Political Crossfire Forums

[Melchior]

I'm going to take college courses online, I decided to apply for the University of Phoenix.

Anyone who knows me is aware that I want a career that deals with linguistics or human culture in some way. The choices weren't great (it's mostly a business school), but I need to get started. They had psychology and communication (journalism) so I could go with either of those. But I found out it might be a could idea to go for my associates first, since not only would it take 6 more months in addition to the 4 years, but it would cost $5000 more dollars. (I can start making money after two years in with an associates).

So I had to pick an associates course to go through... and the choices were even fewer (as well as vague).

I decided to go with Information Technology, I would appreciate it if anyone in the know could tell me what I'm getting into...

[foadi]

considering your desired career, it seems like it would make more sense to travel around the world for a few years and immerse yourself with the local cultures.

[Enoch]

My warning comes from the nature of online degrees. While the University of Phoenix is not one, there are numerous degree mills out there which pump out online degrees faster than you can blink. Because of this, U of Phoenix has been tainted due to its online nature.

So, as a bit of warning, some employers won't respect your degree as much as someone who attended a standard university.

[Rankor and Pissing]

IT is a little on the techy side. You'll get general knowledge background of computers, networks, programming etc. I've take a few courses with UoP and what I've found is, if you miss a few days, you'll be hard pressed to catch up. Since the courses are so compressed, you have to work on them every day. Your participation (emails, online chats, classroom type involvement and communication on projects with partners or classmates) is a big part of your grade as it shows you are working on things. Since there's no class to go to, participation is required. From what I remember, there's lots of reading - but the coursework is dependent upon the instructor.

I would agree that the degree isn't as well looked upon by employers, however, most students aren't 18 who are going - they are working professionals already in their field, who are trying for promotions, mobility or looking to move companies and need the degree to be considered. UoP does a good job (IMO) at providing that - and adults usually have a better work ethic and don't have a problem working 1 or 2 hours a day after they get home or maybe a little while on their lunch hour, to get things done. It beats the hell out of having to sit in a classroom with 18 year old, twice a week at a community college, when you're dressed in a suit and have kids of your own waiting at home.

[FCTE]

Melchior wrote: I'm going to take college courses online, I decided to apply for the University of Phoenix.

Anyone who knows me is aware that I want a career that deals with linguistics or human culture in some way. The choices weren't great (it's mostly a business school), but I need to get started. They had psychology and communication (journalism) so I could go with either of those. But I found out it might be a could idea to go for my associates first, since not only would it take 6 more months in addition to the 4 years, but it would cost $5000 more dollars. (I can start making money after two years in with an associates).

So I had to pick an associates course to go through... and the choices were even fewer (as well as vague).

I decided to go with Information Technology, I would appreciate it if anyone in the know could tell me what I'm getting into...

NO..........DO NOT!!

I took one course online with them and it was a circus, it is not a real school, employers will not take it seriously, and they just want your money.

They have multiple class action suits against them for fraud.

It's a total scam diploma mill.

http://uopsucks.com/

[FCTE]

Your local JC should have a "Distance Learning" (online) program. If not, night classes.

[Melchior]

foadi wrote: considering your desired career, it seems like it would make more sense to travel around the world for a few years and immerse yourself with the local cultures.

I would love to but $ = an issue.

Half the reason I'm taking courses online is because I have no stable means of transportation. I might as well get on the ball, start making money and by the time I'm paying off my student loan I can think about my dream occupation.

[foadi]

money is easy to come by. plus its not like you cant work along the way. what do you want to do?

[Melchior]

foadi wrote: money is easy to come by. plus its not like you cant work along the way. what do you want to do?

If that was true we would all be rich.

But I'm not really qualified to talk about money when I'm not working, but I do plan to, and if I had a laptop I could travel and still do my college work.

What do I want to do? Career wise? I want to be a linguist, any occupation that involves travel and utilization of language.

[Melchior]

FCTE wrote: NO..........DO NOT!!

I took one course online with them and it was a circus, it is not a real school, employers will not take it seriously, and they just want your money.

They have multiple class action suits against them for fraud.

It's a total scam diploma mill.

http://uopsucks.com/

Thank you for your concern, and the URL was informative. But I know some of that isn't true, and what may be true doesn't really matter or affect me directly.

I know some people who go to UoP, my godmother went there and got her masters, and a month after she graduated she got a job starting at $60,000 annually.

[foadi]

Melchior wrote: foadi wrote: money is easy to come by. plus its not like you cant work along the way. what do you want to do?

If that was true we would all be rich.
not really. most people are clueless about making (and especially saving) money.

Melchior wrote: What do I want to do? Career wise? I want to be a linguist, any occupation that involves travel and utilization of language.
how will a degree in a completely unrelated field and a mountain of student loans to pay off help you achieve your career goals? im not sure i understand your logic. if you want to travel, then travel. you don't need a degree to do that.

[FCTE]

Melchior wrote: Thank you for your concern, and the URL was informative. But I know some of that isn't true, and what may be true doesn't really matter or affect me directly.

I know some people who go to UoP, my godmother went there and got her masters, and a month after she graduated she got a job starting at $60,000 annually.

The difference is that her Bachelors is most likely from a reputable establishment so she has a firm foundation that you do not have. Masters are simply like add ons, most companies just need to know you have one and so the school in which you got it from matters little.

In your case you are putting your entire education into a school that is nationally known as a diploma mill and a joke. Having gone to UoP I can tell you that the information is true. I experienced it first hand, luckily for only one course. You'll understand after you blow $1200 on the first course which is like "Learning How To Learn" or some complete bullsh!t course.

