Complaint Review: Ohio Center For Broadcasting

I was a former student of Jeff Sack's. I attended OCB in 2004-2005. Within a year of graduation I had worked full-time at a radio station and then became a stringer for Metro Networks covering the Indians and Cavaliers. Within two years of graduation I was working full-time as a news anchor in Georiga and Florida. Within three years I was a full-time reporter in Orlando, Florida and won an AP award. I then became a news director in Madison, Wisconsin, an editor for NBC News Radio in Washington DC, and a news-director in Sacramento, CA. From there, I parlayed my experience into working for a very well-known video game and entertainment website. I'm now a communications manager for a nonprofit in San Francisco.

I learned quite a bit at OCB, but I also put a lot into it as well. My internship was at WTAM. I made contacts and conducted myself professionally. OCB is a tool, it's not a college or university. You get out of it what you put into it. I had career asperations and an education when I came through that door, but I knew I needed something to help me get to the next level. Jeff Sack believed in me, listened to me, coached me and always had my back. Same with Tim Fredmonsky and several other instructors. I was very green, but I was hungry and motivated.

For every complaint I see on here, I see a person who wanted someone to hand-deliver their future. There are plenty of success stories from OCB, and each one of them has something in common -- that person wanted it more than anyone else. 

I met my wife at OCB. We've been together for 12 years now and have two children. She also became a successful news anchor, working at most of the stations I worked along the way. She anchored in Orlando, she anchored NBC News Radio -- a network news broadcast. She was a country music DJ in Orlando and Madison. She had the goods, but loved being a stay-at-home mom as well. She could walk out of our house tomorrow and get a job in any market she wanted. Because she has talent, brains, and drive.

Also, lest you think she rode my coat-tails, she was on the air in Minneapolis while I was making a go of it at my first full-time gig in nowhere Iowa. She was a success before I was. She also anchored for Metro in Cleveland (which is now closed, I believe) while I was part-time.

That right there are two success stories from our 2004 OCB class.

I don't know how OCB is now. I haven't kept track. I did some random Googling from my desk here in San Francisco, wondering how the school is doing and came across this page. Very sad to see all these negative reports.

While I had an education and talent, I wouldn't have the career I have now if it weren't for OCB, its teachers, and the opportunities it presented. I simply took advantage.

I hope some of you will take this to heart and reevaluate your positions. It is possible. It's simply up to you.

went to the colorado campus and was told i would not owe a thing at the end cause i stated to the finance lady that i already had student loans and if i needed one for this school i would not attend. Stated to her more than once. Shelly assured me that i would not owe a thing and that she would work her magic and get me grants wich i applied for. So a few weeks befor graduating this is when i find out i owe over 9 thousand and of course she never answers my calls and or emails.

Much to your misunderstanding! 

1. If a contract is signed making a promise and payment is made on the promise that is a contact and failure to make good on a contract (even in Ohio) is called breach of contract which is attainable for a suite in State Civil court and may even reach the level of Federal

2. Then you have companies that advertise promises, which if the individual keeps a copy of the advertisements (either print or television/radio recording) that is called false advertising which once again would be attainable for a suite in State Civil court and may even reach the level of Federal

3. As I am sure you are not an attorney, I would offer one small piece of advice, leave the decision of weather a matter is attainable in a court of law up to the attorney’s, judges and courts, as you could be opening yourself up for a suite or even criminal charges by giving out legal advise or opinion without having a degree.

Best Regards In This Matter To All Persons Involved:

If you truly feel the IL Centers For Broadcasting, OH Centers For Broadcasting, Colorado Media School, or Miami Media School has done your wrong (all owned by the same person) then I would file a complaint with the ACCSC which accredits them, you can do so at http://www.accsc.org/Student-Corner/Complaints.aspx

I did learn a lot of things at Ohio Center for Broadcasting. Many things that would land me a radio job anywhere in the USA. Problem is, those jobs do not pay what it is worth to move, and to find a local opportunity, is almost impossible. The markets hardly use new talent. They take the popularity of somebody who is already working for another station and either entice them to leave, or wait until they get canned. It is recycling to say the least. One year you will hear a DJ on one station, and the next year, you will hear them on a different one. If you do get in, it is as a board op for minimum wage, and with the latest radio broadcasting software, there is not much need for a board op. (Of course they don't tell you this, they say you will be a star).

OCB used Avid and Adobe when I was there in 2000, but there were only two bays with 27 students. With live TV demos, I was usually stuck running the teleprompter, or running a studio camera. On field projects, I was always behind the camera too. That was fine with me, because I didn't care much for being in front of the camera. I never even had a chance to touch a video editor though, and that disappointed me. As for job placement, there wasn't much of an effort for that. I was working at a small AM radio station at the time, and I got that job on my own, but they claimed they got me the job. Overall, I could have bought the software that they use, and messed around with it until I knew it, and saved $11,000.00, in student loans. With the exception of Cool Edit audio editor, I never learned to use anything of the sort, until I bought it myself.

They mix half truths with full lies about job placement, and how "In Demand" their students are. If we were so much in demand, then there would be prospective employers battering the door down, in order to get their pick of us. But instead, there were random emails with copy and paste from All Access website. I sent out my airchecks to many different places all around the country, and got only one bite from a supposed program director for a country station in southern Ohio, who told me I have the gig, but nothing ever came of it. I went to the website of that radio station, and his name was not there.

I decided to try to freelance since I built my own studio at home, and produce radio ads for local businesses. I made a total of $150.00 in five years. So I decided to podcast. Podcasting is where you do your own radio style production, either pre-recorded, or live on the internet. When you gain enough listeners, you can then start pitching your show to target businesses who have web commerce sites. You are your own boss, and the FCC has no control over you or your show (For Now). It has taken me twelve years to find my niche and to use the little bit that I did learn at OCB to my advantage, but still, I could have done it on my own, and not had to pay $11,000.00 to an overcrowded school that offers more hype that hope.

I am also a graduate of the Ohio Center for Broadcasting- Colorado Campus, and I basically disagree with everything stated above. I've seen more than a few of these complaints, and I just have a few questions.... Were you guaranteed by the school that you would get a job making you rich? Did they tell you you'd get a job in Denver as soon as you graduated? The answer to both of these questions is NO. The people who have these complaints are the students who do nothing in class, and are then suprised when they are not just handed a job!

I was in a class of 24 students and 20 of us are working in the industry. I am a Producer/On-Air Talent for 1023 ESPN in Denver along with 2 of my classmates, another guys is the lead Producer for one of the top morning shows in Colorado, another is making Nationally run commercials, we have one who is running a political station in Garden City, Kansas. Not to mention hosts in Wray Colorado, Laramie WY, Cheyenne, and right here in Denver. All these people were given leads by Mark Lillie, but none of said "That's too far" or "I'm above that position.

Also you are given plenty of time to be in front of cameras, work on editing, work on your skills on-air on their 2 stations (Hannah I am the one who took over as PD of the Sports Station and it was because I worked harder than anyone else, not because it was just handed to me) it's just a matter of how driven you are.

I work Full-Time in the Radio Industry, and I owe it all to OCB. If you're experience was that bad and you didn't find the job you were looking for, maybe you should look in the mirror. It probably has a lot more to do with you, than it does with the school!

I was a student at the Ohio Center for Broadcasting back in 2009 and graduated with my class. I am not currently employed with OCB nor within the broadcast industry so this is just my story from the Denver campus.

In early 2009 I was kind of at a standstill with my life. I was 19 years old working at a very dead-end job with no high hopes of going any further. I was considering school and maybe even sigining up for classes at a community college until I saw an OCB commercial. I called and and set up an interview and such to come in and take a tour around the school. I did the walk-thorugh and even layed down a couple of voice tracks for my very first demo CD with the tech guy (Pat) was even impressed with how good I was... and I was sick on top of it. So I went through and signed papers and enrolled. I took my dad along with me on the tour just in case he saw something and could tell me just in case I get caught up in the moment. They told us about 90% of students graduate and there was a year afterwards with help in job placement. So to me, this sounded like an easy way to get out of my crappy job.

