Updated: Jul 22, 2023 Published Jan 12, 2011
SassieRN
9 Posts
BEWARE of WALDEN UNIVERSITY! They call you constantly. You do everything they ask... then...BOOM! The infamous goal statement! Due to poor grades 20 years ago out of high school (a lot of us have been there) and an ADN, 2 bachelor degrees and 5 graduate classes (with a 4.0 GPA) taken at another university, later, I have to explain my whole entire life story of why my grades 20 years ago are not up to "their" standards and what happened along the way. I wrote a 2 page letter with an overall general explanation. I had it proof read prior to sending it. The editor stated it was very well written and this was coming from a professional PhD educator. The "advisor" from Walden stated they wanted more. They wanted a detailed explanation done for review by December 27th and this was December 24th, Christmas Eve. Not a time to hash up my life but I did.
Out of spite, I wrote 7 pages. It was very difficult to write and brought back a lot of things that I did not want to deal with, especially, over the holiday season. I was very angry and very frustrated. I decided this university is not for me. In my opinion, this is not showing a supportive attitude for potential students. I felt it was very intrusive. I have applied to several universities and received acceptance. I have never had to explain the deep darkness of my life. I feel it was none of their business. From the reviews that I have read and my experience, I WILL NOT be attending this school. Any school that does not support the positive things that you can bring to their university and focuses on the negative aspects of one's lifetime is NOT a school I want to attend. I am a professional nurse saving lives everyday and would like them to try it. I bet they couldn't do it like we do everyday. DO NOT GO TO WALDEN UNIVERSITY!
greenfiremajick
685 Posts
Try WGU Online University | Degree Programs, Accredited Bachelors That's Western Governor's University. Tuition's cheap (they are regionally accredited, as well as accredited in all the right areas as far as I'm concerned), education is great and the people are awesome...
Time mag did a piece on them, as well as Lifetime, and someone else....If you PM me, I can give you info for a free app/entrance fee.....
BEWARE of WALDEN UNIVERSITY! They call you constantly. You do everything they ask... then...BOOM! The infamous goal statement! Due to poor grades 20 years ago out of high school (a lot of us have been there) and an ADN, 2 bachelor degrees and 5 graduate classes (with a 4.0 GPA) taken at another university, later, I have to explain my whole entire life story of why my grades 20 years ago are not up to "their" standards and what happened along the way. I wrote a 2 page letter with an overall general explanation. I had it proof read prior to sending it. The editor stated it was very well written and this was coming from a professional PhD educator. The "advisor" from Walden stated they wanted more. They wanted a detailed explanation done for review by December 27th and this was December 24th, Christmas Eve. Not a time to hash up my life but I did. Out of spite, I wrote 7 pages. It was very difficult to write and brought back a lot of things that I did not want to deal with, especially, over the holiday season. I was very angry and very frustrated. I decided this university is not for me. In my opinion, this is not showing a supportive attitude for potential students. I felt it was very intrusive. I have applied to several universities and received acceptance. I have never had to explain the deep darkness of my life. I feel it was none of their business. From the reviews that I have read and my experience, I WILL NOT be attending this school. Any school that does not support the positive things that you can bring to their university and focuses on the negative aspects of one's lifetime is NOT a school I want to attend. I am a professional nurse saving lives everyday and would like them to try it. I bet they couldn't do it like we do everyday. DO NOT GO TO WALDEN UNIVERSITY!
nurse678
45 Posts
Walden is terrible!!! I gave them information at a college fair because I was interested in their grad programs, and they called me literally every day!!! I finally said please stop calling, I'm not interested anymore.
susannyc
85 Posts
I had a similar experience with Walden in 2007. I had to explain poor grades dating from the 1970's. I've had an RN license since 1974, so what's the big deal? Also an excellent professional resume, which included a cum laude BA and graduate degree in another field in the 1980's. Walden still harped on the 1970 grade debacle. I ended up at Chamberlain for my BSN, which I finished in October 2010, and I'll start at University of Phoenix later this month for MSN/Informatics. Give Walden a pass, and find another school.
Otessa, BSN, RN
1,601 Posts
Never had the difficulties the OP had.
Attended Walden from 2007-2010-graduated with MSN-Education-very positive interactions. My experience and those of my classmates and co-workers is NOTHING like the OPs.
So sorry this happened to you.
BrookeeLou_RN
734 Posts
Be careful with WGU also... I think they are great, good prices etc but if not going all the way to MSN with them..you should know many schools will not accept them. Especially NP programs that require specific GPA to get in. If ypou pass WGU your GPA is 3.0 regardless and many schools say not specific enough. I do think it is good school to go to get MSN, or RN-MSN.
lrobinson5
691 Posts
As far as I know WGU is fine to transfer because they are regionally accredited. A lot of programs care about who the school is accredited by. Programs such as University of Phoenix are accredited, but not by any agency that is accepted by other schools.
I had a bad experience with WGU, I was very excited to apply for their pre-license BSN program. During the course of a month of me trying to get my admission paperwork together, they changed admission criteria tons of times. It went from me being okay because I had training as an EMT, to not being accepted--it HAS to be CNA. Got into another program, but that was a very frustrating situation.
Vikingkitten
172 Posts
OK, I guess I won't be applying to Walden anytime soon.
My wife did go through something similar when she applied to a graduate program . She was then in her 30's, we had been married for years, served 12+ years in the Army, and her previous collegiate career happened in her late teens and was less than stellar. She had to write some additional letters and etc. She ended up #1 in the class, Kappa Phi Kappa etc........
But, she never had to go through as much as you did, Green.
Sounds like a place to stay away from, for sure.
OK, I guess I won't be applying to Walden anytime soon.My wife did go through something similar when she applied to a graduate program . She was then in her 30's, we had been married for years, served 12+ years in the Army, and her previous collegiate career happened in her late teens and was less than stellar. She had to write some additional letters and etc. She ended up #1 in the class, Kappa Phi Kappa etc........But, she never had to go through as much as you did, Green. Sounds like a place to stay away from, for sure.
I think everyone should steer away from of these online universities and stick to a bricks and mortar school that incorporate online learning. Just be sure if you choose a program that the practicums you may need to complete are already contracted within the facilities in your area. I live and work in a world-wide known facility and they do not contract with many of these "so-called" online schools. That tells you something.
About WGU's BSN proram..I just had a friend call the NP school she was going to apply too and they said they would not accept WGU's. Yes they are accredited but their being competancy based is just too new a concept for the rest of the colleges. Now I think they are going in the right direction with their concept but one should check with the next institution if they think there is any chance they might want to go on..Just make sure, that's all. Would hate to waste time and money and not get the correct end result.
tvccrn, ASN, RN
762 Posts
I don't know. I have not had any problems with them. They even transferred in courses I took 20 years ago for credit toward my MSN in informatics. The advisory and financial aid staff have been very helpful and couteous.
subee, MSN, CRNA
1 Article; 5,899 Posts
When a college accepts 20 year old credits....for a degree in informatics? That's a symptom of a problem. I'd be leery of any school so desperate for students. Please be careful that this degree will mean anything to an employer.