A few years ago I was looking for a job change and decided to go back to school. I happened upon Allentown Business School. At first they promised the world. But as I found out it was a bucket full of lies. First I was promised job placement assistance, and I was told all my credits would be transferable. (We will come back to that later) Also told I could come back to audit the classes, meaning I could sit thru the class again.
I took a computer training program (LAN TECH). The program was based around learning different computer systems. I will admit there where a few teachers who taught a good class, and seemed to care to work with the students.
Back to the problem. I started to take these classes and the time the computers seemed to be broken or out of service. When this happened the teachers just gave up on the class and let the students do as they please, like play games, as long as they where in the class room. Gees even the teacher was playing games. This did not help my learning process. I am not a computer gamer so I was unable to undertake in the FUN of the class.
I had gone to the school administrators to let them know about the problems. They told me no one else had any complaints. NO kidding they are playing games. Although many of my classmates all felt the lack of teaching going on, no one would step forward.
Yes, I passed the classes because we had OPEN book tests.
Now back to the problems. Now that I was out looking for a job and getting no help from the school I complained. I informed them I had placed out 200 resumes and not a single response. The school then placed me on the email list so I would be advised of any job openings. Well they started to come in and guess what all they where doing is repeating the newspaper, and job search websites. This is what my money went for, someone to copy website and email them out.
Ok, I found a job on my own with out there help. I was not hired for my computer skills but for all the rest of my background in electronics. Now the school found out I was working and felt like calling my employer to find out how I was doing. They wanted another so called success story. Holy balls, you got to be kidding. My human resources person came to me asking if they should even talk to them. I informed her to just tell ABS I have a job, and that they where no help, and not to call again.
Gets better.
I wanted to go back and get a degree, since my employer is willing to pay for the schooling. So I went to all the local colleges and told them I would like to finish towards my degree. I informed them I had about 65 credits from Allentown Business School and would like to transfer them. Every school said they would not take credits from ABS. Great. I need to start over.
I went back to the Dean for the school and told her. She said well did you try this school (1.5 hrs away) I said no, of course never hearing of the school. Well an hour drive everyday to get some school after a day at work is out of the question.
I then asked to audit the classes, thinking I could get more from them for free. They told me the classes have changed and would require a monetary payment.
I then went to another school that would teach me just computers and took classes that where high on my list. A Microsoft course costs somewhere in the 5 to 6 thousand dollar range. And was about 6 months long.
Since I was getting no help from the school I wrote to the PA state higher Education Board. After reviewing my case and somehow investigating my claims they came back to me and said These type of schools a really not held accountable for what they teach or do not teach. Now you think I would get help at the state level.
None of my problems have been resolved. I still have high student loans. And I paid out of pocket almost $300 a month while I was here.
I guess I could live better knowing that no one else will fall into there trap. But what would really take the cake is to get my full refund back from the school and a public apology.
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