The Art Institute of Pittsburgh - Online Division Reviews

Overall Rating:

   

I am currently a student with the Art Institute of Pittsburgh Online and I absolutely love it. My admissions advisor is amazing. My academic advisor is amazing and I am really enjoying this. I was reading the reviews on how negative everyone is. But where are all the good reviews. oh wait they are probably too busy being successfull and not worrying about complaining about the school. I talked to my Academic counselor today about all these reviews and asked her several questions. she gave me honest and truthful answers and gave me alot of feedback. Look at the Art institute career services that should speak for itself. If you are serious about going back to school i would strongly recommend this school. don't let all these negative feedbacks change your mind. I am in my second class and im still loving it. I learn something new everyday. I am kind of getting sick with all these negative reviews. my admissions advisor still emails me all the time!!!!! His dedication to my success is why i am going to school right now. Yes i was a little hesitant at first too. But i need a kick in the ass. i was working at wendy's a dead end job. and now i am going to school and i actually enjoy it. like i said this school is great. im going to contact the other students in my classes to read these and see what they say. You can always email me with any questions. footballrulz37@yahoo.com

Was this review useful to you?  

(3)

Overall Rating:

   

I didn't even enroll and my experiences with this school were horrible!

I requested information. After that, I was harassed with tons of calls! I told one of my many academic advisors that I didn't want to start the semester and that I couldn't overlook the financial aid plan composed for me because my internet was down due to inclement weather. I talked to the advisor on a Thursdays and told the advisor that the internet repairman wouldn't be out to fix the internet till Wednesday, so that I would talk to her then. From Friday to Tuesday, I received 9 phone calls and 11 emails! I finally went to a friends on Tuesday to look at the plan and what a mistake!

I didn't approve an option or even say that I wanted to enroll, and I received an email the next day telling me that I needed to buy books for my first class! They had already enrolled me without my permission! To disenroll me has taken four phone calls and three emails! Now, I'm still receiving emails about enrolling next semester, even though I told them I won't be enrolling at all now! Stay away from the Art Institutes!

Was this review useful to you?  

(2)

Overall Rating:

   

Like Shala B., I requested information on the Art Institutes and got sucked into the application process. What ensued, was absolute madness!

I told my academic advisors, which I say "advisors" because I didn't just have one for some odd reason. Anyway, I told my academic advisors that I wasn't ready to start this semester, yet they pushed and pushed for me to start. They put together a financial plan and wanted me to look at it immediately as if I was going to start the semester.

Once the financial plan was composed, I was harassed with over 14 calls in one week, and 22 emails because they wanted me to overlook the plan, even though I wasn't starting the semester. I was unable to look over the plan because my internet was down (due to weather) and I talked to one of my academic advisors about it on a Thursday night. I told my advisor that I wouldn't be able to talk till Wednesday (day internet repairman was coming) and I would call her then. What do you think happened? The next day I got a call from her, "Can we fax the plan to you?" I promptly told her, "No.", because I don't have a fax machine, and that I would talk to her Wednesday. Saturday, I got a call from my academic advisors boss, who was extremely harassing and said, "You don't have access to internet?", and then wanted to know why, and then said, "Can we fax it to you?" "No." Can we mail it to you?" "No." By Wednesday, even though I told one of my academic advisors on Thursday that I couldn't and wouldn't talk till Wednesday, I had received 9 phone calls and 11 emails. I finally bent to their pressure and agreed to go to a friends house to look over the plan. BIG MISTAKE! After showing me the plan, they then proceeded to tell me that if I didn't accept the plan now and lock it in, I probably wouldn't get one as good (which it wasn't a good plan anyway, I would be more than $28,000 in debt once I got out of school). So, I told them I would have to think about it and talk to my wife about it.

The NEXT DAY I received an email from my SUPPOSED teacher saying that I needed to buy my books for my class and get ready for the semester! But, I hadn't even signed up for classes or given my permission that I was going to start, or had even accepted the financial plan! I emailed my supposed "teacher" and told her I wasn't enrolled, which she replied to by saying, "Well, you're on the rolls." Then I called one of my academic advisors. My advisor replied, "Well, was I wrong in thinking you wanted to start this semester." I said, "Yes. I never said anything of the sort. In fact, I told you I was just looking into it and I wasn't ready to start this semester at all. I didn't even accept the financial aid plan." She then proceeded to tell me that I shouldn't make my decision yet.

The next day, which was Tuesday (the semester would start Thursday), I, for some odd reason, accepted the financial plan. I really don't know why I did. I think it was because of all the pressure and harassment. Thankfully, and also not so thankfully, I had some personal problems come up in my life (possible problems with my child, who was still in my wifes womb, thankfully those problems turned out to be nothing). I emailed my academic advisor and told her, "I need to un-enroll. Some personal things have come up." She then emailed back and said, "What happened? I thought everything was great and you were ready to start." I didn't really think it was her business, but I told her anyway. She the proceeded to reply to me and told me, "Well, I think you should wait and see what happens."

I was furious, but decided to not reply, as it would be in anger. So, I waited till the next day (Wednesday, the day before classes began), to email her back. I still had the same decision and I said, "I need to be un-enrolled. If you could take care of that and just not ask any questions about my personal life, I would be much appreciated." She replied, "Okay. If you need anything, let me know."

