University Of Phoenix Online BE AWARE: The University of Phoenix charged me $1,233 for leaving the PHD program Phoenix Arizona

Hello,

This is a rebuttal to Chicago, Illinois U.S.A. It is obvious that you did not read any of my responses in this forum. I am not defending any on-line college, nor am I saying that one should not get a student loan. What I stated was unless one has the ability to maintain the class schedule, then taking a student loan can lead to problems.

In order for the student loan to be disbursed in a timely manner the student may not take a break between any of the scheduled classes. One must meet the minimum credit requirements within a specific time period, or the student will find that the student loan will not be available when the next block of classes are ready to be taken.

In order to meet this requirement one must stay on schedule and not fail any class. With a student loan the student will find the pressure to maintain attendance difficult. A student may take a 29 day break between classes, but by doing so the student will find that he or she will have out of pocket expenses when the next block is scheduled.

I took six classes, two at a time with an A average. That requires writing approximately 4,000 words a week. If you take an associate's course you will find that it consists of two classes at a time for a nine week period. A one time emergency leave of nine weeks is allowed. Again; the same problem, the student will not meet the required credits needed to receive the next student loan disbursal.

Your response lacks any sense of what this thread is about; plus it lacks the proper facts. First; a personal loan is not like a car loan. Any loan's interest rate is based upon one's credit rating. A car loan is anywhere from zero to 2% interest with good credit. A personal loan is more. To compare the two shows your complete misunderstanding of financial reality.

The problem many students have in this forum is they did not understand what was required of them to maintain their eligibility for a student loan disbursal. I took a student loan many years ago to receive my degree in electronics. I finished 3rd in my class after two full years, I then started to pay my student loan back, which I did after almost five years.

What many do not understand about student loans is that the payment is deferred as long as you attend school, but the interest rate accumulates. As long as one attends school the amount due adds up. To pay off a student loan early the entire amount plus the interest must be paid in full; only then will the student get back the interest plus any balance due to the student.

If one owes $10,000 plus interest the entire amount that would normally be paid at the end of the scheduled payment date must be paid first; only then will the interest be paid back to the student. If one pays just the $10,000, then the payments will be taken out of that amount on a monthly basis, and in the end a bill asking for the interest due will show up in the mail. Think of it as a prepayment penalty.

Student loans are for those with less than perfect credit or for the student that does not have the money needed to attend school at the time. The loan is guaranteed by the government and is fixed regardless of the student's credit score. Student loans, unlike personal loans can not be forgiven. The interest on a personal loan may or may not be higher than a student loan, but is eligible for bankruptcy proceedings. A student loan must be paid back regardless of one's situation; bankruptcy is not an option.


My suggestion to anyone that wishes to attend the UoP is to take a personal loan for the first couple of classes. If he or she matriculates and feels he or she can keep up with the work, then get a student loan if needed. Please be advised that the pressure will be great, any failed classes will not be covered by a student loan or grant. Any time needed off from class will put you in a position to pay for that class at some point because you will not meet the time schedule for another disbursement of your student loan.

This is not about sticking to a decision and completing a degree. This is about taking financial aid, and not having the flexibility to take time off without ending up paying for at least some part of the course from your own pocket. Student loans should supplement your tuition not be the complete amount of that tuition. I speak from experience as a former student of the UoP and as a student that completed a degree in electronics in 1987 with the help of a student loan and the GI Bill.

One final note, if the author from Chicago went to college and his or her posting is an example of what he or she learned in college; I would not attend that college. I found the posting to be incoherent and missing the proper punctuation. I did not understand the point about going from college to college and paying for it.

Quote: When I jump college to college I pay cash out of pocket for it and I feel the loss when I have to pay a bill. I do not understand that sentence and the reasoning behind it. Who do you think should pay for your college? In the end you will.

Please take it from someone that attended the UoP; do not accept financial aid unless it is a supplement for your attendance to college, not the entire tuition. There will be no breaks for you to take. Four thousand words a week every week for 50 weeks is a burden. One minor bump in the road of life and you will find yourself paying for a class or two before you continue on with your classes under any financial aid program.

