4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
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Danielhiggins13
(In Progress) on May 4, 2012
(email verified)
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So far very happy.
Empire State College is not for everyone. It is a school where communication is key and you as the individual learner has a responsibility to be engaged in your personal learning process. Overall the school is great. It is very inexpensive compared to many other colleges in the area of where I live, and is cheap compared with all online colleges that are for-profit, and they can charge 7-10 times the amount of ESC.
The classes are rigorous and highly demanding. Your education at this school falls back on you and ultimately there is no hand holding in the process. Anyone who says they have had a bad mentor, it is there own fault for not switching mentors or just relying on e-mail correspondence. Sometimes you have to take the initiative and pick up the phone and call. Not all of the mentors are hip to the technology or they themselves are under a tight schedule, so making time for you is tough. When you are in a system like ESC, you have to take into consideration that you are not the only person that your mentor deals with, otherwise you are being delusional or just disingenuous, and passing blame off of yourself.
I will agree with some of the comments that some mentors do not fit in this environment. One example, is an accounting professor who had too much on his plate and could not really give as much attention as I would have liked. I think if you look at many colleges there is always one professor that has it out for you or lacks credible knowledge to really be the type to foster mentoring skills, so the system is not perfect.
I find most of the claims on this review site to be individuals who are bitter by their own personal experience. The school has a few bad apples yes. But according to the college's web site there are, "The college serves nearly 20,200 students worldwide at 36 locations in New York state and online. Its 63,000 alumni are active in their communities as entrepreneurs, politicians, business professionals, artists, not-for-profit agency employees, teachers, veterans and active military, union members and more." This has to show for something. When you have over 63,000 alumni they have to be doing something right. Before you make a decision on coming here know that the school does serve a purpose for adults who have not finished their degree and they offer an opportunity to let you move up in the world by your personal will to excel.
If you have any questions about the college you can email me at danielhiggins13@gmail.com, this school has more to offer if you are a disciplined self-starter. I hope this has been informative and good luck to you on your journey of continued learning.
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
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Kmazzocchi
(Graduate) on January 25, 2012
(email verified)
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Great School!!!!!!
I have been a student at ESC for the past 2 1/2 years. I just graduated with a BA in Historical Studies. I can't understand all the negative comments because I found this school to be great. Having survived a year at Thomas Edison State College, ESC is 100 times better. Every school is going to have its issues. My son attends Kings College in PA and he goes through the same BS there. College is what you make of it. I think alot of people look at the online concept as being somewhat easier than face to face classroom instruction, but other than not taking exams, it is quite demanding. There has been several semesters where I was taking 4 and 5 classes and believe me it was very challenging. I sometimes don't know how I managed it all, but I did. As with every school, there is going to be crappy teachers. To be honest, I really only had 1 teacher that I had an issue with. All of my teachers were very understanding and quite helpful. If you are up front with your professors and let them know that you are having problems, they are more than willing to work with you. This is college and you are pretty much on your own and you have to be proactive. This school was great for me and I have no regrets. I completed over 60 credits with this school and all of the classes that i took were great. I left there with a 3.75 GPA. They offer a large selection of classes and the price can't be beat. It is money well spent. Don't listen to the negative comments. I was a terrible student in high school and i never thought that I was college material. I came here and all that changed. This school has allowed me to develop as a student and I've learned so much. I had a great mentor, who I happened to take 2 independent classes with and whom I loved. If I ever had a problem, it was always resolved immediately.
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
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Pixeltastic
(In Progress) on January 4, 2012
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Disappointed with quality of school
First things first, I only completed two courses with Empire State...but that was enough for me!
I had high hopes for Empire State. The website seemed to outline the different programs and requirements well, and I was of course impressed by the SUNY name. After my initial credit evaluation I was still hopefuly, because Empire State was willing to accept about 70% of my credits (including some of my military credits). It wasn't until it came time for my tuition assistance form to be processed and for my assigned mentor to contact me that I encountered some issues.
My tuition assistance form had to be faxed three different times after I called for confirmation each time. Still, my form which would pay for my two classes somehow got "lost" each time. Not only that, but the form took so long to be processed that it was almost the last date prior to being dropped from the courses for nonpayment before it was recognized. I excused this, however, because I have had issues in the past with schools taking a very, very long time to process military tuition assistance forms.
Next, though, was the total absence of my mentor. I understand the concept of adult online education. The student is to be independent and responsible. However, the role of the mentor is to still provide SOME sort of guidance. I emailed my mentor for help about what classes I should start with, and received no response for WEEKS. I waited patiently and no reply. I then had to contact her again with a forward of the same email. She finally replied to the second email after a week and a half. Her reply left much to be desired. It was almost as if I were bothering her. She was vague, and basically said I could take whichever class which falls in the categories where I still needed credit (errrr, duh?). I had also asked her for some explanation on how the transcript and degree planner worked. Again, very vague answer given. She told me to "play around" with the degree planner to become familiar with its functions (I thought this was a bit of a no brainer? I was hoping for some more specific answers to my specific question about different buttons/tabs/etc. of the degree planner). Anyway, I ended up selecting my two classes and hoped that my mentor would either be more helpful next semester or that I would be assigned a better one.
