You can get into Axia, otherwise known as the University of Phoenix very quick.

How quick?

They, the Enrollment Counselor at Phoenix will walk you through on the phone and tell you what to click in order to get your MPN, otherwise known as your Master Promissory Note. This MPN is what locks you into the loans you are asking for, like subsidized and unsubsidized loans. You will get immediate help and be nudged into getting it done quickly.

The University of Phoenix are a polite staff that have a deferment policy that forces you to sign a MPN with their list of Lenders. This list, if you do not choose one on it will force you to wait until fianancial aid comes to start. There are good lenders on the list, I had no problems with Wells Fargo for instance. The nudging gets _HARD_ at this point for you to sign as you are one step closer to being locked into paying loans.

Franklin.edu on the other hands forces you to take a test in order to sign the MPN. This test makes you understand all the aspects of the MPN and what you will expect in the future. Phoenix does not force you to answer questions, rather, they just ask that you agree  without expecting you to show knowledge about the subject.

If you want to know what you are getting into, Franklin will test you on the subject of borrowing money. Phoenix will show you the information and quickly speak on the phone to get you started but requires no testing of the pitfalls of Stafford loans.

Franklin is looking out for you as there exists the possibility you might not understand what is going on. I must concur at this point that Phoenix, while good for some students, is interested in money first then education. I received my education the first year but can fully understand why some did not and are left with bills to pay.

Franklin.edu has a distinction of having two pages of information about preferred lenders. Franklin University takes lengthy time to explain the difference in types of loans and the reasons some charges happen when you take money.

Axia has no such page when you are rushing through the pages, just an enrollment officer trying to push you to sign today. They also refuse to defer your tuition unless you choose one of their preferred lenders. Franklin claims no such distinction, instead just promotes it is faster.

So, I have a career in IT that has spanned over 15 years. Recently as some that read my blog may know, I started the path to having a college degree. I chose the University of Phoenix just because it seemed to be the best way to get in right away.

The UoP and the Axia branch are really fast at getting you enrolled. There is no proficiency exams and the pressure to sign a MPN is intense. The enrollment counselor was relentless in getting me enrolled. This does not mean the college is bad alone, just merely that they wish to have as many students possible.

I had a ‘facilitator’ that I could call during classes but only during certain hours of the day. There is an email address for personal and also internal communication. I will note that my last facilitator, Crystal McFall would take vacations during the class and not be able to respond to emails or phone calls. That was the straw on my so called educational back that broke it.

One thing bothered me in my last classes:  proof that the facilitators are real. Just words about their lives and a phone number that was at times even posted wrong. I for one did not let that bother me, I learned a great deal and made a good grade at most of what I did. After I had done several assignments, I had a past teacher read the syllabus and the grading sheet. I was assured it checked out to her academic standards.

I am a Franklin University student now due to the problems that Axia will simply not address. Counselors and even facilitators are not punished publicly since you are not told what the result of any investigation is. Yes, you will not even be told that the employee was punished. Even the local school systems have public meetings to discuss this type of problem and there is no hiding.

In closing, my first Franklin class has already impressed me. I logged in since the classes are available a week before they start and much to my surprise…. a PICTURE of (get this) my Professor!  I was already impressed with the CD material that arrived in which I was getting offline guidance for that class… the University of Phoenix does not do that.

I was happy at Axia until I started to realize that if the problem occurred again, I had no recourse. Switching to Franklin just might be the best thing yet. Axia is more expensive and a whole lot of problems that just are not addressed. Call Franklin if you are considering a degree and then call Phoenix. All my credits should transfer, which is good. What is bad? I do have to attend a couple audio chat or video sessions with my Professor.

Axia facilitators discouraged the use of voice chat in any way due to “overwhelming” students. Franklin does it right off the bat. You decide which one is better.

Feel free to post your comments with how you feel. I do not wish to discuss how you lost money at Phoenix as there is many ways a student can fail and slip through the cracks due to being helped so much to get enrolled.