Independence University Reviews of Associates in Respiratory Therapy

"After reading other reviews of people in IU's Respiratory Therapy program, I'm even more astonished that I was able to not only pass my registry exams, but was able to land a job. The sign up process was very quick and easy, and unlike the horrors that others had to go through, they did find a clinical site for me rather quickly, but that turned out to be another issue (more on that later). But just like everyone else, I wasn't told that the school was on probation before I signed up, but luckily they were still accredited. Each class is broken up into 4-week modules, and you almost always have only 1 or 2 classes (usually only 1). Each week requires you to write a discussion post on a selected topic, write a 500-word essay, and take a quiz, as well as daily checkpoints. Each had a specific point total attached to it. Half the time the daily checkpoints either had a link that didn't work or chose the wrong answer as the correct one and I would have to email the classes professor to have them change the grade to give me the points. Discussion posts are self-explanatory. Essays are pretty easy, it's mostly just regurgitating information from the reading material. As long as you did the essay, you would almost certainly get the full point value. The weekly quizzes could all be found on Quizlet or by doing a Google search. The weekly lectures were not mandatory (until for one class they suddenly were) but they were recorded so you could go back and watch them if you weren't able to be there live. This was actually very convenient for me because I worked most nights when they would record. Later in the course your week 4 exam will be proctored, meaning you have to have a webcam on and allow them to see both you and your screen to make sure you're not cheating. As long as you do well on the prior three exams and do the rest of the work, you can bomb the proctored exam and be in no danger of failing. I honestly didn't have issues with the work, the professors were all very good about answering questions and responded quickly. I did have one issue where a weekly quiz was for the wrong week. It was week 3 of the module and the week 4 quiz, which was material we hadn't covered yet, was posted. When I emailed the professor, she informed me that there was a mistake and they couldn't post the correct quiz, but I would be allowed to retake the quiz and was given the information to read to prepare for it. The clinicals is where I had most of my issues. In a real respiratory therapy program, you'll go to several different sites so you can experience it all: ICU, NICU, ER, pulmonary function testing, breathing treatments, etc. I was put in a small, rural hospital about an hour away from my home (which was much closer than some other students had to go). This hospital did not have an ICU or NICU, so for the entirely of my clinical experience, all I did was breathing treatments and EKGs. I got to see one intubation but no ventilator work because every patient that was placed on a ventilator would be transferred to another hospital. When I met some students from another school, they told me about their experiences, and that they already had jobs working at hospitals as student-therapists, something that IU never bothered to tell me was an option. When I eventually got fed up with not getting the kind of education I was paying for, I reached out to other local hospitals, and had one interested in letting me come do some clinicals there, only to later get an email from someone at IU telling me that that was against some sort of CoARC rules. So I never got any experience working with intensive care patients or neonates. Yet, the school still allowed me to pass those clinical courses. When it finally came time to take my registry exams, I did it without the help of IU. I still did all the post-program training they made available, but it was the Kettering Review that helped me with the Therapist Multiple Choice exam and tutorialsystems.com that really helped me with the Clinical Simulations Exam. I was able to pass and have been working as an RRT for about a year now, primarily working in the ICU because I told my boss about my poor clinical experience and that I wanted ICU experience. I feel like I was one of the lucky few that was able to succeed with IU despite them doing everything they could to make me fail. I did feel like I was underprepared when I landed my job, but I knew going in that most RRTs feel that way no matter where they went to school. IU was convenient for me because I worked full-time and did have the ability to commit to classes, but had I known that it was going to be such a poor education experience, I would have found a way to go to real classes and make it work with my schedule. In closing, I'm proof that you can get a job in respiratory by going to IU, but it's not going to be the ideal way to go about it."

