AIU Traps Another Student

Peter C. Correa
AIU-Dunwoody
5500 Embassy Row
Atlanta, GA 30328

Re: Dorise Dixon – 05B4953657
Subject: Dropped classes & recently added charge


Dear Mr. Peter C. Correa

I must say I am sorely displeased with the outcome of the financial aid student audit conducted by Myla in the Students Accounts Department on January 28, 2009. During the three years I have been at AIU I have received conflicting information concerning dropped classes. My issue is that I have dropped several classes during my enrollment at AIU. It appears AIU doesn’t like to remove charges once they have been added to the student’s account. Even when you turn your paper work in to drop a class the charge still remains.
Attached with this document is a detailed check list of all my courses at AIU and the yellow highlighted classes are classes I dropped turned in the paper work according to AIU add and drop, even if I missed the add drop by a day or two I am still charged as though I attend the entire course. I believe this is just a way for the school to keep the funds that rightfully should be returned to the source although on the contrary.

According to my research I have been overcharged close to $12,144.73 by AIU. I plan to file a grievance first with AIU. I then plan to contact the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Securities and Exchanges Commission, if these fraudulent charges are not corrected and removed from my student activity account immediately.

I have been enrolled since 4/2005 and I am close to graduating about 7 classes away. Anyway, I called to check on my student account activity, because I believed that I had dropped a couple classes and the charges still remained on my account. When I question the student services department an audit was done and an additional charge of over 1,800.00 was added to my student account. When I question the rep about it she said, I was not charged for a class she said I took.

Even though I know I dropped the class and did not attend. Now she is saying I will need to prove I did not attend the class before the fee will be removed from my account. What a bunch of crock. I am really starting to hate this school. I have noticed some things about the school that have been disturbing concerning the billing process.

They have fundamental issues with "integrity in all operations." Lying to the students about availability of classes. Workers not turning in paper work for dropped classes.
• Failed to offer degree programs that "embody a coherent course of study and are compatible with the institution's purpose."
• Didn't have an adequate number of full-time faculty nor qualified administrative and academic officers.
• Lacked "institutional effectiveness

I need legal help. I am poor no job, no money in the bank and about to be evicted because I don't have money to pay my rent.


Another student trapped by for profit schools,

Dorise Dixon
dorisedixon.com
lifepoems.org
770-374-4486
.PS. below is a list of information I found out about AIU, I would take a look at some.


Dorise Dixon Classe Schedule and Fees Associated
Amt Charged Correction Variance
2005 QTR 2 Amounts
Bus Society $ 50.00 App Fee In This
Dev Reading $ 4,950.00 Tuition Colunm
Dev Math $ 321.27 Books Are items
$ 650.00 Configuration Fee overcharged
$ 5,971.27 to student


2005 QTR 3
Accounting $ 2,340.00 Tuition
$ 50.00 Tech Fee
$ 2,390.00


2005 QTR 4
Marketing $ 4,950.00 Tuition
Bus Law $ 50.00 Tech Fee
Bus Ethic $ 300.00 Books
$ 5,300.00


2006 QTR 1
Science $ 4,950.00 Tuition
Art $ 50.00 Tech Fee
Cultural Stud $ 367.46 Books
Pyschology $ 316.34 Books
$ 5,683.80


2006 QTR 2
Dropped Biology $ 3,120.00 Tuition $ 2,340.00 Still charged for this class
Socialogy $ 50.00 Tech Fee $ 50.00
English $ 31.65 Books $ 31.65
$ 184.89 Books $ 164.89
$ 134.54 Books $ 134.54
$ 3,521.08 $ 2,721.08 $ 800.00


2007 QTR 1
Economic $ 4,950.00 Tuition $ 2,340.00
Dropped Topic in Literature $ 50.00 Tech Fee $ 50.00 Still charged for both classes
Dropped Biology $ 248.58 Books $ 248.58 Still charged for both classes
$ 5,248.58 $ 2,638.58 $ 2,610.00