However as read by the above comments this isn't the place for ANYONE! Please take my advice and enroll in a 4 year university and study in communications, trust me. I wasted $15,000 for what? An iPod that I couldn't put my work onto and share and treat it as a portable demo tape (as promised), three days a weeks, four hours a day for 10 months of bull, and a year of Mark Lillie calling me and telling me to get a car when he knew I couldn't afford it so I can go out and apply at radio stations in Kalamazoo, or Las Cruces, or even Grand Junction. I (being a resident in the Denver Metro Area) was hoping for a job close to home, not in Kalamazoo. It seemed as if job assistance didn't do much of an assistance! I had the proper interview and resume skills (I'm 19, I needed a degree, not how to take make a good first impression), it just seemed like me finding even a SMALL job within a Top 25 market was something that Mark Lillie didn't make an effort in finding for me. Instead I was given access to the website where I can leave my information and potential employerers can view, I also applied to all the local jobs and even informed Mr. Lille about where I have been looking.  All he did was set up the website, our usernames and passwords and said "Here ya go," and we (as the graduates) had to look for a job, while Mark calls you about once a month and that is it. I only had ONE interview in my 365 days after my graduation that was in the industry. Apparently within a couple of weeks AFTER my interview the company offering the position got bought out and I never recieved any notice about it until I questioned Mark Lillie about it. It seems like I could have gotten a heads up or SOMETHING since this was a job that HE referred me to. Thanks Mark Lillie.

I was 1 of 12 people who graduated from my class in December of 2009. One got hired on only for part-time at the radio station she was interning at (later I found out she quit), one got hired for commercial and audio editing at another company (but she wasn't doing any sort of work, in fact she got hired for nothing!) one ended up working at a news station in Colorado Spings (but keep in mind she lived there and that is a smaller market than Denver)  and one recently got hired on to work on commercials in Grand Junction (also in a smaller market). I still have my dead-end job, one works at Walmart, one works at UPS, one at a liquor store, and one is unemployed still. The remainder I no longer talk to. That is clearly not 90% or more of my class getting jobs. Even prior to us graduating there was a student from the spanish classes selling his laptop with all the video and audio editing programs we have been learning. Why? Because he didn't have a job in the field and was worried about never getting one. Even before we graduate we needed to be disappointed with the school.

I also feel that the 2/23 Day class (the class I was part of) was treated unfairly based on previous actions that were caused by two students that were later removed from the class. Before the school switched building locations we were told that there would be another internet station added and it would be targeting sports. We would recieve notice about how to apply for positions including Program Director and air-time. My class never heard about the positions opening up when they did. One of the students from a class that signed up a few months after our class started ended up getting the PD spot, and this disappointed one of the students in my class because he was hoping that with all the effort and the air-time that he did put in that he would have a good chance in getting the position.... if we were aware of the position. I never missed school so they (or even Terry Cuff) can't say they went in and announced it. Our class seemed like we got the short end of the stick on a lot. We were the only class that DIDN'T get our 30 Minute Newscast or 4 Hour Radio Show on tape and film! Why? Well with Pat and the rest of the school well aware that we were in these courses of the cirriculum, we had access to the editing bays and such and in our rehersals we were able to get everything recorded. However when it came down to the big day (where we knew we were getting graded for it), we hit the record button and performed in front of the camera and mic, go to collect our work and... well NOTHING! It didn't even record! The school (minus the instructors of the newcast and radio show course) made it seem like it was "user error" and that we should make sure eveything is working prior to hitting the record button. Funny though, if no one else is allowed in those studios except those students working on the project they are learning, and if eveything recorded just fine the last 3 classes then how is it our fault? Sad too, it was ENCOURAGED to use the material recorded from these two projects in particular in our demo... and we couldn't use the best of what we had because it never got on tape. Thanks again OCB.

New building and a lot of new equipment that the staff themselves didn't know how to work. "Once you learn one board you know them all," as Pat would say. Not true! Not when the new board has a bunch of buttons and switches that aren't even close to the one we learned from the old building. Pat couldn't show me how to use the equipment because he didn't have time to play with it. We were enrolled in Februrary, switched to the new building in June/July and you didn't have time? You're kidding right? Pat was the tech guy, of you had problems with stuff, or needed it checked out he was your go-to guy. He (out of everyone else that I say lives in that building) seemed to be the only one who connected more with the students than Terry Cuff or job assistance dude Mark Lillie. The instructors were people who were employed or are currently employed within the industry. Dave Otto, Gwen Gantter and Gwen's husband (sorry I can't remember his name off the top of my head) were probably the best instructors in our 10 months there. They took the time to answer all our little questions and helped us and gave us GREAT advice as far as what is out there in the "real world". Yes, they are radio people and they didn't target anything in the television world. But when the ones instructing the video and televised portions of the course USED to work at a news station prior to all the technicological advances of the new milenium. Columbo was a joke! He was a former student hired on as an instructor to show us how to "sell" ourselves in the industry... because he was a car salesman and that's what he knows. His reasons being there weren't stupid, just the fact that almost all the educators were nothing more than washed up people who can't get a job doing anything else.

Otherwise everything that Dave and other former student said sounds DEAD ON, even for the campus in Denver. It was a complete waste, no grants or scholorships were offered (And if they were then class 2/23 STILL didn't hear anything about it), so thanks for taking $15,000 and telling me to get a car.

I would love to jump onto this lawsuit action! More than likely I can get 5 more students who graduated from my class on too.

Please contact me with information on how to join this cause. I attended the school in Illinois and had an awful experience. 

drewbrown25@me.com

I have requested transcripts 4 times from this worthless school. They charge $20.00 per transcript, which is ridiculous. Long story short, they have yet to send out any of my transcripts I have requested. And we were promised a copy of our transcripts at graduation, never got that one either. No matter how many times I ask. I have just sent a letter demanding my transcripts or I will press charges. And you know what, I will literally have to sue this school just to get my transcripts, thats how many morons you have working there.

I have stumbled across these reports and as a former employee of the company I had to put in my two cents and everything from the original report is accurate.  School is a propiertary institution. Not a college, but a career school and is solely operates on a for profit basis.  They're only concern is school enrollment to create revenue.  Most equipment is outdated.  They charge a enrollment fee of at least $125 to show if a student that pays it will make there school balance payments.  This is to show seriousness from the prospective student. They only want numbers and that is all they really care about.  Instructors are hired on a part time basis and usually work for $10.00 per hour.  They have a high turnover rate.  Job placement coordinator wants every student to be able to work in other states.  Competetion is very high.  They also fire there employees if there not perfoming to their standards. (Another High turnover rate) as I myself was fired. "we no longer need your services" is their famous quote.  When they get a person from a TV or radio station to come to class, its only to pump up the students. Ask that RAdio personality what He or She makes. You'll be surprised that most entry level jobs in Broadcasting start out $7.00 - 8.00 an hour. Dave you are so correct on this.  Anoynomous

I am gathering up everyone who has been screwed over by this school and bringing a lawsuit
against them. I already have several who are willing to put words to
action and give this "school" what they deserve for blatantly lying to
all of us. Please respond if you are ready to take action now.

OCB simply put is an evil institution that uses trickery and outright lies to deceive those with a dream into believing that they can attain their dreams in only one year. It took me over 2 years to get a job in broadcasting after graduating. And after working for 3.5 years I am still only a PART-TIMER. That is the part they don't tell you. You may get a job, but not one that will pay the bills for at least 10 years or more. I personally know dozens of people with 20-40 years experience in broadcasting who don't make 40k per year and they are still only part-timers after 40 stinking years. Broadcasting is the worst possible industry for anyone to get into.

Here the only way you can survive in broadcasting industry,

1. have rich parents to supplement your income for 30 years
2. have a rich spouse
3. have a second job.
4. work 25 diff jobs for the same business and have no life and never sleep and have a very deep self hate (I know many who do this and make good money but they are the most miserable individuals on earth)

I work in a very big market and all the big names I have met personally, Limbaugh, Dr. Laura, George Noory, Roger Hedgcock, Howard Stern. I have worked personally with with former producers for Stern, Producers of Limbaugh and Laura and hedgecock. These guys don't make crap, in some cases less than 20k per year. The key to the business is longevity, can you really stay broke and wait around longer than the next guy, until someone with what you "think" is a decent wage quits and you take their job?

