The first time I saw this University of Phoenix commercial, I was hooked. The woman's voice is distinctive, and the melody, from The Wizard of Oz, is instantly recognizable. The visuals and storyline are interesting; people doing what it takes to get a college degree.
But then I started listening to the lyrics. "A degree is a degree"? Um, no, considering that if you buy a degree from the University of Phoenix, you're paying many times more than what the same degree would cost at your local community college. "You're gonna want someone like me, but only if YOU have a brain"? Again, no, if I were an employer, I would cast a long side-eye at a University of Phoenix degree, mainly because they've got a bad reputation for price gouging.
Sadly, the only people likely to be taken in by this commercial are the same ones portrayed in it; low-income workers looking for the quickest way to a degree and vulnerable to high-pressure recruiting tactics.
I googled "University of Phoenix scam" and up popped story after story of people ripped off by the school. The most heartbreaking were ones like these:
“I was former student of UOP or Appallo and I went to get a anther copy of my tarnscript for my current school I have been at for over year and they will no release my transcripts. I ask them why. They say that I owe them 2800.00 dallors. I said how could that be when you collected well over 7500.00 and I drop classes and come to find out after I withdrew they still collect money and still saying I owe them money. So I contacted a attorney they will be hearing from them.
They also sent me to collection and the school I am going to know will not grant Finical Aid untill i get those transcipts. One semister from getting my LPN.”
Oh. My. God. This illiterate person was one "semister" from getting an LPN. Holy. SH*T. I'm sorry, but that is f*cking FRIGHTENING.
Now when I see the commercial it makes my blood pressure rise. Hmmm, maybe the University of Phoenix should consider a tie-in with a high blood pressure medication manufacturer ...
3 comments:
I am so glad I am not the only one who hates these commercials. the first time I heard it, the ear worm climbed up in my head and wrapped itself around my brainstem and sang that stupid song over and over for days.. Now I can't get to the remote fast enough every time that thing comes on..
I'm sorry, but the UOP is NOT handing out brains..
I took one class from UoP. It didn't take me long to realize that they were doing a hard sell on me. The class was okay, something like "Managerial Communications", your basic cake-walk, but I was teamed up with nincompoops.
An old boss of mine - who got his BA from DeVry, which should tell you something - got his MBA from UoP. It must have cost him a fortune.
Tails, yeah, I'm just loving having "so my kids don't have to forage, got two jobs to pay the mortgage" running though my head on an endless loop.
and Becs, I have to admit I got a good chuckle out of "DeVry". I think DeVry and University of Phoenix are in a race to the bottom, reputation-wise.
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