Penn Foster classes - Are they worth it?

[SuperCAD]

I keep seeing posts on here about the Penn Foster projects and I just gotta know if anyone who's taken these classes thinks that they are worth the money. I started digging into them a while back and I wasn't very impressed with the reviews that I was reading (books outdated, only care about money, charging for classes that weren't signed up for, etc.).

[ReMark]

My personal opinion is as follows. I think the students are getting ripped off and that Penn-Foster cares not a twit for the student and is in it solely for the money. I've seen some work posted here that wouldn't get a grade of "C" in a real drafting/CAD class yet it somehow receives a grade of "A" at P-F. I have to ask myself how is that even possible.

[solo8591]

you dont hahve no idea

[ReMark]

solo: Would you care to expand upon your previous comment?

[Dana W]

I'm sitting on the edge or my chair.

[Dadgad]

In all fairness to Joe Gagnon, P-F and any forum spooks with vested interests, there are two sides to every coin.
From the perspective of those who are receiving the course registration fees, for what is widely deemed to be dubious content and support?
It is well worth it!

[paisis123]

I personally, took the course, and got my diploma, but would NOT recommend it again.

[neophoible]

One aspect of the course makes it far more valuable than it would otherwise be: the extensive input of the unpaid adjunct professors here at CADTutor. But then, you could get their help without paying for the course. So, I guess that doesn’t really count. Oh, well.

[paisis123]

I agree. I learn more from this forum than everything else. And its good to share my knowledge that I accrued back to the community to keep it growing. :D

[solo8591]

hey yes it worth it i got my civil engineering in 2006 from PF and i work with that deploma and now i am almost finished this autocad class so the combination of this two (men yes it worth it :D)

[Dadgad]

hey yes it worth it i got my civil engineering in 2006 from PF and i work with that deploma and now i am almost finished this autocad class so the combination of this two (men yes it worth it :D)

Are you saying that, having successfully completed your first Penn Foster instruction in 2006, that you attribute your ability to have almost completed
yet another PF autocad course in a mere 7 years to the exceptional quality of their instructors and course materials?
That sounds about right to me. :beer:
Consider yourself one of the lucky ones. :)

You have asked quite a few questions on the forum in the last 2 weeks, which is just fine, we are (ReMark mostly) happy to help.
Is there a reason you don't ask your salaried PF instructors for their help? :huh:
I seem to recall having read somewhere that they are eager to help.
Or perhaps it was that they are eager to get paid?

[ReMark]

Penn-Foster offers a civil engineering degree?

[Dadgad]

Penn-Foster offers a civil engineering degree?

Giving new meaning to recipe for disaster. :)

[ReMark]

Funny, their website (checked moments ago) does not list civil engineering under Career Diplomas or Certificate Programs. No mention what-so-ever of civil engineering. Was the program dropped?

You should see the list of programs offered. Talk about a diploma mill.

[Dadgad]

Funny, their website (checked moments ago) does not list civil engineering under Career Diplomas or Certificate Programs. No mention what-so-ever of civil engineering. Was the program dropped?

You should see the list of programs offered. Talk about a diploma mill.

I have seen it before.
Hard to believe they have enough instructors to cover such a diverse range of courses, unless of course you understand exactly what they are expected to do for their students.
I would hate to have the surgical nurse share with me, just as I was starting to go under on the gurney headed into
the OR that she got her certificate from PF. :beer:
They offer LAW Degrees too ... heaven help us all.
No, no, your honor please, get me a P.D.!

[ReMark]

Not to worry there Dadgad. I am a State of Connecticut 100% certified Surgical Technician (2000 hours of hands on training + school over an 18 month period). Give me a call if you ever need to visit the OR.

[Dadgad]

Not to worry there Dadgad. I am a State of Connecticut 100% certified Surgical Technician (2000 hours of hands on training + school over an 18 month period). Give me a call if you ever need to visit the OR.

That's hard to believe! I don't believe I ever saw YOU post any questions about prophylaxis on the forum?
Must not have gone to PF then. :beer:

[ReMark]

I'm glad you used the correct terminology and did not say prophylactics.

[solo8591]

yes it was the civil engineering program but they drop it in 2007 so i am in the last graduate in that field . hahha sory .

[Organic]

yes it was the civil engineering program but they drop it in 2007 so i am in the last graduate in that field . hahha sory .

How long did it take to complete their civil engineering diploma and what did it cover?

[solo8591]

it covers a lot of staf from engineering matterial,engineering mechanics concrete topographic drawing ,survying,earthwork,structural steel design, reinforced concrete design,fluid mechanics, highway constructin and design 1and 2, engineering economy,all kind of mathes and calcules and a lot more which contain 70 credits and it is associat of civil engineering . it is very good program i am glad that i did.:D

[ReMark]

It sounds fairly comprehensive. Must have been back when they had real teachers.

[solo8591]

I think so, and it has been almost 5 month for this autocad drafting but i am on the final stage just finished the structural draftinig the 6th plate and start the 7th what do you think about the progress .

[solo8591]

kids and work take all my time 8)

[solo8591]

hey and we went to penn stat university, harrisberg for the residential course for the month and graduated there @the same times with gown!
it took me 2 years and 2 month .

[ReMark]

That's pretty impressive. Do you know why the program was eliminated?

[Dadgad]

That's pretty impressive. Do you know why the program was eliminated?

