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I saw an ad for iadt detroit. I had been looking to go back to school and thought fashion design may be a fun field and went to check the school out. I went there and was met by my admissions rep. She asked me about my college history. I told her i had my associates degree in liberal arts. She says, "oh great. So you have an art degree". I know i should have walked away at that comment. She asked me a few more questions, walked away for a few minutes, had me pay her $50 and shook my hand congratulating me on getting accepted at the school.
A few days later i had a meeting with financial aid. I met this guy, he set me up on a computer and ahd me fill forms out. I had asked a few questions and he was really weird about answering anything. I wonder now if it was protect his own butt. So i get approved for financial aid and I'm told everything will be covered. I was told to come back in a few days and I'll get registered for classes.
When i went back to "pick" my classes i was pretty much told what classes i was going to take. My schedule was class four nights a week for six hours a night or 16 credits a semester. It really was way too much. I was so worn out by my second week of school. There was also a two absent policy. If you missed more then two classes your instructors were calling you wondering where you were.
After a really rough semester i was burnt out. I did well and got a 3.7 gpa. I was sent a letter telling me i was on the dean's list (what dean?) - and decided i was going to take two classes nest semester. When i went to register for the next semester and told them i wanted to take two classes, i was almost harassed. I was informed we could only go part-time one time for the whole time at the school. Part-time was still four nights a week and four hours a night. I also decided to switch my major from fashion design to interior design. I was given flack for that as well. With that semester i got a 3.8 and the dean's list thing.
Next semester comes and i have a full load - 16 credits, four nights a week, six hours a night. It gets to be too much to fast and i decide i want to drop one class. I was told i am not allowed to drop a class unless i have a really good reason. My husband was sick and in and out of the hospital. I set up a meeting with the registrar at the school, since my admissions rep had been let go, and talk to her about my issues. Her way of helping me was to pull out my transcripts from the community college i went to and starts knocking out classes i don't have to take because they "transferred" to the school. I thank her and tell her i still want to drop my class. She refuses and tells me to sweat it out. I found out later their policy is if you drop after the second week you can't get money back, i was talking to her the second week of school. I got sick of being told i couldn't drop a class and decided to stop going. When i got my paperwork about my dropping classes the dates were all wrong, to cover their butts so i wouldn't get any money - at this point it wasn't about the money -
A few months later i was checking my grades. I was given an f in all my classes. I asked why and was told i didn't follow the rules they had about dropping classes. I explained my whole story and got nowhere. I went to talk to the register, and had to wait for her to "come back from lunch" when she did come back, she was told she had someone waiting to talk to her, her response was "that's too bad, i don't feel like talking to her" and walked away
I fought this school up and down about my grades. I went from a 3.8 to a 1.7. When i decided to go back to school last winter i was banking on my high gpa from iadt to guarantee me a scholarship. I was told by my school iadt wasn't even recognized as a school in michigan. I also found out their financial aid is owned and run by the same people who own the school. I attended that school for two full semesters and two weeks and my student loans are $23,000. The education I'm getting at my new school isn't going to cost anywhere near that
Iadt is not a school. It is a money pit. The amount of students that get jobs after "graduating" is very low. If someone graduates from iadt and gets a job in retail because they can't do anything else, it's considered "in their field". Their job placement rate is about 20%. The school is crap and their "instructors" are crap. It is a scam. If you are thinking about going there or sending your child there, rethink your decision.
to the person who defended IADT up and down, left and right, I believe Heather was the author, here is my response to your laundry list of items:
1) I did say I thought Fashion would be fun, that doesn't mean I picked the school on a whim. I picked the school because I saw an ad for it, one of the degrees they offered was Fashion and I am very into Fashion and am very interested in it. I didn't know everything that was going to be involved with getting a "degree" in Fashion from IADT
2 & 3) picking my classes: were you there when I was told what classes to take? you weren't? that's what I thought. I WAS told what classes to take. I WAS told I would be taking four classes and NOT given the option to take less than four classes per semester. if I had be given the option or even told I could take three classes, you can bet, for the sake of my sanity, I WOULD have taken three classes
4) I didn't complain about the attendance policy. I knew what was expected of me as far as attendance was concerned. what I did say is when I decided to drop out because it was too much for me, and I told my teachers what was going on through email, I was still called and almost harassed by teachers I didn't even have asking me where I was at
5) I was indeed sent a letter telling me I was on the Dean's List. unless you were looking over my shoulder, reading the Dean's List letter, I doubt you know exactly what I received in the mail. I did not receive a "great achievements" letter, it was a Dean's List letter. not sure what location you attend, but maybe things are done differently in Detroit? who knows.
