Career Education Corparation (CTU Online) ripoff Schaumburg Illinois
I am an employee and a student of CTU online and I have several complaints on both issues. As an employee, I can honestly say that this is the most stressful and unsatisfying job I have ever had. I feel like I am a glorified telemarketer with the title of "Admissions Advisor". We are required to hit an enrollment budget every month, which leads many people into being pushed into enrolling into a school that is not right for them. But we are told that we are "changing lives". We call these people everyday that were really just on the internet trying to win that free gift.
More than likely, they have been passed around on a lead sheet and have talked to 10 different people. If I had a school stalking me to go to school I would tell them to go take a hike and fall off a cliff. If you are not hitting budget, or pushing people to make $50,000 decision in a matter of a few days, wou are threatened with your job. And truthfully, alot of the management that I have come in contact with doesn't even have a degree themselves. I have a hard time respecting someone who is constantly breathing down my neck for an enrollment and telling me to help this person think about their future when they don't have a degree either. It is the strangest place ever.
When I walk through the door I feel like I am in the Twilight Zone. They have the worst management style I have ever come across. I had an HR issue and the representative told me to speak to my manager. I don't understand that. There is no safe-haven when you are dealing with CTU, "everyone" is a part of the team, including HR. Trust me when I say this, most of these people get enrolled should be in remedial classes a some community college.
B
il, Illinois
U.S.A.
2 Updates & Rebuttals
T.pittmann
Lubbock,Texas,
U.S.A.
Financial Aid Problems with CTU
#3Consumer Comment
Thu, July 10, 2008
In response to Stan, I agree with your assessment concerning CTU, I was a current student, I finished my course of study on the 28th of June 2008. Your assessment of the type of course action is spot on. I hated the group projects. I took this option because I am a single mom with a full time job. The complaints I have is the inconsistent information given whenever there is a problem or you have a question. My financial aid is not being handled correctly, I was told that monies expended for certain courses I did not take would be sent back to the lender. But when I received my current student statement I have a large balance, that in my opinon shouldn't be there. The money should be sent back to the lender or sent too me. I don't want this school holding money I will not be using. I'm responsible for the repayment of this loan, and it's making me very suspicious as to why they havent' dispersed these funds in the manner to which they said they would.
I will not recommend this so called college to anyone, and will work actively against these types of on-line learning institution. I think major companies should provide funds and other support to brick and mortar learning institutions, who may have an on-line program.
T. Pittmann
Stan
Frisco,Texas,
U.S.A.
Tired of the complaints and halos.. here is the truth from a current student..
#3Consumer Comment
Sat, December 23, 2006
Hello,
I am currently a student of CTU Online. I have read the comments in several sections, and though I would state my situation as a non-biased view of what is happening. First some background:
My school is paid for by my employer, GE. GE steered me to CTU, (or actually AIU first since they are "education partners"). I ran away from AIU because of the horror stories I heard from AIU, so I can not comment on that school.
The CTU online school though, I am currently 45% finished with my BS degree. The classes are difficult in that you have to understand the subject matter, but there are no tests performed... only posting of documents, spreadsheets, and powerpoint files. These all have to be in APA format (was not told about this before starting this course work.. research about APA and how to use it before signing up!)
I noticed that the student manual talks about testing, and the multimedia online information talks about tests too... There are none. There are a series of 10 assignments with one being a group project. I have passed 8 of my 20 classes so far with all A's in the classes.
Most of the classes, the subject matter is vaguely relevant in relation to the actual subject matter. My impression is that the classwork is a way to "get your paper", and have an introduction to the actual subjects since each class is only 5 weeks long, and you have two at a time. The major emphasis seems to be on the APA formating more than the actual information, HMM.
My resulting opinion is that the school is not a good environment to learn from, but good to get your paper of completion (degree certificate).
This school is supported by GE again, so the idea of employers not accepting their degree is not true. The quality of learning is minimal at best because of the short time and vagueness of the classes to the subject matter.
At first the price seems high, but on investigation of traditional schools and even their online programs, they all fall in the same range of price basically.
CTU provides books, windows operating system, Office, but no APA software or much in the line of souce materials (they do have a 'cybrary' research center, but it is mainly just shortcuts to public articles on the internet, and nothing of physical substance)
If you are in an industry and need a degree that is legitimate quickly, this is your ticket. If you want to learn about the materials covered, look somewhere else.
I do supposed that you could learn as you progress in your schooling, but the retension after an intense 5 weeks is not so good, and besides there is another 5 week period immediately following the end of your set you are in. You simply learn to stop trying to remember that stuff from last session to focus on the new stuff for this month!
I hope that gives you guys an idea of the situation that is truely in CTU. I think a lot of the complaints are from people that thought it was a quick blow-off diploma thing, and found out that they have to actually work (I have spent MANY times past midnight nursing a sick project!). These people want to know the materials after completion or want to just pass through with little effort and work.
The school work is tedious, not very retainable, and very stressful in the fast paced environment (not to speak of the shock of having to immediately know about APA formating - Worst part of the school).
Remember that most of the real students are refered to CTU for getting their degree for the job (I asked many of my fellow students and found this to be the rule..)
Government retraining grants or military retraining stuff does not work very well as the school is geared to this employer sponsored type of student, where the paper needs to be in hand in 15 months.
I thank GE for paying for my school so far, My associate degree is through a community college, so the rest is CTU so far.
You are very welcome to ask me amy questions and I will answer the best that I can, and I swear that this information is true and very accurate as of 12/22/06.
Stan **** (CTU Student currently)