- Report: #1505352
Complaint Review: Washington Media Insitutte - washington DC
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Washington Media Insitutte
1414 44th St NW 20007 washington DC, United States
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(202) 573-9641
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Washington Media Insitutte Bait and Switch FRAUD - CRAPPY INTERNSHIPS RIPOFF washington DC
Before I issue a scathing review of this "educational" program, I must first warn those reading that I am not qualified in questioning the legal merits behind this programs objectives. We also cannot read the mind of those inside this program, however we will paraphrase what we saw along side other questionable elements to what we believe is a fraudulant program from the bottom up. We believe the program is run by a money-driven charlatan who sells boarderline snake-oil to unsuspecting college students. This program offers opportunities to "top media organizations," yet engage in shameless bait-and-switch tactics and other shammy behaviors like offering internships that never existed, just to switch them for something worse. Colleges must do a better job in vetting programs like this to ensure fair and valuable return for college students.
The program is offered with a housing package, along side aids in "helping" a student get started in their internship. The total cost of this may vary, as you'll pay more or less depending on your housing situtation. The program opporates in a similar way to any poorly run think-tank, similarly to a cult, you are instucted to follow the leader. To quote the charlatans opening quote to everyone: "You are all idiots." Which ironically showed the charlatans disregard and dehumanizing of college students for profitable gain. We will say, however, that the charlatan did an amazing job never explaining his own qualifications. We cannot suggest under any circumstances that we saw emails sent from WMI to colleges such as Boulder offering payment for promotion at a valuation of around $1 million. However, we believe colleges have a financial incentive to promote this program regardless of the ethics and standards portrayed.
Many students were given internships that could been gotten without the program. The program was mainly spent convincing students there is value, despite contrary evidence that the programs unnesseary for finding internships / will bait-and-switch if nessesary. If you hold snake-oil up and repeat over and over it has value, people may begin to believe it. Most students do not take the bait hook line and sinker, and understand that they have been ripped off. The program also doesn't offer refunds, so if you were bait-and-switched then it's tough luck. One student went in looking for an awesome media internship, but ended up with very overpriced ballet lessons (no kidding).
If you are a student, parent, college, or any entity looking to give this program a shot, don't even bother. We don't expect this program to suvive another few years, as colleges will begin to wake up to the shameless tactics used by this program. This program is where your money goes to die.
