Penn Foster Reviews

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Certificate Programs:
High School Diploma (22)
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Civil Engineering Technology (1)
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Beverlyr.nelson (In Progress) on May 5, 2013

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Pennfoster I love this school. The study materials are intense and compact and requires a lot of discipline to get good grades. I just wish the school offer the Business Management at the Master's Level. I also a student of another university and the work is quite similar; in fact, i find Pennfoster quite more difficult and challenging. The only problem, there should be funding available automatically to international students.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

Anonymous (In Progress) on April 23, 2013 (email verified)

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Penn Foster is a Awesome school! Penn Foster school is awesome, I would recommend it to anyone! This is a fully accredit school! I am in the Vet Tech program and it is wonderful, the Instuctors are very helpful and the classes are fun and challenging. If you are looking for a program that is self-paced and payment plan friendly, then check out Penn Foster! Please note that if you are NOT a self-motivated person and need someone looking over everything you do you will not enjoy this program or what you are learning! :)
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

Anonymous (In Progress) on March 9, 2013 (email verified)

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Very Good, The Price is Right, and customers service oustanding I graduated from Penn Foster High School and went on to earn an Associate's Degree at a Catholic Liberal Arts College back in the mid-1990's. With the economic down turn and me no longer being able to work on my feet anymore and becoming disabled I know I needed an updating of my job skills in order to get an office job that I could eventually earn decent pay doing and that was in demand. Remembering my experience at Penn Foster I looked into their current line of programs and settled on an A.S. in accounting since I am good with numbers and had a lot of credits that would transfer in. The customer service at Penn Foster has been excellent and I have called several times about my account. They even ran a special I got in that was originally only offered to new students that said when you pay off your third semester the last one is free. I didn't even have to ask. They just extended it to the current students, even combining it with the special offers we came in under. The teachers have always answered my email questions within 24 hours and have always been helpful. The only problems I have had is when I have called in the late afternoon hours and my instructor wasn't there, but to be honest that was me being too lazy to write an email. Still though it would be nice if the instructors had late evening and Sat. hours. If they did that I think that would put them into an elite group of schools. The program is complete with everything you would need to know for a job, including studies in accounting software like Peachtree, Quickbooks, and Excel. Many times at brick and mortar schools this isn't included in an accounting program and you have to pay extra to take the classes separately and in today's world not knowing those three programs is not an option in the accounting field. My only caution about Penn Foster is to research your program and make sure it is what you want and need. For instance the Gunsmith program is too shallow to take and then open up shop as a gunsmith which is what you usually must do for a job since gunsmiths are one man operations usually. I know that because I looked into it since I know a lot about guns. The pharmacy technician program may be unnecessary because all the chain pharmacies around here send you to their own training program when you get hired and I was told they prefer to train their own people to their own system. That being said do your research; talk to workers in your chosen field and employers and you should be fine.
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6 of 7 people found the following review helpful

Anonymous (Graduate) on March 9, 2013 (email verified)

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Was Just the Ticket to My Future and I have Returned I attended Penn Foster High School back when it was International Correspondence Schools and my diploma reads ICS/Newport Pacific High School, Scranton Pennsylvania. I had a 4.0 GPA and much to my surprise the diploma was received well enough to get me into one of the Mid-West's top Catholic Liberal Arts Colleges where I earned an Associates' of Arts degree in Liberal Arts. I graduated Penn Foster (then ICS) in 1996 before the advent of the internet and even then support and instruction was excellent. I liked it so well that since I need new marketable skills in the new economy I have returned to Penn Foster to get an Associates' of Science in Accounting. After I complete that I will transfer those credits to Thomas Edison State College in NJ for a Bachelor's so I can become a CPA, while working in the field of accounting as an accounting clerk. Some people are complaining that they don't get their diploma until their account is paid off. I honestly can't believe someone would be as stupid as to believe any school will issue a degree/diploma with a balance outstanding. If you think any will just go to any private high school or college and complete your program and leave owing money and see if you get a diploma/degree. At least with Penn Foster you can get a job if you owe a balance with your skills by paying the sum of $10.00 for a transcript to take job hunting. No other school I know will issue a transcript if you owe any money. Please get real.
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1 of 4 people found the following review helpful

Leeblck22 (Graduate) on February 21, 2013 (email verified)

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Can't get a job To be fair, not all of Penn Foster's programs are bad. But don't do the pharmacy technician program! I graduated and got my career diploma. I took the certification exam and passed, so I have my PTCB certification. Still can't get a job. I've visited pharmacies in New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. The only thing every pharmacy cares about is (whether or not) you have experience/hands on training. So...now I'm going to different pharmacies trying to get a non-paid 200 hour externship. The pharmacy manager I talked to was wondering why the school hasn't contacted her to set something up. I explained that Penn Foster offers a "work experience option" to students, but does not arrange it for them. Penn Foster gives them all the "documentation" the students need in order to arrange the externship themselves.
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1 of 2 people found the following review helpful

Anonymous (In Progress) on February 16, 2013 (email verified)

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Can't find a job This school has NOT done anything to help me get an internship or a job. I COULD NOT even get a volunteering position at the hospital with their useless career diploma. Their booklets weren't even that helpful in preparing for the PTCB exam. I ended up buying other study guides off of amazon, passed the exam, and became certified. None of the pharmacies wanted to hire me because I attended an online program, with NO hands on training in a pharmacy! Hiring managers told me they considered my pharmacy technician education to be INCOMPLETE because my school provided no hands on training! I hope I get lucky and find a job soon. My advice: talk to a pharmacy technician recruiting agency FIRST before you choose a school! Get in contact with a recruiter, they know what employers want and will be able to advise you. Do your research!
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6 of 7 people found the following review helpful

Wigley.kimberly (In Progress) on February 14, 2013 (email verified)

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Read The Enrollment Agreement; Do Some Research! Good Online Education! I'm really surprised at what I'm reading. I've been doing my homework with PF, calling in and clarifying the enrollment agreement/etc, and I already knew of all of your complaints and I'm not officially enrolled yet! PF has a list of colleges that accept their degree credits (it's located on their main website), but the colleges are mainly online institutes (what'd you expect from an ONLINE COLLEGE like PF?!) I'm excited to grab a low-cost associate's from PF, then transfer to a low-cost good college like APU Online (another college online that accepts PF credits). Yes, you can't receive your degree until you pay it off completely, but I don't see that being unreasonable. If they're practically going to hand you a degree for a fraction of the cost of your average degree these days, I don't mind! Good luck to everyone else, and keep it in mind for the future: RESEARCH before diving into life's opportunities! Don't give PF a chance if you aren't self-motivated, because online colleges are designed for people who can teach themselves the material and become their own teacher!
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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful

Anonymous (In Progress) on January 9, 2013

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Not a bad school Hmmm I'm a little confused to on the negative reviews. I do agree shipments of the books is kind of slow but I guess it doesn't bother me as much because I do work full time. I haven't had to contact the school at all so not sure about customer service and I undeestand not shipping the diploma until its paid . I don't think it's a scam at all it's on you to read the books and complete the courses
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3 of 5 people found the following review helpful

Anonymous (In Progress) on January 8, 2013

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penn foster is terrible I am in the end of my second semester of the vet tech program with Penn Foster and would never recommend this school to anyone trying to obtain a degree in this field. I am going to be dropping the program in the next week and will be contacting someone about all this mistreatment. I am currently waiting to recieve my proctored exams that should take up to no more than two weeks to be sent to your proctor and it has now been almost a month. Within these past weeks I have been emailing, calling, posting, everything and anything to try to get some sort of response. At this point I would be happy with a blank email... anything to show the school still exists. No one will respond to anything at all and this isn't the first time it has happened although it is the forst time I have sent over 10 emails within two weeks regarding the same question with not so much as a "read your student handbook" response tha I typically get. I haven't even began to try asking why my practicum site is taking over a month to either be approved or disapproved since I can't get a response on my first dilemma. I was excited when they got rid of devil Dr. Margi and her crap staff, but sadly things have not changed for the better. So my recommendation is to go anywhere else except Penn Foster snd if you're already enrolled I would really consider getting your money back (as if that is even possible... I'm sure I'll get nothing back) and getting out ASAP. Keep in mind I've been told at many Vet practices they do not hire or teach (internships) to Penn Foster students because of how terrible the program is.
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7 of 8 people found the following review helpful

Anonymous (Graduate) on December 9, 2012

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Do Your Research I think Penn Foster High School is a great way for people who have dropped out of school to finish getting their high school diploma. My husband took this course...but before he enrolled, he called local community colleges that he was interested in going to in order to find out if they would accept a degree from the school. The studies are self paced. Although many of the exams are open book, you do have to study in order to pass the exams. It took him three months to finish his senior semester...he is now a junior in college. The only thing we disliked about the school is when we call in to ask questions about transcripts and grades, they are a little reluctant to give much help, if you have not paid all of your fines. Other than that, I think the school is awesome for working students.
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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful

Anonymous (In Progress) on November 29, 2012

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Penn Foster-NOT A SCAM!! I am currently enrolled in several of Penn Foster's programs and find them to be very informative and up to date. Penn Foster's Student Services is easy to contact and they will work with you to address any problems you may be having with the program. I am 1 module away from completion of the Dog Training/Obedience Instructor program and have enjoyed it immensely. I am also in semester 2 of the Associate Veterinary Technology Program which has FULL AVMA accreditation-and I will add that a non-legit "scam" program would never have qualified for this accreditation if it's program was sub-par, or if it's school's operations where below standard. That being said, this program, and most all of it's programs are not for everyone. They are designed for very self motivated people. If you need someone to tell you what to do, when to do it, and nearly wipe your butt for you-I urge you to forgo enrolling in an online correspondance course of any kind and seek a traditional education. You must be willing to apply yourself outside of your studies and get hands-on experience to be successful. Payments are easy, straight-forward, and fair. Cancelling your program is equally well situated-as I enrolled in and ended up cancelling the Medical Billing and Coding Program before. No hassel. Just pay us what you owe for the work you completed (I was 1/3 of the way through) and it's done. Think before you click and enroll, but not because Penn Foster is a bad school, or a scam, or a money-hungry institution or any of these other far-fetched negative titles that it has unjustly received. It's a matter of personal willingness and organization , as well as discipline. There are time limits, try to stay within them, if not accept you need more time and pay for an extension. You can't ignore your studies, half-heartily do a couple assignments every 3 months and expect to pass or finish.Also, keep in contact with the school when and if issues arise, don't just get pissed and do nothing-after all you're really online hurting yourself and furthering yourself from your own goals. Penn Foster is great and it gives students who for one reason or another cannot attend a traditional school a way to achieve their goals and get what they want out of life. I also plan on attending and finishing several other programs to meet my career needs, and I can't wait to start!
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8 of 12 people found the following review helpful

Lauraamariehh (In Progress) on November 20, 2012 (email verified)

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HORRIBLE school! They are CROOKS! After completing 18% of the Dental Assisting course at PennFoster, I was actually enjoying the course. Upon getting to a difficult lesson and needing some assistance, I contacted the Student Services department to get in touch with a professor. He was VERY unprofessional and was not helpful AT ALL. He told me I was looking in the wrong book and I needed to figure it out for myself. Frustrated with the entire school, I called and told them that I wanted to cancel my schooling because I was not getting adequate help. They informed me that it would be a $250 cancellation fee so I told them that I would pay it on Friday when I got paid. The man I talked to said "Oh, that's okay. We'll take care of it. Don't worry about it." I was so reluctant. That was July 2012. It is now November 2012 and I have been getting letters in the mail telling me I owe $1004. Harassing phone calls day and night from a COLLECTIONS agency. So I called and spoke to a really nice gentleman in which he told me that my state is a DO NOT SELL state for dental assisting and I would have WASTED MY TIME if I completed my course. Speaking with the collections agency a couple days later trying to get everything taken care of, she told me it was MY FAULT for not researching my state and I should have known it was going to take me no where. Shouldn't they have told me that when I signed up for the course?! Everyone at this school is VERY unprofessional, rude, and a bunch of CROOKS. All they care about is taking your money and DO NOT care if you get the proper education you need!!! STAY AWAY FROM PENNFOSTER!
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10 of 13 people found the following review helpful