"I recently graduated from Independence University with an associate's degree in Respiratory Therapy. My experience with the school was very good. I received a full scholarship and was able to maintain a 4.0, throughout the length of the program. The teachers were very helpful and made every effort to ensure that students could pass the classes. The whole program was designed for students to do well. Although the setup was not perfect by any means, it was definitely designed with the student in mind. Online school on a whole is meant for responsible students, so those who need their hands held all the way through would have a difficult time with any online program. It is no different at Independence University. The staff is there to help you along the way but the student still has to be disciplined enough to do the work on their own. The school adequately prepared me to take the TMC and pass it on the first try, so I know it is possible for others to do so if they apply themselves. I have seen many reviews that mentioned the CoArc accreditation status. All students graduating from the program, if they pass, their degree will be CoArc accredited. My degree is CoArc accredited. The school's CoArc accreditation was on probation due to not enough students passing the TMC exam. I am not sure why more people do not pass, but based on my experience, anyone can pass if they apply themselves and put in the work that is needed."

"My experience at Independence University was positive from beginning to end, I graduated in September 2019. I was pleasantly surprised to receive a full scholarship and all of my concerns were taken care of in a very promptly. The free computers worked perfectly and helped me to complete my studies wherever I happened to be. The staff was pleasant with every conversation and helped in every way possible. I was able to complete all of my classes with no problems and even was able to take extra classes toward the end so that I could graduate a couple months early. I have had no previous medical training and still never had a grade in any class that was less than 98% so I can definitely say the material was supplied and presented in a way that made it possible to do very well if a student applied themselves. I was fully prepared for my clinicals and was hired as soon as I graduated. I was also offered a job at three other hospitals before I graduated so there is no problem finding work because of the school itself as some claim. Overall, I could not have had a better experience and I am now enjoying my new career thanks to Independence university."

"Worst school ever! Don't waste your time. This school is a scam! They don't deliver on the things they promised you during orientation. Truly do your research on this school and find another. For the price that they are charging, you could go to one of the larger institutes. I even heard they are on probation. They don't care about their students. Check out the Better Business Bureau reviews as well!! I wish I had before I signed up."

"This school is a nightmare. I TRULY wish I had read the reviews on the Better Business Bureau. I enrolled in the Respiratory Therapy program back in November. I've spent months taking psychology and "motivation" courses. Three weeks ago I was finally able to start my clinicals. When I arrived at the V.A hospital, all Respiratory Therapists began to ask me a series of questions to which I had no answer. These RRT's proceeded to tell me that Respiratory therapy is not something you can learn online, that that a clinical site is meant to apply what you've already learned not learn from scratch, and that the school is not equipping us at all for the real world. For example, the crash course on brochodilators takes a whole semester to learn, not one week...according to these seasoned RRT's stated. When I asked how do I learn to draw blood, these people told me to watch a YOUTUBE video. REALLY??? Long story short, the Veterans hospital decided to discontinue their relationship with IU due to their lack of properly training and instructing their students. Now, I'm being told to take more "fluff" courses until they can find another site in Georgia, which I received an email from another advisor stating this is going to be almost impossible. In the event they cannot find a site, I get dropped from the school and am STILL required to pay their fees. How so???Anyhow, I digress This school is a nightmare. Please do your research. Find another school."

"This scam of a school is an overpriced institution that does not deliver what they promise, sets their students up for failure and is only out for your money. They do not research their clinical sites, much less prepare their students for what is expected of them when they go to the site. The experience was so bad, that the Veterans hospital decided to terminate their contract with Independence U due to us, the students, not even being prepared or knowledgeable about simple basics. They do not have an umbrella of hospitals they work with. Now we have no site and are being told that if they cannot find a site for us, we will be dropped from the program and will STILL be required to pay, even though THEY dropped the ball. Additionally, I've been informed that they are on probation. Theora was great to work with. Kristi was nice at first, but once she realized they were at fault, she stated "your choice is to either stay enrolled and wait for a new site, or drop out of the program. That is where we are at this point". Just rude. Anyhow, I digress. Do yourself a favor, find another school."

