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2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
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Anonymous
(In Progress) on May 2, 2013
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Great Choice for Self-Starters
All of the bad reviews are tarnishing good online degree programs that Liberty offers. The courses are condensed, eight week classes so the workload is going to be intense, especially for graduate level learning. I have completed 12 hours and am about to finish up a 3 hour course next week. There are several books for each class that I have enrolled in...I practically had to read a book per week in the class I am finishing up now. But I love the eight week option- you don't get burnt out on the class because it's over before you know it. I have discussion posts every week, 3 to 4 exams, and one research paper or project due on the last week of class.
The classes are not that hard...I graduated with a BS in Psychology from a state university with a 3.7 and worked my butt off for that. I have straight A's at Liberty and I do procrastinate until the last minute to complete assignments.
Now for the negatives:
The discussion forums do get a little tedious- it's filler grades that the online program is forced to use since you are not in a classroom. Some of my classmates are morons and I do wonder how they were accepted into a graduate level program with the writing skills that I have seen. Likewise, some of my teachers have been a little out there. It's frustrating when it takes three weeks to get grades back...that is almost half the course. Two of my teachers have been hard to communicate with and overly absent from the course but the other three have been prompt with grading, announcements, and communicating personally.
I do not receive federal aide so I cannot comment on the tuition portion. Completing my financial check in and enrolling in courses each semester is easy though.
Liberty is a Christian university so you need to remember that...your teachers and your classmates will offer prayer and spiritual encouragement. If that weirds you out, Liberty, in general, is not for you. I do find it encouraging that I have a place to post prayer requests, praise reports...etc.
Overall, a good online program for graduate studies. I'm sure there are better programs out there just as there are probably several that are worse. I do know people who have undergraduate and graduate degrees from Liberty and have gotten full-time jobs with those degrees so the reviews saying they will not transfer credits or accept diplomas from Liberty are bologna.
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
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Anonymous
(In Progress) on May 2, 2013
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They treat you like an adult!
Yes, they expect you to apply yourself and be responsible for yourself. It's Christian, get over it. They are very open about that, it's no secret. If that bothered you, then you did a poor job of researching where to get your degree from. Might be an early sign that you may not be able to complete your degree with such poor research abilities.
Many negative posts I have read make me wonder if people expect a degree to just be handed over? You have to work for your grades and the instructions for the entire course is given before the course starts.
For those who are upset that there wasn't enough time to complete assignments, you started too late. You also signed up for a compressed 8 week class, did you think it was going to be easier since it was shorter?
For the complaints about quizzes, yes they have quizzes just like every other class I have taken for the past 30 years. The instructors do not give out the answers but will be happy to tell you what page in the book the answer is on. Too much cheating going on online.
It's an ONLINE class, seems like some people are expecting the instructors to be online 24/7. The online part is your benefit, sitting at home taking the class. Instructors give great feedback when you ask questions in a timely manner. However, if you procrastinate and are asking a question on Saturday about an assignment due on Sunday, remember it is the week end and the instructors have lives too, you should have asked on Wednesday!
I found the work, very time consuming, challenging, very in depth, and right on par with what they said it was going to be. It's college and a Masters Degree, so I wasn't expecting easy and simple.
Liberty did frustrate me many times. That's life, oh well. Nothing major at all, because I was responsible for my work, papers, grades, etc.. Follow the directions to the T, and you will do fine.
Liberty does not sugar coat the classes. Grow up people, except the challenge and excel. Late assignments are not excepted, Liberty makes that very, very, very clear. Accept it, it is their rule. You had weeks of notice. Quit complaining and just go somewhere else. Too many people want to blame their problems on a school, their boss, or anyone but themselves.
Bottom line, great school, you will learn, but YOU are expected to be responsible for yourself. Imagine that, they treat you like an adult!
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Angel223344
(In Progress) on April 23, 2013
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DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME AT LIBERTY UNIVERSITY
Please search online and read the reviews about Liberty University. This school is so unprofessional and the staff consists of students who read from a script.
I attended the Wilmington Bible School, probably Liberty's third name change for the bible school. Liberty University handles everything. My complaint! Liberty is scamming students. They will block your aid and say you were selected for review. They accuse you of fraud and say you were selected for a review. They will request copy of I.D., High school transcript and fraud prevention form. Then liberty will give you the run around for about a month, refuse to give you ad. They will deliberately withhold the aid you qualify for. Liberty will lie and say the forms are illegible to prolong time so you have reached the 30 day deadline. T hen Liberty will label all your submitted documents as NOT APPRIOVED. Oh, did I forget. First, you will get an email saying everything satisfied, then the same or next day, liberty change your portal info to NOT APPROVED. How can a high school transcript that was ok to get me accepted, all of sudden it is not approved. The schoolboard sent my transcript not me. Then when you call in to Liberty. the student staff will not answer any questions, they will rudely read a script to you repeatedly. Meanwhile, you owe liberty for course out of your pocket upfront. You cant withdraw cause Liberty prolonged everything to make sure deadline has passed. A SCAM and a class action lawsuit should be brought against this school.
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Servinggoddaily
(In Progress) on April 8, 2013
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Extremely Disappointed
I am four courses away from completing a 93-credit hour Master of Divinity program through Liberty University's online platform, and I am extremely disappointed in this academic institution. Liberty holds student loan credits that belong to the student after all fees are paid for 28 days, so those of us on limited income have difficulty making ends meet for the first 4 weeks of an 8-week term. I have had arrogant and prideful professors who did not engage students in the learning process; emails have gone unanswered, and it takes up to three weeks to obtain grades for assignments. I've had to grade my own tests after I've taken them because Liberty's system frequently marks correct answers wrong, and then email professors to ask for a grade correction to be made. I didn't find out until nearly two years had passed that a student cannot use the "tab" button on tests to move from question to question, because that action changes the answer you've chosen. Tests are developed improperly, because students are required to purchase multiple books for each course, but test questions will often be developed around specific authors, even though students are not advised an answer must be based on that writer's text. We are required to purchase books that have nothing to do with the subject matter of our courses. When things go wrong and we have to call the school to speak with someone we are placed on hold for as much as an hour or longer, depending on which department we have to speak with. We are not allowed to speak with anyone in a supervisory position when we call - we are always connected to youthful individuals who frequently are unable to answer questions without following up with us at a later time. I frequently run into technical problems with the Internet learning platform or servers, but the IT support staff is not properly trained to address technical issues; they will ask to network/link to your computer and make changes to your computer that cause other programs on your computer to malfunction. I have been an online student for 8 years as I completed my undergrad degree and first Master's degree online through other schools. Liberty University has a number of issues that need to be corrected before I would consider referring others to this education institution.
