KAPLAN UNIVERSITY FROM X-ADMISSIONS ADVISOR From an Admissions Advisors obvious. Any common sense will do... Nationwide

I just graduated from Kaplan in September 2008 with my BS in Business/Accounting. I have nothing but good things to say about them. All of the people that I worked with were professionals. They returned my phone calls and emails promptly, worked with me when I needed to change classes. The registrar's office even when above and beyond when I needed extra paperwork for an international business work visa based on my degree.

1) As for the costs, you are way off base. According to an article two weeks ago (Nov 17, 2008) by US News, about half of all people attend private universities where the average cost, not including room and board, is $6,600. The other half attend private universities where the average tuition cost is $25,000 per year. So, a $54,000 Kaplan BS degree is twice as much as the average public university which half of the people attend. But it is also half as much as what the other half pays. Kaplan really is right around the median for costs for a Bachelor's degree. Half are less expensive, half are more expensive.

http://www.usnews.com/blogs/college-cash-101/2008/11/17/is-a-college-degree-really-worth-the-cost.html

2) I got full credit for my Associates Degree. The only prerequisite I had trouble with was the computer software requirement. The dean of the business school waived it for me without an exam because I had several credits in computer programing. Obviously, if I could program a computer, there shouldn't be much debate on whether or not I could use the required software.

3) Someone has already addressed the fact that 120 semester hours = 180 quarter hours and that many colleges use the quarter hour system. "An attempt to confuse"? So, the 20% of US colleges (other than Kaplan) that use the quarter hour system are all simply out to confuse their users? This is not a logical argument. You posted a nice article on the pros and cons of semesters vs quarters. However, the use of quarters does not equal confusion and chaos when 1 out of every 5 schools use it.

3) School is not free. I started at Kaplan in Jan 2007. I spent 6 weeks researching and reviewing my options, including reading the negative reviews. Most of the problems I see with Kaplan are people who don't understand the financial aid system in the US. They sign documents without reading them, and do not read all of the documentation sent to them. Anyone who signs something without understanding it completely is only hurting themselves. If you do not understand, DO NOT SIGN. Student loans have to be paid back and cannot be discharged by bankruptcy. If someone believed the admissions advisor when they said that, not to mention didn't turn them into their supervisor, then they did not read the US Government's documentation regarding student loans. You are REQUIRED to verify that you read AND understood the loan information when you sign your Master Promissory Note.

It annoys me that there are few positive reviews at Kaplan, just like for most products. The people who scream the loudest are those that have problems. Not only did I graduate with a BS, I have also been accepted to graduate school for my M.Acc. based on that degree. It is a traditional public university that is accredited by the AACSB and I start in January. As a side note, the tuition for a 4 year degree at this college is $48,000, not including room and board. This is only $6,000 less over 4 years than I paid for Kaplan.

Regards,

Stacy B

**** This person is clearly bitter. This site really needs some type of quality control. So does Kaplan for that matter. IT pains me that I had to call this person a peer at one point.


"Avoid any contact from this company. This is not an educational facility, but rather a business; and it is managed like a typical 'Call Center/Telemarketing' sales organization."

***** I got news for you sweetie: Your churches, your schools, and every public place you congregate with like-minded individuals has a business component. You worked in the call-center aspect of A SCHOOL. Don't feel bad that the academic side never interfaced with you. It does exist and the Higher Learning Commission agrees that it does. Most people could benefit from a business education. It keeps us focused on our professional goals. You might still have a job as well.


"Let me break it to you without any sales spin or candy coating...A College Education is not easy, cheap or unchallenging. You really need to ask yourself a question; 'How gullible am I'? I sincerely respect you for the intent of pursuing a more formal education, but this is not a Dream" come true, but rather a complete rip-off. You should really be asking yourself these questions: "Why do I not need to show HS Transcripts?"

***** Students are required to attestify that they have a high school diploma or GED reccognized by their state.

"Why do I not need to take an entrance exam?"

***** You do and you must pass.

"Produce ACT/SAT scores for entrance?"


"Sit for placement exams for English and math? Why is this college asking me to enroll without knowing anything about my prior education?

***** This is redundant. Have you ever taken a english placement test?

Why are they asking for money?"

**** While I am sure Broward Community College provided a completely valid associates level college degree for you, most of us had to pay for our education. Nothing good is easy or free. That goes for maintaining gainful employment once you get out in the world.

