Complaint Review: International Academy Of Design And Technology (Tampa Nashville) - Tampa Florida

 Attention: If you know Anyone who went to one of these listed schools with worthless credits and degrees please read. *IADT - International Academy of Design * AIU - American InterContinental University * Sanford Brown * Le Cordon Bleu * Briarcliff * CTU - Colorado Technical University We are filing a class action lawsuit with Morgan & Morgan. If you would like to join the suit Go to http://www.forthepeople.com/ and fill out information under contact to join. Put IADT in the header. Tell all former students you know. :)

I wrote the above comment at a time when I was nervous b/c I had just graduated and I saw all of the things that have said on here.  With that said, everything has worked out great!!  You just have to have a positive mindset.. This school is great because it offers programs not offered else where for creative minds alike.. Good luck guys:)

I wrote this way back when I graduated and was made nervous by the things I saw written on the net.  Everyone has their own experience, but my experience with IADT has been great.. You guys just have to keep a positive mind! Good Luck Guys :)

I actually graduated near the top of my class from IADT orlando... and they never helped me find a job... We taught ourselves in class when there wasn't anyone else there... the teachers didn't even have degrees, they were just industry workers looking for a second job to make ends meat (this is no joke, the teachers actually told me this! Their words not mine!). I finally found a job almost a year after I graduated and only because I TAUGHT MYSELF what they didn't teach me there, and furthermore it wasn't anywhere near the $36,000 a year they promised me before I signed on with them.

Almost 10 years later now and I am no longer in the web design field. I had to teach myself how to be a online marketing manager and I made a career out of that by myself and an finally making a decent salary... but not before I paid over $18,000 of my loans off, and I still owe over $18,000... I have a wife, a mortgage, 2 car payments and my wife and I still are month to month... I am currently in deferment for the remainder of the loan, but I just don't see how to fit it in the budget... not to mention that I don't feel like I bought anything!! I GOT SCAMMED! If I claim bankruptcy I still have to pay back student loans... bankruptcy doesn't protect against student loans! I noticed someone else posting in this thread that their mother told her to file bankruptcy to get by having to pay them... sorry, doesn't work that way. I don't feel like I should have to pay anymore money than I already have. They have already taken me for over $18,000 why should I have to pay the rest for something I never got?? Any class action lawsuits out there?? Any lawyers that would like to speak to me please do!! send me an email and I call to discuss my options.

Thanks - Ed  

I currently attend IADT Nashville, majoring in the DAP (Digital Audio Production) program.  I can see both sides of the complaint and understand where each are coming from.  The majority of complaints from students seem to be biased and irrelevant.  I have seen numerous students who do not comply with the rules, slack off on assignments, are not capable of understanding assignments, or do not even show up to class.  It seems there are a lot of students at The Academy who are only there to play and I believe the majority of the complaints filed here are by these type of students.  I am not one to judge and some of what is said it true, but I do believe those who are attening for the right reasons will not look for excuses as to why they have been ripped off or how they are not getting a fair education.  Yes, I understand 30,000 dollars is quit a substantial amount of money to repay, but if you learn all you can and gain valuable experience as well as the acquaintences while in school you can and WILL come out with the right steps to success.  Career Services will help you if you want to be helped.  Nobody comes into college knowing it all, we all have a desire to succeed and in my opinion many of the students, DO NOT want to succeed.  It is a shame that a company such as this has been put down and discreditted by people with excuses for why they have failed in life.  If you did not gain the necessities of what you spent your money on, you probably did not apply yourself.  Many people have wasted money at major colleges and universities and achieved the same result, if achieve is fitting.  IADT is a good school all and all if you are here for the right reason and understand the courses and degree you are taking.  True some of the instructors may be a bit nutty and often find themselves a bit off topic during discussions, when it comes down to it they will help you and if they do not, you must help yourself.  I am thankful I have the opportunity to attend college and do something besides work menial jobs for the rest of my life.  Please attempt to do better and stop putting the blame on someone else.

