Tampa Tech was the biggest financial mistake I've ever made. Nothing but a diploma (degree) mill, everyone in the class was permitted to pass with a grade no lower than a "B". If you couldn't pass the 20 question multiple-choice test the first time you were permitted to take home a copy of the corrected test and come back the next day and take it again. There were 2 students who came to me and asked me how to make the color green. They achieved the same exact grade that I did, that we all did. I already had 5 years experience in the graphic art field and was looking for education in the computer graphics portion of this school and to get a degree. My "portfolio" was turned down and I was forced to start at the bottom. The curriculum didn't apply to the field at all for the first 3 (expensive) quarters and in one quarter our instructor quit, leaving us with a student instructor that we had to pay for just as if she were an actual instructor rather than a glorified babysitter.
I sat at a table of other dissidents who felt they were being held back by the “college” for monetary reasons alone. Students would come to us for help as the instructors either couldn’t be bothered or didn’t know how to help. We were forced to accept the supplies from the bookstore as they were included in our tuition. I didn’t need or want these supplies as I already had my own (technical pens, x-acto knife, ink, pencils, paint- etc) and in most cases the ones I already had were of superior quality. I wanted to exchange the surplus for other items that needed frequent replacing (like art boards and airbrush paint) but was refused. These were items that I was forced to pay for and then had to pay EXTRA for the supplies I needed (again, like art boards and airbrush paint). I also wasn’t allowed to use my own paint, but the paint that the school supplied, so now I had two open bottles of everything.
I spoke to the dean on more then one occasion about the serious lack of education that I was receiving. All he could do was talk me around in exhausting circles. It was just like speaking to a politician. It wasn’t until I actually dropped out that an offer was made (an UNFAIR offer, I might add) that I could pay them $50 and take the final exam for each class I chose to skip and what ever exam I failed I could start with that class. I refused to pay $50. On the next visit (they called me) I was given the offer to choose the class I wanted to restart in. Does this sound right to you? After a couple of weeks in the new class I finally gave up. The curriculum was so far behind the actual workplace (which I was in) I left.
When I worked for Thoroughbred Music in the art department, we had a “graduate” from Tampa Tech. The other Graphic Artist and I had to work double time to correct his mistakes. Also one of the jobs I applied for nearly turned me down when I put TTI down on my application. I had to quickly explain that I hated the school and dropped out. I wonder how many jobs I applied for that I didn’t get the chance to explain that to…
Now I’m facing financial difficulties as I’m forced to pay the student loans on an “education” that I didn’t even get. I’m frustrated and infuriated at this “school”. They even have the nerve to keep contacting me after all this time to go back to their “new and improved Remington College” A name change isn’t enough to get me to go back.
They say they're accredited but no one will accept their degrees, not even most jobs! They say that 80% of their graduates get employed right away- through the college job placement. Sound good? Well their "job placement center" is a tiny back room ( I suspect it was a closet) with 3 computers hooked to the internet, a handful of phone books and the Tampa Tribune want-ads. What they don't show you is that you'll start in a class of about 30. By the 2nd semester there are only 15 of the original class, and 15 strangers. By semester 3 there are 5 original class mates and 20 strangers and in the 4th semester there are only 2 of you left from the first class because everyone else got a clue and left before getting so financially soaked.
I HEARD THERE WAS A LAWSUIT… Anyone with information can contact me, even if you just want to complain about TTI…
DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY!!!
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