I would appreciate any information that can give me the confidence
that these online colleges are nothing more than a way to get people's
money.
> Has anybody actually graduated from American InterContinental
> University / AIU?
Somebody has, yes.
> I can't find anything.
Go to http://www.degreeinfo.com/forums/ , click on "Search", and
type "intercontinental".
> When I applied for this online college, I was "rushed" to get my
> application in (my credit card for enrolling for $23,600!)
What degree is this, an MBA? MBAs aren't cheap anywhere. If
it's some other degree, you may have much cheaper options.
> prior to even being "accepted" or knowing how many credit hours
> would be applied for life experience and prior college work.
That's bad. I agree they ought to tell you that first.
> I was told to fax in all of my information within 18 hours of
> speaking with someone from AIU in order to get into Fall classes...
> Anyway, whenever someone rushes you like that you can't help
> feel the presence of a possible CON scheme.
It does sound as if someone is being paid commission to enroll
you. However, AIU is regionally accredited, so the degree they gave
you would be recognised.
> I would appreciate any information that can give me the confidence
> that these online colleges are nothing more than a way to get people's
> money.
Many *are* nothing more than that. But AIU does deliver
recognised degrees. Whether it's a good bargain is another matter.
Sadly, the legitimate, regionally-accredited for-profit schools seem to
be using more and more of the aggressive marketing techniques that
characterized the bad guys. Spam recruiting. Pop-up messages everywhere.
Pushy telemarketers. Order by midnight tonight, and all that. But wait,
that's not all. With every MBA, you get a set of Gensu steak knives.
>
> > When I applied for this online college, I was "rushed" to get my
> > application in (my credit card for enrolling for $23,600!)
>
> What degree is this, an MBA? MBAs aren't cheap anywhere. If
> it's some other degree, you may have much cheaper options.
>
I've got about 90 hours built up so far towards a BS in Bus. Mgt.
However, once I landed a sweet job, er, managing a business over 15
years ago I dropped out. I would like to finish it up so when I
retire I can maybe teach at a local community college. However,
that's still 10 years away, so I have patience and would like to try
and do it during down times at work and at home. With the experience
of running a $10,000,000+ a year company I was also hoping that maybe
some of that life experience might count towards college credit too.
This AIU mess at testing the waters was my first attempt and has left
me with a bad taste in my mouth.
Any suggestions on a reputable, accredited and cheap path to a BS are
quite welcome! I'd probably then go onto Keller's MBA program...
> It does sound as if someone is being paid commission to enroll
> you. However, AIU is regionally accredited, so the degree they gave
> you would be recognised.
>
Does that really happen? Well, that's just not right. I can
understand making a buck here and there, but that doesn't smell right
to me. A $50 application fee is one thing, but almost being
semi-swindled into a $23,600 course-plan is another. That would
translate into more commission if they signed you up for classes one
may place-out of completely which is totally against a student's best
interest. IMHO, a decent college should have counselors on a straight
salary.
The one thing that really got my knickers in a twist is that when I
was talking to this AIU "salesperson" was that I couldn't start until
the Fall or afterwards. When I asked him "why the rush?" he said that
it was because classes start in July...Well, come on...And $23,600,
"well, that's the total cost...books, software, etc. is all included.
We don't hit you with all the extras other schools charge." Well, to
me, that still translates to almost $800 per credit hour and a pushy
salesperson looking out only for their best interests....grrr....
Many thanks,
Pete
> I've got about 90 hours built up so far towards a BS in Bus. Mgt.
Why not go for the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
at Thomas Edison State College?
http://www.tesc.edu/prospective/undergraduate/degree/bsba.php
> With the experience of running a $10,000,000+ a year company
Is the company reimbursing you for tuition?
>> It does sound as if someone is being paid commission to enroll
>> you.
>
> Does that really happen?
Oh, yes! When questioned about some appalling ads, University of
Phoenix "said a vendor for the university [...] had produced the
advertisements without permission."
http://chronicle.com/free/2003/02/2003020302t.htm
John Bear
Publisher's site: http://www.degree.net
> If you only have about 30 units to go, you could be one day away . . . in
> that Excelsior College (regionally accredited) gives up to 30 semester
> onits for one 3 1/2-hour GRE exam -- and up to six units each for the
> 90-minute CLEP exams.
