Manasi Vdn

Worse Teaching Method, poor hands on training

stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full

I signed up for Computer and Network technology. It was the worse experience in my life.

Everything was a theater. Professor would pretend he was teaching and students would pretend they were learning. Except for some students that had some previous knoledge, the rest of us were digging into the books for information to be able to past the examans. The professor was never happy to answer any question or help studens.

He was there just to read the slideshow and to give us copies of documents that he would find on google.

I left the institute within the 6 months after signing up. Now I am paying loans and trying to enroll in a real college.

View full review
Anonymous

Sucks

Before my daughter even attended Porter and Chester they never returned phone calls. She went to the dental assistant program loved her teachers they were awesome graduated and now she's working in the dental field and has to take more classes because the classes that she took when she was there aren't accredited so it was a big waste of time and money. The school is a joke don't waste your time or money going there

View full review
Reason of review:
Bad quality
1 comment
Guest

I'm looking into taking the dental assistant program. I was really interested but, I was doing some research and found that they are not accredited by the DANB.

Is that the accreditation your refering to? But I did find on the DANB site that the dental assistant program at porter and chester is accepted to receive an NELDA certification.

Anonymous

WORST 'SCHOOL' EVER!!!

stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full

I enrolled in the Administrative Health Specialist program at Porter & Chester in Watertown, CT in October of 2012 under the impression that on completion of the program I could sit for the Certified Professional Coder exam amongst others. This turned out to be 100% false which apparently was due to the fact that the program did not offer an externship.

I got a job in the field while I was still in the program, however I quickly learned that all of the skills needed for the job that the program 'taught' me, were being taught on the job to every other employee in my position with the company. Not only was the certificate not even a leg up in the field, the nine month program cost $18,000 for which I took out multiple loans including one through their own in house company called Institutional Student Finance Corporation with a 12.99% interest rate!

I am currently out of work due to having a disabled child and they refuse to even help me out and are now sending me to collections to further damage my credit score. That place is a scam!!!!

View full review
Loss:
$18000
Reason of review:
Poor customer service

Preferred solution: Price reduction

Aadyn Qkx

Woburn campus former student: Don't come here!

stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full

I just got my job 2 weeks ago from a tech company located in Portsmouth, NH. I started the CNT program in 2016 and left in december 2016.

I would not recommend anyone go to any of the campuses. It doesn't stimulate you in any way. I can tell the IT technical classes were shoe horned in. They include the comptia vouchers in your tuition and the books of course..

But they get you the cheapest of the laptops its a rip off. I went to Montserrat College of Art in Beverly in 2011, has the same tuition as PCI... We got mac book pros that can take a drop from a 3 story building.. PCI gives you Obama laptops lmao.

The course instructor William Silk still works there, had no issues with the guy, he was generous and flexible with the school's absurd attendance policy.. Death of immediate family and hospital medical leave are the only instances you're forgiven.. Car accident on the way to work? Tough luck you're missing one day.

The school simply doesn't teach you how to be in the career you're going in. It is all book work and minimal "hands-on"( they market the hands-on aspect and straight up lie about it.) I can learn network theory on my own time.. I need to be trained how to work in a IT corporate environment or I am gonna lose the job I busted my *** spending 7 months to get, which leads to the next part. The career counselor there, Brian is useless.

Been patient with him after I graduated. The school "promises" they will help you find a job after you leave. Brian never got me ONE interview, I had to work with 2 temp agencies and 5 interviews and 7 months later I got a job. Brian 2 months handed me a list of people to call, which is a way of saying " you're on your own." Have more than one person handle career counseling.

Finally, the student body is a joke. My class only had three serious students: Myself, a guy who pretended to be my friend and used me as a study slave and a working mother in her 50s, were the only ones to do our work seriously. Every other student was racist, sexist and browsed facebook and youtube when their work was never finished. The "boys" in automotive, HVAC and electrical all acted like high schoolers..

Some made fun of me on the insult level of a 7th grader and they used all their attendance days to be lazy and not go to class. My attendance was almost a failing grade.. Only reason I graduated from PCI was because my GPA was a 3.9, I arrived early all the time and my absences were legit emergencies and or important situations. Go to Peterson or just buy the books yourself.

