Virginia College Online Programs Reviews
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Get it together
School recommended by
----
on
February 04, 2010
4/6 people found this review helpful
I read through a lot of these reviews and found them all extremely interesting. It's not my job to sell this school, but I think it's important to really read them and see what people are saying. I think that one that frustrated me the most, was the one that said VC is not accredited. They are accredited. Their prices are the same as every other online school. yea, they're more expensive than a Community College or a University, but HELLO those schools are subsidized by the Government!! Of course they're cheaper! Part of what you're paying for is the convenience.
The instructors... are not their to baby you. This is college level work. If you don't understand the work, then yes e-mail them, and I have found they get back to you within 3 days.
this is a big school and sometimes there are miscommunications. If you have a problem, see what you can do first, then run it up the ladder.
Problems with getting your transcripts in... Did you read any of the paperwork you signed that explains that you need your unofficial paperwork in for transcripts to officially transfer?
this is a great school, but like ALL SCHOOLS, they're not going to do everything for you.
Learn More about Virginia College Online ProgramsSo So College
School not recommended by
Doug
on
January 30, 2010
2/4 people found this review helpful
I am currently a student at VCO. I have completed 7 classes and I feel it is a bit too expensive for what you get. The instructors seem to know the subject material but the material is really too easy for college level classes. I was charged for books I did not receive until half way through the classes. Like I said the material is easy so there was no need for the books. They are very disorganized. Good luck getting any straight answers from anyone they just like to pass the buck. I am not a person that complains so I just want everyone to know that this college is not worth the money. I do enjoy the interaction with other students that is probably why I have stayed. I hope this post will help others make an informed choice about VCO.
Instructors SUCK!
School not recommended by
New Student and Already Hating It
on
January 28, 2010
3/5 people found this review helpful
This is my 4th week of class and I already hate this school. I have this instructor who refuses the work with me. I have emailed him several times regarding my credit and he has not responded. He sent me one email that was totally rude and unprofessional. I tried to call to report his action to someone at virginia college and spoke to an advisor who stated she seen the email and just felt it was straight to the point. I don't know what else to do. I hope it's not to late to withdraw from this school. I do not recommend this college to anyone. CJ instructors are rude and not helpful. PLEASE STAY AWAY FROM VCO
RUN AWAY!
School not recommended by
cwilliams
on
January 08, 2010
11/13 people found this review helpful
Ladies and Gentlemen, Listen and listen good. I always wanted to attend college but marriage and motherhood got in the way of my dreams. So I thought I would try VCO. It was one of the biggest mistakes in my whole life.
I am now in 35,000 worth of debt, for a degree that is not even regionally accredited. The instructors are not helpful, they pretty much give you the course work and tell you to go do the rest on your own. I wish I could turn back time and go to local college or University.
Now I will be 45 when I pay this debt off cause of consolidation. It is just not worth it. I worked really really hard. The easy way is not always the good way. I wish these reviews were here when I enrolled in 2007. It would have helped me a great deal!!!
School's ability to solve problems
School not recommended by
Sucker
on
December 29, 2009
7/10 people found this review helpful
I am a current student at VCO. Most of my courses at VCO I have had no problems with. When I started at VCO one of the questions I asked was if all the instructors had a phone number to contact if there was a problem I needed solved. I was assured they did. I just finished my second term and I ran in to a problem with one of my Criminal Justice course this man is the worse instructor I have ever had. His instructions for assignments were to vaige and if you sent him an e-mail to clarify he would tell you to do the work as it says. I had a problem where one of my quizzes didn't post it took him 7 weeks to get the quiz reset so I could take it again.
I requested in the 3rd week to be transferred out of his class. Admissions agree to transfer me to a different class. I had to go all the way up the admissions food chain to get them to agree. Then the registration department say I had to stay in his class and I was not nice about it at all. I was really mad about it. My admissions adviser was great she really tried to help. But my student adviser sucked. she had taken this instructors course and liked so she was not really to help me it got so bad I quit dealing with her and would only deal with my Admissions Adviser. I DO NOT RECOMMENDED this school!!!
Don't Listen
School recommended by
Dena
on
September 14, 2009
20/25 people found this review helpful
All of these reviews sound completely the opposite of what I have experienced. I have a student advisor and a financial aide rep to aide me. I always talk with them!
