I began attending the University of Phoenix online in Spring 2007. I loved the five week course's and the fact that I could get my four year Psychology degree online. It appeared to be a great place to finish my education, but appearances are deceiving.
My troubles began when I had to put off starting a course in June due to knee surgery. I was informed that my financial aid would be fine as long as I started my next class on or before July 1st. My next class did indeed start on July 1st.
I received a bill for $1600 and sent an immediate email to my financial advisor asking why I received this bill that I was a financial aid student. I was told there was nothing to worry about, that finanicial aid was still in place. I finished this course and started a second course; again receiving a bill, this one for $3200.
I sent a second email and was at this time told that my financial aid had been canceled due to not starting class prior to July 1st. When I questioned why I was not told this the first time the answer was, and I quote "I'm sorry I must have missed it."
I was told to go to a website and fill out the paperwork again and it would be recertified. I did this on August 15, by September 15 my paperwork had not even been looked at.in fact they told me it was not even submitted until September 5th. They assured me I could take my next classes without worry, but I refused to start classes again until I knew I had financial coverage.
When I complained enough they put my paperwork on priority and a week later I was sent a letter denying me financial aid. I immediatley called my fincancial advisor and discovered they had made a mistake. They had to resend my paperwork and a week after that I had certification.
Due to this long wait I decided to see if there was another school I could get into. I decided I would leave University of Phoenix due to their lack of intelligent information when it came to financial aid and academics. I discovered Southern New Hampshire University with at tuition that was half of what University of Phoenix charged and also offered my degree online.
When I told University of Phoenix I was withdrawing and not taking another class, they told me they would take away my funds that I had just spent a month and a half waiting on and I would have to pay them what I owed for the previous two classes, unless I took one more class. I did.
After completing this last class, I applied for financial aid at Southern New Hampshire University. They asked that University of Phoenix fill out a simple form confirming that I was no longer attending the University and no longer recieving funds for them.
A simple form that would take two minutes to fill out. University of Phoenix replied that my last day of class was December 1st, and that was my withdrawal date as well. I was told they were instructed not to fill out this form and wished me luck at my new school.
I question the motives behind University of Phoenix and the Apollo Group. I feel like I have been cheated. I also now fear that due to their refusal to fill out a simple form stating my withdrawal date that I will not be able to start classes at my new school until June instead of January.
University of Phoenix looks good but when you get down to it, they are hard to work with and do not hesitate to misinform and misguide the students they rope in. I made a mistake in attending University of Phoenix.
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