2007 QTR 2
Eng Comp $ 4,950.00 Tuition $ 1,560.00
Credit applied Bus Pres $ 50.00 Tech Fee $ 50.00
Dropped Cont Math $ 368.56 Books $ 120.00 Still charged for this classes
$ 5,368.56 $ 1,730.00 $ 3,638.56


2007 QTR 4
Dropped Topic in Literature $ 1,560.00 Tuition $ - Still charged for this classes
Book Discrencies I did $ 50.00 Tech Fee $ -
not order all these books for this one class I dropped $ 108.70 Books $ -
$ 224.72 Books $ -
$ 1,943.42 $ - $ 1,943.42


2008 QTR 2
Org Behavior $ 2,340.00 Tuition
$ 50.00 Tech Fee
$ 109.90 Books
$ 2,499.90



Summer Topic Lit $ 1,346.48 Tuition $ 1,346.48
$ 104.00 Online Course Fee $ 104.00
$ 180.11 Books $ 180.11
An additional charge I should not have incurred $ 104.00 Online Course Fee $ -
$ 1,734.59 $ 1,630.59 $ 104.00



2008 QTR 3
Dropped Stat Analysis $ 5,050.00 Tuition $ 2,340.00 Still charged for this classes
College Alegbra $ 50.00 Tech Fee $ 50.00
$ 477.75 Books $ 139.00
$ 5,577.75 $ 2,529.00 $ 3,048.75


2008 QTR 4
Bus IT $ 2,340.00 Tuition
$ 50.00 Tech Fee
$ 207.47 Books
$ 2,597.47



2009 QTR 1
Global Ops $ 5,050.00 Tuition Charged for two classes only taking one
$ 50.00 Tech Fee
$ 5,100.00 $12,144.73


This is the total amount that I have been over charged by AIU Students Accounts Department – Fraudulent Activity $ 12,144.73



All these letters and comments were found on the internet at Ripoff Report.com

Jessica
SUNRISE, Florida
Ripoff Report Verified Safe
I honestly dont know where to begin....

I started attending this school back in July of 2003. Here we are June of 2006.

- NO degree

The reasons for this is as follows:

- Inflated class costs. How did I fall for this? The classes were so expensive. Sure, they figured a young girl, no parents. She's dumb, she'll fall for it. You're damn right I did! I wanted to be like many kids. The only one in the family who went to college. Eevryone was so proud of me, they never thought I would go to college. They were proud but couldnt help pay. So I did what any ambitious person would do. I applied for financial aid and loans. Everything went fine until April of 2005. I was set-up to attend 3 online classes and another class on-campus. Unfourtuntely due to personal circumstances I decided to drop all 3 online classes. This was done within the first week of add/drop. I went immediately to financial aid to drop the classes. Filled out the form and went on my way. The online system showed my classes as dropped and everything seemed to be okay. After that semester I put in a request to have my transcripts sent to another University because I felt this program was moving too slow for me. I didnt attend school the following semester. I recieved a phone call from someone in financial aid one day stating that I owed the University $8,026.00. I almost fell to the floor when I heard this. I disputed the charges with the rep whom of which was EXTREMELY rude and uncooperative. I filed 2 complaints against her yet she is STILL employed by the University. Needless to say the account was turned over to collections and the daily phone calls began from a company by the name of 'Conserve'. I spoke with a gentleman and found out the charges were from 'unpaid tuition' I was charged for the dropped classes!!! How absurd! Those classes were dropped within the 1st week, I shouldnt have been charged. I sent a letter and documentation to Conserve which advised me they would forward it to the University. I never heard from AIU. As a matter of fact the debt slipped my mind completely, until last night. A year later, Conserve is calling again. They stated I owed this debt, and I informed them I would be contacting the school. I called the school last night at 7pm. I left messages for 2 people. One for the supervisor of student accounts (Andrew), and another for his supervisor (Dionne). Neither returned the 1st phone call. The same woman, whom of which I filed the complaint against called me. After I have repeatedly informed her supervisor (Travis) that she is NOT to contact me. So, I didnt return her phone call. Instead, I called Andrew and left him another message. He finally called me back and I informed him of the situation. To make a long story short we went in circles. He had NO idea how to handle the phone call. He insists I dropped this clas sin the third week of class, which is false. I asked him to provide documentation to me which shows I did such thing. He obviously could not provide that information, but told me he has attendance records. How does he have attendance records from an online class which isnt set at a scheduled time? This is the only evidence he has of me dropping this class int he third week. An attendance record wouldnt hold up in court, its their word against mine. I dropped the class. So here i am being charged for 3 classes I dropped within the 1st week which due to possible clerical error were not documented for a few weeks after which now has be in such debt I cant breathe.