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Anonymous
(Graduate) on April 8, 2013
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Be wary
I have completed a couple degrees at Liberty and the only reason I go back is because it's incredibly cheap. They give veterans a 50% tuition discount and waive the $175 "technology fee". But I will say that Liberty tries really hard to be all things to all people. What I mean is that on one side they want to be known as a Baptist institution. The Seminary changed their name several years ago from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary, to Liberty Theological Seminary, and two years later changed it back again. They realized that having "baptist" in the name limited their audience. But then realized that most people already know they are baptist, so that just made Baptists upset. At the same time, I've had professors who were Roman Catholic (in other areas). They do NOT publicize this, but they do hire them as instructors. This leads to an inconsistent theology, and the professors will tell you where they disagree (if they are even in the course) with the pre-canned notes. It can be hit and miss with instructors. Some are great, others are a major waste of time and money. Remember, they operate of off volume. Tuition low, numbers high. This means you can get some real morons in the courses with you because they will accept nearly ANYONE into the online program. Even people who are not prepared. They take the money and devalue MY degree by watering it down with idiots. I wish I'd realized this before hand, but at least you have the option. They also aren't forthcoming with regard to safety statistics if you are on campus. Go here and check out the category for murder (Yes there was a murder on campus) http://www.liberty.edu/media/1370/2010%20SAFETY%20&%20Security%20Brochure.pdf but then go the the next year's here http://www.liberty.edu/media/1370/2011_SAFETY__Security_Brochure_%282%29.pdf and OOPS conveniently left off. Sure I'd like to hide a murder on campus too... but it makes me wary and wonder what else they aren't being truthful about!
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Wyattearp_985
(In Progress) on April 2, 2013
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Great expereince-But ask questions and you will be fine..
I have read several of the complaints regarding LU. I will say, initially I had some difficulty with financial aid, however, if you ask the right questions and have a conversation with the F/A depeartment, they are happy to help you throught the process. Furthermore, if you are doing your homework on the school you plan to attend then you should know if it is a secular school or a Christian school. LU is clearly a Christian school and if you are not a Christian you may have issues with the majority of the classes, because everything is taught from a Christian World View perspective, which I enjoy greatly. I would not recommend arguing with your Prof's about the legitiamcy of the Christian faith. As far as the class structure for the On-Line format goes, I've read serveral complaints here that I do not agree with. I am almost a Senior at LUO and as long as you have some discipline and time management abilities you can get the work done. I work full time (45 hours per week), and volunteer with collateral assignments through my employer as well as through my church... and I have never been late on an assignement. I beleive ANY On-Line formatted school is going to require the student to manage thier time wisely, LU is no different. I am also a Veteran and work in the Emergency Services field, LU gladly offered several scholarships to me, which have helped me a great deal. I have had nothing but a great experience with LU... My recommendation is- whenever you spend the kind of money you are going to spend on anything- your education especially- shop around, do your homework.... You would'nt buy a car or a home without researching it first would you???
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4 of 6 people found the following review helpful
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Jenglish
(In Progress) on March 15, 2013
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Outstanding Seminary Program
Liberty University (LU) and Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary (LBTS) provide outstanding educational opportunities from an evangelical Christian perspective, using a Bible-centric approach that prepares one to serve Jesus Christ and his Church in all areas of life, be that in professional or lay ministry, or in secular positions.
I'm honestly shocked by the negative comments posted by others, because my experience over the past three years has been extremely good.
With all due respect to others' comments, LU and LBTS are *not* diploma mills. I've worked hard during my graduate program at LBTS, and feel well-prepared to both continue my career, and step it up a notch, based on the solid education I've received from the school, all while working as a mid-level professional with a huge number of family and professional work-related responsibilities.
I've consistently received top-notch, professional support from employees in various offices, who have consistently gone above-and-beyond in making sure that I was always aware of issues that affected me, including items such as registration, financial aid, Veterans Administration issues, payments and refunds, and so forth. Anytime I've had a question or submitted a trouble ticket through the Help Desk (for a technical issue), I've received prompt and respectful responses, usually within 24 hours, and often, within minutes to hours.
Policies associated with registration and tuition are clearly outlined, and misunderstandings are usually on the part of the student. Those, like me, who take 8-week classes have to understand that professors are required to cover the same amount of information as is taught in the 16-week classes. As such, the courses have a much faster pace, and what seems like a huge amount of reading and study, but that's to be expected in an accelerated class; this option is not for the feint of heart or for students who are not fully-dedicated to their educational pursuits--it's always the student's responsibility to keep up.
During times when significant life events have interfered with my courses, I've found my professors more than willing to work with me, an even extend an occasional deadline to help me work around issues that would have otherwise caused me to completely drop a course and retake it later, and my results have always been favorable.
No school will be perfect, and there's always room for continual improvement in any program, but it's unrealistic to assume that any institution can meet everyone's expectations (especially while serving over 10,000 residential and more than 70,000 online students). LU and LBTS have consistently done an excellent job across-the-board, and successfully met all of my expectations, particularly in their focus on sticking to the truths of the Bible, choice of relevant curriculum, support from outstanding faculty members and employees, and attention to detail.
So strong is my recommendation for LU and LBTS that my own children are also about to begin their LU experience.
God bless...
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Anonymous
(In Progress) on February 25, 2013
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Do Your Research Before Attending
After reading the reviews, I truly wish I had read this page before attending. There are a few things I am in agreement with, if you are a woman, please research carefully if you want to attend Liberty. I though that it was me, until I read the reviews. Quiz testing time is unrealistic, I was amazed that you had a total of 9 chapters to read (it maybe 4 in one book and 5 in another) and only have 30 minutes to complete a test, don't get me wrong I could understand 45 minutes to 1 hour but 30 minutes. Your brain is already in overload if you are working full-time, completing your postings on time and then your assignments by Sunday and then your quiz must be completed in a 30 minutes time frame and they want to tell you its open book (ok, who is going to go through 2 books in 30 minutes if you where trying to research for an answer). I don't want a silver spoon placed in my mouth, but I want people to be realistic. I felt most of the time as if I was having a panic attack trying to ensure I don't go over the time period of the quiz, because then you precede to have points deducted for each minute you are over. As for online, I would research other schools, or to be totally honest, find a campus close you and just attend. I found that everything is not what it seems.
