Grand Canyon University [GCU] review: Tuition

My name Is Melodie Reece I have been going to Grand Canyon University since 2016 right out of high school. I started August of 2016 on campus for my bachelor's in nursing, after about 3 months I went in person to speak to an advisor about switching my major. Unsure of who I spoke to in person, I let them know that the nursing program was very rigorous, and I had professors telling me I needed to study and do homework for their class alone for 8 plus hours on top of me working full time. After much thought, I let the advisor know I wanted to become a therapist, get licensed and start my own practice. I was advised by this advisor to switch major to bachelor's in behavioral health science. I completed that program on 1/10/2021, from that I worked closely with multiple advisors whom I have attached emails from me and them letting them know my goal had not changed. I was advised to move onto a master's program to pick any psychology program, I went with forensic psychology. I completed my masters of science in psychology with an emphasis on forensic psychology 2.1.23. About 5 months before I completed my masters, I reached out to an advisor to see about my internship and the steps I needed to take to get licensure. They had informed me that the program I was in would not get me licensed and I could either stop the master's program and get into another or just continue this program and do my doctorate in psychology at GCU and get licensed that way. I decided to stay in the program since I had already planned to go for my doctorate. Once I had completed my master's program I reached out to my advisor, was told I needed to talk to a doctorate advisor, reached out to them and it took them three weeks to get back to me. On that call I was informed that none of GCU doctorate programs are accredited which means I can't get licensed with them, nor is there a doctorate in clinical psychology program. He sent me a list of schools that are accredited and have a clinical psychology program. There are two in Arizona, which are midwestern and ASU. I applied to both and got put onto a waiting list for both for an undetermined amount of time due to their programs being extremely popular. For midwestern I would have to do another master's program then move onto the PSYD program. So now it is April I was told by both schools I should look into doing a program somewhere else till I am pulled, reached back out to GCU 3.28.23 and expressed my concerns and how I was led the wrong way. I talked to Courtney, my advisor, and she encouraged me to apply for the masters in clinical mental health counseling so I could get licensed. She sent me the board of Arizona's website so I could ensure this program would get me licensed. She apologized if she gave me any false information. In this situation, apologies only get us so far. I am $80,000 in debt from student loans and about to have another $40,000 on top of that due to these advisors leading me the wrong way and lying about programs. Now, I am having to crawl back to GCU because of them being the only school that can accept me right now due to me being an alumni. I am owed something from this whole mess, I am about to be $120,000 in debt and i want to find and navigate a solution that I feel is acceptable and benefits both parties involved. As I know image and reputation are of upmost importance to the school and education, respect and integrity are important to me. I ask for this due to me being lied to from multiple advisor's, the emotional distress that has been placed on me since dealing with this situation and now it will take me even longer before I am able to get a doctorate and finish my end goal which is being a licensed therapist with my own practice. It is only right that I am paid adequately for this mess. This is a situation that can be detrimental to any students continued education and could very possibly cause many students to drop out or grow a distaste for the education system as a whole, with the added falling short of expectation regarding your schools boasting being the premier Christian university. Which my experience does not reflect that self-evaluation. Recently as of 2.20.24 i am unable to get my advisor Becky Coady to respond to me about a balance that I supposably owe the school. I am trying to ensure I will be able to start my next class which is March 6th but do not know if this balance will keep me from it. I feel like i am being ignored and have made multiple email attempts which are attached to this letter along with calling and leaving voicemails for her to reach back to me. I would like to be reached out to about the situation with my previous master's program with GCU and I would like to be reached out to about this current balance i am being told I have.

In a world where healthcare professionals are farther and farther between and in continued increasing need we need to ensure that we implement processes and procedures that allow for these professionals to complete their goals and provide care to the community and society in which we all operate.

Best Regards,

Melodie Reece