I went to IADT for Interior Design in Orlando. What a scam! First of all, they were supposed to be FIDER accredited when I enrolled and then later it became "by the time I graduated". Both of course misleading lies. Now I have been on numerous job interviews and no one wants to hire me because it isn't FIDER accredited in addition to the fact that it is a Secondary Teaching Institute which I was never aware of. So now I am stuck doing freelance work, no paid benefits, just trying to get by-especially with the ridiculous studenty loan debt. Seriously they must have an agreemen with Sallie Mae! They expect me to pay $ 1,110.00 a month. They have my alternative student loan at 16%! How can they even be allowed to do something like that? And they don"t offer repayment methods to help you out as a federal loan would but they barely allow you to get any federal financial aid or even grants at IADT. I didn't know or understand? Inever thought I would have to pay this much back! 950 a month in interest. Did I puchase a freaking house or something. And when I deferred for 6 months, they added an additional 10,000 to my balance. I am so hurt by this as I am sure are many others. I wanted to quit at times while I was in school but once I was so far deep when I started realizing things, I figured I might as well have faith and make the most out of it and get some degree. Now I know that the degree is worthless in the world but I am expected to pay 70,000 for it... And all the nights I stayed up, no sleep, all the sacrifices, all the love and hope for the future that I put into my college education, to then find out that the school was feeding everyone dreams. That it was a scam..It hurts really deep and I won't let them get away with it and please don't let it happen to you! Kathy

Good luck trying to find a descent school or career that respects ACICS accreditation. Every college and all careers know what colleges fall under ACICS. Florida Metropolitan University which gor sued for deceit and fraud, Phoenix University which is a junk school as well. Please study these schools thoroughly before ever attending or speaking with a representative. Many of these schools try and sell you an education. Educations are not to be sold, only provided by competent professors, not field taught non certified instructors. ACICS link: http://www.acics.org/accredited/

Good luck trying to find a descent school or career that respects ACICS accreditation. Every college and all careers know what colleges fall under ACICS. Florida Metropolitan University which gor sued for deceit and fraud, Phoenix University which is a junk school as well. Please study these schools thoroughly before ever attending or speaking with a representative. Many of these schools try and sell you an education. Educations are not to be sold, only provided by competent professors, not field taught non certified instructors. ACICS link: http://www.acics.org/accredited/

Good luck trying to find a descent school or career that respects ACICS accreditation. Every college and all careers know what colleges fall under ACICS. Florida Metropolitan University which gor sued for deceit and fraud, Phoenix University which is a junk school as well. Please study these schools thoroughly before ever attending or speaking with a representative. Many of these schools try and sell you an education. Educations are not to be sold, only provided by competent professors, not field taught non certified instructors. ACICS link: http://www.acics.org/accredited/

Good luck trying to find a descent school or career that respects ACICS accreditation. Every college and all careers know what colleges fall under ACICS. Florida Metropolitan University which gor sued for deceit and fraud, Phoenix University which is a junk school as well. Please study these schools thoroughly before ever attending or speaking with a representative. Many of these schools try and sell you an education. Educations are not to be sold, only provided by competent professors, not field taught non certified instructors. ACICS link: http://www.acics.org/accredited/

IADT is accredited by the same accrediting agency as Phoenix University and FMA. FMU got their pants sued of last year for deceitful mendacious busness practices and ordered by the court to change it's name. these schools are chopshop institutions that should never be trusted. ACICS accreditation will always be a joke. It's an accrediting coucil for schools that can't get real SEC or can't get respected accrediting agencies to recognize it's institutions. Keep away from these degree mills.

IADT has always been accredited by The Accrediting Council of Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) is a national accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

CEC representatives need to get lives and layoff students that have credible ripoff reports to file. Quit clogging ripoffreport.com with rediculous cut/paste rebutals, it's getting old. CEC knows they're running a chopShop for-profit institution and the proper authorities are notified. CEC Truth Advocate Group on Myspace.com and Facebook.com Myspace Link: http://groups.myspace.com/Theiadttruthadvocate Facebook link: http://academy.facebook.com/group.php?gid=5604847490

