I attended Westwood College with the promise that I was getting an Associates Degree in Computer networking and my credits were transferable to Richland College, University of Phoenix, and University of North Texas. They said that they are a NATIONALLY accredited school.
At the time that sounded great. I was a very proud student. Then, I graduated and happily took my transcripts to Richland College where basically they looked at it and said, UH, sorry we can't use this, not even your basics. So then I began to question why, their answer was that Westwood College is only a nationally accredited school verses a regionally accredited school. My point is that most regionally accredited schools (e.G. Texas A&M) will not accept transfer credit from most nationally accredited schools.
A few students enroll in vocational schools every year without understanding this important distinction, and are horrified when they discover that their units are non-transferable (after they have racked up thousands of dollars in student loan debt). STUDENTS DO YOUR RESEARCH!!! Keep in mind that you want to go to a college that is REGIONALLY accredited.
My next subject will explain further why NOBODY should register at Westwood College. Thinking back now I can understand why this college is only regionally accredited (most elementary schools and high schools are regionally accredited by the way). The Basics that Westwood College offers are as follows: English 1 and 2, Government, PRE-Algebra and Algebra. Now the teachers there that I met were VERY passionate about their jobs, but let me just warn you now. If you go to Westwood you are merely paying $36,000-$40,000 for what you learned in high school. A fellow student even remarked on how big of a joke this school is, I'm sorry, this, COLLEGE is, saying that her daughter who is still in 9th grade was doing her math homework for her.
My last subject should change any ones mind that plans to attend Westwood College. I worked there for about 6 months after I graduated as a Financial Aid advisor. Let me tell you what. That Extensive Financial Aid Program IS extensive INDEED! Let's start with their simple rip off. This is what you will see every TWO MONTHS on your ledger card. They charge you lab fees of $195 a pop. Even if you are doing an independent study that term from home, and even if you are in a room with no computers and no kind of lab activity happening. They charge you a steadily increasing rate of approximately $3,200 and call that your, Tuition.
Right, ok now here comes your extensive financial aid. Basically there is three ways to pay for your school. Apply for loans, pay with cash, or get the Westwood Supplemental Student Financing. Now of course there is FAFSA, but for some reason (I really don't know why) FAFSA only covers $4000 a year MAX and that depends on your last year's income. (Apparently at some other colleges, FAFSA covers a lot more so I've heard.) Ok well that's good there is a possibility that you will get some free money. Hooray. You are still getting yourself into a very depressing amount of debt with some major lenders such as Sallie Mae and Federal Stafford. That is of course unless you want to pay cash for your education at Westwood; which like I said is about $3,200 per term plus books, lab fees, and of course your tool kit. So unless you can get a giant loan for your whole tuition, or have a nice relative that will pay it off for you; you will end up having to get the Supplemental Student Financing (basically Westwood will pay off your tuition and you pay Westwood back directly at 18% when you get out of school). Now they just switched their policy so that you must reapply for financial aid every 6 month. I am not sure what they are trying to pull with that one; but I am pretty it isn't in the students best interest. It may have something to do with making sure that the student has to sign new paperwork meaning a higher interest rate. Sure it may not sound that bad to some of you; but now I can't find a loan consolidation place to take the Damned Student Supplemental Financing loan off my hands. So it is now in collections, ruining my credit even more (ha ha but at least while that loan is in collections it can't build interest).
Now the only question I want to ask them and all of you is, If this school is only Nationally accredited, the course curriculum is that of a 9th grade level, there is no Dorms to live in, nor Vendors to provide food for a cafeteria, nor any special accommodations what so ever, where the hell do they get off charging $36,000-$40,000 for an Associates Degree that wont transfer anywhere else besides back to Westwood Online (where they plan to charge you another $36,000-$40,000 for your non transferable Bachelors Degree)?
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