY school you attend, guaranteed.
Be Cautious!
School not recommended by
SV
on
January 24, 2010
20/25 people found this review helpful
I am in my last week of my masters program at UOP but I am not very pleased with my experience. I would admit that my writing has improved and the subject areas were pretty good however, some of the instructors were less knowledgeable than I was. The APA format required is subject to each instructor’s discretion and you don't find out what is expected until you have lost points off of your first paper for whatever reasons they decided to deduct for. I also found that the learning teams can be difficult because you may end up with some incompetent and unwilling teammates. I lost a lot of points from a teammate’s portion although we asked her to revise because she did not answer the questions required. Some say they grade based on the individual in the group but that is bull. Now let's not talk about the cost. I owe so much money right now but I was half way through before I realized how much it was going to cost and by then it was too late to start somewhere else. My advice, be cautious and aware of all aspects before embarking on the UOP journey.
Mixed Feelings
School recommended by
Eric
on
January 24, 2010
24/24 people found this review helpful
I have been attending UOP for 4 years, which I received a Bachelors in Criminal Justice and about to receive a Masters as well. I have found my time at UOP has been some what challenging, but fulfilling in regards to my academics. The biggest problem I have found with UOP is the staffing. They show little confidence in their ability to do their jobs. Both academic and financial advisers have displayed nothing but laziness and incompetence, leaving students frustrated and angry. During my course with UOP I have found myself taking matters up the chain, which I continued finding the same problems, especially within management. I have come to terms that UOP is devoted to take students money, providing little assistance as possible. During my 4 years I have had several academic councilors who have failed miserably to provide adequate customer service and when I have attempted to address this matter with proper personnel, I received nothing but excuses. I have many times thought about continuing my education with a different institution, but due to the quality of instructors that I have had over the past 4 years, I have decided to stay. The only reason I continued my education with UOP is because of the instructors and the programs that are available to working adults, like myself. As an 8 Navy Veteran, I have learned that the best way to get through difficult situations is to fight through it and stay focused on your objectives, which in this case was my education. As for my recommendation to anyone looking to attend UOP, I say be careful and make sure this school is the right school for you. Staffing is incompetent and will provide you with little to no help, but on the flip side, the instructors in my book are A quality. If I was to do it all over again, I not sure if I would choice UOP as my first choice, but I wouldn't rule it out.
Be aware
School recommended by
Andrew
on
January 18, 2010
101/102 people found this review helpful
I am a working professional with 18 years of management experience. I need a degree to improve my wage earning potential. I have a family and I am married along with working 40 plus hours a week. My time with the University of Phoenix was well spent but here are a few items that may merit consideration. The first thing is what do you as a prospective or current student expect from this institution? If the goal is to get a degree in an environment other than traditional classroom work then U of P will fit the bill. The second thing to consider is far more introspective. Are you someone who is self motivated and able to adhere to a rigid schedule independently? If you are not then U of P is NOT for you. The reality is that ANY online environment requires major self discipline. The third thing to consider is your degree path in conjunction with what your professional field requires. If you need an MBA with specific accreditation then do the research and find out what U of P offers. If your specific accreditation need is not there then DO NOT assume U of P will fit the bill. The fourth thing to consider is whether or not U of P will even fit with your overall goals. Find out if your employer will accept a U of P degree before you start. There are plenty of online programs available so do the research and pick the one that is the best for your need. The fifth thing to consider is credit transfers. Again do the required research and maximize your opportunities. Most universities and colleges will accept U of P credits because U of P is regionally accredited. My credits will be accepted 100% by the university I will attend to earn my graduate degree. Remember your arm is not being twisted to attend U of P so take charge of your own destiny and figure things out on your own. I had no trouble with my counselors because I asked plenty of questions and I took control of my education. When I had questions or concerns I did not wait until the last minute to address them. I allowed a reasonable amount of time (24 to 48 hours) for my counselors to find answers or solutions before responding back to me. This is an online environment and a business so expecting immediate responses is not realistic. Yes I ruffled a few feathers when the counselors did not meet my expectations. When I am spending my hard earned money that is just the way life is. I got the education I paid for because I put forth the effort. Some of the instructors were good and some were bad but that is no different than any other college or university across the nation. The school develops the curriculum and I personally have no issues with that. In my opinion this eliminates much of the potential for professor bias in the classroom instruction. I have sat through enough liberal indoctrination in my life and at my age I have no tolerance for such frivolous academic nonsense. The course work was not easy but it was also not impossible. I spent 30 hours per week studying for my two classes. The pace is accelerated so be prepared to find a way to make things happen on your own. The group learning environment was personally very tense in the beginning. I requested that my group change until I found one that was up to my own speed and expectations. Once I had that chemistry I simply did not allow it to be changed. Yes I ruffled some feathers but it is my money. The reality is know what you need and develop a plan to attain that need. If you are expecting to have your hand held and a cheerleader right next to you then do yourself a favor and go to a traditional institution of higher learning.