"Look everyone, there is no education which can be bought, or even promise any brighter future. Any respected University WILL have requirements for enrolment, and it will be more than a verbal HS Diploma, or GED Really, are you really that uneducated to realize that something sounds too good. Well it's not good at all and this will cost you pride, time, energy and most of all the drive for a real education."

***** You never went to this school. You worked in the admissions department and unsuccessfully. It is ignorant to think that education is free. No one can promise you a brighter future, but education will give you an an advantage on paper and intellectually. No one in the history of the universe ever regretted completing their education to any level. A bachelor's degree at Kaplan will cost around $60,000. That's a fact. It will cost more at any state school when all is said and done. If you work full-time, have kids this works. The savings of gas and childcare alone makes this well worth it. My time is expensive as well. If an online program can get me the accredited degree I need and allow my more evenings with my family. Sign me up. You see folks, it's a matter of priorities. No one ever made anyone go to school who didn't want to go to school in the first place. No one at Kaplan ever called someone who did not want to go to school and convinced them Kaplan could make their dreams come true.

"There is nothing at Kaplan, or its affiliates, which will help most of you!!!"

***** Not since they fired you I assume you mean? You sound like an occult evangelist. I hope you sleep well at night although I seriously doubt it. You were fired. You weren't good at your job or you just didn't fit in. Move on. I have an idea: Why not go back to school?

"I WAS an Admissions Advisor for this company and I can honestly say that this is a very professional SALES Organization. There are literally 1,400 telemarketers (Admissions Advisors) that are rather well trained to do one thing: Tell you a story about your dream coming true and how all your worries will disappear with an education from Kaplan. Oh, and of course collect the $95 tuition deposit. I left this company for the simplicity that I could not believe the lack of ethics. The people on the phones make from just under $30,000 annually up to $80,000. This is based on the number of Admission STARTS per 6 month period. In that the government provides funding to the students in the form of Financial Aid and Grants, this position cannot be commission based. But in fact it is completely based on production."

***** I have worked for the school for 5 years and I can tell you this person is just lying. She didn't leave - She was fired. (We know who she is) Don't let unemployables tell you that you do not have an option. If you need an education, and cannot do it through traditional means there are many schools who can accomodate you online. Kaplan is one of them. Local colleges may offer a few online courses, but if you need a fully online program you need to find a college that specializes in online and has experience in doing it.


You guys just let anyone post anything here?

Jesus.

I am currently attending Kaplan after giving it much thought for about a year. I spoke with my adviser about 6 times before deciding that I wanted to proceed. I am usually pretty skeptical about any institution or company that I talk to from an online source. What made me decide to attend Kaplan was the fact that I am in a very difficult place in life and I felt like Kaplan was a great outlet for me because I get to spend time with my children while I am working and going to school. As far as the price goes, Kaplan is the same price as the big University the next town over that I could not attend due to my current living situation. So a quick question: Did anyone stop to realize that what may be bad for others can possibly be the remedy to someone else's problem? I have been attending Kaplan since Jan 2008 and I enjoy it very much. No matter what school I would have attended in or around my area it would have cost me the same amount of money that I did not have. By the way, since I couldn't afford the $95 enrollment fee, my adviser waived the fee for me and I have yet to pay for anything. I think that some people can be very right in having a bad experience, but sometimes what works for one won't work for the other. I just hope that people will make informed decisions as to what fits into their own lives and why. I would have loved to attend the University in my area, but it was not convenient and for the same price I can be with my children seeing as though I'm the only parent they have. Kaplan isn't for everyone, but with that being the case it's almost impossible to condemn them from trying to do what they are here for. I understand with being an ex-employee you obviously know the ins and outs better than I do, but until something happens that makes me second guess Kaplan's ability to follow through, I will continue to enjoy my time obtaining my degree and maintaining a 3.95 GPA. Thanks for reading!

I'm responding to the poster above complaining about how a 3 credit class anywhere else becomes a 5 credit kaplin course and is charged over $1500.

Let's put this in perspective. Compare to a mid-tier university, I chose Bowling Green State U. No reason, it just seemed nice and middle of the road. In state tuition for this school is $444 per credit hour. Times 3 hours gives us $1332.00. Now add a $50 dollar book, $1382. And gas to campus 3 days a week for 4 months and we break even.

