Virginia Commonwealth University

I've been at VCU since 2003. I've had to take a semester off or only take once class due to high tuition costs over the years. I always managed to work full time and pay tuition until Spring 09. I was past due about 3500.00 dollars. I called VCU and asked for a payment plan and they told me that it must be completed at the beginning of the semester. I started saving up to pay VCU off, and I planned to reach my goal by Dec. On yesterday I recieved a letter that my account has been referred to collections and a collections fee of 25%, which is about $875.00, has been applied to my balance. The letter stated that I MUST CALL FOR A PAYMENT PLAN OR THEY WILL REPORT TO CREDIT BUREAUS, FILE FOR GARNISHMENTS ETC. I was on my way to take a test at the community college I'm attending and I collasped and cried. I am basically being charged $875.00 to do a payment plan, and being threatened if I do not, but I have wanted to do a payment plan all along! VCU is not understanding during these hard economic times when money is not guranteed, and circumstances for students change. Please stay away from VCU, run as fast and far as you can. They will turn into a greedy bank and kick you out than chase you down like mortgage companies during foreclosures. I've already been charged a 100.00 late fee, so in reality VCU has charged me an additional 975.00. I plan on contacting attorneys about the excessive 25% fee. Beware of VCU, they will screw you if ever go through a financial hardship.

5th Year Female -- Class 2009

Perceived Campus Safety: C, Education Quality: F

VCU sucks. There is little more to say. The faculty do not care about you. The classes are enormous. People get raped and murdered in the streets around campus EVERY week, no exaggeration. As an example. and please do not take this as racism, but I took a Literature class this past semester. The TA I was assigned to, who graded all of my essays, was a Chinese exchange student. SHE HAD BEEN LIVING IN AMERICA ONE YEAR. All of her correspondence, when it happened once every bloon moon, were emails full of broken English and misspelling. AND SHES MY ENGLISH TEACHER. This has not been atypical of my experience at VCU. ugh.

2nd Year Male -- Class 2010

Surrounding City: B-, Education Quality: F