[catagories: Washington Bankrutpcy attorney]

I have posted earlier on this blog about accreditation confusion, misrepresentation and problems regarding "for profit" colleges receiving accreditation by one of 70 "national" accreditation bodies. However, the better and more respectable schools such as the University of Washington, WSU, Eastern Washington University, Western Washington University, Cental Washington University, Community Colleges and private schools such as Whitworth, Whitman, Gonzaga, Seattle Pacific University, Seattle University and Pacific Lutheran University are accredited by more reputable "regional" accreditation bodies.

The primary benefit of "national" accreditation is that the for-profit schools can then be eligible to receive student loan monies that the students borrow.

Anyone considering enrollment at a "for profit" college/school MUST read the USA Today article written by Mary Beth Marklein, on September 12, 2010. USA Today’s website does not offer this particular article on-line so you will need to go to the library to read it, but it is well worth the trip, I assure you.

Enrollment at "for-profit" colleges is up some 325% between 1998 – 2008, from a mere 552,777 to 1,797,563. Most of these "for profit" schools are heavily dependent upon encouraging their students to sign up for student loans. These student loans (since 1977) have been nearly impossible to get rid of, even in bankruptcy.

Before you sign up for a "for profit" school, you need to become aware and fully informed…you can easily destroy your future. Please do yourself a favor and read the story of single-mother Chelsi Miller, of Utah, who is now $30,000 in debt with what she calls a worthless degree that was not appropriate to advance her career and educational goals.

Ms. Marklein’s article is excellent and will start you well on your journey to understanding the nearly incomprehensible universe of college accreditation. Ms. Marklein will also show you how the "for-profit" schools misrepresent and hoodwink students into believing the for-profit school "national" accreditation is as valid as a more highly regarded "regional" accreditation.

She will also teach you that even a "for-profit" school with some degree of "regional" accreditation is still suspect. Herein lies a trap!…. so please read the other things I have written about Ms. Marklein’s September 29, 2010 article.

IDEAS FOR ACTION: Considering more education? You MUST secure a copy of the Wednesday, September 12, 2010 USA Today paper containing Ms. Mary Beth Marklein’s detailed investigative article before you sign up for any schooling or student loans.