The Strayer University District of Columbia

Date: Aug 20 2008
Major: Business - Management and Administration (This Major's Salary over time)
When my husband and I decided to go back to school, we knew it would be impossible to go to a campus everyday. We were introduced to Strayer through a flyer that came in the mail. It was convenient because we could take on-line courses and visit the campus to speak with an instructor if we had additional questions. Well, that's where the convenience stopped. We went through so many problems just trying to get into the school. They requested my transcript from my previous college but would not pay for it until I made a big deal about it. That should have been my first clue. Okay, now let's move across the hall to financial aid. The worst experience of my life. I've never had so many problems with Financial Aid as I've had working with them. Nobody in the entire office knew what they were doing and it's so frustrating. Once you register you have to go to Financial Aid to finalize your classes. Every time I have to finalize them, there is a problem. I think I filled out that SOFA (Strayers Financial Aid) at least three times and I've only been attending a year. Oh, and the part that really made me mad was my first semester there I was having some problems getting my books so I was falling behind. I informed my instructors but they didn't care. So, I went into the school and informed them that I was having problems ordering my books from MBA. They told me everything would be fine and give the books a few more days to come in. So, I figured, these people work here, they should know it things are or are not going to be fine. So I waited a few more days and my books still did not arrive. So, I informed my instructors again and went back into the school. By this time I am two weeks behind and I figure, I should drop these classes and take them up next semester. Again, those in the Business Office and Financial Aid Office talked me into waiting another week for my books and said to request that my instructors work with me so I can get caught up. By this time I know it will be hard to catch up in three classes by mid-term so I opted to drop the classes. Do you know I had to pay for almost 75% of the class? Now, why should I have to pay when you told me three times to hold on and everything will be fine. I guess it is fine for the school because they are getting paid. So, now I have a $3,000 balance that I owe them and I can't take another class until it's paid. "Don't worry" they told me. "We'll work it out." They sure did "work it out". They took my refund check from the following two semesters to pay for it. Needless to say, I was heated. To top it off, the turnover rate is crazy. Each time I go in there I have to deal with a different person becaue the person I spoke with last time is "no longer with the company." And the people who do stay around go from job to job. I need someone to explain to me how you go from Student Retention to being over the Financial Aid Department. RED FLAG!!! I wish I knew then what I know now and I would have gone to another school.