2 of 6 people found the following review helpful
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Anonymous
(In Progress) on February 20, 2013
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Excellent Experience!
I have been attending Liberty University online for nearly a year now, and I absolutely love it! Liberty offers a variety of online courses, so there is never any worry that classes will fill too quickly. Furthermore, I have changed my majors so many times, that I am always bugging the advising department, registrar's office, etc. Every single employee that I have ever interacted with is wonderful! They are helpful and always know the answers to my questions.
To everyone who is writing negative reviews, grow up and face the facts: online education is NOT easy. You have to work for your grade and take extra steps. Furthermore, quit complaining about it being a Christian school; it clearly states that in the school's mission, website, etc. Nobody forces you to go there or to follow those beliefs. Liberty is merely teaching from a Christian perspective.
I highly recommend this institution to anyone who works full-time (like me) and needs flexibility in regards to their education.
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Charles.brennan
(Graduate) on December 24, 2012
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Military friendly
Some of these reviews are just way off, I have attended two other brick and mortar schools before Liberty and have found the experience to be very pleasant. I am a vet and had NO issue using GI benefits, as a matter of fact it was much easier here that in a state school I went to. They sent me the documents I needed, I filled them out and DONE. Not to mention that they waive fees and reduce tuition for military. They even reduce the tuition to meet the amount paid by military tuition assistance, so you aren't out of pocket ANY money. In addition, military are given book vouchers that covers texts.
The classes are well designed, my professors are more than qualified, all of my professors had master's or PhD's in my field of study. They responded quickly to questions and are helpful. This university is fully accredited and is NOT a "diploma mill", as one of the lesser knowledgeable reviewers noted. Don't believe me? Check their credentials yourself, you will have no further questions about that. I have had no issues transferring credits to my masters program at a state university.
Tuition is reasonable, keep in mind it is a non-profit PRIVATE university. Compare them to other PRIVATE universities and you will find they are competitive. If you don't want a Christian education, go elsewhere...they are a Christian school and everything is taught to academic standards as well as Christian standards. That means that you may learn from a secular text and then have to relate it to a Christian worldview.
10 of 13 people found the following review helpful
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Nicene325ad
(In Progress) on December 18, 2012
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Phenominal Experience
Liberty University is a phenomenal online institution. I have read several negative reviews on this blog, and generally speaking, these types of negative comments are mediocre in nature. It is not my intention to insult anyone with differing opinions; however, there is more to a university than its financial-aid department. Additionally, most universities are slow with their financial-aid process. This is due to new federal regulations/laws, not the school’s own policies.
I was randomly selected for the verification process, and I will admit that I was initially upset. It took approximately two months for Liberty University to process all of my information. Also, I took into consideration that the federal government selected me for the verification process, not Liberty University. In fact, everyone whom I spoke with at Liberty’s financial-aid department was extremely friendly toward me. I might have dropped my courses for the semester, had it not been for their degree of professionalism, as well as their encouragement through the whole ordeal. Their dedication was nothing less than extraordinary. Additionally, the financial-aid I received covered the full cost of my tuition. Also, their tuition rates are quite comparable to other accredited institutions, if not less expensive than what most universities charge for tuition.
Since I have started attending my classes, I have had nothing but wonderful experiences. The curriculum has been challenging, and it has broadened my view of scripture, as I am a religion major. My professors reply to my e-mails promptly, if I have any questions for them pertaining to assignments.
Also, Liberty University has regional accreditation, which means their degrees are accepted by all higher level educational institutions (if one chooses to transfer to another university), per federal law. This means that I have the potential to be accepted into any other university, to obtain a graduate or doctorate degree, as long as I possess a bachelor’s degree from Liberty; credits are also transferable. So yes, Liberty University degrees are recognized as valid degrees.
I do not understand why people complain about Liberty’s Christian based curriculum. Liberty University is a Christian University. Therefore, their curriculum is going to be based on their Christian beliefs. If you disagree with their curriculum, you should not attend a Christian institution. As far as their theological view is concerned, I believe they teach sound doctrine. I could not be happier with the application of their theological methodology.
One of the greatest things about Liberty University, outside of the above mentioned qualities, is that they offer trimesters. This means I can accrue credits at an expedient rate. I should be able to obtain my bachelor’s degree in under three years. This is not feasible at most universities, based upon their traditional semesters.
Based on everything I have mentioned, I would rate Liberty University as a top-notch university. As for others with bad experiences at this particular institution, I have to question why they attended Liberty in the first place, if they felt it was such a bad institution. Personally, I could not see myself attending a better university for my bachelor’s degree.
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Anonymous
(In Progress) on November 29, 2012
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Very Disappointed
Hello everyone. Anyone that is considering Liberty University Online please do not make that mistake. What I am about to say sounds a bit paradoxical but need to be said. I enrolled at Liberty University Online back in the Summer 2012. The experience as far as professors, educational materials, class structure and interaction were excellent. I thought. However, I wanted to transfer my courses from Liberty University Online to UNC Pembroke. UNC Pembroke said that they would accept courses from the University of Mickey Mouse at Disneyland before they would ever accept one course from Liberty University (online format or not). I was extremely angered and frustrated to say the least. Mrs. Julie Layne at Richmond Community College, Admissions Counselor, told me that I should have come to her much sooner because Liberty University was a complete waste of time and money. Wish I would have talked to her sooner. I have six more classes to go before I complete the Master of Arts in Management and Leadership but now after learning this I am seriously considering leaving. I noticed that other universities that offer online programs require you to submit your GRE or GMAT scores, 3 letters of recommendation, an interview with faculty (admissions interview, but Liberty University Online did not ask for any of these items from me, that in itself should make raised a question but I trusted LUO because it is an accredited institution but does not have AACSB International accreditation which most colleges and universities do.
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Dgawne
(Graduate) on July 26, 2012
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Not recommended for Christians that still believe in the Old Paths.
I've read these threads and wondered, how is it that so many people had difficulty with financial aid and the online courses. I did well and had little issues in that regard. I attended LUO b/c of the cost. It was affordable. When I was on campus for the required stent, most of the professors were extremely helpful. The issues I had were: 1. I couldn't get certified by LU in my teaching course b/c I didn't teach in an accredited school (which I didn't discover was an issue until late in the program)....I felt like it was hidden from me and it was deceptive. 2. If you're a Christian that is concerned about the growing lack of separation and the growing amount of licentiousness in the Evangelical community, then LU is not the place for you.
