Colorado Technical University : BSBA Reviews
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Nychsa
(In Progress) on March 10, 2012
(email verified)
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Will give you no credit for prior education/experience or certifications
As I was researching schools for a graduate degree in Information Systems Security I came across CTU online.
I was told by the recruiter at CTU that I would receive credit for prior learning, and experience. The classes looked interesting and the online school was tied to a brick and mortar school. In addition it was an NSA Center of Excellence. So I believed the recruiter and came on board with CTU.
I had my graduate transcripts from George Washington University sent to CTU only to learn they could not give me any credit for them because they were 5 years old. Then they told me to write up descriptions for my certifications. If the descriptions matched to some of the course material, I could get credit for those courses. Since I knew several of my certifications would map to the course material, I gladly wrote up the descriptions. I have the following certifications:
CISM
OCSP
CNSS 4015
CNSS 4012
CNSS 4011
NSA IAM
FQ Navy Validator
After I pulled together those descriptions and sent them, I was told they can't give me credit for any of them because I am at the Graduate level and they only give credit for professional certifications at the undergraduate level (funny how Western Governors seems to have no problem with this)!
Then they told me to send my resume and a write up of my experience and references. Determined to get credit for the many years of work and study I have in the field of information security, I put that package together only to then hear again, I can't get credit for any of that at the graduate level - they only do that at the undergraduate level!
For CTU, it was clearly about the money. Had I known CTU would give me no credit for anything I'd done, I would not have gone to CTU. So, to make a long story short, they lied .
In the mean time, I took the Operating Systems security class, which was taught by someone who barely had an understanding of information security. Since he had no clue about OS security all he taught was security policy and management.
Next came network security, and that was taught by an instructor I had for systems engineering. He knew systems engineering but was out of his element with network security. It was painful to watch him stumble through it!
Then there was an instructor who's slides and English looked like it came from a 12th grader. Obviously
I was too far in to get out. So, I stuck it out. In my very last class, they tortured us again with these ridiculous group assignments (have you ever tried to work in a group with people who are all full time employed, living in different time zones? It doesn't work out too well). There were four of us in the group. One person dropped out. The instructor then told the rest of us in an email that we had to make up the missing student's work! So, not only do I not get credit for work and experience and certifications, but I also get to now do work that some other student was supposed to do! That was jut adding insult to injury! I called student advising and complained and I was told it is the instructor's discretion.
How can this be? If CTU is going to play money hard ball with students, then we are definitely customers and need to be treated equally. To me that means if someone in another group writes one paper and has a shot at the same grade, I should not be asked to write two for the same grade! In addition, given that I am a Navy Veteran and have been working and leading teams for the pat 13 years, I think I've had my fair share of experience in terms of picking up the slack for someone else. CTU does not need to try to teach me that lesson either.
So, in all – if this ends up being the case that the only way I can maintain my GPA is by taking on another student's work, then the complaint may end up being a bit more than just a complaint. It is bad enough that I was lied to during the recruiting effort. But to not get credit for prior learning as promised only to then be saddled with doing another student's work is really adding insult to injury.
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Tipton.chad
(In Progress) on September 10, 2011
(email verified)
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CTU on line the worst educational experience of my life
Wow so many bad things to say about my experience at CTU. I realized after six months of attending CTU on-line that is a scam. These people should be ashamed of themselves for wasting tax payer money. I have found a newspaper article that anyone planning on attending any of these ridiculous on-line schools like CTU, ITT Tech, Westwood College or university of Phoenix, ECT... should read. It is titled In Hard Times Lured into Trade School and Debt. By: Peter S. Goodman. The New York Times, March 15, 2010. This article explains exactly what these types of phony schools are up to.
I found CTU On-Line to be a miserable experience. The on-line class environment is a joke. All the instructors do is read you a book over the internet. Listening to the instructors just read you a book over the Internet was intolerable and boring. The instructors would never answer any questions, saying that they had to finish reading the required material in these live chats ("class sessions"). The assignments that some of the instructors posted were stolen from other schools internet sites word for word. I found this out by googling the key words of assignments and found the exact same words for assignments on other schools web sites. The instructors say you can e-mail them for help "since you can’t ask questions during the live chats”, but good luck getting a timely response. Most live on-line chat sessions I attended at this "school" had very few participants; maybe three out of forty people participated on average. The chats are recorded but that's even more intolerable and boring than listening to the live sessions.
The instructors would have you grade and comment on other student’s papers. This was a joke because most of the papers sucked and I didn’t want to be the one to tell these people they had no clue what they were writing about. Most of the student responses would only be a few sentences like, nice work on your paper I found it interesting. This really was not helpful at all and a complete waste of time.
