AIU online Multiple combat veteran stripped of pale grant Hoffman Estates, Illinois
I was a student at American Intercontinental University. I was a Marine Corps sniper deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. When I got out I wanted nothing more than to further my education to support my wife and two children in a deprived economy. When I made the decision to go with AIU online it was a huge mistake. Not only did my student advisor call me at all hours of the day, seven days a week, but they refuse to give me my $5500 pale grant that I qualified for through the government. Instead of paying me this in a lump sum they gave me $1300 and told me that a few months later I would be paid the rest. That pale grant was for the 2010 school year. I received the $1300 on 4/15/2011 and was scheduled to receive the rest today.
I pulled out of the college because I realized how bad their program is and they stopped payment to my account. Regardless of why or when I pulled out of this so called "University" that pale grant was supposed to be for the year 2010 so why do I not get the additional $4200?
When I tried to contact them I was not rude in any way but they disconnected the phone call. When I tried to contact them through live chat, they stopped talking to me. I was being extremely sincere and professional while asking them why my funds were cancelled and was denied any sort of answer. So now I will pursue this in a court of law.
I highly recommend that any student looking for a college to attend, for the sake of your future, do not attend this school. You will be harassed via phone and e-mail and probably lose money. I had a 4.0 GPA until I had to start traveling for work and the school refused to work with me on any of these matters, so for the thousands of dollars I spent to get ahead in society, they took it right back and my GPA began to fall. This is another reason I pulled out.
4 Updates & Rebuttals
Ramjet
Somewhere,Michigan,
U.S.A.
Pell Grant
#5Consumer Comment
Mon, September 05, 2011
I expect he means Pell Grant. Other than that, the responders are correct. What this has to do with being in the service is unclear.
Jeanski
Buffalo,New York,
USA
PELL Grant
#5Consumer Comment
Mon, September 05, 2011
Thank you for your service :-) Maybe I can help clarify a few things for you and other readers.
First, it's "Pell" Grant, not "Pale" grant. Second, the $5500 you were awarded was the maximum for a school year based on full time attendance. If you received your first disbursement in April, that suggests you started attending in the Spring Semester, and would be entitled to only half of the $5500. If you dropped out/withdrew from school (regardless of the reason) all your financial aid awards are re-computed to reflect non-attendance. In many cases, student loans and Pell grants are returned to the lender or government, leaving the student with a balance due to the school.
It's been a while since I've worked in financial aid, but I think these policies are still correct. While there's no excuse for the rude behavior you encountered, it's still up to the student to understand how it works. Unfortunately, many of these online schools provide misleading and/or downright false information to potential students to boost their enrollment numbers.
I hope future students will exercise due diligence in understanding the process. Good luck to you!
Ken
Greeley,Colorado,
USA
Sorry for your troubles, but what is a
#5Consumer Comment
Mon, September 05, 2011
Pale grant? There's nothing found on Google for Pale grants.
UK
United States of AmericaFinancial Aid
#5Consumer Comment
Mon, September 05, 2011
First, let me say, AIU does not all the money at once. FAFSA releases only part of what you were adwarded usually over 3 or 4 months. If you read on the FAFSA website, it states if you leave school you will not receive anymore, if you think you should get money for school and not go then you are defrauding the government. As for your job travel. This is an online university where all you need is an computer and a internet connection, why would they work with you otherwise? If you cannot, attend class in a traditional school do you think you get to stay enrolled? NO, so why would AIU be any different. Finally, let me say THANK YOU for serving our country even though I may have come across harsh, I do appreciate your sacrifice.