New U: University of Arkansas - Grantham

[Tedium]

Transferring becomes an issue. Many schools still only accept RA credits. Grad schools can also be an issue because many require a bachelor\'s degree from an RA school.
Penn Foster hasn't always been squeaky clean. Bankruptcy. Sold off several times. The reviews aren't great either. It's also a for-profit which tends to be frowned upon.  

https://www.trustpilot.com/review/www.pennfoster.edu

After 132 years, if bankruptcy and some sell offs are the worst they got, I'm pretty okay with that. Think about all the stalwart American companies that had to get bailed out during the financial crisis. Doesn't stop people from banking at those institutions or buying Fords. Not squeaky clean, but not terrible either. They are still sticking by their original mission after all these years. That means a lot in my book. 

I put about as much stock in those student reviews as I do Best Colleges lists. I had a terrible experience at SNHU, but others have really enjoyed their time at ole Snew. More power to them I guess, but I'm not touching them with a ten-foot pole ever again. Different strokes for different folks. I'm not saying those experiences don't matter, and that you should ignore them. I've just never found education review sites all that accurate a gauge of true experience. I manage a high-performing hotel that has to deal with bogus reviews and complaints all the time. Not saying some aren't true, but I am familiar with the law of averages with online reviews. I do look at them and take them into consideration, but I also realize that everyone has an infinitely unique experience for an infinitely diverse set of reasons. I was trying to test out of 90 credits at SNHU in 2011 when 99.99% of other students at the time (except maybe some quiet board lurkers) weren't even contemplating that as a possibility. So my problem was foreign and inapplicable to most other potential students at the time. 

I think in my wife and I's situations, the transfer issues aren't too much of a concern. People need to be aware that it might be an issue down the road, but in her case she just needs a career. Penn Foster is providing a degree that has the necessary accreditation for her to sit for the National Vet Tech exam. They are also providing that degree in a format (self-paced competency-type program), and at a price/payment plan we can afford (she's not eligible for financial aid). She might need a higher RA degree later on, and if that day comes I hope this place is still around to help us make a cost effective degree plan to make that happen. But I've already warned her about that possibility, so we've got our eyes open in that regard. I hope the trend of institutional accreditation over NA/RA distinctions continues. Plus, Penn Foster ain't no joke. They are college-level courses that require time and study. At least the ones I've looked at have been. I won't speak on the Office Applications class. That one seemed a little silly. But then again my Keyboarding class at my first University was a little silly, and that's been one of the courses I've actually applied the knowledge learned every day of my life. Super happy I took it. 

The only thing you mentioned that does give me pause is the for-profit designation. I would prefer to go to a non-profit always, but there are a few for-profits that I've warmed up to in my educational adventure. APUS and Penn Foster are the only two for-profits I would not have a second thought about attending. I think that has a lot to do with them not being predatory. They have always been very "this is what you get with no strings attached", and I appreciate that about them. They don't lie to students about transferability and I think they offer a reasonably priced product. I'm not saying I wouldn't attend another for-profit NA or RA, but I would definitely hem and haw over the decision for an un-Godly amount of time. 

I don't know, ss20ts. Those are just the ways I think about these things. Who knows? Maybe I'm completely wrong. Just a little ramble while I patiently wait for COSC. I'm probably going to open up a new Penn Foster thread with some thoughts on my wife's experience soon, if you want to pop in. I really do think these things are important to discuss for the benefit of potential students, I just don't want to keep hijacking the Grantham thread with Penn Foster talk. That and I can't type a short response to save my life lol.