6) full-time/part-time shouldn't matter. what does reconfiguring my payment have to do with anything? there was no "payment" to worry about. the loan I obtained paid the school - the school I attend now doesn't harass the students if they go from 16 credits to 8 credits, it's completely up to the student to decide how many credits to take. the school is still going to get their money either way - there was no lack of dedication on my part, I wanted to be in school. I did get burnt out and I did need a break
7) we agree about the Registar. good. I knew the policy of the school about dropping. what I had a problem with is that I wanted to drop a class and I was flat out told no (this would have been going from 16 credits to 12 credits - still full-time right?) I was told I wouldn't get my money back. I didn't care about getting my money back. I was two weeks into the semester, the semester got to be too much for me, I said something and was told no. I'm sorry, I'm an adult, I can make my own decisions on if I want to drop a class or not
8) IADT is not a recognized school in Michigan. my rep did not ask me about intending to stay at IADT, she was too excited to have bagged another victim. maybe your admissions rep knew more than my admissions rep. I was not asked anything about passion or dedication. I was unable to hve any of my credits from IADT transfer. if I went to another IADT location my credits WOULD NOT have transferred. I would have to start all over again - that leads me to believe IADT is not accredited ANYWHERE
9) the idea of job placement is a joke. their "Career Services" department is a binder with pages of fast food jobs. selling a $1.00 burger is selling, and you're wearing clothes, that must be considered "in the industry". if I had continued at IADT, graduated, moved out of state and applied for a real fashion job in say, New York, I would have been laughed at - not only because of the school I graduated from, but I'm sure I would have been completely behind with industry knowledge. my friend is working at Kohl's and just graduated from IADT, she is considered one of the school's success stories
10) again, what location do you attend? the lack of experience from my instructors was painful. I heard more about their person lives than anything else. no one had their own line, no one was a designer for movies and no one owned a franchise of any kind. good for you for having such experienced instructors
all in all I do not think my difficulty with the school had anything to do with my own "difficulty". how can a school function differently than other schools? college is college. if it's a school of design, engineering, social work or psychology - it's going to have the same basic function. yes, some things will be different than other schools, but there is a basic way schools function and IADT did not function like a normal school.
good luck with your forth (probably now fifth or sixth, since it's been a while since you posted your rebuttal) of your three year - did I read that correctly? a three year degree? I didn't know those existed. must be one of those "unique" things IADT does as a school. again, what location to you attend?
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
I have only been at IADT chicago for one semester and i am already confused about my money situation. I have decided to withdraw before i get any farther in debt. I know that nothing i have taken will be transferable so i have to start all over. Anyway i feel what you are saying and somebody needs to do something about it.
I will definitely do something with IADT. I got suspended unfairly from IADT Chicago and am in the process of making them regret their stupid Actions.
I also got out of there before i was a lot more in debt. And i also went through the school for a loan lender. And all they told me was that my loans wouldn't have such a high interest rate with a co-signer. Well i got that so i thought that my interest rate was only going to be 6.8 like they said. Well 3 weeks into school i got a letter from the lender (sallie mae) and i found out that my loan was 14.8%. So on an 8,ooo loan i was paying 18,000 in interest - not cool! And i had the same experience. As soon as i walked in i gave them 50 $ and i was a student. Didn't even look at prior grades in school or anything. Hmmm red flag right there! There were people going to this school that couldn't even draw a freak square.
I went to the Academy of Design and graduated unfortunately.
All I can say is take my advice and stay away from this school!
The school is a joke! Some of my instructors were great, however the school is horrible.
The most annoying aspect of that school aside from there insanely expensive substandard education is the fact that there credits are no accepted by any other school.
I have been educated by another local community college, and thank god for that because the Academy will not educate you. It will train you, however bare in the mind the cost and the lack of transferability are what make it a school I would highly recommend avoiding at all costs!
They ripped me off too. I would like to do a class action.
In 2003, after seeing ads about IADT, I decided to enroll in their Fasion Design Program. The biggest mistake in my whole entire life! Not only did they lie and misrepresent information, IADT wants me to pay for their financial mistakes. I have an Associates Degree in FD but can't even get that "dream job" they talk about. I am over 30,000 in debt. Their staff lack a tremendous amount of knowledge and training. Well maybe not, but have degrees in Bullcrap 101. The credits won't tranfer to another college-excuse me, they will tranfer , but are not accredited like everyone in the Financial Aid & Student loans offices said they would be. So what's the whole point of having credits transfer when they don't count towards anything? I could go on and on about the scandals, lies, and scams that took place at IADT. Even after audits, they still found ways to come up with more money schemes from students. I just can't understand how all of this is legal. To misreperesent so much to so many is wrong! Is that what the school was build upon? Upon a pile of cr*p? The school is definately a rip-off! It is really ridiculous. I don't mind paying for loans and my debts, but to pay and continue to pay for their mistakes.. Uhn! Uhn! Wrong answer, not me! Nothing against the actuall instructors, they were great! My complaints are against the Financial Aid Office and Student Accounts.
I'm two quarters away from graduating. Going to this school is A LOT of work. I'm burnt out and thinking about walking away from it. I don't have the energy to even go into it, so just combine the stories above and that's what i've been though - this is how i feel...it's awful!
I recently visited IADT Tampa with my daughter. She wants to major in Recording Arts. Does anyone have advice or comments on their Recording Arts program?
RIP OFF. DONT DO IT. MY SON ALSO DID. THEY PUT YOU IN A CLASS AND WHEN IT COMES TIME TO ATTEND THE CLASS THEY SAY THERE IS NO ROOM AND THEY MAKE THE KIDS TAKE ENGLISH AND HISTORY AND THEN CHARGE YOU 40, 000 AND THEY ARE SO FRUSTRATED THEY DROP OUT. MY SON WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT AND MISSED CLASSES AND THEY DID NOT WORK WITH HIM. MY OTHER SON, WHO ALSO ATTENDED WAS ILL AND WE APPEALED AND LOST AND THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN DO. WE NOW OWE 40.000 FOR SUMMER, FALL AND SPRING SEMESTER AND MY KIDS NOW GO TO ST PETE COLLEGE. THE BEST RECORDING ARTS SCHOOL IS TISCH AT NYU IN NEW YORK IF YOU CAN AFFORD IT.
