Strayer University Reviews of Master's in Accounting

Strayer is barely a school. The professors don't help and you can't fight your grades. They pretty much don't care and just have everything graded on automation or hire others to grade it for them. I went 6 classes writing papers and get to class 7 and that professor tells me I have everything wrong with the way I write papers. I asked them how I wrote everything incorrectly, they didn't tell me, just that I needed to submit my paper to the virtual writing center. I do now before I submit it to the... Read More class for grading, and I still have problems. Then, I get to the next class after I finally get a decent grade on one paper, and the new professor tells me I'm writing it wrong again. So I go a year writing papers for this college consistently A's and B's, get one professor whom I am not consistent with, change my ways and plead for the professor to help because you know this is a college and I want to learn the correct way. Especially at the outrageous price that this school is charging. But yet that doesn't happen, because every professor is different and no one wants to tell me the correct way. So basically be prepared to teach yourself. It's been over a year and I can honestly tell you I have no idea how to write a paper the correct way. This is not a learning program.

The Master's of Public Accounting program at Strayer University is designed purposely with the sole intent of adequately preparing a candidate to successfully pass the CPA exams. The four major courses ( Business and Economic Environment, Auditing and Assurance, Regulations and Advance Financial Reporting) are the exact courses tested on the CPA exams and are taught proficiently by well-rounded, knowledgeable and experienced professionals. Furthermore, the institution provides the candidate with... Read More a complimentary CPA review package at the end of the program. Upon successful completion of the Public Accounting program, it's certain to meet the requirements of employers with competitive advantage in tax preparation, auditing, financial analysis and much more. In other words, the tools Strayer provides for the MPA program coupled with the candidate's skill set and tenacity makes that dream of becoming a CPA attainable; I have no regrets.

I have nothing but wonderful things to say about Strayer University. I have been with Strayer throughout my entire college experience. I loved the interaction with the staff and myself. I love the interaction with the Dean, Dean Williams. They really guided my education experience. Now that it is one semester away from completing my Masters program, I feel that I am leaving behind family. I am forever thankful for my experience at Strayer. I went from an 2.7 GPA in under grad to a 3.7 in the Masters... Read More program. They care and help you to achieve greatness you have to want it bad enough to achieve it! The professor's on and off campus are all wonderful and always want you to succeed and know current data.

At Strayer University, I had the opportunity to be exposed to the full range of quantitative and qualitative courses, all of which has enforced and solidify my intense interest in accounting and finance. I hold a solid background in accounting, economics, corporate finance, math, statistics and humanities. At school, I excelled in statistics, investment, corporate finance, economics and math which have prepared me to pursue a career in finance and accounting. I was in the honour class, and I graduated... Read More on top my class as Summa Cum Laude: GPA: 3.9 scale of 4.0., and Bachelor of Business Administration with emphasis in Finance: Magna Cum Laude: GPA: 3.2 scale of 4.0. He inspired my passion and challenged me to reach beyond my limits. I see myself impacting generations of students by passing my own academic and professional and genuine appreciation for learning.

