CollegeAmerica Reviews
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DO NOT GO FOR COMP. SCIENCE...read or doomed
School not recommended by
not avail
on
February 19, 2010
3/3 people found this review helpful
Hello,
You might be thinking "people only write reviews when they had a bad experience. That's what motivates them to actually write something"...not true. This school SUCKS!. I will give you legitimate reasons too. I will not just complain. I am only speaking for the Computer Science or networking classes. Not medical side.
First off, I am paying $65k for the degree. This school will accept 99% of whoever applies. Why? Because they know that once you sign up and go a little bit, the government gives them the money. You then owe the government under the contract. They still get to keep the money because the government paid them. Unless you are rich and pay cash and not get a loan.
Secondly, ask them these important IMPORTANT!!! questions. How many programming teachers do you have? How many networking teachers do you have? Are your computers up to standards? What are the specifications on it? How many computers do you have for students to practice the networking on?
Here are the answers: 1 programming teacher (many have quit or got fired) and 1 very awesome networking teacher. The computers only have the minimum specifications. Not even 512 mb. They are also not even DVD based. There are only 6!!! 6 computers for the many students. The laptops they give you are underpowered and not meant for programming softwares or networking. It is only good to do general work like for the medical students.
Another question to ask: How are my classes set up and will I know what I will have a month from now? Are my classes in the correct order so I learn the foundation before going to advance classes?
Answer: "NOOOOO". They are soooo unorganized. You will not even know what class you'll get in a month. They also will jump you into advance classes before beginning classes and you'll be at lost and expected to get it. The teachers don't even know! Come in and talk with students. We will give you the information you need.
Another question: "Programming requires softwares to download. These softwares can cost hundreds each. While many colleges provides these at discounts or free, do you provide these softwares so I can properly learn the languages?"
Answer: NO. This school does not participate in partnership with software companies so we can get a discount. You have to download a trial version online which lasts for only a month or so. Then when you need it again you have to pay for it and you are SOL. You either pay for it or get screwed. In some classes you take up to 2 days just downloading the program and try to make it work because they don't have it readily available for you. That is equivalent to 6 full classes of doing nothing.
Also ask how many computer science teacher have they had in one year? Countless! This Denver campus is a joke. I am not talking about other campus'.
Bottom line, walk in the school and talk with the students, not the admissions people. Do not come to this school.
Learn More about CollegeAmericaYou dont need time to consider!
School not recommended by
Sara
on
February 16, 2010
5/5 people found this review helpful
I was very proud of myself, i was actually following through with my new years resolution! i knew if i kept putting college off i would never go back. I set up an appointment to just see what the college was all about, within a half hour of being there, and before i had even heard what classes i would be taking, they had me singing a check over to them. never mind taking time to search for Grants or loans, they just wanted me to jump right in, they had me starting class 4 days later! I'm sorry but I'm 23 i shouldn't have to decide weather or not to owe someone 40k in a half hour! Needless to say they will not be getting my money.
I REALLY HOPE YOU SEE THIS, DO NOT ENROLL!
School not recommended by
Ben Rodriguez
on
February 02, 2010
7/8 people found this review helpful
I see people who are checking out the campus sometimes and I want to tell them, "DON'T DO IT!" I feel so sorry for them because it was me too, one day when I came to see the campus and a lovely woman with Versace glasses told me how great it was going to be to have me as a new student. I was so excited when she presented the paper work. She said "First we need to check with the president (BT) if you're going to be eligible to attend. Your records may put her off and we need to make sure that you're as committed as you say you are." She called me back and said "Congratulations, the president was reluctant but says she will give you a chance." (To me, this seemed like THEY chose ME! but... I would learn later that this was just a ploy to be more eager to attend because I was given a "Chance.")
So I filled out the paper work, 36k for a bachelors degree and it was all to be paid as soon as possible. I was not explained the 1/3 rule, if you drop out, you still owe a third. After I watched instructors come and go, students come and go, deans come and go, admin staff come and go, I decided... I came... now it's time to go. During my stay I got into altercations with a couple instructors involving grades, involving disrespect and so on. One instructor was asked to resign and so he GAVE ME AN A! Just because he knew he was leaving. One instructor had to pay, out of her own pocket for materials for us to learn. Not pens and paper, but connectivity wires for a DVD player for the classroom. Can you believe that on avg of 25k per head that is in that school and they can't afford that sort of equipment?
