Park University — Attraction in Parkville

I'm not saying this is a bad school. It is a really affordable option for people who want small class sizes and one-on-one opportunities with professors. But be warned, the small class sizes come with a price. Professors are required to take attendance and often grade for participation. The campus is nice, but quite small. Park does offer some clubs and campus activities, but obviously nothing compared to a larger school. The Copley Quad dorms are very nice and while there isn't a super large community of students who get involved those who do seem to have a great time. That being said, if you are looking for a "typical" college experience this isn't the place. Most of the students commute and many of them are non-traditional meaning they are older than the average student, part-time, or using their GI bill. I don't regret going to Park because it is an affordable school. However, I do wish I'd gone to a more rigorous school, or at least a school with more life. The students for the most part aren't sure engaged and don't have a lot of school spirit. I don't know many students in my classes who are going to drive around with Park bumperstickers or wear the t-shirts around after graduation. For me, when I imagined going to college I pictured a campus filled with the hustle and bustle of student life. I hoped there would be enough of a residential presence that some parties would take place and I kind of anticipated having my mind opened to the world. I thought I'd participate in lively in-class discussion and do research that would prepare me for grad school much more than I have. There's not much diversity and not much student activism (they brag about all of the international students at Park but they aren't integrated into the campus very well). I also thought going to Park would come with the added freedom and flexibility most students dream of after high school graduation. In reality, Park feels a lot like a grownup high school. I want to be clear Park is a good school, you should just know what you're getting into. You can only be as immersed in the college experience as you allow yourself to be and I will admit I didn't really want to drink the Park kool-aid. If you're looking for a school you can become deeply immersed in, this might not be the place. But if you're just looking to get a degree and get out for a good price I do recommend...

The school itself isn't bad, but the classes are absolutely horrible. The assignments do not match up with the course material because they are "being updated," instructors are almost impossible to get ahold of, maps in geography classes are blurry, end-of-course survey questions are irrelevant, case studies are old/outdated, instructors do not unlock units/materials on time, the lectures have many spelling/grammatical errors in them, there is not a standard process for accessing course materials, their "first-day" program does not let you read any textbook material early, they make you download spyware to complete some final exams, and the some instructors seem like bot programs which makes students drop the class. FUTURE STUDENTS: Do not pay money to an organization that is this disorganized and of poor quality. Ironically a class about quality control had many course content errors. PARK: You need to do a serious audit of your academic's programs. Yes, I am an on-line student with Park and I regret staying this long with them. There are a lot of better options to choose from, both in the local area and on-line. I would give them zero stars...

Park has allowed me to go full time to do my undergrad and graduate degree while still supporting my family, and I'm not almost certain that traditional university environments would have allowed me to spend my time at home working at my pace throughout the week and getting to still be with my family. Even though they allow you to have flexibility, the courses are rigorous and professors are there to answer questions when necessary. They respond quickly, and I have had a professor call me when I got confused on something so that he could help me through it right away rather than waiting until later and emailing. Everyone, including advisors are always ready to help, and there is tutoring available for when you have trouble with something in a class. I am almost done with my MBA, and I am so grateful to Park because I don't know if I'd be this far along in my educational journey if it wasn't for their online programs. I definitely recommend this university for anyone who is looking for a legitimate university with the ability to accommodate a career professional in an effort to further...