Yorkville University — Attraction in Downtown

Yorkville University is a huge disappointment.

I applied for transfer credit for a graduate-level research methods course that I had completed and the transfer credit was denied, then I appealed it (denied again), then I requested an "advanced standing" to show that I was willing to take an additional elective (denied again). Their reasoning was that my research methods was in Education and theirs was in Counselling. However, research methodology is universal in many ways, but the kicker is that when I got to the course, they were using an undergraduate-level textbook and all the concepts were very basic and my previous course was more comprehensive.

Further in the program, I found Yorkville had very slow response times for support requests, lacked empathy for students, and were very rigid in their policies. Although I understand the need to be strict with policies to ensure fairness to all students, it felt that there was no empathy for extenuating circumstances and people subsequently left the program.

One of my largest criticisms for the MACP is that all of my instructors were from the United States and did not understand Canadian regulating bodies, Canadian ethics, etc. We were often encouraged to focus on assessment and diagnosis which are outside the professional boundaries for Canadian counsellors. I also found a heavy emphasis on CBT without much leeway for alternative theories or modalities. Generally speaking, having instructors from a different country with different systems was not at all helpful for preparing me for the work of being a counsellor.

Although the program got me to where I wanted to be, I was disappointed for my colleagues from Alberta that were ineligible from registering with their governing body because Yorkville hadn't ensured their instructors met the requirements for their Alberta students. When we're paying $50,000 for a program, there needs to be some accountability for ensuring students are eligible for their professional registration when that's the promise sold to us.

The tuition was exorbitantly expensive for the level of support and instruction we receive, it is very much an asynchronous program which is what I wanted; however, I found that the instructor engagement in the DQs was lack luster, from an American perspective, and often wasn't as valuable as I had hoped. I found it extremely disappointing that tuition was increased every semester without additional support or value added to our education, for a completely online school, there is simply no reason for the tuition to be as high as it is; the reason likely being greed.

Yorkville changed the practicum seminar with no notice to students and no input from the student body. Students would be assigned to a seminar without their preferences taken into consideration. This posed a huge concern because we had to request accommodations with work, develop a schedule for our practicum placement, and then try to balance a seminar on top of it. Not taking student's schedules into consideration is hugely disrespectful and dismissive of the hard work that we put in to accommodate our school requirements.

Practicum is an additional problem when the practicum coordinators are unhelpful and unresponsive, they do not help you secure a practicum, that is entirely up to you. I was lucky that I secured my practicum almost a year in advance, but I had friends that had to defer their practicum because Yorkville neglected to highlight there's a different deadline for public health placements and they missed the deadline thinking they had the same deadline as everyone else.

Finding information about important dates, deadlines, tuition payments, etc. is extremely hard. Getting a tuition receipt is extremely difficult, with support requests in general being dismissive and patronizing.

The ultimate kicker is that I am now 6 months past my program completion and I'm still waiting on Yorkville to send me my degree.

Update: They just charged me $125 for my grad fee, 7...

Once admitted into a program, delay in response from admission advisor. Standard speaking advisors that don't answer your questions and concerns... which leaves you hanging and questioning the university..? When contacting the campus no one picks up.. multiple voicemails left no response..seems like all they care about it money at the end of the day...totally unacceptable!

UPDATE:

Im a dedicated, domestic student at YU for the past 2 years. Admission advisors are still super unhelpful the ticketing system is horrible and no one responses and if they do, they don't comprehend what you're requesting due to lack of comprehension, admission advisor (Beyza Uygun). There registration process is extremely stressful and the system always glitches or has some sort of error which is inconvenient for students. good luck trying to contact the front desk because they don't pick up, voicemails are not controlled. Only person which is responsive and helpful is Dr. Ted James.

UPDATE:

I am beyond disappointed in the overall quality of this university.. there are no rules and it's truly difficult to communicate with everyone in each department including some professors advisors they dont understand your point. Financial department is a nightmare to deal with.. they just want your money at this point... there is no rules.. they basically make their own and switch it up every once a while. I would recommend to anyone finish your degree sooner then later. these people truly dont care about you seems like some even hate there job, even when you try to give them feedback, no improvements. -1/5...

Yorkville University completely ruined my convocation.

If I could, I would rate this university a 0. This university has been nothing but a constant source of stress, disorganization, and complete negligence. The final straw was during my convocation. A package—personally sent by my fiancé to make my day special—was stolen because the university couldn’t be bothered to have anyone at the front desk. It was left out in the open with zero supervision, and obviously, someone else took it. That package was meant for ME, and thanks to their carelessness, my entire day was ruined.

This wasn’t a one-time slip-up either. Throughout my time here, Yorkville has been nothing short of a nightmare. Advisors don’t respond, guidance is vague or missing entirely, and students are constantly left in the dark. The staff always has an excuse, always blames someone else, and never takes accountability for the mess they create.

There’s absolutely no sense of responsibility or professionalism here. You’re just a tuition payment to them—don’t expect any real support. I’ve spent years trying to stay patient, but this convocation disaster pushed me over the edge. There is no excuse for how poorly this university is run.

If you’re thinking of enrolling here—don’t. Save yourself the stress, the wasted money, and the emotional toll. Yorkville University is a joke, and it’s time more people started speaking...