The instructor’s comments for grades were basically the same, consisting of only a few sentences that really didn’t help me learn anything at all or correct my mistakes or clear up any confusing material. Most of the time the instructors would use the cop out that you can find everything you need on the internet, what a joke.
They (CTU) have this thing called group assignments were you team up with others from all over the country to do assignments together. This never worked because of different schedules and time zones. I was the only one most of the time that would even try to get the group to work together. It never did go very well though.
The APA style writing they push on you was a joke too. Every instructor had different interpretations of what APA was and nobody I talked to or even myself ever had much luck writing "correct" APA format.
I was getting A's and helping other students out with programming concepts and Java code writing. If you attend this school you had better love sitting in front of the computer forever. The college algebra class came and myself and allot of other students were struggling and trying to find help, but there was none. I was spending 30 hours a week doing all these things and feeling like I was wasting my time and money.
I learned more about computers from my own studies than the classes provided. Most students in my classes were so lost that I spent most of my time trying to help them make sense of the garbage the school was presenting.
I really think that you should choose a school carefully and ones that advertise on the TV or radio usually aren't very good. I got out after $9000.00 in total charges after like six months and six worthless classes. I would have been better off investing that money in any other way rather than trying CTU.
The admissions people are quite the sales talkers. They called me constantly for two weeks straight to get me to pay the $50 application fee and start my FASFA papers so they could get paid as soon as possible. What a joke that school will pass anyone through the courses so they can collect the easy money their stealing from government loans.
I think people should attend a class room based school with hands on training. That's really the only realistic way to go. Who wants a bunch of Internet trained cops, engineers or doctors working with them, I know I wouldn’t. I would advise you to ask the HR department of a place you would like to work were they have their employees trained and go to those classes. I have taken company sponsored classes that got me certificates that increased my pay and value to the companies I was working for. Hope this helps and good luck in your search for a school
I believe this school will accept anyone for their programs just to collect the easy money from the government loans they are stealing from. The fifty dollar application fee is just feel good tactic. Anyone who applies to this school will be accepted. Seriously DONT ATTEND THIS SCHOOL, YOU WILL JUST END UP IN BIG TIME DEBT WITH NO SKILLS TO PAY THE BILLS. Now I’m so mad because I was a MORON for believing this "school" was going to improve my education and job options.
DONT GET SUCKERED IN LIKE I DID, I KNOW I WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER OFF INVESTING THAT MONEY IN ANY OTHER WAY. My E-mail is tipton.chad@yahoo.com and if you want more explanation of what I experienced I would be happy to save you from the worst (AND MOST COSTLY) decision of your life, attending Colorado Technical University On-line.
The grade I would give CTU on-line is 50% or an F.
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Anonymous
(In Progress) on June 30, 2011
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High Pressure Beware!
CTU is a very high pressure group of sales people. Right from my first contact inquiring about online college in Feb.- I was overwhelmed with lengthy phone calls, emails, told "I need you to "log-on" Go here, click there, fill this out, complete this, etc. If I didn't respond right away or said I want to hold off, they'd pass me off to the next person up the line for further convincing.
Classes were to start mid-May. A month prior I tried to back out; I was very hesitant and concerned about cost. I did not qualify for a loan or grant. Pushed again and assured I'd have zero out of pocket cost, they moved forward. I was told I could withdraw at any time up to and within the first 7 days of class (disclaimer omitted).
By May I was deeply involved in a family situation consuming my time and money. I was stressed and just wanted to withdraw and couldn't get the point across that I had reconsidered and just needed to hold off.
Overall I tried three times telling three different advisors, the last attempt was 4 days before the "deadline" by email and voice mail, which wasn't received. Yet again pressured and now on day 8 of the first session ..."give it a chance, everyone is nervous at first" and "I've worked so hard for you" to "Just log in and I'll help you complete your assignments - I can even do it for you" and so on.
Still trying not to be rude and after being pushed - I did agree to log in and do assignment 1. I had literally only posted one introductory message about myself, even then saying I wasn't feeling ready (got an A and more coaxing).
Beware...a month after I finally got the advisor to understand I wanted out and was done - all of a sudden the collections dept.calls and rudely tries collecting several hundred dollars, due immediately, but with no prior notice.
I learned the hard way that somewhere in those tasks and forms they had me "checking off" online, apparently I signed off on something that said I’d be charged each time I "log-on" to the students website. No wonder every call was all about "can you go online"?