Read any of my postings under Rick from Shelton, Ct. before you sign anything. Unlike many in this forum I do not hide my name. I can help you with your decision before attending any on-line college.

Been there done that.

Whoever is sitting here pushing personal loans stop. They come with car loan like interest rates. Federal aid exists for students who need to earn a degree and will pay back for it. College exists for students who want to attend not students who want to drop out. When I jump college to college I pay cash out of pocket for it and I feel the loss when I have to pay a bill. Grow up and follow these financial practices in life. Be smart and have some stick to it ness about you.

Hi Doctoral Student,

I normally do not involve my personal life into a comment regarding these posts, but since your conclusion to the discussion makes the assumption that I am single and have time on my hands, I must respond to that assumption. Your logic is faulty since your premise is that I had no problem with the school, or the workload because I am single and free.

I am not single, I have three young children and a working wife, a full time day job, and spend many hours working the internet as a part time job. Besides maintaining my house and yard, I look after both of my aging parents.

Let us discuss the nature of your situation and leave out your assumptions of mine. I found the on-line classes difficult, but satisfying. I did maintain an "A" average up to and after I withdrew from my last class that was my 6th and final class.

I understand your frustration, but you did not adhere to the terms of the contract that you signed. The terms are clearly spelled out as to your rights and responsibilities and those of the UoP.

Blaming others because you did not give the proper notice to the school within the established time line is the basis of my initial rebuttal. You admit that you failed to attend the scheduled class within the time line as detailed in the contract that you signed.

To point out that I am in the minority within these postings of Rip Off under the UoP section is irrelevant. Because the majority of others have problems and discuss their disputes on this forum does not mean that they are correct. How many students complete their assignments and graduate; satisfied with the UoP? You will find that you are in fact, in the minority.

Please stick to the facts, and do not use rhetorical devices, such as, a red herring to discredit an honest assessment of your particular predicament. You did not live up to your side of an airtight-ironclad contract. That is why you owe the money. I am not a lawyer; but I can assure you, you have no legal standing. You violated the terms of a contract that is applied to every student equally. In the end you must pay the money owed.

I respond to this forum not because I am defending the UoP. I respond in this forum to educate those that wish to attend any on-line college class. I make recommendations on how to resolve and prevent problems. Please, check out my other postings.

If you want help, please avoid the use rhetoric, and stick to the facts. Emotion has no place when it comes to making a reasonable argument.

Critical Thinking:

Your premise: "Rick must be wrong because he is outnumbered in this forum and I assume he is single and has more time on his hands than anyone else."

Your Conclusion: "I must be correct because I say I was treated unfairly and the school mislead me"

Your premise is faulty because it makes assumptions. Your conclusion is faulty because you admit you did not abide by the terms spelled out in a contract that you signed.

You are rationalizing; not reasoning. The resolution of your situation is to arrange payments that are reasonable to both the UoP and you. Explain your situation to the university and reaffirm any agreement via email and stick to that agreement. That is the only rational resolution to your particular situation.
Use reason not rhetoric,I do not hide my name; unlike many. I am not ashamed of my attendance and my withdrawal from the UoP. I understood the agreement and followed it. I have no problem with the school or the classes I took.

If others are reading this post, please understand what you are getting in to. Read my other posts and help protect yourself from any misunderstanding. If you follow my suggestions you will be fine. Do not attend this school or any other on-line school if you are not in a financial position to do so. Avoid student loans. I do not want to repeat myself; all my suggestions are previously posted.

Respectfully

Rick,
Former student

Financial aid students have 29 days that they are allowed to take in between classes,(21 days if they are using their GI Bill), keep in mind the days also include the weekends. If you are not back in class by the 29th day, the UOP will begin a return to lender process.