Anonymous (Graduate) on November 17, 2012 (email verified)

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Good Experience My husband graduated from Penn Foster last year. The program worked great for him. He is now a Maintenance Engineer and attending college for his Associates in HVAC. I agree that the materials are slow in being shipped but that is a small price to pay for anyone who has difficulty in a traditional school setting. As far as not getting your diploma until tuition is paid off, that is understandable. You don't get the title to a car or the deed to a house until they are paid off. It is to ensure they are not scammed by students. All-in-all, a great experience.
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5 of 8 people found the following review helpful

Anonymous (In Progress) on October 20, 2012 (email verified)

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Pretty Good Great school so far. I recommend it! Tuition for the HS program was low for me since i completed 9th and 10th grade. The only problem i have is how slow they take to review transcripts and transfer credits. As well as how you have to wait for courses to ship out in order for lessons online to unlock. Besides that its a great school. I love having live chat around in case i ever have some direct payment or anything school related. You can call a teacher over the phone if you want but honestly i haven't called in so far.
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7 of 21 people found the following review helpful

Anonymous (In Progress) on October 18, 2012 (email verified)

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don't attend this stupid home-school you rather go to public school I have called and talked and online chat to the Representative's at pennfoster today and they are the worst i have recorded the chat today's date is 10/18/2012 You are now chatting with 'Michael Gibson' Your Issue ID for this chat is LTK12129069663135X Michael Gibson: Thank you for contacting Student Services. How may I help you? maxim: hi i need a transcript from pennfoster maxim: what does a transcript contain maxim: does it show my credits maxim: or my grades from pennfoster Michael Gibson: Do you need an official transcript or just a grade report? maxim: i need the official transcript Michael Gibson: In order to obtain an official transcript. The balance must be paid in full since you have completed over 50% of the program. I can send you a grade report. Michael Gibson: Anything else I can assist you with? maxim: so what should i do to get the transcript Michael Gibson: Once the balance is paid in full, you can purchae an official transcript for $10.00. maxim: what is my balance Michael Gibson: Your balance is $304.00. maxim: so i need to pay $314 to get my transcript Michael Gibson: No. Your total balance is $304.00. Michael Gibson: Anything else I can assist you with? maxim: so to get my transcript i need to pay $304 plus $10 for the transcript maxim: 314 Michael Gibson: That is correct, but the $10.00 fee is separate. You can call 1-888-427-1000 to make the payments if you plan on paying them soon. maxim: can i pay the $10 now and get the transcript maxim: because i don't have $304 right now Michael Gibson: Unfortunately, it cannot be ordered until the balance is paid. maxim: i need the transcript maxim: Unfortunately i think it could be done somehow because i already paid over $1100 to pennfoster maxim: starting from 2010 September Michael Gibson: Unfortunately, the policy requires students to have the balance paid in full if they have completed over 50% of the lessons in order to eligible for the transcript. maxim: i have completed over 50% of the lessons Michael Gibson: That is correct. maxim: so i can buy the transcript maxim: do you take debit maxim: or a visa Michael Gibson: Once the balance is paid in full, you can purchase the transcript. Michael Gibson: You can pay with a debit card. maxim: i need the transcript and the proof that i study at pennfoster that is why i need the transcript right now for collage maxim: i am trying to apply Michael Gibson: I'm sorry, but at the moment you are not eligible for an official transcript. maxim: i am trying to study at pennfoster and at the same time start collage(i need the transcript to apply to collage), so i can be ahead and complete collage faster and be on my carrier and your not letting me do that and that is very important for my future Michael Gibson: I understand that, but as I explained, you are not eligible for an official transcript until you have paid the remaining balance in full. That is the policy. maxim: i don't have a job or any money right now that is why i want to apply to collage under financial aid to get a carrier faster i cant pay you right now Michael Gibson: We try to accommodate our students the best we can, but they still need to follow the school's policies. Michael Gibson: Again, you are not eligible for an official transcript. I am sorry. maxim: ok what if i want to transfer from pennfoster to a public school i still need the transcript to transfer because the other schools will need to know how much work and credits i have completed in my previous school, i decided will be transferring from your school ASAP, so i still need the transcript Michael Gibson: Again, you still owe the full balance before the transcript can be released. Since you have completed over 50% of the lessons you are liable for the remaining balance whether you continue or not. Michael Gibson: If there is nothing else I can assist you with at this, you can contact us at 1-888-427-1000 for more information. I am going to disconnect the chat since I have not heard back from you. Please understand that you must follow school policy to obtain an official transcript. maxim: the last lesson that was shipped from you is really confusing and weird i don't know how to complete it and i called you guys allot of time's and email you about the lesson and now one can help me with it and it's been over 9 months when i got that last lesson shipped i can barley learn anything from pennfoster , does this have to do anything with collection Chat session has been terminated by the site operator. You are not currently in a chat session.
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7 of 11 people found the following review helpful

Scottdiiorio (In Progress) on October 14, 2012 (email verified)

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Program works if you work towards it. The program has changed. New Head Director. New instructors. Improved community (they will be changing it again fall 2012). Some things need to be improved in the community section, so I too kcharge and becoem a student leading students since I have already worked in the field 18 years. We need more like that. The program is not simple. It is easier for peopel already in the field lookign to complete the degree for state requirements. Yet I am an office manager of a clinic and will be glad to assist future students. The program can be really ruff. Yet here is the thing. Those long proctored exams atthe end of each semester. THose Practicums, will make the National Exam much easier. You will be used to sitting for long tests if you do it right.
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8 of 10 people found the following review helpful

Jamalloftonzoe (In Progress) on October 10, 2012

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Great school January 2012 I completed my high school diploma course at the age of 29. This school allowed me to set a goal for myself finishing in just 6 months of starting the course at a 9th grade level. They kept the books coming and ensured that I would not run out of things to do.I rated the teachers low due to the fact I had very little contact with them. The only problem I had was at the end when the electives slowed me up you have to wait until all your tests with the elective are graded before you can move to the next on. It is now October 2012 and I plan on returning for Pharmacy Tech course. Thanks Penn Foster
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6 of 8 people found the following review helpful

Rcky12000 (In Progress) on September 28, 2012 (email verified)

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Penn Foster Vet tech review. Hi, I just wanted to get a bit more updated review about penn foster. I have been in this program for 4 months now. I am still in "semester"1, note semester are not regular school semesters they are "units of study", when you complete one you move on. I hear about Margi and how rude she was, I have never met her, but there is a new director of the program named JIm Hurrel, he is very nice and informative and he actually cares to teach. They haved started a "community" site which aloows for facebook/mysoace gathering of students and directors, even the president of the school is on there so that really make you feel a lot less "alone". The webinars can be really good, very informative. The p grades are easy to obtain just take as much classes as you can take and there is no issue. The book are very well written and have accurate information, and they really do make you "think common sense wise" about the subject being discussed. materials are very decent, just have to read them multiple times to get the full idea and point of view of the authors. Yes, the one thing that is indeed anoyying about the school is the praticiums and clinicals. It very frustrating, because you have 225 for each section you do after semester 2 and 4. Which is subjected to review and acceptance by , 1. the clinic where you did them , and 2. by the school. Getting both to cooperate with each other is nigh impossible. Putting it bluntly the Dr.'s may feel that they dont have time for such nonsense, but the programs wants a vet tech to train you in clinicals. Also there is indeed no help from school finding a place, there is wheree you have to have gumtion to get out there and apply yourself as a professional, and hit the pavement. Which I think is a good thing. However can be more time consuming to do this, and you are already 6 months into program , the program by the way takes only 8 months or so to complete if evreything in this world were perfect, so prepare to ask for extensions. Really as far as online vet school goes it really good, I am impressed and happy so far can't really complain. Also any issues i had , I had someone to call or email and they responded quickly and resolved issue and did it with a virtual smile on their face, so . I guess I am lucky. For all those that had unfornate experiences with margi or other personel I am sorry, I hope you find a school that makes you feel apprecaiated or give it another shot, it really is better now from what I have seen.
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10 of 12 people found the following review helpful

Abfamily5 (Graduate) on September 14, 2012 (email verified)

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Diploma worked perfectly for us My son complete high school with this program in about 2 years. The diploma was treated like a regular high school diploma at the state college (Georgia Highlands) he attended and his grades in high school got him the Georgia Hope scholarship which allowed him to attend college tuition-free. The course work was definitely on the easy side. If you want something rigorous, I would try something else. This program would be great for someone who is having trouble with high school academics or who needs to get a diploma quickly. I thought the cost was very low compred to other schools which give you an accredited high school diploma.
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5 of 8 people found the following review helpful

Anonymous (In Progress) on September 7, 2012 (email verified)

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A true honest story and honest opinion from someone who is almost done! Penn Foster has given me 3 years to complete my school work. Sadly, I fell behind because of dramas an other problems in life, now I have to complete what I have in a 1 months time, here's what I did. Good: We explained this to Penn Foster over the phone, the lady was very understanding and immediately sent out 4 lessons to me and I got them in 3 days. I progressed very fast and got all 4 done in about a week!(half way done) Bad:After that, I paid Penn Foster off what I owed, now I have no more payments to make. All of a sudden, my books have been taking over 3 weeks(not days) to get to my house! Which is outrageous when you only have a month to do your schooling! But, This does not bother me, since all of there books, once they are sent out to your house, become instantly available online to read and tests become available, so really, I don't have to wait for them dragging there feet. When I called asking for them to send my books again like the nicer lady did for me. THIS lady didn't want to, we signed a waver and everything to release the rest of my books. She said they will... 5 days later there JUST Preparing to be shipped and some are back ordered?... Outrageous, I don't have time for that! You think they would help me out a little if I have such little time left, but obviously not. I'm trying to get this done, but there always seems to be a loop hole I miss, which leads to me having to spend more money. If I can't get my school done this month, I can get a added 6 months for another $75, I really, really don't want to spend anymore money on this stuff, I just want to work hard to graduate. Clearly, It is a REAL highschool diploma program and weather it's treated like a GED or not, either way I just want to get it done but it's clearly a very money driven business(as anything)they does not care how you progress or get your work done as long as you pay them there money, even then they want a little extra. As far as the books go, they were very easy and you could learn on your own past with no black and white areas. Yet, American History was very much all over the place! I had 2 huge books I had to go over both of which contradicted each other, but they wanted answers from both of those books. It was very frustrating to me and my grades kinda sucked on that one...But atleast I got it done. OVER ALL: School is school and business will be business. It's as simple as that and nothing is perfect. But if your going to be home schooled and going with Penn Foster, I can't think of anything better as long as you stick to the 3 years they give you and not play around! If you stick to it you'll have plenty of breathing room for your studies and you won't end up having to be in a mad rush like me! Though I can't promise they we be quicker sending there books to you, they may take even more time if they have 3 years to kill! So, just do the books online and you'll truly be able to work at your own pace!
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5 of 12 people found the following review helpful

Anonymous (In Progress) on September 7, 2012 (email verified)

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Rude staff , and unprofessional conduct. I was recently considering purchasing online classes with Pennfoster, so naturally I requested more information on the program I was interested in. After waiting 3 business days i finally received an e-mail containing absolutely no information on the actual program, but urging me to sign up immediately and leaving me a number to call should I have any questions. Once I called, I was connected to a seemingly nice man who then proceeded to condescend me and cut me off whenever i attempted to ask a question or speak. I then thanked him for his time and told him I would call if I decided to enroll. The next day I received a call at 9:00 PM PST , from someone at pennfoster. I politely told them that was not an appropriate time to call me and that I could be reached between normal daytime hours. The very next day I received a call at the same time from what seemed to be the same woman. I asked them not to call me anymore and told them i was no longer interested because of the repetitive late night phone calls. I sincerely hope this company , school, whatever they consider themselves, learns how to properly conduct business and not harass potential students/customers.
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15 of 22 people found the following review helpful