There are cheeper schools and there are alot more expensive ones. Kaplin doesn't seem so far off. And you always have the option of going to a comm. college for 2 years first.

I enrolled with Kaplan a
lmost a year ago, and I did have submit a high school transcipt. I also took placemet exams, atleast in Math. I admit the admissions councelors do come accross like telemarketors, but mine did not tell me he had a bechelor's degree. In fact he said he was still a student, and working while he went to school. He sold me on it, but I have to admit i have learned a lot since going to Kaplan.

I have been going to school for almost a year now. I've wondered if I get really good grades because there is less expectations with this school, but after discussions with other students, I don't think so. There are a lot of students taking classes twice because they couldn't pass the first time, but i'm not. These classes are really not easy, I work my butt off to keep a 4.0 grade point average. It just seems that if a university was going to come up with some scam to get your money, why would it be so difficult. Why not make it easy to the general public, so that they would keep student instead of them dropping out becuase it's too hard. I had a class with a woman much older than me (i'm in my late twenties), the first class I ever had with Kaplan, she said that she didn't realize how much work it was going to be, and she was just too old to do it. I'm sorry, but people need to wake up and realize that nothing in life is easy. I think too many people think that a college degree is going to be handed to them because they did it online. They are sadly mistaken.

No disrespect Ex-Employee, but your comments just do not make sense. Let me support my comment by the rebuttal to your reply as written below. Your comment does not surprise me in that this is the explanation given in training to Admission Advisors by Kaplan University. Everything taught to you and I, and other employees, is spin control and geared for those who do not have an original thought. That is to say that they simply do not know better. The hiring practice at Kaplan University is biased towards those who fall in the category of "Ignorance is Bliss". This works well when the ambassador of the company only KNOWS what they are told and has nothing else to go on. This worked well for all the employees at Enron and MCI/Worldcom who simply did not WANT to know that the books were cooked.

The rebuttal about the quarter attributes at Kaplan is nothing more than another attempt to confuse all who are considering attending Kaplan. The written quote made by the author above confuses me. It states, from the person defending Kaplan, "...the degrees end up costing about the same as quarter schools charge less for tuition per quarter than semester schools charge per semester". This statement, manufactured by Kaplan University for their employees during training, explains in it's own verbage that Kaplan University IS so much more than that of a Semester program. The Kaplan credit hour costs more than $330. I understand the employees of Kaplan, along with their students, simply do not have the common sense to figure this out. Look at this example: English 101, which is REQUIRED by all students to complete, is 3 credits at any college regardless of quarter, semester, instate or out of state. Heck, it's even 3 credits for students studying English in Europe. But at Kaplan, the class is 5 credits. Do the math. This means your first accredited English class at Kaplan will cost more than $1,500! REALLY! And to further the agony of this education; your not even instructed on this subject. The instruction is done by reading a computer screen. There is no verbal instruction on this class or 90% of the other classes at Kaplan. You might as well just read a college level class text at your local bookstore for about $25. Back to the rebuttal. Obviously the person responding to the above posting does not know the first thing about the subject he/she is writing about. In a Quarter based programs, the credits are still the same. The difference is that the classes meet more frequently through the week in order to make up the needed hours to be accepted. If you look at a side be side comparison of a quarter based, and semester based program, you will find virtually the same number of hours spent in a class for the duration of the instruction. For example: Semester classes may meet on M/W/F for 50 minutes each; or T/TH for 80 minutes each. This lasts for the semester which is usually 16 weeks long. In a quarter based scholastic program the quarter is 10 weeks and the class is scheduled to meet 3 days a week for 80 minutes each. The same amount of time is spent in front of the professor for both (roughly 2,400 minutes per semester). The main difference is that in a Semester program a full time student is taking 12 or more hours per term and in a Quarter based programs a full time student is only taking 6. At the end of the year the same credits are earned per annum. So the cost is, you guessed it, about the same. But to your comment above, the absurd credit worth of each class, along with such an inflated cost per hour at Kaplan, simply spells RIP-OFF! Please review the attached which I copied from another website. To view on the web, simply search in your favorite engine: "Semesters vs. Quarters, what's the difference. Enjoy!

