My daughter graduated with high honors with an associate's degree in Information Technology-Multimedia from this school while working a full and a part-time job. She was the first student to sign up for this program at this campus and went there from Oct. 2003 until she graduated on Sept. 15
We signed up for financial aid in May with a female who was head of their financial aid at the time. She was leaving but promised us that someone else would be in touch. After several calls to the school and her starting date eminent a Ben Trout contacted us. When she went in to sign papers, I thought that she'd just have Federal Stafford loans to pay at about 6.50% interest. She did have a Stafford loan, but she also ended up with several other private loans. All of these loans are through Sallie Mae at P.O. Box 9500 Wilkes Barre, PA 18773-9500 Phone-1-888-272-5543 (DO NOT USE THESE PEOPLE!!!). She was never advised as to her options and she was never advised as to how much her payments would be once she graduated. Since graduation, she's had to put her loans into forbearance because she can't afford to pay the 14% interest they're charging her on these loans.
We've tryed to contact Sallie Mae several times to find out how much she owes and if there is a way she can consolidate these loans. Each time somebody tells us something different. She was even told that she can't consolidate them from Sallie Mae.in the mean time her loan amount is getting larger and larger. Currently they expect her to make payments of about $700.00 a month. This is unheard of.
I've spoke with financial aid experts from two other schools and they said that she should have been able to have all of her loans as Stafford loans and they advised me to get an attorney and sue the school on her behalf. She had no clue as to what she was signing and they never explained to her what she was getting herself into. If we knew then, what we know now, we would have acquired other financing for her. If we can't get her out of this nightmare, she'll probably have to end up filing bankruptcy, as she won't be able to pay her other bills and this outlandish student loan payment
What really stinks, is all this money might as well been flushed down the toilet, as her associates degree is a worthless piece of paper.
In 2003 when she went to this campus, this program was in it's 1st year. During the course of her two year program, there were numerous teacher and staff changes. The calibur of their teaching staff leaves much to be desired. One teacher in particular would give the students work to do during class time while he talked on his cell phone on a regular basis. Sometimes he would do this in the room and other times he'd leave the room all together. As Jean was graduating from the school in Sept. Of the school was replacing all the computers for this class with others which were better suited to teach this program with. Also they were adding software which they didn't have in the past. When Jean started with this program in the program it's self and all the software and computers were brand new. However they weren't the proper type computers to teach the course and they weren't teaching vital courses for this program to make the degree worth something.
When my daughter applyed for an entry level job at one company they turned her down because they said she was unqualifyed. They then told her that they had hired two people in the past who graduated from the ITT Tech Mechanicsburg, PA campus for the same job because they knew two programs which were needed there which they were taught at that particular campus. She then went to work for a place which scouted her out at her ITT Tech campus and offered her a job. However, the job she was offered didn't let her use any of the skills she learned at school and also on her own. Yes, my daughter is very smart and actually taught herself some graphic programs. She could probably teach herself the programs she needs if she had the time, but that's what she was paying the school for. Since she acquired some senioity and is well liked at her current fulltime job, she applyed for the same type entry level position that she had applyed for at the previous company and was turned down. They also said that she was unqualified.
Mind you, my daughter has won several awards and is even an assistant supervisor in her current position. However, even though she had high honors in all 8 quarters of her program she still can not attain that entry level position in her field. The real slap in the face came when she tryed to start over at a Mid States accredited school to attain a Bachelor's Degree and they told her that her credits from ITT Tech wouldn't transfer as she was told they would because they were not Mid States accredited.
This school totally defrauded my daughter and who knows how many countless other people. She put her trust in them and ended up being ripped off, lied to, defrauded, facing bankruptcy and humiliated when trying to apply for what she should be qualifyed for - an entry level position in her field of study.
I feel that all schools should be held responsible for what they teach our children. Also when it comes to financial aid, (just like when you go to the bank for a loan to buy a car etc.) everyting should be explained to you in detail. It would be against the law for a bank to do this to you if you went to them for auto, home or personal loans. So how can this school get away with it??? This school is nothing more than a useless paper mill. All they want is your money. They don't have any conscience and truly have no regard for the students they are supposed to be properly educating.
I for one would like to see them along with other campuses who have been federally investigated across the United States shut down, for the corrupt instution that they are. What a disgrace, how do they sleep at night??? If there is anyone else out there who is initiating a class action lawsuit against these people, count me in. My next step is the state attorney general's office.
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