If you don't mind the compromise with worldliness, as is typical in the SBC, and you can tolerate secular-style worship services with rock music, then LU is the place for you. I will not send my kids there, however, because as a Christian, I take seriously the commands of God to come out from among them and be ye separate. Oh, and when I had to ask a teacher to not say "CYA" all the time, I was told, "Give me a break, it's just a saying". Well, I don't think using vulgar language is befitting of a Christian.
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John.lassiter
(In Progress) on July 24, 2012
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If your expecting an easy degree look in other places
I am almost finished with my MBA. To those people who complained, they more than likely quit. We all know people like that in life. It's never their fault.
It is tough, because as a student you are required to learn. The online quizzes, sorry google search is no help. Many people expect that an online class will be easy. I must say it was harder than actually going to school like I did for my BS.
In the end there is no one to blame but yourself for not trying hard enough. If you can't learn it don't blame the instructors or the schools. Same textbooks as all of the other schools. The youtube recommended videos are posted by the people that wrote the book!!
I learned that if I did my homework early in the week then I had plenty of time to ask questions. The Instructors don't reply back fast enough on the weekend, but HELLO, you had 5 previous days to ask questions about the assignment due Sunday night.
Unlike attending college in person the major differences were.
1. You complete 100% of the book 100% of the time.
2. There is no review. No teacher to give hints as to what will be on the test. No areas, wink wink, to focus your studies on. No study groups.
3. If you wait till the week end, it's your problem. You are just too late. Most of the time the instructor will still reply during the weekend.
4. You either get it or you don't. Grad GPA grading scale is tough and they warn you from the beginning.
If you want a free degree Liberty is not the college for you. If you want to learn and devote yourself to completing the classes, then you'll learn a lot.
John
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Anonymous
(In Progress) on June 13, 2012
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Very unprofessional, do not recommend.
Between GI Bill and the "Heroes Fund" Liberty is 100% free for me, which is the only way I'd ever imagine attending!
I cannot believe how unprofessional Liberty seems to be. Assignment instructions through Blackboard are difficult to understand, the textbook for one of my classes (e-book for $100) was absolutely worthless and rarely matched up with the homework assignments, grades returned for written assignments are scored in a contradictory manner each week, professors are downright rude and will not answer simple questions. Regarding the e-book noted above, I asked the prof for other resources and she replied that wikipedia was a great resource. I've never heard of anybody in higher education recommending a student consult wiki!
If you're looking for a place to be frustrated with assignments, deal with unprofessional professors, and be generally befuddled by the process of courses, Liberty is the place to be.
STAY AWAY!
12 of 15 people found the following review helpful
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Anonymous
(Graduate) on June 13, 2012
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QUALITY PROGRAM, QUALITY UNIVERSITY, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
I have taken some time to read through the majority of the comments posted regarding Liberty University Online (LUO). There seems to be great disparity in satisfaction with the university according to this website. I have completed two advanced degrees through LUO--a Master's in Education and an Education Specialist degree--and am currently completing a Doctorate in Education (all coursework is complete, I only have the comprehensive exam which is in one week and the dissertation process to complete). I have been HIGHLY pleased with the level of attentiveness and caring of the professors, the knowledge each professor holds within their field, the group experiences, the level of technology integration, the application of theory to actual practice (I am also currently teaching in a public high school full time and have done so for six years), and the Christian values upheld by the university. Liberty is truly a VALUE for your money, is highly accredited, and is highly esteemed. I am no stranger to colleges and universities, and have attended two community colleges, a state college, and an out-of-state veterinary school, so trust me when I say that Liberty has been THE BEST EXPERIENCE. It is unfortunate that many do not feel the same--every university is not a match for every person. If you enroll in LUO, be prepared to work hard, make sacrifices (just as you would in any other university), learn, and grow in your faith (YES--It is CHRISTIAN university, so be prepared to get to know your Bible!). I cannot reiterate to you enough how please I am with Liberty!
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Uracorpse
(In Progress) on May 5, 2012
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Good so far
I’ve been a student at LUO for two semesters now and should be completed with my B.A. by the end of the year. I agree that the school is not perfect and I have attended Asbury College as a resident student, the University of Grantham as an online student and now LUO so I have some varied experiences with different schools.
First let me talk about my enrollment and financial aid. I have qualified for subsidized and unsubsidized loans and I also get the Post 9-11 GI Bill. I use the loans to round off what little bit the Bill doesn’t cover which really is a few books as they are very expensive. I have had no problems with the financial aid department at all and the system, for me, has worked very well.
As far as instructors go, the ones I’ve had so far have been top notch. I do have a complaint on one that I have right now as she takes a while to post grades but I have had very good experiences with professors both inside and outside of my major. Questions are answered quickly and completely.
For those that complain, there are probably legitimate grounds for complaints, no institution is perfect but consider some things. One poster was complaining about LUO not ordering his transcripts and this caused him hardship. You really have to learn to take care of yourself sometimes, I mean ordering your transcripts is your job, not the schools. I took care of getting my transcripts sent from Asbury, Grantham, and from my military documents for evaluation. This was just one example of people not being proactive and taking care of themselves when it is their responsibility to do something. Yes there will be problems and I realize LUO is not perfect, trust me, I am the first to ask for a supervisor, but so many complaints I read really could be lessened and even solved by us as students taking responsibility for ourselves.
Liberty University Online offers a top notch learning experience if you can handle online learning. Unlike the classroom, you will have to more effort sometimes to get the work done and online learning is not for everyone.