And if you live anyplace that has a state lottery,
you could be
$1 away
from complete financial security
:-)
the difference being that with the lottery,
you'll know in a few days that you didn't win;
whereas with the GRE,
you'll spend several months
scheduling the exam
(the GRE subject exams are offered 3 times a year),
studying a subject in which you have no previous college credits,
waiting for ETS to grade the exam,
and waiting for the college to assess the results,
before you realise that the odds of scoring at the 80th percentile
are not as good as Dr Bear likes to imply, and you jolly well should
have contingency plans for earning those credits.
One day away. Yeah, right.
Also, you'll be restricted to a handful of colleges trying to utilize
whatever credits you did get, because the other colleges won't accept
the GRE results as transfer credit (although they will accept the
finished degree).
Also, Dr Bear keeps forgetting to say that this is the GRE Subject exam.
I hope to goodness no one schedules a GRE General exam for this purpose.
Many, many thanks for the prompt replies and the information.
Nope, tuition is not being reimbursed by my employer so I want to
save as much money as possible and have something left over to pay for
green fees in a few years.
I do feel better knowing that AIU is a real school and after reading
the threads on other forums (thank you Mark!) it looks like they do
make students earn their degrees. However, AIU certainly makes them
pay dearly for it. It seems to me that AIU is built for the masses of
20 year-olds with an Assoc. degree, lots of money and no job or for
employer-reimbursed students assisting their employers with depleting
company cash reserves.
Not to mention, I'm already the proud owner of a vintage pocket
fisherman and a set of Ginsu knives (which I love!). Ron Popeel and
Ginsu have much more respectable marketing techniques ~ We can change
the channel, but we can't stop the calls, spam or pop-ups very easily
can we? And when we buy the Ginsu knives, we don't have to be careful
filling out the 9 separate forms for admissions so that we don't end
up buying a whole kitchen along with the knives.
I will check-out Excelsior and www.degree.net!
All the best,
Pete
Sorry, I'm checking out excelsior and have a question...
I'm at:
https://www1.excelsior.edu/itweb/servlet/wbaps03
Where it says:
*I want to enroll immediately
*Within 3 months
*Within 6 months
*Within 1 year
*I need to see the results of my unofficial review before deciding
to enroll
As with AIU, the above multiple choice is confusing me and where I got
ticked with AIU. Do I have to "enroll" at these schools before I can
get an "official" review? AIU's salesperson "unoffically" said that
my 90 prior hours could be transferred and that life experience would
be reviewed, but then proceeded to try and sign me up "officially" at
the 60 hour level and went against my desire to start on my schedule.
I don't mind paying a college to review my history and experience,
take some tests, etc. Perhaps the industry standard $50 admission fee
only covers the bank of salespeople? I just don't want to all of a
sudden have to drop everything because I've inadvertantly enrolled
into a curriculum of 60 hours of classes.
I see a potential business opportunity here. An e-bay style site
where potential students post their official transcripts, resumes and
exam scores and then accredited colleges (selected by the potential
student from a list) bid for their business "officially" with credit
hours awarded and total fees.
Many thanks,
Pete
> Do I have to "enroll" at these schools before I can get an
> "official" review?
What you want is Excelsior's Credit Review service. This costs
$175; you will receive the assessment 6 to 8 weeks after Excelsior
receives the last transcript. Of course, if you're planning to
claim credit by portfolio, this will not appear in the Credit
Review unless some other university has already evaluated your
portfolios.
Excelsior seems recently to have removed all references to Credit
Review from its Web pages; however, I just phoned them and they
say they still offer it.
> I see a potential business opportunity here. An e-bay style site
> where potential students post their official transcripts, résumés and
> exam scores and then accredited colleges (selected by the potential
> student from a list) bid for their business "officially" with credit
> hours awarded and total fees.
You can't get official credit hours based on a résumé. Anyone can
lie on a résumé. Anyone can be honestly mistaken, too. You have to
expand your résumé into a portfolio that will then be evaluated by
a professor with the appropriate specialty. That is time-consuming
and expensive.
Aside from that: of course such a service would benefit
prospective students. But what would it do for the colleges,
besides drive their profit margin razor-thin? So I'm not expecting
it any time soon.