I am currently a student at IADT in the fashion program. My comment is in response to the original post:
1) Right off the start, you say that you thought fashion would be fun. That's all well and good, but it sounds like you went more on a whim than a passion. A person who's really interested in fashion would not have just picked the school because it sounded cool.
2) Your first semster, I will agree that you are basically told what courses to take. This is for your own benefit. First of all, they set you up in basic classes that will prepare you for future classes at the Academy. Also, you are asked whether you want to attend day or night classes; everything is available at different times on different days, and I'm sure they did not at any point forcibly make you sign a paper agreeing to your classes if you didn't like them. If you would have spoken up I'm positive you could have changed them to something more suited to your liking---because I did so myself.
3) When you sign up, they ask you how many classes you want to take per semester. Four classes qualifies as full time, but so does three. If you felt that four classes was too much, you could have dropped a class within the first week, adjusted your payment plan, and simply taken 12 credits per semester while still qualifying as a full-time student.
4) As for the attendance policy (which is intricately explained in almost every piece of literature issued by the school), it is a system that works out to your benefit. Your teachers call you after you miss two classes because the classes are quite intensive and two classes equals out to a lot of work for you to catch up on. Each semester is only 11 weeks; with two classes a week, missing two classes is like missing nearly 10% of a semester.
5) You were most definitely not sent a letter saying you were on the Dean's List because, as you stated, IADT does not have a dean. I know exactly what you were sent because I just received my third consecutive notice a few days ago; the card specifically says "you have accomplished great achievements" and are invited to an "Honors Brunch." Nowhere does this card make any mention of a dean.
6) I completely understand the hassles you were given when changing from full-time to part-time and from Fashion Design to Interior Design. First of all, the transition from fullt-ime to part-time would be extremely difficult for the school as they would have to re-configure your entire payment plan as well as the student aid which you set up as a full-time student. Changing majors is also frustrating for the school because it shows a lack of commitment on your end of the deal. They are no longer certain that you are a serious, dedicated student.
7) Admittedly, you were treated a little less-than-desirably by your registrar. But at the same time, all of the policies that they enforced on you are clearly stated in all of the literature from the school. You signed your name on documents stating that you agreed to all of their codes and policies; therefore, they have the right to follow through with these rules and grade you accordingly. I will also say that although your situation seems like it was particularly difficult, the teachers all make it very clear within the first week or so of class to drop the class as soon as possible if the workload is too much for the students.
8) IADT is recognized as a school in Michigan. However, as clearly stated on the IADT website, their accreditor is a smaller company that may or may not be recognized by other institutions. The idea is that when you enter their school, you are going to stay in their school. I know that my admissions rep personally asked a lot of questions during my orientation to ensure that I was interested in Fashion Design and was intent on finishing my degree at their school.
9) As for job placement, we are talking about the fashion industry. Job placement from any school is relatively poor in this field, but because IADT has no real admissions requirements, a lot of students are able to enter the school who probably don't have the skill or talent level that other schools would require. These students are able to make it through all of their classes and graduate, but their natural talent is lacking, and it is this that prevents them from getting a job.
10) As for instructor credibility, I can confidently say that 90% of my instructors have at least ten years of experience in their field. I've had professors who worked with costume directors on movies, who own their own independent clothing lines, and who own nationwide clothing manufacturing and pattern drafting franchises. This is just a small smaple of my instructors; I have never been disappointed by the history of any one of my teachers.
All in all, I think your difficulty with the school was related to your own difficult situation and preconceived notions that the Academy would operate just like any other college. IADT is a unique college which requires a certain kind of student to attend there; and if the environment there is too strenuous or too challenging for you, I guess it's for the best that you left them. I started my fourth semester today (meaning my sophomore year, with my three-year degree) and have absolutely no plans to leave the school. I would recommend IADT to anyone who has the passion for their field and the dedication to succeed.
I'm in the process of talking with IADT of Tampa...Needless to say I am confused..Why dont they have student loans? I mean EVERY other college out has student loans! In their game design course they only offer ONE programming class.. They dont offer remedial courses for math (so i'm SOL) which isnt that big of a deal..You have all been there done that so i thought i should ask you because they seem affordable at 57k compared to the school of my choice (84k) i talked to them about these complaint board but it seems like they really dont care about what you are saying. They swear that they are acred'ed their BBB rating is A+... With no current complaints filed against them... is there any current students that i can talk to about the school (without the school telling them what to say?)
feel free to shoot me an e-mail about it anytime...my e-mail is astronautgi90923@cs.com
just put iadt in the subject or something :-)
IADT's accreditor is far from a "smaller company". ACICS accredits for profit schools such as those owned by the Career Education Corporation. Companies like this are part of a billion dollar a year industry. Schools accredited by this organization are NOT recognized by the 4 major regional accrediting bodies in the U.S.. Yes "nationally" accredited schools are recognized by the department of education, but only to the point that they are legally allowed to accept financial aid from students. These schools are out there to make money. They do not follow the same guidelines and requirements as regionally accredited schools. They require far less experience from instructors, some of which only graduated the same school only semesters before they were hired to teach. In some cases at IADT in tampa, I noticed they had people teaching classes for filmmaking when they only had a degree from the same school in graphic design.