Semester vs. Quarter System: What's the difference?
Posted on August 26th, 2008. Categorized under College2 Comments
Typically, colleges will divide the academic year using either the semester system or a quarter system. The two are very different, and if you're not ready for the switch, it can be very tough on you.
Most high schools use the semester system: you receive one set of permanent grades after the first semester ends (around Christmas) and one set of permanent grades at the end of the school year. Between semesters, you might switch a few classes around.
However, some colleges opt for what's known as the quarter system' instead. The quarter system is far more fast-paced than the semester, and getting used to the difference can be a bit tough.
So what's the essential difference between the two? Is one better than the other? It really comes down to your study habits as a student and your own preferences.
Different systems for academic terms can take some getting used to.
Semester System
The academic year is divided into two large blocks, called 'semesters'. One semester is usually about 15 weeks long plus one week for finals, so that puts you in school for 32 weeks.
In one semester, you'll take usually around five classes, give or take. With two semesters in a year, that's about 10 classes a year.
Most colleges on the semester system start earlier around mid-August and get out earlier as well. You'll usually have a major break around Christmas.
The length of a semester gives you more time to make up class work and get the hang of things. It also means if you don't like a class, you're stuck with it for a lot longer, plus if you like to procrastinate, the amount of time makes it even easier.
Quarter System
While colleges offer four quarters in a year (fall, winter, spring, summer), only three are actually needed to make one academic year. So even though it's called quarters', your year is actually divided into thirds instead of fourths, unless you choose to take summer classes.
A quarter is usually 10 weeks long plus one week for finals, keeping you in school 33 weeks (about as long as your semester friends).
With only ten weeks, if your class meets only on Tuesday and Thursdays, then you're only in that class twenty times. Think back to high school where twenty times going to a class was only four weeks. Now twenty times makes up a whole class.
What this means is that the pace is MUCH faster. In those few meetings, you have to cover a whole topic. Missing a class can leave you way behind. If you have a lot of work, you're going to need to work hard to get it done in time. The quarter system is much less-forgiving and, as a whole, more challenging than the semester system.
However, because the length is less, if you hate a class, you don't have to suffer through it as long as you would on a semester system.
In one quarter, you'll usually enroll in three or four classes. With three quarters, that ranges from 9 to 12 classes in a year.
Colleges on the quarter system tend to start later mid-September and stay in school until around mid-June. Typically, you'll have a nice break in December and a brief break in late March.
And what about the trimester system?
Though not as typically as used as the semester or quarter system, the trimester system is worth mention. Basically, your year is divided up much like with the quarter system: you go to school for three terms. Only it's more similar to year-round school: you don't have one big block of time off, just a month or so here and there. Trimester terms are typically 10 or 11 weeks long.
Which is best for me?
Well, that's up to you to decide. The best way to decide is to think of your strengths and weaknesses during high school, as well as what system your high school used.
If you're a heavy procrastinator that has a hard time being motivated, the quarter system will quickly leave you in the dust. You need to be prepared to work hard and keep on top of assignments to avoid falling behind.
On the other hand, if you do your best work under pressure and are always eager to move to the next big thing, the quarter system might actually be up your alley. You might find that the semester system makes things too long, draining you of motivation.
Deciding the school for you
You shouldn't base your college decision much at all on what system the school uses. A college's reputation, opportunities, and other aspects are much more important, but the system is still worth taking into account, especially if you know that you will not be able to make it in one of the systems.
Both systems definitely have their merits, but both can also take some getting used to.

To be clear, Kaplan is on QUARTERS, not SEMESTERS, which is why it requires 180 credits to get a BS degree. This is standard across all higher education institutions in the US that teach on the quarter credit system. The Semester based system requires 120 credits. A majority of the US institutions are on semesters, but schools like Ohio State University, Ohio University, and most of the Univ. of California system are on the quarter system. There are positive and negatives to both systems, but in the end, the degrees end up costing about the same as quarter schools charge less for tuition per quarter hour than semester schools charge per semester hour.

I LOVE THIS! GREAT JOB!



It feels SO GOOD to be done with Kaplan University! I can FINALLY sleep at night! My only wish is to be able to call up all of my enrolled students, apologize to them, and ask them to drop out. Then again, we don't want to be sued, huh?



I hope that KU and ALL of these for-profit universities go down in flames! TOTAL RIP-OFFS!



-Bennie



PS. Don't forget the disclosure! You don't want an autofail, do you? ;)



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