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• Investigate the organization you're considering paying for help. Talk to a guidance counselor or financial aid advisor who is not part of the company before spending your money. You may be able to get the same help for free.
• Ask for a list of at least three local families who've used the serv- ices in the last year, then ask each if they're satisfied with the products and services received. It’s just the same as your being asked for references when you apply for a job.
• Ask how much money is charged for the service, what exactly the services are that you can expect to receive, and the compa- ny's refund policy. Get it in writing!
Bogus Diplomas
Some people may be tempted to pay a flat fee for a degree awarded on life experience without having to take any courses. Businesses that offer this type of degree are called “diploma mills.” If you use a so- called “degree” from a diploma mill to apply for a job or promotion, you risk not getting hired, getting fired, and in some cases, being prosecuted. Most employers and educational institutions consider it lying if you claim academic credentials that you didn’t earn through actual course work.
Watch Out for these Signs of a Diploma Mill
• “No Studies, No Exams—Get a Degree for Your Experience .” Diploma mills grant degrees for “work or life experience” alone. Accredited colleges may give a few credits for specific life experi- ences, but not an entire degree.
• “No Attendance .” Legitimate colleges or universities, including online schools, require substantial course work.
• “Flat Fee .” Many diploma mills charge on a per-degree basis. Legitimate colleges charge by the credit, course, or semester, not a flat fee for an entire degree.
Student Loans and the Cost of a Good Education 73