Nikeia Marie

Review of Lacc

My first impression is based on the communication ...

My first impression is based on the communication and interaction I've received from staff as a new student. I understand we are in the middle of a pandemic but the lack of response from the Admissions Office and Counseling Department has led me to believe this institution couldn't care any less if I reach my educational goals with them or not. I have been given the runaround for the last 2 months regarding my status as a new student and what is required of me. Their website states that in order to receive Priority Registration you must complete the requirements listed on your Student Portal by May 29, 2020, well my Student Portal hasn't been updated since I applied. There is no confirmation that my transcripts have been received and I can't even get in touch with anyone to confirm this. On top of this requirement being needed to complete my registration I also am required to speak with a Counselor, in April I was told I could do this via their LIVE CHAT but the Counselor's don't even respond to the chats and 99% of the time they have their status as Offline or Away. If you're lucky to get a hold of a Counselor during the LIVE CHAT they leave you unanswered for 30+ minutes in hopes that you'll just close out the chat and if they do respond they give you short answers and attitude. Because I have college credits I received outside of LACC I actually can't talk to someone via LIVE CHAT. I have to schedule an appointment with a Counselor. I submitted a request for a Counseling Appointment on May 1, 2020 and in the confirmation email I received I was told someone would be in touch with me, two weeks passed and I heard nothing so I was told by a Success Coach in the LIVE CHAT to follow-up with an email to Online Counseling. Today I emailed the Counseling Dept. to check the status of my request and I learn that there are no appointments available at this time and to check back the week of May 26 to schedule an appointment again, yet in order for me to receive Priority Registration I need to have all of this completed by May 29th! I attempted to LIVE CHAT with THREE counselors this afternoon, 2/3 never responded and 1 took 45 minutes to respond only to tell me the LIVE CHAT is for "quick fixes" and to schedule an appointment again with Online Counseling even though I told him I've already done that and the email referred me to speak to someone via LIVE CHAT, his response was to submit another request. I think it's safe to say I won't meet the deadline even though I've been trying to get all of this taken care of since March! It's not fair that I have to penalized for missing the deadline when I've made every attempt and used every resource the college provides to get my new student requirements completed. I was so excited to get back into school so I could finish my degree but this experience has left me feeling so discouraged. Never has a college/university made me feel this way. We are all having to adjust to the way we interact with each other because of this pandemic so I understand the changes but communication should remain the same. Your students shouldn't feel like they are being left in the dark. The last school I attended answered my questions by communicating effectively and handled my request efficiently when I was reaching out to get my transcripts DURING THE PANDEMIC and I'm not even a student there anymore, yet I can't even get an email update from LACC that my transcripts were received. I am very unhappy with my experience and I am considering withdrawing my application all together until this pandemic blows over, I have a feeling that's what they want me to do anyway as it one less person that have to help. Also, update your website. It's so scattered with inconsistent fonts, sizes, colors, and links that appear clickable but aren't which makes it overwhelming and extremely difficult to navigate.