My inclination to write this review is based on the number of reviews I read. I am sorry for those students who had a negative experience, but if you read closely their reviews, something happened and personal problems seems to be the commonality with all these reviews. What I read from the negative and positive is the same reviews one would read from more popular state schools. The problem I believe is that Strayer's admission policy is more relaxed and allows anyone to attend their university.... Read More Yes, they do have standards, but in the long turn Strayer will accept you. For those who are looking to earn a degree don't kid yourself, it's not easy and you will have to work and work hard. Universities (unlike public high schools) are not mandated to serve you. It's their degree that they are awarding, so follow all the requirements and DO NOT ASSUME. It is up to YOU to ensure all fees are paid - yes including parking fees like the ones in big universities. There will be some good professors and some bad ones. Before taking their classes, check them out. Ask the professor his/her philosophy. In fact, in universities such as Harvard, the professors are not advocate, but hurdles and its up to you the student to pass them. Some universities have tutoring, but remember those tutors cost money. Most of these tutors could be volunteers who are earning their way by serving. The cliché is "they paying their dues". In addition, tutoring can be academically rewarding because the tutors are learning too. Like understanding why the student they are tutoring don't get it. If the tutor is successful, they learned how to reach a hard to reach mind. Yes, you need to read. Don't assume that by attending class you'll get it all. Read the materials and complete the assignments. Yes, I know it's hard, but suck it up. When you are looking for a degree, make sure you have a plan and allow some flexibility with your plan. As for payment, if you cannot afford to go to school - DON'T. It'll just get your in debt and the bottom line is you may not even get a job because so many other people are qualified and can beat you out of that job you applied for. Think football. How many players are in the NFL? Compare that to the number of players in the universities? Even compare that to the number of players in high schools? In Texas alone, football is a religion so more players in the NFL came from Texas as compared to other states. It is the law of attrition and only the strong survive. So I'll finish my review by saying, it's up to you. I received my graduate degree from Strayer earning a 4.0 GPA for the program. Yes, it was challenging to complete, but I persevered. I had a plan, executed that plan (how to pay for it) and by the time I got to the end, I did not even ask them to mail my diploma and transcript. I made sure I picked it up from the office and yes I walked among all the other graduates. To me was worth one last time feel the robe, the tassels, hug my professor and say thank you. Strayer is a for-profit oriented school so they have never asked me for a donation like George Mason University (GMU). The complaints I read here could also be the same complaints from GMU. I am proud to carry both universities degree because I know I EARNED IT.

Before giving an assessment, please allow me to present the following facts: I do not work for Strayer; I currently hold an undergraduate degree from Strayer, and lastly, I am also currently enrolled in Strayer's online Masters of Science in Accounting program. Now that this has been established, I would like to move forward to the review.

In 2005 I graduated from a junior college (Community College) with a degree in business. Like most individuals, I immediately entered the work force. I was able... Read More to successfully attain a job with a popular known car rental company. I started off as an management trainee and then worked my way up into management (Branch Manager). At this juncture, life seemed too great--only until the recession of 2008 occurred. It was at this critical juncture, where the company decided to conduct layoffs to save money on personnel expense. In order to establish this, many of my colleagues and I, were forced to take pay-cuts, and restructure our bonus plans. It was also at this point where I my time was sure to end there as well. To better prepare myself--in the event of a layoff--I began to conduct job searches. But by this time most organizations required a Bachelors degree. I knew just having a Associates Degree was not enough. As a result, looking for a college became my number one priority.

The search proved to be difficult as well as tiring. For instance, most of the local universities were willing to accept all my junior college credits, but did not have flexibility in their class schedules. This proved to be challenging, considering as a father, I have to provide for--at the time--a five year old child. As a manager, most of my days of work ended approximately at 7pm. Commute time from work, was 30 to 45 minutes based on traffic. So most of the time, by the time I arrived home, it was time to help my son with his homework, and then eat dinner as a family with his mother. I began to ask myself: how can I fit classes into this hectic schedule of life? Needless to say, I was at a proverbial "dead-end."

It was not until I had a conversation with one of my friends-who coincidently graduated from the same local university that I was trying to enroll in--change my life forever. As it turns out, my friend was in the same "boat" as I was in, and was trying to attain his MBA, however because of class scheduling, and family constraints could not attend the school. In the conversation, he told me about Strayer University, and how the online classes allowed him the flexibility to attend class, while at the same attending to family matters.

So in blind faith, I gave it a try. In the beginning, I was skeptical and very negative about the process. But after meeting with the student support, I felt at ease about the situation. So in the fall of 2010 I enrolled Strayer University. As with everything, there was a huge learning curve, in adjusting to the online learning. From making sure to log-in to participate in the weekly discussions, to taking the timed quizzes, Strayer proved to be academically challenging. What was also difficult to adapt to, was the APA format. Most of the Strayer alumni who read this, will understand. My first two quarters at Strayer were very successful. Unfortunately, that was not the case for my job. After five years of service for the rental car company, they decided to terminate my job. Like most individuals in 2011, I was unemployed.

