I am currently enrolled at ITT-Technical Institute of Albany, NY. I am sad to say that after a little over one year I am coming to the realization that my degree will be useless. I normally try to avoid such scams, however, I did not foresee this coming from a U.S.institution of higher learning. I am going to give an unbiased and neutral enactment for those people who are still on the ropes about these numerous reports.
When I first met with admissions I must admit the Head Admissions Women who gave me the rundown was very attractive. She herself told me that the college was accredited during her rehearsed speech. I didn't even know there was a difference in Nationally and Regionally accredited schools, and I believe most people would consider me to be reasonably bright (slightly above average, or regents high school diploma) I had probably never heard of it because so few schools abide by such low standards.
As far as the endless complaints go they are almost all true. Only Some of the teachers are disorganized and ill prepared, while others go missing for 45 minutes at a time or have unbelievably indecipherable speech impediments (only one teacher). The turnover rate there is very high for certain positions like financial aid. The books are just average and many of the labs in certain classes do not work correctly. Most of the students who attend are from families below the poverty line and are receiving most of their tuition through government aid. (I read somewhere that 65% of ITT's annual income is from government programs for low income families. (Not positive of that number.)
I however am not one of those less fortunate students, I am just a tick above that. I did have good credit from 10 years of work prior to attending. I received the standard government subsidies and the rest is to be paid back in personal loans. I am going to be in debt around 70 thousand dollars between the 50 to ITT-Tech and the 20 or more in school loans to partially supplement my income while I go to school. 70 Thousand dollars for a two year degree who's credits won't transfer anywhere and that employers won't consider as a legitimate degree.
Of all the numerous shady practices that I have personally witnessed as well as my extreme discontent with my current situation, I am sure that legally on paper it is all or mostly legitimate. I can see no other way they could still be in business with all of the complaints reported here otherwise. There is however one very offensive and sickening fraud that I will now explain about ITT-Tech.
I have been giving a fellow student who is in most of my classes transportation since we have began school. He is a below poverty line student and does receive much of his tuition through government aid. These facts aside the amount of effort in his studies is almost non-existent. He currently has a gpa of 3.65 while I maintain a 3.96. We receive grade sheets every two weeks with all current grades up until that point. Let's just say that I have peered over at his a few times. There is no way under the sun he should have that gpa. Another Latin-American Male who's English is sub-par has been in many of my classes and try's even less. He maybe shows up for one third of the classes. The ones he does show for it's only for half the time. (Usually arriving late and leaving very early) I have never once seen him turn in an assignment or have any idea about current class topics. We are currently in the third of three math classes, which I must say is very challenging. He's maybe been in class twice of the seven classes and yet to bring a calculator (which is an undeniable necessity). I am only pointing out the extreme grade inflating that I have seen personally, However, you can rest assured there are many more like these two in very similar circumstances. I would consider myself a natural observer and I am certain the practices are to some degree fraudulent.
For my final rant I would just like to say that all the accounts that I have mentioned are very true. I am not driving a hate campaign, or trying to slander any particular person or company for no reason. I have read many of these complaints and I would like to state "I apologize for any grammatical errors in this report." As far as anyone who has attended ITT-Tech and is satisfied with the end result, I am very happy for your success. I also understand many of the complaints could be from people who were slackers and ended up with no knowledge after two years and a huge bill. Under my current conditions I see no other way that to finish the two years and hope that my high gpa will land me a good job. My only and hugest complaint that I'm hoping will be further looked at by attorney's or some higher power is the fact that instead of graduating with the 5 of 50 students who actually tried hard, I will be graduating with 45 of 50 students who did nothing at all. All of which I now have to compete with for a job along with the regionally accredited Polytechnical institute up the road. If there are any powers out there who feel like something can be done, I am willing to probe and prod while I attend school there. I am certain that many other students can attest to this account and practices. For everyone else in a similar situation please let it be heard, only through continuous law-suits will practices like these be stopped, and countless innocent victims be saved the rest of there financial lives.
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