Working at EDMC Education Management Corporation — Reviews by Employees

EDMC is a complete disaster. I recently quit after being there a few years and I can tell you, this place will eventually be shut down by the Department of Education or by having lawsuits bigger than they can handle.

Pay- As you know, Assistant Directors of Admission work off of a matrix. Basically, you are paid for how many students you enroll. The matrix was developed to make it seem like they are also paying people based on "soft skills," however, 99% of your pay is based on how well you can scam people into sub par education. It's true, you can make quite a bit of money if you are willing to do this. I did well during the time I was there, but towards the end, I felt like the I was making money at the expense of others who had no business in higher education. Yes, it is the student's choice, but it made me sick. Not to mention, managers have control of the lead flow, so if you are not one of the "golden children," you will likely spend 8 hours per day listening to ringtones.

Respect- Ha! Very few people in this place have respect for themselves, much less respect for others. Managers motivate by fear and fear alone. This is likely due to lack of skills. One manager even attempted to schedule bathroom breaks for grown adults! Women are constantly being hit on by co-workers and members of management. People are bouncing balls and shouting inapproriate things across they floor while others are on the phone. It's embarassing. Students get even less respect.

Benefits- These were not bad. Their biggest pull is that you can have free education at any of the schools EDMC owns. However, those classes or degrees will likely be worthless in the real world very soon. They pride themselves on being a private, brick and mortar school. Anyone who has gone to a traditional college knows this place is NOT the same!

Job Security- Absolutely terrible. Every single day you walk into this place, you are reminded that you can be fired. It does not matter if you have enrolled 25 students or 0 students. If you have 0 applications on the week, start praying. And forget it if you refuse to "drink the kool-aid." Anyone who attempts to question the way things are done, suggests a new way of doing something, or complains about the various forms of ongoing harrassment will be shunned and fired or forced to quit.

Work/Life Balance- When I first got there, I worked a lot of overtime. Yes, they do require you to work the Saturday before and after a start day. The are up front about that policy. However, it quickly becomes clear that to move up, you should have no life outside of EDMC. One manager even said, "This is probably not the best place to work if you have a family." Eventually, I stopped volunteering for overtime and got my life back.

Career Potential- There is some room for growth at this company. However, there is no clear way to be promoted. They change policies every week. I know someone who was told, "If you achieve this, we will promote you next month." They met the goal and then were given another goal to acheive before promotion. A complete run around. On the other hand, if you are young, impressionable, and naive, you will be promoted quickly. They tend to promote people who will drink the kool-aid and not question anything. Because of the job market, there are tons of overqualified people who work at EDMC. There are brilliant, experienced businessmen and educators who work hard and do well. However, they are not the ones promoted. There is no room for new ideas at EDMC. At one time, I was on my way to being promoted. Once I realized what was going on, I decided this was not the place for me and it was time to move on.

Location- It's fairly convenient to reach, but the surrounding neighborhood is awful. Make sure your car is full of gas in the morning and walk with a buddy in the parking lot. The building itself is clean.

Co-worker Competence- There are hard-workers and there are slackers, like at any company. I rated this area low because of manager competence. It's not what you know, it's who you know. My last manager was a disaster. This was his first job out of college and had no idea how to lead people. He name-called and harrassed people. When he wasn't doing that, he was planning trips to Vegas or his next drinking binge with his manager buddies. The upper management did little to improve the situation and told me "be part of the solution and help him lead." This begs the question, if he wasn't ready to lead, why was he in that position? The truth is, they have no concrete was of developing talent or they don't know how.

Work Environment- If you like a place run by fear and filled with harrassment, then apply today! There are directors having inappropriate relationships with subordinates. The place is a sexual harrassment lawsuit waiting to happen. When I first started, it was widely known that EDMC was not U of P and they were proud of that. However, two of EDMC's highest ranking officials are directly from U of P, one whom is still in legal trouble for use of financial aid funds and work place environment problems. All I can say is, the best predictor of future behavior is past behavior. EDMC will likely have the same fate as U of P in terms of legal trouble.

I am saddened at what this company has become. I used to be proud to enroll students. By the end of my time, I couldn't stomach "changing lives" of students by enrolling them in classes that would not transfer and would likely fail. EDMC no longer cares about the students or employees. It is simply about the money. I understand that this is a for profit school and it's sales job. But that doesn't make it okay. I believe there are consequences for everything and sooner or later, EDMC will have to reap what they sow.

I have been with the company for a couple of years now. I had several different jobs in finance, mortgages, and the healthcare field before this. I think this is the best job I've ever had. It is a little like high school - you always have the idiots that talk about how teachers give the best grades to their pets and it's impossible to get A's if you don't kiss butt, etc. it's a sales job and the cream always rises to the top - kind of like it does in school or any other environment where you have people with different aptitudes trying to achieve goals.

