Northern Virginia Community College

Date: Dec 09 2011
Major: Psychology (This Major's Salary over time)
There have been some pros and cons but mostly more negative experiences. The school gets an A for effort for having more the surveys and experimenting with new "solutions" like hotlines and support centers. However, they need to be aware that there are loopholes in their systems still. For example, the end of course survey that is normally given can be bypassed if a teacher doesn't make the survey link available to the students. I even put in a help desk request about that and I was basically ignored. I was looking forward to filling out that survey because one professor (Ms. Thao Ngo) wasn't very accessible. I even set up an appointment with her to go over some old tests to prepare for the exam and she didn't even show up to her own appointment! She never even rescheduled it and by that time, I didnt see a need to reschedule since I had to take the exam the next day or so. I asked her about the survey link and she completely ignored my email. Instead of letting teachers have control over those survey links, why can't the school make them available via Blackboard automatically or by email? I received an A in the class but that is only through sheer hard work on my own and not getting any help from the teacher. I didn't feel she "taught" anything but just let us do the assignments and graded them without really explaining anything. My other professor did try to involve some kind of interaction and active teaching so compared to him, she was disappointing.

Aside from that, the financial aid office is TERRIBLE! I've been at other schools before and they are by far the worst. I make repeated calls to all of the different financial aid phone numbers and even went there in person but basically just to be shooed away. I was given a business card and told they would investigate the problem and then I never heard from them again. I even followed up by phone, by email repeatedly. No answer. When I went to the Alexandria campus, the financial aid specialist was never in the office or always left early, like an hour early. I was so pissed because I asked to leave work early and rushed to get there hoping to get something resolved and then she's not even there! They really should publish any changes in office hours or replace that specialist that is never there.

Their online program has potential to be great but these issues really turn me off from continuing with them. It's more hassle than I can deal with aside from the school work. I mean it's their basic job to be ACCESSIBLE and they can't even do that! Be at your job plain and simple! The school is too lenient on their employees.