Also Dont forget how overpriced cost of this school. At nearly 400 dollars a credit hour, that puts the school at almost if not double the price of all the public universities out there. And as far as the "get a year degree in less than 3" shtick they throw out there, thats only if you take classes all year round. If you went to a real university and took classes winter fall and summer full time you'd finish in less time too. But real people don't do that.
All in all do your research and just dont look into schools that advertise on TV. More time than not they are a scam. The worlds best artists, graphic designers, photographers, fashion designers, ect. all got started with self determination, not at a school they saw on TV that promised them the world. Plus be careful who you talk to online because a lot of the time when someone goes into detail about how great the school is in detail on a blog or forum they are actually an employee of the school.
wow, Eddie. at eighteen years old i must be the youngest "employee" the school's got.
I started school at IADT Las Vegas in 06. I am extremely disappointed in the school. Im currently going for my Visual Communications degree, thinking it would be great to have a little everything under my belt, while still learning what I really want to start my career in which is Web Design. I understand that IADT is focused on teaching a broad array of skills, and not just ONE particular thing, but.. I have taken the two Web Design classes that the school offers, and I just feel like anyone that buys the program and the book that goes with it and does it at home would have learned it just as fast. Alot of stuff that I still need to know that is vital to creating a fully functional website, they wont teach me because I might use it "inappropriately" such as a board room or a Log In. My problem is, what if a client asks me to create something that the school didnt teach me? Do I just tell them "Sorry, my school didnt want to teach me how to do that because its inappropriate". I have been told to just go out and learn it on my own, which is all good and fine, but I shouldnt have to do that. Im paying good money to get the education that I want, and they should be able to answer questions when I present them with one. The general ed classes seem to be more in depth then the actual hands on classes are. I feel like im in my junior year of school, and I know a "little" of everything, and in order to learn what I dont yet know, I need to find to find another resource because they refuse to teach it to me, and not just Web Design, but all of my tech classes. Financially, I do not suggest going to this school. Its way to expensive, and if you wanted to transfer none of your credits would go with you, and the staff seems to have the "I dont really care" attitude. Spend your time and money some where else and avoid the frustration this school has the ability of tormenting you with.
i just got accepted to iadt of chicago, i've read lots of comments about this school, good and bad. can anyone tell me about how there programs operate preferably, some one that has attended atleast 2-3 years.
I am currently attending the one in detroit and I am soo miserable there. I have honestly gotten more education at wayne county community college than i have here. I remember my first semester I took a photoshop class and i litterally learned nothing. this teacher spent the whole term talking aboust his girlfriend and life in canada and hitting on all the female students. I was already pretty good with that program but theres always more to learn. I learned more from the students than this guy. Im in a audio class now and again not learning anything. he dismisses us an hour early and in the time we are there we dont even do anything. so far all we have done is a voice over assignment which does apply to audio but I think we should be learning about maybe music production or recording equipment. There are a few good teachers but hell some of them have either been fired or quit.
They didnt even bother looking at my portfolio when i brought it. They let anyone that has the money attend this school. There was one kid that was obviously mentally ###ed. He didnt know how to save a picture from the internet and they let this kid attend this school. I mean I know there are some brilliant people with autism but give me a break. They took advantage of him and his mothers money and its a damn shame. I could go on and on, i mean teachers and admissions reps sleeping with students, one admissions rep tried to fight me and nothing happened to him or his job. Im not exagerating the guy litterally tried to fight me over a joke. One of the video teachers seriously spent one whole class talking about how she does extasy. You might think im making this up but sadly im not. For the amount of money that we pay our education is not adding up and its not right.
ive been there since summer of 07 and I just want out. I know im probably deep in debt but I just want out. Lately I barely even go to class because its just depressing knowing that this school did not accept me because of my artistic talents. No to them I was just another dollar.
anyone thinking of going to this school, DONT. I cant speak for the other institutions, because ive heard some good things about the chicago one but DONT for the love of god dont go here.
I go to IADT Detroit; I am in my fifth semester and I have no complaints like a few other people posting on here do.
IADT Slave, It doesn't sound like you are expressing to your teachers that you feel the work is too remedial. If all of you in the class knew the material but still allowed yourselves to be released an hour early every day; then there was an obvious lack of communication from the students to the professor.
I unfortunately have to agree that the school should have a better admissions system; there are a lot of people who attend our campus that are far behind the skill level that they should be at. Honestly, I try to think of it this way: everyone in that building is my future competition; if I have more skill than them I am not going to slow down worrying about the school's ethics. As heartless as it sounds, I have to be more concerned about my own grades and success than other peoples'. However, there are also many very talented students at our school. Our school is a for-profit, private institution; like any other business they have to be open-minded as to who they let in the door. What did you want them to do, turn down a potential student just because he wasn't experienced in his field? I say, give the new students a chance; if they want to pay the money to do so then it is their own choice.
