Capella University

Determination. Curiosity. Independence. Those are thee of the things that will ensure you get the most out of your education at Capella. The types of courses they had for my program were nuanced and appropriate and there was a consistent demand to call upon critical thinking skills which has improved every facet of my life. The online platform brings a level of digestibility when it comes to time and flexibility in accordance to lifestyle as an adult learner. While I wouldn’t trade my Capella education,... Read More there were a few things a which Capella fails, not because they don’t know, but because they don’t see the urgency or importance. 1. Scholarships and financial Aid. Capella’s scholarship and financial aid options are somewhat abysmal. Capella promises progress rewards and continuing education rewards in substantial amounts to attract students to their program. What they don’t disclose is the fact that you only actually get that amount if you slow down your pace with degree completion. The funds are not taken off the top of your tuition. It is broken up in quarters so there is still a chance that you will have to pay them even though you still have scholarship money from them. This, in a way, penalizes high performing students. Should a learner take three classes a quarter, these “progress” and “alumni” rewards won’t apply meaning, they get paid. They also do not give individualized, merit-based scholarships. Your background, major, or academic achievements are not basis for financial aid outside of the standards for the canned scholarships that they may offer. 2. Instructors. I’ve had some wonderful instructors. I’ve also had instructors who fall on the opposite end. Non responsive, offensive, and uninterested. For an educational institution that wishes its students to lean into critical thinking, it would seem that their instructors would hold the same value for that. Not so. I clearly remember asking a question to get more information from an instructor hoping for an open dialogue to learn and expand my idea. I was told “you’re overthinking.” There was no inquisition as to my question and I never got my question answered and ended up answer my question on my own. This was not a one-time occurrence. I’ve waited days for responses only to remind instructors that I was still waiting. The irony: to this day, I still have not received a response. While this was an extreme case it’s not uncommon. Furthermore, I and other learners have experienced instructors short-temperedness, lack of human understanding, and apathetic attitude towards learner-instructor engagement. 3. Academic Advisors. I thought this would be the only place where I could get guidance and understanding about the path I wanted to take. Surprisingly, I was incorrect. My academic advisor could not answer basic questions about the process and was often unavailable to the point where I built my own academic plan out of necessity. Capella frequently sends surveys to its students and I complete them in earnest, but I wonder if they’re read and considered. While this is an educational institution, it’s a business first, and when you get past the degree options and go below the surface, as long as they’re getting paid, there’s no real care past that point. I thought that maybe my experience was unique. It is not. In fact, it’s more common than it should be. I am a more shrewd and aware learner, but it’s not because I had to be that way to learn AT Capella. It’s because I had to be that way to LEARN Capella.

I chose the flex path for both my BSN and MSN-education. I'm not a great test taker and now that I've been a practicing nurse for 14 years, with parenting and other responsibilities, this path worked well for me. I saw some nurses complete their degrees in one or two billing cycle but I took a little over a year for each degree. Flex path allowed me to write papers on my expertise, hospice. Some where so good I was encouraged to publish. I feel that I learned more about hospice by writing papers... Read More using current evidence based practice that I was immediately able to apply to my employment. This improved my job satisfaction and my patients and coworkers as well. I didn't get a raise, though my employer gave me thousands of dollars towards tuition and I never have to go back to floor Nursing unless I choose. I loved that I could spend as long as I needed on a paper and never felt stressed. The support I got from the professors was wonderful. As an adult learner in an online educational setting, I felt very comfortable without brick and morter classroom format.

I am finishing up my doctoral degree in education (higher education specialization). Overall I had a great experience at Capella! Each class was 10 weeks. There were 10 core classes and then 6 advanced doctoral classes where I wrote my dissertation. I became very close with my cohort. My mentor was attentive and available. The work is challenging yet manageable. I feel a sense of pride that I am almost done with a Dr. in front of my name! If I had to do it all again, I would still choose Capella!... Read More