Most of my close friends in this company make six-figures and the job really isn't tough enough to warrant that kind of an income - but I'm not going to complain about being over-paid. It's easy to get massive raises after being with the company for only 6 months. I can tell you one thing, you wil have to work your tail off if you want to make a terrific living - how many people do you know that make six figures but don't ever have to work? I like coming in on Saturdays because it's easier to catch potential students at home - they generally have around one Saturday a month where it's "strongly encouraged" that you come in to work. I make over a $100K and I can't believe how well I'm treated. There's a sales component to the position, but they rate you on a lot of different factors like customer service, professionalism, attitude, etc. It's easy to move up in the company if you come in to work and do your job every day. There are a lot of people that are practically asking to be fired because they show up late and don't do any work all the time, I can't believe how long they're able to MOOCH paychecks from the company.

Here are the factors:

1. Pay - awesome, hard working people can make a lot of money
2. Respect - terrific; if you do what they pay you to do, everyone is really, really nice and easy going with you
3. Benefits - pretty good, I haven't had any complaints
4. Job Security - As long as you are ethical and you don't break the compliance rules from the Dept of Education, you have amazing job security; they will put your stuff in a box and walk you out of the building if you're a cheater; out of maybe 50 top performers (around 500 total ADAs in Pittsburgh and Phoenix), 3 have been fired for breaking compliance rules; simple rule: DON'T CHEAT, EARN YOUR PAY!
5. Work/Life Balance - No one has ever pressured me to do something that I didn't want to do, but I put a lot of pressure on myself to stay late and come in on the weekends when I need to do that to achieve my objectives; but, I can tell you that you're never going to get a high-paying sales job if you're not willing to make some sacrifices
6. Career Potential/Growth - the company is growing very quickly and they really need people to step into leadership roles right away; I avoid moving up because I'm compensated better than most of the people in management - I feel like I can step into a management role whenever I'm ready... no one has ever pressured me to do anything I didn't want to do and they have offerred me promotions that I politely declined
7. Location - The Cotton Center is nice but the neighborhoods around it are a little sketchy; I've never heard of any employee facing any danger, though
8. Co-worker Competence - There are a lot of good people that work at EDMC and I really like my colleagues, but they do sometimes make hiring mistakes for new ADAs; some ADAs don't have any real potential, aptitude for success, or any sort of drive to work hard
9. Work Environment - very friendly and people really let you do your own thing if you're successful; it's easy to make friends at work, but not all of the employees are trust-worthy (office politics like everywhere else - if you tell someone outside your circle of friends something, it goes around the office pretty quickly)

Reading all of these posts, I would suggest contacting the US Department of Education, what is concerning is the payments that the Admission Representative are receiving. The politics will never stop at any company, but there are Federal Regulations with the Compensation that Admission Representatives can not be based soley on enrollments. This is a good way to change their business practices, and it will effect the politics that go on there and hopefully make it a better place to work.

I have worked at 2 other organizations that compete with EDMC. I have learned a lot at each one of them and have a lot of respect for what each of them do. It is my personal opionion that EDMC offers the great opportunity for career growth and true professional development. I will say that admissions/enrollment is not for everyone and most of the bitter reviews written are from those that could not or decided not to perform at the highest level. This is true in any position with any company. You are not going to get a good review from somebody who was either let go because of performance or quit because they felt they deserved to be paid more. I have never felt that EDMC has done any unethical. Each person decides on their own what they will or will not do. There is just no place for forcing unethical behavior. If someone feels that way, again they are in a position that is not cut out for them. Although every company can improve in areas, EDMC being no exception, it is a great company to work for and I would invite anyone who is looking for a rewarding place to have a career to look into a position with the company.

This company is a people mill. They tell you every week you are expendable. They want you to work 6 days a week with no extra incentive. Management is not competent and I am in fear of my job daily. Please, so one out there help us!

The campus leadership and work environment is balancing out since the numero uno dictator Glenn and his DOA puppet Joe left town!

Bottom line: this company is totally shady, and the admissions rep position SUCKS. RUN. FAST. They are flirting with the fine line between being a diploma mill and real school and all they care about is Title IV funding for "students" who have online access to seal their unfortunate fate of choosing an online education from a for profit "institution". EDMC promotes "helping change lives" and "fulfill the dream" of potential students. Translate: they want the cash from poor, uneducated and usually unemployed people who feel that education might be a fit for them. The EDMC marketing group is a bunch of bottom feeders who pander to people who don't do their homework (no pun intended) about a good choice for education. In training, they show you a 60 Minutes story (I'm sure this is on youtube, please look for it) about the diploma mill scam, and how schools have been shut down. The trainers are very proud to point out that EDMC is not mentioned in this story. That video scared the bejezzus out of me at the thought of EDMC even being considered a part of this scam. But they are, and so is every other for profit institution out there. There are MANY better choices for students, and trust me, at $448 per credit, this school is hardly a good deal.

There are only a few reasons you should EVER work here and here they are: 1) you have a criminal record or some background that will show up in a real company background check (there's none here), 2) you have no sales experience or you're fresh out of college, 3) you're a regular drug user (no drug test), or 4) you have no college degree. Funny how a "college" doesn't require you to have a degree to work there.

