Western Career College Reviews
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Thanks for nothing Pleasant Hill campus...
School not recommended by
Disappointed
on
February 11, 2010
7/7 people found this review helpful
I thought stealing was a crime...That's exactly what this school does to it's students, or should i say customers. They see a potential student as a walking and talking money sign. They sit there and give you salary figures to motivate you to sign up when in reality they have no information to back it up. You're advisor only talks to you long enough to sign up for the program and coincidentally forgets your name after they get the signature on the contract.
I had the worse instructor money could buy. She claims she was a Dentist in another country but never went into detail about it. Even if that woman offered to teach for free I would absolutely decline. And every day i would spend in class was money i was spending on the the most minimal lessons. The students were basically paying to hear about how tired the teacher was from her day class at HEALD college( mind you we were the evening class at WCC. Heald being WCC's competitor).We did not like asking her questions because she would belittle you in front of everybody and had a rude almost intimidating tone to her voice. It often felt like we were getting in trouble by our mom if we asked her anything. She would often make sly remarks about how her day time students were doing more challenging work than our class.
A very basic skill needed everyday in dentistry is the ability to chart a patients teeth and restorations (i.e fillings, material of fillings, surfaces of teeth and the numbers that correspond with the teeth). Knowing that this is an extremely important skill I can count on ONE hand how many times the teacher had us chart in class. Even if we ASKED to chart that day she would take a vote and when the lazy students would out vote us she would of course comply with them.
Our class was fairly small at most 12-14 students at a time. Which would make you think that we would receive thorough one-on-one lessons but that was never the case. You would constantly hear students state that she was a "bad" teacher because of her lack of enthusiasm or inability to help us. Eventually one by one (maybe 3 or 4 total) went to the head of the dental program to speak to her boss. We explained that we were not receiving the skills that we were paying for. We wanted somebody on our side to see what we saw and take action. But, of course nothing was done until the final person went in to say their piece. At that point they finally had the Dean of the school sit in class for a lesson. This was obviously discussed with our teacher prior to the visit because when the Dean arrived our teacher was on her BEST behavior. She definitely went above and beyond her duties. The very next day she was back to normal. It was upsetting and we all realized that we were all just money in that schools pocket which meant we had no voice to them.
Towards the end of my program I took it upon myself to find the help i needed to finish. I knew i wouldn't get any from her. I would come in during the day time class to get help from other instructors and attend my night class to sit through the lecture and take my test. It was difficult to attend both of the classes but I wanted to graduate the earliest i could.
When it was finally time for my off site externship the career service advisor i was assigned to was absolutely no help. I had to take it upon myself to find my own office (my sister helped me get an interview at the office she worked for NOT the advisor). I gave her the information of the office thinking she old make the call since i had given her the information she had asked for. It wasn't until the week before i was SUPPOSED to start my externship that i found out she had never called the office to confirm I would be there that next Monday. At this point i was so sick of this school and their careless mistakes which could easily be taken as incompetence. I was so stressed out and asked her why she hadn't called and she stated "It's not my job to call the office if you found it" I was never told that in the entire time i was working with her. Naturally i had reached my boiling point and just wanted to get out of there.
I didn't even attend my graduation at the school because I didn't want to waste my time or gas being around people i worked so hard to get away from. I would NEVER recommend this school to anybody. It's the biggest scam, believe me.
Learn More about Western Career CollegeHorrible school
School not recommended by
Peter North
on
February 11, 2010
5/5 people found this review helpful
WCC is a joke. Some of the instructors care but the higher ups that call all the shots couldn’t give a shit and are only mindless robots that are there to enforce rules. Do yourself a favor and take you money to another college, I wish I had.