"I am not currently enrolled in this school, and i do not recommend anyone to enroll. About a year ago i contacted IU and the first person i spoke with seemed not interested when i told him my age. When i finally got hold of someone i was convinced that i should enroll in the RT program. After taking all the required testing, i was offered a scholarship from the school to help pay for my classes, as well as i had Federal funding. The young lady i spoke with in the finance department was the most helpful out of everyone, cant say the same about my advisor. My advisor let me know that i would not be able to start classes until i have a clinical site locked in, which the advisor stated the schools finds. i did offer to help find a clinical site but was told no, but when i would ask my advisor which hospitals has he reached out to he couldnt tell me and would just say he would get back to me, which he never did!! After having one issue after the other with my advisor, i wanted to email the Dean and let him know what was happening and why i would be declining to enroll, so i emailed the one person that i could count on, the finance person. She was able to give me the email address of the Dean, so i emailed him and let him know how helpful the finance person was but how horrible my advisor was. But guess what? No response, no help trying to fix the issues, no want to help me with a clinical site, NOTHING!!! And i even included in my email my advisors name as well as the name of the young lady that was helpful. PLEASE BE SMART IF THINKING ABOUT ENROLLING IN THIS SCHOOL. PLEASE TAKE NOTE THAT IF YOU ENROLL IN THE RT PROGRAM YOU MUST HAVE A CLINICAL SITE BEFORE YOU ARE ABLE TO START CLASSES.."

"Learned their RT program was on probation and then learned they werent fully accredited as they say they are. I dropped 4 classes in when I realized what was going on and ended up owing a lot of money with classes that of course wouldnt transfer. Please dont make the same mistake I did and be very sure you know about EVERYTHING before making your decision to go here. I dropped and joined a school close by thats much cheaper and less time and am making the schedule work."

"I graduated from Independence University in 2015 I would recommend the school only if you currently work in the field you are trying to get your degree and it's hard to teach yourself respiratory I luckily worked around respiratory therapist they were able to help me on a daily basis if you have this kind of support system this is a wonderful way to get your degree without having to work part-time because you're able to do your classes around your work schedule I was able to work full-time and still get my respiratory license and just 23 months"

"I'm am currently attending Independence University. I began my education in July 2015 and so far it has been going good. If you choose to attend this university beware you will need to focus and study for each and every class. Every month you have to take 2 courses and with each course comes weekly exams and assignments which you will need to turn in by the end of the week. I have already started my Clinical's and so far it has been good, I'm learning a ton and I can't wait to see what else I learn throughout this year. My expected graduation is May 2017 and I am looking forward to getting my degree and finally having a career."

"Do NOT enroll with this University! I understand flexibility the enrollment office sales you on plus the "free" computer. First I attended one full year Nov. 2014-2015 after taking personal leave I have not been able to re-enroll. I have been told I would have to repeat any courses below a B- and financial aid may have changed. This school bleeds over 20,000 in financial aid a year while you will have to do ALL leg work. My preceptor told me he is not a fan of the school and IU students are usually not hired. You will feel intimated during clinical because of how ill prepared you are! Not to mention when I asked if I needed to send laptop back and told no if I'm only out a few months ... Guess what charged 3 weeks later 850.! If you can go anywhere else DO! I am cutting my losses and starting at a ground school. One of the instructors at the ground school went through this same scenario! Run! Run! Run from this program!"