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Anonymous
(In Progress) on April 25, 2012
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TOTAL JOKE AND WASTE OF MONEY AND TIME
This is the worst institution a student can come across. For one , they incorporate religion into every course and I mean EVERY COURSE, when it has nothing to do with the subject matter. It is ridiculous. For me to have to spend an additional half hour to hour FINDING SCRIPTURES to incorporate into EVERY discussion board and every paper is a joke. In fact, it is sending the wrong message to students because this is an EEO violation in the real world. If you do this in the real world, and on a real job, it is an ETHICS PROBLEM. It has discredits this school in my view, being that their focus is minusha that has nothing to do with what you are paying for – an education in BUSINESS is what I want, NOT in Christianity. To add insult to injury, many professors have a dominating attitude and post announcements upfront that their teaching style is “dominant” and they expect grown adults with life experiences – paying for their education to succumb to this superior silliness. Not I. To coincide with this, they post ridiculous deadlines that defeat the entire purpose of online learning, which is supposed to be flexible, allowing GROWN PEOPLE to handle school around their lives. They are SUPPOSED TO post weekly assignments and deadlines, allowing the entire week to get projects completed. Instead, many post weekly assignments with deadlines within the week (this is due Monday, this is due Wednesday, this is due by 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, etc.). THIS DOES NOT WORK. They won’t take a late assignment either (though I have waited WEEKS for my grades they seem to get to at their convenience) and as far as I am concerned, assignments completed within the week SHOULD NOT BE MARKED AS LATE. Also, I was told by admissions that they do not assign team projects, which is a lie. DO NOT BELIEVE THIS. I have been stiffed in many group assignments that were RIDICULOUS, because you have a 40-year old who works, coupled with a kid in a dorm who has all day to monitor Blackboard for updates, and a 60-year old somewhere else off in the hospital. THIS PHILOSOPHY DOES NOT WORK ONLINE – PERIOD. People live in different time zones, people are on different schedules, people take vacations, THIS DOES NOT WORK. THEY KNOW IT DOESN’T WORK, and it’s a convenient way for these professors to “let the dogs run wild” and kick back even more than they already do (much of nothing because most assignments are auto-graded on the system) and get paid for disengaging themselves from the fiasco(s). They do not help, they do not mediate, they do not care about team-related problems, so you end up with a lower grade if you are the “outcast” AND HAVE A JOB, unable to sit on a email device all day making unnecessary posts to your teammates, as many assign a participation grade, which is insane. I have better things to do than send pointless messages to students I do not know about nothing when I know what my assignment is.
I was finally driven off the plank this week when I received an email 3 semesters later from admissions that they still don’t have my official transcripts, when I personally sent them 2 times via USPS, and they have my unofficial transcripts. I had to BEG them to order my transcripts because they placed a hold on my account, preventing me from registering for classes until they are received. Well, it is late for registration as is for the next semester and they do not care. After many email complaints, no one there has yet to offer to lift a finger to get on the phone and order the one transcript they are still waiting on. So, it appears that my time with Liberty is up, because if I do not register for summer courses, I am then in default on my student loan, as I must remain enrolled PT for federal aid. THEY COULD CARE LESS. Rather than be helpful and close the matter out, someone decided to take the time in the admissions office that is, to send me an email that my correspondence has been “ungodly and harsh,” and that “I need to be mindful that they are a religious university and they do not tolerate such emails.” This is after I have WAITED 3 SEMESTERS AS IS – PATIENTLY SO, and I had to take my time to deal with the matter when it should have been dealt with upon enrollment. For as long as it took admissions to send me this ridiculous email (as if I am some child they are scolding) – they could have ordered my transcript and removed the block from my registration, but they continue to choose to be difficult, scolding me in the process as a paying customer as if I have no options. The final kabang with this whole saga is that the one transcript they did enter was entered with NO GRADES. They have my courses transferred over as “P” for “pass” without the grades I received for each, which is most of my GPA. I am not transferring credits over without receiving credit for my hard work – most are A’s and I am supposed to get no credit? CRAZY. According to Liberty University, the only GRADES that matter are the ones from them, which AREN’T GOOD due to the overall b.s. This is unethical and I am complaining. I AM DONE! BUH BYE LIBERTY UNVERSITY – WHAT A TOTAL SCAM AND JOKE OF AN INSTITUTION YOU WANKERS. If you think me INQUIRING ABOUT WHY MY TRANSCRIPTS WERE NEVER ENTERED was “Ungodly,” wait until you read my complaint that I am sending to the Department of Education. JERKS.
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Anonymous
(In Progress) on April 14, 2012
(email verified)
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Very disappointed.
I am currently a student at Liberty. If you enjoy no instructor feedback, teaching yourself from very expensive textbooks, and researching online to figure out class assignments, then this is the school for you. In my major (MIS), there are no instructional videos, no lectures, just "you bought a book, go figure it out." Most instructors have no control over class content and are of absolutely no help through delayed email and discussion boards. There is a huge volume of work for each class and most are only offered in 8-week segments.
I feel that Liberty is disrespectful to students who truly want to learn because of the lack of instructor feedback. NEVER, EVER take an MIS class at this school unless you have hours and hours to research the required information for assignemtns.
If I weren't so close to graduating in my "do-it-yourself" environment, I would NEVER have chosen Liberty as my online school.
This may be a good school for religion- or theological-based studies, but for IT studies I feel they have no idea what they are doing and the selection of classes required for graduation is absurd.
I have been an IT professional for over 20 years, but the information that has to be "figured out" in these classes is absurd. As an IT Manager, I have NEVER had to do Java programming and certainly have never had to get a Java certification in order to work. Makes more sense to have SQL queries as the basis of class and more database administration classes.
The core clsses are fairly good, but once you get into the advanced programming classes (XHTML, Javacscript, etc., you're on your ownl.
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Willdoda
(In Progress) on December 28, 2011
(email verified)
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I personally recommend it.
I have been attending this university since Spring 2010. I recently got a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies. I have attended several colleges over the years and had exhausted my financial aid. I was only 5 classes away from a Bachelor's in Religion. Thankfully, the wonderful people in the call center worked with me and found a degree I had already met the requirements for.
I am now enrolled in the Seminary program. My classes haven't started yet, but I am really looking forward to it. As a Bible Student in the Undergrad program I never experienced any difficulty with being a woman. I am not anticipating any issues as a Master's level student as I had to go through a rather lengthy acceptance process since I did not have the appropriate Bachelors degree for the particular program I applied for.
When you are in the process of applying for this school, they can call to the point of harassment, it is frustrating. However, it is all automated (not the people, you will always talk to actual people, it's just an automated system that sends the calls) If you allow yourself to remain calm and pleasant, you will find that every single one of the people who call have excellent customer service skills. I have dealt with some who were less pleasant than others, but none were rude or less than helpful. Depending on when you call, you may end up waiting on hold for quite a while.
Many of the individuals you deal with on the phone are students and may not have the exact information you need. Keep trying, you will find someone who does know and who will give you the right information.
Do not expect each and every person on the phone to have all the correct information about every single program, it's simply not possible. Don't attend an online college if you have difficulty with technology.
I am pretty computer savvy and have never had any problems with any online courses (and I have taken them through four different colleges) Liberty makes it very easy to do, but it is very important to be aware of what is going on, keep up on your weekly assignments and don't let yourself get behind. I have a sister who also attends Liberty and has been on academic probation because she wasn't on top of getting her assignments turned in on time.