Anonymous (Graduate) on August 15, 2012 (email verified)

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= Unemployment Haven't been able to work since... I quit my job and moved 3 states away to Dallas. I paid over one hundred bucks for a professional resume and submitted it to every law firm and legal staffing agency as well as everything from factory work to fast food. I haven't been able to find a job in the two years I've been a graduate. I believe the problem is the degree is laughable for the jobs I believe to be qualified for and intimidating to the managers who have been working the same jobs for 10+ years and are scared of the college experience... but I don't recommend trying to build a life around this degree! Its hard to find a place to transfer to which means this place is a joke. I hate myself for wasting a good career at a good company after graduating from this course. Huge regrets... If you could afford a degree from a real college I would suggest sinking the money into it and saving yourself years of embarrassment. This waste of time and money stole nearly 5 years of my life. I have quit placing the degree on my resume and buried my degree and transcripts in a box in the attic. I've been middle class my whole life and am sick of being taken advantage of by programs such as this and being denied loans for college due to my financial status.
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19 of 21 people found the following review helpful

Blubrd11 (Graduate) on August 14, 2012 (email verified)

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High School Diploma I took the high school course. I found the textbooks laid out in an orderly fashion. I was guided step-by-step how to proceed in my studies, was even given a timeline for when tests should be taken. Of course, life gets in the way sometimes and I didn't keep on the timeline they set up, but I did complete the course within the allotted time. I would recommend Penn Foster to anyone. I see what people are saying about how "easy" it is to "cheat" and get the answers from the text, but that comes down to each individual person. If they want to cheat and get the answers the easy way instead of doing the work, they are only cheating themselves and not getting a true and accurate depiction of what they have actually learned through their studies. Thank Penn Foster for allowing me to finally achieve my goal of getting my high school diploma. A 55-year-old woman who dropped out 2 months into the 12th grade in 1974
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15 of 17 people found the following review helpful

Anonymous (In Progress) on July 31, 2012

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disappointed and annoyed I was pleased with this course until about 11 months in (the course is 15 total.) Out of nowhere the school added eleven additional study units to my course without notifying me at all or extending my deadline. When I called student services to find out why students weren't being notified that their workload had been increased by 25%, the response I got was "they'd have to send emails all day long." SERIOUSLY? It's amazing that they can send out automatically generated emails telling me about my progress, but you can't notify me of changes to my program outline. In addition to this, when it came time for me to start the first coding section the materials were on backorder, so I lost almost a week of study time! Every time I contact student or education services I get very little help or information. I am four weeks away from completing my course and don't feel like I will be prepared for a career in this field AT ALL. Any future courses I decide to take will definitely be done through another institution - there is a reason my Penn Foster's tuition is so inexpensive compared to other schools; sometimes you get what you pay for.
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8 of 11 people found the following review helpful

Anonymous (Graduate) on July 9, 2012 (email verified)

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Rip off's I checked out an chose Penn Foster after they told me I would have phone service help with a qualified teacher.Ha Ha Ha .That was there biggest lie.I called and asked to speak to an instuctor around 15 times in 7 months and never was able to speak to one once.No help at all.No apology when I called to complain instead I was only told I would get a call back within 24 hours.That never happened either.After completing the course, I was told I would get a complete set of Craftsmans tools.That never happened. I received a cheap 'made in china' set and only half of what was promised in the tools.I would avoid these sharlitans if I was you.
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10 of 11 people found the following review helpful

Anniepedro18 (In Progress) on July 7, 2012

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Very Slow sending out material, not able to work at my own pace. When I enroll I was under the assumption that I would be able to work at my own pace and had 3 years to complete, however; I could work as fast as I wanted. I now fully understand that the welcome letter they send you, the website and enrollment counselor are very much incorrect. I enroll thinking that I could finish within a couple of months as I ( for now) have the time to dedicate several hours a day to it, to my surprise and a sad one at that, I have to wait several days after I complete an exam for them to open up the next class and allow me to take the exams. VERY slow to send out material, and why do they bother the books are online, till this point all the materials I have use for my test have been on their website. Not happy, If you are in a hurry, do not enroll. You will be better just taking GED. Very Slow.
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9 of 11 people found the following review helpful

Anonymous (In Progress) on July 1, 2012 (email verified)

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Very Disappointed I have just finished the program and thought it was not very good. There's no one on one support and every email I have received from them has been computer generated. I finished the program in less than a month a thought it was not challenging at all. Reminded me of my middle school homework. The views were very conflicting. The material said to use positive reinforcement and never physical punishment., but in the DVD they provide for puppy training it shows to grab a pup by the scruff and shake it when it has an accident on the floor. There were numerous spelling and grammatical errors in the lessons. In the projects I had hand written and mailed in to be reviewed, they were sent back every time with "100% good job" written on my score cards. They never went any more in depth than that leading me to believe that who ever checked my work had no idea about dog training. Many of the questions on the exams were so basic I read them to my husband and he answered 80% of them correct. I have been a dog training fanatic since I was a child and have read many training books. I feel that you could learn everything Penn Foster has to offer by going to your local library and reading some books. I thought I could gain more dog knowledge through this program and I learned nothing and wasted $800+. Very disappointed
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9 of 12 people found the following review helpful

Babygirlalways (Graduate) on June 14, 2012 (email verified)

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PennFoster High School I took this course and it was a mistake! They say they are accepted by ALL accredited colleges, when truthfully, it is hard to find one that does! I am currently having to take my GED so that I can attend college! If you are a parent of a child who wants to attend college, I suggest you go through the school's homeschool system in your area. Going through your nearest highschool is MUCH easier and less expensive! I graduated last year and we are STILL paying off my tuition, and of course, you don't recieve your diploma until you pay it off. The only good part I found about this institution was the help. When you call with questions or concerns about homework, it usually doesn't long for them to help you. The tests are SUPER easy. However, they suggest that students use their study guides, which gives the answers! That is not learning! My parents were smart enough to take all my books away while I took my tests. When we called to complain about their false advertising, they told me there was nothing they could do! Their operators for complaints are very rude and unkind.
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12 of 15 people found the following review helpful

Anonymous (In Progress) on May 30, 2012 (email verified)

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good programs Back in 1993 took the automotive tech diploma course and ended up having a nearly 20 year career because of the training I received at Penn foster. I was injured on the job and can no longer work in the field and so I returned to once again get career training at this school.
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13 of 16 people found the following review helpful

Anonymous (In Progress) on May 14, 2012 (email verified)

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Love This Program! I love this school. Have a 3.9 GPA. If you lack common sense, don't take this program (better yet-don't go to school). Since when have you ever heard someone say they love everything about their schooling experience? That is what I thought. Penn Foster is overall a 10 out of 10 school. They have been very helpful over the phone and via email. This program is challenging. Do not take it if you do not want to work hard. But in this day and age, everyone should be trying to work their hardest. I love this school and recommend to everyone.
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16 of 17 people found the following review helpful

Anonymous (In Progress) on April 30, 2012

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Penn Foster VT program beware I am a 3rd semester student in the VT program...because my credits don't transfer anywhere else (that I would want to go). I certainly would not take the VT course with this school. Looking at the other comments, it appears that most of the complaints about Penn Foster come from the vet tech students. It is true that Dr Sirois WAS very rude to most of the students. I still have her emails to prove it. My husband sat and listened in on her comments to students once and couldn't believe how unprofessional she acted. She is, however, no longer at Penn Foster, having suddenly resigned with no explanations given to the students. I am worried what will happen with the program's accreditation at this point. Those of you who are posting "rose colored glasses" remarks and are still in your first semester...beware. You haven't attempted your proctored exams yet! You better know every word and concept in your books before you take that test...because it is closed book, short answer/short essay only and you will have ten minutes to respond to each question. AND...the grading is so subjective all you can do is pray that you pass. I hold three different college degrees and WAS a 3.8 GPA student when I entered Penn Foster. Disagree with a question marked wrong on any test? Good luck getting a response from anyone in the education department. The online forum and the webinars are archaic in view of other online course presentations I've used, and the webinar conductor "Citrix" is a pain in the rear to work with when their system fails. But it is a pretty easy task to log on once a week for a couple minutes and log back out of the forum and sit through 2 hours of webinars per month to get that infamous "P" grade that everyone thinks is so hard and elusive to get. The two biggest pitfalls for students in the VT program are (1)finding a veterinary clinic that will allow you to do your "hands on" part of the program (Practicum 1 & 2) and (2)finding a clinic that still does film xrays, not digital. These are both required to complete the VT program...and Penn Foster will give you absolutely NO HELP with this. If you are already in the program, start looking now for clinics to work in.
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20 of 27 people found the following review helpful

Anonymous (In Progress) on March 27, 2012 (email verified)

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Generic Education We are a military family and I thought this was a great idea for my daughter since we were moving around a lot. I had a few family members who raved about Penn Foster and how great it was and how simple.. Yes.. How "simple" it was. I should have listened to those words more carefully. I have noticed that everyone on here who likes it all say how fast and EASY it is. This school may be good for the college courses but I can tell you from a parents stand point.. DO NOT ENROLL YOUR CHILD HERE! This is a generic education and so not worth the 3000 dollars we spent on it! I am sorry that we let our little girl down like that.
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25 of 28 people found the following review helpful

Dadsgirl99pr (In Progress) on March 14, 2012

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Love it! I'm an Army Wife and mom of a three year old. I've always loved animals and have always wanted to work in the vet world. When I discovered what a Vet Tech IS, I decided to do some research on schools and found Penn Foster. It has everything I was looking for. Flexible schedule perfect for me. The only drawback I find is that you have to at least log on to the forums once a week, and get a "P" for your Participation. Which I thought was stupid since it's an online course. Individual studies... what's the point of participation? But it's not something out of this world. Just log on, you don't even need to start a topic or reply. So far I'm in the middle of my first semester and haven't had the need to contact and teachers. I love it because I feel I'm completely on my own school. "Janice University". I'm the boss of my time, I'm the boss of how long I take taking a test or studying. The books are super easy to understand too. I love it!
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12 of 14 people found the following review helpful

Sl3658 (In Progress) on March 11, 2012 (email verified)

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ECE AS Degree First of all, their accreditation is posted plainly on their website. Penn Foster is nationally accredited, but for Early Childhood Education, it would be incredibly difficult to reach regional accreditation from what I have read. I am enrolled in the AS program and I love it so far. I can go at my own pace, and the instructors are always helpful! I like that I can speak with actual instructors rather than having to wait for a call back from a 'tutor' which is what I experience at Ashworth. Overall, I am thrilled with my experience.
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7 of 9 people found the following review helpful

Anonymous (In Progress) on March 5, 2012

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No attempt to help you receive hands on experience I am aware this is an online institution....however...they do not even provide you with a list of participating organizations in which to obtain internships with. They kind of leave you on your own-to fend for yourselt. Penn Foster isn't a highly respected school, so some practices are weary of letting you train with them....THUMBS down!
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10 of 11 people found the following review helpful

Autumn_kilpatrick (In Progress) on February 29, 2012 (email verified)

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Private Investigations I love my new class! I complete it as I can, and can take as much time as I need so I actually KNOW the material. Instructors are amazing when I need help, and I can afford the payments even with two kids on one paycheck.
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22 of 24 people found the following review helpful

Anonymous (Graduate) on February 23, 2012 (email verified)

