Collins College (Al Collins Graphic Design School) Lies To Students lies, false informations, bad financing, horrible education Tempe Arizona

To those who care,

I enrolled at Collins Colleg as a 17 year old 3 weeks out of high school. I had been told by the admissions rep/counselor (Jim) that the education at collins college was superior to that of universities and other schools because of the specified focus and equipment.

I was told that in little more than a years time I would recieve a Associate's Degree in Visual Communication's. That with the "excellent" job placement the college has I would "easily" make $40,000-$50,000 my first year out.

Instead what i recieved was:

1) Unqualified Teachers
2) Outdated computers and software
3) Bad Financial Aid
4) Horrible Education


To go further into detail, i experienced teachers that didn't know what they were doing. Teacher's who knew less about the computer programs we were using than i did. For my photoshop class as example, my teacher (MIKE STRONG) simply read tutorials out of a $49.95 photoshop tutorial book (that can be bought at best buy) for 5 weeks.

All of the classes i had were "5 week classes" in which we were expected to learn full programs such as adobe photoshop and macromedia flash, no to mention coding languages as php and html.

THE PROBLEM: In 5 weeks you learn simply "THE BASICS" of all these things and not ENOUGH to get a REAL JOB.


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Furthermore, after riding out the 16 months in the Graphic Design/Multimedia program i was ready to graduate.

But instead of receiving a degree and thanks for attending the school, i was told that my financial aid had an "oopsy".

It was a $2,000.00 oopsy. And the college decided they wanted me to pay the $2,000 in FULL BEFORE I WOULD RECIEVE MY DEGREE.

Now a 19 year old "graduate" of the school, still living at home, struggling to work a full time job and study at once, i DONT HAVE an extra $2,000 laying around to pay them, especially after the worthless education i recieved.

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It get's better...

I was also told this is a "private" "exclusive" college where acceptance into the college is something hard to come by.

The enrollment rep waived the application fee and begged me to signup the same day we visited the school, without checking any of my school records.

Ok, that wasn't so bad. But what happened next was. My HIGH SCHOOL dropout cousin (who was also a drug addict) was also ACCEPTED. WHY? Because his mom had money to shell out, and the school accepts anyone who has money.

When you go to class do you really want High School dropouts and Drug addicts sitting next to you?

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Even after getting a bad education, being lied to, getting screwed on the financial side, it wouldn't have been that bad if i could have gotten a decent job.

Instead i went on COUNTLESS (over 50) job interviews for webmaster positions, graphic design, etc etc. Numerous times my portfolio was flipped through in less than a minute. Many times employers would laugh, smirk or smile after seeing that i had attended collins college.

What about job placement you say...
The job placement sent me out to interviews for positions starting at $6.50 or $7.00 an hour at little print shops.

$40,000/Year = $7.00/hour ???????

I was making $9.00/hour doing DATA ENTRY with no degree still in High school. WHY WOULD I ATTEND THIS COLLEGE TO LEAVE MAKING $7.00/HOUR!?

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Now, nearly a year after graduating i am 20 and still struggling to find a decent job.

The school has never stopped hounding me for the $2,000, not to mention my student loans and parent loans every month.

Parent loan = $78/month
Student loan = "$125/month

Do the math, im paying $200.00/month for a bad degree.

And whats the grand total that i owe this "college" for a 16 month Associate's Degree?

$25,000.00

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I am now in the process of hiring a lawyer to sue the school for falsifying the eduction that i would recieve and not making good on it's promises.


IF YOUR LOOKING FOR A GOOD EDUCATION DO NOT ATTEND COLLINS COLLEGE.


I will be more than happy to answer any questions if you post here.


I am also seeking former students that are unsatisfied with the education they recieved as witnesses for the case.

James
Tempe, Arizona
U.S.A.

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