My official titles are the following:

Board Director
Traffic Producer
Commercial Traffic Producer
News Producer
News Writer
Web Writer
Call-Screener
Promotions Assistant
Engineer
Total Traffic Network Producer
Vehicle Fleet Manager

I DO ALL THAT AND I make 13 stinking bucks an hour..............GET IT..........DONT GO TO OCB!!!!!!!

My advice: go to a REGIONALLY accredited community college, then transfer to a 4 year school, get a bachelors degree in something, anything. But whatever you do, never go a school that is not regionally accredited. (OCB IS NOT REGIONALLY ACCREDITED they are nationally accredited which is worth about as much as a pile of dog crap to other REAL colleges!!!!) You see if your school is not regionally accredited, no other schools will accept the credit.

I am currently working 2 jobs and I have been trying for the past 2 years to find a college that will accept my credit from OCB. No colleges will accept their worthless credits. And if you contact whatever lying jackass they have running the place, he will get all defensive and say "Well we have never had anyone have problems transferring our credits!!!" you lying b*****d.

DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY ON OCB, THEY ARE A BUNCH OF LYING JACKASSES!!!!!

I attended the Cincinnati facility in 2002-2003. It does not sound like much has changed! By coincidence, (and it had to be cause very few students who attend ANY broadcasting school are successful) at least four students from the day class are working in television or media entertainment. One young lady was hired on by Fox here in Cincinnati. The other one seems to be spending quit a bit of time on stage with her acting career, but rumour has it she landed small jobs around the area. The third student didn't finish the second semester. He got in trouble.

 Nevertheless, he has been employed with TBN as a camera operator & floor/set director for five years at their Indianapolis ch 42 location. Now at their ch 21 Phoenix studio. Plus work he done for an independent German Production Company overseas. The fourth student has actually worked with different films. In front of and behind the camera. He seems to be doing fine.

So, n saying all that, there really are students from this school that have had, or are having, success in the business. I tried, & it's hard!!!! Full time posistions are a thing of the past. And if your not willing to travel, forget it! It's what you put into it. And that still won't guarantee what you will get out of it. So anybody who is wondering about a career in media in general should stop and be realistic, regardless to what any school, station director, or your family and friends tell u> cause the truth is.......technology is taking over. Best of luck,

I live in a college town.

If you tell people you have a bachelor's degree, you will be considered overqualified, arrogant and undertrained for the type of real work jobs they have here.

That is why you don't tell people you have the bachelor's degree. You tell them you have a high school diploma and you are much more likely to be hired.

Employers here do not like to hire smart people who know employment law because they skim paychecks, keep the amount of Social Security that they deduct from your checks and routinely violate EEOC, Wage and Hour and OSHA laws and expect you to be too ignorant to know the difference.

And when you call their hand on it, you may get what you have coming to you compensation wise but you will be BLACKLISTED and whenever they have gotten enough fake evidence to backstab you and set you up for termination by any means possible, YOU WILL HAVE GREAT DIFFICULTY FINDING A JOB IN ANY PROFESSION OR TRADE IN THE SAME TOWN -- unless you have an extremely rare job speciality that no one else can do. And GOOD LUCK with that!

You don't tell people that you were in a broadcasting school. You can say you had a friend who is now deceased who used to work as a janitor or ad salesperson or some minor job at a radio station and you hung around and learned to do some of the things that are done at a radio station.

For some reason, employers think they have to pay you more with specialized training.

And nowadays, you are lucky to have a job, any kind of job, at all.

The Ohio Center for Broadcasting was the biggest waste of 12,000 dollars I ever spent. I visited the campus and was assured jobs were everywhere, but that's not my beef with them. I signed up and when class started then found out we had antiquated equipment. The computers we used were old and in bad shape. I work for a software company and numerous times had to fix the computers around the school so me and my fellow classmates could finish our projects. The frequency of calls from the Administration to fix certain computer problems got out of hand. I was so busy fixing the computers that I almost didn't finish my own work. We had a project that was going to be aired on public access and we needed to practice. The computer that puts the words on the screen for the person to read broke. I drove home and got parts to fix the computer as we needed to have this. 30 minutes later I returned and fixed it. The teacher made a comment to me because I hadn't worked on my personal project and asked me What are you RETARDED or something?. I took that hard. I was in a bad car wreck years ago and had part of my brain removed. He was well aware of this

So I do have some learning disabilities and have lots of trouble even keeping up with normal people. I pushed my bad feelings aside and went about my work. I then approached the School Director about this. He called me in for a meeting with that teacher in tow. That teacher denied saying anything. The Director talked to my classmates and was reassured that this in fact happened. He told me if I wanted to graduate I should just keep my mouth shut. So I'm left with a bullshit degree from this school. I paid my money and what did I get?? I got made fun of by a teacher about my learning problems. With the computer work I did for the school I can guess it would be somewhere in the 2000 to 3000 dollar range. Did I get reimbursed for this?? NO. To top that off I've been on numerous interviews. I have been told I have a lot going for me. When they find out that I went to the Ohio Center for Broadcasting they change their mind. I was told it wasn't a good enough school to teach anybody the skills needed to work in radio.

THAT IS THE TRUTH.

YOU GO TO A SCHOOL LIKE THIS TO LEARN HOW TO DO A JOB AND HOPEFULLY YOU LEARN IT VERY WELL.

THERE IS N GUARANTEE THAT YOU WILL GET A JOB IN ANYTHING.

AS FAR BACK AS I CAN REMEMBER, I HAVE SEEN AND KNOWN PEOPLE WHO HAVE GOTTEN MASTER'S DEGREES AND PhD DEGREES AND THE MASTER'S DEGREE PEOPLE ENDED UP DRIVING CABS AND WAITING TABLES AND THE PhDs ENDED UP WORKING FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS AS JANITORS -- THIS IS BACK DURING THE LAST SERIOUS RECESSION THAT WAS ALMOST A DEPRESSION WHEN JIMMY CARTER WALKED THE EARTH AS PRESIDENT.

I WONDER WHY NOBODY IS BEING TRAINED IN A PROFESSION THAT ACTUALLY MAKES A LIVING INSTEAD OF THIS SHUCK AND JIVE THAT PEOPLE GET TO GO TO COLLEGE AND YOU WILL GET A GOOD-PAYING JOB AFTER YOU GET OUT. WHICH IS bull STUFF!

I HAVE KNOWN PEOPLE WHO GRADUATED WHO ARE HAVING HELL FINDING A JOB AND IF THEY DIDN'T HAVE PARENTS OR FRIENDS OR FAMILY MEMBERS TO TAKE THEM IN --THEY WOULD BE HOMELESS! JOBS ARE GETTING HARDER AND HARDER TO FIND.

I CAN SEE WHERE EVERYBODY WOULD WANT TO THINK THEY ARE THE NEXT ART BELL OR RUSH LIMBAUGH OR MICHAEL SAVAGE OR WHOEVER BUT IT DOESN'T WORK LIKE THAT. NOT AT ALL. RADIO STATIONS ARE DOING OK BUT THE PEOPLE THEY NEED ARE THE BROADCASTING ENGINEERS, THE ELECTRONICS ENGINEERS..THEY DON'T NEED THE ON-AIR PERSONALITIES. THEY NEED PRODUCERS AND BOARD OPS.

YOU SHOULD HAVE CHECKED THIS SCHOOL OUT BEFORE YOU EVER COMMITTED TO GOING HERE. YOU MIGHT EVEN HAVE TO LEAVE TOWN TO GET A JOB IN RADIO ASSUMING YOU STILL WANT IT.

I DON'T THINK YOU WERE RIPPED OFF. I DON'T THINK YOU EXACTLY GOT THE MOST VALUE FOR YOUR MONEY BUT ALL THEY REALLY AGREED TO DO IS TO TRAIN YOU TO OPERATED THE EQUIPMENT IN MOST RADIO STATIONS. YOU GOT TO FIND YOUR OWN JOB.

I enrolled in tho Ohio Center for Broadcasting in August 2007. After going to a four year college and receiving a Bachelor's Degree, I felt like I needed somethng more. I enrolled in OCB because I wanted to work in radio. After hearing about the school several times I finally decided to try this school. I had interned at a #1 Country station in a top market in which fellow interns were OCB students. After not getting what I wanted out of a Bachelor's degree, two and a half years later I decided to enroll in the Ohio Center for Broadcasting.