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Medical Billing & Coding Program Penn Foster will allow you to receive shipment of all your text books at once, and this makes moving at your own pace more feasible. It took me two years to complete the program, taking 2-3 extensions, for which I paid $75 extra per each one. Having had previous healthcare experience, some of the initial courses were redundant, however, they are necessary for those with no experience. The courses on medical terminology, anatomy & physiology, medical law & the actual coding courses were all very good and quite extensive. I found that reaching the instructors by email was better than via phone & they were always helpful & accomodating. My only question with this school, as a recent graduate, is how its diplomas are received in the work force. This program is NOT listed on the AAPC website or AHIMA website under accredited programs, so I am concerned as to how much weight this diploma will bear. Overall-the educational experience was good & it was a very expansive program.
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12 of 12 people found the following review helpful

Dmclark1986 (Graduate) on February 21, 2012 (email verified)

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Medical Transcription through Penn Foster I have worked one year after completing my certificate for MT. Writing papers, the section on the legal system and general office procedures were a waste of time. Most, if not all, of the course should focus on medical terminology in all fields as well as hands-on typing of reports. I wish I could recommend this course but have actually steered several friends away from it. I did like the on-your-own pace.
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13 of 15 people found the following review helpful

Jendavis88 (In Progress) on February 18, 2012 (email verified)

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RUDE and VERY UNPROFESSIONAL I was a potential student interested in the Substance Abuse Counselor program. I requested the materials, but after reading them I realized there really wasn't very much information in them. As a current surgical tech and vet tech, I had questions about the internship requirements since they gave practically no information about it, and I wanted to make sure I would be able to complete it as required having a full-time job. I sent an email to customer service, and the response I received back was unbelievably rude and insulting! All I had were a few questions, very simple, and I was polite and courteous, but this woman basically called me stupid. I then complained about her to PF, where I was told they would get back to me, but I never heard anything back. All I can say is if this is how they treat people when their goal is to try to get them to sign up, I can only imagine how they must be once you're locked in, and have a question about your class. Reading these reviews here, I am comforted to see that it wasn't just me, and I'm very very glad I had questions before signing up, or I may have made the mistake of becoming a student here.
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15 of 19 people found the following review helpful

Stanner30 (In Progress) on February 8, 2012 (email verified)

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Penn Foster is Better Than People Say. Check It Out For Yourself! I am a military spouse currently enrolled in the Vet Tech program. I am extremely pleased with everything so far. If you take the first lesson seriously -(learning strategies) and actually take notes as you do your course work - outline your vocab - and review for a day or so before exams - you will do just fine. You do have to be dedicated and keep up with your work to succeed, but that's what you're paying to do! The people saying that this program is a scam don't know what they're talking about. Everyone learns differently, and obviously distance learning wasn't working for them. The program director can seem a little high strung - but you don't have to deal with her too terribly often, and I just don't pay her any mind. Check it out for yourself and make your own opinion. I did and am so glad to have enrolled!! I'm also an ARMY spouse - and enrolled for free using the MyCAA. The active military spouses enrollment advisors were wonderful and still help me out with questions regarding tuition fees to this day. A great experience overall!
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15 of 17 people found the following review helpful

Anonymous (In Progress) on February 2, 2012 (email verified)

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Pennfoster High School Diploma My sister and I are about to complete all high school courses. The program has improved greatly. You must study and learn before you can pass any of the lessons. It's very simple, you fail the lessons if you don't study, period. We love the flexibility of having our own schedule during the week. We work at our own pace. The learning material and text books are great, I miss nothing from going to a regular public high school.
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10 of 14 people found the following review helpful

Anonymous (In Progress) on February 1, 2012

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High school dipolma So slow to sent out materials, and why do I have to wait to finish my exam to sent out my book. I would like to finish this program asap but now I have to wait for those book to ship, I dont have to to sit on the computer all day to read online materials they have out there. will be better if they sent materials a heads so I can continue and go on what ever where ever and when ever I want.
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16 of 22 people found the following review helpful

Mhazel25 (Graduate) on January 27, 2012 (email verified)

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AVOID PENN FOSTER Just wanted to WARN anybody even thinking about utilizing this "school"... Ensure that you DO NOT take ANYTHING that you are being told on the phone as the truth...Do your own research in this so-called "school".. Take note of how many complaints there are with the better business bureau -- AND THERE ARE ALOT !!!!! ... Research your state -- these clowns arent even recognized in ALOT of states ( even though they will tell you they are )--- What you are not told or lied to about might result in alot of wasted time and your money !!! BEWARE OF AND STEER AWAY FROM THIS "SCHOOL" --- There are alot of different legitimate schools that will serve you much better -- research the others and choose any school except these CROOKS !!!!!!
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8 of 11 people found the following review helpful

Lucky11melissa (In Progress) on January 20, 2012 (email verified)

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horrible for the military i enrolled into penn foster hoping to finish my degree in 2 years but that did not happen...im active duty and deployed on the border and rarely have access to a computer...since i have an iphone i thought i could sign on to the discussion boards using it with no problem..while half way into the year i noticed i was not getting graded on my participation and called...they advised me that using my phone, their system did not recognize it and i asked if there was any way to waive the grade since i had made comments but was told to spoke to the professor. the professor was uncaring to my solution and i had to start over...i was already on an extension due to this same problem because the person i enrolled with over the phone failed to explain the discussion board requirements and i tried to prevent the problem again by logging on my phone, they should not allow access on the phone if there system doesn't recognize it...horrible school do not go here!
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7 of 10 people found the following review helpful

Anonymous (In Progress) on January 19, 2012

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PFC Vet Tech I am in my first semester of the Vet Tech program. The class participation requirements are NOT horrible. You have to attend a minimum number of webinar hours per month, plus log into the discussion forum twice a week. That's it, not rocket science. You do have to be extremely disciplined about studying, but as long as you put the time in, you should do just fine. A good student will do well even in an average school.
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6 of 7 people found the following review helpful

Anonymous (Graduate) on January 8, 2012 (email verified)

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Curriculum outdated and too easy I just finished Penn Foster, it's unbelievably easy, and not in a good way. I was in regular, public high school for my freshman and sophomore years, and LITERALLY every single class in PF was a repeat of things I had previously learned. I did not learn one new thing. Luckily, this made it easy for me to graduate in 9 months. (could've done it in 4, but I worked and babysat.) I didn't study with the physical books once, just with the online PDF study guides, which are searchable and make it easy to cheat. Also, they've used the same tests for years and the questions//answers are just one internet search away. So if you're a parent and are thinking of putting your child in this program, don't do it. They'll end up behind. Try as hard as you can to find a home school program that's through a public school in your county. They exist, don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
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7 of 11 people found the following review helpful

Anonymous (In Progress) on January 7, 2012 (email verified)

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OUTDATED MATERIALS I would not recommend this to anyone. I have not enrolled and don't plan on it. I read about what operating systems they teach you about (9x, ME, NT®, 2000, and XP) That is so outdated. What about Windows Vista & 7. ALSO WHERES LINUX??? They have pictures of computers disassembled and look closely to what they have(RIBBON CABLES=PATA) what about SATA and all the types of SATA. PATA is so slow and outdated. They say you will learn about Desktops, Laptops, and PDAs (PDA? Who uses that, the UPS guy? PDA has been replaced by Smart Phones). What about Tablets, Netbooks, & All in One PCs. I talked to Penn Foster and they said it hasn't been updated in awhile. I'd say. Save your $800. I have learned all my stuff from Books, Magazines, & Online Forums. I'm still trying to find a Computer Repair Course with Certificate. Hope this helps someone.
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8 of 12 people found the following review helpful

Anonymous (In Progress) on December 23, 2011 (email verified)

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Medical Coding and Billing I finish one exam and have to wait for quite a while before the next lessons arrive. I have also found that they elaborate about working in an office, what to wear, etc. I worked in an office for 15 years, therefore it was very redundant. When it comes to the materials, they are very out dated.
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5 of 8 people found the following review helpful

Anonymous (In Progress) on November 30, 2011 (email verified)

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Harassment. The school differs, depending who you speak to. I lost my job, so I was forced to quit school. The lady I spoke to, told me since I only owed a balance of 80 dollars, to pay what I can a month. Well, apparently not. I get 4 calls a day, harassing me to no end. I send money every month, yet they still call, fill up my mailbox, and call me all the dang time demanding their money. It's getting to the point of harassment, and I'm seriously close to reporting them to whoever I need to. Do NOT attend this school. One person will say one thing, yet another will say the complete opposite. Unless you want your phone blown up, and your mailbox stuffed with letters, even after sending a montly payment, then DO NOT ATTEND. I learned this the hard way.
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7 of 10 people found the following review helpful

Leslielynnrodeorebel (In Progress) on November 23, 2011 (email verified)

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Great Affordable school !!!! I am a seccond year or third semestor student. I have been a vet tech and just wanted my dagree so I returned to school. They have an A.V.M.A. accredited program. It is difficult and you have to work hard!I went to pierce collage and was 6 credits shy of my dagree. Married a marine and moved. They supply all your books which saves you time and allot of money. The staff was always pleasent when I called with problems. I am shocked by the poor reviewes
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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful

Anonymous (In Progress) on October 18, 2011 (email verified)

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Mixed Feeling Ive been enrolled into this course for about 9 months a few weeks ago i got a letter saying i had to pay an extra 75.00 for a course extension. I thought this cant be because for one i havent even been in this course for a year and for 2 i read that i had 3 yrs to finish it. i contacted student services and they said they couldnt help me. but other than that i like the course and its fairly easy. i dont like that they dont send materials in a timely manor but i signed a wavier to have all my books sent to me so i can just keep working on it so i can get my diploma before i have my baby in feb. i also read that they flag students for completeing exams before their books have been shipped. i recently experienced this because they are so slow on sending them out that i just went ahead and did my exams with out reading the online things. now i cant even read them i had to wait for my books to arrive before i can continue. Choose wisely before signing up for penn foster. nothing but problems so far.
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11 of 13 people found the following review helpful

Anonymous (Graduate) on October 17, 2011

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EXCELLENT SCHOOL! All I have to say is that some of these reviews are fairy tale material in regards to Penn Foster. This is a top notch school who does care about you the student and provides support in any way possible to assist you during your learning journey! I am a military spouse and the Navy paid my cost to attend Penn Foster. Trust me NO GOVERNMENT AGENCY is going to pay big dollars as some of the reviewers stated a FAKE school. I just received my papers in the mail. I am finished and ready to go on my choosen career path. My daughter is also in her last semester and she will have her Degree as well. Give them a try I do not think you will be disappointed and the cost is reasonable.
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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful

Rickhospital (In Progress) on September 29, 2011 (email verified)

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no problems I have not had any problems with penn foster i am almost done i am in final class with 3 more tests to take passing with a 95 average.You don't need to go to a libary to do exams just buy a computer.
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5 of 7 people found the following review helpful

Melanie (In Progress) on September 26, 2011

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This school is too easy This school is too easy and my parents are thinking of changing me im still in high school.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

Djpdwyer (In Progress) on September 12, 2011 (email verified)

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Definetly Doable I first started with Penn Foster on my Veterinary Technician degree. After two semesters, I ceased the program because the requirements in my state changed and there was no benefit to completing the course. The instructor I did have a problem with. I believe her name with Marge; she never responded to my e-mails in a polite manner even when my questions were genuine. It was like I was being belittled every time I got the response. On the other side though, the books were very informative and I did learn quite a bit. Financial services DID help me with payment arrangments when I was out of a job. After I caught my payments up; I enrolled in the Business Management (Bachelor) program because I was pleased with the content of the Vet Tech program and their ability to work with me on payments. I flew through my first semester in a couple of weeks and I enrolled in to the second semester. I didn't realize the payments would double, but I did it. They worked with me on the payments for that too. Only let down is that I'm stuck on my English Composition course mainly because I despise writing essays; but the instructor has been responding in a kind and timely manner. Hell, they are even trying to motivate me to get the assignments done. Overall, the books are good (despite a few discrepancies between the workbooks and texts). Most of the instructors are good. Customer service (financial services) has been extremely helpful. Just wish it wasn't as expensive as it is (Tech Schools over same degrees for same price, if not cheaper). Overall though, I've been pleased.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

