Kaplan University - Communications

My own experience

By: timothy.r.berman (In Progress) on October 30, 2009

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Kaplan is really good. It is like any school that you are looking into. The only advice I will give is this: 

Check out your options, find out what you are willing to personally commit to. Any school you attend, there are going to be challenges with enrollment, challenges with Financial Aid, challenges with the course work, etc. 

Stay on top of things. 

My own personal experience is with the Financial Aid department. I recently got hit with a $1,338.81 bill 1 week before the end of my term. This is because I had taken on a third additional class. 

Here is what is important and what I did. 

1) Whenever you talk with someone, write down their name, extension, the date and time you called. Keep a log of every time you speak with someone because of a need that they contacted you about, and a need that you have to call them about. 

2) Make sure you understand exactly what they are saying. Ask specific questions, if they are not wanting to help you, ask to speak with a supervisor, you have that right. 

3) If you have to escalate, remain as professional and respectful as you possibly can. 

Now, regarding my situation - I had a significant change between my 2007 and 2008 tax year. I made more money in 2008 than I had in 2007. Therefore, I legitimately did not receive any federal pell grant. Had I qualified for the Federal Pell grant, I would have not had any issue. After this was explained to me, and I understood, my issue was not in the reason why I owed the money, but the way a Financial Aid representative communicated to me that there were enough funds available for me to take on the third additional class. There was no discussion as to any possible changes, any possible aspect that my verification had not gone through yet and that his decision was based on information he had and that if something changes, I may be held financially responsible. 

After speaking with my financial aid advisor, academic advisor and my admissions advisor, this issue was escalated. End result, Kaplan paid the amount I owed because of what was initially communicated with me. All involved understood where I was coming from, and took the time to listen to my concerns. 

Outside of this, I have some good classes, classmates, the instructors are very good (and for those who do not know, some instructors actually teach at real universities as well and have some good education backing them up). 

Again, check out all your options, make sure you are very clear on what you want to do, what it is going to cost and get all your information and questions specifically resolved and in order.