It's Conclusive, University is a SCAM proof inside
I know, many of you reading this have likely obtained some form of post secondary education. Some of you may have great jobs as a result and not agree with this statement, some of you probably are on board and feel though that you have been “ripped” by the system and over-paid for your education.
One thing that you cannot argue is the fact that conventional Universities are charging way too much money for their education.
What better way for me to analyze this problem and case my point than to take a local University in Western Canada (University of British Columbia) and reveal a course that is a concept that we are all familiar here with at Wealthy Affiliate; Search Engine Optimization.
I just caught wind of an “online only” offering, called “Search Engine Optimization” (HAS SINCE BEEN REMOVED FROM CURRICULUM).
This is a 6 week course that runs from the dates of May 20th to July 8th, 2014. I think as I dig into the University type of education that is out there, it is going to add a lot of perspective as to what is really going on and how these companies (yes, they are businesses) that we are supposed to trust are gouging us.
The Course is Delivered How? OMG!
It is completely online. It is using free services like Google Hangout and Google Talk (really?!) to run the course. They have no dedicated platform for offering the training other than a Google Hangout and some dialogue with Google’s instant messaging platform, Google talk.
I am surprised actually they just didn’t run this as a Facebook group, it would have been much more relevant to the audience in this day and age so they could post “selfies” while taking the training.
What is going to be taught in this $2,000 SEO Course?
So if you are paying $2,000 for a course, you are going to be expecting to getting a pretty advanced education right? Well in this case, you would be DEAD WRONG.
Here is the breakdown of the topics that are going to be taught within the “accelerated” course:
(1) Key word selection - never seen it spelled this way in the industry, this by all means should be referenced to as "keyword research". I imagine they are using an ineffective tool like keyword planner for this one
(2) Key word placement - very rudimentary stuff, a one liner would suffice for this portion. "Put the keyword within your title, somewhere within the first couple of paragraphs of your content, and then write naturally (with the reader being your focus)." There, saved you $2,000!
(3) Refactoring website content - Rewriting your content from scratch is the best form of refactoring. Anyone with any knowledge of SEO knows that if you try to "fine tune" your content, you are going to be in for a long road in the SEO world.
(4) Evaluate results by running a captive search engine to improve a site's search rankings (huh?) - This makes absolutely no sense and is technical speak trying to fool folks with obviously no SEO knowledge.
Learn techniques related to key word selection, key word placement, refactoring website content and other optimization methods for search engine optimization, and evaluate results by running a captive search engine to improve a site’s search rankings
The keyword training on "low hanging fruit" here at WA is likely much more advanced than the entire training on keywords that will be taught within the course and is all someone really needs to know if they truly want to understand how to rank under keywords.
Are the "teachers" of these courses going to be the "experts"?
That is yet to be determined and they are definitely not selling the course based on “who is teaching” nor do most post secondary programs. Why? Because those that can’t do, typically end up teaching (there are definitely exceptions to this though).
I can recall a business course I took in college. I asked my teacher what her past experience was in business. She told me about her failed attempts at opening a few different boutique "retail shops” and the fact they both failed and went bankrupt. She had actually never achieved success.
I wondered why I would ever want to "learn" business from someone that didn't understand how to create or grow a successful one. It was a complete oxymoron.
That is why you can truly benefit from getting help from those that have experience REAL LIFE success here at WA. Not only are you getting help from people that have been there done that, you are getting help from folks that are at every level success and that are “in the trenches” creating success online.
When it comes to SEO (something so integral to an online business) you want to learn from those that are succeeding with their own campaigns, those that are actually ranking, and those that truly understand the most important metrics (the ones that most others don’t know) that lead to rankings.
I can assure you that THIS WILL NOT BE TAUGHT in this course. Why? Because they don’t have that level of experience, the teacher comes to work to get paid their salary and is likely teaching from a manual. If they were so great at SEO, why wouldn't they be doing it for themselves.
Some quick perspective, Wealthy Affiliate vs. University! (6 weeks vs. 6 years!)
$2,000+ for a 6 week “university” course. To the unsuspecting and those that have been “programmed” to spend lots of money on training within institutions like this, it probably seems like an OK investment. I am investing for my future right?
I guess. Chances are people that take this course will not end up with adequate knowledge, they will have an inexperienced teacher or someone who doesn’t have the “in the trenches knowledge” and the community in which they are going to have access to are also complete newbies, so no community support.
To put this ONE course into perspective of what you are getting here at WA (which is 100x more), you could have a 6 YEAR membership for the same price you could get this ONE 6 week course!
6 years of current and trending training, 6 years of expert help and support, 6 years of earning while you are learning, 6 years of building a successful business online, 6 years of websites/hosting on a state of the art platform, 6 years of access to a platform that has 10,000’s of active discussions/blogs/training resources every month, and 6 years of constant innovation, evolution and improvements!
Or a 6 week course...and one that offers no “credits” or value towards an actual degree.
Also, SEO is only good if you...
- Understand how to set-up your website for SEO
- Understand the intracies of keywords and have access to the right data (like Jaaxy.com and the WA keyword tool)
- Have the ability to build websites and host them on a high speed platform
- Have access to network with other successful folks
- Have the ability to query folks and get instant responses when you need it
- Have reliable and proven video training
- Can get help from experts.
All of these are not included within this “University" SEO training. Now if anyone can tell me that this isn’t a complex hoax and another prime case of universities taking advantage of I would love to hear about it. Also, if you agree or have had similar experiences with “high ticket” education, I would love to hear about it.
PS. Hope this put some perspective as to the value you get here as a Premium member and it is only increasing by the day (as we continually evolve and improve the community here).
Recent Comments
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As much as I believe firmly in continuing education, I don't trust college or university to provide a full comprehensive education on any subject.
