Walden University Reviews

I transferred into Walden after attending an APA accredited clinical psychology Ph.D. that was very hard to get into (2% acceptance rate) and earning my master's en route to the Ph.D. I have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.5 at a research extensive university, undergraduate research experience, and a 700 on the quantitative section of the GRE. I left my first program in good standing to try to find something else that was a better fit with what I was looking for. I ultimately arrived at working full-time in research and education and later attending Walden in a non-clinical specialization area.

The courses at Walden are no walk in the park, and this is coming from a student who was already used to hard work and being top of the class, etc. I have a 3.7 cumulative GPA at my first Ph.D. program with 45 ph.d. credit hours. There are only a few reasons why you should go to Walden rather than a traditional program 1) You need to work full-time or part-time and most traditional programs will not allow you to do this or your chair at your program will not allow you to do so 2)You have finished all your course work at your current institution, but you cannot graduate because your dissertation chair has no allies in the department and the committee members will not pass you because they hate your chair, 3)Your dissertation chair has left the University and the other faculty won't pick you up, because you started with another faculty member, 4)Your chair at the traditional university has asked you to do something unethical or is milking the heck out of you and working you 50 hours a week to get his research done and you can't get any of your own stuff done. Walden will allow you transfer in up to half of the course work you need for the ph.d. (9 classes of 18, excluding dissertation) Since being a student some of the roles I've had include being a full-time college instructor and being an assistant professor at regionally accredited colleges. Some of my colleagues at these institutions have turned up their noses and others have been cautiously optimistic.

Ultimately, it's about the work that you produce. I have been nominated for professor of the year several times and am working to publish peer-reviewed articles before and after I graduate. It is easy to get into Walden, but it is hard to graduate. The courses are rigorous and require a LOT of work. Also, there is no hand holding. You will have to motivate yourself or get a dissertation coach and maybe both. If a student actually graduates from Walden with a Ph.D. in psychology, that degree means something. In no way is it possible to skate through. I have learned more at Walden than at the APA accredited program I attended. That's probably because more is required, and so I have put in a lot more effort. The professors are unlikely to give you a lot of feedback. However, isn't it about independent learning anyway? If you can think critically at a high level, you will not have a problem. If you can't, don't go to Walden.

I do not agree with Walden's marketing schemes and I think that some of their policies are problematic. However, overall, for a non-licensure track specialization in psychology, the Ph.D. program is a good choice. By the way, because of my work experience and being just a few months away from graduation, I was able to obtain a full-time position at a non-profit regionally accredited institution teaching for a master's program in psychology. I don't think my experience is typical, but it shows that it is possible. I have been upset with Walden policies a few times, but I appreciate that the politics that exist at other institutions are counterbalanced with the purchasing power of the student. If you do not like your dissertation chair, you can fire him. If you have a professor who sucks, you can drop the class and take another professor without retribution. Again, Walden's not for everyone, but for those who start AND finish, it is a good choice.

I must say things got off to a rough start.I work in higher ed so I knew what I needed to get done to start. I have to admit that I hesitated in getting started due to bad reviews I read online,So at the last minute I completed my enrollment and submitted a FAFSA,etc.In the meantime my admission adviser was switched to a new gut who was afraid to answer direct questions,"I think he thought he was being shopped". I asked for someone else to work with and they obliged.

There financial aide office is centralized,meaning,the person that you speak with is NOT a financial aide officer.They are customer service representatives who collects information and forward it on to another office who actually processes all the packaging. Once I knew this,I was a little more patient with them.Once it was all said and done,I started and so far so good.I just completed my second class and I LOVED IT.I'M happy I pushed through. I love the writing tools offered by Walden.

I really had to push through the holidays to maintain an A.It takes a great deal of commitment to get through any online program. Because I understand this business I have to say that people should do their own research when considering colleges,especially online schools;Some of the negative reviews here are due to people's lack of doing your research,following up and making sure things are in order before you start a program;and most importantly knowing without a doubt that an online education is best for you in the long run.

The schools financial aid department is full of liars, they purposely did not tell me my aid was suspended until I had already started a class so they could get more money from me.

The professors have to many courses, they dont even know who is in what course and dont respond within a reasonable time. STAY AWAY FROM THIS SCHOOL!!!! Go to a campus, these online schools lie and steal money and half the time they lose accreditation for their programs.

I am writing to talk about my experience at Walden. I graduated one year ago with a MSN in Leadership and Management. This is NOT a diploma mill....by far. Walden prepared me for a DNP program (I just finished my first semester). I was excepted into Rush U, UNLV, and St. Catherines (which I chose). I interviewed with all three and presented my portfolio at each interview. All schools were very impressed.

The program at Walden was rigorous and demanding (as it should be at a graduate level). I often spent 40 hours a week on course work. On-line learning is not for everyone. You WILL be teaching yourself. The instructors will guide you but if you are looking for a 'spoon-fed' education, this is not for you.

Then again, if you are looking for that, you should not be going to grad school. It is hard work. I have nothing but great things to say about my 26 months at Walden. I am doing great in my doctorate program thanks to the experience writing, analyzing literature, and weekly discussion boards, as well as reading assignments and videos.

As I was reading previous reviews, I could not believe how many negative reviews there were. Due to my wonderful and positive experience, nothing I have read will change how I feel regarding Walden or online education.

Success occurs if the student is willing to put in the work required. Do not let the negative experience of another keep you from doing something wonderful with your life!