The issue with unaccredited university
A few weeks ago, a student came to my office. He was not a Carnegie Mellon student but attended another school in New York. He said: “I sent you an email several weeks ago, you replied to me and modified it then put it on your blog. I am the person who studies computer science but could not find a job, despite applying for many jobs and received no interview.” I remembered the email, and after answering him, I did put it on the science and technology blog title: “Looking for a job.” He told me: “My parents spend a lot of money for me to go to the U.S. to learn computer because everyone said I could make a lot of money.”
Of course, computer science and information technology are the “Hot” careers. And every year, thousands of International students came to study in the U.S. with a dream of getting a good job and making a lot of money. It is why computer science and software engineering are the most popular fields of study in U.S. college these days. But not all schools are legitimate in the job market. There are universities “open as a business for profit” but do not receive accreditation. The reason for him not getting any job offer because he attended one of those. The problem of pursuing a degree from a non-accredited university is it will affect your future employment opportunities. Most companies in the U.S. will not hire graduates if the degree they have is issued by a university that is not accredited. Unaccredited universities do not have the same educational standards and policies as accredited schools, and they operate to provide income to the owners. Attending a non-accredited university is easy because the only qualification is your ability to pay the tuition. Many schools also provide significant scholarships to lure students in because they need more students to make higher profits. If you “Google” fake degrees or not accredited universities you can find thousands of these schools who sell fake degrees for a price.
Since students who came from other countries do not know about these type of “Scam.” Many fell victims to this unethical practice. In the past few years, there were hundred of “phony universities” open for business in the U.S. They rent a building, hiring some professors, set up websites to advertise with great promise, and give scholarships, then issue degrees to students who can afford to pay. Even the U.S. government has tried to shut them down, but there are so many of them, and it is impossible to eliminate this type of “scam.” Since their victims are mostly foreigners, police usually ignore them until there are some complaints. Most legitimated universities do not accept degrees or transfer credits from a school that is not accredited, so the time and efforts you spend on these “fake” schools are a waste. Students who get a degree from a school that is not accredited and tries to pursue another degree at an accredited university will not get accepted.
The student told me: “I did not know about my school that is not accredited. They accepted me and gave me a scholarship. I only pay a small amount to attend as they offer accelerated degree programs, instead of four years to get a bachelor degree, I can get a degree in less than three years. Now I do not know what to do. I have a degree that is not considered “legitimate” and has no job and no future. After receiving your email, I came to see you and hope that you can help. I do not know what to tell my parents now since they have a high expectation for my education.”
I explained to him that I could not help him. The best he can do is, telling the truth to his parents about the situation. Since he already graduated, he has a very short time to stay in the U.S., as he must return home. However he can share his experience, so others will not make the same mistake. After some discussions, he agreed that I could share his story on my blog.
For many years written about technology and education in Facebook and Blog, I have received many emails from Parents and students asked me for advice about choosing a field of study. I have written many articles about this as well as how to prepare to study in college. I always advise students: “Find a field of study that you love but make sure that you can make a living with that.” It is best to study something that challenges you to work hard rather some easy ones. You may have to spend more time to study, but the reward would be better. Select the best school with the best professors because you will meet other students who will challenge you to study harder to reach your potential ability.
Each year many students come to the U.S. with a big dream. But many are NOT prepared to deal with the new way of learning in U.S. universities. Many do not carefully research for the right school and the right fields of study. Many are “blinded” by some promises of scholarship and financial aids without checking the facts. Even today many information are available online, but few have conducted any investigation to learn about the school where they will build their future career. Following is a list of schools that are not accredited, I am sure there are more, but at least, you can check them. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_unaccredited_institutions_of_higher_education http://www.collegesanddegrees.com/accreditation
Some blogs about fake universities:
Sources
- Blogs of Prof. John Vu, Carnegie Mellon University