Now, her last message might seem all fine and dandy, but it wasn't so. Thursday, the start of classes rolled by, and then on the next Tuesday I received a call from an advisor (one I had never talked too) who wanted to know why I hadn't logged into my classes. I told her I was supposed to be un-enrolled, which she replied, "Oh, I'm sorry. I'll take care of that, ------(academic advisor I had emailed) hasn't told me that and you're still in our database as enrolled." I couldn't believe it! But what was even more crazy, was that that wasn't the end!

I then received a call on Wednesday from the pushy boss of one of my academic advisors (yes, Mr. "Can we fax it?" "Can we mail it?"), who wanted to know why I hadn't logged into my classes! I told him as well that I was supposed to be un-enrolled. You would think that would be it? No! I got a call the next day from the head of the admissions department, "Hi, I heard that you want to be dropped from classes for this semester?" I replied, "Yes. I was supposed to be un-enrolled last week!" He then corrected me! "It's disenrolled." (Sorry, I know it's wrong, but who are you to be correcting me). He then asked if I was going to enroll next semester and I firmly said, "No." That was the end of our conversation. The "un-enrolling", or "disenrolling", fiasco was over. But, emails still came.

Since then, I've received 5 emails from an academic advisor I've never talked to about enrolling for classes next semester. I replied to the first email with, "I'll never enroll. Stop emailing me and calling me and take me out of your database." But, I still am receiving emails, even after clicking, "Remove from Email List" on the fourth email I received. So, I might just have to close my email account and open a new one.

My suggestion would be to do some research before requesting information or calling them. If you call them, make sure you definitely want to go to their school. They'll harass you, pester you, pressure you, and they won't let down! If their admissions process was that much of a nightmare, I can't imagine how the rest of the process is run!

Was this review useful to you?  

(3)

Overall Rating:

   

Overall I have had a great experience with them and have learned a lot so far. I am a part time student and it works out with my schedule so thats great. When calling the call center sometimes it is a little bit hard to get in contact with whoever. From my experience if you just send a email they will call you back the next day or write you back "which has been successful for me". As for the classes that aren't necessary that was stated earlier in one of the post's. I mean they have general education classes that you have to take and most of the work builds up to what your main focus is whether its graphic,fashion,interior design etc. If you're looking to just learn about graphic design straight up I would just go buy a book on the history of it and look up some tutorials. You can know how to do an art form, but you may not have knowledge of the form and thats why you go to school "art institute". Ive had the same negative or positive experiences with on ground campus also so theres really no difference.

Was this review useful to you?  

(4)

Overall Rating:

   

How I wish I had read these reviews two nights ago. I am a non traditional student looking to earn a degree in the evening. I requested some information online from the school, and I started receiving a number of phone calls. I finally took a call from someone, and I hate to admit it, but I got sucked in. I spent two hours on the phone "applying" for enrollment and filling out student loan paperwork. I was pretty excited about starting school. I then came across a number of negative reviews at the school, and I emailed my "admissions officer" to ask to withdraw my application. Now -- in just two days, I have gone from getting 5 phone calls a day to being unable to get anyone to return my call. I'm out $50, and I may have committed myself to a student loan for a school I don't want to attend. If I get stuck with a student loan bill, I will report these people to the Department of Ed. Don't waste your time or money!

Was this review useful to you?  

(4)

Overall Rating:

   

Hi Everyone! I found this site, and see that several people are having trouble getting in contact with their finacial aid advisors. We recently changed our phone system here so all the extensions are different. Please call me at 1-877-872-8869 ext. 34316 and I will get you over to whomever it is you are looking for! Hope this helps!

Was this review useful to you?  

(3)

Overall Rating:

   

I just happened upon this site and all of the bad reviews are getting me a bit worried as I've had problems with other schools or trying to get jobs after the fact. I'm only 5 weeks in, yet I can't get anyone to return my calls about financial aid or other materials I need. They were "all there" for me during the enrollment process, but now they're "ghost"! I wonder if I can withdraw now without too much damage.

Was this review useful to you?  

(3)

Overall Rating:

   

I too wish I would have read this before attempting to enroll. I completed my first class and one week into my second class, I was told that my admission into the school was denied. I was told that it was do to poor high school transcripts. The bad part about that is they have transcripts from a school that I only attended one year at. The high school I got my diploma from I had about a 3.4 gpa. I was also told that I was going to be responsible for the cost for programs and books, and my first class even though I was not technically a student with them. Now I am trying to get into another school and they say that AIOP has my funds and will not return them. I have read some comments about faculty and the relations with the students. I can't even get somebody to call me back. This has been the worst experience with a school I have ever had.

Was this review useful to you?  

(2)

Overall Rating:

   

I could have saved a good 50k by going to Barnes and Nobles and picking up some books on media and web design. I've learned so much more from online tutorials than in any of the classes. This was a second degree for me and they still made me take ridiculous core classes just for the money.
I should have known the school was a bad idea when I was harassed by the admissions department when I just called to ask some questions. A friend whose parents work there convinced me it would be a good idea, and she had taken classes through them prior.

My "degree" is a waste. I can't find a job in the field and am drowning in student loan debt! I should've just withdrawn when I had the chance. Do yourself a favor and just hit the bookstore. You'll be relying on outside sources for your education, so you might as well keep your money in your pocket!

Was this review useful to you?  

(2)