April
I came to IADT looking for a school that worked with older adults. Ermine Dennis, (title), told me that's what IADT does, help get older people back into the work field. She also told me that I would have a job in Graphic Design by my Fifth Term. The program is 8 Terms of three months each.
I had already attempted to start my career in Indiana. I dropped out of high school and got my GED when I was 19, in 1979.in I began at Ivy Tech and then went to IPFW at the age of 40.in 1995 I took an IQ test and was told I had the IQ of a sophomore in College. Even though school bored me when I was young, dumb and niave, I still had the thirst for knowledge. So, I never stopped absorbing it when I could. So, I do not consider myself stupid and felt like I constantly was treated like I was.
I had moved to Pittsburgh in 1999 and only stayed 8 months.in spring of 2000 in Indiana, Ivy Tech considered me a resident so I assumed IPFW did also. Halfway through the semester I started hetting bills for all my classes. After numerous times of going to the registrar to find out why FAFSA didn't come through I found out that I wasn't a resident. I had to get a loan. Two art and psyche 101 and algebra. Even though I wasn't a resident of Pittsburgh either. Where was I a resident? At the end of that semester I moved back to Pittsburgh and got married in 2001.
I was told that I coudn't finish my degree in Fort Wayne, IN, that I would probably have to go elsewhere anyway. During this time, my Mom was getting sick. Diabetes and a weak heart. While she was dying I kept hoping she would hold on until I got my degree. Everytime I mentioned dropping out, they talked me out of it. Mom died in my Ninth Term. When I asked who my counselor was, no one knew. I asked for Ermine Dennis. She wasn't there anymore. I finally saw on a sheet that my counselor was Donna something. I think McCullough. One day I spoke to her and asked her if she was my counselor. She said, "I guess." And then I asked her what does she counsel me On. She said, "I don't know". And I said that I didn't know either.
From the beginning I had trouble. I had Nine Months of Night Art classes. I would spend whole days just walking back and forth from the lab to the computer room under the stairs because I couldn't get into my account. My username or password didn't work. Certain teachers would get upset at Me because I couldn't do my work if I couldn't get into my account'. I changed my password about 20 times in two years.
I was changing my classes every term because they weren't right when I trusted that my classes were scheduled accordingly. I felt lost. Sure, I stuck it out, but in the process I felt like I was getting a run around. I put up with it for a year and a half. Since Sara Matchers.
I don't know what she told everyone, but she basically ruined my education there if there was any to be had. After I trusted her enough to share a house with her and I sacrificed my comfortable apartment of two years to be closer to school so I would have more time to study and take care of my dog, she lived there for 2 weeks while I didn't and then moved out. I put down $1100 and didn't get a dime from her. It was a 5 story house $550 a mo! 2 beautiful kitchens and plenty of room! Perfect for 2 artists. I didn't stay. I put everything in storage, $100 a month, and stayed with an 'alchoholic friend' for 3 mo til I got a hotel/apartment room for $350 a mo. No kitchen. A 12' by 16' room and a bathroom, with a dog. And there is where I spent a year and a half at IADT.
After that, I was treated bad by teachers and students. On nights, there wasn't that many people there, and it was hard to make friends. So, the people that I felt bad vibes from was 'everyone'. I went to days hoping to get away from the people that were not in my best interest to be around and to learn more and was followed by teachers and students since night classes were closing at that point. I was still looked down upon. It was a horrible situation for a place where you were supposedly allowed to learn.
I'm going deep in dept over 'nothing'. The deeper I got, the deeper it got. But, I couldn't stop. I had already started. I couldn't give up.
Now, I have a debt I can't pay for and it's growing larger every day because there are no jobs here in that field and they never let me consolidate my loans because I never got my degree. It was 12.5%. Roughly $5 a day for the past year. They say it's lowered to 9. They call everyday and when I tell them my situation, they just keep calling. I sent my Mom's death certificate because they said they would quit calling my Dad's house. Now, they call him and my cell and he recently got a letter saying the death certificate didn't pertain to anything and they would get back with him for further instructions. My parents have owned that house for 50 years. I think I need a lawyer.