My course materials were affordable and easily attainable through both the school website and other websites such as Amazon. I was grateful for this, because I have spent much more in the past on books for classes. Though, it could have just happened that other courses offered by Empire State were more expensive, and I happened to take two courses which were very affordable material-wise.
The coursework was indeed challenging and interesting most of the time. The weekly assignments and discussions kept me actively participating in the course. Some of the assignments, however, felt like pointless busy work for the sake of writing weekly essays, but I suppose that's the case for other schools as well. The big failing for me came with the instructors. It could be that my instructors happened to both be rather unhelpful and distracted. I'm sure there are better teachers instructing for Empire State. However, my experience is enough to leave me displeased enough to seek the completion of my education elsewhere. I particularly disliked that I was left in vagueness in terms of my grade for one of my courses until the very end of the semester. I emailed my instructor for some sort of in-depth feedback of my work after the first month or so, because I found it odd that I had no idea of where I stood at all performance-wise. She replied with a vague promise that she would send out feedback of my standing at the midway point. I waited for this midway point, and the "feedback" was two sentences long and seemed very generic and impersonal...almost as if it were sent out to other students. The lack of feedback continued, but I kept on turning in assignments and assumed it meant the grading would be an A for effort type of deal. Fast forward to the end of the course, and once again there is no explanation provided of any assignments with a final grade posted of C-. I am going to be honest, I felt agitated. Not only was I not provided with specifics after asking, but I was given a grade I feel was unfair for such lack of communication. This was probably what sealed the deal for me, that I would no longer attend Empire State. All along throughout the semester I was becoming more and more disenchanted with the school in general, the lack of structure, the impersonal instructors and mentors, the sometimes tedious assignments, the errors of the school finance office, etc., etc., but I think this was the last straw. The fact that I had received my lowest grade ever in a college course when I participated fully and previously asked for feedback on my standing in the class.
Again, I understand the concept of independent adult education; I actually prefer this set up to in person education. I have learned so much from my previous school and other schools where I have taken individual classes. I have had some instructors I thoroughly felt were invested in my learning and progress. This WAS NOT the case AT ALL with Empire State. It's funny, because prior to enrolling at Empire State I came to this website and read reviews on the college. I took in the positive and took in the negative and made my own decision. This is why I am choosing to review here, to help provide some info for those who are thinking about enrolling. Of course, it's an individual decision, and I am sure there are people who have had much success with this college. Unfortunately, I have had the exact opposite experience. I really thought this was going to be the college for me, but it turned out otherwise.
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
2 of 4 people found the following review helpful
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Anonymous
(In Progress) on August 9, 2011
(email verified)
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Run, Don't Walk, To the Nearest Exit
I have three degrees, and work as a financial controller running companies for a living. I did not initially obtain an MBA because this was not initially required in my field, but now is standard. I was told that the Empire MBA would allow me to sit for the CPA exam. Oddly, the MBA program contains virtually no accounting courses. Upon entering into a self study program for the CPA exam, I quickly found I was in over my head, despite 20 years of experience. I was forced to simultaneously take every accounting course available at the undergrad and grad level (not already taken) in order to prepare for the exam that my MBA was supposed to prepare me for. Fortunately, I was able to IDA out of half of the MBA program by taking independent life assessment tests. This is a plus, and offered to this extent by no other educational institution to this degree to my knowledge. Also, this is the cheapest MBA program in the entire world, and for some god forsaken reason, is certified as a qualifying SUNY degree. On your resume, due to obvious reasons, if you have read other comments up here, do not state Empire College. State SUNY. Otherwise, they may laugh you right out of the interview if they have any knowledge of Empire whatsoever.