On your last points...in the first place, I have NEVER heard of any faculty sleeping with students, but honestly it's college and it does happen. Not just at IADT, but at colleges everywhere. Secondly, if the other faculty member was angry enough to want to fight you, then you obviously said something out of line or inappropriate. He is just human, the same as you. Lastly, I have never had a teacher even hint about doing drugs other than one teacher saying that he occasionally smokes weed. As long as he's not doing it in class and still giving me a good education, I don't really feel like I have the right to call him out on it. Any anecdotes my teachers have shared with me about their personal lives has always been wholesome and helped me relate to them as a normal person.
And finally, why has it taken you a year to realize that you don't want to go here? If all of these problems are bothering you so badly, you should have done something about it by now. You are paying a lot of money to be barely attending classes. Stop complaining about how horrible the school is and do something about it. The most annoying thing at school is when someone is standing in the hall ### about how much the school sucks, yet they come in to class every day, semester after semester, paying their money to sit through classes they apparently don't even like. If you don't want to be there, then leave; because all you're doing is dragging everyone around you down.
I have done something about it thankyou, and just because you dont see it doesnt mean it does not exist. Im sorry but we are not getting our moneys worth. As for the teacher that tried to fight me, no I didnt say anything out of line to him. He asked me if I went here and I jokingly said "i dont go here" because I know he sees me everyday. From there he got an attitude and started with me. As a staff member he should not have threatened me for one and got in my face. Dont judge me like you know me because you were not there simple as that.
why am i still here? because im a year in, may as well finish out. ive invested in a lot of money. youre right though. no point in complaining about it if im still going, however i cant imagine you not thinking they shouldnt have standards as to whom they let in the school. Not only that, there are too many teachers with no experience in their supposed field.
all in all i have my opinion you have yours, no need to jump down my throat for expressing mine. and me dragging everyone else down? a little dramatic dont you think? Like i said i agree with you about the complaining thing but im not dragging anyone down with me, i cant help it if people feel the same way as i do. Ah whatever though, nothing personal. no need for a online argument because two people have an opinion.
I go to IADT online This is my second session I love the school I love fashion I don't understand they had been honest from the beginning and they do take credit.
I go to the IADT in Detroit. At first i was very Iffy about it because when i came in, it seemed like i was paying way too much and not getting anything out of it. As the semesters went on i realized that its what you take from it. I am very fortunate to say i have had some great and helpful teachers, EXCEPT ONE, but i wont mention her name, all she did was say the assignment and told us to read the book and follow the steps. Its a good thing i Know how to use all the Microsoft Office programs. ANYWAY im getting off topic..
All i have to say, its what you take from the education in this school. If you need help, if you want to learn, ASK! always stand up for what you think in this school, i have had some issues with setting up classes and money issues but i always made my point across.
Another piece of advice for all the people complaining about taking 4 classes a night. ONLINE CLASSES PEOPLE! im at the actualy school once a week.. everything else is done online!
Woah! I am getting ready to start the Interior Design program in a week and after reading all of this I am in shock. I have been out of school for quite some time and I am so excited to go back to school for interior design. This is a huge step for me to go back to school and I don't want to waste my time and $$ by going to a crappy school. Are they really scamming that bad? How is it that they are still operating if it isn't legit? Everything seems cool with the place yeah the admissions was definitely I little weird with them not needing transcripts and such but I just don't see what everyone is saying. Huh! Now I am hesitant...
I will admit, IADT can be petty ### at times, especially with cost. When it comes to most of the things you mentioned, the minimum is 12 credit hours currently (3 classes). You have to give the school the benefit of the doubt in a few aspects. the school has just reached 5 years old and is still inexperienced in allot of things.
Overall I wouldn't call it a complete rip-off. As students, we are more given the opportunity to work hard and get a degree. I've taken advantage of almost every resource and people are calling me a superstar (lol). Allot of things have changed, there is a policy that you are more flexible to drop classes and the school is accredited (I think). Taking a semester off is a pain in the ### though... Switching fields is easier, trust me I did it twice (don't ask).
I do agree the grades are a rip-off though, I switched to digital media for 4 semesters with an unchanged 2.1 due to a class that went completely down hill, I even remember complaining about that class after changing to digital media. I got my GPA to a 2.96, but when I changed back to Graphic design, my GPA was reduced to a 2.76. I complained of course and I was told that my digital media grades were taken off and replaced with my graphic design grades. I complained again asking how it would affect my transcripts, she said she calculated the overall GPA and she said it is 2.85 or something... I still lost a whole 1.1 on my GPA for either no reason or some stupid error.
Like I said earlier, the school isn't completely developed, it would be unethical to call it a complete rip-off in my opinion
As a member of the media I must say the ignorance of the majority on this forum is dumbfounding. Any schooling what so ever is just that... lectures on theory. You must have the passion and drive to land that dream career. There is no magic wand that will place you in a position anywhere. You must search high and low, network, learn as much as possible both in theory and actual execution, and be willing to roll the with the punches. No one and I mean no one has a straight shot in these fields as a result of the untraditional industries these are. If you were looking for that perhaps you should of been a doctor or lawyer. In addition the issue of placement is a joke. Personally I think there shouldn't be a placement office in schools but rather have prospective professionals work that out for themselves. Perhaps as a result of this the work place will be filled with passionate individuals instead of stuck-up snobs who believe they are entitled to something.
I had good & bad experiences at IADT (Toronto) I had some great instructors & had the chance to do some great networking. Some classes however were not well structured, classes being cut short, instructors not showing up. The cost I think was high & I do regret paying the amount I did.
