Fortis Institute - Erie

Date: Jul 10 2011
Major: Computer Science (This Major's Salary over time)
Tri-State Business Institute (or Fortis Institute as it is called right now) has a horrible, horrible reputation out there. I sent out hundreds of resumes and had over 80 interviews and haven't had much luck. Many interviewers had unfavorable comments about TSBI and it's owners. The placement department at TSBI / Fortis does very little to help you get placed.

If I would have known how bad TSBI's reputation is out there, I would have reconsidered taking two degrees from this school. (And perhaps reconsidered going to this school all together.) Currently, I have a full time job working as a salesman at Verizon Wireless and a part time working at a hardware store just to barely make ends meet. I just barely make payments on my school loans and currently have to live with my parents.

I took the Solutions Developer and Security and Forensics programs at TSBI. The solutions Developer program doesn't teach you the programming languages that many jobs require. Also, when I enrolled in this program, I was told that I would be able to program application programs for smart phones, Ipods, and the like. The computer advisor, Al, said that I would be able to as well or to jump into the field as a video game designer. But in reality, this is far from the truth - the solutions developer program gives you bits of programming, website development, and database administration in one program. Not enough to make you functional in any of these fields.

The Computer Security and Forensics was somewhat interesting, but the advisor and main teacher, C-Mike, has no actual real-world experience as to how to apply this in a career. He is a nice guy though, but a terrible teacher. He went right into teaching at TSBI right after he graduated from TSBI.

Most people that graduated from these programs are working menial jobs after paying top dollar to go to this school.