Now to the real story. The teachers are lifetime students with no real life work experience. I have only had one so far that speaks "native" English. They do not respond to inquiries, have canned tests that are often provided from the textbook companies, and often do not even correspond to the text, and do not teach. Don't even expect instruction. There is absolutely none. Further, they have no clue about costs. I have had courses that are over $500.00 for books, parts of which aren't even covered for testing purposes despite the purchase of 2 to 3 books per course. The work load goes way beyond what they tell you, so it is very easy to get in over your head. I have started a course with 15 other students, and been the only one left standing. I am disabled, and had more time than the average, but was often sitting there on oxygen struggling to complete a project with no response from the professor on major aspects of the project. If I had been working in my executive job, I would have lost a fortune in failed classes. The requirements aren't grueling in a good way, but all about excessive project requirements. Not to blow my own horn, but many of my instructors understand the subject matter less than I do, because I work in it every day. Also, the college will not respond to complaints. I have had many. Someone in registration actually enrolled me in courses without my permission or knowledge (for which I already had IDA credits and thus didn't have to take), and then immediately put me into collection to pay thousands of dollars. Being disabled, I just about had a heart attack. It took several weeks to straighten itself out, and I was sick with worry. No apologies. No penalty for this person (who broke the law by accessing my account and creating an illegal registration without my knowledge). The residencies cost hundreds of dollars and are nothing more than a way to bring money into Saratoga Springs. Further, the group assignments (which are required in many courses) are hell. If I wanted to be at the whim of someone else's non-existent availability schedule, I wouldn't have signed up for an online course. I was forced to work with students who literally would not perform their part of the assignment, jeopardizing my straight A GPA. Unacceptable. I had one instructor who got surgery and simply didn't respond to anyone for the 1st month and a half. I had another who posted an entire curriculum (from her hospital bed) using the prior semester's criteria, and then changed it six weeks into the program (when I, as a disabled person, had already completed the work ahead of time). Further, the quality of this program is so questionable. The course selection is outdated, and half of the textbooks you are forced to buy are authored by the head of the Empire MBA program, Mr. Belasen. Convenient. Expensive. Unable to be resold to anyone else at any other college because only used at Empire. Wasted money. I have had multiple courses where I was the only one who passed. Many students, who didn't have lifetime experience, were lost. They couldn't communicate with the professor, the project requirements were poorly communicated, and many of the projects far exceeded the course "teachings" (which mean, reading the book). I put together an exhaustive production schedule and capitalization program for a particular assignment in order to determine payback time on a piece of equipment based on maximization of plant utilization, and the instructor didn't understand it. Literally, at least 60 hours of work for one assignment (which went way beyond the course), and the woman didn't understand it. I literally walked her through the entire process with flowcharts and arrows, and she was lost. She even graded me down because she said I hadn't fulfilled the terms of the assignment (which was a Harvard case study that clearly asked for a utilization breakdown and a breakeven point for capitalization purposes based on multiple pieces of equipment and a specified long term volume). This was for a health care finance course that provided no insruction in costing whatsoever, with no costing courses required as a prerequisite. This instructor required one project (Harvard) per week. Unbelievable. I have not learned anything from this program. I could have taught myself this information and saved myself $20,000.00 dollars. Further, you go through a mentor who is supposed to be sure to check out your course selections to be sure you won't be overburdened with work. What's the expression? Watch the hole, see the wood chuck. They have no clue. You could seriously wind up with 60 hours of work for one class. I'm not kidding. So, use the student network to find out about each and every course and each and every instructor. It will save you time and aggravation, believe me. I couldn't afford a more expensive MBA, and frankly think the MBA is just another way to get people's money. Inquiring minds don't need to go to school, they need to read industry periodicals and constantly educate themselves. However, if you must get an MBA (and can't buy one out of a cereal box), then you might as well go here. But, be advised, their rates went up excessively during the program, and they are completely impossible to deal with. And, if you are disabled, don't expect any courtesies at all whatsoever. You won't get any, and probably not even get a response for the inquiry.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
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Anonymous
(Graduate) on July 3, 2011
(email verified)
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Excellent University - Top Notch Program & Amazing Faculty!
Empire State College is truly one of the best colleges in New York (and from what I have heard and past experiences, possibly in the entire United States!). Anyone who has a rational understanding of what upper-level education requirements entail will realize that the learning process and workload required to earn a Bachelor or Masters degree is going to actually take some effort on their part. DO NOT expect to sit back and wait for your degree to show up in the mail. This is NOT going to be easy. You actually have to TRY and WORK to earn your diploma (imagine that!).
The faculty at Empire State College is wonderful... for anyone who thinks otherwise: you need to wise up and open your mouth. Yes, the faculty has some faults and could use some work. However, this is COLLEGE. No one is going to hold your hand. You are going to have to follow-up and possibly chase down certain administrators. This is NOT kindergarten and you are NOT the only student at Empire.
I have ONE faculty member that really does not belong at ESC - Frieda Mendelsohn. I took (SMT-273154) Economic Issues & Strategy with Mendelsohn. She would basically hand me an "F" and tell me I should have done it "this way". Ok, fine. My next paper would be done "this way" and she would tell me "You really have no idea what you are doing... You are completely off course. If you don't know what you are doing, ASK". THEN I would ask - and she would tell me she did not have the time to help... Plus she took 6-8 WEEKS to return papers. How was I supposed to know what I was doing wrong when I did not have any other papers returned to base my writing style, research or improvements needed?