Not only do I now owe them $8,026 but I also am responsible for paying back my student loans int he amount of $50,000. How do I do this with no degree? I could have graduated by now if no one had made such a mistake. Of course, they wont admit to their mistake and expect me to pay. I have no intentions of paying a debt in which I do not feel I am responsible for!

I know I am one of MANY with the same issue. This school has a very POOR accounting department which has put many in debt, and this needs to be stopped at once!

A class action suit should be filed agaist this school, if you are interested please contact me as this is DEFFINATELY something I would like to pursue.

We need to STOP the sharks dead in their tracks. Who ever said an education was free, lied!

If I knew I was going to be in so much debt, I would have NEVER gone to college, this is what happens to people who want good lives for themselves. They get screwed by the education system. College was the BIGGEST mistake of my life!

Jessica
SUNRISE, Florida
U.S.A.


Suzanne
Clarksville, Tennessee
Ripoff Report Verified Safe
I just moved to Tennessee with my husband who is in the United States Army. It has been very difficult for me to find a job so I decided to go to college.

I seen an advertisement for American Intercontinental Online and thought it sounded like something good to look into- seeing I am from another state and can take my work with me.

I called and talked to my admissions advisor (Chad slaby) and he was pushing me to start school right away. He knew that I had never been to college and he took advantage of the situation. Chad emailed me all this paperwork I needed to fill out that day. I was originally going to start school on June 1st but he pressured me into getting started on March 20th.

I started school without my books yet sent to me and without my financial aid set into place. They told me to do my FAFSA and all the other documents I needed but the tune changed when I couldnt get accepted by Salae Mae. The loan is supposedly based on credit and my credit is bad already.

I continued to work in classes and maintain a GPA of 4.0. The school kept calling me and harrasing me on my home phone and cell phone all times of the day (moring, noon and night). I asked them what I could do so they would get off of my back.

I tried looking for grants, loans and schlorships to help me with school but no one could seem to give me answers. The school was draining my every efforts out of me and they were dishonest with everything they had to say.

I contacted Educaid because American Intercontinental was telling me that they are the ones that make the decision of what bracket I would fall on for the school financially covering me. Educaid said that I was in the '0' bracket - meaning that I needed the most help with funding my costs.

I told the school this and they told me to send over mine and my husbands taxes from 2003. I explained to them that I would but I didnt file in 2003 and that I could send over my w-2 showing that I didnt make much. I also explained that me and my husband didnt even know eachother let alone were married in 2003 and why would they need his information.

I then sent all the tax info I had to them and they said that I had to come up with a cash agreement to stay in school. The cash agreement they kept on changing. First it was $100.00, then it went to $200.00, and finally they said I had to pay $261.00 a month. I explained to them that I couldnt possibly pay this much and thats why I was going through financial aid. They gave me the Freedom Grant because my husbands in the army, the Pell grant, Subsidized loan and Unsubsidized loan. The Pell Grant and the Loans kept changing as well for the amount that they could give me and the numbers were getting lower.

At this point I didnt know what to do but try to hang on to my GPA of 4.0. I was getting frustrated because the school wasnt explaining things to me from the beginning and now they told me they were kicking me out of school which is very unprofessional.

The next day I was withdrawn from clases and I couldnt get on to the virtual campus. I was enrolled for 5 miserable, unanswered, miserable weeks. My husband was at he beginning trying to get enrolled as well. After he seen the emotional stress I went through with this school/ he let the school know what they were putting me through and that he wouldnt be joining.