I however for the program I took (Entertainment Business) would not recommend it to others thinking about taking this program. I came from a promoter background & although I did gain some knowledge from the instructors, I found that I gained more network contacts. If your looking to get into music, I recommend interning at a label, artist management company, booking agent etc. Bust your ### off, get out to shows, conferences etc & network as much as possible. The music industry is not taught in the classroom. It's very hands on and very relationship built.
I can say this now looking back, because It would have saved me the struggle of going back into debt. Some of the more technical programs, might have a better fit but overall the EBM program at IADT was a Joke
IADT and all CEC schools are scam schools. DO NOT attend a school that trades on the NASDAQ.
Go to [redacted].com and a IADT group on Facebook called (CEC Truth Advocate) These sites will put in focus what IADT is truly about.
IADT is a ripoff. Try to get a job in the fashion field and they will say that degree is worthless, people. And at a regular college, they will not pick your classes for you. We're all adults. We know what to take and what not to take. We can read.
Here's the horrible experiences I'd like to contribute to ANYONE EVER CONSIDERING THIS SCHOOL:
I never became a graphic designer after attaining my degree. I looked for almost a year. I couldn't even get anything related to design. At one promising interview, at a company about 10 minutes away from IADT Seattle, the design director scanned my resume after seeing my portfolio and was very cordial - until he read the "IADT Seattle" part. "IADT?" he asked, "what's that?" I told him it was an art school down the road, and he replied with, "I know about all the good schools in the area, and have never heard about IADT...why would you choose to go there?"
I was humiliated. He didn't mean to insult me, but the degree I worked so hard for apparently didn't impress anyone it should have. I worked full-time all throughout school and still made the honor roll, which wasn't easy - yet I don't feel like I accomplished much now.
I wish that was the worst of it. If it was, I wouldn't be posting this. I'd be like a lot of other recent college graduates and just suck it up. But, it gets even better...
From out of nowhere, about 6 months after graduation, I got a call from their financial aid dept about an 'outstanding balance' of over $500. Apparently they didn't apply it correctly (part of last semester's tuition) to my student loan(s). So, I was told to pay up or it goes to collections. No apologies, no mention of it being their error. They treated it as if I had been fully aware of this all along...
They warned me that collections would tarnish my credit, especially as a recent graduate with over $15, 000 in unpaid loans. I knew they were right, but there is something very tacky about a threat like that, which I believe was intentially done to alarm me.
But the icing on the cake is when my co-signer recently discovered his credit has been trashed...courtesy of IADT's incompetent financial aid team. (Sallie Mae's infamously inefficient way of operation probably didn't help either, to be fair.) What happened? TWO delinquent accounts have just been 'discovered' and show up on his credit reports now. Those two accounts do not exist under my name. They went delinquent because I was never sent anything in regards to their balance(s). We went back and forth with SM because things didn't add up, and never got a straight answer. Why was he getting all the "Your account is X days delinquent" calls? I called SM to make a payment once and asked if I was doing anything that could hurt my co-signer. They said, No of course not - you'd be aware of anything like that. Still the "delinquent" calls kept coming to him, and only him. It didn't make any sense until now.
Moral of the story? Don't go to IADT unless you think you're somehow different from everyone else who's been burned by them. Trust me, successful graduates are a complete coincidence. And for every 1 of them, there are probably 30 with similar stories as mine.
Any action taken against them I will wholeheartedly back up. They exploit people who sincerely wish to better themselves through schooling, just to make a profit. And they do it with a fake smile on their face the entire time.
I am a recient grad from the Seattle IADT and feel very dissapointed for making the choice to attend such a unorganized institution for higher learning. It all started from the begining with the rep. who inroled me, and learning about my sexual oriention. After his learning of my life style situation the following months i would notice laughing, and dirty looks from various staff members from the admissions department which caused me much internal discomfort of feeling the nonverbal personal attacts because of my sexual orientation. It was'nt until about the second year when my experience there realy soured with one of the instructors who verbialy assulted me to my face. I could'nt believe that i had to tolorate such behavour from a professor, and i am paying this outragious tution, i realy wanted to retaliate but that would have ment jail. So it must have been something extreme for me to feel that way. I just let it go but the memory of it still lingers. There were two other instructor's that i incountered simular problems with as well however i just wanted to get my degree and get the hell out of there. With all of the money i had to spend for attending that school and not getting the recognition for my accomplishments by potientual employers is a real f--- up feeling. And now i have to live with that choice.
The instructor who maid the coment realy should count his blessings.
I am a graduate of the Vis Com program and I can tell you that the school is a joke. They accept everyone. They fill out all of your financial aid papers for you so that you have no idea of the extent of the debt you are getting yourself into. When you try to ask questions about it you are quickly redirected or given a vague answer. The school I attended is no longer even in business. The degree you get is worth nothing basically. Anyone who sees where you went to school will not hire you. The job placement rate at the school I attended was 98%. The reason is because they considered anyone who was employed to be "placed". You can work at McDonalds and that would count for their figures. If you went out and got a job yourself at the local convenience store and they found out about it, that would count as "placement". I did eventually get a job in my field but when I started on my first day I had no idea what I was doing. I was fortunate to find a place that allowed me to learn on the job. I make about the same as if I worked in a grocery store but that is what you can get with a degree from IADT. So... to sum it up, 25, 000 dollars and 2 yrs later I make the same or less than I would had I never attended the school.