Other than Professor (does not deserve the title) Mendelsohn) - ALL of my professors have been EXTRAORDINARILY helpful. They will go out of their way to make sure all students are on the same page and understand the material for each module.
I am now enrolled in the MBA program at ESC. I graduated in December (2010) and it is all thanks to Empire State College. I was always a good student but it was not until ESC that I began to actually research topics in-depth and properly understand the material. I am now a straight A student with a 3.8 GPA.
I have been reading the negative reviews on this page and really cannot make sense of the comments here. One review says "I am in the Graduate program taking 2 classes. They told me I would need to study 15+ hours but I am studying 30-40".... SO? You are in a GRADUATE program. This is expected! Graduate courses are not the same as your high school economics course. The expectations are much higher and the work you need to put in is NOT going to be 15 hours... and you said "15+ PLUS"... 30-40 is included in the "+ PLUS". Empire State also says 15+ PER COURSE... Basic math tells me 15x2 = 30...
Be wise and step up to the plate - an MBA program at your local brick & mortar university will require in-class time (plus commute) -- average 5-6 hours a day... give or take... x2 classes = average 10 hours (class time + commute)... then you go home and have to study - probably 10-20 hours, depending... so right there - a rough estimate brings us to 20-30 hours. Am I right, or ... am I right?
I am really sickened after reading these horrible reviews. People expect an online university to be easy... It is NOT going to be easy. The work is actually HARDER than a traditional university since you are not in-class, need to basically "teach"/review the work yourself to a certain degree, and the program is set into place to ensure students are not cheating (since everything is basically "open book" - hence zero-->minimal multiple choice tests)... Lots of WRITING! But hey, it's college... No one forced you into this relationship - YOU want a degree? WORK FOR IT! :) Choose SUNY EMPIRE if you are interested in receiving an EXCELLENT EDUCATION!
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
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Anonymous
(In Progress) on April 12, 2011
(email verified)
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041011
I was told the MBA program would take around 15+ hours per week for 2 classes per semester. While I have straight As, it is way more like 30-40 hours per week. It is nearly impossible for anyone who works full time and has a family. ESC does not understand the concept that time is money either. The on-line discussions often spiral into inane discussions with little feedback. It's almost like reading a crazy person's bad blog. This program is designed for someone who has nothing better to do than to log onto their esc email and go back and forth into the zillion different places on the website for information.
The classes I have had so far have been taught by excellent professors surprsingly, but the program itself is not good. I echo others comments regarding over-extended professors, little feedback, meetings to make the PhD professors feel better about themselves, and horrible administration. Individuals have been good, but they make it so hard with the hoop-jumping for no answers. To succeed in this program, one needs a very regular 40 hour per week or less job and little else in their lives. All MBA programs require sacrifice, but at least you feel good about what you are learning. If I felt the learning was valuable (more than 30%), that would be great. Instead, ut it's the first school I just want to get through (I have an undergrad degree from an excellent school and another advanced degree). There is so little value-added. Why don't I leave--too much time and effort invested. The school likes to use the excuse that it is someone not being ready for graduate level work, but that is crap. Most of the concepts are good, but much of the work is sheer busywork. Even with the great value, they are mostly interested in getting your money. If they would just fix the administrative end, including within the classes, that would go a long way to cut down on the wasted time.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
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Anonymous
(In Progress) on March 29, 2011
(email verified)
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TERRRRRRRRIBLE SCHOOL!!
This school is terrible, as is the faculty and staff. And before I'm completely discredited, I have a 4.0 gpa here. I have heard several potential employers -- administrators in public school districts -- talking about how they would, and I quote, "Never hire someone from SUNY Empire." Stupid me, I thought all teacher prep programs were relatively the same, and respected as such. Not the case -- if you are considering going here for education, STEER CLEAR! They are not respected; what's more, they require that you, the student, find a job before they will even certify you. Any public school administrator will tell you, as I've now learned, they will NEVER grant you an interview unless your teach account says "certified," which is IMPOSSIBLE in there trans B certification process. If someone tells you, "Don't worry about it -- you'll be fine," they are LYING. In this job market, ESC's dime-a-dozen degrees mean nothing. Especially their education degrees and their pathetic certification process.
