Leaving before attending - Pt. 3

[mnordic]

Hey guys,
Add another one to the ticker..here's my story.

I'm a construction professional who's unemployed for the time being due to the crappy housing market..I'm looking to get back into school to learn some new skills - I've always been great with computers, so I was thinking something along the lines of IT or Network Systems. Last week I filled out my FAFSA information and put about 5 different schools on there, including ITT - guess who called me less than an hour after I finished? We set up an appointment and I went in to see what it was all about, or so I thought. They rushed me through the tour and made me pick a "degree" on the spot, we went through financial aid (had to call the IRS to get my taxes, got the 3rd degree from the federal gov't about faxing them, then the bitch just grabs them out of my hands "let me make some copies of those" like it's not everything about me and anyone could steal my identity with all that stuff. I'd rather do my financial aid alone and feel secure about it.) and finally I got to the enrollment agreement. I was very animate at this point about making sure I was not completely committed to something that took less than 4 hours to rush through and was going to cost me 47,000, so I had him clearly explain the cancellation agreement, financial aid refund, ect. before I signed. I wouldn't consider myself a sucker and to be honest I actually felt somewhat good about my decision in the moment. I left feeling overwhelmed and knowing I had about two weeks to research before my orientation.

Now, since I work in the construction industry and am unemployed right now, I do a lot of side jobs for random homeowners that I meet through real estate professionals. I've developed good business relationships with these people and in this moment I used these connections to help me find out more - I called a guy I work for a lot who was actually the VP of HP at one point in his career, and is now SP of another computer software company. He told me it really did depend on the person, but 80% of the people who came through interviews for his companies from ITT had no REAL SKILLS, were using dated programs, and if he was debating between two people, he would always go for the one with the DIPLOMA, not the DEGREE. This was big for me. I did my own extensive research online and I found out lots of horrible stuff (can't transfer credits out - what if I want to go for my masters? I'm sure as hell not doing that online, who the f*ck s going to respect that) before I even came across this site. I must say, though, when I did come here, the realization of - "how many products or businesses are actually so bad that someone makes a website about how bad they are?" I know theres a few out there but it was this thought that pushed me over the edge.

I went in a couple of days ago and my "recruiter" was like "aren't you a few days early for finishing your financial aid?" I told him I wanted to cancel my enrollment and he honestly didn't seem to care much, must've already gotten his commis. - is that how they work? felt like I was being sold a car now that I look back. Anyway, we go sit down in the room and I write out my reasons for leaving and sign, we wait for the recruitment person to come in and sign below me. While we are waiting I kindly ask him for all of my financial aid and tax information back, and he proceeds to tell me "he doesn't know where it is" ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME. I got pissed off and told him that he better find my shit or a lawyer will be contacting you and your school very shortly. He picks up the phone, dials one number, tells a girl to pull my information and it was there in a matter of minutes. wtf. at this point i am kind of pissed off, and the girl comes in to sign my papers. She lectures me about how it's not the right decision for me to make, like its not my own life, tells me she will sign the paper, then, without signing, actually gets up, shakes my hand, and tries to walk out of the room! I stop her and tell her I want a copy of that shit, with your signature on it, before I leave. (not in those words but at this point i'm sure my tone of voice said it all). Twenty minutes later i get a signed copy back, shouldn't have taken that long but whatever. I left feeling pretty good about dodging a 47000 bullet, but I'm posting here just to let you guys know how much they dicked me around, and also - Did I miss anything? - Is there anything else I should do at this point? Thanks guys, for the website, and the information in advance.

-Mike

[sevenalive]

I think you pretty much covered it, good thing you did your research. Try a community college get a 2 year, then transfer to a university for a 4 year. It will all be less than 1/2 of the cost of ITT and it will be real education.

[aka name]

I left feeling pretty good about dodging a 47000 bullet, but I'm posting here just to let you guys know how much they dicked me around, and also - Did I miss anything? - Is there anything else I should do at this point?

What an awesome story! Made my day. Every ITT Tech location has a pdf file catalog (example here) that contains regulations including cancelation guidelines. Make sure you follow those and get everything in writing. Looks like you've covered it, though.