When I came across the posts here, I was horrified. Horrified by the complete falsities and inaccuracies given by former students of the Academy. My first reaction was that of anger. As an educator and educated person, I realized that the negative experiences of a few must be tempered with the positive experiences of hundreds of thousands of students. As a result, my anger has turned to compassion. Yes, it is unfortunate that a few students have had bad experiences with a college. Then, I remembered my college experiences. While earning my Bachelors and Masters Degrees from not-for-profit regionally accredited universities, I had some negative experiences myself. Rather than reacting in a public forum and giving false information, I chose to do my research and find the answers to my concerns. Doing research is a responsibility of any student. As an educator, it is my responsibility to provide accurate information in this forum. This post is not an attempt to disregard the feelings of those that have posted here previously, rather, a response regarding my compassion for them and attempt to educate them (and others) with truth. As you have read, there ARE differences between for-profit and not-for-profit colleges in the United States. There are also two types of accreditation for degree granting institutions in the United States: institutional and programmatic. I will refer to institutional as this was the topic of several posts. Institutional accreditation can be divided into two types: regional accreditation and national accreditation. Also keep in mind that in the United States, accreditation is voluntary. Depending upon your experience and personal view, you may find negatives and positives for each. The International Academy of Design and Technology (IADT) is nationally accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) to award associate, bachelors, and master's degrees. The Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools is listed as a nationally recognized accrediting agency by the United States Department of Education and is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. Additional information regarding the accreditation of the International Academy of Design and Technology may be obtained from the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools. On poster here claims that Career Education Corporation (CEC) http://www.careered.com/, IADT's parent company, owns ACICS. This is another statement of pure inaccuracy! Do your research by going to the links for both ACICS and CEC. So what's my opinion of the difference? Teachers!: A nationally accredited institution, such as the Academy, requires the faculty have an equivalent degree plus certifications, an equivalent degree plus life experience or a higher degree plus life experience. A regionally accredited institution requires the faculty have a higher degree. What does this mean if you want to study graphic design (for example)? An instructor at a nationally accredited college, such as the Academy has an earned degree and experience! Experience from the real world that can be taught in the classroom. An instructor at a regionally accredited college is required to have a higher degree. They can teach what they learned from their professors or from books but do not necessarily have ANY real world experience. So when it comes to getting a job after college would I rather be taught by someone who has been there, done that or someone who speaks of the theory behind how to be there, do that? I'll take someone who has the education AND the experience! As I mentioned, I attended regionally accredited universities where, the faculty had no idea what really happens on the job, but could theorize about it all day long. The instructor with ACTUAL experience may be few and far between in a regionally accredited college. Why does this matter? Well, we all go to college to get good jobs right? Placement: Yes, we all want a good paying job. This is one area where the Academy excels! They are a for-profit college that is required to provide placement rates in all degree programs to their shareholders. Remember, the Academy is a for-profit publicly traded company. The placement rates are based on actual placement in the field in which the student studied. The Career Services department will assist any graduate in obtaining employment anywhere. A regionally accredited college however, is not held to the same standards and usually has no such department dedicated to helping students obtain employment in the field of which they studied. Admission: Regionally accredited colleges consider SAT, ACT, scholastic achievement, school activities, personal character, application deadlines and legacy (a family member attended previously). The Academy is an open enrollment college. To enroll in the Associate or Bachelor degrees, a student is required to have a high school diploma or the equivalent. This type of college provides opportunities that students may otherwise not be afforded due to test taking ability, or parents attending the same higher education institution. As far as transfer of credit is concerned, acceptance of credit by ANY college or university is based in its ENTIRETY on the ACCEPTING institution. For the posters that claim their college credits will not transfer: again, it is the responsibility of a student to do research. Curriculum: The Academy provides college degrees in relevant areas of study. Relevant to the profession and industry. When a degree program begins, it is continually reviewed by industry professionals (Advisory Boards) to determine if: 1) There is a continued industry need in that area. If it is determined that there are not opportunities in the future for gainful employment (that good job), the program is taught out. Meaning: the students enrolled continue through the program but no new students are enrolled. WHY? The Academy does not want a student to spend money on an education that may not provide good employment opportunity due to the changes in the industry. 2) There are reasons to change or update the curriculum. The curriculum is continually under review by the program chairs and Advisory Boards in order to keep the information in the classroom industry current (hardware and software). The equipment is update and replaced on a regular basis. A regionally not-for-profit institution cannon do this primarily due to funding issues. Are there negative and positive things that occur at every college? You bet! I've never met anyone that loved every class, every administrator, every instructor, every loan debt and every first job right out of college. However, a college such as the Academy provides great opportunities for students. When I read the posts by former students, I question several things. There are students claiming poor education and poor instruction. As I read there posts, most of them are filled with misinformation, poor grammar, abuse of the English language and misspelled words. I then wonder if their experience and failure at college is due not to the institution, but to their academic aptitude. If a student is incapable of doing appropriate research or (as you can see by a post below) cannot even correctly spell the word illiterate (for example); would they have had a different experience at any other college? While yes, I do have compassion for the posters here, remember that the negative experiences of a few must be tempered with the positive experiences of hundreds of thousands of students. As an educator, truth and accuracy must supercede compassion. If you are considering attending ANY college or university in the United States, it is your responsibility to do the research. This research will help prepare you for your college experience and provide you with accurate information. And finally, even my post must be tempered with your research! Best wishes to all in finding the college for you. I do hope you enjoy your college experience!