OCB appealed to me for several reasons. First, I liked the idea of hands on training and not having text books, because I'm a hands on kind of person. Second, I was required to do an internship with a minimum of 300 hours. That really appealed to me because it gave me a chance to get my foot in the door and allowed me to network with industry professionals. I had done an internship when I received my Bachelor's degree but it didn't prepare me. For one thing, I only did like 120 hours. I have realized that 120 really is not enough time to get the right training. 300 hours minimumof real industry training was a great way to get the training I needed. Third, it gave a chance to learn the basics of the industry. The equipment used is ideal for a small or medium market radio or TV station and the staff and instructors tell you that from the start.

They never gaurantee you employment, but they do tell you that attending OCB gives you the best chance. OCB allows you to network with professionals and gives you a taste of the different jobs in TV and radio. Many of the projects and assignments are done as groups. Which is how the industry works. For all TV productions, someone operates the camera, someone runs the chroma key (green screen), someone runs the audio board, someone directs, someone produces, and some students are on camera. It's up to the instructor to assign each student to a job. Most instructors will ask you to turn in a paper with your job preferences and they assign you one of those jobs based on your potential and what they believe you'd be good at.

As far as music videos and TV commercials, everyone is put in groups of about 4-5 students. It's up to each group to create their own video or commercial. Select the song, go out and get footage and edit the video. Instructors are there to supervise and make sure each student gets a chance to do some editing.

OCB uses small market related equipment, like Cool Edit. However, most students are allowed to use the equipment at his or her internship. I interned at a sports radio station in a major market while attending OCB. During my experience, I spent many days in the production studios. The station I worked for uses ProTools its because of the training on Cool Edit that I was able to use ProTools.

Also, the company I interned for had several employees who were graduates of OCB. Many of those OCB graduates are still employeed by this company. Also, one of the stations at this company is one of the most well-known country radio stations in the country and the #1 radio station in the market I live in.

Not only that, many employees are impressed with OCB students. They are impressed with the fact that all students are trained on equipment prior to being released for an internship and therefore are eager to get interns from OCB.

As far as wanting to be on camera, if you are not given the opportunity right away you will. During the last three weeks of school, students are required to put their demo reel together. This is your opportunity to use the equipment the way you want. If you want to apply for a job in TV where you'll be on camera, you are given the chance to put yourself in front of the camera and put footage together. As far as editing, again this is your chance to use the edit bays and put your footage together in the way that makes you shine.

As far as job placement, it's the placement directors job to give you leads. The website is for your personal use and is updated on a daily basis. It is there for you to check and see what jobs are out there. It's not the placement directors job to hand a job over to you. You do have to make an effort. The placement director has you fill out the paper because he wants to know what your interests are and where you're willing to live. He does his best to send you leads based on these interests. But, its up to you the job seeker to send out your resume and your demo reel. It's the same at any college. The placement director is there to guide you in your job search and provide you with leads. A job is not going to be dropped in front of you if you're not making an effort to find a job yourself. A placement director doesn't tell employers who to hire, they might be willing to provide a reference, but ultimately its the employers job to decide whether you fit the job description they are looking for.

Also, during your time in school, you are told over and over again that you will have to pay your dues. Very rarely are you offered full-time employment right away. It usually takes a few years to get there. All instructors and guest lecturers will tell you the same thing. They all paid their dues and don't work in the industry for the money. They work in the industry because they love what they do. They began their careers working part-time and barely made ends meet. Most jobs in the industry are part-time jobs. The full-time jobs take years of experience to get there and years of paying your dues.

Also, people who work in the industry went to college. They very rarely get hired without a college education of any kind. Many of them will tell you how great of an opportunity OCB offers with the hands on training received.

In addition, when it comes to time to find a job, we are encouraged to work in small markets. Small markets allow you more training and the opportunity to learn various jobs in the industry. Also to really be successful you have to be willing to move. Very rarely will you find a job in the location you attended school. In fact, instructors as well as the placement director will tell you that willing to move and begin in a small market is the best way to get a job. Also, you have to accept the fact that you may not find a job right away. Sometimes it takes time and if you really truley are passionate and keep a good attitude about your search, you will get hired. This is all part of the students willingness to put in his or her effort to find a job.

In response to any negative feelings about the school, I'm sorry you feel that way. It seems like you didn't really make the effort required to look for a job. Many of my friends, myself included got jobs. Several of us too, were willing to move to other markets. Also, if you feel you didn't get the training you needed at your internship, you should have said something to your internship supervisor or found another internship supervisor willing to train you properly. I know from experience that they are willing to help. After all, they were interns once before and they too paid their dues.

Okay I read all of the articles and complaints reguarding the "so called" rip-off at OCB. And I must honestly say that it's called the real world. No matter where you go to school, no matter where you work, you're going to have issues. I myself am not a graduate from OCB, but I am familiar with some of the employees there. You sit there and complain on how you get treated, on how things arent up to date and how much you spent on going there. I am not saying that what certain people promised you and turn out to be false are right BUT . . . in defense to the school, look at the economy, look at how EVERYONE is hurting. It's called the real world! No one asks to be let down, but it happens, its a part of life!

As far as the whole legal thing and law suit. What do you honestly expect to get out of it? Do you honestly think you are going to be given anything back? Gain anything? I highly doubt it! I suggest you just suck it up and move on!

Again WELCOME TO THE REAL WORLD AND REALITY!!!!

we have filed a class action lawsuit against this company
you can join our fight against this rip-off company on a website
called SueEasy just go there and do a search for Ohio Center for
Broadcasting.

I have read all of the posts regarding the Ohio Center for Broadcasting and I must painfully admit that I would not refer anyone to this "school".

I was roped in with a great speech and presentation the day I went to visit about how I would be taught by "leading industry professionals" and work with "state of the art equipment".....BLAH, BLAH, BLAH!! Of all the "leading industry professionals" my class has had as instructors, I can count on one hand the number that actually even work in the industry. We actually had someone who was fired and no longer working in the business as an instructor. As far as the "state of the art equipment" is concerned.... GIVE ME A BREAK!! I intern with a local radio station and a local TV station and I see what "state of the art equipment" truly is. The equipment at the Ohio Center for Broadcasting has not been "state of the art" in over 7 years by the estimation of the people I work with in the real world, not to mention I can definitely back up the statement that the school has as much broken equipment as it does working equipment. The campus has a total of 4 video cameras, which is supposed to be enough to carry multiple classes through different video projects at the same time..... WHAT A JOKE!!!

I am not a graduate yet so I cannot speak to the job placement rate, other than saying that Gary comes off as an arrogant know it all and talks down to all the students. Will my fellow classmates or I get placed, that remains to be seen so I will reserve judgement for a later date on that subject.

The "internship oportunities" they offer are legit.... to a degree. When my class was given the "internship opportunity pack" several of us called and e-mailed the stations / groups in the packet only to be met with bewlidered responses because the companies / groups they provided to us hadn't been looking for interns in quite some time.


I also want to mention that another class had a student get excused absences for TIME SPENT IN JAIL!!!! REALLY.... you promote criminal activity and not only allow them to participate in your program, but you excuse their absences for being in JAIL of all places. Please find me another academic instituion that goes around excusing criminal behavior or allows its students to cuss out / threaten instructors.

In closing I will just say that I feel like I was sold swamp land in Florida the day I began to realize what really happens between the dirty, dusty, and damaged walls at the Ohio Center for Braodcasting. At $15,000.00 or more per student.... multiple sessions at a time.... and 10 plus classes a year..... I ask where the hell all the money goes because it surely is not back into the equipment or the betterment of the student body.

IT IS TRULY A CRIME TO OPERATE THE WAY THEY DO AND TO STILL BE CONSIDERED A LEARNING INSTITUTION!!!

I have read all of the posts regarding the Ohio Center for Broadcasting and I must painfully admit that I would not refer anyone to this "school".