Yes, I know, priceline.com already does this for airlines and
hotels. But the profits of airlines and hotels were razor-thin
already, because travel agents were already doing this kind of
comparison shopping. In the case of colleges, there is a
corresponding information vacuum, which allows diploma mills to
thrive, but which also allows accredited colleges to make their
profits.
As Homer might say...DOH!
> Excelsior seems recently to have removed all references to Credit
> Review from its Web pages; however, I just phoned them and they
> say they still offer it.
I see a potential market for potential students posting all their info
on an e-bay type platform where accredited online colleges (selected
by the potential student) bid to get students with low credit costs
and credit awards. Anyone want in on it? I'll buy the website and do
all the programming (un-accredited & self-taught, but nevertheless
very good IMHO).
I dunno, there just seems to be a lot of required teeth pulling to get
this process underway for someone in my position in life. Perhaps, I
may have time on my side which is why I'm questioning this now as
opposed to someone who needs/wants to get a promotion or is bridging
between high school and college.
All the best,
Pete
John Bear wrote:
> Mark's response makes sense, and is correct.
>
> Sadly, the legitimate, regionally-accredited for-profit schools seem to
> be using more and more of the aggressive marketing techniques that
> characterized the bad guys. Spam recruiting. Pop-up messages everywhere.
> Pushy telemarketers. Order by midnight tonight, and all that. But wait,
> that's not all. With every MBA, you get a set of Gensu steak knives.
>
I got the same type of treatment from a representive of Saint Leo's.
The guy just couldn't comprehend that I was still in the gathering
information stage. He wanted me to register for a course immediately,
any course.
Hi Francesa -
Up one thread, Mark's perspective on the vacuum of information in
connection with the fiscal aspects seems to hit the nail on the head
(Great insight Mark!)
One of the main reasons for me finally dropping the whole college
thingy 15 years ago was because I had to change physical locations
because of my job so often. Every time I went to a new venue, I was
forced to take Computer Science 101...Roosevelt University, a
respected/accredited "mandatory attendance" school was the last venue
where it my last attempt to get out of that damn class..I had already
taken it at Triton College in River Grove Illinois, Ripon College in
Wisconsin, I had 4 years of Computer Science at the High School level
and had 5 years of experience in the real world as a programmer...It
drove me NUTS that I kept having to take the same class every time I
transferred to a new school. CLEP-ing was not an option at any of
these schools as they all said they had a different or new and
improved course of study (uh, hem...took them and they were the same
if not worse that my freshman year in HS classes). I guess in some
ways, many things have never evolved or have been properly mitigated
over the last 15 years by the accredidation boards.
Anyway, thank you very much for the Saint Leo heads-up! I am not
giving up on my search, but I have faith that we'll eventually find a
college that offers online courses that don't bait and switch and that
offer us a course plan that fits our needs...Maybe not tomorrow, but
someday...Whatever it's called, I want to teach there so let me know
how what your search outcome is!
Cheers,
Pete
---
View this thread: http://www.online-college.info/article560.html
james1------------------------------------------------------------------------
james1's Profile: http://www.online-college.info/forum/member.php?action=getinfo&userid=101
Finally catching up on my newsgroup and figured I would respond
to this one.
You may want to check out City University (WA) which not only has
distance learning classes for both bachelors and masters programs, but
you can start a class the first of the month. If I remember, with the
$75.00 application fee I sent them, I also had my previous colleges
(four of them) send them the transcripts, they evaluated everything
and then sent me a plan. No pressure to enroll into a class until I
saw everything.
Since I already have a BA in Psychology and a Certificate as a
Paralegal, I was given credit for 85 credits (the general education
classes and one major course) of the 180 I needed for my second
bachelors (this time in Computer Systems) and then I will continue
into their Masters program for Computer Systems (same as computer
science). (Classes are five credit classes). In 1998 the application
fee was only $75.00. I am not sure what it is today but it may be
worth you looking. (www.cityu.edu) The only thing you need to find
is a proctor to give you the midterm and final exams.
Bonni (Camper), A City University Student
--
"On top of the sky is a place where you go
If you've done nothing wrong.
And down in the ground is a place where you go
If you've been a bad boy."
