Just interested if I am alone in this:

A year ago I was asked at an IT school to teach a Net+ course with eight computers and 25 students. When I protested my job was threatened (I ended up leaving after that term anyway). In the two years I taught I can honestly say that I spent more time fixin PC (P133 with 32 megs of ram for the most classes...this was in 2001!). I saw instructors who had no clue of what they were doing. I taught at a school where SENIORS had no Idea of what TCP/IP was. I saw these same students paying 24% interest on loans and being charged over a thousand dollars per class. They give entrance exams and take students who do not have the aptitude to pass the course but some how passed their entrance exam.

It was almost heartbreaking to hear a salesperson talk about 50-80K careers to prospective students.

Was wondering what any other experiences were from? I taught at computer Learning center who is now bankrupt but the students are still stuck with paying their loans from an utterly worthless training.

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Luckily for them they didn't need me to teach them how to spell....sorry

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I attended a technical college and had a very good experience. The equipment was new and the instructors were knowledgeable. They did not make promises of exorbitant salaries. I earned my A.A.S. degree in Computer Information Science. When I was finished, they helped me find the job that I have now.

This is not to say that everyone that attends school there gets a job. I had to work hard and take advantage of the recourses I had access to. I also saw many students that were wasting their money because they were not committed. Some seamed to think that just getting a degree was going to get them their dream job, making “big bucks”. Apparently, it never occurred to them that they would actually have to know what they were doing.

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There are several good schools, I've taken courses at CC's, etc and been satisfied, All I am saying is that there are a number of schools that took a lot of advantage during the IT boom. Obiviously you worked hard and achieved some success, but your school also held up their end of the bargain by providing quallity equipment. If you have enthusiastic students and quality instruction and equipment then you have a great recipe. I always saw it as the end result should be an employed technician. I feel like schools are obligated to provide Instruction and Equipment but if that doesn't happen I don't think it matters how enthusiastic the students are. They may get a job because of exceptional aptitude or commitment but the institution did not do what it was supposed to do.

My issue with CLC and other institutions is their inability to provide equipment and instructors while promoting it.

Glad your experience was a good one

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I did a lot of research before I decided what school to go to, and it paid off. I have also heard some sad stories of schools taking a students money, and not giving a whole lot in return. A guy I worked with at my previous job was attending a technical school (not the one I went to) to learn computer networking. He had the same instructor for every coarse. They started out learning about A+ type stuff, which the instructor seamed to be knowledgeable in. But when they got to the actual networking classes, the instructor informed the class that they would have to “bare with him” because he would be “learning about this also.”

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Caveat emptor. People don't do enough research when they are buying or selling these days. The first school I trained at did what they called "Instructor Assisted" Training. This was giving the students a CBT and having a "certified" trainer available if they had any questions. I heard sales calls where the manager and lead trainer (who was less certified than I was - had only one test passed, and on an outdated platform at that) was talking about what it takes to get certified. I left there within 2 months, and have always interviewed the center before teaching. The only exception is when you contract through a broker... roll the dice. I've only had one class blow up on me, but I really count myself lucky.

As for training centers now a days, there are a few that are starting to feel the pain of being a marketing machine and not focusing on the satisfaction of the customers. One really big chain recently lost a 2M client because of quality. Hmmmmm I guess people are getting smarter. There are also laws going into effect that are going to find the medium ground for ed ctrs.

There is always good and bad, but likely, the more you research, the more value your money will have.

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I'm currently at a crossroads in my life trying to decide which direction to turn.

One way, I can go to a CTEC school where they guarantee you job placement and they are good jobs. Of course you have to fulfill requirements to get a guaranteed job, I have enough ambition to get over this obstacle though. As far as I can tell, it is a credible offer.

Another way, I can go back to school for probably about 2 years and get my Bachelor's degree. Would take me longer, yet I would have something that is highly desired from employers. This is a tried and true method to good careers and is another option I am thinking of.

With the market like it is right now, it is extremely tough to get a foot in the door. Even with a B.S. degree(Computer Science) you can't seem to get in the industry unless you know someone it seems. Of course in the time it would take to attain my B.S. degree(about 2 years), the market might be completely different. No one knows for sure. The Tech school is a tempting offer, and I am still considering it.

I'm visiting the college this week. Maybe if it works out I'll be in college by summer. Or tech school by summer for that matter.

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Go to college and take your certification. All the while working little weekend contracts and maybe a part time support gig. After 2 years, you'll have it all, and the experience too... (if the consulting thing works really well, you can concentrate on it)..

Hope this helps.

Cheers!

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Luck:
Laboring Under Correct Knowledge
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quote:

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Originally posted by Benoit
. . . a CTEC school where they guarantee you job placement

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I went to computer learning center and the equipement was pretty good (P2 400 or better back in '00) and the teachers I had knew their stuff pretty well.
one day I went to class and the doors were closed (so I went across the country having a good time) It sucked but at least I had all my loans wiped away.

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