I was roped in with a great speech and presentation the day I went to visit about how I would be taught by "leading industry professionals" and work with "state of the art equipment".....BLAH, BLAH, BLAH!! Of all the "leading industry professionals" my class has had as instructors, I can count on one hand the number that actually even work in the industry. We actually had someone who was fired and no longer working in the business as an instructor. As far as the "state of the art equipment" is concerned.... GIVE ME A BREAK!! I intern with a local radio station and a local TV station and I see what "state of the art equipment" truly is. The equipment at the Ohio Center for Broadcasting has not been "state of the art" in over 7 years by the estimation of the people I work with in the real world, not to mention I can definitely back up the statement that the school has as much broken equipment as it does working equipment. The campus has a total of 4 video cameras, which is supposed to be enough to carry multiple classes through different video projects at the same time..... WHAT A JOKE!!!

I am not a graduate yet so I cannot speak to the job placement rate, other than saying that Gary comes off as an arrogant know it all and talks down to all the students. Will my fellow classmates or I get placed, that remains to be seen so I will reserve judgement for a later date on that subject.

The "internship oportunities" they offer are legit.... to a degree. When my class was given the "internship opportunity pack" several of us called and e-mailed the stations / groups in the packet only to be met with bewlidered responses because the companies / groups they provided to us hadn't been looking for interns in quite some time.


I also want to mention that another class had a student get excused absences for TIME SPENT IN JAIL!!!! REALLY.... you promote criminal activity and not only allow them to participate in your program, but you excuse their absences for being in JAIL of all places. Please find me another academic instituion that goes around excusing criminal behavior or allows its students to cuss out / threaten instructors.

In closing I will just say that I feel like I was sold swamp land in Florida the day I began to realize what really happens between the dirty, dusty, and damaged walls at the Ohio Center for Braodcasting. At $15,000.00 or more per student.... multiple sessions at a time.... and 10 plus classes a year..... I ask where the hell all the money goes because it surely is not back into the equipment or the betterment of the student body.

IT IS TRULY A CRIME TO OPERATE THE WAY THEY DO AND TO STILL BE CONSIDERED A LEARNING INSTITUTION!!!

I have read all of the posts regarding the Ohio Center for Broadcasting and I must painfully admit that I would not refer anyone to this "school".

I was roped in with a great speech and presentation the day I went to visit about how I would be taught by "leading industry professionals" and work with "state of the art equipment".....BLAH, BLAH, BLAH!! Of all the "leading industry professionals" my class has had as instructors, I can count on one hand the number that actually even work in the industry. We actually had someone who was fired and no longer working in the business as an instructor. As far as the "state of the art equipment" is concerned.... GIVE ME A BREAK!! I intern with a local radio station and a local TV station and I see what "state of the art equipment" truly is. The equipment at the Ohio Center for Broadcasting has not been "state of the art" in over 7 years by the estimation of the people I work with in the real world, not to mention I can definitely back up the statement that the school has as much broken equipment as it does working equipment. The campus has a total of 4 video cameras, which is supposed to be enough to carry multiple classes through different video projects at the same time..... WHAT A JOKE!!!

I am not a graduate yet so I cannot speak to the job placement rate, other than saying that Gary comes off as an arrogant know it all and talks down to all the students. Will my fellow classmates or I get placed, that remains to be seen so I will reserve judgement for a later date on that subject.

The "internship oportunities" they offer are legit.... to a degree. When my class was given the "internship opportunity pack" several of us called and e-mailed the stations / groups in the packet only to be met with bewlidered responses because the companies / groups they provided to us hadn't been looking for interns in quite some time.


I also want to mention that another class had a student get excused absences for TIME SPENT IN JAIL!!!! REALLY.... you promote criminal activity and not only allow them to participate in your program, but you excuse their absences for being in JAIL of all places. Please find me another academic instituion that goes around excusing criminal behavior or allows its students to cuss out / threaten instructors.

In closing I will just say that I feel like I was sold swamp land in Florida the day I began to realize what really happens between the dirty, dusty, and damaged walls at the Ohio Center for Braodcasting. At $15,000.00 or more per student.... multiple sessions at a time.... and 10 plus classes a year..... I ask where the hell all the money goes because it surely is not back into the equipment or the betterment of the student body.

IT IS TRULY A CRIME TO OPERATE THE WAY THEY DO AND TO STILL BE CONSIDERED A LEARNING INSTITUTION!!!

Gary is correct regarding personal application. The format of OCB requires individual motivation.

However...

I too was flashed the 94% placement rating. As a current student I now realize how niave I was to believe it in the first place.

So far (8 months into the program) my largest complaint has been the totally inept curriculum. Most class sessions bumble along with the instructor fixing broken equipment more often than overseeing projects. Their have been entire class session of wasted time, due to the disorganized instructors and broken equipment, which has led to some pretty serious class insubordination.

Also, in response to Gary's take on motivation...

I consider myself to be very motivated and to have a strong sense of pride in anything I do. With that being said, their is hemmoraging problem of down time at this school. It stems from a combination of the weak corriculum and the seemingly lost instructors. When I addressed the situation to the administration I was met with a similar response that David recieved. Apparently I was not making good use of my time. I could write a book on what is wrong with that type of response... for another post maybe. It seems a poor use of my time was trying to comunicate with anyone in a position of power at OCB. The point is that the school needs a drastic reorganization from top to bottom. Maybe then they would see more success.

I do personally know a couple poeple who are currently working at low-level jobs in the industry after going to OCB. They have all confided in me that the curriculum did not prepare them in the least. The only acknowledgement to the school they will give is the internship leads. Internship leads are a powerful asset, but pale in comparison to the initial promises made by The Ohio Center for Broadcasting.

Hey Dave can you email me at (((ROR REDACTED)))

CLICK here to see why Rip-off Report, as a matter of policy, deleted either a phone number, link or e-mail address from this Report.

David,

I only regret that I did not read all your comments in full before I wrote my first rebuttal. You say that I "talked to the students like they were trash", if so then when I called you into my office, because you told my former boss that I didn't like you (which as I told you at the time, could not have been further from the truth, I actually liked you just fine, until earlier today when i saw you drag my name through the mud). Remember when you told me you had no self esteem, because your dad always told you were worthless? would you confide that information to someone, who ran "Gestapo Meetings"? You also said "Those who can't teach". That is incorrect, "those who can't" sit around and feel sorry for themselves. "Those who can't" blame the world for their own lack of effort and motivation. "Those who can't" drift through life, going from one dead end job to another, just like You told me You have your entire life. "Those who can't" are always looking for the pile of magic beans, because they feel they deserve something out of life, just for existing. "Those who Can't" are LOSERS!!
I have no problem with my self esteem, I was heard on National Radio ESPN, Fox Sports Radio, as well as the Sporting News Radio Network, probabaly 200-250 times a year for over a decade. I was a monthly contibutor on Saturday Nights, at the local ABC affiliate for over three years, never missed amonth. I have interviewed Roger Clemens, Michaael Jordan, LeBron James, to just mention the tiniest tip of the iceberg. I was in the Cavaliers, Indians, and Browns locker rooms after every home game asking the players and management questions for over a DECADE!! How many Thousands was your mobile DJ audience comprised of, eh? My former students comprise the staffs of almost every radio station in Downtown Cleveland, I have former grads who are working from Maine to Fla. and from Boston to California, some older than you were when you were a student, There was only one difference between them and you David, they had self pride, self respect, and Self motivation. You on the other hand never took any initiative, to either seek out help, or grab it when iwas offered to you. No instead you would come to class late every day (Folks, that's how you really make a good impression on people who may be determining your fate, either with possible employment opportunities or people who are in the position to possibly help you get some inside info, show up laate every day for class, with a look on your face that you just don't care, yes that will win you many friends and influence many other people!!) David, i want to leave you wiwith one piece of advice. Nobody on this planet owes any body else any thing, the only thing that you are entitled to when you are born is air! That's it we even have to pay for water now! Ihave worked very hard my whole life and have tried to give back to my community, in one big way was through OCB. When I realized that I was saving someone from drifting through life like you have decided to do, it's the greatest high in the world. Students like you always frustrsted me, I think that if you had applied yourself and looked upon this as a way to make a new life for yourself, and was willing to Do Whatever it takes to get the job done, as long as it does not go against your morals, your priciples, or is illegal. If none of these paramaters are being met, than Winners do what they are told "Those who Can't alaways find an excuse to be a failure. How does nit feel to wallow in self pity for almost 50 years. I would not be able to live that way. and that sir seperates Winners like myself from Losers..........

Dave,

First off - I am NOT affiliated with Ohio Center for Broadcasting in ANY way, shape or form. I just stumbled upon this post.