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
10
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Anonymous
(In Progress) on September 28, 2010
(email verified)
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Wouldn't Change A Thing...EXCEPTIONAL SUNY COLLEGE
I am graduating in December and very pleased with my experience at Empire. If it was not for ESC, I would not be where I am today. Yes, it is very difficult at times trying to rectify problems - This is COLLEGE, not Kindergarten. I never expected anyone to hold my hand and glad I took matters into my own hands when necessary. During my orientation/first semester, my mentor was "MIA". I would not tolerate this and pushed the college to assign a new mentor. This is NOT common practice as reassignments RARELY happen (as in close to NEVER). I would not settle and within a few days had a new mentor whom I absolutely ADORE. I struggled during my first semester. ESC is MUCH more difficult than a traditional college. Everyone always comments "can't you CHEAT online? isn't it easier because you just Google and have open book tests?" - THIS IS NOT THE CASE. If you think taking online courses will make life easier assignment and reading wise - think again. Yes, you can go to school in your pajamas and not have to drive anywhere. But, you make up for that "saved time" with a tremendous workload. Now that I am almost done with my studies, I am actually thankful for the much more difficult workload. I would slack off in college and basically memorize vocabulary and concepts. At Empire you are forced to actually grasp the entire CONCEPT, understanding the topic from head to toe - inside and out. Since 90% of assignments are papers, there is only research work which must be done and a LOT of reading since you are basically teaching yourself 80% of the time. If you want an easy degree, perhaps try your local community college which feature multiple choice quizzes. If you are looking for a solid education which will help in your career field, Empire is the way to go I don't want to sound like a spokesperson because I did have some difficulties at Empire. It started day one with my mentor. But like I said - do not expect someone to hold your hand. Take matters into your own hands, follow-up with the appropriate departments. Some professors will be absent and non-existent throughout the semester. COMPLAIN. And when I say complain --- I MEAN ON A DAILY BASIS. It is YOUR FUTURE AND MONEY. I had a professor who was A NIGHTMARE. I complained and so did my ENTIRE CLASS. Apparently she is some big shot at the school and must have a free pass to not work all semester, tell students to "figure it out", take 5-6 weeks to grade assignments, and basically not attend - and get away with it! This was a COMPLETE disappointment and 'till this day I cannot believe proper attention was not paid. She treated her students like animals and put us down on a daily basis. Watch out for her. If you are able to work independently, comfortable writing, schedule tasks and can keep up with deadlines, and can take responsibility for yourself - ESC is for you. If you like working in groups and having your hand held while driving to school - try another university.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
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Anonymous
(In Progress) on June 18, 2010
(email verified)
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Not a SUNY education
Let me preface this by saying that I had a 4.0 GPA at Empire State when I recently withdrew (more than halfway through my degree), because I think readers might tend to suspect that negative comments come from disgruntled underperformers. I personally know four other 3.5+ students - including the person who originally encouraged me to enroll at ESC - who have also withdrawn from the school within the last six months for the reasons I am about to describe.
Unfortunately, when it comes to the quality of instructors and course experience, SUNY Empire State has become almost indistinguishable from the for-profit diploma mills new ESC enrollees are trying to avoid. For one thing, there was literally zero instructor participation in literally half of the courses I took, over two-thirds gave no meaningful feedback with graded assignments, and almost none ever posted to any group discussions regardless of how far afield they had gone. Some here have noted that the school is designed for adults and therefore apparently feel it's acceptable for students to virtually teach themselves while adsentee instructors silently babysit, but I strongly disagree. If just reading textbooks and articles and discussing them with classmates without any form of active guidance was sufficient to prepare a person for a career, there would be no need for a higher education system at all.
Another big problem I found was that a large number of the instructors are increasingly part-time adjuncts from all over the country who teach at multiple online schools and have no particular ties or allegiance to SUNY. Many of these over-extended instructors run well behind on grading, aren't familiar with the often outdated lectures and resource links, and can take days to answer time-sensitive questions. I also found that multiple instructors who taught courses important to my major had little-to-no direct experience/education in the field!
You may ask why, if my experience was so lousy, I stayed with ESC for so long. For one thing, I was concerned about losing the money and time spent on courses that might not transfer elsewhere, and I also figured that if a SUNY online school is this bad, no other online school would be any better. But finally, I got so fed up that I cut my losses and transferred to a brick-and-mortar university. It will take me considerably longer to get my degree, but at least I'll feel better about my preparedness when I graduate. After spending some time looking at my new program and talking with faculty at the new school, I've decided to re-take a few important courses that would have transferred because I'm not the least bit confident in the adequacy of the ESC versions.
