ITT Technical Institute, A definite road to success…. THEIR’S OR YOUR’S? Just as you have, I’ve also seen the commercials on T.V. with the guy talking about how he was a nobody before attending ITT Technical Institute. Then after attending, he gets his life together and he and his family live happily ever after, all their dream can now come true. As enticing as this may seem, these ads always seemed odd to me because no other reputable institution of higher learning takes this approach to advertising. Usually any school worth the price of admission focuses on their academic program when advertising. Needless to say for some time I would see the ads for ITT Tech and wonder what the program was all about. Fortunately for me, and especially for you (if you’re considering enrollment) I have found an inside source to shed light on exactly what you can expect from attending this school. And my source for this one couldn’t be any more reputable. Not only did she spend time at this school, her time spent there was as one of the faculty. That’s right she actually taught there. I asked if she would write an article about ITT Tech and below are her exact words. **UPDATE!! After reading this article please continue to see responses from actual ITT Tech students, grads and current instructors.**
ITT- Technical Institute. BEWARE!! The pursuit of education is the means by which the majority of Americans seek to further themselves and their families. It is a long standing belief that through education comes success. It is in fact, this belief that leads thousands to the doors of ITT Tech each year in the hopes of obtaining the knowledge, certification, and degree necessary to move forward in their career or in some cases to start a new career. However, noble this pursuit is, ITT is the wrong place to pursue it at. I can speak from personal experience as a teacher at ITT. I worked as an adjunct faculty member at a location of ITT.. they have over one hundred campuses across the continental united states and it is safe to say that they are all run the same. ITT is a business. before being an institution of educational learning , it is a publicly traded stock company whose primary goal is to increase their shareholders profits. The deliverance of quality education to the non traditional student comes secondary. This is important to note as it will explain why other things are done. As a student at ITT upon admittance you will be given a class schedule that is reminiscent of the type of schedule one might receive in high school. You will start class without your books and then when the books come in, there is one day that the store is open and you can get your books. Unlike a normal college bookstore however, you do not peruse the store and select the items that you need. No.. In fact you go to the window give them your schedule and the faculty member pulls your books out of a box. All neatly wrapped up for all of your classes.. this is due to the lock step programming.. so every student in the program with you will take the same classes as you at the same time, and will have all of the same books. If you are absent for class, you are fortunate enough to have your professor call you at home to find out why. Please do not think that this is due to their genuine concern for your academic pursuit. No.. hat's not it at all. In fact, the call because they do not want you to drop out. Dropping out lowers profits, which lowers stock costs, which lowers the investors belief in the stock.. yadda yadda yadda.. You are just a pawn.. If you are absent though, you are called, an the teacher has been instructed to email, fax, or if necessary DELIVER PERSONALLY your missed assignments. The ITT way insists that it is very important that you the student don't miss any classes.. But again.. this isn't because they want you to be the next Bill Gates. They also have awards ceremonies. Although the ceremony is reminiscent of that which you would see in a middle school setting. Awards are given for perfect attendance, scholarship, citizenship.. and they serve cake.. yummy!! Now, with all of this wonderful cake eating and ceremonies going on.. you may wonder when is the education going on.. Well here's the thing. Depending on who is in your class, it may never happen. You will find that your classmates are not the studious scholars you may have thought you'd be around. They may not have pencils, books, notebooks.. They may look like they just got out of prison or are on their way into the prison. And they will leave class repeatedly to go hang out on the front steps and smoke. and what will the teacher do? nothing.. nothing he/she can do. but remind students that they must be in the classroom for 60% of each class time. So at the end of the day, you will have spent, 40k, or take out loans in that amount. you will eat cake. and maybe get a cute little certificate commending you on your citizenship… But if you noticed, nothing in this article mentions anything about getting a job when you get out.. that's because you won't.
*** End Article ***
OK, that was a mouthful. I have since received many responses to this letter from individuals that claim to have either attended ITT Technical Institute or instructed there. I say "claim" not because I don't believe them, but because I have no way of confirming their claims. I must admit I was skeptical of the first couple, but ALL of the responses I received were in direct opposition of the article from my source. In an effort to be FAIR AND IMPARTIAL, I've added some of the more interesting ones.
Please read some of the responses, then my personal conclusion to the question, IS ITT A SCAM OR NOT?
Richard S.
Patrick G.
Tom H.
"Proud Instructor"
Lucas A.
James S.
Brian V.