"Don't go here unless you want the run around about every question you ask. They have a team of people to find you clinical sites who I am convinced are unqualified for their position. The general consensus in my state(including coming from the board) is that IU has a bad rap. Hospitals don't want to sign contracts to take students for free with no preceptor teaching them. Period, and its offensive to ask them to. Some states think that even though IU meets the minimum requirements from coaarc, it isn't enough. For all of the student flooding into the field, but no help with clinical sites or board prep, my state in particular wants to raise the standard above coaarc just so IU can't play in the game anymore. I can't blame them. This is a joke.y grades are excellent, I've learned so much (because I taught myself). The ONE book the school offers you to hold physically is a workbook to go over in clinicals that I've seen made fun of by preceptors because it is so out of date. The only way to get anything done at this school is to talk to the heads, because they actually answer the phone and have the power to do things without passing the buck. I'm tired of defending my degree or my school. And to clarify, yes this school is absolutely nationally accredited. But, if they are not REGIONALLY accredited, so you will not be able to move any credits to a local college later on if it doesn't work out. It's not innovative and exciting anymore, it's a liability. For the amount of tuition I'm paying, and what has been offered to me for my education.... this is nothing short of pure robbery. I'm getting my degree because I am 30k in with no way of transferring out, but I will not be back for bachelors, and would beg anyone else to consider other options."

"Let me start off with the positives.I enrolled at IU over the summer. I was so excited finally found a online school that was accredited in Respiratory Therapy. The teacher were hands on if I had questions it was answered right away. Grades was posted in a timely manner. Class work load was a lot but you have to manage time effectively. After going to the school for 2 mods I got a email stating I was going to be dropped from the program as a FALSE START due to financial Aid. It also stated that I will be getting a full refund. I spent over 4 days going back and forth with an advisor who couldn't explain anything and also had me wait over 45 minutes to speak with someone from Financial Aid department. Turns out FA said that it was showing I was enrolled in 2 Universities at once. I contacted the other school I went to 2 years prior to see why it would show that. They had no record nor the department of education. I left several emails and voice mails and so did my previous school and we have yet to hear from anyone from IU. I got all A's while I was attending this school. I also just got a notice stating that I am 30 days late on my in house Student Loan which I have emails showing they will be refunding my money. Last week I received an email from IU I was thinking now I can finally know what went wrong but to my surprise it was email letting me know that they have a class starting Nov 2 and on the Nov22. So did the issue mysteriously fix itself or am I suppose to re-enroll and get dropped again? STILL NO ANSWER!"

"This school, like any school has its ups and downs. I just graduated this month and have many opportunities ahead of me in the near and distant future. This school is great for those of us that are too busy for the usual brick and mortar school (kids, family, job, etc). The downside of this school is that you pretty much have to teach yourself for the most part in the first year. You will not have clinicals until you are close to your second year. A great thing now is the school just recently started having live lectures as opposed to looking at power points and reading chapters without a instructors input. The first year is mainly general education and basic anatomy, physiology, etiology, etc. Closer to starting your second year is where it all comes together at your clinical site. Here is where you need to do your best at getting hands on experience and ask lots of questions. Try and remember that it's a constant interview and your ultimate goal is to get hired on after graduating. I recommend shadowing a respiratory therapist for a couple of days to see if it is something you can see yourself doing. In my opinion this school is for the more "diy" types who have good self discipline, and self motivation. With hard work and time, you can accomplish this program a success. I would not recommended this school unless you have no other choice. I highly recommend attending a community college or university programs, which are way cheaper."