SUNY Empire State College may have once been a very good school, but times are changing fast. If you MUST attend an online school, ESC is a relatively inexpensive option and it does carry the SUNY name - just don't expect a SUNY-quality education.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
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Tuhlig
(Graduate) on May 29, 2010
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It's What You Make Of It
I graduated from ESC in 2004 with my B.S. in Business Management with a concentration in Human Resources. Prior to ESC I received my A.S. from SUNY Jamestown Community College and prior to that I attended a very respected private college in Ohio. So, I have seen about it all with the exception of Ivy League. I would truely have to say that my education at ESC was the most difficult to get through of the three. You are only going to get out of it what you put in. Don't think that they are going to take your hand and gently guide you through your program, like a community college tends to do (at least in my experience). I have seen in the community college instances where papers were extremely late, tests taken at later dates and work not completed and the teachers would cater to the student's every whim. Not at ESC (or a private school). You must stay up with the work, no exceptions. And yes, the amount of reading is extensive. And yes, the amount of research and writing is extensive. But, what are you in school for? I took 2 classes per semester and I would say for that load, you should expect about 20-30 hours of work per week, depending on if you have a paper due. As far as the teachers, I can only remember one that I had "problems" with. He wouldn't answer e-mails, grades were late and he really didn't seem to care. Other than that, nothing but praises for my teachers. All in all, ESC is a fine school, but you MUST go in with the right mindset. You MUST be self-disiplined, and self-motivated. Realize that the workload is going to be heavy. But, if you give it your all (truely), then you'll be pleased once you graduate and realize that all the work was worth it.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
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Anonymous
(In Progress) on April 21, 2010
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Intense, but I love it!
As a non-traditional learner, I can say that SUNY Empire State College (ESC) is steadily helping me to reach my goals. ESC differs in approach to learning and administration because it serves seasoned adults, not post-high school teens.
Personally, I thrive on the sense of independence and am satisfied with my highly educated and available mentor. So far, each of my instructors online have been excellent, including many who are also in good standing as instructors in traditional colleges or universities. The process has been intense at times but thoroughly enjoyable as I push through.
I do believe that ESC falls short in its promise to the busy adult student who will face excessive reading and writing assignments. I know that this is fine for some; however, the college seems to confuse rigorous academics with onerous expectations. In the past, I have maintained a job and social life while successfully completing courses at local colleges, so my observation is not because of laziness.
As for the low rating for technology, this is because the ANGEL program used to facilitate courses can be slow or inefficient at times. The program known as Maple, used to assess students in some math courses, is also slow and on occasion is inaccurate. These problems consume already limited time.
For my current needs, the program at ESC is the right choice. My diligence, combined with appropriate course texts and good instructors, results in a quality education that is being used now, before graduation. It is true that you get out of it what you put into it, but the unduly burdensome aspects and technical problems should be addressed so that students can benefit even more.
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Anonymous
(In Progress) on February 11, 2010
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You Decide
Unfortunately for ESC, I can relate to all the negative comments made so far in this forum. The program is, in fact, very "flexible," and it is ultimately up to you (of course) as the student to get something out of it. I was handed a "learning contract" for only one of the two courses I am taking, and it simply consisted of periodically submitting answers to questions from the text and a final research paper. After that, I received virtually no feedback on the work I submitted, and my mentor rarely replied to my e-mails (in fact, he/she has not replied to my last e-mail from over a month ago). Academic guidance, in my opinion, is essentially non-existent at ESC. If I learned anything here, it was definitely on my own. Some students are okay with that level of ambiguity. Some like me, however, need some structure and feedback, even with an "online" program such as this one. So I've decided this style of "instruction" is not for me. It's really not what I expected from a SUNY college. ESC will definitely help you obtain a degree. Whether you can actually get an education at ESC is certainly debatable. So you decide what is best for you and your future.
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Anonymous
(In Progress) on January 5, 2010
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ESC- The good, the bad and the ugly
I am completing a Bachelor of Arts in Cultural Studies. I am currently taking my final two classes. I have taken all of my classes online so I can't speak for the on-ground or hybrid options.
The Good- The fact that this is an online program has afforded me the opportunity to finish a degree that I would not have had the time to complete otherwise. The cost is VERY affordable, even cheap in comparison to other online schools. It is a SUNY school and as a result garners a certain level of respect from other institutions.
The Bad- The school claims that instructors will reply to emails within a 24-48 hour time frame. I have not had even ONE professor who did this. This is an online program, therefore students do not have the opportunity to go to a professor's office to ask questions, nor can you stay after class for clarification or details about an assignment. Thus it is very logical to assume that teachers in an online program would comprehend the great importance of being available to students in other ways. NO SUCH LUCK! Teachers sometimes take over a week to respond. I have had more than one teacher that I couldn't get in contact with for over a month. There is a LOT of work. That worked for me because I actually like learning, researching and writing. I came to ESC with 96 credits and wanted to finish as quickly as possible. I knew going in that I would be taking numerous classes at a time to finish and was willing to go without sleep for days at a time to meet my goal. However, all students are not in as much of a rush as I am. My sister also attended ESC for a time and the work load crushed her. Students should be informed when they register that taking more than two classes at a time will require a minimum of 40 hours per week for the ridiculous amount of time it takes to complete the reading and writing assignments.
The Ugly- The grading policies are severely subjective (meaning if you disagree with your professor or call them on their b.s. your A+ will magically become a B- despite the grades that your work received). Of course there is a grievance/ appeal procedure but it takes FOREVER and involves more hoops than a Barnum and Bailey show. The bureaucracy at ESC is unending. There is red tape after red tape, arbitrary policy after arbitrary policy and an almost universal quest for easy answers and half-baked solutions. My own mentor was mildly helpful, but I have heard absolute horror stories from others.