CNT is the only class at PCI that doesn't require hours. CNT you only graduate with your useless degree of graduation, after that, you're responsible for scheduling your exams at the nearest pearsonvue testing center to get your certificates. Electrical, HVAC, automotive, dentistry and nursing all require a capped amount of hours and a gpa to graduate and get recognized by your new employer TL;DR: The school is for scrubs.

I have a right to complain.. I have a job now and I passed their joke of a curriculum.

View full review
Reason of review:
Bad quality
Anonymous

Hold your transcripts for ransom

stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full
Go to Branfordhall or Stone Academy!!! Porter and Chester will not give you or another institution your transcripts! You graduate making bad hourly wages and they expect you to pay an enormous amount of money once you graduate. It triples in the amount that you were paying while you were a student. Student services does not care what you make or what you can afford. They want a specific amount and that's it! I WOULDNT RECOMMEND THEM TO ANYONE!!
View full review
Reason of review:
Not as described/ advertised
Anonymous
map-marker Rocky Hill, Connecticut

Terrible

Had no teacher for half of the class was pushed threw was promised ocea training did not receive , also had to complain to get job assistance when they got my compliant they emailed me photos of indeed like I'm not using this service already ?
View full review
Reason of review:
Not as described/ advertised
Anonymous

Porter and Chester waste of money

I use to go to porter and Chester automotive and it was a waste of money don't recommend the teacher picks who he helps and just reads slideshows and expects you to be the greatest mechanic jus by reading a book if I where you just buy the book and read it yourself it's basically the same thing don't waste your money still owe them money and don't know a lot about cars the teacher is a liar don't go unless you like throwing money in the trash porter and Chester automotive in Branford Connecticut waste of money I hope this helps people out so they don't get fooled like I did
View full review
Reason of review:
Poor customer service
2 comments
Guest

I think you'r upset because you did not applied your self to the class. i bet you where absent and on the phone must of the time. don't complain and fix your self.

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-1511696

Must be a teacher commenting

View more comments (1)
Anonymous
map-marker Watertown, Connecticut

Porter and Chester Electrical/All Programs Watertown CT

stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full

I have read most of the reviews and can tell that most of the people who are writing reviews probably failed or are unhappy due to their own decisions. I realize that most people going to PC have trouble reading or writing and just general adjustment to society and are dumb enough to fall for this scam.

I don't claim to be the smartest person, but once they talk to you on the phone and then call you multiple times telling you the classes are filling up and you won't get in and will not hold a spot until you come in for an "interview" it is one giant sales gimmick. They give you a "test" that you need to pass, but everyone passes and then they tell you about the job placement and how great it is. Then the big one is about how much you will be making and the raises then on to not needing to worry about financing and all these great things. Then, they pretty much keep you there unless you break out until you put some cash (a couple hundred bucks) or sign some documentation that will get them nearly instant access to federal money in your name.

Everything up to this point is a lie, employers do not have to or want to count your OJT hour(on job training hours), your pay will be about 50% less than they say, and those loans will kill you while you are getting minimum pay to collect OJT hours towards you field. They charge nearly a 300% markup on your books and tool bag in the trade programs. The classes are offered as night course (electrical and other) at state tech high schools and colleges and sometimes by the same instructor you get at PC, but closer to $4k rather than $30,000 for the same class without the fake OJT hours. The teachers are generally just tradesmen that have no training or experience teaching the program you are in and may have not had training to keep them up to date with the current codes that you will be tested on.They may not even really know what they are doing, which I experienced when my instructor left the breaker on even though I asked him multiple times after being zapped.

This place is there to make people money and let me tell you now that it is not the students that will be making the money regardless whatever that greasy former used car salesman is telling you about job placement and whatever other lie they are using to get people in the door. They will continue to take government money even if you leave the program early and will refuse to help you with anything even if you do graduate from their B.S. "accredited" school. If you are a parent looking at schools for your child then don't send them here.

I took an electrical program here which was a huge waste and I took the L.P.N. program from the state which cost about 10% the cost of the PC one and got me the same level teaching and to the testing.

You want your child in the trades then get them into a program with your local electrical provider or a union job where they can make a better living with better working environment and free schooling. I could go on forever with every little caveat of information that makes this place the worst decision you could ever make, but if you are still planning on going after all I have told you then, God Bless.

