Psychology

Thesis, why so important? February 8, 2008 at 5:43 p.m.

I was skeptical about attending an online university, but a Masters degree program in I/O Psychology was not represented in any college with-in driving distance of me. I work 8-5 M-F and part time on the weekends just to get by so long road trips were out of the question. I was sucked in by lies and deception by Walden University Reps. I was promised that I would graduate in the Summer of 2007 if I followed my counselors curriculum. Then in the Summer of '07 I was told that I would have to take another class that my counselor messed up the credits. That is a $2,500 dollar mistake that i have to pay for. That was when I should have known Walden was not the right choice and got out when I could. Next the Thesis program, I was told that the Thesis Program would take two semesters, thats $5,000 just to write a paper, $2,500 a semester. Well I am in my third Semester now for this Thesis paper and was just told I need to take another semester and that getting out now would be foolish of me because my classes would not transfer. Can you believe that? I will have to pay out of my own pocket now $10,000 for a freaking Thesis Paper. I have been done with classes and cannot graduate because they keep declining my Thesis paper and are forcing me to pay another $2500 for another semester. I am so upset by this that I cry at night while I am trying to rewrite my paper for the fourth time to meet their forever changing criteria. Walden University was a horrible choice, everything is based off of a Thesis paper, one paper is costing me $10,000 dollars, and there is nothing I can do I am at the will of the professor's. Take my advice and do not attend Walden University, the convenience is not worth the price you pay. If they decline me again I am going to forward this email unto the press, and see what kind of media news I can generate...They are ripping me off and whats worse is that they know they are doing it....and doing nothing to change it. I have given them over $40,000 and have a 3.0 G.P.A. I do not deserve this, nobody does!!!!!

Another Walden Student March 16, 2008 at 3:39 p.m.

I wholeheartedly agree and endorse the previous post. Online learning employs a constructivist approach to learning, whereby the learner constructs his or her own learning. If this does not play to your strengths as a learner, then don't do it. If you cannot discipline yourself to do the research necessary to properly write a thesis, then you should expect mediocre results.

That also goes to the point of having standards; Walden has set the bar and you are barely achieving them with a 3.0 GPA. I am sorry that the first poster (2-8-2008) spent so much money only to be thwarted in their effort, but that's why we have standards. Obviously, there is some reason why your Thesis keeps getting rejected, hence re-write after re-write.

People need to start realizing that just because a person enrolls in an online program does not guarantee success. Walden, Capella, AIU, and the like are competing against other legitimate schools such as Penn State Global Campus (an online program), and Harvard Online. They cannot afford to just "hand out" a diploma because "you paid for it".

Judy March 24, 2008 at 2:52 p.m.

Accreditation: North Central Accreditation. However, I have read that they are "looking into" APA accreditation.

Math Background: I have a very strong math background having an undergraduate and master's degree in computer science. 15 credit hours of calculus and lots of logic courses. This is way overkill from Walden's expectations. It's great for me because it makes stats easy (I'm taking stats 3 as an elective because it comes easy) I know the other students struggle because of the lack of a math background, but they all seem to say that they just keep working and the instructors are very helpful.

PhD length: It will take me 4.5 years from start to finish, but I am in the clinical area. This is the longest program. I typically take 2 courses per quarter, but took 3 last quarter and 3 this summer to get on the "year in residency" schedule that only starts in the summer or winter quarters. The 3 classes in a quarter was tough, especially because I have 3 children and teach full time at a local college. But, it definitely taught me some time management skills the hard way.

User-Friendly: I like the class atmosphere online. You really do feel like you know the other students by the end of the term. I also believe that when everyone must participate by posting discussions, there is much more feedback than in a traditional classroom. Even the most quiet person can get across their points of view. I also love the idea that you are learning from people who have already been working in the field. Many of the other students already have practices, working in health care, prisons, etc. It's a great pool of experienced people discussing topics that have relevence across different fields.

Overall, I'm very happy with the program. It's a lot of work. Depending on the quarter, it's around 20 to 30 hours per week. But, it's an interesting way to learn and in courses that are interesting, it does not even seem like "work".

Good luck with your decision