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San Diego’s newest corporate darling, Bridgepoint Education
Response to post 221: Clarissa quotes "I still think its funny all we hear from are enrollment counselors - sales is a thankless job as far as I'm concerned". You have tagged them as counselors/advisors, but in the same sentence said sales is a thankless job. If they are salespersons why won't the online universities hire them as such and title them properly? Why hire and stress customer service and support, but base your salary on sales quotas? Seems kind of misleading from the start. Clarissa quotes "There may be lots wrong with the way they recruit students, (although apparently they haven't broken any laws) but this is America, and what industry here is not all profit oriented?" Here is a quote from a congressman on the committee looking into activities of online education " The Department of Education is concerned about high pressure commissioned sales being used to secure enrollments to institutions of higher education. I share that concern." I have left out his name because it is from a personal correspondence and is an ongoing investigation. Do your home work and be aware of what is really happening.— May 22, 2010 9:45 a.m.
San Diego’s newest corporate darling, Bridgepoint Education
Response to post 220: This sounds like the wide eyed response of what is affectionately known as a newbie. If you have spent any real time at Ashford University and called on hundreds of leads from 2007, 2008 and 2009 in 2010 you must understand that most of the leads come from sources where people were trying to apply online for a job, a computer or other device. After you spin your wheels 8 hours a day speaking with people who ask "where did you get my name", "don't call here anymore" which is the majority of response, how do you deduce the leads come in quote: "Almost all leads are received by people interested in school doing searches online and filling out forms to request more information."? If your statement were true there would be no need to repeal the "Safe Harbor Laws". Now do your research. Oh, I still believe in Santa Claus, but I'm not waiting at the top of the stairs to see if he comes down the the chimney on Xmas.— May 22, 2010 9:07 a.m.
U-T Puffs up Bridgepoint. Uh, Look Further
Response to post #193. Anncarl as a high level manager you're also aware that Ashford stresses Enrollment Advisors are not sales oriented, but customer service driven. This too is misleading when you're told don't answer your phone between 9am and 11:30am when enrolled students have issues or questions. But you must call them between 11:30 and 1pm during non prospecting time. This causes students to get discouraged and drop because the majority of Ashford students are on EST or it's already 2:30p to 4pm and they tried to reach you at 12noon their time. Could you imagine calling EMT (911) at 12noon to rescue a relative and them responding to you at 2:30pm. "Maybe you figured it out and took them by cab to a hospital or maybe they just remained in pain until EMT arrived 2 1/2 hours later". But after all your relative is already a patient and we need new patients with new bills. Anncarl thanks for not leaving me out there alone.— May 20, 2010 9:27 p.m.
San Diego’s newest corporate darling, Bridgepoint Education
I have read some comments by Enrollment Advisors employed at Ashford University who still buy into the belief that the University has the students education and welfare at heart. These Advisors are normally the 1 of 4 on a team of 15 who are provided with floor calls (free applications), live chat and AU portal leads. Some also get leads from partnerships that Ashford has with various community colleges, to get students coming off the Associates degrees, who want to finish with a Bachelors degree. These Advisors share a good matrix, smile a lot and clap loudly at sales meetings. The other 11 Advisors on the teams are made to feel inadequate and less than human because they can't keep up. The Ashford system is designed to foster this crabs in a barrel mentality and takes advantage of a poor economy and a limited job market. Therefore 11 or more Advisors on a team are forced to badger and push students into loans and schools they the students otherwise would not attend at this time. It makes no difference if a potential student tells and Advisor "I am loosing my home" "I don't know how I'll feed my family", the solution is "Title 4 funding" and a "Pell Grant". After all you don't want to be in the same position 4 years from now. Find a fax machine and get the TR page to me before 5pm or you don't get the free book voucher. Never mind you live in a rural area where everything closes at 6pm, "I will call a hotel and you get over there pick up the TR page sign it and fax it back within the hour". Because the Enrollment Advisor is told to take control, don't let the poor student worried about loosing a home, food or a death in the family handle the conversation.— May 18, 2010 8:30 a.m.