Wow! I can't believe there are so many negative feedbacks on this school. I have been a student for almost 3 yrs and I have loved it! I've had a few negative/lazy professors but I let my student advisor know immediately and I also fill out the surveys at the end of the semester. Who said the classes were easy? They tend to be a little more laid back but it's an online environment so the Professors overlook things.
I've always gotten my checks in the mail. When you sign up with your packet you have the option to send the money back, store it in your student acct, or receive a check in the mail. I receive my checks in the mail and they usually come approximately 2 weeks after you receive your subsized/unsubsidized letter in the mail.
VCO has switched to new system and there have been email confusions and etc. However, it seems to be straightened out now. Sometimes the grades do not unlock and you have to ask the professor to unlock them. Tech support is there 24/7 to back you up if you have problems. In order for you to have problems with this school, you have to basicly not care about your work. I am a straight A student and it's not because the classes are easy. It's because I login 4-5 times per week and really dedicate about 12-15 hrs per week to my classes.
Letters of recommendations? Umm.. you are an online student. Your transcripts should reflect your ability to do your job. For instance, I have stayed on the President's list or Dean's List the entire time. This reflects in your transcripts that you have an unofficial copy emailed to you at no expense. Also, you will receive certificates in the mail if you do make the President's/Dean's list.
In addition, I would like to add that this is a reasonably priced school. I am a military wife so I get a discount. I pay 180 per credit hour and that includes all of my books. You can't get a better deal than that these days! I hope this helps all of you thinking about VCO because this is the school to go to.
Yes, I do wonder about some of the people enrolled in these classes. Some are very intelligent but some can't even understand English, I think. Some of them seem to be really illiterate or they just simply don't care. However, you find those types at every college.
DO NOT ATTEND
School not recommended by
Teresa
on
September 02, 2009
20/25 people found this review helpful
Virginia College Online is a rip off college. I am in debt now around $27,000 dollars. I have no degree and I have given up on my education. The school dropped me when my financial aid money was depleted.. I would not recommmend this school at all. Virginia College Online has a hold on my credits now. They claim that I owe them money. The question is how much should a person keep giving them? I am broke and still earning federal wage with no degree. I had no advisor. The school is greedy and will run your credit into the ground. Believe me I am a witness.
SCHOOL NOT RECOMMENDED
School not recommended by
Chelle
on
May 20, 2009
25/31 people found this review helpful
I had been going to VC since June 2007. I was enjoying taking classes from them up until the fall quarter of 2008. First, I keep getting letters about receiving assistance from the military due to I am a Veteran. I haven\'t been using any of my military money because I had a student loan. Next, I had enrolled for my spring quarter, and when I went to log in for those classes I couldn\'t get in. Now this is 1 wk after winter quarter has ended. At that time that is when I called, and was told I was dropped due to my GPA. Mine you I was never told or talked to about my grades. They said I was sent a letter two days before the new quarter begain. To this day, I still have not receive a letter. Also, every time you call to talk to your advisor it is a different person and they can\'t tell you anything because they don\'t even know what is going on. I would not recommend for you to go to this school.
Nothing but a headache!
School not recommended by
Kayla
on
April 29, 2009
26/31 people found this review helpful
I was attending VCO a short time ago, and it was nothing but problem after problem.
I got married right a week after enrolling, and prior to this I was told I would have no problem changing it over once I did, which is why I enrolled. SO the counselor tells me all I have to do is fax over a copy of the marriage certificate and a copy of my license or ID, I said ok thats fine. So I fax it and call them she says yes we got them but we needed a color exact copy of your license, which she failed to tell me the first time. Mind you it costs about $15 to do this, I know its not a lot of money but for someone who just got married and has kids the budget was really tight at the time. So I say no big deal I'll do it when I get the chance and have the extra money.
My next issue was with my transcript. I was told all I had to do was fax over my transcripts and they would take care of the rest...seems easy enough right? WRONG!! I call a few hours later, and they didn't get them yet she told me call tomorrow, so I did and they still didn't get them. So I gave them a few days to give them the benefit of the doubt. They STILL hadn't got them!! SO the next day I fax them again and spend more money doing so. I call them and of course they didn't get them!
SO I tell her listen I just took a course that I already took and I'm about to take three more classes that I already took so if you haven't got them by now I'm not going to waste more of my time and money. I already have problems with my loans and financial aid because you people couldn't update my files with my married name and my financial aid is already updated, so if you could please just drop me from all my courses it will be better off for all of us.