View full review
Loss:
$40000
Cons:
  • Being raped financially
Reason of review:
Bad quality

Preferred solution: Full refund

Anonymous
map-marker Webster, Massachusetts

Porter And Chester Institute - Program Review from Webster, Massachusetts

stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full

Porter and chester is the most over priced, waste of time i have ever been involved in. The building is kept in poor unclean conditions, the equipment is mostly missing, broken, and hidden by instructors that don't want to hear the noise (chris burgess).

There is a SEVERE lack of safety equipment. I have gotten burned, cut, gotten rashed, etc because we arent issued long sleeves, dont have welding sleeves or cover-alls etc. NONE of my uniforms fit when i got them, and it didnt bother me because i wore my work clothes the first 3/4 of my sentence here. The last quarter however i was told i NEED to wear the school issued uniform, yet they helped me get a job where is work up until 30 mins before school, and that 30 mins is for travel time.

The fellow students, the instructors and the careet services staff are the only ones who give a ***. The corporate mediators upstairs take no part in downstairs. They make rules at their own free will.

This only scrathes the surface, so bottom line, DONT waste your time or money. Not for $30k

View full review
Reason of review:
Pricing issue
Anonymous

Not worth the money

Currently an HVAC student at porter and Chester. I have be going for about a month now and already regret coming to this school. When you go for a tour they bring you to the labs you will be working in and it looks really nice. Seems like there is a lot of equipment to learn on. But most machines are there just for show. Only a few you can actually work on. You find your self in the back watching the other students. I have a brand new teacher that has never taught a day in his life. I ask him questions and he gives me the wrong answers. We barely even do anything. The teachers act like all we want to do is graduate and not actually learn. Very unprofessional teachers. We sit in class talking about things that have nothing to do with HVAC. I hear students complaining about this school everyday and nobody seems to care.i could go on about this place forever and I wouldn't even be going to school anymore if I didn't pay 30 thousand dollars. I could learn more at my house watching YouTube videos. I really hope people read this and look really hard into this school before enrolling.
View full review
Reason of review:
Bad quality
1 comment
Guest

Which branch? This is awful...

I just read many negative reviews by employees. Lots of turnover, little training...

Jives with your review. My son is excited about going, but I'm not so sure!

Kristalyn Tbd
map-marker Woburn, Massachusetts

Porter and Chester Woburn,MA

stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full

I recently graduated from porter and Chester. I agree school was overpriced.

I did Dental Assistant program. The externships were just to complete hours not to learn how to use your skills in a dental office. I got no support and just grief. I was bullied by other dental assistants but never said anything cause I would not have got support.

They set up and tell you you made mistakes but you didn't and they want to teach you thinks and second guess and undermine every thing you do. It was a joke. It's called Sabotage. I was discouraged from finding my own externships.

Wish I did. But thankfully I found my own job without anyone's help. I learned more at the job I am at know than I ever learned at my externships and school. Waste of money.

I would not recommend porter and Chester. I loved the classmates a lot they were fun to work with. I think getting on the job training is best when becoming a dental assistant. I regret nothing.

You live and learn. I love my new career.

View full review
Pros:
  • Classmates
Cons:
  • Cost
Reason of review:
Poor customer service
1 comment
Guest

I have to say that this is something you should know. By that I mean, you will always learn more on the job than you will at school or doing a week long externship.

The school is there to give you an introduction and get your base skills to a competent level where you succeed in your field. You got a job because you did well in the curriculum. You learned what you needed to learn. As far as getting bullied, that;s not right.

But I believe you said that wasn't at the school so you can't blame the school for that. Now that you got a career ahead of you, look at the positives that came from your time at P&C and build upon them.

