Jewelry Making and Repair Course review: Not for Everyone--Not for ME

When you read positive reviews about this school, a common refrain you will see is "This school is not for everyone". This is often stated by employees and other representatives of the school alike. Apparently North Bennet Street School was not for ME!

Keep in mind as you read my story, that North Bennet Street School is registered as a nonprofit organization. This School prides itself in its claim that it was founded by the great philanthropist, Pauline Agassiz Shaw.

After coaxing me along for a semester with soothing words of encouragement to continue with the course, at the end of the semester, when it was too late for me to get my $7, 290 of tuition back, AND after I had made my final tuition payment to the school, the head instructor slammed me with the news that I should not return the following semester. My crime? I was "struggling" to get my projects in on time. This jewelry making course is, as admitted by the School, an "intensive and rigorous" course.

The fact that I was being dismissed came as a complete surprise to me! Why? Because earlier in the semester I had gone to meet with the then executive director, and he had assured me that the School did NOT dismiss students for turning their projects in late, as long as the student was giving the course his/her best effort! Well, I was in the building every morning before the classroom doors opened, I received grades of "Excellent" on my note-taking abilities, written exams, and attendance.

After I had been told to leave, appeals to the executive director were denied. Despite what the School claims, as of the date, and after appeals to many consumer organizations, this issue still remains outstanding. When I demanded my tuition back, the school hurled false accusations of "verbal abuse of a fellow student" against me! (I have this accusation in writing.) If this claim had been true, that alone would have been reason enough for immediate dismissal! If that were true, why did they wait until I asked for my tuition back before making such a shocking accusation?

After being in business for 125 years now, you would think this nonprofit "charitable", "philanthropic" organization would have found a less brutal way of determining a student's unworthiness to complete their course!

North Bennet Street School prides itself in the statement that "This School is not for everyone". If you are considering this school, you might consider all other alternatives first. After this bitter experience, I visited Revere Academy in San Francisco. Tears well up in my eyes that I had not invested my future in their hands rather than in the hands of North Bennet Street School.