Education Connection's Controversial Ad Gets Criticized

Last Thursday, Senate Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) criticized an advertisement that features a woman in very small pajamas telling prospective online students, "I love learning new things in my pajamas."

The criticism directed at the ad was just a small piece of Durbin's larger attack at the predatory for-profit college industry.

"The ad that just really troubles me shows a lovely young woman who says you can go to college in your pajamas," Durbin said, according to the Hill. "You don't even have to get out of bed to go to college, and she's got a computer on her bed there."

Education Connection, the company that produced the ad, describes itself as a free service that matches, "students with accredited online and campus-based schools."

WATCH THE AD BELOW:

Comments

[Pakulio]

12:39 PM on 05/26/2011

Where to start? So first thing the million dollars more in their lifetime is a stastic that includes people like Bill Gates and Steve Jobs. She said go to college, she didn't say finish college, so this does not include average people. The best online colleges: there's no such thing, unless it's an online class for a college that actually has a building and classes to attend. The fact is most employers don't want to hire people with online degrees, and that even true of the very online instituions that gave the degrees. The worst part about these schools is that they are for profit, which means you'll be paying private school money for a degree that will get you nowhere. According another Huffingtonpost article you are only 22% likely to graduate from an online universty than a regualr one. The last thing she said was the brochure they send you was a hundred dollar value. I would very much like to know how a school flyer (that is specifically designed to get you into thier school) should cost you any money. The obviously wrong thing is that this ad is basically using sex to sell college. At no point in the ad does she say she is actually in an online school or has a degree from one, so we have to assume this is just an actress they hired. Which means this ad has no credibilty, no class, and no shame. Sad.

[admoor]

02:50 PM on 05/25/2011

People see these ads are easily get sucker for such statement, "...people with the degree on earn a $1,000,000 more on average.." ...well, that's a statistic NOT for people get the degree through these online things.

Oh well, those who cannot critically read/listen to these are the ones sex sells the best... and the ones these online things targeted to exploit!!!

[masonpatriot]

12:45 PM on 05/25/2011

I hate this ad with a passion. Every time I see it, the thing infuriates me. I feel like the time I spent working in groups with my fellow classmates and getting up early for those 0900 classes gets belittled by this convenience store approach to education.

[ABACADABRA RABBIT]

11:11 PM on 05/24/2011

Beware of these internet degrees. They are a poor excuse for an education.

Go to a real University. It will change your life. It is just as expensive.

[MissFrijole]

07:22 AM on 05/25/2011

Some people don't have the luxury or time to go to a real university. I am sorry that I bust my butt working in the military and am trying to set myself up with a future that doesn't involve the military. Not all online schools are a sham.

[ABACADABRA RABBIT]

10:34 PM on 05/26/2011

I like online traffic school. You can go to school after the military. My friend is getting a full ride. He was in the navy.

[nycpaladin]

11:55 PM on 06/07/2011

I've had friends who were in active duty, and who were able to complete two years at the University of Maryland during the period of their enlistments. Might want to look into it.

[AbysmalParadox]

09:13 PM on 05/24/2011

thank you durbin

[SteveM39]

02:43 PM on 05/24/2011

I kinda feel bad for the girl who has been doing these ads for a couple of years in the same outfit. No one thought she was too sexy. Now a new actress is hired and suddenly the ad goes too far. Perhaps blatant sexual marketing is in the eye of the beholder.

[scoobanchi]

01:04 PM on 05/24/2011

So what? If I go to the pool or beach I see far more skin. This is a waste of time.

[Rodger leMonde]

03:21 PM on 05/24/2011

The point is that the add sells cool and sexy more than it sells education.
It is designed by predatory companies to profit from misleading people, who will likely not do well, be saddled with debt, while some one walks of with guaranteed federal money.

[MissFrijole]

07:23 AM on 05/25/2011

If people are that dumb to be enticed by a "hot chick" in PJ's to visit this site, then they deserve what they get.

[Michael Scarborough]

12:26 PM on 05/24/2011

You won't see any Republicans complaining about the for-profit college scam. In their world, businesses have a right to make money and people have a right to let themselves get scammed. For a group that overwhelmingly claims not to believe in evolution, these conservatives can be incredibly Darwinistic.

[sole]

12:55 PM on 05/24/2011

F/F'd!!!

[Silverwolf72]

11:52 AM on 05/24/2011

I can go to the beach and see more than that, whats the big deal?

