Drawbacks to Career Institutes

If you've ever watched daytime television, I'm sure you have stumbled upon several commercials with downtrodden characters expressing their need for more money and a better career. These ads claim "Gain your degree in under a year" or "Become certified in a little under 6 months". Some even compare universities to these institutes and make accredited colleges seem unnecessary. As one commercial claims, why go to college for four years when you can be working in your chosen field in less than two. All very tempting, especially with the economy making college graduates make a mad dash to the unemployment office.

But, as usual buyer beware. Before calling the flashing 1-800 number, do your own research. The small print is much to minuscle to read in the 45 second scope of the commercial. After seeing one too many of these ads, I decided to do my own research.

I happen to know an associate who is currently attending one Houston based institute. She stated her past and current situation. She dropped out of middle school at the age of 14 and worked at a string of fast food restaurants for seven years before being tempted to join the medical field by a commercial starring an actress that went from waitressing to donnning scrubs and a stethescope.All with the help of a school that claims success as a medical assistant is only eight months away. Needless to say she went in for a consultation as soon as possible.

This is a person who not only didn't graduate high school, but also didn't receive any type of high school equivalancy diploma. So of course she was leary about the enrollment process and the steps she would have to accomplish before she would be able to attend the courses needed. The counselor dismissed the fact that she didn't have a diploma and immediately asked her to fill out a loan application. After failing the placement test twice( this is a test that grades you at a seventh grade level in math and english), she finally passed and was told to make sure she obtained her GED before graduation. The loan was for over 10,000 and was for the eight month course that would deem her a medical assistant, but would not provide her with a certified medical assistant license. So after a $10,000.00 loan (after taxes) she would be qualified to work as a medical assistant for 8-12 dollars an hour.

Of course, I expected that this was an isolated incident. It bothered me to know that a counselor would overlook the fact that this person hadn't attended school for several years and had problems passing a simple test in general studies. So I researched more and found out that 90% of the schools with these type of short term courses didn't require a high school diploma or GED to enroll. After speaking with a few more students, I found out that most of the students were handed a loan application first and were told this mattered the most. Which in my opinion leads me to believe, not because of the order of the paperwork, that like almost every other institution this was a money train.

Finally I decided to speak with some employers for the target jobs most of the students apply to upon graduation. They generally hire those who are certified in the field. Unbeknowst to my associate, the school she attended had no affiliation with the state board who conducts the test needed to become certified.

Before attending one of these schools the most important step is to make sure that there is an accredation from a reputable agency. Do not be gullable about your education. It is your future.