In keeping a positive spirit, I used this timely wisely and updated my resume. One of the sections that needed updating was "Education." Although I did not possess a Bachelor's Degree, I felt it was important to put I was attending Strayer to at least illustrate to employers I was still continuing my education. Once my resume was complete, I decided it was time to go job hunting.

In utilizing all my networking channels, I finally received a positive lead. It came in the form of a flyer that my mom left on the bed in my old bedroom as a child. On the flyer, my mother wrote: "attend this job fair, because it is for the government, and the government has better health plans, and benefits than private sector and so forth." I thought to myself, "I have a lot gain and nothing to lose!" That weekend I attended the government job fair and with several copies of my resume, with my best suit. During the fair I met plenty of recruiters; some from the Department of Labor, Department of Treasury, and Department of Defense. I made sure to speak with every recruiter with a hand-shake and a smile. I also gave a brief presentation of my skills and experience as a manager. The one agency that actually showed interest was the Department of Treasury. Although I was not offered any job, I left the job fair feeling at least I gave it a shot.

A week later, to my surprise the Department of Treasury called with a job offer as a Human Resource Specialist. I was in so much disbelief about the offer, that I began to think to myself they had the wrong candidate. So many thoughts were processing in my head: "how can this be? I only have an Associates Degree." Finally, the recruiter mentioned that my past experience, along with me attending Strayer and working on my Bachelors, were the determining factors.

It has been a year later; I am still employed with the Department of Treasury. Furthermore I graduated from Strayer with my Bachelor's in Business. I have also performed really well in the HR role--so much, that now I am receiving training as a Supervisory Accountant. The agency will offer tuition reimbursement for my classes as long as I maintain a 3.0 GPA. By far this has been up and down roller coaster ride this past couple of years. And finally, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

For the skeptics who read this, and think: "this story is full of fluff" and/or "it is Hollywood scripted." I can truly attest to you, that Strayer played an integral role in the recruiter's decision in hiring me. Concerning the critics of Strayer and other online platforms, suggesting these are not reputable: I am proof that my Strayer Degree has afforded me a opportunity of gainful employment, it has also allowed me a tremendous work/life balance, and it has also allowed me to spend more time with my family.

To make a generalization that online programs are inadequate because they are not AACSB accredited is at best inaccurate. This type of language --in my personal opinion--should be left out of scholarly discussion, because it creates anxiety for students who are already experiencing challenges of everyday life. I find these types of post to be unmindful and at the same time abrasive. If accreditation was really important, why did the Department of Treasury hire me? If accreditation was really important, why did the agency start me off with a salary that exceeds what some MBA graduates make from accredited universities? Many skeptics in return, may suggest my story is the "exception to the rule, or here is case where "someone snuck through the cracks." To these skeptics I ask you this: where is your proof? Where is your evidence? Provide me with one shred of evidence that supports your case. Where are your references that support your stance.

The irony in all of this is that Strayer gives students the one key ingredient in order to gain success. It was this same ingredient that our founding fathers used when exploring America for the first time— that ingredient was called opportunity.

Lastly, let us all not forget about the power of technology where it is going. Technology is rapidly changing the world. Social Media allows us to connect to friends across vast distances. Music can now be downloaded in two minutes from iTunes. GPS gives us the confidence to travel afar. Hospitals are now emailing X-Rays to India, to save money on personnel expense. Google is now experimenting with a driverless car. And now, E-learning gives students the opportunity to get an education while in the comfort of your own home. Folks, we are in a transitional period where things are changing right in front of us. Online schools are not going anywhere, and will continue to thrive.

In fact most brick and mortar schools are recognizing the benefits of online learning and are now implementing them in their programs. In fact Harvard University is running a test pilot program of its own. Rutgers University has its own online Accounting program. So here are crystal clear examples of mainstream universities adopting E-Learning. Concerning prospective students reading this post: do your research! E-learning may not be the best option for you. If that is the case, brick and mortar is always available.