Nunqueen2010 (In Progress) on September 11, 2011 (email verified)

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Adequate Correspondece program I found the High-School program to be helpful, and it improved my academic skills. However, I prefer, the former automated touch-tone system for grading examinations, and not the new online approach. They have really raised the roof...on the cost of this program. It was only $398.00, about 10-years ago. Can you say---price cut!
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

SabrinaRTN (Graduate) on August 28, 2011 (email verified)

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Not the first choice Overall the course could have been much better. At first glance the site seemed unprofessional as there were typos in the titles and tests. The study guides were mediocre at best; at least 5 times either a) the study guide contradicted the book or b) the answer provided in the book was *not* one of the answers in the study guide. Some of the books were extremely outdated though some were very good. I had two graded assignments to turn in and wait for a reply; both took almost a week to receive a grade. Overall the knowledge I gained was worth the time, but I certainly would not invest my money in another Penn Foster course - I would highly prefer something more professional with a better overall reputation.
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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful

AbbieLBrown (In Progress) on August 18, 2011 (email verified)

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Double Check MAKE SURE you check to see if Penn Foster is certified in your state! I almost signed up for it but found out that the certifications wouldn't mean a thing for me. Check with the board of Pharmacy for your home state before registering.
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22 of 24 people found the following review helpful

Danggates (Graduate) on August 12, 2011 (email verified)

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I should be the poster boy for this course. I completed the Computer Repair course and then put an ad in the newspaper offering in home computer repair. In 5 days I was able to quit my crappy telemarketing job. Withing 2 years I had built my business into a corporation. I went from $10 and hour to $150,000 after taking this course. To be fair, I was always good with computers as it does come natural for me. This course did give me the confidence to start a company. True story.
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5 of 8 people found the following review helpful

Alaskanwolf001 (Graduate) on August 4, 2011

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My son completed with credits transferred My middle son attended PFHS, their credits transferred to California, where my son finished. Downward side we experienced was that the customer service was limited, at times we did not get an answer (follow thru) to a question, or something would not be processed (if sent directly to the school), but the regular every-day stuff, courses, testing... all good.
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2 of 9 people found the following review helpful

Ashnw (Graduate) on August 3, 2011

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please if your are looking for a school after high school do not i mean do not enroll here This is the worst school i have ever been too, i wish i would have known better coming out of high school, i did not do my research or anything, so please do your research! this school is over priced, fake, ridiculous, you will learn nothing! you have to go to a library to take exams which many do not do anymore, you have to order over priced expensive books that no one will buy back, hello EBOOKS PENN FOSTER!!! you might as well sit in a class room this is by no means an online school, the people in the office were extremely rue, and it seemed like i was paying and paying but the price did not go down, no one would accept these credits i looked for over a year to find a school that would take these fake credits and i only found one school in my state, thank goodness, i switched immediately and they would not give me my transcript even though they did not want to give it to me that was fine but they had to give it to my new school, my new instructor said they were unprofessional, rude, and she had never heard of them, eventually i got it, and i have never been happoer the new school applied the credits to me getting a bachelors, because they said with all of the credits i had there i should have already had my associates, they said i was pretty much into the bachelors field with how many credits i had! they aid no associates program should take three years, there bachelors program is four years, well thank goodness they transferred my credits from them which was a headache,well ill be done with my bachelors in another year, and the classes are awesome and i currently have aa 4.0 and was invited to the golden key international society membership for having a high GPA,everyone recognizes my credits and i got a job teaching immediately. Do not go to penn foster they are not a real school, please young people do your research, i later go harassed for the remainder due which i understand, but i had made arraignments to pay they also do not offer financial aid, the school i went to did and i received the pell grant and many others which i had to use to pay penn foster off, i told her as long as i never hear from them again then just take the money, and they and the nerve to send me letters asking me to come back! i moved and changed my number and have not heard from them since
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3 of 4 people found the following review helpful

Diegotallica (Graduate) on July 28, 2011 (email verified)

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Small Engine Repair Penn Foster This is an excellent program, allowed me to develop my skills in a new career that moves millions of dollars and I'm there to get my part, the materials were very well explained and very affordable price (here in PR the course costs about $ 8000) only I regret not having done it before. Definitely take other courses related to my new career, I could finally start my own repair shop and I have done very well, there are people who did not like the course but it all depends on your goals and you want to do in life and I already got it.
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2 of 4 people found the following review helpful

Anonymous (In Progress) on July 25, 2011

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Awful program, and rude people.... The main instructor is very rude and extremely non-helpful... this program is run just as SHE likes it... She makes rules at her own pace - a friend of mine had a login name with VT in it because she was from Vermont and because the instructor didn't like her to write VT in her name, she made her change it - and blocked her account until she did! This program was overall very poor and I learned absolutely nothing from it...
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

Anonymous (Graduate) on July 6, 2011 (email verified)

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NOTHING IN LIFE IS FREE AND EASY One thing I will tell you is you have to read your materials. One more thing, I found out early on was the the self check at the end of the each chapter will not help you on the exam. Be diciplined stay off of facebook ect..READ YOUR BOOKS ! I just pass my state certification and I'm proud to say I'm a "CphT". The only people complaining are the ones that don't want to do the work. If you need someone to hold your hand go to the community college.
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3 of 7 people found the following review helpful

Anonymous (In Progress) on June 29, 2011 (email verified)

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Penn Foster is horrible!!! Penn Foster is an awful school! They treat their students with disrespect and are rude and unprofessional at every turn. They mislead the students to believe that it is "go at your own pace". They tell you that you can finish the program in 14 months but then once you have signed up and they delay your progress again and again, they say that it takes at least 3.5 years to finish the program! They will not defer your student loans even though the person I spoke to before I signed up said that they would. The head of the program Dr. Margi is rude and unprofessional. Stay away from this school they are horrible people!
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4 of 6 people found the following review helpful

Anonymous (In Progress) on June 21, 2011 (email verified)

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Less impressed each day Work at your own pace isn't completely accurate. You can only work at the pace in which they VERY SLOWLY send your materials out to you. Yes, you have the option to stare at your computer screen to read a PDF version of each book, but I just had an experience that has taught me it isn't very wise. I just took an exam (online). Two of the twenty questions did not pertain to the material in the unit I had studied. The tests are open book, but I couldn't reference any of the other books in regards to those two odd questions. I would have had to back out of the exam to do so. And as I said, they don't send out the materials quick enough for me, so I am forced to use the online books. I have finished complete courses before my books for said course arrive. I contacted the school about my exam grade (because the only error I got on the exam was due to one of those two questions that didn't belong). She told me I was to reference some number that must pertain to another book. I don't have that number anywhere on my end of the website. How would I have known two questions from another book would be on the exam I studied furiously for? Why wasn't I told ahead of time to have previous books handy, or that previous subject matter would be sprinkled in an exam? Why wasn't that number I was supposed to reference given to me BEFORE I took the exam (and why don't I have that number anywhere)? It's not just this latest thing that bothers me. I have found quite a few errors in the books I am using - and that's just the errors I have found! I'm supposed to be learning from them and I wonder how much of what I'm learning is wrong. I'm getting extremely nervous that this diploma won't be worth half a belch when I try to get a job. They aren't extremely bad (yet), but I have decided against using them to get my Associate's Degree in Health Information Technology. It's a shame. All it would have taken is a little more care and review of the materials (something they urge their own students to do).
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4 of 5 people found the following review helpful

Anonymous (Graduate) on June 21, 2011

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NOT worth it! Horrible, it's exactly what it sounds like taking a pet grooming course over the internet. WILL NOT WORK... You will walk away with just as much experience as this if you just go down to your local bookstore and pick up a book on Pet Grooming! Waste of money!
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2 of 3 people found the following review helpful

Rsjp100 (Graduate) on June 18, 2011

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Course Experince I completed the High School Course when Penn Foster was ICS and everything was OK. However, most employers in my area seem to think that my diploma is not good despite the fact that I am now better than those who graduated at our local schools. I also completed the Electronics Technician course when it was Education Direct so I am now capable of understanding and testing all electronic components in the field. Of course, in this field, I need to be constantly updating myself as technology advances/changes. This course gave me the foundation I needed as the starting point. Everything else depends on dedication.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

Ryanlampel (In Progress) on June 4, 2011 (email verified)

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Quality Online School I read a lot of the previous posts. Be clear that if you are not completely self-motivated and competent in figuring things out on your own, you may want to listen to what the previous comments said. I am not a person that finds it particularly difficult to read and follow directions. I have not even had to ask a question of anyone yet. Everything is clearly outlined for you. If you are a self-sufficient learner, this is a perfect program for you. If you need someone over your shoulder directing you every step of the way, look somewhere else. The curriculum is comprehensive, the semester final exams are TOUGH, and there is almost 5 months worth of interning involved so the course is no walk in the park. Good education for a good price.
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2 of 3 people found the following review helpful

Farenbryan1221 (In Progress) on May 19, 2011 (email verified)

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Horrible School Terrible Experience! Emailed instructor to ask a question and was referred to the FAQ page. I emailed back to tell her that I had already read the FAQs many times and they didn't answer my question. She told me 'I expect a more professional tone from you in the future' and then said that if I continued to email her she would report me to the student affairs and have me expelled. I am now trying to get the transcript from Penn Foster as I have enrolled in a REAL school with REAL teachers and I haven't gotten it yet. I first placed my request over a month ago. When I first called to order the trascript, the lady said that it was no problem and she took my money and said she was sending out. I called 2 weeks later because I hadn't gotten it yet, and the person I spoke with said that they couldn't mail it out until I had made a payment (why was I not informed of this 2 weeks ago) So I made the payment and had the request for a transcript re-submitted. I called the following week to see why I still didn't have it. The person I spoke with this time said that they didn't see where I had called and no order had been placed. Placed the order AGAIN. Called a week later (Still no transcript) and was told that it had been mailed out the previous Monday (I had called the Wednesday before, why it took 5 days to mail it out, I don't know) So basically, they stole $10 bucks from me for the transcript and wasted over a year of my time.
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

Anonymous (Graduate) on May 6, 2011 (email verified)

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Good Program You don't have to be a genius to research what you want to do. Take some time and read through the program requirements and where your degree will be accepted BEFORE you enroll! I had a great experience here! My materials always shipped on time. They were full of useful information and I learned a lot. I got my certification just fine. If you are not a good independent learner or you don't RESEARCH YOUR PROGRAM then it's not for you. But I did research; I know what states my certification works in and I got more than I expected. Overall a great experience.
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10 of 11 people found the following review helpful

Anonymous (Graduate) on April 22, 2011 (email verified)

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AS in Criminal Justice I graduate it from Penn Foster on 2008. My associate degree credits they all got transfer to a regionally accreditet institution. I finish my BS on 2010. Very good school, and the price is affordable.I'm enrolled again at Penn Foster, this time BA in Business Management.I RECOMMEND Penn Foster to everyone.
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

Anonymous (In Progress) on April 13, 2011

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Excellent school I'm a little puzzled as to how many people are saying this is a bad school because of this and that. Did you not read everything before signing up? Such complaints as I didn't know you had to be done by this date (they tell you this when you're signing up and it's on your course material every time you log in), it's not accredited US wide (it clearly states where it is accredited and you would need to research this regardless of the school you attend), you complain that your state won't take their program-this too is YOUR job to research. I guess we really do live in a society where you have to blame your ignorance on someone else. I have had no problems, why because I actually read before I signed. I kept the teacher and support ratings at 5 because I have not had to utilize them. This is a good school but you actually have to read the print that they clearly lay out for you to make a decision. The books are good and easily understood, the exams are easy to take once you read the books, and the workbooks are excellent too.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