I am currently attending, and i'm not 100% now on whether or not i chose the right school.
During High school i learned everything they taught me my first semester at IADT during my sophmore year. I consider my commercial arts teacher as a sort of mentor. Anyways, When i asked several of my graphic design instructors about the Addy Awards (it's for college students and all of the big boys of graphic design enter it, my highschool was the only one in the country who was included, but it's basically great for resumes and awards good, solid designs, like the Florida Print Awards) none of them knew what i was talking about except for my photography teacher. Which really confused me, and whenever it came to enrolling, i was uncertain because they didn't ask me for a portfolio, i told them i had previously won 5 student addys and they didn't know what the Addy Awards was. I'm going to a school for graphic design and not many of the instructors or people working there know what a organization like the Addy Awards are... it makes me uncomfortable.
My parents cosigned a loan with me for sallie mae and now i'm just not that certain on whether or not i've made the right choice in attending school here.
I have two friends that have/are attend(ed)ing IADT, at the same campus as me. One of them stopped going because he said financial aid screwed him royally and the other friend i have is going here for fashion for her bachelor's and she's been here for almost 5 years b/c she constantly has to take off semesters due to money problems.
I started here fresh out of highschool and am now in my 3rd semester, i've looked at only a few websites so far on iadt (like [redacted], this one and a few others) and i plan on doing more research but i'm beginning to doubt my decision i made to go here. I've read numerous reports on ripoff and here about IADT and everyone's comments they've left, i'd just like to know more, and be sure i made the right choice.
If anyone has negative or positive remarks on this school, it'd really help me out, please email me at jenn.hock@gmail.com
Just say something about IADT in the subject so i'll know it's not spam.
One more thing, during highschool, we would do critques and we would be honest and tell the the other students whether their design was even worth looking at, and here the instructors say everything looks good and is a solid design even when (shockingly) many students just make a document in photoshop, slap some text on it and throw in extremely pixelated images, when my old teacher would've tore us a new one if we dared do that.
Which i find unsettingly, because how is it that a man who teaches 14-18 year olds can be honest when college instructors lie about your designs? I looked at work done by graduates here and knew that i did better designs when i was 15. I'm not saying i'm the best graphic designer, or even that i'm amazing at it, i still have alot to learn, but when i knew almost nothing about it, how is it that i've done better than their graduates?
And it saddens me that people spend so much money on their education here and they can't design an advertisemen to save their life.
I go to this school in Las Vegas NV and I would like to know more about this stuff. I feel as if this school is ripping me off and doesn't care about anything. They promised to help me find a job in school and have done nothing and they promised to help me get grants and loans and then they go and deny me because...
1: They go on my parents income when I LIVE ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND AM 19 YEARS OLD!
2: Because they claim I am my mom's dependant when AGAIN Im 19 almost 20 and I don't live with my mom.
Someone please help this make sense to me. Feel free to email me at
Endin2Endin@yahoo.com
I am on there all the time. Thankyou.
Ali Hixson
I freaking agree with this whole thing, This school is WACK! I went to the one in Chicago for two freaking years thinking i can make it, but shoot toward my third year they said I couldn't get anymore loans for it, I GOT SCREWWW! This school is all about MONEY! It's a freaking rip off! The teachers are weird and when i first came there and sat in class, it felt like i was in high school again.. yeah lame! Don't ever go with this school! Now i got about 60 thousand in Dept! I'm inlisting in the army now...
I just got accepted. I'll be doing the virtual online courses...I am excited. I have nothing but high respects for this school. I know that they are strict in guidlines, but being ex-military, I do not mind. Yes, the price is high, but they are competing with the Art Institute here in Seattle. :) I have no quarrel.
The admissions process has been nothing but easy for me. The reason they don't have a lot of admission requirements, is to simply make money. They are a business. I graduated with a 2.2 GPA from high school, so I am glad that there aren't any GPA entry requirements.
I took extensive programming classes, and have always wanted to design video games. The reason why they accepted me is because I am heavily interested. They have guided me through the process, and have helped me a lot.
I love their flexibility with scheduling. I can take half my classes online if I want, which I'm not going to.
Don't listen to these people that complain about this school, that is their own experience. If you are already interested, then try it for yourself.
the school is refusing to give me my transcripts and will not return my phone calls. I have presented them with proof of the payment for the outstanding debt on 5 different occasions. The school is unrelenting in their claim that the money is still due even though I have even gone as far as to drive up to Chicago and speak with them in person. My correspondence with the school has been severely altered by the fact that they have a constant staff turnover. They are also not accredited by a state approved body so, all efforts that I have made to the state regulating authorities has been in vain. they are unable to do anything and they say that my only recourse is to file a complaint with the better business bureau. This will not help me with my current graduation situation or the release of transcripts. I have left over 28 messages for the person that they said that I must talk to in order to resolve the situation, not only has he never answered his phone but he has also never returned a single one of my messages!