You'll want to have serious control with this group. Don't cave, be prepared, and of course, read the fine print!
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Richardmthomas
(In Progress) on September 6, 2010
(email verified)
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Great Choice for the Employed
My name is Richard Thomas. I have a promising career as a software analyst for a major software development company and I am also a former U.S. Marine (89-93) and Soldier(95-03). Coloardo Technical University Online has been a great school for me because it fits in to my very busy schedule where I balance a full time job, my family life as a husband and father of 5, and school. My job requires me to travel almost every month and CTU Online allows me to carry the school with me. I've never had a problem getting my assignments in on time but the Professors are very understanding (within reason) on turning in late assignments.
I have taken several correspondence courses and online college courses while serving in the military and I have to say that CTU is by far the best that I have been associated with. Their live chats are like sitting in a brick and mortar classroom and the Professors are very helpful. The use of tutors and their learning labs also are very helpful in learning the information. I have always had good, positive communication with the professors as well. Small group assignments help the students learn the skills necessary to work as a team in the "real world". The level of instruction is also top notch. There have only been one or two classes that I felt I was not challenged. Most of the classes are very useful and geared towards work related skills rather than just useless book knowledge that so many schools teach.
On the negative side, the University is a business and they have used a lot of pressure sales tactics to get me to commit to classes and programs that I did not want to take. My advise is to stick to your guns and make sure you are taking what you want to take. It may take longer to get setup, but it is your education not theirs. The financial aide department is also very frustrating at times. However, so are most other schools financial aide departments. My Niece is enrolled at the University of Florida and she is equally frustrtated with their financial aide department.
The important thing to remember is that all schools are in the business to make money. They have to be in order to stay in business. Regardless of whether you attend CTU or not, keep that in mind. You will have times you are very dissapointed and you will have times that you are extrememly happy at any school, or in life for that matter. For me CTU fits exactly what I needed. I earned my Associates degree in March of 2010 and am currently enrolled in the B.S.B.A. program and I am very happy with the school. CTU provides great instruction with relavant information and I can take it with me where ever I go. Although there are times when I get frustrtated, I am over all extrememly happy with this institution.
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Stomes2005
(In Progress) on November 12, 2008
(email verified)
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I'm a better person now!
CTU has been an excellent experience for me. I can honestly say, I'm a better person now. CTU has taught me self discipline, responsibility, and organization, something I don't feel I would have gotten from some Joe-Smo school. I think it's really ridiculous that people come on a review board to post arguments back and forth. Everyone gets caught up in technicalities and personally I think it's pretty immature. Not everyone is going to have a delightful experience, and those who expect perfection from any school, have pretty unrealistic expectations. I've been with CTU for about 2 years now. They are affordable, and their staff have real-life experience and are as qualified as it gets. Don't get me wrong, you'll get a bad apple from time to time, and it's frustrating, but that goes back to the less than realistic expectations of perfection. I would recommend this school to ANYONE.
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Anonymous
(In Progress) on September 19, 2007
(email verified)
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Beware
I was very interested in CTU because each class is only 6 weeks long. I went through a month-long admissions process where the admissions advisors were calling me every day to make sure all of the paperwork was on track. They are good with follow up. I wasn't going to commit until my transcripts had been reviewed so I would know which classes I had already taken would be applied toward my degree. During the first week of class, it still was not determined which classes would be transferrable. The admissions advisor kept pushing me to "log onto classes" which of course would have automatically committed me to pay for the first 2 classes when I wasn't even sure if I was going to attend there. Each time I had a discussion with Admissions about this, it was clear they didn't care what my personal goals were, all they cared about is getting that money. Financial aid told me to NOT sign or accept any student loans until I was sure I was attending. Admissions told me I had to sign them, they kept callling me every day. At the end, when they finally reviewed my transcripts, and mind you, at a normal school 16 of the classes I had already taken would have been transferrable. At CTU, they didn't not accept ANY OF THEM toward the Bachelor's degree. One week later, I was enrolled in another school which ACCEPTED ALL OF THEM. And the new school is also regionally accredited, so don't believe them when they tell you that's the reason. I was told by the CTU director of who knows what that NONE OF MY CREDITS WOULD BE TRANSFERRABLE AT OTHER UNIVERSITIES EITHER. They want every dollar of that $30,000 for the bachelors degree and the Admissions Advisors will be DISHONEST to try to force you to enroll. My experience with CTU was a gross waste of time and bordered unethical. And probably most of the people on this board that are writing all of the positive reviews are working for CTU.
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