I thought I was doing the right thing by going to college to better myself. And I was so excited to be the youngest and the first one in my family to go to college. I wanted to start school right away so my life could start. I always knew I wanted to work in the art field, so when IADT popped up and made their school look so glamourous. I jumped at the opportunity.
When I went to the interveiw portfolio in hand, I met the admissions counsler who looked at one picture just to put it back in two seconds later and not even take a glance at the other artwork. They then showed me around the school pointing out artwork from current students. After giving a description of the programs and classes I'd be learning they then told me that mant students who graduate get to work for Industrial Light and Magic, Pixar etc... I was hooked. They had told me that any programs I needed for my computer would be supplied, however, when I got to the class the teacher himself told me to "steal it from the schools computers, but you didn't hear that from me" When I talked to my counselor about this problem they told me I was suppossed to use my voucher for school supplies. I only got 500.00 and by the time my books and supplies were paid for there was not enough. Then I asked if I didn't use it all can th remainder be combined with next term, they told me no and later I find out that another student was getting a check for her remainig balances. I was paying almost 300.00 every month already and couldn't afford the programs so all my work had to be done at school. I lived about an hour and a half from school and was driving this everyday, not to mention working over 60 hours a week to pay for school. Eventually my payments did stop monthly, because they told me I found a grant for you to lower your monthly payments. Turns out they were loans. I had to quit of course, I couldn't keep up with work and school. Many times I would sleep in my car just so I didn't have to drive all the way home and so I could get work done.
I now have nine or seven different loans, that may or may not be private, and total over 40,000.00. Every time I talk to sallie mae its completly different figures. There are no consistensies. The amount they want per month is just about what i make in a month. They tell me I can't consolidate because they are private, which means I can claim bankruptcy. Sallie mae says I can't which makes them federal and means I CAN consolidate. All I want it to get a good education and to start my own life. Now it looks like I'll never get back into school. I feel like they took advantage of a young naive vunurable teenager. Yes I was stupid but who would think a college would lie. And even though it's my own fault, it's not right to mislead people.
Maxwell demon
Port Richey, Florida
U.S.A.
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