HEAVEN & HELL by THE WHO
Boy, have I been really bad!!!!!
AIM:Bonthevamp
cam...@camper65.com
website: www.camper65.com
Dr. Bear,
Are they real Gensu knives, or just Japanese imitations?
Group,
My employer has got a deal going with AIU. They'll pay for 25% of it,
and then reimburse me the rest in first year salary/raise. I promised
I would check it out. They email me, and call me everyday. I got my
employer to okay this for me. And, I checked out the school with SACS.
A friend of mine happened to know someone who was taking the same
course. I got a chance to check out the chat room and look at some of
the assignments. The coursework looks good, but I'm not sure I can
function at that accelerated rate for ten months. It is also $23 for
MIT.
What do you all think? Should I go for this Master's?
Bakz....
I'm a regular visitor at these forums but usually don't post, however I
thought I'd share some insight on this one. I work on the floor for a
major RA school (not AIU) enrolling online students. I would rather
not say which one on a public forum.
It is a sales position but I can assure you that no one is receiving
commission for placing you in a degree seeking program. I believe that
is illegal (at least in my state) This does not apply if you are
seeking certain types of certificate programs, or continuing education
for CPAs and the like. However, enrollment representatives are given
sales goals to meet, and if you're not producing, management does give
you heat for it.
Keep in mind that brick and mortar private universities which offer
online programs are often affiliated with other companies which make it
possible for the school to offer such programs, by providing the
technology and resources to produce, maintain and market them. Also
bear in mind that both the school, and affiliate company are
businesses. If the product does not produce revenue, there can be no
product.
When you visit a web site and put in your information so that we can
contact you, it's similar to walking into a auto showroom, you become a
prospect or "lead". Many times our leads come from affiliates who
market many leading distance education schools. (This site is one such
example) In many instances our company pays $15.00-$20.00 just so they
can have your name! Our school averages over 1000 leads per day, doing
the math, it's easy to see why the company wants to turn over as many
sales as possible.
When I have you on the phone, and I go through 45 minutes of explaining
the program, and answering all of your questions, and having you agree
to everything I say, I am going to ask for the business before I hang
up.
Why? First, because it's my job. Secondly, I need to know where your
interests lie. If you're looking in to other schools, I understand.
Heck, if you're not interested and never will be and don't want to hear
from me ever again, I don't mind. But I need to know that, because
people have a hard time saying no these days. When you just ask me to
call you back in a week, how am I supposed to know if you were
interested when I spoke to 15 other people in the last 2 hours who
weren't interested and said "call me back in a week."
With that said, I believe in this product and I believe in the program.
The school is RA and completely without a doubt no questions asked
150% legitimate. In fact, it's a university of much prestige. I'm
even pursuing my degree with them (and my discount as an employee is
only 50%)
I have heard the horror stories about AIU. From what I've heard their
business practices differ from ours substantially.
With our program, you are also allowed to take classes before you are
admitted. But we only enroll term by term, so you're not buying an
entire $25-$30,000+ program all at once. If a prospect has no or
little college experience, I select general education classes that will
transfer to just about any RA school. If you are coming in with 2-3
years of collegiate credit, and are concerned about how many will
transfer
I usually have you fax me unofficial transcripts and have an academic
advisor do an unofficial evaluation for you. (this term throws many
people, it's only unofficial because the advisor would need sealed
copies from the university for an official.) This generally makes
students more comfortable.
It's true, sometimes I put people in class who aren't so sure they want
to go. If you're reluctant, I'll try to put you in just one class
(that will transfer anyway) just to try it out. Why? Because it's my
job and because I believe in the program. Once the student has started
class, it sells itself, as the re-enrollment rate is very high. I
can't count the number of times I've enrolled a reluctant student and a
week after the class is over I get an e-mail saying something like "oh
my god I LOVE IT. I've already registered for 2 classes for the next
term. I was dubious at first but I really think I can achieve my
educational goals here. Thank you so much for helping me make one of
the best decisions I've ever made!"
So I may come off as pushy to some, but the reward of that e-mail from
a happy student is the best part about this job. I understand that
deciding to spend somewhere in the neighborhood of $15,000 a year for
your education is a big decision. But I truly believe that just taking
a single class is a good way to tell if it's the right thing for you.