You will find that some of the professors are excellent and extremely helpful, but others are less so. This is true at every school I have ever gone to. (five!) At times here at Liberty, I have found that the teacher of the course isn't 100% aware of changes that may have been made in the syllabus. However, every time I have pointed it out, they have quickly and very graciously made any changes necessary to what they were requiring. The key is to be on top of your assignments so you aren't trying to contact them within a day or two of the assignment being due. If you are keeping up with your assignments and any research requirements, you should be able to contact them a week or two in advance.
Also, if you are a procrastinator (and I am a big one) you can have a bit of a problem in the last few hours before an assignment is due (Sunday Night at midnight most often) the servers can be pretty bogged down making it impossible to submit an assignment on time, usually when this happens (midterms and finals weeks) they will extend the due date by a couple of days. Getting work done early helps a ton with this problem, I usually sort of fool myself by making an earlier due date that I must abide by. It helps a lot with not getting things turned in late.
I haven't attended the week long intensives yet, but my husband has and found them to be fairly helpful in his program (Christian Counseling) Mine will all be in worship and I am both excited and intimidated by the very idea!
Overall, if you need the structure of an in class on campus class, do not attend Liberty U. If you are pretty computer savvy and stuck at home because you have a job or children and cannot get to a campus, Liberty U is the school for you. They have a very good accredited program with dedicated staff.
I haven't had any issues with Financial Aid, but I tend to be very particular about keeping an eye on my financial aid account through Assist. At times, I check it daily even when nothing looks wrong. Whenever I have noticed a problem, I have called them and until the problem is fixed, I call and call until I find someone who fixes it. I think my husband may have had to go through the verification process and I don't remember it being too much of a problem, but this is because my husband is very very careful to always get every single document and piece of paper asked for as quickly as possible.
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Anonymous
(In Progress) on July 1, 2011
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BS in Management Information Systems
The MIS degree in Liberty University allows you to gain Computer Science/Engineering skills and knowledge and combined them with Business knowledge. I am currently working in IT field and my experience as a student at LU in this program has helped me understand better how technology plays in the development of people’s life’s and in business. I expanded my business knowledge and greatly expanded my technical knowledge with skills in programming languages, analysis and design, database management just to name a few. I’m currently on my last class of my MIS Major.
The program is extremely rigorous and challenging. Online classes are not for everyone, you will need to have good time management skills and a lot of curiosity to learn. The 8 week course format is great and you can take classes throughout the year. The classes involve a lot of reading, writing, software projects and assignments’ with deadlines. You will have individual assignments but also you will have the opportunity to interact with other Liberty students weekly during discussion boards and with group assignments. The professors have been very helpful, whether by email within 24 hours or by the phone.
Looking back at all the hard work, I’m very satisfied of my overall experience. I feel I received a great education in which I gained a lot of practical knowledge and skills, I developed some friendships, and gained a Christian worldview and that’s something most schools simply can not offer.
PS; By the way… for those that don’t know much about LU: Liberty University is an accredited university, one of the top 10 largest Universities in the United States having over 72,000 enrolled students, the largest Christian university in the world and have been best voted online as one of the top online universities for their programs. I feel good about my choice of attending Liberty University.
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Wmgarber
(In Progress) on May 17, 2011
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MA degree- Very happy
As is the case, different people will have different experiences. It would be wonderful to have an organization that was 100% for 100% of the people. However, every circumstance is different, every individual is different, and every class is different.
That being said, Liberty Unviersity was a wonderful experience. My professors (mostly) responded very quickly and gave great advice. Sometimes there were some disinterested teachers, and sometimes grades were not posted quickly. However, my overall experience is great.
The classes are tough, but not to the point of ripping your hair out. They don't as too much, but they are not simple nor easy. They take work and dedication, as they should.
My advisors have been good, although I have received conflicting informaiton before. These issues have always been cleared up very quickly.
Technology is wonderful. Everything is smooth and easy to navigate.
Overall, I love my experience with Liberty. Have 2 classes left, and with they offered the Doctoral degree I desire.
It hasn't been a perfect experience, but those who think it should be are deluted as to how the real world works.
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Teasley09
(In Progress) on January 17, 2011
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Best university experience-highly recommended
I have been attending LU since March of 2010 to earn my MAT in secondary English education, and I can't recommend another school more. I will be done this May following student teaching. I will miss this school so much that I'm now considering getting my specialist and doctorate here.
Prior to enrolling at LU for my masters, I had attended a public community college to get the basics out of the way, and then finished a BA in English at a large public state university. With these varied academic experiences, I feel justified to say that I can compare apples to oranges when analyzing the differences between a small-to-large public college/university to a private Christian school--more particularly a highly reputable school like LU.
My praises of LU is primarily rooted in my most common grievances that any student will face at larger universities--large class sizes, inattentiveness from advisers, offices often losing my records, never being able to reach the offices to get their mistakes fixed b/c the student-to-office staff ratio is far too disproportional, and lack of flexibility in schedules (classes filling up somehow before enrollment is even open). As far as class content, both are comparable in great professors and challenging curriculum. Yep, constantly pulled/pull all-nighters for both.
LU's offices are almost always available (but they don't mess up my paperwork, so I don't have to call them), the class sizes are smaller than my high school classes were (my average LU class size is 13-25), I never have a problem with availability of classes, since there are always multiple offerings of one class to choose from, most of my professors are astounding and very talented educators with doctorate degrees and all with MANY YEARS OF REAL EXPERIENCE as highly reputable educators in the k-12 arena, which they reflect on (you don't know how rare that can be in colleges of education), and I have always been personally and academically challenged. I've enjoyed the difference between public and Christian schools, and this isn't only because I'm Christian (non-demoninational). I think that there is a major attitude difference between the professors and staff at LU compared to my other colleges. From the moment I started looking and inquiring about LU, the people I interacted with were different--not in that I could even tell that religion had anything to do with it...they were just more outgoing and caring. I guess for the first time, I didn't feel like a number.
OH, one of my primary complaints about my particular public university was probably the thousands of dollars in fees that change every semester. LU is so plainly laid out. The entire reason that I didn't attend my BA university for my MAT was because after fees were taken into consideration, LU was much LESS EXPENSIVE FOR A MORE FLEXIBLE EDUCATION!!!!
I had taken 6 online classes with these other colleges, and LU uses the same type of program, so I was very familiar with how to navigate everything. It's a learning experience for newcomers to online classes, but I'm no tech-guru. I'm surprised by many of these comments. Give yourself an hour or two to explore it, and you can do it. NO MATTER WHICH online program you are in, you MUST be self-disciplined.