Anonymous (In Progress) on March 14, 2011

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medical billing and coding I am 10 months into my medical billing & coding courses, and I find Penn Foster to be a great online school. I have a B.A. degree that I acquired several years ago at Idaho State U. so I know what it is to study in a high-quality school. Yes, it takes self-discipline to study on your own, but Penn Foster offers the materials and resourses to get the job done. Their texts are well written and accurate. I have several medical professional friends who have examined my materials, and they have found the content to be correct. I haven't had any payment issues with them because I paid the entire tuition at once. Overall, I would recommend this school.
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2 of 3 people found the following review helpful

Anonymous (In Progress) on March 4, 2011 (email verified)

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Penn Foster, they do NOTHING FOR STUDENTS!! First off, it is very true that you need the books to complete the exams and the problem is, they take 2-3 weeks for *each* book shipment. There was a billing issue, the school's error, but I had the email saying my payment was accepted and there was no problem. It wasn't until my bank notified me of the situation that I was made aware. Penn Foster than billed me an additional $20, called me-no exaggeration- 7x or more daily and would not send any of my materials out for almost 5 weeks, despite my attempts to resolve the billing issue. The "student service" number is useless and rude, incompentent individuals work the phone lines and the school's director, she was the the rudest person I have dealt with! A simple apolgy & removal of the accidental $20 fee woudl have sufficed, but she chose to blame my bank for the error and refused to remove the late fee! I got billed 3x $20 late fee and was told that I had to send them a money order in full payment before my books would be sent. I had to file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau, I was so completly disgusted with the school. The situation was never fixed, I am still being harassed by phone & mail to pay fees that should have never been added. As far as the studies, you are 100% on your own, there is no teacher to call for help or online tools. I advise all considering this online school to please SAVE YOUR MONEY!!
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1 of 4 people found the following review helpful

Anonymous (In Progress) on February 24, 2011 (email verified)

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Not so sure I did not rate anything, just left it as is. I am in my first semester and don't want to make judgments from my frustrations. As someone mentioned before, the class participation/forum requirements are truly a nightmare. I am still at a loss as to whether I will get to move on because I have been told so many things about the forum requirements. I've been told all I have to do is log in for so much time and others have said I have to ask questions, BUT every single time I ask a question, it is not posted and I get VERY RUDE remarks from "the boss"...I guess it's a wait and see thing for now.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

Anonymous (In Progress) on February 11, 2011 (email verified)

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everything you hear about the program director is true. everything you read about the program director at penn foster's vet tech program is true. as someone else said, there are some procedural things regarding requirements that are never very clear and when you ask about them, this lady will straight-up crawl down your throat... i have actually received what i consider hateful responses from her regarding questions i had about some of their vaguely represented policies. i am not unhappy with the school as a whole. my instructors are great, i usually get my materials in a timely manner and if ever i contact an instructor via e-mail (besides the director), i always get a prompt and helpful reply. make sure you understand what you are getting into before you enroll for this program and remember it is alot of work and the class participation/forum requirements are a nightmare.
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3 of 4 people found the following review helpful

Dalya.eason (In Progress) on February 10, 2011 (email verified)

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A good investment for a new career I've just begun my studies and so far so good. The content is interesting and informative. I complement my Penn Foster studies with my own readings too. There are a lot of good books out there on dog training and dog history and psychology. I also volunteer and train at a dog shelter so the Penn Foster career diploma is extremely valuable in helping me go beyond that of the hands-on experience with dogs. This is a new career shift for me. I was am English teacher and then a journalist in the Middle East for ten years. I'm working hard to complete this degree so that i can proceed with this new career.
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5 of 10 people found the following review helpful

Myopinion8888 (In Progress) on January 26, 2011 (email verified)

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Do NOT enroll at Penn Foster!! A total scam!! BEWARE! Do your research before signing up for this school. From what I have experienced, they do not care about anything except getting your money. Most vets will hire without the technician certificate anyway. DO YOUR RESEARCH! MAKE certain they answer ALL your questions and I would advise to talk to current and former students. After doing my research, I totally changed my mind and I am happy that I did. Penn Foster has a lot of work to do in order for anyone to call it a REAL school. Grade: F
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1 of 2 people found the following review helpful

Anonymous (In Progress) on December 1, 2010

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penn foster vet tech program i have been reading alot of students comments on of the instructors of the vet tech program of penn foster, i have to agree bout the boss , she is very rude and does not help students like they need i agree the forums she post need to be cleaned up because its kind of common sense when you get emails for the same questions and her only reply is check the FQA , i have a made a complaint bout how she talks to students on forums, i think most of her forums are just for her to hear her self talk 9 times out 10 they have nothing to do with the program, and wow also its taken me 10 days to find out why i havent recieved my next set of books , its due to the fact the army hasnt paid them yet and i said it takes time for that your working with the military here so i had to shoot through to get my books and its been three days since i made the complaint and they r all back ordered , so next semester i see my self not returning there if this doesnt get fixed
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

Anonymous (In Progress) on November 13, 2010 (email verified)

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Pretty decent A few years ago I enrolled for their Small Engine Repair course. I learned a whole lot, but let me assure you it was a lot of work; reading, studying, etc. I didn't finish in time but that was my own fault. For about $600 you get the full course and they send you actual small engine components and tools to work with, which I thought was pretty handy and convenient. You don't get any kind of special certification other than Penn Foster's own little Small Engine Repair Tech Diploma(as far as I know, like I said I didn't finish). Which is good enough if you're just interested in small engines or want a job at a lawnmower shop or Sears or something. The biggest drawback was that the books were out of date. I started my course in '07 or '08, and the books were only updated to about '96. Aside from that small engines haven't changed that much in the past 10-15 years and a lot of people still own old small engine equipment. But still I'd have liked to get material that was at least up to date for the past 5 years. Test taking was easy and I always got my new books promptly. They sent me too many books once but that was no big deal. Overall I was quite satisfied, learning about things I was interested in. Some books were mind-numbingly boring and there is a LOT of material to get in your head without anybody's help. I say if you wanna learn small engines, do this, because I can't think of anywhere else to learn about them in a collegiate way.
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4 of 7 people found the following review helpful

Anonymous (In Progress) on November 4, 2010

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PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR STUDENT BOOKS First off, In the information packet,Welcoming packet and student handbook, as well as online when you chose which payment method you want to use.. THEY TELL YOU , YOU MUST PAY TUITION IN FULL BEFORE YOU WILL RECEIVE YOUR DIPLOMA!!! Some of you should learn to pay attention to your materials. Would you sign a contract without reading EVERYTHING and doing research? Doubtful! I am currently a HighSchool Student with Early College Courses and i love the program. Also, when you recieve your papers and student handbook there is a paper that states a PROJECTED GOAL DATE for an exam completion, Abide by this paper and you will receive no extra fee's as far as extended study fee's! I have one person who befriended me from Penn Foster who says they can't pass their exams ..they keep getting a 35 on exams lol.. That means : THIS PROGRAM IS NOT FOR YOU!! If you weren't good in school with teachers or have issues learning alone, this is NOT FOR YOU!!! If you really want to learn , be proud of yourself, and work well on your own GO FOR Penn Foster! READ ALL INFORMATION PACKETS AND RESEARCH BEFORE YOU SIGN UP FOR ANYSCHOOL.. It's common sense ;) (** PROUD PENN FOSTER STUDENT!! **)
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1 of 5 people found the following review helpful

Anonymous (In Progress) on November 4, 2010 (email verified)

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SCAM!!!! Don't throw away your money! This program has one aim and one aim only...to get into your pockets! The program director does nothing but belittle and berate you and when you ask direct questions, she threatens to send you for "academic review for disciplinary action". So.. in short, unless you are willing to pay to lick at the heels of the most power hungry person you have ever met, DON'T THROW YOUR HARD EARNED MONEY AWAY!!! Now couple that with the fact that you can work as hard as you can and it will get you absolutely nowhere because you will be held up waiting for approval that you have clicked a link "frequently" (what does that mean???) until you simply give up...and you have no chance at all at getting through this program honestly. It is a joke and a scam!!! Please, please, please look elsewhere!
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4 of 7 people found the following review helpful

Anonymous (Graduate) on October 31, 2010 (email verified)

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NOT ACCREDITED!! DO NOT enroll in this program unless you are not planning on continuing with a bachelors. I completed an associate degree with them that took me 3 years, after that, i wanted to transfer the 70 credits i earned and NO COLLEGE in New York accepted the credits! Turns out Penn Foster is not regionally accredited!! I had to start ALLL over again from zero. What a waste of TIME and MONEY!!
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0 of 6 people found the following review helpful

Anonymous (Graduate) on October 31, 2010

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Don't make the mistake I did. Don't expect any help getting a position after you graduate. They also do not inform their students that you must have 2 yrs experience to land a medical transcription position or take the certification exam that will cost you at least $600. Would not recommend this corse unless you have the finances to be certified.
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0 of 2 people found the following review helpful

Anonymous (Graduate) on October 28, 2010 (email verified)

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Mix Feelings of thsi school I have mixed reviews on Penn Foster Career School, mostly not good though. First of all, the fact that it was a "work at your own pace" school for the medical transcription program made me choose this school since I am a busy mother of 3 kids. Well I started the course around April of 2009. I paid my tuition in full around January of 2010. A few months after that, I recieved a notice from them billing me an extra 75.00 for "extended study time." I was under the impression there wasn't any time limits for courses. Not only that, when they graded my material it would take several weeks (a few times it took almost a month) for me to recieve my graded material back for me to see. You are not suppose to send in the next exam until you recieve the last one back so this was very frustrating, waiting on them. I just started doing my work and sending it in regardless of when I recieved the previous assignment since I was charged for their slowness and that made things very complicated. Now I was blessed enough to find a job as an MT for a wonderful company and they provided me additional training as well before I even graduated from PennFoster. I came to find out as I was working and doing school, the teachers or whoever graded my material didn't quite know what they were doing. I have learned more at work and their training then I ever did at PennFoster. Not to mention PennFoster provides you with the very basic equipment that you need to be an MT. Their universal stop/start software is only a student version which cannot be used in real working enviroments which to upgrade was over 100.00. I felt that should have been included in the tuition I paid. I have been finished with my coures for over a month now and I have yet to recieve any information on wether I will recieve my diplom and when, even after me contacting them several times. The only things that I like about the school is that you can do a payment plan, it does provide you with the basic knowledge you need to be a medical transcriptionist and it is fairly easy. Although, I think it would've been better for me to go to an actual college in a building so I would have hands on training and I could speak to my teachers face to face. Don't let them fool you with the work at your own pace story or you'll wind up paying extra like me.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

Anonymous (Graduate) on September 3, 2010

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liked it I enjoyed the program very much, I learned alot. After graduation I did get a job as a dog trainer and what I learned through the program has been very helpful. My only complaint is that the opinions on dog training tactics are very broad but I felt as though the program was one sided on its opinions; good opinions none the less.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

Anonymous (In Progress) on August 27, 2010 (email verified)

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some good, some bad I am learning quite a bit, and I already have my bachelor's degree (this is a second career). You have to be a self starter to succeed. You have to know the material to succeed. The rest is up to you. The online classes are pretty good. The forums need some improvement. I like the fact that I can type a question to an instructor and I can hear her response while seeing her screen. I am just about done with my first semester and it is much, much cheaper than the alternatives and I have few complaints so far, perhaps because I paid all at once. My biggest complaint is the VET TECH program director. No doubt she gets 1,000 emails a day asking the same things, but rather than attempt a real solution, she goes on little tirades in her posts and tells you to read the FAQs.If you can't find an answer, you might want to look again and again or ask a fellow student. You would think with so many people asking the same questions, she'd understand that THINGS AREN'T CLEAR! This is not anything to do with course materials, but rather procedures. However, I do not have to see her face, I do not have to talk to her, I just keep from emailing her what I really feel, and put how I really feel in THIS review. I know I am not alone, and this is a means to an end. I'd probably love my job if I never had to interact with my bosses. This program allows me to do it. For the cost, I will gladly deal with this as a problem. She annoys me, but she will get it in the end.You can't speak negatively about penn foster on the forums or they will not put your posts up, as all posts are moderated. Keep in mind that these personality conflicts happen in actual RL and actual brick and mortar schools, where it is harder to just do your work and move on. I guess, in short, I've found all the students and instructors, sans the director (who also teaches later courses), helpful and supportive. It works for me.
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0 of 1 people found the following review helpful

