As a former employee of UOP, I too was initially impressed with their unconventional methods of providing an education to individuals who may not have had the time or ability to further their education otherwise. Promised a free education, and offered a significant increase to what I had made as a Financial Aid Advisor at another for-profit institution, I chose UOP over another very prominent company who had extended me an even more lucrative offer, because they didn't offer me a free education. What I learned in my first month of working there was something quite contrary to what I originally was told by the recruiter. Upon further planning my own continuing education, I learned that not only does UOP offer degrees that do not in fact exist (because every two year program they offer is essentially a business program with a difference of one or two classes that change it to "Health Care Management, " "Criminal Justice, " "Nursing, " or "Communications." Then, when you discuss your plan with your enrollment advisor, he or she does his best to convince you that "Business" is an all-inclusive major. However, prior to my career in Financial Aid, I worked in health care and no business course out there will teach you how to properly set an iv cathedar, or relate to a patient enduring chemotherapy.
Another thing they insist is that they're accreditation is better than most other universities, etc., out there... It is not better, it is different. The Higher Learning Commission catagorizes schools by their number of students, types of degrees/certificates, whether or not they are online or physical locales, and the intensity of their programs. I'm not saying UOP is not accredited, but they do not provide a better education than other schools.in fact, it is quite the opposite, since you cannot take remedial courses, or any foundation ("core") courses that would be beneficial to you at another university. Their version of "English 101" (basic essay writing and work citing) is called "Communications 120." You don't have to take a lot of courses to know that English and Communications are two different courses. Beware, because they will tell you it is the same thing.
Lastly, UOP will harass you. Enrollment Counselors are told they must make 80 dials per day, and be on the phone for a minimum of 4 hours everyday. Financial Counselors (and I am being very specific to not call them Financial Aid Advisors because I was the only "FC" I knew there who actually had a background in Title IV auditing and loan submission... Most of them are former collections agents) must make 40 calls a day and talk for 2 hours. If counselors do not meet their call limits, they are given a reduction in salary come review time. This is the worst part of it. I've literally seen EC's call students or prospective students 15 to 20 times a day and hang up just to get dials. (Or, they will keep reviewing messages left on your voice mail to get talk time.) I'm not proud to say that I have done similar things for the first 2 months I worked there, until I found a better, more ethical opportunity and I moved on (for a lesser salary, mind you).
Last weekend, a close friend of mine told me that he was planning on attending UOP and I advised him to look at all the options. For some people, this institution seems to be okay.in my experience, however, most people do not have positive experiences. And most people end up paying for a very expensive online degree program only to feel ripped off in the end.
By the way, my enrollment counselor (who I spoke to once nearly 6 months ago) still calls my cell phone (although I am on the DNC registry) and sends me emails about enrolling.
C
Phoenix, Arizona
U.S.A.
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