Run away from the surg tech program
School not recommended by
Anonymous
on
December 14, 2009
17/17 people found this review helpful
$34,000 a year for this awful program?! Are you kidding me?! 3 things to think about before you enroll in a surgical tech program. Whether it is at a vocational school (like WCC) or a JUCO (junior college) you need to know 3 facts:
1. The average wage of a surgical technician is anywhere from $13 - $20 an hour. If you work full-time and rotate call you can earn $35 - $50K a year. In reality all a tech does is pad the pockets of MD's and hospital higher ups while busting his or her ass at half the pay rate of a nurse. A tech is nothing more than a hospital employee doing hospital grunt work. If you want to be a traveling tech you can earn over $50K a year, so I'd advise you to talk to a traveling tech and get the pros and cons. Nurses make anywhere from $28 - $40 an hour and traveling RN's make well over $100K a year. Nurses are part of the holy trinity of medicine i.e. MD's, PA's and RN's. Nurses and MD's rule the roost and tech's are nothing more than second class citizens in the OR.
2. Certification means nothing. Only 4 states require certification (Tenn, South Carolina, Texas and Indiana). Even those states are lax when it comes to enforcing certification. If techs want recognition, respect and better pay than they need to be nationally recognized and licensed by the medical boards of each state like MD's, RN's and PA's are required by law to practice medicine.
3. Vocational schools only have two requirements: Are you breathing and can you pay? Vocational schools like WCC or High Tech Institute's credits will not transfer to a state college and therefore if you desire to continue your education (like become a nurse) all the time, money and effort of going to a vocational school was in vain. I was only at WCC for one month but the writing was on the wall: The facilities suck, the program director is a total headcase, and they can't recruit or keep quality instructors. Two words can sum up my one month experience at this school: Total Sham.
i thought we graduated from high school...??
School not recommended by
Jessica
on
December 07, 2009
11/12 people found this review helpful
I recently was enrolled at western in their dental program. when i was being enrolled i was getting switched from sign up person to sign up person.. VERY CONFUSING i didnt know who to go to.
After my first course my LAB partner unfortunatly failed and had to b switched into another class. This left my class count uneven and as partners in lab are crutial i asked the teacher repeatidly to find me someone to complete my work with - but instead i was pushed off to the side. I scrapped by in lab (although im a straight a student on the deanslist) getting a low b...next course they switched my lecture teacher who was very un organized and rarely got are papers back to us and report cards containned many errors.
Finally after puttin many cards in the suggestion boxes and with still no LAB partner i decided to make a stand, i asked if i could be switched into another class... i was constantly teased for the remander of the course. i reported the girls and the teachers did nothing!!!! i decicded to go to the head of the program who blew me off for 21 days!! forcing me to drop out after she promised me she wood find me another class... totall waist of money and time. The girls in the classes are verrry judgemental and disrespectfull jst like high school...
Health Information Technology
School not recommended by
Anonymous
on
November 30, 2009
15/15 people found this review helpful
The instructor for this program is great. Overall experience at Western Career was not so great. The person that signs you up, only cares about how many students they are able to enroll in the school and its programs. They act like they care, but once you're signed up, you're on your own. They tend to cut off all communication once they got you in.
Student accounts-I paid off what I owed before my program ended, which they gave me a receipt. I've been done since July of 2009, and till this day they keep sending me bills saying that I owe them money. They are horrible at keeping their records.
Career services-I don't even know why they're there. No one ever gets back to you.
My suggestion, don't waste your money on going to this school. You might as well spend less and take an accredited program at a community college. It may take longer, but at least you're not getting ripped off.
Keep in mind also, you only get a certificate after finishing this program. If you'd like to get an AA through this college, they required you to pay about $6,000 more. Not worth the money!!
They Are Only Interested in Your $$$!
School not recommended by
jessica
on
November 19, 2009
13/14 people found this review helpful
I wanted to start a career as a Dental Hygienist and decided to go to Western Career. My advisor lied to me along with 10 other students saying that a Dental Assisting certificate is mandatory to get into their D.H. program. We didn't realize the truth until halfways into the program. The Assisting program was $15,000 and were never able to get a refund. what a scam!
They don't care about education, just the $$.
School not recommended by
Anonymous
on
September 24, 2009
19/19 people found this review helpful
One or two of the teachers and one counselor were very caring and supportive. The administration doesn't care about helping the students learn. They only care about federal regs and getting their money. They don't communicate. They don't give students any help or counseling when they are nearing failure. They set out very strict rules and then don't enforce them, so students don't know what's acceptable as far as attendance and what is or is not allowed in the classroom. Overall, a horrible experience and waste of money!!!!!