I am sorry you had such a bad experience with this "school" and your lengthy and passionate postings are admirable but... I think you were a bit naive in the beginning of the entire process. If you were "snowed" by the school into believing you were going to "make it" in broadcasting you really have yourself to blame as well.

Do you really think people hand you jobs just because you go through a program? Job placement sounds like GUARANTEED JOB but it's not. You get out what you put in. I do feel bad about offending you but as a third party observer it seems that if you would have put in half as much at the school as your postings here you may have had a bit more success. Whiners don't get the best jobs (even if they are part time). Broadcasting is a seriously awful business to be in and it takes a special breed. Just because you were a mobile DJ does not mean you are broadcast material. They are two copmpletely different animals.

I again apologize for criticizing you but I think you only screwed yourself out of $13,000. According to you in your own words posted above, I deduce that you never had the "stuff" to pull it off in the first place. At age 47 I would think you may have been around the block enough times to know what is best for you or your family. I suggest print journalism as an alternate. You do have pretty decent writing skills.

Good Luck

I am the original poster. I want to clear something up. In Gary's responce he says:

---After reviewing the accusations alleged in the complaint, let's look at them.
The complaint says the Placement Coordinator is a woman. The Ohio Center for Broadcasting does not employ a female in the placement department.---

I thought I was clear on this issue after my original post. I gave the wrong title to this woman. She was the admissions person. She was the lady who walked you through the school and "sold" it to you. I called her the placement coordinator and I was wrong on that title. She was the admissions coordinator. Gary simply used my mistake to his advantage. Gary is the placement coordinator... at least in title but not in performance.

This woman ( admissions) flat out lied to me. I was very clear in telling her what I needed out of this school and she told me what she knew I wanted to hear just to make the sale. Later, as stated above, Jeff Sack - who was the director of the school when I started and then later stepped down from the position, told me himself that she should have never told me those lies.

They use a twisted psychology on all the kids that go to this school. They tell you that it is YOUR fault if you don't make it. They tell you that it is all up to you and your desire to make it. It is much like the preacher that tells you if you have faith, God will answer your prayers and then when the prayers aren't answered... he tells you that you didn't have enough faith.

It all comes back to you and YOUR fault. The school plays on people's inherent feelings of inadequacy and twists it to their advantage. The classrooms were like going to a gestapo meeting sometimes. Gary, Jeff Sack and others would talk to the students like they were trash... especially Gary.

I had to bite my tongue many, many times. Being a 47 year old man it was difficult for me to listen to how these kids were talked to. I really wish more students would come forward and complain in public because they ALL feel it was a rip-off but the school pounds it into their heads that if they do come forward they will "never work in this town again" so to speak. So... like a gestapo... fear is used to hide the truth and turn the blame.

Another thing that I found interesting was the fact that almost all the students in my class who did find work were the nice looking woman. Seems that radio and TV stations like nice looking woman. I personally thought it was sexist and descriminating to everyone else. Bottom line, the school is a joke and so is the staff that works there. Too bad I had to find out the hard way.

I have to say, the only comment that makes any sense is:

Stay Away from Ohio Center for Broadcasting.

"Gary" seems to have been twisting the facts.

The "school" seems to twist the facts when you apply.

Gary, please tell everyone about my class and the fact that 93% of them are NOT working in broadcasting and the ones that are, that i know of, are working once a month at the most!

When I spoke of the age reference I was actually referring to David who said he was in his 40's, not you Carl. I'm sorry if you got confused.

First, I am 25 now, and people from my class (back in 2001) are still working for no money! I have a kid, and I cannot see working for 7.15 for years on end with no stability!

those who can't are placement coordinators.

First, I am 25 now, and people from my class (back in 2001) are still working for no money! I have a kid, and I cannot see working for 7.15 for years on end with no stability!

those who can't are placement coordinators.

First, I am 25 now, and people from my class (back in 2001) are still working for no money! I have a kid, and I cannot see working for 7.15 for years on end with no stability!

those who can't are placement coordinators.

First, I am 25 now, and people from my class (back in 2001) are still working for no money! I have a kid, and I cannot see working for 7.15 for years on end with no stability!

those who can't are placement coordinators.

I'm sorry to hear about the problems you had with broadcasting school. It sounded like they were very unprofessional in the way they treated you. I do work in radio in Dallas and we also have a couple of broadcasting schools operating here. It's not a scam because in reality we actually have a few people working here who have gone to broadcasting school and did get placed in their job...but those people who do get full-time jobs straight out of school are few and far between. But I will say it is a rip-off how much money it costs to attend. I always tell people you do not need broadcasting school to get into radio...it's all about who you know and being in the right place at the right time. Unfortunately your age does have a big impact with your employment choices because most of the entry-level positions are filled with 20- somethings who don't have a lot of responsibility and are usually single and not needing to support a family. I am slightly embarrassed to admit I am part of the twenty-somethings group and us "kids", as we are called my the older folk, will work crazy hours for VERY little pay.

So once again I am sorry that you wasted so much money and time on that school, I hate to hear stories like that and unfortunately I hear it all too much. My suggestion for the original poster is to start somewhere easy...in promotions. You may have to do part-time work for a little while but it's what you have to do to move up in this industry. Most of my co-workers, including myself, started at the very bottom by doing internships or part-time "grunt" work. Good luck to you and I hope it all works out for you in the end! :)

Yes, they should be sued... for sure. Two years later and I am now working for a company driving forklift. Thank God it pays pretty good but I keep thinking about all the money I wasted at the OHIO CENTER FOR BROADCASTING.

In the above response, Gary says that my classmate who wanted to be a play by play announcer has been hired as one... not true. He works at Wallmart. One guy in our class did go to Iowa I think to work in radio doing something with sports but he came back to Ohio in less than a year. The guy I am talking about who wanted to be a play by play announcer DOES work at Wallmart.

The school is a scam... simple as that and Gary will say what he has to because he wants to keep his job. You know what they say... "Those who can't... TEACH!" That is the issue here. OCB provides FREE labor to all the local radio stations and TV stations through there internship program PLUS they make a whole lot of cash off of their broken promises. They are NOT a professional broadcasting school, but rather a professional SCAM SCHOOL.

In closing I want to tell everyone about the young lady in our class that was so excited on graduation day because she was told she was hired at the station she interned at. I saw her some weeks later and asked her how the new job at the radio station was coming along. She told me she quit because they expected her to work for NOTHING! NO PAY...NADA!!!
Dave Out

I too attended the so-called "ohio center for broadcasting".

this place was such a waste of money. i was also told about the high rate of placement. my class was very interested in "broadcasting" and I am sure half of them are working at walmart or the like.

i honestly suggest to anyone thinking about going to this school - Learn things for yourself and GO TO 4 YEAR COLLEGE.


1. I got one attempt at the blue screen.

2. we made a music video - which was a load of crap and they barely gave us time to edit.

3. the projects were useless.

4. we were told we would be broadcasting from the rock and roll hall of fame. we didn't.

5. in order to receive a password from the placement director for the website you need to access in order to get placed (tell me how the "placement weasel" actually helps place people if companies sign in and put their information) you need to contact him via e-mail once a week explaining your "search" for a job. his job is the PLACEMENT DIRECTOR.

6. i haven't heard from this school asking about my endeavors in broadcasting since I left.

7. the "celebrities" that come in are virtually unknown.

9. most of the poeple in my class, im talking everyone but one or two do not work in broadcasting because the school made no effort to help. 13000 down the drain.

someone should sue these theives.

RESPONSE TO COMPLAINT BY DAVE OF CANTON, Ohio Center For Broadcasting

After reviewing the accusations alleged in the complaint, let's look at them.

The complaint says the Placement Coordinator is a woman. The Ohio Center for Broadcasting does not employ a female in the placement department.

At no time is a student given information regarding a 94% placement rate. While the Ohio Center for Broadcasting has an outstanding placement rate, 94% is not true.

What students are told is 4 out of 5 graduates go to work in the industry.

As one graduate said, you get out of the school, what you put into it. News cast projects require students to participate in various capacities. Classes are divided into groups and have to work together just as people have to work together to produce a television show. Students are given the opportunity to handle a variety of duties in every project.