For those interested in the MAT program at LU, please take this school into major consideration. I am very proud and honored to say that I am an LU student. In my program, I have had to go to intensives, one week spent on-campus for a week-long class, three times. From the outset, I was intimidated by this. However, LU schedules these when teachers are not going to be in school (summers and Christmas break). I just completed my last intensive, and I am going to miss these very much. If you are wondering what these are about (since all MAT students have to do 3 intensives), be excited about these--not persuaded elsewhere because of the thought of them.
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Tjlajoie
(Graduate) on January 13, 2011
(email verified)
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B.S. & 2 M.A.'s from Liberty
I have earned 2 degrees from Liberty and will earn the third in May 2011 (1 B.S. & 2 M.A.'s). I earned one degree in the undergraduate category (Religion), one from the seminary (Theological Studies), and the third from the graduate school of business. Here are my observations:
1. Yes...Liberty is a Baptist school. No, they don't force you to subscribe to their denominational viewpoint. While in the seminary, I was enrolled with Christians from a variety of denominations and ACADEMIC FREEDOM was respected. Make your case in a scholarly manner and your work will be respected and graded accordingly...you don't lose points for being "other-than-Baptist."
2. Liberty's faculty is not a joke. You will encounter professors with terminal degrees from highly respected universities. In addition, many of these professors are published by reputable publishing houses and peer-reviewed academic journals. Those critics who attack the pedigrees of Liberty's faculty as a joke are being dishonest. Liberty is regionally accredited and must meet the same standards as any other accredited school when it comes to hiring faculty...this is not a diploma mill. Do your research to prove this yourself. As for there religious backgrounds, as a Baptist/religious university faculty are required to endorse the university's statement of religious faith. So, too, the faculty at the Notre Dame, Brigham Young, and a variety of other religious schools in this country.
3. The academic programs are comprehensive and rigorous. Papers are submitted through anti-plagiarism software platforms that assign originality scores. If you intend to submit a "purchased" paper or a "cut and paste" job, you will not get away with it. My research papers have always been returned with constructive comments and feedback. Yes, some professors are better than others when it comes to student attention, but for the most part Liberty expects, and gets, a high level of student attention from its professors.
4. Liberty loses points for its "academic advising." Most of these advisors are students at the university...they are more bean-counters than advisors. However, if you are independent and mature, you don't need them. Print out your requirement sheet for your degree program and register for the classes you need...it's that simple (that's all the advisors are going to do anyway). If you are technology-challenged, Liberty's platform can be frustrating until you get used to it...but so would any other college IT platform. However, the Help-Desk is understanding and available to assist these types of students navigate the IT set-up.
5. The course material is relevant and up-to-date. The text books are not "religious," unless you are in the seminary.
6. I found the programs to be worth the money. I was challenged academically and the research was intensive. All work is expected to be of the highest quality.
7. As a distance-learning program, you get what you put into it. For those critics who say it is easy to cheat, I say this...I went to state university and witnessed much academic dishonesty...it's easy to cheat there, too. However, I never submitted papers through anit-plagiarism software at state university.
8. Class participation is done via online discussion forums. I didn't like them at first but grew to appreciate them because I found people are more honest when they are not looking you in the eye. As an exercise, these discussion boards are very helpful and provide quality critical interaction with a variety of viewpoints.
9. As a person of faith, Liberty gave me the freedom to integrate my worldview with my work, particularly important in such areas as ethics. No one asked me to embrace a particular religious view.
10. Distance learning gave me the flexibility to return to school. My work schedule did not accomodate attending classes without significant imposition on my home life. Going to Liberty allowed me to keep my job and be a good father & husband. It was a seamless transition...I could work my school work around my job and other obligations, not the other way around.
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Bleighorr
(In Progress) on October 11, 2010
(email verified)
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Love my school!
I have been a LU Distance Learning student since 2009 - first started in the school counseling (M.Ed.) program, then switched to LPC due to the lack of internships in my county. Keep in mind that I'm almost 50, have several children, and so this is the ONLY alternative for me to return to school...and I must say that I am truly glad I chose Liberty.
In all fairness, the entire Distance Learning thing lacks: Personal instruction. Get ready for it: It's a fact. That's why it's called "Distance Learning." It requires that you 1. Do not procrastinate in financial aid applications, loan documents, or school work; 2. Ask for help IMMEDIATELY if you need it. 3. Use the Distance Learning Library for further clarification.
I'm seeing some differing opinions here, but I LOVE the spiritual emphasis, especially in the counseling field. We are taught as Christians to respect diversity, yet to hold strong to our beliefs because our chosen profession is our testimony in large part. If people feel uncomfortable with this aspect of LU's education, then they should probably consider transferring out...because I sincerely hope that LU will forever hold to their Christian values. I was an on campus LBC student in the early 1980s, so the 2010 LU is tremendously different than the strict LBC I used to go to...but changing with the times doesn't mean dropping standards, so more power to LUs curriculum that emphasizes Christ in every class. I'm ALL about that, even in my unworthy, sinful state! :-)
I also receive regular contact from the LU admissions team (and I used to work in a proprietary school as an admissions rep and let me tell you - this is NOT a normal thing....usually in private schools like the one I worked at, it's all about the money and not at all about building a relationship after the "sale" of admitting someone....) so I've always found that very refreshing.
Even in job-search efforts, prospective employers here in NC have "heard great things" about LUs DLP (including the principal I interviewed with)....so that's always nice to know when seeking employment.
It takes a lot more reading, advance preparation, independence, and discipline to be successful in an online environment. Period. Do yourself a favor and figure out your schedules, order your books a few months in advance of your classes, and leisurely read at your own pace. You'll be surprised at how much easier 8 weeks can become if you prepare yourself.
I Love my School...and the friendships I've forged with so many of my classmates...especially in my Group Process and Counseling Techniques intensive classes...those two weeks with my instructors and classmates at the LU campus were truly life transforming for me!!! Thank you all for what you've added to my life....
Rock on, LU!!!!
P.S.
LUs grad program is no walk in the park...but is it supposed to be?? No class will ever teach you everything you need to know...but I can say that LU has exposed me to areas I need to concentrate on developing. When I went to NSU, though....I wasn't totally ready for the Praxis exams when I graduated; I had to study for 6 months before I took them.
LU has some FABULOUS instructors but some instructors are better than others as in all schools. I have had some issues with being incorrectly graded on tests because some questions can be very subjective; however, I have respectfully emailed instructors and explained why I selected the answer I did (including text page reference) and on every occasion, I have received credit for the answer - so overall, who can complain about that?
