Complaint Review: Pima Medical Institute- Colorado Springs

 Hi my name is Nicole Roberts,and I would like to share my story about my experience at Pima Medical Institute, Colorado Springs Campus. I am proud to say that I am part of the graduating class of 2011, or so I thought when I was walking across that stage. Its supposed to be one of the proudest moments of your life right? Well little did I know that almost a year from graduation would I be working at a call center trying to pay off $11,000+ in student loans! I have applied to over 200 Medical Assisting positions in the Colorado Springs area, as well as other areas to include Killeen, Tx, and Hesperia, CA , with not one call back for an interview, let alone an interview. The email I keep receiving is one close

to this: Thank you for your interest, we are sad to say that your lack in experience is something we cannot over look. If in the future you feel you have the skills and experience were looking for please apply again, until then good luck with your job search! Now when reading this you may be thinking to your self she must be one of “those” students that didn't take her education to seriously, and think what you will but let it be known that I did graduate with a 3.8 GPA. Granted its not the best that there is, but it's defiantly a grade point average that should land you a decent job. I feel that Pima not only let me down but ruined my chances of ever being employed in the medical field by not sending me to an intern

site that had anything to do with the career I was looking to get into, the career that I paid $11,000+ for! Instead I went to Telecris Plasma Donation Center a place where, I was “almost” guaranteed a job if I followed the rules and showed up everyday, a place where they will hire a walk in with no medical back ground at all, in fact most if not all of there employes have had no prior medical training, besides Pima students that made the same pay if not less than. So of course I was a little upset because not only am I paying 11,000+ in tuition for a skill set, Pima sent me to a site that required none of the skill set I obtained . If I would have known I could have just walked in and said “hey I want a job”

and saved my self 10 grand I would have! Not to mention using Telecris as a stepping stone for a better career would be a little hard when your trying for a Medical Assistant position and the only experience you have had little to nothing to do with your career path. When doing my two months of intern, I was stocking boxes, rearranging boxes that had come off a supply truck and supply closets, wiping down walls and occasional “charting” which was more like filling out fliers for the upcoming prices for donations set for the month. While there I was required to wear gloves if I was ever to be on the floor regardless of the duty at hand, I have a reaction to latex and it just so happend they ran out of none latex and I

was asked by management if I could just “tough” through it. Really “tough” through it? So I did, I had no other choice I wanted to pass with a good grade and if that meant going home with a rash then so be it. It took one of the night instructors from Pima ( who came in on her own time, visit had nothing to do with educational purposes) to offer me non latex gloves she happend to have in her car. If you ask me that kinda of action is a law suit waiting to happen. When my intern was completely over I had mention this to Pima and nothing was done. I do realize to get to the top you have to start from the bottom which is why the whole way through I kept a great attitude and upbeat personality, I never missed a day, I was ALWAYS on time, and I never complained about the jobs I was asked to do, and now look at me I have

landed a job at a call center (not that I'm better then that) letting the skills I paid for, and worked so hard for go to waste. I have tried on my own to get a job and I have even tried going through Pima with no luck. I think it is time to speak up! I have thought about going to the news a few times with this seems how I am not the only one with the same issue, but I had decided against it until now. I guess the point I am trying to make by submitting this is not only to get Pima's attention, but to let the public know that working with Pima while at Pima is a wonderful experience, but once your on your own in the world, don't look to Pima for help, even with there life time job placement. Its an email

everyday with job postings from what can tell is from Craigslist.org, (applyed to a scam that was listed on their listing), a call once every 3 months for the first year asking how your doing! I don't agree with Pima and how they are treating their students after they are off on their own. I expected a little bit more help in finding a career seems how $11,000 of my hard earned money ( no thanks to Pima) was invested in a career that I can just assume is wasted! I feel something needs to be done to the schools that are doing this! Thank you for the time you took to read my story I hope it gets the attention of the right people so this does not happen to any one else. Times are already tough you don't need your

glimmer of hope for a better future to turn out to be debt, with a job that barley pays the interest on your loans. If I didn't know better I would say it was a money scam.