The school has sent me a bill for over $2,000 and I dont believe I should have to pay it. This school is fraudulent and disgraceful. My credit was already imperfect and I cant deal with something on it that I dont feel is right, justified or reasonable.

My Admissions Advisor was Chad Slady who was fired a couple weeks after me enrolling. I believe he didnt want to feed people anymore lies or he got caught doing the right thing and they terminated him. Chad also could have been one of the top bullshit selling people there as well. My Acedemic Advisor was Hector Tan and everytime I would call him with a question I would get the voicemail and he would never call me back. My Financial Aid Advisor was Jason and he would talk to me more about partying then my school situation. These are just three names I can remember but they even kept changing my advisors atleast 3 or 4 times in a 5 weeks period.

I talked to these people on a day to day basis and tried talking to the Dean or someone in a better authority. Everytime I asked to get transferred, they would transfer me to another advisor I didnt know and nothing would get resolved.

After I got withdrawn from the school I received a letter from the Dean. The Dean of the school said I was a recognized student that got chosen to do my biography for the schools paper and that I might be entitled to a schlorship.

Of course something like this would come after they booted me out of school. This experience has damaged my life and has gave me know hope in finding the right school now. I wanted for my case to be heard so no one else has to go through what I did. I hope to see this school shut down and all the people that are in debt from them to be paid back in full.

Now I dont know where to go from here. I will start with not ever dealing with AIU again unless its taking them to court. And if anyone from AIU reads this thats okay because I have copies of everything that deals with you/ bring it on.

Suzanne
Clarksville, Tennessee
U.S.A.


RE: The student trap
Posted by ID Guy on 12.07.08 @ 04:47 PM
I am lucky. I went to AIU LA for two years, worked my ass off to obtain a BFA in two years rather than four. In the end, I got a degree but couldn't find a job. Luckily, I found somebody in my field who gave me a chance (Interior Design) and I landed my first low paying job. Within a year, I felt confident enough with some experience to move up. I am now with one of California's largest architecture firms and make 70k a year. I still feel ripped off by AIU, but I also feel that a college education is only what you make of it. I chose to learn what I could and realized early on, learning doesn't end with college. What I paid is ridiculous when I see people without a college degree making just as much. The truth is though, there are plenty of people with degrees from better schools who make less than me. In fact, I supervise them at work. It's one of life's little hiccups.
RE: The student trap
Posted by Miss_Nic on 12.12.08 @ 11:24 PM
I just ran across the class action suit online. I am shocked, but I am not shocked. AIU is full of it and I am glad I am done. However, I am ashamed and embarrassed that I stayed this long and now it's like now what. I better understand why admissions and student accounts is full of ignorant people off of the street who are just trying to get a pay check fof doing abosolutely no work. They are quick to shove a loan in your face. They supossedly offer scholarships but I don't know of any student that has actually been awarded a scholarship from AIU. I did attend the Buckhead campus and despite all of the BS, I can say that the instructors are great, there are some epecially in the Fashion Department who know what they are talking about and are willing to help the best way they know how. However, I will say that we as a student body has been short changed by AIU and I am baffeld by the 200 dollar graduation fee that we have to pay just to get a diploma, and oh yeah the waiver that we have to sign before graduating that states that they are not responsible to help aid us in our search for a job. They are sorry and I am willing to get in on the class action suit. Shanksters like AIU should not walk away into the sun set with our money while we have to scrape and kill ourselves to pay it back. I should have listened to the ones that told me to choose another school and not even go this route. I made the wrong choice, but I will say despite the fact that I have made the wrong choice; wrong is wrong and two wrongs will not make it at all right. They have stolen our education thru these high prices and little education. Yes, I am aware that I have to market and network myself to get to where I want to be but AIU has professed to be a great aid in helping me to do so once I graduate. i am thankful for the handful of instructors who have helped me and actually taught me a lot of useful things....but there has been a few classes that I have had that felt like busy work and that I learned absolutely nothing. We have paid tuition and the computers and software never work and you can never find IT to help fix the problem. This last quarter all of the computers has viruses do you think they bothered to fix the computers or purchase new ones. The school as a whole is worthless and I am going to seek a better education else where
RE: The student trap
Posted by cupiddimples on 11.04.08 @ 05:21 AM
I went to AIU in London and in Los Angeles. The London Campus had a better quality program but costs twice as much- but that was because the English government didn't understand why English students (and some from other countries aside from America) that could get free education at an English University (or their home countries) were attending AIU. and paying non-citizen fees- which are even more costly. I learned more there in 8 months than I did at AIU in LA for two years.

