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May 29, 2011 8:03 PM Subscribe
Should I be worried about the legitimacy of my school?
I am a second-year student at one of the international campuses of Webster University. While I've come to terms with it being this tiny, obscure school that none of my friends back in the States have ever heard of, I'm worried that I'm inadvertently attending a University of Phoenix-esque institution. In fact, both are accredited by the same institution (North Central Association of Colleges and Schools). In my school's defense, it's also accredited by the government of the country it's located in. However, as another point against it, it does offer online degree programs which I have always held as obvious rip-offs. (I attend the physical university.)
Googling of "Webster University" and "scam" has only yielded one result vaguely supportive of my paranoia. Other than this nagging feeling that this may not be a real school, I'm really happy where I am.
Should I calm down or start filling out my transfer applications now?
(Anonymous and vague about which campus I mean because I'm going to be so mortified if I was, indeed, naive enough to attend a scam school.)
I am a second-year student at one of the international campuses of Webster University. While I've come to terms with it being this tiny, obscure school that none of my friends back in the States have ever heard of, I'm worried that I'm inadvertently attending a University of Phoenix-esque institution. In fact, both are accredited by the same institution (North Central Association of Colleges and Schools). In my school's defense, it's also accredited by the government of the country it's located in. However, as another point against it, it does offer online degree programs which I have always held as obvious rip-offs. (I attend the physical university.)
Googling of "Webster University" and "scam" has only yielded one result vaguely supportive of my paranoia. Other than this nagging feeling that this may not be a real school, I'm really happy where I am.
Should I calm down or start filling out my transfer applications now?
(Anonymous and vague about which campus I mean because I'm going to be so mortified if I was, indeed, naive enough to attend a scam school.)
I live in St. Louis, and Webster is located in the Webster Groves suburb of St. Louis. It's probably the fourth most prominent university in St. Louis, after Wash U, SLU, and UMSL. This doesn't necessarily say much, but it's perfectly reputable (if not necessarily the most prestigious).
I have long known that it has multiple international campuses, though I don't know quite what the deal is with them. (I.e., I don't know why they've made such a push for international campuses when most schools do not.)
Webster's St. Louis campus is certainly not a scam. As long as Webster's campus is accredited in the country you are studying, I'm sure it's fine as well.
posted by lewedswiver at 8:21 PM on May 29, 2011 [2 favorites]
I have long known that it has multiple international campuses, though I don't know quite what the deal is with them. (I.e., I don't know why they've made such a push for international campuses when most schools do not.)
Webster's St. Louis campus is certainly not a scam. As long as Webster's campus is accredited in the country you are studying, I'm sure it's fine as well.
posted by lewedswiver at 8:21 PM on May 29, 2011 [2 favorites]
I received both my BA and MA from Webster University. It is indeed a legitimate, thriving university in Webster Groves, MO, and has grown quite a bit since I attended in the early 90s. When I was there, they had a handful of international campuses, and I met many students who studied in the home campus in MO for a semester or two who were students at one of the overseas campuses. I know they have many more extended campuses now, and offer many opportunities at various military bases in the US, but I assure you the school is not a scam. It is legitimate, accredited (North Central is the primary accrediting body for the midwestern US), and is absolutely NOT a for-profit university, as the Yahoo! answer page you linked to suggests.
As I attended the main campus I cannot speak to the quality of the instruction overseas, but like I said, often students and faculty go back and forth, so there is certainly some quality control.
Also the theater program is fairly well regarded, particularly regionally. It is not famous, but frankly, you could say that of a large percentage of US universities.
posted by DiscourseMarker at 8:24 PM on May 29, 2011
As I attended the main campus I cannot speak to the quality of the instruction overseas, but like I said, often students and faculty go back and forth, so there is certainly some quality control.
Also the theater program is fairly well regarded, particularly regionally. It is not famous, but frankly, you could say that of a large percentage of US universities.
posted by DiscourseMarker at 8:24 PM on May 29, 2011
Online degree programs, on their face, are absolutely not ripoffs or scams. Some schools may offer programs that might seem more sketchy, but online programs are offered by nearly every university, fancy or scammy.
Moreover, regional accreditation is a good indicator, even if it is the same as U of P. Although regional association is, of course, regional, the North Central Association is known as one of the better ones (some national for-profits will relocate so that they can get regional accreditation in one of the less stringent regions).
And yes, Webster U. is a regular old college/university and I've always known it as such.
posted by Madamina at 8:25 PM on May 29, 2011
Moreover, regional accreditation is a good indicator, even if it is the same as U of P. Although regional association is, of course, regional, the North Central Association is known as one of the better ones (some national for-profits will relocate so that they can get regional accreditation in one of the less stringent regions).
And yes, Webster U. is a regular old college/university and I've always known it as such.
posted by Madamina at 8:25 PM on May 29, 2011
Also, online programs don't necessarily equal scam. I think Webster got in the game early, but there are many, many US institutions with online programs. The large public research university where I teach offers online programs, as do others.
posted by DiscourseMarker at 8:26 PM on May 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by DiscourseMarker at 8:26 PM on May 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
FWIW, the largest university in FL has a number of online degree programs that are well-regarded. Online programs aren't *necessarily* an indicator of scamminess.
Wasn't UPhoenix a reputable school before they started their online stuff? (Not to suggest they now are or aren't, I don't know)
posted by galadriel at 9:01 PM on May 29, 2011
Wasn't UPhoenix a reputable school before they started their online stuff? (Not to suggest they now are or aren't, I don't know)
posted by galadriel at 9:01 PM on May 29, 2011
Yup, it's a real school. Many friends and relatives have attended both undergrad and grad school there. It's certainly no Univ. o' Phoenix.
posted by jeffamaphone at 9:12 PM on May 29, 2011
posted by jeffamaphone at 9:12 PM on May 29, 2011
Webster is in fact a real school. In fact, the late Bradlands worked at their campus.
Their not MIT. But they're certainly not Frank's Diploma's and Pizza Delivery.
posted by Kid Charlemagne at 12:20 AM on May 30, 2011
Their not MIT. But they're certainly not Frank's Diploma's and Pizza Delivery.
posted by Kid Charlemagne at 12:20 AM on May 30, 2011
Here are some of the other universities accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools:
Purdue
University of Wisconsin
Notre Dame
Michigan State
University of Nebraska
Kent State
etc etc. I wouldn't worry.
posted by desjardins at 6:26 AM on May 30, 2011 [1 favorite]
Purdue
University of Wisconsin
Notre Dame
Michigan State
University of Nebraska
Kent State
etc etc. I wouldn't worry.
posted by desjardins at 6:26 AM on May 30, 2011 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by dfriedman at 8:06 PM on May 29, 2011