Also you need to know that once you are in their program and you think they are fine now and have a bad experience say half way through your program and decide to bail, 99.9% of your classes do not transfer to a traditional school, which leaves you with two choices, finishing their bullsh!t program or starting from scratch in a real school. If you are using their Financial Aid and you decide to leave the program they will demand instant payments or threaten you with collections and try to damage your credit.

[jawsome]

Melchoir, if you want to study linguistics and language, the best thing to do is travel and immerse yourself in it. It is very possible. Save up money while working instead of wasting it on the joke that is UoP. It is an absolute waste of time, money, and resources.

[[Bible]Monkey]

Melchior wrote: I'm going to take college courses online, I decided to apply for the University of Phoenix.

Anyone who knows me is aware that I want a career that deals with linguistics or human culture in some way. The choices weren't great (it's mostly a business school), but I need to get started. They had psychology and communication (journalism) so I could go with either of those. But I found out it might be a could idea to go for my associates first, since not only would it take 6 more months in addition to the 4 years, but it would cost $5000 more dollars. (I can start making money after two years in with an associates).

So I had to pick an associates course to go through... and the choices were even fewer (as well as vague).

I decided to go with Information Technology, I would appreciate it if anyone in the know could tell me what I'm getting into...

If you want to stay within your interest in human culture/linguistics,and study online you may want to give Athabasca University a look.

I know that their courses are tranferable/recognized at larger Universities, I think you can transfer their courses for direct credit to over 200 Colleges and Universities, ( I know you can transfer them back and forth between the University of Alberta ( whos degrees are recognized in the States ) and Athabasca-and it has some kind of American accreditation-which I don't know much about. Not sure which courses are totally on line, and which aren't.

I see in their fees they charge non Canadians more, but my guess is it's cheaper or at least not more than U Pheonix. Lot of scoping things out needed, I guess-unless your already paid up at your original choice-that'll probably work out fine for you too. Good luck cracking the books. Or the screen-or whatever it is.... :lol:

[Melchior]

Okay, first of all, I was asking for insight about this IT course I'm taking. I wanted to know what I have to work with and how it's done online. I really wasn't looking for judgment of my university of choice.

But you guys have managed to make me nervous anyway.

My mom is hooking me up with this, she knows more than I do. I showed her that website "UoP s*cks" and the posts from this thread.

Here is her reassurance in all it's ellipsis abundant glory:

Quote: I checked out the site you sent me. These were allegations regarding discriminations against the employees. So what if they pay certain employees more to pull in more people… nothing wrong with incentive… and I hate spam more than the next guy, but it was their spam that made me notice them… so it worked…

Yvette may have received her masters from Phoenix, but she also got her bachelors from them as well… and went to FAU somewhere in-between, so I don’t see a problem with transferring credits, but I will look into it further… she is doing great in her new job… give her a call, she misses you… FCTE stated that masters is just an add-on and that employers don’t really care where you received it, just that you have it… well, if that is the case, then what does it matter if you get it from Phoenix or somewhere else?

I think you should travel, I know you have always wanted to, but how will you raise the money? By saying, “do you want fries with that?” getting your AA in IT will set you up for the opportunity to get a job in that field, which you enjoy and are good at… they pay well in the computer field. While working you can go on for your bachelors then masters… besides, you need to get your teaching degree in order to become a professor in linguistics… so you need to get a degree anyway… so don’t even think about skipping out and backpacking across Europe… *smile*

Foadi sounds like Jared, he probably thinks everyone wastes their money on college; that people don’t use the degrees they go for… I sort of agree… I see it all the time, but you are getting your AA in a field unrelated to your over-all goal because it is just a stepping stone. It will help pull in the money. There are no associate degrees in linguistics, so you had to pick something, why not something you enjoy and would help financially?
So you will travel, but you need to get your degree to travel the way you want. It really is all related in some way or another… the AA in IT will help pull some money in and you need your associates anyway…then bachelors in communication and the master in language will just flow…

Also, I have a question…. FCTE says he knows all these allegations to be true, because he took a course at phoenix… how is this possible? Did he work there? Because that is what most of the allegations are regarding… the employees. Now customer service, I have not had a problem with them so far, but Yvette says it was fine with her… as far as bulls**t courses, your curriculum looks good. I don’t think taking your general course studies, like communication arts, social science , humanities and etc as well as your core classes, like java programming and your algorithms and logic class are bulls**t courses…

[Lumina]

Melchior wrote: foadi wrote: money is easy to come by. plus its not like you cant work along the way. what do you want to do?

If that was true we would all be rich.

But I'm not really qualified to talk about money when I'm not working, but I do plan to, and if I had a laptop I could travel and still do my college work.

What do I want to do? Career wise? I want to be a linguist, any occupation that involves travel and utilization of language.

Well, one option is the military. It's always, always looking for folks with a facility for language-learning. The Army, if you show the aptitude, will train you...in Malibu. Wouldn't that be lovely?!

In addition to distance ed., which is definitely not for everybody, the University of Maryland has offered degrees by correspondence for decades.

[ToonArmyIsComing]

[Bible]Monkey wrote: If you want to stay within your interest in human culture/linguistics,and study online you may want to give Athabasca University a look.

I know that their courses are tranferable/recognized at larger Universities, I think you can transfer their courses for direct credit to over 200 Colleges and Universities, ( I know you can transfer them back and forth between the University of Alberta ( whos degrees are recognized in the States ) and Athabasca-and it has some kind of American accreditation-which I don't know much about. Not sure which courses are totally on line, and which aren't.

I see in their fees they charge non Canadians more, but my guess is it's cheaper or at least not more than U Pheonix. Lot of scoping things out needed, I guess-unless your already paid up at your original choice-that'll probably work out fine for you too. Good luck cracking the books. Or the screen-or whatever it is.... :lol:

+1

Melchior, don't give them your money! Take a distance education course with a reputable university. Don't take it with them for the love of God.