I did get interviews with BCBG/Max Azria, Nanette Lepore and Bebe. They said my resume looked great but when they asked me basic questions about fashion, or flats- I didn't know the answer and all they could say, after the interview as that the school I had attended did not prepare me well enough and they didn't want to train someone with a BA in a low level entry position- I was simply not qualified enough.

Yeah, they loved my art and even gave me pointers- but AIU in America is a total sham!

You can Google class action lawsuit and CEC-Career Education Corp..

But don't go there, really, its not worth the heart ache. Find a real school that is state run and not a "for-profit" school.
I was told so many lies and given pats on the back when courses the admissions advisor said they offered never appeared.

I too was told by people who worked there to get the best darn portfolio I could get together and go to a real school.

CEC will ruin your life. I transfered at least 1 year of credits and that was with fighting and arguing. And now I am in debt
not $30,000 but over twice that amount.

If you want to go abroad, find better ways once or if you attend AIU-London.

Otherwise AIU- correction
C-E-C-. Is an evil, money grubbing corporation and they don't care if we are actually educated, they only care to dupe innocent people and get money from the loans and they even more heartlessly care that while they make a certain amount of money and make share-holders happy and retire with nice severance pays and secret agreement of non-disclosure, they don't care that the students they dupe- could end up brankrupt....

If they want to really know why their enrollment is down- it's not because their were on probation- it's because people started warning each other.

I would sometimes warn people in elevators- don't come here. They are dream- stealers. And if they told me they had already given the admissions fee- I said-
be grateful that's all you lost.
I even warned a mother that was there with her daughter before they even got in the elevator.
And I admitted I felt stuck- I was in too deep and had only two-semesters left before I realized there was a reason the admissions advisor showed me around campus on a Friday- when no-classes were being held.

If you want some real advice from a person who has been there and one that. Email me back.


Oh yeah, and anyone I knew with an MBA from there hated CEC even more than I did.

Oh, and then when it came time for internships- the Raleigh Studios studio was blocks from my house, when I brought it to the Career Services attention she said, give me the address and number and I will set that up for you. It never happened. So after asking her seven or eight times to help me get an internship in the costume department- she finally suggested that maybe, I should apply at the GAP at the mall down the road instead. such a let down.


They a dream-breakers and heartless money-makers who only care about the money and their bottom line.


I may sound sad here, and I am, not just for me but the many who were duped by what seemed like an honorable institution- but they were really, wolves in sheep's clothing....


Don't go there.

RE: The student trap
Posted by JayW8423 on 10.09.08 @ 06:29 PM
A friend of mine just told me today that she took classes at AIU and wasn't satisfied and when she dropped the course she wasn't able to get any part of her money back. Aside from that, I had applied a few days ago and was accepted but I was/am a little reluctant to proceed further with this school. I also checked to see if they were accredited and didn't find anything until I spoke with my advisor and she told me to check out sacscoc.org. You can see that their status is accredited and in good standing but after seeing all the issues people are having, I'm not really sure if I would still want to join...

RE: The student trap
Posted by noyha on 09.20.08 @ 03:57 PM
Angee, Pmoca200:
Did you guys (girls) sued the AIU? I am interested. I wonder there is a class action lawsuit that I can involved with. I went for my MBA four years ago. Only to found now that it is useless, and non transferable to other university or colleges from same accreditation. I am stuck paying 30 thousand dollars loan while supporting my wife and and my children.
Yes, I can understand the another argument; but I did search and reviewed, and asked many questions and received many promises. Only to come out false. Please let me know if there are any class action or how to contract them.