[SheenaVa]

11:49 AM on 05/24/2011

If you can't get out of bed to go to college, do you really think that anyone would want to hire you?

[Rodger leMonde]

03:23 PM on 05/24/2011

Which is exactly the target of this add. They don't want successful students, just warm bodies to profit from.

[fourthestatepost]

10:47 AM on 05/24/2011

I often go to classes in my pajamas, and I attend a real college.

[sole]

12:55 PM on 05/24/2011

LOL!

I've done it too!

Fanned!

[Jahsmah]

10:45 AM on 05/24/2011

Instead of sensationalizing and thus trivializing the issue by talking about what the young lady is wearing, how about screaming your head off about reform for students?

[GraceNotes]

10:23 AM on 05/24/2011

I've seen this ad for a couple of years now. I believe in the version I have seen, her pajamas are the long pant variety, not those skimpy shorts. But I've also seen college girls dressed in pajama bottoms and t-shirts shopping the the local Wal-Mart.

[Trojan505]

09:28 AM on 05/24/2011

These private, for-profit colleges do need to be regulated and prevented from taking advantage of students. But the only reason why these schools exist is because there are many prospective students around the country who do not have access to more traditional colleges and universities, whether it’s because they don’t have the money or didn’t get a quality education in high school or have a unique family situation that prohibits them from going to school full-time.

These students who want an education and who want to improve their lives and achieve the American dream are people, and they deserve to be treated with some respect and dignity. A lot of people on these message boards snub their noses at students attending online schools as if they aren’t real students. It’s elitist, and kind of goes against those so-called “progressive” values that so many of you claim to adhere to.

The truth is that a lot of people who have good jobs and solid incomes and degrees from established colleges and universities don't want "others," to have access to an education and potentially compete for jobs.

A lot of so-called "progressives" are just as full of it as the most hypocritical people on the right. There's a reason why over the half the country doesn't vote...

[Ebay Seller Len]

12:36 PM on 05/24/2011

They aren't real schools so no, they aren't real students. Not by any measure. The degree is worthless, perhaps even hurtful, when looking for work.

And, it's not only 'online' for profit schools that prey on these individuals. There are plenty of worthless 'trade' schools as well.

[Trojan505]

01:40 PM on 05/24/2011

I'm not defending the schools; I'm defending the students. We should be making traditional colleges and universities more accessible to low-income and non-traditional students so that they don't have to take online classes to get a degree. This is what a real, legitimate progressive policy would entail.

The fake "look at me, I voted for Obama so that makes me hip and cool" progressives couldn't care less about the students who are being exploited, and are unaware that they sound as heartless and cold as the worst elements of the Tea Party when they claim that people trying to get a degree "aren't real students."

Note to phonies - THAT'S why Kansas "votes against it's own interests." To spite people who think they're better because they were fortunate enough to land good jobs or obtain degrees from traditional schools, and use their status in society to snub their noses at those on the outside looking in.

[Will Deyamport]

01:59 PM on 05/24/2011

Online for-profit schools are real schools. Some do a great job and some do a poor job, but it's wrong to be so dismissive of the them.

Capella University, for example, is not only regionally accredited, it has both NCATE and CACREP accreditations. It's information security programs have been approved by the FBI, and the success of its alumni speaks to the excellent education being offered.

You should really do a better job of researching the industry before you outright condemn them all. There are plenty of public and private, non-profit schools that are doing terrible jobs.

[ritan7471]

01:23 PM on 05/24/2011

If you graduated from high school, you can go to a local community or junior college on the way to a bachelor's degree. very few students have "no choice" but to go to an overpriced for-profit college.

I just went back to school after 15 years to pursue my bachelor's degree. I was accepted to my local, excellent community college that has a state university satellite campus immediately after applying and showing my hs diploma.

I think these for profit colleges should be shut down or at least well regulated and our state colleges and universities adequately funded to educate our high school graduates and adult students returning to school.

[Trojan505]

01:45 PM on 05/24/2011

Some students have unique family situations that most of us cannot relate to. For example, those who have parents who are ill, or those who have to work because a parent is not able to work.

There are also students who are responsible for taking care of their younger siblings. These students have a unique set of circumstances and we as a society do very little to accomodate them. You are correct, our schools do need to be funded.

[Howard53545]

06:35 AM on 05/24/2011

Learn and bang at the same time, roll over after reviewing exam online and bang