On top of all of this I am told IADT may not be compatible with other schools in my area. My degree may not be worth anything if I want to continue. And it looks like I should or I won't be able to do a thing with this 'degree'.
Classes:
Photography:
I didn't have any computer classes for 9 months. My first one was Photography. Ken Cole didn't teach me anything, he was hard to find when he was there. One night when I was ready for him to help me around 9 pm, he told me me 'to play with it'. My friend Dave Snitkin was there, he was a student at the Art Institute. He couldn't believe it. I got a D.
Videography:
Mr. Burns
We got 2 assignments:
1. One was putting together a video of photos. But, the only lab we could use always had another class going on. I was told that we had to use the same computer. I never did understand how I was to do that when some one else was always on it. Also, we were only actually taught one day, in the room we couldn't be in. Later I found out we just had to use the same room. Even though there was always another class going on.
2. We were to make a trailer in flash. We always sat around and talked about the trailer. I didn't learn anything. The one day I didn't show up was the only day they had a video camera. Someone else was using it and then one day Burn's camera was stolen.
Typography:
Burns
He was a great art history teacher. This was another class that involved computer work. Yet a lot of students didn't have any prior computer classes. I didn't either. I mentioned it in the first class and he said to just do it on paper. I still have my typography book that they said I would Need. I do not know how to use this book. We never used it in class as with Any book. Also, in one of his classes, I got into an argument with another student because he would not turn down his music. Burns did nothing. I had to go to the office and walk out of class until he was gone.
Animation:
I was taking this class in the last term of 2005 when my Mom passed on December 6th. I really wasn't picking it up very well and he knew it. He told me that I would have to take it over or I wouldn't understand the next class. I crammed during the holiday break and pretty much was way ahead of everyone else in the beginning.in Animation 2, I thought I was doing good. He told us we really didn't need this class for our degree but it looked good on our resume. All the work I did in class mysteriously disappeared the last week of school. (I never lost anything for 2 years.) I had to redo everything. I worked for about 6 hours the last day til around 9 pm. I don't think I deserved a D. Basically, all he did was shoot the bull with the young computer gamers that already knew how to use the program. They would literally play games and talk about the latest software during class And on the big screen while others were trying to learn something. I felt like I was bothering him if I had a question. And I was! The whole time during my last day of school there was about 3-4 guys playing video games on the big screenI could hardly concentrate.
Repko's Classes:
I really liked Repko. He was a good teacher, if he liked you. For 6 months it was great. He was one of the first teachers that treated me like he didn't like me after Sara Matchers moved out of the house and dropped out of school. I could tell she was talking and telling lies because she wouldn't talk to me and neither would anyone else.
One time he showed me how to save photos online and put them on my desktop. He said that I had to do several things to save them. We needed a lot of photos for the project. It took me at least 5-6 clicks and wait time to save them to my desktop. A student walked by and noticed what I was doing and showed me a much quicker way. "Just drag and drop." Repko told me I couldn't do it that way and it wasn't true. After that I noticed several things he was trying to slow me on. When he would show me something, he moved so fast and went through so many windows, I could tell he was just running around in circles. I didn't learn anything. And those few seconds when he was hovering over me and clicking fast were precious to me since I only got his attention a few times during class. He was a terrible teacher. To me.
Everything I need to know in life I learned in Kindergarten.
I am so disappointed in what I saw. The quality in teaching that I expected, not being in school for so long and going back at 40, was not there.
Actually, I couldn't believe the immaturity in some of the teachers, it boggled my mind, it was an insult to the integrity of the American education. I really can't find the right words. I've been depressed about this for the past 2-3 years, I wanted to continue school. I've done nothing but look for work.
In June Earnie Junstrom told me that he and someone else went over my records and agreed to give me my degree. I asked him what my GPA was and he said 2.75. I have called him and every time he tells me it's on its' way. It's lying write there on his desk. This is Jan 5. The school is closing and I don't know what to do. I just feel like I was taken advantage of.
Thank you for taking the time to read thisI could write a book
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