The Ohio Center for Broadcasting teaches Adobe Premier and Avid Express Video editing. There are ample opportunities for students to learn and practice video editing skills. There are more than enough editing bays available to students that want to learn and practice.

In addition to weather presentations in front of the Chroma-Key, students have the opportunity to utilize the Chroma Key for other video projects if they choose to use it and practice in front of it.

Students no longer broadcast from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame; however students now have the opportunity to practice on-air skills by presenting regular air shifts on the schools' internet stations.

As for being a tape operator for a project, just like in real life, when you are starting out, often you have other duties. In the educational setting, Tape Operators also work as the Master Control Operator or Videographer. Many graduates have started their career as a Tape Operator, MCO or Videographer well prepared for a job in the industry. When a group is working on the music video, students are instructed to share duties and are to be involved in every aspect of the production.

Internship opportunities are presented to all students on an equal basis. This gives all the students the same opportunities. It is then up to the student to be aggressive in pursing the internship. The curriculum requires all students to complete at least 300 hours of an internship and/or studio lab hours. This person spent 13 hours in studio on their own time. If a student finds they are not benefiting from a particular internship, they are encouraged to seek a better opportunity. Just like the working world, employees that are not happy should be looking for opportunities to better themselves.

Placement Assistance is available to every graduate. What this person fails to say about Placement Assistance is amazing. Before graduation, the National Placement Director spends a great deal of time in the classroom teaching job interview skills, resume writing, demo production, career planning and career search techniques. The Placement Director works with stations and companies around the country developing relationships with hiring managers. Recently the Placement Director hosted a job fair for graduates of the Ohio Center for Broadcasting. There were more than 110 companies and stations represented at the fair. Many graduates have been hired as a direct result of the job fair, some as recently as last week. The Ohio Center for Broadcasting will open doors. It is up to the student/graduate to walk through the door.

Concerning Account Executive positions, if this student was paying attention he would remember that Account Executive and Sales Positions are the same. The course spends a good deal of time on advertising sales. The sales classes are taught by General Sales Managers from area radio stations.

More than 4 out of 5 people in the person's class went to work in the business. More than half of his class is now working full time in the industry. More than half of his class obtained positions as a direct result of the job fair that was also invited to attend.

His friend went to work as a camera operator at a local broadcast facility after graduation. What he did after starting the job is anyone's guess, since he has failed to communicate or seek further assistance.

Daves' Classmate that wanted to be a Play by Play Announcer has been hired to call Sports. He is ambitious and has a GREAT attitude. He is working as a DJ and calls Play by Play. This is because he demonstrated he was willing to do what his classmates and others were not willing to do.

To sum it up, YOU GET WHAT YOU ARE PROMISED: an education, hands-on training, internships, placement assistance and a career.

I just wanted to add that if you are young... say, right out of high school and you want to start a broadcasting career, then you would have a better chance. I was told when I signed up that older people are in great demand because they are more responsible. I found this to be not true. If you are young and willing to work for very, very low pay and probably part time on the weekends for a long time then you may want to take the chance.

When I signed up for the school I told the placement coordinator (I'm not sure if that is her "title" - she is the person that signs up new students) that I needed full time work. I told her I didn't have dreams of being the next Howard Stern or anything... I just wanted a full time job. I didn't care if it was shuffling papers all day. Problem is, I really don't feel that I am qualified to do much of anything in this field even after taking this course. I'm not a good faker either. I would never tell a company I was experienced at something that I am not. As I said in my initial report, I went to school to gain the confidence and experience to apply for these jobs. I feel as if I wasted a lot of time and money. Every student that I have spoken to feels the same way. The reason they don't come forward is either out of fear that they will be black balled or they simply don't care because mom and dad are paying for it. Myself... well I am a 47 year old man that is out of work and now owes a lot of money to student loans for a very low quality and poor education that did me no good whatsoever.

I saw through their deception soon after starting the school but my wife threatened to kill me if I quit. I finished the course mainly to keep the peace at home. They would have guest speakers come in to the school and talk to us. On more than one occasion I remember the speaker closing the door and saying, "Now I'm going to tell the truth" and they would proceed to tell us how hard it really was to get into the business.

There are people that get jobs from this school but it is not at a 94% rate. You start at the very bottom and usually part time. What makes me so angry is the fact that I CLEARLY told this woman when I signed up what I expected from this school and she blatantly lied to me just to make the sale. How can she sleep at night?

In closing I would like to tell of the young guy in my class that had a dream of being a play by play sports announcer. This was the reason he signed up for the school. Well, we had instructors that would come in to talk about sales or promotions or whatever and they would teach for a day or two and then move on. We had this one instructor come in one day and he went around the room one person at a time asking what we wanted to be when we graduated. When he got to this one young man he asked and the student told him he wanted to be a play by play announcer. The instructor laughed and said, "forget it... it will never happen." He then proceeded to tell this poor kid how impossible it was to get such a position. You should have seen the look on that poor kids face... I will never forget it.

I just wanted to add that if you are young... say, right out of high school and you want to start a broadcasting career, then you would have a better chance. I was told when I signed up that older people are in great demand because they are more responsible. I found this to be not true. If you are young and willing to work for very, very low pay and probably part time on the weekends for a long time then you may want to take the chance.

When I signed up for the school I told the placement coordinator (I'm not sure if that is her "title" - she is the person that signs up new students) that I needed full time work. I told her I didn't have dreams of being the next Howard Stern or anything... I just wanted a full time job. I didn't care if it was shuffling papers all day. Problem is, I really don't feel that I am qualified to do much of anything in this field even after taking this course. I'm not a good faker either. I would never tell a company I was experienced at something that I am not. As I said in my initial report, I went to school to gain the confidence and experience to apply for these jobs. I feel as if I wasted a lot of time and money. Every student that I have spoken to feels the same way. The reason they don't come forward is either out of fear that they will be black balled or they simply don't care because mom and dad are paying for it. Myself... well I am a 47 year old man that is out of work and now owes a lot of money to student loans for a very low quality and poor education that did me no good whatsoever.

I saw through their deception soon after starting the school but my wife threatened to kill me if I quit. I finished the course mainly to keep the peace at home. They would have guest speakers come in to the school and talk to us. On more than one occasion I remember the speaker closing the door and saying, "Now I'm going to tell the truth" and they would proceed to tell us how hard it really was to get into the business.

There are people that get jobs from this school but it is not at a 94% rate. You start at the very bottom and usually part time. What makes me so angry is the fact that I CLEARLY told this woman when I signed up what I expected from this school and she blatantly lied to me just to make the sale. How can she sleep at night?

In closing I would like to tell of the young guy in my class that had a dream of being a play by play sports announcer. This was the reason he signed up for the school. Well, we had instructors that would come in to talk about sales or promotions or whatever and they would teach for a day or two and then move on. We had this one instructor come in one day and he went around the room one person at a time asking what we wanted to be when we graduated. When he got to this one young man he asked and the student told him he wanted to be a play by play announcer. The instructor laughed and said, "forget it... it will never happen." He then proceeded to tell this poor kid how impossible it was to get such a position. You should have seen the look on that poor kids face... I will never forget it.

I just wanted to add that if you are young... say, right out of high school and you want to start a broadcasting career, then you would have a better chance. I was told when I signed up that older people are in great demand because they are more responsible. I found this to be not true. If you are young and willing to work for very, very low pay and probably part time on the weekends for a long time then you may want to take the chance.

When I signed up for the school I told the placement coordinator (I'm not sure if that is her "title" - she is the person that signs up new students) that I needed full time work. I told her I didn't have dreams of being the next Howard Stern or anything... I just wanted a full time job. I didn't care if it was shuffling papers all day. Problem is, I really don't feel that I am qualified to do much of anything in this field even after taking this course. I'm not a good faker either. I would never tell a company I was experienced at something that I am not. As I said in my initial report, I went to school to gain the confidence and experience to apply for these jobs. I feel as if I wasted a lot of time and money. Every student that I have spoken to feels the same way. The reason they don't come forward is either out of fear that they will be black balled or they simply don't care because mom and dad are paying for it. Myself... well I am a 47 year old man that is out of work and now owes a lot of money to student loans for a very low quality and poor education that did me no good whatsoever.

