Danger signs of a diploma mill
May 10, 2012 | By Tami Abdollah
If you're worried that a private postsecondary school you are considering might be a "diploma mill," here are some warning signs.
In general, the institutions are unaccredited, operate for-profit, grant academic degrees and offer substandard or minimal teaching, with little, if any, work or evidence of competency, said Steve Boilard, managing principal analyst for education at the Legislative Analyst's Office.
Cailin Peterson, a spokeswoman for the Better Business Bureau serving northeast California, testified at a hearing to lawmakers in Sacramento Wednesday on the issue of diploma mills.
She provided the following warning signs:
- The recruiter uses high-pressure sales tactics, especially with younger students.
- The recruiter exaggerates the possible income or job you could end up with or the cost is
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