American Intercontinental University Online AIU-Buckhead, GA, AIU Hoffman Estates, IL Lied and charged me a whole bunch of money I don't have for a diploma I am finding out is worth nothing Hoffman Estates, Illinois

In May 2004 after working at my job for 12 years, I was laid off. Not knowing what to do, I applied for unemployment and thought about possibly going back to school.

I went on line to do some research and filled out a few information packets. No sooner did my phone start to ring and I received a call from a school named American Intercontinental University (AIU) recruiter named Bryan Bronkowski.

He was very persistent in wanting me to register in their school, I was very hesitant at first, but he kept making everything sound great about his school and even told me that I would have no problem paying them back because after I received my diploma I would have a much better paying job.

He also told me that I probably would only pay 50 a month to my student loans when I was all done. He told me there would be a 50 application fee and before I knew it I was in over my head, I was sent all these forms to read and sign.

I was asked to send all my military information so that they could give me extra credits. He led me to believe that I would get the best education and would have no problem attending classes whenever I wanted. 

After all it was all taking place online, he also led me to believe that I would also get a great job with good pay because of my degree and would also be able to afford to pay my loans back because of the great job that I would get.

Lies, Lies, Lies. I had to take a test before I was allowed to attend, part of their process he said because not everyone passes or gets accepted. Well, I didn't pass the test, but they still allowed me to attend. 

They (I found out the hard way) wanted money I did not have, I was unemployed!!!!!! But at the time I vulnerable and suspected nothing.

Attending the online classes was hard work, I literally stayed up many late nights for hours to finish my homework. I had to attend discussion boards, classes with the professor, read about 5-10 chapters a week, believe it or not, write 1-2 papers as well as do a few team projects.

All this had to be done each week and finished by Saturday midnight, I crammed every week for two years.

Once I was close to graduating, I tried to stop at with my Associates degree, I just wanted a break, a breather for at least 6 months, my mind was drained I was literally mentally exhausted, but AIU wouldn't allow it.

They said I couldn't and that I had to go on, there were going to be no breaks in between any classes not till Christmas.

They made me feel (a lot of guilt) like I wouldn't be able to go far with that Associates degree alone and said I would get better pay with a Bachelors Degree.

So because of the great education and pay I thought I was going to get I went ahead and went on to get my Bachelors (I kept thinking positive and that this would all pay off in the end).

I graduated with my Associate degree in June 2005 on a Saturday and started school again for my Bachelors degree the next day Sunday June 2005, no break whatsoever in between.

Again, I went on for the next year or so cramming all my school homework, book chapters, classes, discussion boards, meetings and make my homework deadline of Saturday midnight.

At time we had to read 5 or more chapters a week and I was never able to accomplish that.  The Chapters were way to long and on top of everything else impossible to finish.

When I finally graduated I was so elated and happy because I was finally done, no more cramming, no more homework or discussion boards, etc...I also thought, (YAY), I was finally going to make the salary at my job I deserved.

It never came to that, it never happened. Instead, what I did get was many harassing calls from Sallie Mae. The biggest mistake I made was allowing AIU to do all my student loan borrowing for me.

I'd never done anything like this before and was very naive when it came to any type of student loan. I was under the impression that it was their responsibility to find the student loans for you.

WOW!! little did I know that was a great mistake. Soon after my deferments were over, I started receiving calls from Sallie Mae and Wachovia asking for their money for my student loans.

I was able to place them both on forbearance a few times, but SM always wanted 150 dollars to do that and I always had to scrape the money or take from another bill to pay them.

When that ran out Sallie Mae was literally calling me 20 times a day or more asking for their money and no matter what reason I gave them it was never good enough.

They always told me that they would place all my info in their computer so others would know but it never happen because others would still call me asking for their money and harass me.

They always wanted the whole story again and again and again. Wachovia was a better lender because they never asked for any money to be placed on forbearance and they also went up to a year and SM only did 6 months a a time.

I now owe about 60,000 in student loans and the interest rates and late fees keep going up because I can't afford to pay or place any student loan on forbearance. 

It seems I keep sinking deeper and deeper in this debt and don't see any other way out of it thanks to AIU.

Filing bankruptcy according to everyone will not help because you can't get out of student loan debt.

I have come to learn the very hard way that AIU (American Intercontinental University) is no good. It cheats everyone out of money and makes you cram the whole time you are with them.  

Sometimes by cramming you do not really learn anything. All in all, I was duped by the school and Bryan Bronkowski the recruiter. 

I was made a fool of by AIU and they are having the last laugh. Having gone through all this and still going through it has left me in bad financial shape. I will NEVER, NEVER, EVER do this again and will try to discourage others as well. If I had to do it all over again...I WOULDNT!!!!!!