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  • Report:  #86705

Complaint Review: Collins College (Al Collins Graphic Design School) - Tempe AZ

Reported By:
- Tempe, Arizona,
Submitted:
Updated:

Collins College (Al Collins Graphic Design School)
1140 S Priest Dr Tempe, AZ, U.S.A.
Web:
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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2) Outdated computers and software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.

Click here to read other Rip Off Reports on Al Collins Graphic Design School


6 Updates & Rebuttals

7h

phoenix,
Arizona,
United States of America
forever in debt

#2General Comment

Tue, August 10, 2010

If the definition of evil is: anything that deceives...IE promising something and leaving you out in the cold, than this college has horns. The only thing I have to show for the 9 months that I wasted their is a list of promises and about 50k in debt. I was unable to get a job and to pay my student loans. They are now in default and because of not being able to stay current the debt has almost doubled. FEAR THIS SCHOOL!
I have never heard of anybody having a positive experience with this school.


static

north carolina,
North Carolina,
USA
same here

#3REBUTTAL Individual responds

Tue, October 13, 2009

Hey james, same thing happened to me except for the $2,000....so what happened? did you get a chance to sue the school? details..


Cool

Madison,
Alabama,
U.S.A.
Al COllins former student

#4Consumer Suggestion

Mon, April 24, 2006

If you want to recruit former students of Al collins make sure they are former students within 5 years because I think you can only sue when you were a student of Al collins college within a time limit. If I am wrong please tell me so that I can take action. I have been a past Al collins victim too,but it was over five years ago. I was thinking of sueing them but I didn't have the money hire a lawyer at the time but now since its been a long time I think it's too late now.I feel chipped and I don't know what the judge will rule, I'm scared the judge may even say that its not a reason to sue and drop the case. My mother was ill at the time and I thought I could get a good job through that education,but boy was I wrong. I regret the day I picked up their college brochure, but unfortunately I can't change time. I even thought of suicide as a solution when the US Department of Education said that it's not a "valid" reason to get a refund. All, I can say is make sure you check out every school ask whether it's accredited, AND WHAT TYPE of accreditation they have and whether they transfer credits. Its so sad to find out through bitter experience that schools lie just to get a bunch of green wad of paper. I don't know what society is coming to today.


Cool

Madison,
Alabama,
U.S.A.
Al COllins former student

#5Consumer Suggestion

Mon, April 24, 2006

If you want to recruit former students of Al collins make sure they are former students within 5 years because I think you can only sue when you were a student of Al collins college within a time limit. If I am wrong please tell me so that I can take action. I have been a past Al collins victim too,but it was over five years ago. I was thinking of sueing them but I didn't have the money hire a lawyer at the time but now since its been a long time I think it's too late now.I feel chipped and I don't know what the judge will rule, I'm scared the judge may even say that its not a reason to sue and drop the case. My mother was ill at the time and I thought I could get a good job through that education,but boy was I wrong. I regret the day I picked up their college brochure, but unfortunately I can't change time. I even thought of suicide as a solution when the US Department of Education said that it's not a "valid" reason to get a refund. All, I can say is make sure you check out every school ask whether it's accredited, AND WHAT TYPE of accreditation they have and whether they transfer credits. Its so sad to find out through bitter experience that schools lie just to get a bunch of green wad of paper. I don't know what society is coming to today.


Cool

Madison,
Alabama,
U.S.A.
Al COllins former student

#6Consumer Suggestion

Mon, April 24, 2006

If you want to recruit former students of Al collins make sure they are former students within 5 years because I think you can only sue when you were a student of Al collins college within a time limit. If I am wrong please tell me so that I can take action. I have been a past Al collins victim too,but it was over five years ago. I was thinking of sueing them but I didn't have the money hire a lawyer at the time but now since its been a long time I think it's too late now.I feel chipped and I don't know what the judge will rule, I'm scared the judge may even say that its not a reason to sue and drop the case. My mother was ill at the time and I thought I could get a good job through that education,but boy was I wrong. I regret the day I picked up their college brochure, but unfortunately I can't change time. I even thought of suicide as a solution when the US Department of Education said that it's not a "valid" reason to get a refund. All, I can say is make sure you check out every school ask whether it's accredited, AND WHAT TYPE of accreditation they have and whether they transfer credits. Its so sad to find out through bitter experience that schools lie just to get a bunch of green wad of paper. I don't know what society is coming to today.


Cool

Madison,
Alabama,
U.S.A.
Al COllins former student

#7Consumer Suggestion

Mon, April 24, 2006

If you want to recruit former students of Al collins make sure they are former students within 5 years because I think you can only sue when you were a student of Al collins college within a time limit. If I am wrong please tell me so that I can take action. I have been a past Al collins victim too,but it was over five years ago. I was thinking of sueing them but I didn't have the money hire a lawyer at the time but now since its been a long time I think it's too late now.I feel chipped and I don't know what the judge will rule, I'm scared the judge may even say that its not a reason to sue and drop the case. My mother was ill at the time and I thought I could get a good job through that education,but boy was I wrong. I regret the day I picked up their college brochure, but unfortunately I can't change time. I even thought of suicide as a solution when the US Department of Education said that it's not a "valid" reason to get a refund. All, I can say is make sure you check out every school ask whether it's accredited, AND WHAT TYPE of accreditation they have and whether they transfer credits. Its so sad to find out through bitter experience that schools lie just to get a bunch of green wad of paper. I don't know what society is coming to today.

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