I am not trying to get off Scott free here! I have thousands of dollars of student loans and VA education benefits invested into IADT and thousands of hours of time that I have spent away from my family. I have paid back the money that was owed to IADT, retaken all of the general education courses that were needed for acceptance to my current schools Nursing program, and I have turned in high school and my other community college transcripts and now I have completed the entire Nursing program. But the failure of IADT to release my transcripts may prevent me from graduating from my current school. Nothing on this transcript in needed in order for me to meet graduation requirements and the only reason that I included it in my application to the nursing program was because I was trying to be honest about what schools that I had attended so, that it did not come out later as if I was hiding something! My grades for IADT were emaculate I was an excellent student and left the school with only about 20 credits to go due to the fact that they would not allow me to take a medical leave of absence when I was scheduled for brain surgery. I have done everything in my power and I am now I am still suffering for my poor choice of schools. Being a military veteran and a GI Bill recipient I thought that I would have been safeguarded from the pitfall of an unaccredited school because I was sure that the VA would not allow me to use government benefits to attend a unaccredited college. Not to mention the fact that I asked the school if they were accredited and if these credits would transfer to another state school, to which I was assured that the answer was yes! I was so wrong on both accounts because the school "is accredited" by the parent company that owns the school and its subsidiaries and the credits "will transfer" to another one of the schools that they own! But as far as the rest of the real world is concerned I guess we are all out of luck...and money for that matter!
Sincerely,
You will take what you will from each experience. Please check the placement rates from all these community colleges and local universitites. You have no idea what it is, but assume because of your bad experience that is better. To be honest--based off of everything I heard it's sound like a bunch of people who expect things to be given to them. There are tons of success stories, but funny how none of you are one of them. I wonder why.
Hope someone reads this. The entire Financial Aid office at IADT CHicago has been let go. Word on the street is some random branch of the government did an audit and decided enough is enough.
I currently attend IADT Detroit, since January of 2007. I have attended the school for every term since then, and almost just got dismissed due to my GPA. Luckily, the program chair of Game Production has always liked me, and helped me get reinstated so that all of my money and time would not have been wasted. The reason my GPA is low is my own fault, but it's not due to my talent as a student. It's my terrible time-management ethics, which I am working on. However, be warned: Grades do NOT get replaced when you retake classes, they simply STACK onto your GPA. For example, if you took a drawing class, got an 'F', then retook it and got an 'A', they would both be affecting your GPA. I'm not sure how that works at other colleges, but it's a real pain in the ###. If you come here, be sure that you have a good work ethic.
I have no problems with the Game Production faculty at IADT Detroit. Yes, when I first came to this school I was disgusted by the amount of uneducated and untalented individuals, some of whose work lined the walls. You see, I came out of the College for Creative Studies based in downtown Detroit. The discipline and skill required of the students there is quite an example to be made, and I consider the school to be a beacon of light in the Art and Design world. CCS is apparently "not easy" to get into, and is rather prestigious. I went to CCS fresh out of high school. I did not even take any art courses in high school, in fact that last art class I ever had before college was in the 7th grade. Yet, I slacked all summer with creating my portfolio in order to get accepted into the school, and whipped it out with a couple colored pencils the night prior to it being due. I then emailed the admissions representative at CCS (emailed, when it was supposed to be personally given!) my work, along with 5 very simple flash projects I did at my high school's affiliated Career Center. The result was that I got in, and also with a school-given scholarship that very few people get. However, I ****ed up after a year of attending the school and had to leave.
My point is, many people are pointing fingers at the few success stories of graduates of IADT. There is a damn good reason for low placement rates (in GOOD career-related jobs, that is). That reason is because any job in the creative field requires a HIGH level of skill and even RAW TALENT. I have a prime example for you! The program chair of Game Production, to my knowledge (as she stated), has a husband that works for a game studio (a well-known one called Stardock). Yet, she works at IADT as an instructor. Guess where she got her degree? CCS, folks! A highly respected, critically-acclaimed PRIVATE school that is recognized by the state of Michigan as such! Every ART school is the same. I've attended one of the best, and yet, I am happy right here at IADT Detroit. Yes, the student body has very few people in it whom I respect as artists, however, that has nothing to do with my success, education, or talent. My portfolio is what is going to get me a job.
She is a wonderful person and has helped me out immensely, and even privately helps Game Production students get their classes scheduled as flexibly as possible. The faculty at my school is acceptable. Some are more than acceptable, but even fewer are not acceptable; those few have been let go and I can't even remember who they are.
The ONLY thing I can agree with about IADT is IADT as a BUSINESS. Yes, the Financial department is shady as ****. There are a lot of strange policies and regulations, a lot of which I have personally dealt with. Again, I almost got kicked out of school because of my GPA, even though this last term (Summer 2009) I have improved my focus as a student. I failed no classes and improved my attendance considerably, yet they were SO quick to just drop me out and forget me. Like I said, if it weren't for the program chair believing in me and telling me that I deserve to get a degree and get out, I probably would have been ROYALLY ****ED.
And, Mind you, folks, I graduated high school with Honors. College is a different story. You have to have passion. There were a lot of strange things about IADT when I started, but the school in Detroit has been making improvements and has changed its curriculum. I've never had problems with inflexible schedules. I've never been forced against my will to do anything.
But there are definitely more improvements to be made. Come here at your own risk. If you aren't cut out for the Game industry or any other design-based career, you will find out VERY quick. I do agree that a lot of things I have learned in my classes, I could have learned just as well if I bought the books and studied at home. But to be fair, that's how every college is, even the Big Ten.
IADT is more expensive than community colleges and some public universities (in-state), however, in my experience, it is less expensive than private colleges.