Overall- If you are looking for an affordable, flexible program from a moderately respected school ESC is a viable option. It is not at all what I would call a pleasant experience. The administration is mediocre at best, 99% of my professors have been horrendous, the grading policies are severely subjective and the workload is tremendously time consuming. But after all is said and done, if you survive it, you will get your degree.
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Anonymous
(Graduate) on November 15, 2009
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Positive Overall
I began my studies at ESC CDL in 2003 and completed in 2007. My decision to attend ESC was driven by its value and the flexibility it offered me as a working parent. I was generally pleased with the fact that many transfer credits from other NYS-based institutions were accepted, and I was granted 16 experiencial credits. ESC's determination of my advanced standing was done in a way that conveyed to me academic integrity. Prior courses needed to be relevant to my program, and I had to prove college-level learning for the experiencial credits through written and verbal means.
My mentor was wonderfully supportive and responded quickly to my questions and concerns. Like others who have posted here, my experience with the instructors was mixed: some were excellent, engaged, and challenged students while others were MIA throughout the entire course duration. The fact that we were asked to rate instructors BEFORE the end of the term led me to be less truthful than I would have been once grades were issued. I had very few technology issues over the years, and I found the admin staff helpful.
I, personally, would highly recommend ESC with the same reasonable cautions that others here have given. Without access to ESC's on-line environment, I likely would not have completed my degree. Now, I am seriously considering returning to ESC or another SUNY school for a graduate degree and would much prefer another on-line program or a hybrid for the benefit of some professional networking.
All this said, my husband - also a recent ESC graduate - had a frustrating experience due, primarily, to an unresponsive mentor and administrative delays. Hence, he is unwilling to recommend ESC.
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Anonymous
(Graduate) on April 20, 2008
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The "Write" Stuff
With three years of college, an Associate's degree, and substantial working experience as a graphic designer under my belt, ESC provided me with an opportunity to finally get my "paper" from a reputable school without going for broke. I graduated in 2004 after three semesters of study with a BS in the Arts and a concentration in Visual Arts. The Center for Distance Learning requires students to meet the same General Education requirements as SUNY on-campus students so I felt that I left the school with a strong liberal arts background that included two semesters of a foreign language. As an "alternative" institution, ESC also requires that students take two classes in Education Planning and research their own degree program--this is an excellent process that really encourages you think about what you want from your education. As with any school, the quality of instruction varied from excellent to slightly below average in terms of delivery ( out of ten instructors, I was only unhappy with two). I would highly recommend Ann Wentworth who teaches Women's and Family History in America, and Sylvain Nagler--both excel at creating an online classroom community. My advisor was helpful, responsive, and genuinely interested in helping me complete my program, including hooking me up with an art instructor for two independent studies. Overall, every instructor was accessible and returned papers and projects in a timely manner. Feedback was excellent. For Spanish I and II, I had a telephone tutorial once a week and a monthly "live" class. Support staff was never anything but supportive and I rarely had a problem with technology. Course readings and materials were interesting and enjoyable. As ESC is not known as a "selective" college in terms of their admissions standards, students with high academic standards might find themselves frustrated and disappointed by the level of discussion and communication that occurs in some of the online classes. As the CDL is also a writing-based program and papers will form the basis for your final evealuation, if you don't think you will enjoy writing paper after paper, this is probably not the school for you. However, the emphasis on oral and written communication practically guarantees that every student leave a much better writer.
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Anonymous
(Graduate) on April 17, 2008
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A really good SUNY School
I am graduating this June 2008 and I have to say that my experience at SUNY ESC has been an enjoyable one for the most part- aside from the writing three 15 page+ research papers, but hey, this is college and this is the kind of work that is expected of a senior getting their bachelor's degree. Like every college, there will of course be problems with professors, administration, and grading-this is to be expected, you just have to be assertive and take care of the problem. In fact, my fiance who hashis degree from Cornell University was not immune and hated most of his professors as they were not good teachers.
Interestingly enough at ESC, I really haven't had that many problems. My financial aid, very suprisingly, has worked out perfectly. A side from one useless professor the rest were very helpful and knowledgeable.
I know that ESC is known for online classes, but I haven't taken one online course so I cannot comment on this. I have takenclasses through independent study (highly reccommended, only if you are good at self-motivation) working closely with the professor, all my work is completed basically on my terms. Although you are provided with a "learning contract" aka syllabus, the "deadlines" are flexible to your schedule. The other type of class I have taken is the study group option-also highly recommended. The study group usually meets for 6 classes, for 2 hours typically every two weeks. The classes are small maybe 7-12 students. If you are taking classes in the Hudson Valley-Hartsdale location I recommend, Prof. Altman and Swartz (both are really great and and have alot experience in their field!!)
