I would like to hear former students opinions about Everest University or previous graduates of Florida Metropolitan University. What is going on with the name changes?

Which school is changing their name?  

Florida Metropolitan University changed their name to Everest University.  I think part of it was that they wanted to expand their geographic scope, and part of it was they they'd gotten some bad press from a lawsuit from a disgruntled student.

-=Steve=-

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B.S., Info Sys, Charter Oak State College
M.A., Educational Tech Leadership, George Washington University
Doctor of Health Education, A.T. Still University, in progress

SteveFoerster:

Florida Metropolitan University changed their name to Everest University.  I think part of it was that they wanted to expand their geographic scope, and part of it was they they'd gotten some bad press from a lawsuit from a disgruntled student.

-=Steve=-

Yikes.  I have an Everest University campus near my house.   

Cajun:

Yikes.  I have an Everest University campus near my house.

That's not to say the student was necessarily justifiably disgruntled.  I think they were disappointed by credit transfer problems.  Everest is nationally accredited.

-=Steve=-

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B.S., Info Sys, Charter Oak State College
M.A., Educational Tech Leadership, George Washington University
Doctor of Health Education, A.T. Still University, in progress

Cajun,

 

Florida Metropolitan University changed their name to Everest University. This is like the third name change.

Steve,

Everest University give the impression that the school is regionally accredited when in actuality they are nationally. I would advise for students to stay far far away from Everest University. Speaking from experience, a lot of employers see Everest University as a degree mill.

marjie, only those employers who are ignorant of both the school and accreditation.  However Everest University is expensive for what you get... That kind of makes it tough from an investment standpoint.

marjie14:

Everest University give the impression that the school is regionally accredited when in actuality they are nationally. I would advise for students to stay far far away from Everest University. Speaking from experience, a lot of employers see Everest University as a degree mill.

If that's true then they don't know what a degree mill is, because Everest isn't one.  But I think it's more likely that most employers don't even know who they are.  Generally, unless it's from somewhere really well known employers just care whether or not you have a Bachelor's at all, as a "check off the box" kind of thing.

-=Steve=-

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B.S., Info Sys, Charter Oak State College
M.A., Educational Tech Leadership, George Washington University
Doctor of Health Education, A.T. Still University, in progress

Happy New Year Steve!

 

Here in South Florida it is very different. If the degree is not from a state school a lot of employers do not recognize universities like Everest University, Phoenix etc. I was once instructed by a Human Resource Director to not interview applicants who obtain their degrees online, and applicants from universities such as Everest University, Phoenix, ITT, Florida National college, and Devry.

The applicant won't know, they just won't get an interview.  For online universities and learners awareness is key! Online universities should include in their marketing plan a strong campaign targeting major corporations, and small businesses alike. Online learners on the other hand, should be some what knowledgeable about the accreditation issue and the reasons why they chose online versus campus.

After 6 months of seeing online students not getting interviews because of their choice to study online/university. I approached the director regarding her bias views of online learners. I expressed my feelings, and accused her of practicing some form of discrimination. She said, "The best students comes from State Universities", and she is in the business to recruit the best from recognizable universities.

Also, here in South Florida every second there's an Everest University commercial on television telling potential students that they can get their degrees in less than four years. Those commercials are not perceived very well by employers.

Happy New Year Cajun!

I agree Everest university is expensive. For that amount of money they should at least try to get regional accreditation.

marjie14:

Here in South Florida it is very different. If the degree is not from a state school a lot of employers do not recognize universities like Everest University, Phoenix etc. I was once instructed by a Human Resource Director to not interview applicants who obtain their degrees online, and applicants from universities such as Everest University, Phoenix, ITT, Florida National college, and Devry.

My experience didn't really match this.  I used to work in the Student Services department at Keiser University, a private school in Fort Lauderdale, where I did career services among other things.  Our graduates got jobs.  It was easiest to place graduates of allied health programs, but even those in other majors had high placement rates.

-=Steve=-

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B.S., Info Sys, Charter Oak State College
M.A., Educational Tech Leadership, George Washington University
Doctor of Health Education, A.T. Still University, in progress

Steve,

When it comes to online programs/universities a lot of employers here in South Florida are still ignorant about those school’s daily functions. Maybe Keiser is different in their approach of getting local employers involve in their students. However, what I have experienced while working for a Human Resources department in Miami was totally the opposite.

There is a major difference between Miami, and Fort. Lauderdale. Fort Lauderdale is different in the sense that employers are looking to hire knowledgeable employees and in Miami employers are looking to hire Spanish speakers.

A lot of the people from the Caribbean Islands, and Latin America perception of a good education can only be achieved through State Universities such as FIU, FAU, community colleges MDC, BCC and for the private elite few UM, NOVA etc. Those are the same people who are Directors of major corporations and who are in charge of hiring. With such limited views on education, a graduate from Everest University will have a very tough time trying to convince to an employer about the value of their online education. Most of those Directors that I have encountered in the past had no clue of how online learning functions but had a lot to say about a particular school’s accreditation, and share their bias opinions about the students who go to those schools.

marjie14:

Happy New Year Cajun!

I agree Everest university is expensive. For that amount of money they should at least try to get regional accreditation.

 

Happy New Year to you too!

 

As for those employers who refuse to hire online graduates?  Well, the talent pool is only so deep.  I suppose if you're fishing with a lot of bait you can afford to be unnecessarily restrictive in where you get your talent.