You're locked at a desk for 8 hours a day clicking a mouse, sometimes making 400 calls per day and not speaking to a single human being. You talk to people all day who don't even have a grasp of the English language let alone be able to make it through "college". The sales process is all smoke and mirrors. They use this great tactic called a "second voice" which means that you're handing off a potential student, on the phone, to your "director" who is supposed to make the student feel more comfortable, i.e., close the sale. They're trying to create an illusion of a real school which is easy to do on the phone. Deplorable behavior on the part of MANY employees (yelling, bouncing balls, etc).

Pay - sucks. If you start high on the food chain (and by high I mean 45 to 50 K which ain't high in my book for sales) you will NEVER increase your salary without being shady and push to the point that it's painful for you and the student. They say you can increase your salary significantly after your first 6 months - sure, if you're fed like the top producers are, which you won't be, or if you're one of Bernie Madoff's disciples. This is a no win situation for pay. For the amount of money you make here, you can find a job with WAY less stress and be WAY happier.

Respect - zero. If you're getting applications from students, you're fine for the time being. Sales is not about respect so this is no surprise. Look out if you're not producing, you will have a bullseye on your back, forehead, and chest. No help from anywhere.

Benefits - good, if you want to pay out the nose for them. The flex spending program is a pain but worth it. 401K is decent. Free "education" if you want it. if you have no degree and you can stomach this hell hole for a couple years, not a bad idea.

Job security - a joke. There is none. Very high school environment so if you're playing the game you're ok. If not, forget it. And FORGET IT if you're not getting applications, even though the lead sources are out of your control completely.

Career potential - EDMC is making money hand over fist, which is what attracted me, but HOW they're making their money is very disturbing. Managers are all average age about 28 and have limited life experience let alone sales experience. Many people are scrambling to get out of admissions because it sucks so bad, but even other departments don't want to hire people from admissions because they know the person is looking to jump ship anywhere they can. If you're good at the casting couch approach, you'll be very successful in a very short time.

Location - Strip district of Pittsburgh. Loved being there, but you pay to park, minimum of $65 per month. That blows. If you're physically challenged in any way, you will never be able to work here since you have to walk a great distance from anywhere to the office. Of course, when they move the entire operation out to Phoenix in the near future, that won't be a factor at all.

Co worker competence - everyone, especially directors and their directors, is VERY well versed in financial aid because that's the only way this company makes money of course. Managers are a joke, 28 year old used car salespeople who are promoted based on their succes in admissions, NOT on actual qualifications. They teach barbaric and pushy sales tactics and you will be ostracized if you don't use them. You'll also be unsuccessful because being shady and unethical are the only way you can be successful here.

Work environment - sucks also. Hours are horrible, you can work until 8PM depending on your shift. Forget about having a personal life. Managers constantly hound you about doing overtime during the week as well as on weekends which is good for your paycheck but sucks for your personal life. There is a HUGE infestation of mice in the entire building and it's covered with mouse traps. Don't be surprised to open your drawer at your desk and find a family of mice. It's happened. Several times. Most unprofessional work environment I've ever worked in. It's like high school only without the bells and the lockers. So much for "raising the level of professionalism," which is what the CEO said he wants to do. That's a joke.

If you are an honest individual do not take a position with this company. This place is like being in the 8th grade all over again. You are either "In the Click" or you are not. If you are not the apple of your "Directors" eye, then you will endure a painstaking year of the same salary if you do not get fired in the meantime. If you like brown -nosing or sleeping your way to the top; I stongly encourage you to obtain immediate employment - you will THRIVE. This place is not about helping people get educated; it is all about the MONEY. The very last day of your telemarketing training, you are introduced to the Matrix whereas you can make a ton of money only after 6 months. You are handed leads as old as ten years old and expected to make 150-200 calls per day from them with a few new Careerbuilder leads daily. The new leads are called three times a day. Very similar to stalking someone. You are told that you will receive your "fair share" of leads. WRONG!!! If your "director" does not like you for any reason at all; you will be stuck on the autodialer they call PACE all day long while the favorites are being handed the "Golden" leads in strict confidence. ("Make sure you never tell anyone that I gave you this lead.") The director's favorite workers get leads left and right and do not have to autodial for 8 hours straight like the bottom feeders that are not favored. Sound fair?

Someone should report this place to the Department of Education. There is a $50 application fee for all students to apply. Some are pursuaded to pay while others have it waived at the discretion of the director This fee is not applied to the new students financial aid nor is it refunded back to the applicant. Why are some being charged this fee while others are not. More importantly why isn't the money applied to to the applicants financial plan? It essentially is discriminating against those who are willing to pay the fee.

You may read favorable posts to this website. These are the brown-nosers or extra marital affair co-workers that I was referring to earlier. Looking for a career with security? Try a reputable company, not an institution that grossly overcharges people to go back to school and maintains a constant revolving door for it's employees.

lack of integrity and appreciation for employees

But let me begin with positives...students, benefits...and my co-workers
biggest complaint....salary!! Goldman sachs was bailed out and we get a mere 1.8 raise!!!!
my friends who teach high school make more than we do!!
admissions director is a ruthless and power-hungry - ec committee, lacks integrity

The company treats its employees as disposable as napkins and uses scare tactics and fear to motivate.