Damienmcm (In Progress) on August 24, 2010 (email verified)

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Credit Transfers They would not accept my credits which are from Regionally accredited schools. They gave me 24 credits out of the total of 77 I already have. They were horribly aggressive when I requested to withdraw and had a horrible attitude and even said that it would affect my credit rating if I did not pay a cancellation fee of $330ish. A nightmare of an experience....
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

Ncsg26 (In Progress) on August 24, 2010 (email verified)

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Health Information Technology All these healthcare programs at Penn Foster or any other online school you need to research your major to find out if you need to be certified or registered most require you to take a STATE exam. For the Health Information Technology degree you are required to take a state exam and be registered as a RHIT to be hired in a hospital or any other healthcare facility. To take the examination, a person must graduate from a 2-year associate degree program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM).  Penn Foster HIT program classes are good but they are not accredited by the CAHIM if you take this program it will be a waste of time and you will not get hired. If you don't belive me call some hospitals and ask. Do your research do not jump into anything before you look into it. http://www.cahiim.org/ http://www.healthcaresalaryonline.com/medical-records-clerk-job-description.html
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Anonymous (Graduate) on June 28, 2010

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DO IT I'm A pF High School grad and I have to tell everyone about how PF changed my life and allowed me the opportunity to obtain my degree. Without PF I would still be a high school dropout but b./c of their HS program I was accepted to PenN State University, I owe everything to PF Educaiton is what you make of it! Online classes are not for everyone, everyone learns differently, some need more assistance than other and some are just plain lazy. TO all the PF haters: PF offers a solution, they provide the academic means to reach your goals but what matters most is what you do with it. Your in charge, dont blame someonelse for your short-comings Just b/c you go to school does not mean your going to be successful, look at how many people drop out of college or flunk out
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Anonymous (In Progress) on June 19, 2010 (email verified)

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Very good school! This information is accurate, up-to-date, and helpful regarding Penn Fosters High School program. I am currently a student at Penn Foster and I believe it is a great school! Many of the reviews on this site are misleading and show the school lacks in many areas. I know several people that have graduated from this school through the HS program and through college courses, and are doing well and had no problems. The school ships materials for one subject about halfway through another. With this design, you always have 2 subjects on hand to work with. The staff has always been helpful with me, never disregarding any questions. I definitely give this school an A+ and would highly recommend it for those seeking to better their education and career.
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Anonymous (In Progress) on May 26, 2010

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School Management is POOR I just finished my second semester in the Penn Foster Vet Tech program. I have a Bachelor's Degree in Science and a Master's Degree as well, so I have some experience with education (vet tech is to be my 2nd career). I must say that the material and courses are high quality and I have learned a lot. I appreciate the fact that PF is a complete distance learning program, and just received the full AVMA accreditation. Having said all that, the school management is poor at best. There are frustrating delays at every turn. While the school has no problem holding students to their deadlines, they don't seem to mind when students have to wait and become delayed due to the school's incompetence and mismanagement. Worst of all, the Program Director writes snide comments in the forum routinely, because she is obviously overwhelmed with the mess she has created - having way too many enrollees (which I'm sure bloats her ego) but then not being able to service them in a professional manner. Penn Foster is an OK path to a vet tech degree if you need flexibility in the schedule and cannot afford a high cost school. Plan on being frustrated and disappointed along the way, however. Good luck and wish me luck - I'm still not sure I'll ever complete the program with all of the associated challenges.
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Anonymous (Graduate) on May 20, 2010 (email verified)

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Medical Transcription Received my certificate in Medical Transcription. I received an A, but that didn't matter. I have finally given up on getting a job as an MT. Do not go through this course, it is not worth your time or money. If you really want to become an MT, enroll in M-tec. I told my friend to enroll in M-tec and she is already working.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

Jpopova (Graduate) on May 12, 2010

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Personal training/nutrition i got the certificate and it took me two months to get it after i got the certificate in the mail, it looked fake not only that but they said that i would be able to work anywhere but when i went to apply for a job in LA Fitness and some other gyms...they didn't even know who Penn Foster is and said that i need a different certificate.....this school is a waste of time and money......
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Anonymous (In Progress) on April 28, 2010

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Ask questions! First let me say, I have not participated in the Penn Foster program myself. I work with 4 people who have been in the veterinary field for ten or plus years, who are attending the vet tech program through Penn Foster. All of them are dealing with issues. the core of which seems to be a lack of communication with program vacilitators. Most of them did this program to save money or time, because they have degrees in other areas, but do to law changes in our state now need to be registered to do their job. Matny of them have tried to resolve issues, but are shut out by program directors. Materials are delivered at the pace of the company, not by the student! Some of them have been delayed by the company to the point of being asked to pay an extension fee. Questions regarding proctured exams and internships are not answered and discouraged. I feel terrible for my co-workers who are some of the most highly trained veterinary professionals I have meant, who just want to continue their careers, and are getting no support by the institution supposed to be getting there. Oddly,Penn Foster has no delays with there billing department!
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4 of 6 people found the following review helpful

Anonymous (In Progress) on April 16, 2010 (email verified)

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Penn Foster is a scam This place is a scam. You get what you pay for. I started doing the accounting associates degree with them and stopped because I'm just a student and know more than they do about accounting. I am now going to a real college to be an accountant. I'm attending a real college in a real building. Penn Foster's associate degrees are only accredited in the State of Arizona by the way. Look up the information people. And these supposed teachers that are at the online Penn foster school don't know jack. Really, they don't. After I quite the program they sent me a letter saying I owed them thousands of dollars in unpaid tuition. My dad is well versed in the law and after a call to them they sent me a letter apologizing for their gross error and didn't know how that happened. Whatever, penn foster is a scam. They know it.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

Barbaracarr2005 (In Progress) on April 14, 2010 (email verified)

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Business Management The books where in good condition . The work isnt hard nor easy. You have to read the info and study it . To understand the concepts . The test arent bad. But you won't be able to pass if you dont read and study . I'd recommend the program in the business area. As far a transfter I know UOP online take thier credits. Good program for a low price.
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Anonymous (Graduate) on March 31, 2010

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Worked for Me! I give the school so-so scores because I didn't have too many things come up where I had to contact an administrator or staff member except for once about three years after I had graduated, so I can't honestly give them a good or bad in that category. I needed a copy of my transcript for a military packet. I called the school and they sent me my transcript free of charge and in the mail the next day. I have done the Travel Agent, Gourmet Cooking and Catering, and Pharmacy Assistant programs from the school and although I do agree with the other reviews that things can be a bit outdated, I found the materials to be informative. I got hired as a Travel Agency Manager a few months after graduating from the program and not only did the program help me land the job, the courses I took really paid off on the job. Hey, it's an affordable program for us everyday people, and I will use them again!
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2 of 3 people found the following review helpful

Basicproaudio (Graduate) on February 13, 2010

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5 diplomas and I'm Happy I have followed this school through years of changes. It was International Correspondence Schools when I finished my High school education through them. They became Thompson Learning direct, harcort, learning direct, now Penn Foster. They could improve their customer service, they need to update some of their course material, but overall I was happy. I did try the pay as you go and they moved much slower than I did, I paid for the whole course and had them just send my all the textbooks. I have five different diplomas throught them. I don't work directly in any of the fields of study but have used the knowledge I gained from all of the courses.
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Anonymous (In Progress) on February 11, 2010 (email verified)

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All I hoped for I am in the process of finishing up my 4th semester. I would have never been able to get my degree had it not been for this distance learning program. I am a Mom and work full time, there is no way I could take the time to get to classes at a school. Penn has given me the abiltiy to take the courses I need to get my degree on my own time, at my own pace. I have never had an issue with shipments or with getting an answer from student services or an instructor. The on-line class time required is minimal and more than enough opportunity is given to you to get the manditory class time completed. The work is hard, you won't be handed your degree, you will have to earn it, which is what college is all about.
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2 of 4 people found the following review helpful

YADA (In Progress) on January 10, 2010

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Beware of charges As i started into this course it soon became obvious that this propgram was outdated,with no support whatsoever from actual class nor educational staff, it took 3 weeks to actually get a student id code to be able to log in ! So, i decided to cancell....Wow, that's when the real nightmare began. I only signed up for ONE semester for $760, but few months later after informing them of my cancellation they hunt me with collection agencies for triple the amount totaling whooping $2,280 !!!!! Question is for what ? They even illegaly put 3 negative rating on my credit ! Should 't it be one per loan ? VERY HORRIFYING EXPERIENCE.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

Ronnells4ever (In Progress) on January 2, 2010 (email verified)

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Experience I am starting my third semester at Penn Foster in the Business Management Associates Program. I completed 21 transferable credits at another well known on line school. My experience at Penn Foster has been very positive and I have found the course work to be more challenging than the previous college. The other school required me to participate in class discussions and message boards and to complete all assignments by 11:59 p.m. EST on Sundays. I liked the structure but found the professors to be lacking in effective classroom management skills. My experience in contacting the Penn Foster Student Services for assistance with coursework questions has been prompt and thorough. I am hopeful that with the acquisition by the Princeton Review that Penn Foster may be able to implement a instructor monitored discussion board where students in the same program can communicate. I think that it would be more effective than using Facebook, MySpace or Twitter. Overall, I would highly recommend Penn Foster due to the value, flexibility and the comprehensive and relevant course materials.
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0 of 1 people found the following review helpful

Anonymous (In Progress) on December 10, 2009

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Do not do Dental Assistant!!! Ok, so I started the Dental Assistant program a few months ago, and it all seemed GREAT!! But, little did I know, they are not an accredited school!!!! Yes, they are accredited in some ways, but not in the ways for getting a state license to work. I found this out two weeks into the program, and I HAVE to finish seeing how I'm using military funded money. I have to pass..which isn't a problem..it's REALLY easy, actually too easy. I just hate that I didn't research more into it before choosing to enroll and paid. I called around and sure enough, I will have to go to an accredited school (hands-on) to be able to get a degree worth using. I'm pretty upset that I used $1,000 for this programs when I could have paid a little more for the CORRECT program. I would definitely look into what type of accreditation you will need for your seeking job and see if PENN FOSTER has that accredidation...chances are..it won't. Because most careers involve too much hands-on work to do online! Hope this helps!!
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2 of 4 people found the following review helpful

Anonymous (In Progress) on December 8, 2009

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BE VERY CAREFUL! Be very careful! They seem wonderful with all of their payment plans, no interest, etc...however, they give you one year to finish each semester and you could take 33 months per semester to pay it off, yet they neglect to tell you that you do not recieve your degree until every penny is paid off. They make it seem great and wonderful, like you are paying installments to a loan, but that is not the case. They do not take finacial aid or grant money. So if you have over $6,000 to spend right now...go somewhere else!
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

Kakarns (In Progress) on December 4, 2009 (email verified)

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Read this first!! So reading thru the other comments here makes me think of one thing... you know how most people ONLY post comments if they had a bad experience? Schools must be the same way. Most of the reviews here seem like they were student error, not school error. Or the people who had the issue must not have looked into the policies before signing up. This is a great school, but it isn't something you can just breeze through and get a diploma. To be honest, you really do have to want to learn or this is a waste for you. Also, make sure you look into the fine print and policies before you do ANYTHING in life, school is no exception. I had a great background in medicine from my father, who was a US Navy corpsman before taking this course and I was surprised at how much I learned! It's great for someone who works full time but is interested in moving into another career or advancing what they already know! I'm very aware that I may not find a job easily afterward, this isn't a golden ticket for a job (but I have friends with master's degrees with the same issue in this economy). Just make sure you're ready to learn and I wish you the best of luck with your new career choice! I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!
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0 of 2 people found the following review helpful