Funny thing is she puts me on hold and about 10 minutes later gets back on the phone and says we have your transcripts in the file but we need the official ones mailed....I got so mad at her I just freaked out! I was like listen you told me I had to FAX them to you, never once did you say anything about mailing them...its amazing how you just magicly found them after I complained. I said you just lost a student and you don't need to help me drop courses, now I'll let the two weeks pass and be automatically dropped from them, no need for you to do what you get PAID to do...then I hung up on her. I was soooo mad!
So anyways, I never got a call back...I think shes scared LOL!! But I got a bill in the mail saying I owe them $1000 which is total BS because I only took TWO courses and had financial aid...just another person I'm going to have to yell at obviously!!! AHHH the battle continues!!
UNACCREDITED SCHOOL
School not recommended by
Regretful
on
April 22, 2009
52/57 people found this review helpful
A year into my Virginia College Online experience, I decided to try to trasfer over to my local university to finish up my degree. The admissions admin at the university told me that unfortunately, if I chose to enroll at their school, none of my VC credits will transfer BECASE VIRGINIA COLLEGE IS AN UNACCREDITED SCHOOL. VC is ACICS accredited, but this is not an regional accredidation that is recognized by any state university. Now I just have to cross my fingers and pray that my community college will take some of my 44 credits that I paid $13,500 at VC for. (Although, I could start completely over at my community college and it would still be cheaper than my ONE year at VC.) The school is a rip off!
Also, did you know that VIRGINIA COLLEGE is considered a "private school," and that they're tuition prices are at least FIVE times higher than a community college (C.C.= $71 per credit hour, vs. VC= $350 per credit hour). Most community colleges now even offer online classes. Please don't waste your money and time at this school. Go to community college, especially if you have dreams of eventually being at a university.
TERRIBLE
School not recommended by
April
on
March 25, 2009
36/43 people found this review helpful
All I can say is that this school is terrible! They ran through the paperwork and after 3 quarters there, they dropped me and told me that I owe them 2,000 dollars! DO NOT GO HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Accounting
School not recommended by
Not Too Happy
on
February 26, 2009
39/45 people found this review helpful
Run as fast as you can from this college! The folks in the financial aid office and student service are the most UNORGANIZED group of people I have ever dealt with. I've acutally caught them in a lie once or twice. They changed from the Angel format to E-College and it's been a total nightmare! The program had so many glitches it wasn't even funny. I had a very frusterating experience since I started with them. They're only concerned about one thing---YOUR MONEY.
Tuition Assistance
School not recommended by
Connie Burke
on
January 08, 2009
26/31 people found this review helpful
My problem was VCO letting me take the classes my employer approved. My employer will only pay for classes that apply to my job. VCO told me I needed to take certain classes the first two quarters. I did not know my employer would not pay for the classes I took last quarter because they did not approve, and now I have to reimburse my employer for last quarter, which will come out of my paycheck.
VCO told me that they had policies and procedures, and that I needed to take certain subjects this quarter. My employer will only pay for what is approved, and I do not want to reimburse my employer. I would pay cash if I had it to avoid this frustration. The school tells you that they will take tuition assistance from an employer, but then they tell you the courses you can take. My instructors were helpful and I enjoyed the classes.
Review of Virginia College Online
School recommended by
Layne
on
October 13, 2008
9/11 people found this review helpful
This school is an absolute nightmare in my opinion. If you have any administrative issues whatsoever, you will never experience such frustrating, ignorant, incompetent individuals in your entire life. You can e-mail as many student services advisors as you want, even the dean of students, and NO ONE WILL RETURN YOUR CALLS OR ANSWER YOUR E-MAILS. I have taken 6 classes with this school....what a waste!!! I must say, however, that every professor I had was extremely diligent in answering questions and being involved with their class. However half of the time, the school's system isn't running properly and you can't log into classes at crucial times, or you'll hire a proctor that they require to take placement exams and you'll get online and the links for the exams won't even be there on the site! You'll then call to try to rectify the situation, it will take 2 weeks to get a hold of anyone competent enough to fix the problem, and then just when you think the problem is fixed and you go to take the exam again, the link is STILL NOT THERE. This is a just an example of a few minor problems that have surfaced. For me to get into my entire experience with this school would take two years and require me to write a novel. Here's my advice....stay FAR away from this school!!! You will never be as frustrated with anyone in your entire life as you will be with their faculty.