"I just graduated this week July 2015 from the Respiratory Therapy program at IU and while attending I did have a few issues. I started in September 2013 after I transferred from a local college following a illness and doing online would make it easier so it would not matter if I had to miss class. I didn't have clinicals at the time, so I was not worried about being too sick to go to clinicals either. I started school and had a lot of classes transfer from my previous school, and by the time I recovered from my illness I was ready to attend clinicals. I started clinicals and attended for about 4 months when the facility decided not to allow students because a student from another school in a different profession had done a procedure without the instructor present. Therefore I lost my site through no fault of my own and they had to get another site for me, and in the meantime the NC Board of Governor's who regulate education requirements for colleges in NC had received complaints from the local colleges that IU was taking up clinical spots in an already competitive market. The Board of Governors then informed IU that they could no longer practice in the state of NC and if they did the associates degrees in Respiratory Therapy would be worthless. They would only allow them to grant degrees if they paid the fees and licensing fees to practice in the state of NC. This process involves flying the BOG to the main campus of the school, having them tour the campus, waiting for their approval, paying a $5000. initial fee, and then a fee for every degree with a different fee for associate, bachelors, and masters. Then they want the school to have a physical campus here in NC. I find this insane as well as a violation of my choice to go to whatever school I want to go to get my education. It did take me some time and I had to drop from school for a bit, but I did finally get done. The bad part is that I suffered because of the lack of clinical sites that were offered in NC. I was already set up to go to a site that is one of the largest healthcare providers in NC and I work for them. but because I could not get permission from the BOG, I was forced to go to a much smaller hospital in order to finish the program and graduate. It had it's pros and cons; the opportunities were few and it was mostly doing breathing treatments and being in the Emergency Room, or it was all hands on deck because the therapists at that particular facility have a much broader scope of practice than at other facilities. Any school is going to have issues no matter what so keep that in mind, but specific to this school and program is to make sure you have a clinical site secure before you enroll in the program. Make sure it is one they have either used for awhile and see if there may be more than one choice. You can always see if the facility where you work may be your clinical site, but make sure you get the paperwork done before you start school. Good luck in pursuing your degree from IU because it is hard work and worth it."

"I am a current student of IU and I love this school! the program is acreditted and very well put together. I work as a respiratory therapy assistant while in school and I was hired because the program is recognized and approved by the CoARC. I am already seeing better opportunities for myself and I must admit it is difficult to find a clinical site, but start looking for one as soon as possible and once you have found one you are all set to study and complete clinical. I have been to a local college and I enjoy online school much more than a real classroom. My advisor is available to help me via phone and email and so are my teachers. I have so far had a great experience."

"I would not recommend this school to anyone unless your only option is online. The curriculum is very hard if you don't have someone in the field to ask questions. Find your clinical site BEFORE you start!!!! If you are a visual learner you may not find this course easy, also just because it is online the course load is Heavy!! Expect at least 20 - 30 hrs of class work a week."

"COMPLETE FAIL. NO SUPPORT FROM STAFF> I WAS 4 MONTHS FROM COMPLETION AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ME A CLINICAL SITE TO GRADUATE!!! NOW I AM $40K IN DEBT AND NO DEGREE! NO SUPPORT"

"The online classes made it easier for me to work while going to school. I didn't have to work my schedule around school, I could just do my assignments when I wasn't working."

"This "University" is a joke just another way for them to get your GI Bill or Pell Grant Money. I was in the program for two years, went through many advisors who were a joke, and so unorganized. They did not help me at all, they actually created more problems! The college is so disorganized, all of the syllabus' are old and do not pertain to the class or material you need. You have no idea what to study for on your exams. You basically will not have a life for the whole time you are enrolled. Be prepared for that. Actually, I bet CoArc will pull their accrediation soon...the people who sold you on the college were just pushing for the enrollment numbers that's it. Now that CoArc has seen a HUGE dropout rate and failrate they are on the verge for looking into the matter. That's why the school went public accepting Pell Grant Money. That is a for sure paycheck for them. They don't care about if you pass or not it's all about the money. Don't you get it. They can't get enough enrollment as a private college...sooo anywho... Do not waste your time there. If you decide to leave or transfer later in life to another college...your credits won't transfer. These classes are hard. I got all A's but got out of the college because they were really pushing me to go full-time. If you fail your classes you can bank on it that you will also lose your Pell Grant for life, or student loans. You will not be able to use them for another school. Again, you are waaaay better going to TECH college or a community college. You will get better education, and you avoid a longtime of headaches and nightmare from this wannabe University. Oh, and good luck finding a clinical site. No hospital in my area will accept IU students, they are blackballed from the hospitals because they know how awful this school is. You are also dependent on how they train you if you even get trained. There is no set clinical teacher you basically just shadow you learn only what they want to show you. Don't waste your time....move on!!!!!!"