The Duggars and CollegePlus

[Daithi]

I was just curious if this would work.

[sanantone]

All right then. If we're comparing CP versus DF... Some more reasons CP is actually helping and not ripping people off.
1. CP gives students the Learning Network free. This is basically SpeedyPrep + short videos accompanying the answers, and is really helpful for CLEPs especially.

How do you know it was free? At that price tag, there's no telling where that money goes. You would think that $3,000 would include some high quality study materials.

2. Again, nothing against this Forum, but with CP you're guarenteed a quick answer from your coach, and they help you come to a definite conclusion. Whereas, here, a common answer is, do what works best for you. Well, with CP, you and your coach build a relationship and they get to know you and your situations, making it easier to figure out solutions.

Then why are you asking questions here?

3. Brad Voeller started CP when distance learning was newer, as a way to show others how to earn their degrees like he did. He just wanted to help people. That sounds pretty Christ-like to me. And it isn't unchristian to make a profit.

I don't remember Christ charging $3,000 to help people, but what is unchristian is making a profit off of God's work.

5. DF just isn't as well known!!! Unfortunate, but true. It's usually discovered when one is already into the process of CLEPing. If the plan for DF is to be a free version of CP, it would be better to market that way, not rant about CP.

If DF charged thousands of dollars for access to this forum, it could advertise all over the place and be well-known. Not that I'm trying to market DF by "tearing down" CP, but companies do that all the time. For example, Huggies fit better and leak less than Pampers, Macs are more secure than PCs, this brand of paper towels absorbs more liquid than the leading brand, Walmart has the lowest prices, etc. It seems that all a company has to do is claim to be Christian and some people will give them a pass on anything.

[cookderosa]

I was just curious if this would work.

you are SERIOUSLY awesome!

[Westerner]

How do you know it was free? At that price tag, there's no telling where that money goes. You would think that $3,000 would include some high quality study materials.

It's like including Flashcards, like IC, in the price.

Then why are you asking questions here?

Like I said before, I'm not with CP anymore.

I don't remember Christ charging $3,000 to help people, but what is unchristian is making a profit off of God's work.

Um...how would they pay their employees for their time if they didn't charge? :confused: The coaches have a lot of students so they spend a lot of time on their CP work. Unless you don't think it's Christian to pay people for their work.

It seems that all a company has to do is claim to be Christian and some people will give them a pass on anything.

Like I said, I'm trying to show that CP does do valuable services, and their Christianity is an added bonus.

[EI2HCB]

Some CP students start to rely more on this forum as they get into their UL work, which this forum has more and better feedback on than what CP has.

Another thing is that CP doesn't just help with prepping for tests. They have a Life Purpose Planning segment in which students take time to consider what they want to do with their lives, and then decide their college plan, instead of rushing in and wasting time and money on something that doesn't fulfill God's plan for them. As they are a Christian company, lots of prayer and Bible reading is encouraged. I know that this part helped me a lot in my college decisions and I'm really glad I did it. So CP's not just about telling you how to take your tests. It's not just giving info you can find here for free. It's doing a valuable service to the Christian community.

I think that if you want this Forum to be better known, work to raise awareness, but don't tear down others who are also doing a service.

Westerner, Don't you think encouraging you to read your bible and prayer are the Ministry of the Church you belong to as opposed to a paid for commercial company. I believe that it is your parents position (if you are under age) and your Pastors job to encourage you in your faith. While you make offerings at Church or Synagogue and so spiritual encouragement isn't necessarily free, If CP was a ministry and tax exempt and the $3,000 was a donation based on ability to pay then that may be different. Although non-religious people might not think so. CP goes from Church to Church selling their product, which to me is reaching a market that commercializes religion which in my opinion we have enough of already.
I almost signed up to CP but realized that I could do my own research. As Irish John mentioned I've spent a year on this forum and maybe I would have been better studying although I haven't handed over $3,000 to anyone either so CP does have a place for some people but let us consider the Reformation issue of selling indulgences which sparked controversy CP also courts controversy by mentioning in the promotional literature that they pray for you on the phone and encourage your spiritual life. Is CP only for those of Christian faith or will they pray to another God for those who believe in some other one. If its for Christians only then its commercializing the church and should be avoided, unless that's a principle one believes is both ethical and biblical which some people do. Another issue arises is the doctrines held by those talking to your Children on the phone, This effects how they may pray for them or what spiritual guidance may be given. Is it doctrine similar to the major Christian denominations or is it more TV evangelist style. My concerns with CP are their Influences on children and prayers while being paid to be on the phone.

[sanantone]

It's like including Flashcards, like IC, in the price.


Like I said before, I'm not with CP anymore.


Um...how would they pay their employees for their time if they didn't charge? :confused: The coaches have a lot of students so they spend a lot of time on their CP work. Unless you don't think it's Christian to pay people for their work.


Like I said, I'm trying to show that CP does do valuable services, and their Christianity is an added bonus.

Churches and charities don't charge for their services. Some people volunteer their time while others are paid through donations. Yes, the study materials are included in the price, so you don't know if they are really being offered for free. You don't know how that $3,000 is allocated. But, like I said, one would hope that study materials would be included after spending all of that money. IC does not include the flashcards for $20. You pay $20 for the flashcards.

If CP provides quicker and more definitive answers, then why are you not with them anymore?

