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I transferred by Columbia College, when I only had 3 courses left before obtaining my bachelors degree. I did so because the financial aid office seem to have problems with my student loans for that remainder of my last 6 months and I grew tired of it and went to American Public University. I emailed before dropping my other college and told them of my situation. I had 174 colleges credits and told them I need three courses to graduate and that I wanted to know what I needed in order to finish my bachelors degree and go on to a Masters. I sent unofficial transcripts and then paid Columbia to send official transcripts. APUS contacted me, stating that they had received the transcripts from columbia and I had been enrolled into the Masters program. I emailed back to verify if I needed to do anything else and was told no, everything was ready, I just needed to register my classes. I did just that and five weeks into the program, after disbursement checks were issued and received, the financial aid office sent me a message asking for my conferment date for my bachelors. I told them that I had none and no one told me I needed it nor was any one under the impression that I would be obtaining it, when I registered. I argued repeatedly with them and was told I was being dropped but could register under the bachelors and finish my degree. I agreed. When I attempted to register, I was told that a hold had been place upon me because I now owed them 7, 999 dollars. I argued that it was their error and I had asked them several times if I needed to finish or do anything before I was registered into that Masters program and they had my transcripts before I was enrolled so they knew all of that up front. I never received 7, 999 dollars in the first place and I would not pay them and turn around and pay the government 49, thousand dollars in student loans, which 7, 999 was a part of . I filed grievances but that was useless, I have filed with the FSFA Omnibudsman but have heard nothing so far. I went back to Columbia college and because APUS will not give my transcripts, though there was no grades, I can't even finish the 3 classes that I need . APUS has page after page of consumer complaints against them filed with the BBB and page after page on other consumer complaint lines. I know of three people that they have pulled similar things with personally . The college is dishonest and no one knows what is going on . The financial aid office is incompetent.
Well said Johnny and that is the truth.
I can't understand why nothing is ever done with them.
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My review of APUS: I transferred to APUS in 2008, right after I completed my Bachelors degree. I was in a program that would allow me to complete a comprehensive exam at the end to obtain my degree. It was NOT covered by my financial aid. I paid my graduation fee, and then was told I had to pay $300 to take a class to prepare me for the exam (I thought that was what my other classes did) and then pay for the exam. No big deal, but at that time I was not financial able to do this. I put my degree on hold. Rather than putting me on hold they unenrolled me and then told me I would need to reenroll in the new program requirements. This created 3 more classes I had to take, and made my other credits Institution Transfer Credits. Again, no big deal, I appealed one class and it was replaced with a class that was previously required but was now not so that worked out fine. Then I took the prep class for my thesis. The class started with 20 students, and before the first week was out the professor had commented and basically verbally abused every student in the class. It seemed to mainly be focused on the women. I had taken a class with him previously where he told me to change to Women's studies, instead of the focus I had chosen (it rubbed me the wrong way, but I ignored it). The only C's I have ever gotten in my academic career came from this professor. Once he hazed out the other candidates I continued to stay and jump through his hoops, editing and taking his input into consideration for every assignment (he admitted he knew NOTHING about my focus area) but he didn't seem to agree with my proposal on any level. At the end of the class I had a 79.5% because he said I did not change my proposals or essays to suit his criteria. Still, I passed and was getting ready to enroll in my VERY LAST CLASS, after having dealt with this university for 14 years (a Master's degree should only take 5, however, some circumstances on my part and some on the part of the university has prolonged this). I was told I could not take the class because my GPA was 2.33 because the only class they are counting is this class, as Institution Credit Transfer courses (that I took with this university) does NOT count toward my GPA (which was a 3.416 before the class). If you do the math I had a high enough GPA to take the class IF they were to count my credits that had been taken with them previously. So now I am stuck retaking the class and PAYING for it AGAIN, before I can take the very last class that I need for a degree. It seems they are not interested in graduation rates, only collecting monies they did not in fact have a right to. If I could find a program that would take my credits and let me take my Thesis class to finish I would be long done by now, but most only transfer a portion of credits. It seems APUS, as well as it started out 14 years ago, has fallen into the category of money maker, not higher education.
I am thinking of getting my Master's degree from APUS. They are supposed to be the cheapest. Now I am scared...
Your story has been echoed by many, many others. APUS/AMU is a horrible place to try to learn. Their accounting office is corrupt and incompetent. Even AFTER you get your degree (if you ever do) they are still suddenly discovering new and bogus charges so they can shake you down for more money to get a transcript. Stay away from this place!