Art Institute of Pittsburh Found out the School was being sued Pittsburgh Pennsylvania

My story sounds like everyone else's that have made a report against this school.

I signed up for information on the school in 2012.  I started the classes for Web Design in June of 2012.  It did feel like a whirlwind - like they were selling me this. At the time, I didn't know the problems that they were having. I thought they were an accredited school. I thought it was a reputable school that would get me out of the industry that I currently am in.

I signed up for the Associates degree - thinking it was 62 credits only. Most schools are. 

I ended up having to take English, Math, and College Algebra  and have to teach it to myself. I was given resources such as Khan Academy- a free site. Or the use of Lynda.com that the school had a subscription to apparently and we only had access to. For the 3k a semester I think I should have a lifetime subscription to Lynda.

As much as I am in favor of e-books, in the learning setting, if you are paying that much for books, it should be in hard back as well. 

Had I known that they were being sued by the Dept. of Education for fraud. (in 2011) I would never have attended this school. I am usually very cautious about such things. But I wanted an education.

After losing jobs , and due to stress, I took a break. My advisor that I had told me people who take breaks never come back. But I was emotionally stressed out.

I ended up switching subjects, from Web- to Graphic.. Even though they had a combined course at the time. They did not tell me. I then switched to Photography.. and the my new advisor was very rude about switching. She suggested Tourism and Hospitality.  I felt it was my education to switch.  Any school that doesn't allow you to switch should.. especially for art schools where artists are usually multi talented in different areas.

I ended up taking my break and quiting, in mid course. I was not informed of the charge that I would endure.. 3K. And received a fat bill 6months later after taking my break. 

I was told if I paid 100$ a month and send them $100 at that time I would be able to sign back up. So I did, and when I did, I never heard from them again. I had to bug them. The time for me to sign back up passed and again no one answered me in regards to getting the ball rolling on returning.  I saw that they were facing a big lawsuit and was completely shocked.  I wanted to continue my education in hopes of actually getting the degree in Web Design. Which I tried to ask to return. They told me I couldn't unless I wrote an appeal letter. I did and no one answered me. Again.

I only took one class for graphic design and completely quit with photography before even starting it. Most of my courses were geared to Web Design.  Which they should just give CORE classes. 

When no one answered me and I found the news out and asked the questions about my credits. I wasn't given the right answer. My FA told me that I only had maybe 7 or 14 credits.  Which is completely  WRONG. I have 34 credits. I only wanted to return because I knew I was half way done. She then told me I had 81 credits to fullfill before being done. I'm pretty sure an associates is only 62, and I am pretty sure that is what my originaly Advisor told me from the beginning. 

After thinking about it, I realized that maybe this school would not be the best choice. I already damaged my credit with the HUGE bill I have with teh Dept. of Education- who sued them for billions of dollars. However, we still owe the Dept. of Education.  I am not sure how that is fair.   I would  never have gone to this school knowing that they were in that much trouble. 

A lot of the courses were 5.5 weeks long, and that to me was not the problem. It was the challenges that the teachers lacked to give the students. On my worst drawings, I was told how good that was. In most hard core art schools they make you do it again and again until it's perfect.