[BGSU_Alum_86]

It seems to me that you are equating a company founded by a Christian as a church or charity, and this just is not the case! If you believe that any business founded by a Christian should not be charging for their products or services, then I suppose this means you have visited a Chick-fil-A without paying for your meal? (This is just one example...)

A business is a business, no matter who the founder is. If you do not believe CP earns the $3000 fee by what they do, then don't use them! That doesn't mean you should bash the company and try to keep others from using their services. Many of you have had great success with IC. Great! But this does not mean IC is for everyone. Enter a classroom and tell me that every single student in that class learns the same way. There are some students out there who literally need continual encouragement and hand-holding. You are probably not one of these!

CP does not force themselves on anyone. IC does not force their membership on anyone.

Can we just be done with this already? If a CP student (or their parent) is reading this thread, you are probably firing them up to continue (and possibly never visit this site again).

[sanantone]

It seems to me that you are equating a company founded by a Christian as a church or charity, and this just is not the case! If you believe that any business founded by a Christian should not be charging for their products or services, then I suppose this means you have visited a Chick-fil-A without paying for your meal? (This is just one example...)

A business is a business, no matter who the founder is. If you do not believe CP earns the $3000 fee by what they do, then don't use them! That doesn't mean you should bash the company and try to keep others from using their services. Many of you have had great success with IC. Great! But this does not mean IC is for everyone. Enter a classroom and tell me that every single student in that class learns the same way. There are some students out there who literally need continual encouragement and hand-holding. You are probably not one of these!

CP does not force themselves on anyone. IC does not force their membership on anyone.

Can we just be done with this already? If a CP student (or their parent) is reading this thread, you are probably firing them up to continue (and possibly never visit this site again).

No, I am not equating Christian businesses to charities and you shouldn't equate CP to Chick-fil-A. Chick-fil-a and its loyal customers don't market the restaurant's services as something that's supposed to help people. Chick-fil-A markets itself as a place that sells cooked food. It does NOT sell spiritual guidance and free information. If someone were to buy a $7 meal from Chick-fil-A for 365 days, it would still be cheaper than CP. It does NOT take $3,000 worth of man hours and materials to whip up a degree plan.

Yes, people do learn differently; but CP is NOT a school or institution of higher education. Its main business is not even selling study materials, so I don't know what this argument from you has to do with anything. I'm sorry that a few people don't like to hear common sense, reasoning, and the truth; but that's not going to stop me from speaking my mind and being heard by those who do. If someone were to find out that CP sells free information and would continue to pay for their services based on something I said, I would have to question their sanity and intelligence. It would make absolutely no sense to do that.

[sanantone]

Westerner, Don't you think encouraging you to read your bible and prayer are the Ministry of the Church you belong to as opposed to a paid for commercial company. I believe that it is your parents position (if you are under age) and your Pastors job to encourage you in your faith. While you make offerings at Church or Synagogue and so spiritual encouragement isn't necessarily free, If CP was a ministry and tax exempt and the $3,000 was a donation based on ability to pay then that may be different. Although non-religious people might not think so. CP goes from Church to Church selling their product, which to me is reaching a market that commercializes religion which in my opinion we have enough of already.
I almost signed up to CP but realized that I could do my own research. As Irish John mentioned I've spent a year on this forum and maybe I would have been better studying although I haven't handed over $3,000 to anyone either so CP does have a place for some people but let us consider the Reformation issue of selling indulgences which sparked controversy CP also courts controversy by mentioning in the promotional literature that they pray for you on the phone and encourage your spiritual life. Is CP only for those of Christian faith or will they pray to another God for those who believe in some other one. If its for Christians only then its commercializing the church and should be avoided, unless that's a principle one believes is both ethical and biblical which some people do. Another issue arises is the doctrines held by those talking to your Children on the phone, This effects how they may pray for them or what spiritual guidance may be given. Is it doctrine similar to the major Christian denominations or is it more TV evangelist style. My concerns with CP are their Influences on children and prayers while being paid to be on the phone.

I agree that religion has become commercialized. When that happens, people forget the true meaning of things. It is disconcerting that when someone brings up not charging to help people, they first think of slave labor instead of volunteerism and people donating from the goodness of their hearts. It is truly sad. Christmas has been commercialized, Easter has been commercialized, and now spiritual guidance has been commercialized. One of the worst days for drunk driving in my city is Easter! People think that Easter and Christmas are days to get drunk. Kids think that Christmas is Santa Claus and presents day. Easter is Easter Bunny, eggs, and candy day. Now, people think they should pay $3,000 for prayer, spiritual guidance, and degree planning that a minimum wage employee with a high school diploma can do in 1 hour.

[IrishJohn]

A business is a business, no matter who the founder is. If you do not believe CP earns the $3000 fee by what they do, then don't use them! That doesn't mean you should bash the company and try to keep others from using their services.

You probably should have stopped after the 2nd sentence here because the third I cannot agree with no matter what company we are talking about. People have different experiences and influences which they draw upon them in forming their opinions all the time. Whether it's because they think Product A is better than Product B or Company X is far superior to Company Y, etc. It's up to each individual to decide whether the praise or criticism is meaningful to them. As you said, "a business is a business, no matter who the founder is" which means in part that not everyone is going to like that business, its products/services, business model, customer relations, etc. and they are going to share that opinion with others.