One of the biggest issues I have noticed among instructors is lack of consistency in APA grading. Now I ask my instructors during Day One to provide sample APA format they prefer. Finding out instructor preferences at the very beginning can save time and deductions. FYI: They instruct from all over the country, so there will never be "consistency." Do yourself a favor and ask Day One.
I order my books 2-4 weeks early and stay a few chapters ahead. This requires reading beforehand, especially with intensive classes, which can be very fast-paced and hectic. Since the sessions are 8 weeks, it can be easy to get overwhelmed with other project requirements so reading and studying ahead has benefited me immensely.
Another suggestion is to check the difficulty levels of the classes before registering. DO NOT take two 10/10 difficulty rated courses in the same term unless you want to pull your hair out :-) Strategically plan your schedule so you take moderate/hard together and not hard/hard in the same term. There is such a thing as academic burnout.
Yes, I'm more responsible than I was at 18 years old, yes I know the value of filling out loan paperwork as soon as I know I have to so I can be ready in six months....so these habits naturally eliminate me from some of the experiences I'm noting here that may be occurring due to poor planning and last-minute preparation....which is never a good thing in a DLP or a classroom collegiate environment. I laugh because I remember during undergrad, standing in financial aid lines for literally the ENTIRE DAY at NSU....only to find out that they had not processed paperwork, etc. I have NEVER had that experience at LU.
Hope this helps, and best of luck in your collegiate experiences, people...God bless!
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Anonymous
(In Progress) on June 17, 2010
(email verified)
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Hassle's and Headaches
I don't know where to start. Liberty University, I thought was a going to be a good online school. I was referred by someone and thought I'd give it try (turns out they didn't like it either). I had no contact from any department there. Reaching admissions seems to be easy but once you're enrolled...forget about it! Whatever department you're trying to reach will take forever, both on the phone and by email. No responses and when they finally do respond it's so long afterward and half the time they don't resolve the issue. I don't know why this school is like this. It was absolutely horrible and discouraging. Students should be able to get important matters taken care of without such delays and confusion. Some financial aid reps seem down right rude and incompetent. If you're going to invest money in your education, you may want to look elsewhere. The blackboard learning system is boring, so if you're not one who likes to consistently read text on the screen all the time in addition to books...find another school. You'd think that it would be updated and a little more engaging, but...it's not. I have seen other lms's that are more interactive.
Bottom line, I did not find the staff helpful,you feel disregarded once enrolled, the online learning system is just not right, the process of attending the school was simply not worth and it. It seems affordable but at this point, I wouldn't attend even if the cost of attendance were $50 a credit. I'm sorry I even applied here. What a headache!
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10
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Asheastacy
(In Progress) on March 23, 2010
(email verified)
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Great University
I have attended two schools before transferring here and I must say I have really enjoyed Liberty thus far. I can understand the negative reviews from those who don't really agree with the incorporation of a Christian Worldview. I will say that this is a Christian school and when selecting schools to attend, Liberty clearly states that it is a Christian school and it does not apologize or try to hide this fact. My major is Psychology. I'm currently in the undergraduate program and I can attest that some of the work in these classes is a bit much. However, I was extremely happy to pass a biology class at this school. While working a full time job, and taking three to five tests a week, I can't believe some are complaining about not getting a real education. This is a real College. A lot of quality books have been written by Professors at this school. Some of the Deans and Professors have given lectures at Harvard and Yale. Yes, Professors from Liberty giving lectures at Harvard and Yale. Why it is that Christians are thought to be less educated then the secular world? I know this is an undue bias but it will continue unfortunately not only from the world but from Christians as well. If a person would like to receive a very thorough education from a very credible school, I recommend Liberty. A lot of the online courses do require you to read a lot, and there is a great deal of homework. It is a very respectful environment and you will be required to read scriptures from the Bible or take a Bible survey class but then again even people who are not Christians may find it useful to learn where some famous quotes from history come from. Many are used in society. I’m sorry so many have had a negative experience. The person who had the complaint about wanting a Professional Counseling degree vs. a Christian counseling degree, I believe that is a valid point. The rest, sounds like you picked the wrong school that does not sit well with your worldview.
3 of 6 people found the following review helpful
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
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Anonymous
(Graduate) on July 19, 2009
(email verified)
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BS from LU
I have completed my BS in psychology from Liberty University. The curriculum was tough, but good (in most classes). It is NOT an easy program.
The most progressive class (in the new 8-week format) was biology. The book was online (e-book). There was plenty of interaction with others, and plenty of help, if needed.
Unfortunately, that support was lacking many of the required courses in my degree plan.
The worst classes to take online were the math classes. There was NO support for these classes. The coursework was NOT formatted for an online platform, the required textbooks were NOT helpful for the content, and there was NO discussion board element equation in the grade. The online math classes are NOT progressive, NOT geared for the 8-week formatting and NOT pleasant to get through. I recommend ALL students take their math classes at ANY other institution, and have the credits transferred in!
However, on the other side, I got to take classes with Elmer Towns as the lecturer. He was incredibly organized, incredibly easy to understand and a joy to learn from. I absorbed so much from his classes. My recommendation to anyone attending (or going to attend) LU, take Towns' Gospel of John course. It's not a requirement, but should be. (NOTE: You can check out Towns' website, where MANY of his books are there as eBooks, and can be read online, free. It's at ELMER TOWNS DOT COM).
POSITIVES:
(1) The online formatting
(2) Accreditation
(3) The Incredible Biblical Studies Courses/Resources and Professors
(4) All students get access to the online academic library, including subscriptions to peer and scientific review articles. This is a MUST for the social sciences.
NEGATIVES:
(1) A few BAD Professors, with Poor ability to teach.
(2) The "Advisers" in the psychology department are often unprofessional, curt, uninformative and unhelpful! I was GREATLY disappointed with each one of them (in my time at LU).
(3) The financial aid department are horrible! I couldn't believe the unprofessional attitude I received from financial aid, during my time there. It was bar none, the worst experience I had with this university. I cannot express how awful they were to deal with.
(4) The discrimination the University holds against online students. Resident students get so many advantages that online students do NOT (including tutoring, counseling, professor interaction, scholarships, access to the LU campus and community, plus resident students get the advantage of being local enough to walk their commencement, where online students often cannot afford the airfare to Lynchburg for commencement ceremonies, etc.).
CONCLUSION:
I cannot personally recommend Liberty's Online University. My suggestion would be if you were local, to attend Liberty in person. However, if you're not local to Lynchburg, I would suggest ANY legitimate alternative to Liberty's online program.
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