RE: The student trap
Posted by lightjjl on 09.02.08 @ 01:41 PM
I was just told that they never lost their accredidation but only were questioned about their growth rate. They were growing so much faster then their ground school that it caused them to be questioned becaused they were supposed to stay in line with the gound school. It was stated that the school was now (as of 9/2/2008) back in good standing and full accredidation with SACS. Does anyone know if this is correct?

RE: The student trap
Posted by Dover on 08.07.08 @ 02:01 PM
My son graduated in 2005 from the Visual and Communications and Photography program and has yet to get a job in the field. Every job application he has completed has been turned down. The Department that is suppose to help has done nothing. They did call an offer him a job at Chillis after he graduated, nothing to do with his field. So don't expect anything from the Job Placement. It's like he all dressed up with a big BFA and no place to go. He has done seasonal work with IRS and Dock work. He is now working on getting his own Photography Business started but is finding out that he really doesn't have the business part down and is trying to wing it on his own. He says he did learn a lot but has found out a lot was left out for the $50,000.00 that he now owes. Also when he went to pay his $100.00 exit fee to be able to get his Diploma they told him that he still owed them $5,000.00. What happened was the powers to be decided to change the way the Programs were set up which made him have to go to Summer session and his funds did not cover that. No one had the decency to alert him of this so we the parents had to cosign for the extra money. He also took a online computer course when they said they couldn't find record of and he had to retake the class.

All I can say is research research. All in all my son says the experience was fairly good but so much was left out and now three years later he is still struggling.

He is now headed to Atlanta Tech College to take some office courses to help him out.

RE: The student trap
Posted by jewelsblake on 07.31.08 @ 04:28 PM
I am really saddened to see that I am not alone with my frustrations from AIU. I was in the AA in Business Administration Online, I had completed about 5 classes successfully when I had an unexpected crisis in my family, when I confided in the so called “Counselor “ on delaying my classes I was told to withdrawal or take bad grades for not completing my classes. I really felt like there was nothing I could do, there was absolutely no support or understanding for my situation, so not wanting the bad grades on my record I withdrew from AIU. Later on when my life calmed down I tried to reenter only to be told I COULD NOT… I even appealed the decision and was still denied reentry. I am still to this and probably will be for a long time paying for all of the classes I DID NOT TAKE. I am looking into it seeing how legal that is? Something has to be done about this..

RE: The student trap
Posted by Last Year Doctoral Student on 05.19.08 @ 01:54 AM
To "wishbone101":

Did you check to see if the school had one of the six regional accreditations? Did you go with your son as he went to the university/college/institution to talk to counselors? Below is what I pulled from the university's site in reference to their accreditation.

I did also notice that a number of the faculty on the website had terminal degress (MFA and Masters in Architecture) in their field. I do not know if these individuals are teaching but I would strongly looked at the teacher versus student ratio. I have another question for you sir. What type of student was your son in highschool? Why is he looking at this university rather than DuPaul? DuPaul has a great program right there in Chicago. Another good choice is Arizona State University (Tech Campus) at the old Air Force Base. They have a Bachelor/Master in Technology with various majors/concentrations. I must say an excellent program. I almost went there myself before getting a real job unlike my VA Work Study which was awesome.

Accreditation info below:

-------------------------------------------------------
Accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools to award certificates, diplomas, associate degrees and bachelor degrees.
Harrington College of Design is an independent institution of higher learning serving the profession of interior design and digital photography and is recognized as a private college by the Illinois Board of Higher Education. The College is authorized by that board to confer baccalaureate and associate degrees.