(by the way, the tuition rate is the same as on-campus students pay)
I don't consider myself a telemarketer, telemarketers don't process
federal student aid, fill out credit applications, and make academic
decisions. Nor do their salaries come close to mine. Finally, they
don't help people. Sometimes people aren't happy when they find out
who's calling them. Even though they requested that I contact them,
some people like to yell, curse, or slam down the phone. But what
keeps me going is that for the next person I call, it may just be the
most important phone call they get all day.
At any rate, I hope this addresses the concerns some of you guys had.
And perhaps you have a little bit better of an understanding of what's
going on on the other end of the line.
This concludes tonight's confessions of a "pushy telemarketer." ;)
Good luck in your search!
---
View this thread: http://www.online-college.info/article560.html
UA 22------------------------------------------------------------------------
UA 22's Profile: http://www.online-college.info/forum/member.php?action=getinfo&userid=181
Greeetings - twice, Dr Bear. I was one of thos "People" bombarding you
with the "accreditation" issues a few years back. Iam now enrolled in a
RA school - AIU Dunwoody Atlanta. I chose this school for reasons like,
I have plenty of business experience, am 29 years old, and need to
finish my degree sooner. Sure it is slightly expensive, but
competitive. The classes so far are decent (2nd term) and I should
finish my AA in about 7 months - not bad, and yes it IS SACS
accredited! AIU IS agressive, but so are ALL Private schools I have
found and boy did I search before landing in AIU! Thank you for helping
me see the light.
Keith (doctorwhite)
John Bear wrote:
> *Mark's response makes sense, and is correct.
>
> Sadly, the legitimate, regionally-accredited for-profit schools seem
> to
> be using more and more of the aggressive marketing techniques that
> characterized the bad guys. Spam recruiting. Pop-up messages
> everywhere.
> Pushy telemarketers. Order by midnight tonight, and all that. But
> wait,
> that's not all. With every MBA, you get a set of Gensu steak knives.
>
> msconfig wrote:
>
> > Has anybody actually graduated from American InterContinental
> > University / AIU? I can't find anything. When I applied for this
> > online college, I was "rushed" to get my application in (my credit
> > card for enrolling for $23,600!) prior to even being "accepted" or
> > knowing how many credit hours would be applied for life experience
> and
> > prior college work. I was told to fax in all of my information
> within
> > 18 hours of speaking with someone from AIU in order to get into
> Fall
> > classes...Anyway, whenever someone rushes you like that you can't
> help
> > feel the presence of a possible CON scheme.
> >
> > I would appreciate any information that can give me the confidence
> > that these online colleges are nothing more than a way to get
> people's
> > money. *
---
View this thread: http://www.online-college.info/article560.html
doctorwhite------------------------------------------------------------------------
doctorwhite's Profile: http://www.online-college.info/forum/member.php?action=getinfo&userid=228
I myself am currently enrolled in AIU Dunwoody at Atlanta in the BBA
Program. I know SEVERAL friends who have graduated from this Regionally
Accredited (SACS) University. When you take into consideration that it
only takes 24 months to complete a traditional 4 year undergraduate
degree, the cost is very competitive. The 48k involved to get your
Degree in an accellerated school breaks down in this way - 4 years in
an RA school = 12k per year, or $48k - the same as AIU, but you get it
done in 2. So, FISHY? I think not. Maybe you need to take Math 99 and
re-evaluate your question.
Keith
msconfig wrote:
> *Has anybody actually graduated from American InterContinental
> University / AIU? I can't find anything. When I applied for this
> online college, I was "rushed" to get my application in (my credit
> card for enrolling for $23,600!) prior to even being "accepted" or
> knowing how many credit hours would be applied for life experience
> and
> prior college work. I was told to fax in all of my information
> within
> 18 hours of speaking with someone from AIU in order to get into Fall
> classes...Anyway, whenever someone rushes you like that you can't
> help
> feel the presence of a possible CON scheme.
>
> I would appreciate any information that can give me the confidence
> that these online colleges are nothing more than a way to get
> people's
---
View this thread: http://www.online-college.info/article560.html
ekhudson------------------------------------------------------------------------
ekhudson's Profile: http://www.online-college.info/forum/member.php?action=getinfo&userid=390