I am so frustrated with Ashford University right now!
For those of you that know, I have been trying to become an online TA for Ashford University. It would be a great set up if I could actually get the job– grade papers from home for a 5 week online course, get paid $1,000! But they have this RIDICULOUS 3 week training course that is more time consuming than the job would actually be. Why? Because they make you sit through these power point presentations, hunting for answers to a weekly test. And their database is incredibly cumbersome. The more “user friendly” they try to make it, the more difficult it becomes.
The FIRST time I tried to under go this training, I’ll admit. I didn’t take it seriously. I vastly underestimated just how frustrating the database would be. Plus, we moved the first week the training started, so I lost internet service. By Week 2 of the training, I had made enough mistakes that they “eliminated” me.
But they did ask if I wanted to try again. And, since I’m a glutton for punishment, I did try again, armed with insider knowledge of what specific things they would be grading on.
I did everything perfect. I mean EVERYTHING. All of my evaluations said, “Great! 100%!” With the exception on one thing. The last night before the training ended, the night that all the papers were due, their system crashed. Simply put, it WOULD NOT OPEN UP. I tried 3 different computers, 3 different web browsers, and, NOTHING.
So, on the last day of training, I was eliminated. Because their system crashed (as they admitted) and I was unable to load my graded papers until the following morning.
But they did ask if I wanted to try again.
Now, after having wasted 5 weeks of my life on this University (not to mention the 3 month long EXTENSIVE interview and selection process), I was very tempted to send a nasty letter and walk away. I sent the letter, but did not walk away. I decided, for the sake of our unborn child, to try again. Working from home is a priceless commodity, one that I could not pass up.
So, here I am, trying once again. Third time’s the charm, right?
WRONG. In the past 3 months, they’ve REDONE the entire system. All of the clunky navigating I learned to do in the old system (which usually caused me to have at least 10 windows open at one time!) is now useless. It’s all different. And, in my opinion, clunkier than ever. Half of the time I spend isn’t even grading things– it’s trying to figure out how to send an “email” to a mock student!
Please pray for me, as I attempt to keep my sanity. I am this close to unleashing my scary pregnant attitude.