Westwood College Higher Learning...at a Cost Torrance, California
As many that have read articles from various sites as well as the Ripoff Reports, I to attended Westwood College in hopes to obtain an A.A. degree in Graphic Design to change careers. Instead, I've found out that the classes I once took at Westwood College, are not transferable and have reason to believe that they're not an accredited college. Now, unlike some of you whom have graduated from high school more recent than I had (Class of 1986), I was under the impression from the conversation that the councilor and I had that the school was accredited. I was working for a temporary agency while attending school. I was released of my duties for the company I was working for and could not financially afford to finish school. In 2011, I decided to go back to school at El Camino College in Southern California when I was told by the councilor at the college that the units I took were not transferable. I've tried to rectify this issue any way I can, but no success. I'm now being garnished nearly $600 a month due to my loans going into default. Now I ask you, where is the evidence in our educational system that shows this as being fair? I chose that school because it was close to where I lived at the time. The school provided the same classes that a J.C. would with the exception that you did not have the summer off. So I say that this is a classic case of "Higher Learning Robbery." Any ideas on how to regain my piece of mind?
2 Updates & Rebuttals
Leroy
Covina,California,
U.S.A.
You Are Not Alone
#3Consumer Suggestion
Thu, February 14, 2013
Robb,
There are thousands of us out here who have graduated from Westwood only to find ourselves in the samesituation as you. Yes, you were deceived and lied to about the worth and valueof a Westwood degree. Yes, you were robbed by a greedy institution that has the audacity to call themselves a college. As you can see, there are over 117reports on this website alone stating how Westwood steals, lies and cheats.
The loan situation will not be fixed any time soon and is getting worse as the days go by. Currently, students both past and present have to deal with outrageous student loans and that the national student loan amount has topped over 1 trillion dollars.
Jeanski comments above are correct but they do not tell the complete story. Yes, Westwood College's campus locations are nationally accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS). This is the same accreditation received by most technical and vocational schools that allow them to offer federally backed student loans to potential students. The educational requirements that need to be met are not as stringent as a Regional Accreditation. This is the primary reason credits will not transfer.
Westwood College was a candidate for regional accreditation by The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools from October 2007 until it withdrew its candidacy on November 1, 2010. However, it is my opinion and that of others that Westwood college did not apply for this accreditation in order to become a legit college. Westwood used the downturn in the economy in late 2006 to use this as a stepping stone to garner more students in the application process, to increase attendance and use subsidized loans to fill their pockets with our money.
In early 2007, people were beginning to lose their jobs and people were looking for a way to change careers or solidify their worth in the job market. Westwood saw this as a grand opportunity to make more money and used their Regional candidacy. Please note that I attended Westwood for the simple fact that they were a Regional candidate and I was personally guaranteed by the Dean of Information Technology that they were going to obtain this accreditation. As you can see, that was a lie as well.
In an August 4, 2010 report from the Government Accountability Office, Westwood College was named as one of 15 institutions that "encouraged fraudulent practices" when meeting with undercover investigators posing as applicants.
The Admission counselors are not real councilors, Jeanski got that one right. They are salesmen and will tell the prospective student anything and everything they want to hear in order to make the sell. Consider them snake oil salesmen and potential students as marks.
The forbearance and deferment programs do exist. Note that if you opt to take this route, interest on the loans still accrues. That interest rate, if you are like the rest of us, is extremely high. It is not uncommon for a $25k loan on forbearance or deferment to balloon to over $40k. The other option you may have is to try and consolidate your loans through the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program.
They offer several options that may help you in repayment of your student loans. I feel for you and truly understand what you are going through. I wish you the best of luck as we are all in this fight together.
Jeanski
Buffalo,New York,
USA
comment
#3Consumer Comment
Sat, January 19, 2013
The counselor was right - Westwood College IS accredited. But whether or not their credits transfer elsewhere is up to the receiving institution.
Bear in mind that these proprietary schools rarely hire REAL counselors. They're hired to be sales agents intent on getting their quota.
If you're having difficulty making your loan payments, contact the lender. There are forbearance and deferment options that will help you.
Good luck!