Anonymous (In Progress) on November 19, 2009

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Medical Transcription I am almost through this course. I started in November 2008. I spent 3/4 of my time on english, law courses (2 of them), computer courses, and had to write research papers on every single class. If I had spent all of that time learning dictation and medical terminology I would be an expert by now. Wouldn't recommend this unless you want to waste a lot of time, work very hard, and not even get good grades. I think this program will go away or be totally revamped.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

Kcomputerski (In Progress) on November 8, 2009 (email verified)

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excellent veterinary assistant program this is an incredible veterinary assistant program through Penn Foster Career School, and am almost finished with it. I use many techniques learned through this school at a kennel (where I volunteer) , and have helped the animals greatly. They send DVDs on nursing care, restraint of small & large animals, radiology & surgical assisting, etc. THE materials sent are worth it & study 28 paperback / study guides. They cover most what a veterinary assistant does at an animal clinic or on the farm helping the veterinarian. I also assist the vet-tech through my knowledge learned!
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Anonymous (In Progress) on November 3, 2009 (email verified)

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not the college for everyone Grealty disappointed when I found out that federal aid was not accepted. Also. Working with the VA(veteran affairs) is very difficult. College transfers are not disclosed until you enter that particular semester. Class discussions are difficult to attend until you've logged in hours and hours of discussion forum time. You can't wokr at tou own pace unless you pay for the whole semester up front. You must wait for class times and shipments before moving ahead. Internships, have lots od details that are to meet due to technology advances, specifically refering to radiographs nned to be in non-digital format.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

Anonymous (In Progress) on November 2, 2009 (email verified)

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Excellent Choice I have just entered my second semester. This program is very good. I get my books, materials, etc on time. I have already taken my first proctored exam and everything went exceptionally well. When i have made calls to the school, i have never had any problems. The one thing i did learn which i had some conflict with is the school is rated Part Time, which means, you can not use the for a Pell Grant. There are other options you can pursue. The Civl Engineering course, is very well informative and current. I have been working in this field now nearly ten years and plan to also take the Mechanical Drafting Course afterwards.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

Roxcomp (Graduate) on October 5, 2009

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Great school i learned a lot I tell you what i took this program got the job. I was one of the only ones who paid less for my training while most of my co-workers did a 4-6 month class training and did a M-F 8-5 kind of schedule. Well my schedule was laid back, i paid less and i got the same job and training as my co-workers. So heck yeah this school was worth it!! Hope any prospective students will take this route to better themselves :)
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

Fiendish_thingy (In Progress) on September 26, 2009 (email verified)

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Great College And Great Deal! I have just completed my first semester in this program and would strongly recommend Penn Foster to anyone searching for a creditable online college. A lot of people think that getting an online degree is just taking the easy way out. Well, let me tell you, you REALLY have to know your stuff to get your degree! At the end of each semester you must take a proctored exam, with some of the subjects closed book and other open. On these exams you must answer in written form, with only a very few questions where you match answers. You would NOT be able to pass these exams if you didn't actually know what you were doing. Also during the 2nd and 4th semester there is a practicum where you're actually in an approved vet clinic practicing everything you have learned hands on. The textbooks are great and updated as often as at any college in the country. The online classes are improving all the time. And often times you're given DVD's, CD's or CD-ROM's to help you better understand the concepts of the lessons. This was a HUGE help for me in the biology section. The teachers are also quick to respond to any questions that you may have. There is also a forum where you can communicate with other students and search for answers to questions that you may have. As with any online college, it's not for everyone. You must be very self-disciplined to be able to handle keeping up with your studies and learning the subjects. This college is EXTREMELY affordable. Just to give you an idea of the savings, the amount that I spend for my first semester would've been the same amount or less than what I would've spent on JUST books for 2 quarters at the local college in my town. Everything is paid for in your tuition, except for your proctored exam fee, or if you are in need of an extension on your studies you will have to pay a fee. You have a total of 6 years to complete your studies. You are given 1 year to complete each semester and are allowed to add an extension if you need more time. I believe that this college is doing great things to try and make it so anyone can have a shot at getting a college degree. Providing an affordable education that you're able to complete at your own time.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

Anonymous (In Progress) on September 19, 2009 (email verified)

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Great School This is great online school. Materials are up to date. Price is reasonable. They offer so many options to help you complete your course successfully. You can either study your lesson via internet or using your study book. You can take your test online, over the phone or mail it in. You can't fail unless you want to with that many options .If you have the discipline then this is the school for you. You even have an opportunity to retake a test if you want to get a better grade. You don't find that with many schools. I highly recommend this program and school to anyone looking to further themselves.
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0 of 1 people found the following review helpful

Dallasd1003 (Graduate) on September 18, 2009

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Penn Foster high school This school is not at all what I had expected. It is overpriced and they are always asking for more money the closer you get to graduation. They do that because they know you have already invested x amount of dollars and you don't want to lose your investement so they get you in the end with detail expenses which they never told you about.....BAD DEAL find another school
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

Cynthia2000xxx (In Progress) on September 15, 2009

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TAKE IT FROM ME!!!!! When I called Penn Foster to speak with one of their counselors I was a little skeptical. The closest Pet Grooming school is two hours away from me and starts at 7:45AM - kinda wanted to see if there was something a little more convenient since I have two kids. When I looked online Penn Foster kept on popping up so I gave them a call, thinking the whole time, "I don't know about an online course in PET GROOMING! Don't I need to SEE what needs to be done, not just read about it?" So the guy assures me that I'll be well equipped with all the knowledge and tools necessary to start my own business at the time I complete the program and, hey, it's about $7,000 LESS than those schools that I'd be driving to everyday for two hours at the crack of dawn! So while the payment options are very convenient, the material and tools and "training" that you will receive is ABSOLUTELY NOT WORTH IT! I'm breezing through these exams and that's NO JOKE! As soon as the next "MOD" becomes available and I can click on the exams to take them, I'm done all three exams in less than 20 minutes! The materials are pretty simple - definitely some worth while information, but more or less something you'd pick up after you got your certificate to further help you understand dogs and cats as a species, you know? Then they try and explain in words how to groom animals - no video - the photos are illustrated and the fact that I'm not stuck paying for this is absolutely infuriating! Spend the extra money! Nobody's hiring me when I hand them my "Penn Foster" Certificate! And the most ridiculous thing is that you don't get all of your training tools at one time! When I got my second training packet - they sent me a comb! A freaking COMB! So pretty much, by the time you're all done with all the mods - you MAY be fully equipped to try out your tools and attempt to groom a dog - but don't you dare charge for this service because it's not going to be done correctly! I'm not kidding you. I'm fine with paying this tuition off because the truth is it's only seven hundred fifty bucks. I'm just really upset over the fact that there is no instructional video to teach me REALLY what needs to be done. Needless to say (and if you're smart and really want to learn how to groom you'll do the same) I'm ordering my training materials from http://www.learntogroom.com/ They actually ask you to send them before and after photos of dogs that you've groomed while taking their course and it's all they do so you know they've put a hell of a lot more time and effort into preparing their training materials. I certainly learned my lesson here! I hope you won't make the same mistake I did!
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Anonymous (In Progress) on September 3, 2009 (email verified)

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Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education Had issues regarding the receiving of materials as I am an international student.And its really frustrating when the emails to & fro most of the time do not had any answers to the issues. Customer service is not that good both for email & call centre
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

Anonymous (Graduate) on August 16, 2009

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Quality Good quality and very cost-effective. Had little reason to contact instructors except on a couple occasions, usually through email, and had responses in 48 hours or less. Materials and textbooks/workbooks were current and high quality, as good as any I ever used in the B&M schools I've attended. A decent school that seems to be improving with time, and now offers Bachelor degrees.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

Anonymous (Graduate) on August 16, 2009

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Assoc. of Science in Finance Challenging and cost/effective. Did not have to interact with instructors except on only a couple occasions, and I did this through email, thus my 'adequate' ranking of teachers. Usually received a response in 48 hours or less, barring weekends. Shipping was for the most part prompt, and textbooks/workbooks were high quality and well written. Online education requires a higher level of self-motivation as I discovered very quickly.
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1 of 2 people found the following review helpful

Anonymous (In Progress) on June 10, 2009

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Become a target Don’t challenge their incompetence unless you want to be their target and then be discriminated against. We have received false accusations by the Director (I believe this is the position title-don't want to name names to prevent her embarrassment) and threats of discipline (Pen Foster, Vet Tech school). You will find your posts will be denied without providing a legitimate reason, if you can get one at all. If you ask to specify what rule they claim to have broken, because you can't find a violation after reading the rules, they will not or could not specify. The typical response is 'I'm not going to restate the rules'. They wouldn't even provide the reference. School personnel know the director is "hard to work with", but it appears the school doesn't do anything about it. When asked if they have a student advocate or some type of mediator, they apparently don't have one, from what we are told. Tests, speaking specifically of the math, are written poorly and I hope you don't try to use what you learned in life, you will be embarrassed. Basic instruction in math, like teaching you, a fraction is the same as a ratio. A ratio of 1:3 is not 1/3 as they claim, it is 1 of 4 or ¼ (there are 4 units, the 1 + 3 = 4 so 1:3 ratio would be 1/4 as fraction). At least this is what worked for me through second semester calculus. Also, so far as I am able to determine at this point, don't expect an objective proctor test. Any educator should know essay tests allow for excessive subjectivity and enable them to arbitrarily give lower scores to their targets. These are only my opinions, developed while observing and helping a friend through the courses. I hopefully, you have a different experience. If my recommendation means anything, after receiving 4 degrees from associates through a masters in established colleges and universities: Don’t waste your time and money with the Pen Foster Vet college. If you are already in the program, I recommend cutting your losses and get an education at an established college or university in your community. I’ll remain anonymous at this time to prevent further discrimination and retaliation against my friend. We are checking into a discrimination suit, and if successful, then our names will be public record at that time. Good Luck, and Best Wishes in your decisions.
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1 of 3 people found the following review helpful

Anonymous (In Progress) on May 26, 2009 (email verified)

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worst choice of my life!!! They took my money and wouldn't give it back. I have 2 master degrees and they wanted me to take my basic classes all over again. They said that they were associated with Maryland College so I called that college and they said that they have nothing to do with Penn Foster. Penn Foster is a rip off and a fraud they take your money and refuse to give it back when they've caught.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

Anonymous (In Progress) on March 13, 2009 (email verified)

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Wonderful program! I am halfway through my career diploma and I am very impressed with the quality of information presented. It has exceeded all of my expectations and I plan to use the credential to work with K9s in my law enforcement career. Penn Foster's veterinary programs are also of interest to me and I may enroll in one later on.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

Kouzoulos2006 (Graduate) on January 4, 2009 (email verified)

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Very Nice experience + cheap accredited diploma fast international shipping, nice contact very good materials and also Accredited
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2 of 7 people found the following review helpful

Melissa.krysiak (Graduate) on December 28, 2008 (email verified)

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Don't Do IT!! Ok... I took the Medical Transcription course at Penn Foster... I took the whole course, received my certificate, etc. After 2 months of looking for and testing for jobs, I finally spoke to a company who told me that basically, that I will have a VERY hard time finding a job with this education... And she was right! The only way I was able to find a job is to get taken on as an intern for 3 months. So yeah, imagine how angry I was after all that money, and work to find out that now I have to intern for 3 months with NO pay in order to get anyone to hire me... The only reson that I even had an opportunity to speak with the woman from the company that I am not going to name, is because I did great on my testing, however, with having Penn Foster on my resume as my education hurt me.. So I am still with the same company that offered me the internship, but REALLY don't be like me... spend the extra dollars and go through CareerStep or MTEC... SERIOUSLY!... If you don't listen to me I will say "I told you so!" lol
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