Tianna Stewart

Review of The Art Insitute of California...

I attended this school because my friend was there...

I attended this school because my friend was there, and made it seem to be pretty decent. The only decent thing about this school is how much money was put into it. The culinary program is what keeps the school running.

I wasn't even there 3 months, and I've decided to call it quits.

I am a veteran, so I use my Post 9/11 to go to school. Upon enrolling into this establishment, my information was NEVER submitted to the VA. So guess who didn't get paid the first month and a half? I had to call the VA and see what was going on, then go to the financial aid department myself to be told that for sure it was never submitted.

Then after that, the online textbooks that they charge you $200 dollars every semester for DOES NOT WORK! How the heck are we being charged hundreds of dollars for textbooks we can't access, and then being told to go find physical copies until further notice. How about you refund us that money back? Since we pay out of pocket for those electronic textbooks. The payments are automatically taken from your account, and if you don't want them to take it out then you have to submit a request form.

Then back to the financial aid department...if you have a refund for financial aid you can forget about receiving it. I have a refund over $2000 just sitting there and it's been months, to be told they're on hold. For months? I've emailed 2 members of financial aid, including the manager to be told they aren't sending out stipends just yet. Some of us have families and siblings to take care of. This school is quick to take your money, but slow to refund it back. From what I've read from other students, the reason this money isn't being refunded is because it's being pocketed.

I've submitted complaints to FASFA about BOTH issues.

To be honest it doesn't seem like the administrative staff care too much. Upon submitting paperwork stating I would no longer be in attendance, I got asked why I was leaving; and if I had tried to find other resources in order to stay with the school.

Why would I want to stay at a school with all of these problems? I'm glad I'm leaving, instead of wasting my G.I. Bill.