Proud To Attend UOP
School recommended by
James Warner
on
January 14, 2010
41/41 people found this review helpful
I’m not sure why there are so many complaints about UOP, any problem I have had has been resolved very quickly by either my instructors or by my counselors. Most of my instructors have been wonderful, only one instructor seemed to be a bit strict on my discussion question posts (requiring the posts to be at least 150 words), but that was not really an issue for me. Overall my 1 and a half years attending this university have not only been a great experience, it has also improved the way I feel about myself having a GPA of 3.97. I have never had a financial issue that could never be solved, I have never had an error that could not be corrected, and although some counselors are difficult to reach, they have always gotten back to me to solve the issue or answer my questions. The many negative reviews for UOP do not truly describe my educational experience, but I would agree that online education is not for everyone. I expect to graduate with an associate’s degree in psychology august 2010, my only issue is that UOP does not currently have a clinical psychology program and I will have to attend another university to continue my education.
Lame counselor
School not recommended by
jgz
on
January 13, 2010
14/34 people found this review helpful
I just got off the phone with a UOP counselor. UOP has been hounding me every single day on the phone since I requested information from their website. I told them over and over again that I will call them when I'm ready. It is a true telemarketing set up there. Finally after one week of daily and sometimes twice daily phone calls I relented and had them put me through to a counselor " " . She was completely lame. Good phone skills (nice voice, handled the conversational portion well) but a complete moron when it came to talking about the degrees, curriculum, program etc. For instance she didn't know what an MFA was. She also didn't know what a "low residency" program was and started defending UOP saying it wasn't low residency it was certified! What an idiot! If I have to be the one to educate the counselors for the school, how good can it possibly be? Stay away, stay away!!!!
It is what it is with UOP...
School not recommended by
MiamiFlower
on
January 07, 2010
56/60 people found this review helpful
I attended UOP from late 2008 until September 2009. I was excited to be attending the university because they seemed as if they were more put together then most online schools.
At first, my Academic Counselor would call me all of the time to check in and make sure that I was doing well. BUT when I had questions for her, it would take forever to receive a call back AND then we would play this phone tag game. When leaving a VM, I would let her know to call me after 4pm (which she had done during the honeymoon phase of our relationship) but she still insisted on calling me during my work hours KNOWING that I wouldnt be able to pick up my cell to talk to her. What is it that she wasn't understanding?!?! UGH! Then when she would call me, she would act as if she never got my initial message stating the problem.
The second problem was the finance counselor. She was nice but seemed clueless as to what was going on. I always had my questions ready and she could never give me a straight answer. I will say that she was helpful especially when it came to making payment arrangements BUT I am still trying to figure out why I still owe over 1500.00. I still cant get a straight answer on that one and that is one of the reasons why I have decided to leave.
The last problem is the learning teams. I have taken 5 classes with them and almost half of the learning teams I have been involved with have been horrible. The last class I had taken was the turning point for me! There was 5 of us on the team and if one person wasn't sick then there would be something wrong with someone's computer and etc, etc. I understand everyone has issues but it seemed a bit much when they happened every week.