In May, 2007, Harrington was notified that the Institution became a Candidate with the Higher Learning Commission and an affiliate of the North Central Association, www.ncahigherlearningcommission.org, 312-263-0456. In August, 2007, Harrington relinquished its grant of accreditation with the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).
-------------------------------------------------------

RE: The student trap
Posted by wishbone101 on 05.18.08 @ 06:53 PM
They haven't changed at all. My son and I just went through their "enrollment" process" - being told that it is very hard to get into Harrington in Chicago. When they said he was in we were overjoyed...until I did some research. They never asked for transcripts from high school, wouldn't say they had professors just "people who work in their respected fields teach our students". What exactly does that mean? They don't have teaching certificates and anyone can walk in off the street to teach?
His biggest thing in the end was "fill out the application and pay $60.00". Then wanted us to go through the process of student loans. Now I already have a son in college and all this sounded fishy. Someone should really do more checking because after four years they are still playing the same games on unsuspecting young people. I'm just glad I dug deeper and asked more questions than just take it at face value that he was accepted.

RE: The student trap
Posted by Last Year Doctoral Student on 05.18.08 @ 12:31 AM
Let me clarify skating through AIU. Let me remind the readers I did just complete a MSc in Management with a 3.89 GPA if that helps. So with a credential like that I would expect one to skate through another Masters level course. To Uh no I definitely agree with you all well. You have the arguement well stated. I wish you the best of luck in your MBA completion at AIU.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master_of_Science_in_Management

Comparison to MBA
The MSc in Management degree studies the academic discipline of management, while the MBA degree studies the academic discipline of Business Administration[citation needed]. Thus, the MSc degree may focus more on operational aspects of management, while the MBA degree would place more emphasis on strategy[citation needed].

The MSc in Management is an academic degree, while the MBA is a professional degree. Thus, the MSc degree is more theory-oriented, while the MBA degree is more practice-oriented[citation needed]. In other words, the MSc in Management degree is about management, while the MBA is about managing. While this in some sense means that the MSc degree prepares students for entry into the academia and the MBA prepares them for entry into the industry[citation needed], in reality both degrees contain strong professional focus and are both very well suited for students wishing to gain positions in the industry. Likewise, the MBA degree does not inhibit graduates to enter the academia[citation needed].

The MSc in Management degree is best suited for new graduates holders of a Bachelor's degree in any discipline with no work experience[citation needed], while the MBA degree is best suited for business graduates (eg BBA, Bachelor in Business Administration) with some work experience, preferably in supervision or management[citation needed].

While an MBA degree can be specialised (eg MBA in Finance), an MSc in Management degree carries no specialisations[citation needed]. However, most universities also offer MSc degrees in other business disciplines, such as finance, marketing management or marketing[citation needed].

Holders of MSc in Management degrees can add the designation MSc after their name (eg John Smith MSc), while those holding an MBA can add the designation MBA (eg John Smith MBA)[citation needed]. People reading curriculum vitae documents readily recognise the MBA designation[citation needed], but the MSc designation may be assumed to be in a non-business area, eg in science or engineering, so holders of MSc in Management should make it clear that they have a business degree in the Education section of their CV.

Having an MSc in Management instead of an MBA may be advantageous in environments that are hostile to business graduates or in environments that prefer scientists or engineers for promotion to managerial roles[citation needed].

While the MBA degree was started in the US, the MSc in Management degree is of European origin

Almost a Doctor of Computer Science

RE: The student trap
Posted by Uh no on 05.16.08 @ 12:24 PM
I think I'm onboard with what the Last Year Doctoral Student said. I attended a brick and mortar university for undergrad and had just as many problems there. Well, not personally persay... but let's just say that instead of being worried about numbers enrolled, I guess as AIU is, and pushing people in to graduate the university had its fair share of problems. If you were friends with anybody with any pull at the university you were golden... regardless of the amount of effort you put in or the knowledge you were able to reproduce come finals. You could just skate on by and do nothing. I actually attended AIU attaining an MBA and came out of it with some knowledge. Granted... I'm not going to hold much credence in an MBA degree anyway since I'm not really business oriented... but through my own drive and skillset I was/and am able to do business analysis on companies based off of financialy information, much like the individuals I deal with at my current place of employment. Do I think I the money was well spent... I guess that's a hard one. I don't think it should have cost as much as it did... but I don't think it's a complete waste either. As noted above... I know a slew of students I went to undergrad with who just rode the system out at the expense of the local taxpayers and got a degree and had no ounce of knowledge coming out. But hey... you get that everywhere...

