Complaint Review: Aiu Online

Where do I start???!!! AIU is a for-profit school. This should be obvious to anyone investigating this SCAM. There is so much going on there, I will try to be detailed as possible. First, I was attracted to the job because of the money. For someone WITHOUT a college degree, $45,000.00 is a great starting salary. Look guys, more than 95 % of the sales people who call you do Not have a college degree and these are the same people who call you everyday trying to get you to fill out that application.

Please do not fill out the application, because once you sign, you're going to college. No matter if you're qualified or not. O.K now once you are hired you go through one week of training where you learn your scripts, and guys there is more than one. There is the first call script; all the first call is for is to sell the second call. It sounds like you're talking to an admissions counselor when they call, doesn't it? They want to know a little about you, your educational background, how long have you been thinking about getting your education, what does success mean to you, are you employed. The main reason for this call is to find your pain. Because they will use this in their second call if they start to loose you. They will also use it against you when you TRY to drop out. This happens when buyer remorse sets in a week before school starts and after you have already signed your Sallie Mae. God forbid you're a single mother working for minimum wage. There is your pain. Of course you want a better life for your child, who doesn't and going to college and getting that degree is your ticket to success. Remember they asked you what success is to you and you probably said something about a better life for your family.

Let's take a look at this a little closer. Once you open yourself up like that you are vulnerable, you let your defense down because you feel like the person on the other end of the phone who, you don't even know, is your friend. He/She is not your friend, they never will be, they only want the enrollment. The first call will last 7 to 15 minutes. The second call will last 45 to an hour. Then there is stichin. Stichin is the process of getting the funds from financial aid and more importantly, Sallie Mae. Sallie Mae is the student loan the only Student loan you're allowed to get. It's because they pay faster and AIU has a system set up with them. Sallie Mae is prime + 10 to 14%.

For those of you who do not know what that means I feel sorry for you- but you're the student AIU is looking for. What kind of student is AIU looking for? Well, we are told we are a second chance, third chance, fourth chance College. That means you have probably flunked out of college the first or second time around you're probably poor, and you have no idea how the educational system works. You don't know that you can get your education a lot cheaper than AIU. Or you're in a job that will only promote you if you have a degree and you are looking for an easy way out. AIU is a diploma mill that is approved by SACS. The students I admit don't have a clue what they're doing. They are supposed to write an essay and they turn in 3 lines and most of the words are missed spelled, no punctuation. So I end up rewriting their essay, who's really going to know anyway.

It's about the numbers anyway. I would turn you away if I was at any other school but this is AIU. It's all about the numbers. When I first started you had to get 16 enrollments a month. Today all the reps need to get are 12 enrollments. Isn't it nice to know that you are truly a number? Once I get you through orientation, I'm done with you. Here's another bit of info- the formula for a good day at AIU if you're where a sales rep would be the power of ten. That means I should walk out of there with at least 8 appointments and 2 cows (Contract On the Way). It's all about Filling your Pipeline. In sales, the more qualified appointments you get the better the odds of making you quota at the end of the month. There are better programs out there online for someone like you to get your education, you just have to look Try the site they give you to show that they are approved by SACS.

Start by checking out a real college like a state or other NAME schools. Odds are they have an online program and you will save a lot of money. Look- they tell you that you should not put a price on education. Look at your own economic situation. I currently attend another University in Illinois and my student aid pays for everything. Yes, it will take me 2 years but if you and I were at a job interview and the deciding factor came to what schools we both attended I would be walking out with a new job. Don't let sales people tell you it's not about what school you went to; it's about the accreditation. All they want is a sale. I would like to touch on one more thing. C.S.I. This show has become a phenomenon. Unfortunately there are people who think they can get into forensics by getting their degree online. You need to have special training and you CAN NOT do biology labs or Anatomy & Physiology labs online.

Guys, it's a great show but remember its Hollywood and in the real world getting your degree in criminal justice from AIU is not going to get you even close to that kind of work. In reality getting your criminal justice degree from AIU will put you in debt because you probably wont finish but you will have to finish paying your bill to AIU. CHECK out your states school online programs.

The average time someone works for AIU is about 3-4 months. They go through more people than you can imagine. They get fired or quit. That's why they use temp employment agencies. Part of the atmosphere there is the fear of getting fired if you don't hit your quota and it happens all the time. It's all about the numbers and if you become an over-achiever you get to go to what they call HIGH ACEIVERS. This is like a bonuses or your year end commission. Due to SACS a college is not to offer a commission on the enrollment but this is a sales environment and YOU DO GET A COMMISSION on your sales. They pay for everything, your hotel room, meals, open bar, airfare, and a lot more. I'm not sure why SACS turns their back on this; I mean it's in their rules. I have spoken to numerous universities and have asked what kind of bonuses they get and they tell me its illegal. I know I'll be there next year. I believe its in Florida.

Earlier this year they went to Vegas. I am currently looking for another job but it's hard to find a job that pays $45,000.00 without a college degree but I am looking. Until then I will tell you that your essays are great, or I will rewrite them for you. (what ever it takes to get an enrollment, right Rich?) I will tell you that C.S.I. is a great show and you can be just like them. I'll hide the fact that the only financial aid you will get wont cover the cost and Sallie Mae is the only way. I won't tell you that the odds of you graduating with out adding on more classes is very, very slim. I will tell you what you want to hear. I will find your pain and use it against you. I will be you friend, your confidant, until one week after school starts then I will be gone. I doing this because I am ashamed of what I do. This company has SACS eating out of its hand. This online education phenomenon needs to be regulated. (what is SACS for?) Guys if you want to get your education the Government has programs out there for you but it will take some work, nothing comes easily. If it's too good to be truethen it is. Investigate!!!

D
Naperville, Illinois
U.S.A.

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