When it came down to the project, we set a date as to when it should be submitted for peer-review. Three of us handed them in on time and the other two were full of excuses. The instructor never recieved the finished product. The 3 of us tried to reach out to the slackers via team forum or email and never got responses. I pleaded with the instructor not to give us three a failing grade. It took the instructor 4 days to get back to me but I ended up with a B in that class. STUFF LIKE THAT I CANNOT TOLERATE! I do not want my grade to be dependant upon someone else handing in work or etc!
You also have to deal with the time difference of some of the teammates. Sometimes they wont be able to log on until they leave work which may be the time that I go to bed! Or - they may work 2 jobs and not be able to log into the team forum until the weekend and to me, that prolongs any projects that your team has to work on. The whole thing seems a mess to me!
I honestly do not think that the learning teams are necessary, but my opinion will not make a difference. A lot of people that I have spoke to have stated that they will not apply there because they do not have the time or energy to deal with learning teams. The education was fine but the learning teams are a mess. If you are considering attending UOP, please consider the whole learning team thing and if that meets your needs.
If you're serious about an education
School not recommended by
Mario Siqueiros
on
January 07, 2010
44/47 people found this review helpful
I received a BSM a few months ago, and I can honestly say the road to achieving this goal was paved with a few rather rough bumps.
The biggest issue was dealing with the learning teams. Being active duty military I learned to identify conflict management/resolution techniques to deal with the many "ideas" from group peers (this kept me sane). Each class was the same ol' thing: forming, storming, norming, and performing; the problem was that by the time the group came together it was well into the 4th week and by that time all the group cared was about submitting a "final project".
UoP will not let you start a class unless they have been paid first...and if a student needs to drop a class (for an emergency) in the first two days after an electronic post was made, that student pretty much has to speak with Congress to get the money returned...
I do have to thank UoP for making a better writer out of me - the amount of papers that students have to write is a little excessive, not a bad thing but excessive. I will be pursuing a MBA from a different institution.
Just don't do it.
School not recommended by
Curtis
on
January 06, 2010
18/32 people found this review helpful
If you are able to attend a collage in your community that offers "night school" please do it. I personally feel UoP is all about the money. I mean $1650 is a lot of money for a five week class. How else do they pay for all their online and internet advertisement? I know they make a lot of money because the Arizona Cardinals play football in the University of Phoenix Stadium. I don't know of too many other schools that have put their name on a professional sporting stadium.
Glad I read Reviews First. Saved me from BIG Mistake.
School not recommended by
Lisa
on
January 05, 2010
51/71 people found this review helpful
It's obvious that UoP is just in it for the money. They don't care about your education. It sounds like an online education scam.
I just got off the phone with a counselor and she seemed nice, but was very forceful in trying to get me to sign up. She kept saying if we can get your stuff approved, then all of a sudden it was approved. She made it seem like it was hard to get in, but obviously not. I was in without even filling out the application.
She tried to talk me out of the field I wanted to get into because UoP did not offer it. She claimed everything the people said in the reviews, but if I were to sign up I see by the reviews as well that I would be dropped. Then let's talk about the price. It was a total of 27k for an 19 month program. Are you out of your Freaking mind??! Told me I MIGHT qualify for a 20k loan, and in the same breathe I do qualify. So, in signing up for your school I will be in debt 27k more than I started and I'm not guaranteed a job placement. NOT. She sound like she really needed to reel me in so she can pay her own bills.
Please read the one review with the guy who worked there, he pretty much sums up what i was thinking about the school. UoP is a bottom-line school, and that Bottom Line is WE WILL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO GET YOUR MONEY. It was a big waste of my time and I'm so glad I was smart enough to sense she was money-hungry. To give them 27k is just like putting it in a trash can to burn. Whatever you do, always read reviews. Even the people who said they recommend it mention they have problems. Money seems to be the first concern. The so-called professors are not educated, and there's something fishy about the classes. BUYER BEWARE
