The Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology

Date: Oct 12 2006
Major: Communications (This Major's Salary over time)
The negatives totally outweigh the positives during my years at this school. I've been in 3 programs at the school. I was in Communications Tech, Aviation Technology Management, and Flight. First of all, the whole reason I moved to Oklahoma is to fly. My recruiter lied and told me that Spartan did not allow anyone to go straight into the flight school. He said they must complete a technical program first. I listened and enrolled into the avionics program and switched to communications when I was still taking the electronics core classes. The impression that I got was that you meant the world to them before you enroll, and your concerns mean nothing to them when you are a student. There are many staff members that are wonderful, but even some staff expressed that upper management was bad. After I graduated from communications, I went into the bachelor degree program. I was actually pretty happy with this program and graduated from that program. Finally, I enrolled into flight, which was always my true intention. At this time, one VERY IMPORTANT thing that I found out was that current technical students are eligible to take ground courses for free. That's wonderful, except I'm no longer a current technical student. I paid just like every other flight student. I really wish they told me this earlier. I did not finish flight, and it's because of the unprofessionalism displayed from some of the flight instructors. There were many Chinese nationals at the flight school when I was there. I heard many derogatory comments about the Chinese students. I was appalled…but even more shocked when several flight instructors openly made racist comments, and mocked their language. Some even expressed how they hated teaching them because of their limitations of English. It's merely a conflict of communication. It does not mean these students are stupid. I have complained MANY times about some of the things I felt was unethical and misleading. They would only tell me to write a letter to the director of marketing. I did just that, but never received any reply. The technical programs are adequate, but you can get the same education at your local community college for much less money. Plus…the accreditation at a junior college is most likely regionally accredited, which is what most schools are. Spartan is NOT regionally accredited. As for flight, I can't really say one thing or another, except the instructors need to be more careful about their true feelings about international students. After going to this school, I am a lot more careful about what people tell me. My attitude changed, and if anyone wanted my business, then you better show me IN WRITING what you are telling me.