Medical Assisting
School recommended by
a
on
September 12, 2009
17/17 people found this review helpful
I had a wonderful experince at school, i had the hands on experience required. I had Mr. Sanchez as my istructor and he spoke nothing but the truth about the field. He was on point, very educated sometimes i thought a doctor was teaching our class bacause of the way he spoke. He understands his students, works harder then some the other instructors and goes out of his way for his students. There are students that want to be in his class because they heard of him. Yes, he is a hard teacher and really wants his students to know their stuff to be successful out in the field. Just liek i am.
LVN
School not recommended by
Anonymous
on
November 20, 2008
61/73 people found this review helpful
I'm a two termer in this program right now. Please, let me share my experiences with this school = HORRIBLE!!! DO NOT ATTEND! Spend your $42000 on something else.
Right now we have one instructor named Ms. Michaels... she's a joke in her self. She much rather be your friend than teach. She has got to be the worst teacher I have EVER had in my life. She kisses everyone ***. We're now in our fifth week of class and haven't done a thing besides a little video watching and one assessment on a friend. Oh and lets not forget the 3 hour myspace study hall session the class gets because our teacher is too lazy to teach.
Somebody went to speak to an upper about getting some instructions on what and where we should have been at by this time. We got retaliated against by the teacher by her giving us a 1" thick packet holding 11 chapters, due by monday at 8am. It was thursday at 5pm when we received the packet.... fun times. And the doh doh birds in the back don't want anything to be said of it because they feel they'll get retaliated against even more. So nobody gets to talk to the people in charge of our education because some crazy lady has a bad day and wants to take it out on one paticular person who then gets it sent down to the people she hangs out with.... lemmeee tell ya... wonderful!
Although Ms. Sanders, Mr. Filbert, and some others rock and generally care about your money and education. But until Mr. Michaels is fired, stay away!!!
Dental Assisiting; Registered Dental Assistant
School recommended by
Garrett
on
June 16, 2008
21/21 people found this review helpful
This is a good school if you want to learn how to become a dental assistant. This school is challenging and the instructors are helpful. I did not like that the price is so expensive, but I was able to get a job right after finishing school. It did help me prepare for my future.
Medical Assistant.
School recommended by
anonymous
on
June 12, 2008
29/32 people found this review helpful
I went here 5 years ago and had no trouble getting a job as a Medical Assistant. They prepared me so well it was almost like no transition shock when I went to work. The instructors are very knowledgeable and helpful and they gave me a great education.
Pharmacy
School recommended by
Roger
on
June 12, 2008
14/19 people found this review helpful
I was pleased with the level of academics and the support from instructors and my advisor. From the beginning to the very end of my degree program I had one advisor. She was consistently there for me when I had absolutely any questions. Having one point of contact was very convenient and made a potentially impersonal situation (distance learning), quite personal.
My classes were attended and taught by professionals from all over the country.All of my online courses were research and writing intensive. Since there is no reliable way to take tests from a remote location, the bulk of my grades came from papers and online class participationÂť. In addition to reading, writing, and review work, instructors used tools like peer reviews, sessions, and weekly journals to keep students involved. The online community at Bellevue University is unique and high quality. The degree program is intense and sometimes difficult, but well worth it.
Dental Hygiene program Certified Dental Hygienist
School recommended by
Rhonda
on
June 12, 2008
21/24 people found this review helpful
My favorite thing about Western College was the faculty. They were all either involved or had been involved in the fields they were teaching. They allowed them to pass along real world information and learn more than just what they taught in books. I do think Western College needs to schedule more evening classes to help those who work. Westerns job placement found me a position quickly and I was able to jump right in and feel very prepared.
Associates Degree
School not recommended by
anonymous
on
June 11, 2008
25/29 people found this review helpful
In all the teachers are really good , they have a lot of information 2 share, and care about their students. But the schools guidance counselors, and the other school administrators are'nt really there for helping the stuidents , they are pretty much there for their own paycheck.
It's been almost 7 yrs since I graduated with my A.S. , and I still haven't been able to get into the working field. Now I am a single mother with a little over $20,000.00 in federal loan debt ,and can get a job, or get out of hole.