The financial aid lady NEVER answered the phone. She rarely called back, she rarely had the right answer to some of my specific questions. Once I over heard a conversation that took place over the phone involving BT and somebody else obviously. I caught the tail end "...I told her no overtime, she'll see it doesn't take much to push me." There was an african american dean of the business department there who was stern but cool and then there was a white guy after him. I tried to come back to the school after I realized that I was 40 grand in debt from this school and If I coudln't beat them, I should join them. I had already paid and I should just suck it up and finish. I came in and sat down to talk to this new dean. He said "if you leave again, you WILL NOT be allowed back... (and the next part is unbelievable but it's true) because there is a NEW sheriff in town and things are going to be changing around here." I flipped my lid of course and told him that, that wasn't the first time somebody had told me that at that school, they soon after quit.
Then I decided that I wanted nothing to do with that school and I was going to work my tail off to pay my loans and start somewhere else. If you can imagine, I'm a grown man and a deep depression was over my head over the whole thing. I owed THOUSANDS and couldn't do anything about it. Heading instructors and students argue was a weekly thing. At least once a week I would hear an instructor and a student going at it. I once ran into one of the financial aid employees on campus, at a bar. I asked if he still worked at CA and he said yes. I told him that I hated that school with every fiber of my being and he said... verbatim, "Yeah I still work there, That school sucks!"
Every time I think about this school it makes me sad. I watch the commercials about how they get people to come in and offer them a free laptop if they sign up. I think if you're a good school, you shouldn't be offered incentives to enroll. They 18 month program is a joke. I honestly would be embarrassed to tell anybody that my degree came from College America. In fact when people ask me if i've been to school I just tell them, some stupid school. I'm honestly too embarrassed to say the name.
Remember that lovely woman with the Versace glasses? I never seen her past the second time I met up with her. She "transferred." I noticed other enrollment specialists come in and out. There's a whole team of salesmen who specialize in getting people locked in to their program. If you're going to spend 40 grand, do it at a state college. Don't look for the fast way out. You'll regret going to a school like this one for the rest of your life.
Run away from this school!
School not recommended by
Valena
on
October 30, 2009
23/26 people found this review helpful
I'll tell you the truth, from a student whose is quitting. Oranges? I just finished that class and we had to do each other...30 sticks. They don't use oranges. You have people who don't know what they are doing sticking you, hurting you. Staff are incompetent. They read to you the lecture notes you downloaded and printed up...(like we can't read) that is mostly what a class consist of. Teachers do not go out of their way to teach you...you teach yourself. Classes are too fast to really get it all down. (My grades are very good, so I am not having sour grapes, just in case you wondered) Some teachers yell at students, call them stupid. Yet the fees are extremely high. No one cares if you pass or not,..just your money is important.$40,000 for a 18 month degree. The school is too tiny, classes overcrowded and the rooms are always freezing...winter and summer. Online classes are a joke as are some on campus classes. 4 weeks for each class. Average 16 hours for each course. The books are a laugh too. Some are more like a 6th grader would get, not a college student. Mostly the students are nice. A high drop out rate though. I am switching schools in December. I can't go to a school that is one of the worse. When I signed up..I asked questions and was told stuff that was wrong. If I had known I wouldn't have signed.
Bad from the word go
School not recommended by
Cie
on
October 20, 2009
15/19 people found this review helpful
I went to discuss the possibility of enrolling in this school, and the head of the Denver West campus was such a jerk that I would never even consider it. He implied that I had used my child as an excuse to not further my education sooner in life, literally stating that "some people use being a single parent as a reason to further their education while others use it as an excuse to put it off." I was not about to sit still for such abuse. I don't know how the courses are--didn't have a chance to find out. But if this is the way people are treated before even being admitted, I surely would not recommend it.
Comprehensive nursing program
School recommended by
Amanda
on
June 27, 2008
78/106 people found this review helpful
The courses are formed in a great team working manner, much more similar to actual working conditions than traditional class room settings. They have very up to date buildings and equipment. The instructors really go the extra mile to help make sure each student truly understands the material being presented. Specifically the lab instructor made sure everyone had ample practice with injections. We used oranges and saline! Many times instructors stayed after class to answer questions and direct students where to find more specific information. Their office staff was always very willing to help with everything from advice on specific courses to take to scheduling around the rest of a students life. (i have 2 children and worked part time). They also helped me with all of my financial aid applications and explained the difference between grants and loans. They were so patient with me and made sure I knew exactly what was going on. They also help me make sure I knew how, when and where to get my state certificates.