Teachers a times can be brain washed into believing everything they are told in school and although they mean while pass on the brain washing to their students.
I had teachers that told me that I could never never write a book, become a motivational speaker, on earn millions through my future career. I realized that many teachers had their dreams beat out of them in school, believing that being helpful or earning a massive income is far to extraordinary for them or their student. I'm not at all saying that they are all like this.
In an investigation of anything, the key is to follow the money. Who ever is profiting the most has the most invested in the project, company, school, government, etc has sway as to the details and foundation of what they have invested in.
If you do your research you will discover that law schools are controlled by the pharmaceutical industry.
I also look to who has the most money to determine as to who really knows there stuff. I think it's interesting how people go to school to learn all about business, but there teachers haven't usually ran a business of their own. I want to become a master marketer, but I would never consider going to school to do so.
As the late Jim Rohn said- "the best education is self-education."
The system of education, in the world as we know it, is corrupt and false. It is not centered around your success or teaches you in any way how to be self-reliant and responsible. It is pressing mostly all people into debts and will keep them there with very limited real to use knowledge.
The theory is important, you need somewhere to start. And more than blank theory you will not get from those courses. Practical experience is yours to collect, or you know where to get it from like here at wa.
Where I was heading with this... wait.. it will come back to me... aaah yes... look folks, I had some "queries" with the school teacher of the son from my wife's first marriage, one was the limitation of a child's talents and expressions excused with the fairness for everyone going to the school.... If you are gifted, get a mentor, learn one on one with professionals, stay the heck away from universities.
the System is build up to earn money, and professors and teachers are not very well paid they are made depending on the school they teach in and kept that way.
the whole society is formed to keep people misinformed, just clever enough to use this or that machinery and pay their taxes. Governments and educational systems do not want you to know to much and actually use your knowledge to gain independence of money and success, they need worker classes to keep their pockets filled and your mind closed. There is only need for leaders in a world of uneducated people not in the world where people tend to take responsibility and focus on service, support and success
Wow! Eye opening for someone considering going back to finish up my bachelor's. Thanks for sharing this Kyle :) This community is the most value anyone can get for the education that is being taught. Still trying to figure out how me paying $6,000 out of pocket this coming year for classes I could learn about by watching a couple of YouTube videos is a worthy investment..
Mostly agree with this. University is outdated. I can learn things I really want to learn online, at my own pace, whenever I need to. I don't have to sit through other classes I don't want to. Often the quality is a lot better (especially for subjects like SEO/marketing), and what you're learning could be free, or a lot cheaper than university.
If I grow my business to the point I can hire someone for full time, I won't look at degrees at all, just at the skills and actual accomplishments they have. I might actually prefer someone who is self-taught, because that'll mean they actually care about their field.
My Fine Arts degree cost me a bomb and gave me zero tools to actually making money as an Artist. Being an Artist is hard enough, but with no tools on how to make money in that industry is crazy.
Thank goodness for WA, it has really furthered my education as an Artist...kind of like the missing puzzle piece for me.
Yeah, that is what is happen at a very high rate these days. People are getting almost "throw away" degrees, ending up with no applied skills and no way to translate their education into anything meaningful.
Hopefully I was one from those that did not pay for higher education.It was included in my grades.Totally Zero.But I know the situation , I was once ready for a Master Degree abroad but cancelled it , and yes this education is high-priced.
I graduated from a national university ,the training was 4 years long but it lacked of practical experience.No visit in facilities , no other kind of action.
In WA you take action from the very first day building a foundation.Brilliant Kyle , I have learned in 5 months here at WA way more than these 4 years there.
Thank you and your team for this opportunity.Really appreciate it.
Excellent post Kyle. What universities, both online and brick and mortar, are charging these days is criminal. Even at the smaller community level colleges. My sister in law was taking a nursing class at a local community college. The class itself was fairly reasonably priced in comparison to the other state colleges, but the cost of the books was astronomical. One of the books cost $900 and the other one was around $1500!! What in the world could justify such a high cost for books?
tell em Kyle!
great post especially for me and other students because i'm right in the middle now...paying up to 2000$ a year for my college and it just keeps disappointing me... the few months im in wealthy affiliate already did more good to my future then my study. school cost me a lot of time, energie and im getting into a student loan dept.... for what? a certificate for a job that pays me bad and is hard to find? nahh... im really wondering what to do because when i tell my family and partner exactly the same as kyle here says...they think i'm crazy and call me a fool if i do that... they say it'll ruin my future.... i could use some advice my friends! what should i do?
greets Tijmen
Apply that same money (in fact just a fraction of it) to your online business and you will be much further ahead!
I only wish I'd found WA three and a half years ago when I signed up for Kaplan. They are an excellent school I must admit and I still have access to their extensive legal databases though long since graduated. But the fact is still the same. Every application/resume submitted (I was seeking to go to work for the government either state or federal) has my birthday and ss# on it. The screening machines for all these millions of applications simply blip me out due to age. Health Care and banks are running the world now. It's either be in business for myself or die off from unnatural selection.
Great Article Kyle, with your permission I would like to post this out to twitter, facebook, and LinkedIn. Thanks again. Also, how's Kai and Carson's family doing? I've been laid up sick so ain't up to speed on things at the moment.
Marty
I certainly can relate, Marty. When I started searching here in Houston, which has been going great guns, I kept getting into the final two but never being chosen. I am convinced that my age kept me out of consideration for many jobs even when my experience matched almost exactly what the job ad was looking for.
In the end, I profited because I found WA!
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I graduated from Western Govenors University, a competency bases university that is accredited. It's about half the cost because like WA, you don't pay for the buildings or outrageous faculty salaries. You have mentors. Like WA, there is also a community if one has a question. This school is growing because technology is bringing great value. WA brings great value too.