Hallmark Institute Of Photography ripoff tuition paid in full less then 24 hours before graduation my son was dismissed from school with a so called failing portfolio We paid $40,000 for 9 months How can you wait until the 9th hour after you received all fund to fail a 19 year old Not to mention the humiliating way it was done Turners Falls Massachusetts

I am a recent graduate of Hallmark and can tell you first hand that if your son failed, its because he didn't do the work required.  I kept hearing how tough the school was and that it was considered "Photography Boot camp".  After attending myself and graduating with a highly rated portfolio, I didn't think the school was that tough at all. If you have any amount of initiative or responsibility, you will graduate.  You have to work hard to fail.  Based on my experience in the program, your son must have been a goof-off.

I am a graduate of Hallmark Institute of Photography in Turners Falls, MA.
During the school year I was hospitalized for over 30 days due to serious illness. I had fallen behind in my studies and was destine to fail and NOT graduate. The instructors at the school worked with me and indeed wanted me to be able to graduate in the month of June. I worked my butt off and DID indeed graduate. It is my opinion that if your son's portfolio did NOT meet the expected quality of the school it is no one's fault but his own. There is no way he could fail unless he did NOT follow instruction, seek help and find answers as to how to produce an acceptable portfolio. A number of students were dismissed from Hallmark while I was a student for not maintaining grade averages and or expected photographic works. If dismissals such as these were not to take place than Hallmark would not be one of the best photography school in the world. I would summise that there is more to this story than is being disclosed. To be "Escorted from the building" is NOT typical of any learning institution. Hallmark Institute has provided an amazing and most useful course of study for decades to individuals from around the world. Check out Hallmark Institute of Photography for yourself. This school markets and promotes themselves as being just what I have described. To fail at Hallmark Institute is no ones fault but the student who fails.   Posted by Hallmark Institute of Photography graduate and Professional Photographer Dwight Fellows Walker

First, I'm sorry that the offended party feels they have been ripped off.  I understand Hallmark is not a small investment and to not accomplish what you set out to accomplish when you attend a school like Hallmark has to very disheartening.  However the final portfolio is a pass or fail grade.  If your portfolio meets the standards of the judging body then you pass and will graduate with the rest of your classmates.  If it does not, then you are given a week to correct the deficiencies (a process known as rereview).  If your work is corrected during this process, you pass.  If it is not corrected.  You fail and yes you find out the day before graduation.  At this point in the school year.  Tuition is nonrefundable anyway, pass or fail, so I could hardly call it being ripped off.