There are two documents which are available to the students; one is Authorization to Withdraw with Credit (AWTC) and the other one is Leave of Absence (LOA). The AWTC will apply the credit to your class that you withdrew from once you are back in class, if you do not return the credit will not apply. If you are on a LOA then you must have this approved two weeks prior to the end of the current class.

This is where the UOP makes money, they do not tell you that if you decide not to return they will not apply the credit to your account, instead they will send the money back to lender and will make you pay for the class that you have withdrawn from.

They also do not tell you that although you will have a credit for withdrawing, you will have a shortfall in funding because the credit is not a credit, they deduct the money from your student loan on your account, thus you will still have an out of pocket expense.

This is the way they keep students in class. Prior to your enlisting, your Enrollment Advisor and Finance Advisor are to go over the clarifications that are listed on the finance agreement you sign.

Like any other school, if there is a balance on your account, the school will not release your transcripts until the balance is paid.

Your finance advisor will continue to contact you for 90 days, after which time they will turn it over to Corporate Collections which will contact you for the first six months, if you do not respond to them, they will then send it to an outside collection agency.

Hope this helps you some.

Rick,

In the doctoral program, you're only allowed to take one class at a time. So, I'm not sure what you mean about two classes. Second, I complied with all the LOA policies which is why it was approved in the first place. Third, when I did take to the approved leave, it was at 4 weeks (8 Week class). My financial aid counselor credited my 4 weeks. After I decided not to return, the financial aid counselor took away the credit. LEt me say this, no grants were involved - all loans. These loans are governed under Title IV funds.

Rick, if you are able to get me some information on these funds then we can talk but for right now you have now idea what is going on. Furthermore, did you comment on the other ripoff reports students filed. You against 440+ reports. I don't think so.

I'm glad you had a good experience their. You must be a single person without any issues in your life. If that is the case, you ought to thank God.

Hi,

There is a difference between taking an emergency leave and the maximum time allowed between classes. Emergency leave is nine weeks and you must provide proof of the emergency.

This policy is a "one time only" exception to maintaining attendance. Anyone may, by notification, allow 29 days between classes. You can take a 29 day break if you are not using student loans or grants. If you have a student loan and take a break the financial disbursements will not be available. You will have to pay for a class out of pocket.

The mistake that the author of this posting made is he or she waited after 29 days before notifying the school. Once you are enrolled in a class you must take that class or you will not pass. Student loans and grants do not cover classes that one has failed. That is why $1,233 is owed to the school. The contract one signs with this school is airtight and is specific as to your rights and responsibilities and of the UoP.

The transcripts will not be released until the amount due is paid. There is no way around it, the author of the posting failed to meet the obligations spelled out in an ironclad contract; no more than 29 days between classes, unless it is under the onetime emergency clause of nine weeks.

The second error that the author made is not follow up phone calls with an email explaining what the author believes was stated or promised, and a reply to confirm or correct any understanding.

Please; if you are reading these Rip-Off reports and you wish to go to any on-line school, then try the first two classes one at at time using your money. This will allow 29 days between classes, and if you find it too difficult you may drop out without difficulty. The money spent is yours, and if it was a personal loan, it may be forgiven under bankruptcy or financial restructuring.

A student loan can not be forgiven or restructured, once you have a student loan and wish to convert it to a personal loan, one may find it hard. No institution will pay off a student loan and take the chance that one will file for Chapter 11 or complete bankruptcy.

Taking classes under a student loan is stressful. You must take two classes at a time without a break for years. Expect to write 4,000 words a week between the two classes. Take it from someone that has been there; use a personal loan. Take the first two classes and pay as you go. The worst that can happen is you will owe for one or two classes and may reinforce what you learned in English class, and how to write a affective resume and profession follow up letters.

After the first two classes you will have matriculated. You can decide where you will go from there. Do not fall pray to high pressure sales tactics, and make sure everything is followed up by email or done by email with a reply.

I personally enjoyed the school. As you may have noticed I took some of that knowledge, and have applied to this rebuttal.

A former, but satisfied student of UoP