School not recommended by
Cara H
on
October 07, 2008
24/26 people found this review helpful
I agree with some of the previous posts. Many of my professors have been responsive and assist me in a timely manner. I have had several though that don't respond until 2 weeks later & seem like they have more things to do besides help you. Not to mention, they make excuses when they do not meet your questions or concerns adequately.
If you have a technical or financial issue, good luck on getting any help at all. Trying to call and get in contact with anyone for anything is difficult, if not impossible. You have to call or be transferred several times to get someone who can actually assist you with the issues you have. Many of the staff you attempt to call do seem unorganized, ignorant, and just incredibly rude when you finally do get someone.
While I am almost done with my courses for my degree, this whole process has been so incredibly frustrating, irritating, and aggravating. I highly recommend looking elsewhere for online courses. I am not sure if all online courses are this hideous and unorganized, but it is terrible if you have taken on campus classes before and try to deal with the staff at this college.
Intermediate Keyboarding AOM 1020
School recommended by
Mrs. Jemison
on
September 26, 2008
24/26 people found this review helpful
Hello everyone. I just finished with the summer quarter. It was exhausting, but I made it. My keyboarding instructor was amazing between the two of us we got the job done.
The email were on point. When I would send her an email it would not be long before I would receive a response. I passed this class and I am excited. I had to take it for the second time. It was not because I did not know the material. It was because I did not have the proper software for this class so I was told.
I sat here and watched my grade go down the tubes. I did not do that this time. The school provided us with a temporary file in order to get through the class. I don't know if the rest of the class benefited from that software but I know I did. I practically went from an "F" to a high "B" overnight. I was up day and night trying to get my grade to come.
I spent most of the semester trying to figure out why I could not do most of my assignments. I had to keep calling tech support and GDP. I believe I stayed on the phone with them most of the semester but it payed off. I am just about ready to wrap up my associates program up in a bag. I am working on my last year of school. I plan to go back in for the B.S. degree. It is too far away to tell right now. It depends on how I feel when I am done. My decision will be based off of two factors. My student account and my home life.
My ultimate goal for this degree will be to enter into the AIT program and work on getting my nursing home administrators license. We will keep our fingers crossed.
ehh..
School not recommended by
Anonymous
on
September 12, 2008
31/34 people found this review helpful
I enjoy the online classes VERY much. I just finished up my first quarter at VCO and so far the teachers have been very good.
The biggest problem I've experienced is not with the online school itself, but the people actually running the school. When I decided to attend VCO I had a man contact me from the school to help me through the process of registering. He was VERY helpful.. gave me so many reasons Virginia College Online was a great school and so right for me and blah, blah, blah... everytime I would email him, he replied almost immediately.. same with phone messages.
After classes began it was almost impossible to get ahold of him! Like he got me to sign up, collected his commission for "recruiting me", and then said screw her. I decided to change my major, that was a mistake.
I sent an email to one of the deans requesting the change and he sent me a bunch of forms to print out. He said I needed to fill them out, sign them, and mail them back to him.. and to expedite the process I could also fax him a copy. "No problem," I thought, and did it the same day... Well I mailed it to him over a week ago and still haven't heard anything. And for some reason they never get my faxes, although other people do with no problems.
Anyway, so I faxed it to him like 7 times. I finally emailed the guy yesterday asking if he received anything from me and he never responded. Also I requested a letter to verify my enrollment to the school as a full time student to give to my employer and I got a letter stating I was only half time, which is wrong. The people that work in the office seem extremely unorganized, unintelligent, AND ignorant. The communication is TERRIBLE! When you finally DO get ahold of someone, they act like its such a pain in the butt to answer your question.
I really wish I wouldn't have signed up at the first college I saw.. I got financial aid from them and everything so I'm pretty much locked in. If I would've known that my local community college offered online classes, I would've chose them instead.
VCO
School not recommended by
NO NAME
on
June 10, 2008
30/34 people found this review helpful
I took classes online with VCO. The course work was ok, however, the majority of the students did not seem prepared for college level work. This created extra work when placed into forced group assignments. There were many who either did not participate at all but still got the grade of those that did the work; or the ones who did participate but not at college level thus bringing down the grade of others in the group.
Then there is the policies...they change them without giving any notice - no postings, emails or anything. When you are trying to utilize a program and have started the registration for it only to have it removed without any notice that it was going to be removed and no appeal process, leaves a bad feeling.
The professors were ok but always seemed to have other things to do and many were not responsive to email within a reasonable time to enable completion of work assignments.