No doubt it was too good!
Showed up all the other courses for what they really were. :huh:
We can't have that now, there's money at stake.

[PotGuy]

They offer LAW Degrees too ... heaven help us all.


Nothing can Dadgad! :shock:

[ReMark]

P-F offers law degrees? Oh that is so wrong!

[Dadgad]

P-F offers law degrees? Oh that is so wrong!

I was surprised to see that PF, which now hails from (a mail drop maybe ? in) Scottsdale Arizona, was purchased by the PRINCETON REVIEW.
80% of their business comes by way of supplying tests.
So much for being great educators.
Do they really care what is on the tests, or if information is accurate?
Not as long as the crew down at Mailboxes, Etc. keep showing up for work and sending out the tests.

Historically speaking?
You decide.

[solo8591]

not sure .

[Organic]

it covers a lot of staf from engineering matterial,engineering mechanics concrete topographic drawing ,survying,earthwork,structural steel design, reinforced concrete design,fluid mechanics, highway constructin and design 1and 2, engineering economy,all kind of mathes and calcules and a lot more which contain 70 credits and it is associat of civil engineering . it is very good program i am glad that i did.:D

It sounds okay. I still have bad memories of advanced reinforced concrete design... :)

[PotGuy]

Overall, it dounds like Penn Foster is a cheap, over priced course that is much worse than CADTutor in terms of learning (and where needed) debating constructive approaches to AutoCad.

How has Penn Foster survived for this long if this is the case?

[ReMark]

Many people leap before they look. And once they have your money kiss it goodbye. I doubt they give refunds in anything approaching a timely manner if they ever do.

[PotGuy]

Many people leap before they look. And once they have your money kiss it goodbye. I doubt they give refunds in anything approaching a timely manner if they ever do.

They should look around dedicated Forums like ours. Better value for money (Free, so win - win there), as long as they're not rude or abusive. :)

[neophoible]

After all the negative comments I've read about PF here on the site, I must say I was shocked to see their huge ad staring at me at the top of the CADTutor thread I was viewing! :shock::shock::shock::shock::shock::shock::shock:

[PotGuy]

After all the negative comments I've read about PF here on the site, I must say I was shocked to see their huge ad staring at me at the top of the CADTutor thread I was viewing! :shock::shock::shock::shock::shock::shock::shock:

Well, my hot chocolate nearly went round my desk after that comment! :facepalm: :rofl:

[ReMark]

Where does one fish but where fish congregate. Makes sense doesn't it?

[neophoible]

Where does one fish but where fish congregate. Makes sense doesn't it?

Sense of a sort, of course. But here, there are some pretty big fish warning about the hook behind the bait. :D Hope they're paying an arm & a leg, through the nose, etc, for the privilege!:lol:

[ReMark]

I think the last time I checked the price was under $900 and Penn-Foster was offering some kind of rebate if one successfully completed the course.

[JD Mather]

I don't think it is by accident that the PF students come here to post their questions.
I don't see them post on any of the other CAD forums.
They must be directed to this site by PF instructor(s?) as a resource.

I assume the govt will pay student tuition and that they deliver some sort of credential upon completion.

[ReMark]

As I understand it one instructor was quoted in an email informing a student with a question that should a problem arise over a weekend he/she should visit CADTutor.

I too have noticed that there are no questions from P-F students on other AutoCAD related forums. I could only find one question amongst five other AutoCAD related help sites that had a question about one of the Penn-Foster AutoCAD projects. I guess CADTutor really is THE place to go for help.

Who's to say how many of the students are forking over their own money or relying upon student loans/grants?

The AutoCAD program is a certificate course as far as I know. I'm sure one of the recent "grads" could tell us for sure if that is the case or not.

[neophoible]

Sense of a sort, of course. But here, there are some pretty big fish warning about the hook behind the bait. :D Hope they're paying an arm & a leg, through the nose, etc, for the privilege!:lol:

Sorry for the pronoun/antecedent confusion. The "they're" should be 'PF is' and "the privilege" would refer to advertising!

Of course, the other info is interesting to note.

[PotGuy]

Well, this is ironic. Penn Foster Classes advertised in this very thread.

Where's my virtual RPG? :skull:

[neophoible]

Well, this is ironic. Penn Foster Classes advertised in this very thread.Yes, well, the one I'm seeing at the moment offers to help you earn your high school diploma online.:lol:

[PotGuy]

Neo, loving the signature!

[neophoible]

Neo, loving the signature!Thanks, PotGuy. It took a while to come up with something I like. I hope it isn't taken wrongly. I didn't see any emoticon with a hammer. In case anyone wonders, I'm not implying that when all you have is a bat, everything looks like a head! (I've seen too many movies!:shock::bloodshot:)

[ReMark]

This is a comment I got in an email recently while assisting a P-F student. I had suggested that the student call an instructor to obtain clarification on a problem encountered while working on the structural project.

"I called PF but most of the time they are not there yet and when they are they put you on hold and forget about you."

The student also went on to say it took seven months just to receive the promised software.

You be the judge.

Another recent quote....

"I emailed p-f and still to this day have not received any help. If it was not for you folks helping I would still be stuck..."

[PotGuy]

Not to worry there Dadgad. I am a State of Connecticut 100% certified Surgical Technician (2000 hours of hands on training + school over an 18 month period). Give me a call if you ever need to visit the OR.

You'd love Surgeon Simulator 2013.

Even gives you certificate at the end.

Probably the same course P-F would run.