RE: The student trap
Posted by Last Year Doctoral Student on 05.15.08 @ 06:32 PM
Wow...I am reading through more of these comments and notice a majority of the individuals here stayed with the university for awhile. I would ask why? If you are dissatisfied why not leave and take a small loss rather than the loss many of you have now. I would state if you were in a horrible marriage would you stay with your spouse if that individual did not want to change...hmmm the answer is not no but HELL NO. Then why did so many stay with AIU. Were you expecting this educational spouse to change just for you?

Again I hope you past students and educators find some peace going forward. Before attending each school I personally talked to the Dean(s), and Professor(s) before attendings. Other items you could do as a student is pull a statiscal report and do a comparison with other local or online univerisites. Look at the accreditation and other affiliations that the university has. One item for my was AIU was not ACSB accredited and/or the faculty did not have the affiliations I thought they should have. Not including I freakin skated at the MBA course. If you are seeking an undergraduate degree and do not have much experience I would caution this type of university becuase once you have completed your program the workforce is expecting you to "flawlessly executive" to a certain level.

--TIP OF THE DAY---
Find the program that works best for you. If you are happy with AIU and feel you are learning all you can then good for you. If you are unhappy with AIU get a freakin divorce and move on. However if you continue to move on to the next university and continue to move once again you should rethink collegiate education. Do what makes you happy! Fuck what everyone else thinks.

RE: The student trap
Posted by Last Year Doctoral Student on 05.15.08 @ 06:08 PM
I almost forgot to note I did have problems when disenrolling from the MBA program to start my doctorate degree. Luckily I was note charged for the second course. It happens that if you click on the course it is the same as showing up "legally" in AIU's book. Reading through the comments did make me remember there was another reason why they did not leave such a good taste in my mouth. [Internet bloggers do not go crazy over the comment]. But I have seen this problem in brick and mortar institutions as well. It really just depends on the faculty and who is running the school. To say it quick...there are more schools than AIU that will FUCK you so be careful and take this as a lesson learned.

RE: The student trap
Posted by Last Year Doctoral Student on 05.15.08 @ 06:05 PM
Actually I am an over 90K earner and only 25 years old...but I only took one MBA course from AIU. I completed my MSc with 4 PgCerts from Colorado Tech and currently completing my Doctor of Computer Science from Colorado Tech. I must admit I did not work very hard at all at AIU as compared to CTU. CTU has worked the living shit out of me and you all should have looked into CTU. CTU is 100 times better than AIU and CTU does everything to seperate the two universities. CTU has ABET (very important accreditation for engineering), ACSB, NSA CNSS 4011E & 4014 standards, and many others.

By the way I did not pay a dime for any of my graduate work for my company however I received my undegraduate from an university in Alabama. Remember you only make money if you have the work experience as well as the degree. The degree gives you the "foundation for success". It does not give you all the answers.

Seriously if you would like to talk about certain items such as education we can. I had the same problems with University of Phoenix Online for a Masters class and was charged over "nothing". If I ever decide to go back and complete MBA I will do it from a top 50 school rather than AIU or these others for networking reasons. In conclusion, I have listed my profile below if you are curious what is comprised of my educational background. I wish you all the best of luck in your future endeavours and pending lawsuites.

www.linkedin.com/in/mauricedawson

RE: The student trap
Posted by wstat on 05.07.08 @ 09:24 AM
I'm a former AIU online student. I attended Aiu online for 2 months and got stuck with a 2000 wachovia loan. I called the school to complain about the charge. They gave me some crazy excuse about tution.I felt I wasn't learning anything so I decided to stop attending. I think they are full of shit!!!!!!!!!!

RE: The student trap
Posted by Cris on 04.24.08 @ 12:55 AM
I'm a current AIU student and after reading all the comments on here, I am terrified! I couldn't help but notice that all of you former AIU students have some serious spelling and grammar issues. Did Sean really spell the word "told" as "tolled"?! I agree....AIU is not a good school at all! I better find another school before I forget how to spell and write like the rest of you!