I saw through their deception soon after starting the school but my wife threatened to kill me if I quit. I finished the course mainly to keep the peace at home. They would have guest speakers come in to the school and talk to us. On more than one occasion I remember the speaker closing the door and saying, "Now I'm going to tell the truth" and they would proceed to tell us how hard it really was to get into the business.

There are people that get jobs from this school but it is not at a 94% rate. You start at the very bottom and usually part time. What makes me so angry is the fact that I CLEARLY told this woman when I signed up what I expected from this school and she blatantly lied to me just to make the sale. How can she sleep at night?

In closing I would like to tell of the young guy in my class that had a dream of being a play by play sports announcer. This was the reason he signed up for the school. Well, we had instructors that would come in to talk about sales or promotions or whatever and they would teach for a day or two and then move on. We had this one instructor come in one day and he went around the room one person at a time asking what we wanted to be when we graduated. When he got to this one young man he asked and the student told him he wanted to be a play by play announcer. The instructor laughed and said, "forget it... it will never happen." He then proceeded to tell this poor kid how impossible it was to get such a position. You should have seen the look on that poor kids face... I will never forget it.

I just wanted to add that if you are young... say, right out of high school and you want to start a broadcasting career, then you would have a better chance. I was told when I signed up that older people are in great demand because they are more responsible. I found this to be not true. If you are young and willing to work for very, very low pay and probably part time on the weekends for a long time then you may want to take the chance.

When I signed up for the school I told the placement coordinator (I'm not sure if that is her "title" - she is the person that signs up new students) that I needed full time work. I told her I didn't have dreams of being the next Howard Stern or anything... I just wanted a full time job. I didn't care if it was shuffling papers all day. Problem is, I really don't feel that I am qualified to do much of anything in this field even after taking this course. I'm not a good faker either. I would never tell a company I was experienced at something that I am not. As I said in my initial report, I went to school to gain the confidence and experience to apply for these jobs. I feel as if I wasted a lot of time and money. Every student that I have spoken to feels the same way. The reason they don't come forward is either out of fear that they will be black balled or they simply don't care because mom and dad are paying for it. Myself... well I am a 47 year old man that is out of work and now owes a lot of money to student loans for a very low quality and poor education that did me no good whatsoever.

I saw through their deception soon after starting the school but my wife threatened to kill me if I quit. I finished the course mainly to keep the peace at home. They would have guest speakers come in to the school and talk to us. On more than one occasion I remember the speaker closing the door and saying, "Now I'm going to tell the truth" and they would proceed to tell us how hard it really was to get into the business.

There are people that get jobs from this school but it is not at a 94% rate. You start at the very bottom and usually part time. What makes me so angry is the fact that I CLEARLY told this woman when I signed up what I expected from this school and she blatantly lied to me just to make the sale. How can she sleep at night?

In closing I would like to tell of the young guy in my class that had a dream of being a play by play sports announcer. This was the reason he signed up for the school. Well, we had instructors that would come in to talk about sales or promotions or whatever and they would teach for a day or two and then move on. We had this one instructor come in one day and he went around the room one person at a time asking what we wanted to be when we graduated. When he got to this one young man he asked and the student told him he wanted to be a play by play announcer. The instructor laughed and said, "forget it... it will never happen." He then proceeded to tell this poor kid how impossible it was to get such a position. You should have seen the look on that poor kids face... I will never forget it.

It's a d**n shame you paid all that money and have so little to show for it. You could have bought one hell of a computer and set it up for video editing, and still had tons of money left over.

You know, I actually went to some training schools myself. The state paid to send me through welding school when I was a kid. I learned how to weld and went on to make several businesses that relied on my skills.

Just recently, I completed a school that taught me how to be a truck driver. I got the license and went on to drive trucks for a few years.

Radio is a difficult industry to get into. No doubt about that. So, this school couldn't possibly guarantee anything like a 94% placement rate. That number is way over the mark.

One thing I do know. No matter what field or industry I want to break into, I know that the best way to do that is to go to people who are actually working and hiring for the position I want. Find out what they recommend, or where they learned the skills that they have.

Take it from people who are actually doing what you want to do. Never trust some crooked salesman who makes a commission off of any money that you spend.

It's a d**n shame you paid all that money and have so little to show for it. You could have bought one hell of a computer and set it up for video editing, and still had tons of money left over.

You know, I actually went to some training schools myself. The state paid to send me through welding school when I was a kid. I learned how to weld and went on to make several businesses that relied on my skills.

Just recently, I completed a school that taught me how to be a truck driver. I got the license and went on to drive trucks for a few years.

Radio is a difficult industry to get into. No doubt about that. So, this school couldn't possibly guarantee anything like a 94% placement rate. That number is way over the mark.

One thing I do know. No matter what field or industry I want to break into, I know that the best way to do that is to go to people who are actually working and hiring for the position I want. Find out what they recommend, or where they learned the skills that they have.

Take it from people who are actually doing what you want to do. Never trust some crooked salesman who makes a commission off of any money that you spend.

It's a d**n shame you paid all that money and have so little to show for it. You could have bought one hell of a computer and set it up for video editing, and still had tons of money left over.

You know, I actually went to some training schools myself. The state paid to send me through welding school when I was a kid. I learned how to weld and went on to make several businesses that relied on my skills.

Just recently, I completed a school that taught me how to be a truck driver. I got the license and went on to drive trucks for a few years.

Radio is a difficult industry to get into. No doubt about that. So, this school couldn't possibly guarantee anything like a 94% placement rate. That number is way over the mark.

One thing I do know. No matter what field or industry I want to break into, I know that the best way to do that is to go to people who are actually working and hiring for the position I want. Find out what they recommend, or where they learned the skills that they have.

Take it from people who are actually doing what you want to do. Never trust some crooked salesman who makes a commission off of any money that you spend.

It's a d**n shame you paid all that money and have so little to show for it. You could have bought one hell of a computer and set it up for video editing, and still had tons of money left over.

You know, I actually went to some training schools myself. The state paid to send me through welding school when I was a kid. I learned how to weld and went on to make several businesses that relied on my skills.

Just recently, I completed a school that taught me how to be a truck driver. I got the license and went on to drive trucks for a few years.

Radio is a difficult industry to get into. No doubt about that. So, this school couldn't possibly guarantee anything like a 94% placement rate. That number is way over the mark.

One thing I do know. No matter what field or industry I want to break into, I know that the best way to do that is to go to people who are actually working and hiring for the position I want. Find out what they recommend, or where they learned the skills that they have.

Take it from people who are actually doing what you want to do. Never trust some crooked salesman who makes a commission off of any money that you spend.

David,

I read with interest your report. I think for one thing, you found out the truth about placement percentages, when they say 94% they do not say in broadcasting. A lot of schools are beinging investigated about that.

Now to a career in radio. Ever since radio was deregulated,things have not been what they used to be. My late boyfriend, John Napier, was an old (58 ) DJ from way back. He got his start in San Francisco with the emergance of FM rock radio. He was one of the pioneers. Then he was responsible for bring FM rock radio to Eugen ORegon. They pay was not that great, but then they did it for the love of the music and the radio. MOSt DJ'd work 4 hour shifts. He worked at many radio stations and there is a saying that if you have not been fired from at least 4 radio stations, youa re not a DJ.

Anyway, after his last firing in Seattle, he tried to get another job anywhere in the Pac NW, one would think that someonwe with his credentials and experience wouold have no trouble getting another job. But jsut becasue of that, and his rebil ways and not wanting to follow the format exactly, no one would touch him. And hsi best friend is even a program director. NOW most of the radio stations are ownd by several big companies and they automate a lot of the programming or they hire "consultants" and they deveolope "play lists" usually about 150 songs that they have to play - ever notice how all the stations are basically sounding a like?

ALso they would not pay him the kind of salary his expierence woudl comand because they good get some "wide eyed" 20 year old jsut out of broadcast school who would work for peanuts and follow the format . Since that was the only thing he knew how to do he would have worked for nothing.

So your chances of even getting into "full time" (like every day) gig is nill. MOst of the major markets and the mid markets do not have a big turnover anymore-they tend to stay where they are-. So if you really want to work in radio, try a small market somewhere. Do not send an unsolicited tape, they don't listen to them anyway. There are several web sights that specialise in radio and television . I will try to find them again and let you know. Good luck in your endeavers.