Overall, I would highly recommend this college to anyone.
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Mzshawn01
(Graduate) on April 8, 2008
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Overall GREAT experience
I have also just completed my BS in Community and Human Services and previously attained a AAS in Interdisciplinary Skills with SUNY ESC and am in agreement with the previous writer, the school is a good one. In New York they are highly recognized, and if any one knows the SUNY name they know that SUNY is known highly respected.
The things I mostly valued were the cost, you cannot beat the tuition rates, they are almost as good as community college rates. Mostly the instructors were good, there were a few that were less than desirable, but I am sure most would say that about their college experience. I also felt that most professors wanted to see you succeed and would work with you at times on some of the time constraints. Materials always good and up to date, however, they never sold used books. I never really had a problem with the financial aid, I think most students will also say that the financial department in any college USA has its issues. I also like the fact that you could tailor your degree.
Dislikes were when they changed the course space, the new space took some time to get used to and to me was not as user friendly. My mentor was great but I know of someone else who's mentor is not so great and you depend on them a great deal especially in the beginning. Also the tailoring your own degree did get confusing at times. I also did not like having to take classes just to learn to tailor your degree.
All in all a good college experience and I hope to continue on to graduate school there as well.
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Hwy505
(Graduate) on December 9, 2007
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Best Online School Worldwide
I have just completed my BS in Community and Human Services with SUNY/ESC. What the first reviewer left out was probably the most important factor pursing a degree in ESC; it is a State University of New York degree. Not as valuable as a SUNY Cornell degree, but valuable nonetheless.
It is true, as in every college, you have some okay professors, some schmucks, or diamonds in the rough. One would be in criminal justice classes S. Raptis. I had this professor for two semesters, his knowledge, clarity, and truthfulness was genuine. There are some others to avoid, especially Prof. J. Putt in Urban Studies, he is as useful as nipples on a bull.
My life credits brought me to 75 credits after completing the Educational Planning, no worries with that, if you have a decent mentor they will give you a template. Remember when you succeed, so does the mentor.
I received federal and state grants rather easily. I suggest that you buy all of your required reading used - you will save hundreds of dollars. Some classes require literature from ESC, so you have no other choice on those.
If you are an adult learner, and have accomplished a lot in your life vocationally, and the likes, I strongly suggest ESC over ANY online school. ESC degree does hold weight - I myself will be taking the LSATS in order to get into Northwestern School of Law that shows you the weight of ESC.
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Czubad
(In Progress) on October 3, 2007
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A good program
SUNY at Empire State College (ESC) is run by its Center for Distance Learning in Saratoga Springs, NY. SUNY, founded in 1784, has dozens of schools in its system. Empire State's charter came in 1971.
As a requirement, you must take a 2 credit Degree Planning course which helps pull prior credit together into your program. Even with an assigned mentor, that initial experience could be overwhelming for first-time online students. My advice: READ the undergraduate catalog.
This was not my first online learning experience. That prize goes to University of Phoenix Online. In August 2004, I took one class with UoP, which was delivered through MS Outlook Newsgroups. It wasn't user-friendly, and the discussion threads were kludgy. ESC delivers its content through its ANGEL portal, which can be user-modified. In fact, I've been through a transition from the Student Learning Network to ANGEL. Although SLN had its deficiencies similar to the thread problem, ANGEL is still slow and sometimes buggy. But their tech support is sharp. The format is the same for all courses, but the content is controlled by the instructor.
I would say the ESC courses are rigorous. The texts are top-shelf: Paul Krugman for Economics, Twomey & Jennings for Business Law, Peter Stearns for History. The professors are average. You have, of course, a choice of teacher when you register for class. Use RateYourProfessors.com to see which instructors are duds. On the whole, I've had responsive teachers, which is what counts in this environment.
You will do well if you complete writing assignments on time. Since you can never complete the readings (unless you speed-read), always go to the assignments first, then read what you must to answer the questions.
Multiple choice testing is sometimes performed at the end of each module. You could do the tests at any time, but stick with the program.
You have support through your mentor, your Student Government Association, fellow students, and teachers: so ask questions! Raise your hand! The financial Aid office is very responsive. The bookstore is fast, and you can defer payment in favor of pending grants or aid, but you can always get books cheaper through Half.com, Barnes & Noble, Amazon or The College Store. When your student aid refund comes, pay yourself back.
I intend on continuing my education through an online MBA program. When doing so, you apply to several schools, of course. My research was going along well, then I came across this website. I was applying to Grantham, but saw its review and decided "No thanks!" So this feedback is very useful. If you have high standards, these reviews will help you cull out the obviously poor choices. If you choose ESC, please rate your experience here. Good luck!
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