The Chicago School

"My son start taking 2 classes without any payment and they didn't tell him how much he was going to pay. Kept telling him FAFSA would cover it and not to worry about it. Then they tell him it will be $7000. Now he owes $3500 because he dropped out before the next semester began. For 2 classes? They robbed my son. Don't go here unless you like being scammed. There is something strange about this supposed college."

"I am currently attending one of TCSPP PhD programs online. First, these programs are for self-motivated individuals. Those who need a lot of guidance should probably think about going to a more traditional college. Pros: -The process for using my VA benefits was simple, I had one hiccup in the process but one email solved the whole thing. They do all of the paperwork and I haven't had an issue with the VA paying me. -Online classes are asynchronous which allows you to choose the time during the week to dedicate to your work. However, you do need to dedicate time each week. If you feel you can't do this, this school platform probably isn't for you. For me, I absolutely love the flexibility. -Instructors care about your learning and success, they want to prepare you for the dissertation process. -The good instructors give amazing feedback during the course and have greatly contributed to my professional development. Cons: -The website isn't as refined as other online schools. -Instructors may not be as available for all weeks during the course. Some instructors are very hands-on, posting announcements and staying engaged in discussion each week. However, some do the bare minimum. -You don't have a dedicated student counselor that helps you throughout your time there. My last institution had a counselor assigned to you that would call throughout your classes to make sure you were getting everything you need. I really miss this personal connection. -Classes are only 7 weeks but I feel like I am missing out on content that I would receive through a longer class. I think the biggest problem with this school is they are growing too fast and are not able to hire the right people for the job. This school is not a scam school. In fact, they are a non-profit and provide many grants for students to do community projects. However, you do need to put in actual time and effort to get your degree. Make sure you understand your program requirements before you start. Make sure you understand how you will finance your education and the TOTAL cost before you start."

"They don’t deserve the one star I had to put in order to have this posted. As a parent of a student, I can honestly say in the end it was a horrible experience. My daughter wasted years and now has so much student loans to pay off without having the degree. This school is a “money grab” and if it wasn’t accredited it would certainly define a scam. The turnover is enormous which in retrospect should have been a red flag for us. If you have any chronic illness or ADHD, DO NOT GO TO THIS SCHOOL, they do not follow through with accommodations and they hold it against the students that may ask for it. We tried multiple times to speak to the temporary Dean (since the previous left without any reason) and he would not meet with us nor did he give us another resource to speak to. It’s a bait and switch, they are wonderful in the beginning and by the time it’s over, everyone we dealt with were unavailable to try to work things out. They have no conscious and do not care about the students success. It’s heartbreaking how all they care about it the tuition and have no shame in financially ruining these students lives. They should all be ashamed of themselves. It’s to bad they don’t practice what they attempt to teach. Do not go to this school, you will regret it."

"As someone who is in the second year of a Master's program in clinical mental health counseling, I know this is a great school. It is CACREP accredited which is becoming necessary for licensure, it already is in my state. I found this school through my American Psychology Association membership a d I have not been disappointed. The professors have their doctorate degrees and they are encouraging and very helpful. If you pay attention to due dates and times, as well as the instructions for assignments, you will be graded fairly. I find the staff to be approachable, knowledgeable, and responsive. The information is built on through the course schedule and I feel like my comprehension of the material is becoming effortless. Financial aid is amazingly responsive and the bill is easy to understand and extremely detailed. The billing department will painstakingly clarify any concerns...and my acceptance letter came on letterhead. One word of advice, use the APA 7 manual. Mine is covered with sticky notes. You might have good content, but missed points for formatting errors will hurt you."

"At first I thought this was going to be a good experience. But as I went through this program (I only completed 2 1/2 courses) I ended up teaching myself and when I asked for valuable feedback from my professor. It was VERY minimal (such as yes, Veronica great work!) but yet I never got full points so what was the reason? I wanted to know. It was very discouraging and unmotivating. To the point that I regretted going for a masters degree. On top of it this school is SO expensive. For the amount I paid for and the experience I received did not add up to the price I’m paying back. I highly don’t recommend this school."