Anonymous
map-marker Milford, Connecticut

Porter And Chester Institute - Program Review from Milford, Connecticut

stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full
I graduated on October 2015 and my experience went far beyond my initial expectations. Individual experience and outcome is different from person to person, I met guys who got in the program just to find out whether or not was the "fit" choice, big mistake... Instructors were awesome, knowledgeable, experienced, guided and challenged us every day. Labs were useful, don't expect to tackle every possible scenario, field experience would do it... Bottom line is: No pain, no gain... If you miss school days, don't read, study, work hard, complete assignments; expect to be miserable and waste your time and money. I proudly am a Porter and Chester Alumnus
View full review
Reason of review:
Good quality
Resolved
Sharnell Szj
map-marker Worcester, Massachusetts

Resolved: Porter And Chester Institute Program Review from Worcester, Massachusetts

stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full
Updated by user Jun 17, 2016

The issues have been resolved due to false information spam/abuse the statement provided was SPAM

Original review May 24, 2016
Im currently attending classes at porter and chester worcester campus for electrical ABSOLUTE nightmare promised ipads never came through promised 91% placement rate more like 0 theres no one here to place us into jobs joe quit and this new girl dont know her arm from her leg and is never here so unprofessional you should just watch YouTube videos because you will learn more 30,000 for nothing im being robbed my contact info is 508-612-**** if you would like to know the truth about porter and chester im currently pursuing legal help
View full review
2 comments
Guest

Im still attending the night electrical program n the new instructor sucks she brings no experience to the table i want murphy and pelki back

Guest

When is the last day for classes for mechanics

View more comments (1)
Anonymous
map-marker Worcester, Massachusetts

Review in Education category from Worcester, Massachusetts

I studied in westborough campus , now it is Relocated in worcester. I Gained a lot of knowledge. Instructors were well educated. 13 days of my graduation , I got a job at newengland's Highest volume dealership . I have been in my job since then . The only problem i have is , the cost of education is little high . Income and Job provability wise, I would assume i am on top 20 graduates , but still the loan balance is not blowing off as expected . I advice new comers to think , calculate and understand thoroughly every would be pros and cons before you enroll. I have seen many of my clacemates ended up in coffee shop with $30,000 of federal loan. I dont to blame the institution . but if the institution find a way to provide little cost effective education , the future generation will be benefited. And the school will get more positive reviews. But my end is , I am benefited .
View full review
Reason of review:
Pricing issue
Leroy Arf
map-marker Taylor, Texas

Porter And Chester Institute - Program Review from Taylor, Texas

stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full
I was a graduate of the 2009 class. Because nursing is a very respected career, my advice to you would be to take the long road. The education you will get in a college could never in a million years be compared to this place. I do not know they get away with taking students to day care centers to babysit be considered part of nursing clinical. We were taken to Monkey Gym or something like that, to sit and watch kids play. Then to a day care center where we were paired with kids to watch. This was supposed to be part of clinical. During our neonatal or Labor clinical, we watch women give birth and watch little babies. Not once were we told or taught the role of a nurse in this dept. But I guess that this is required to show the state that we were actually doing our clinical there. The instructors they hire are RN's, who have no teaching background besides their past RN work?? Their job postings clearly say no experience needed. This is because they read off a book, exactly what you will be doing as well. One of the instructors I had quit in the middle of course because it was that ridiculous. She was not able to teach class the math. The class was having a lot of difficulty with math, so we just breezed right through it and never spoke about it again. They also had racial issue and the students who started the problem, got away with it, leaving the ones who were discriminated to suck it up. Something that is clearly stated in policy that is not tolerated, but it happened and covered up very well. The instructors had issues. I know this because one of the instructors told us that whatever was discussed among students and instructors could not be forwarded without students permission, and the instructors still gossip about the concerns students had. They made instructor leave or maybe she left after the Director of program at the time yelled at her for starting gossip. It was so loud that we heard it all the way in our classroom. Honesty is not part of their policy, but lying, covering up racial profiling is. My advice to you would be to RUN as fast as you can and take the long way out. You will be paying triple money and not get the education you deserve. It's too late for me regret, but i can pass down what I experienced, saw, and now realize after taking classes at a community college that this place is all in for the money. Technical schools are great for medical assisting, auto, etc. Quick careers. Not meant for NURSING. Nursing is not just a career, but a job with many rewards for someone who really has the passion for it. Goodwin college is probably even better. To be honest, if you are thinking of nursing, go straight to RN. As an LPN you'll do the same work as an RN and get paid less. Go to Barnes and Noble and look for LPN notes and RN notes by Lippincott. You will see exactly what I mean. As an LPN you will do exactly what an RN does, exact same thing, except that they get the big bucks. I worked in an ER with the most passionate nurses, at the time I was in school and they told me that it would be a waste of time, because I will go for RN afterwards. And it was very true. If ur after $, most likely you'll settle. But if you're passionate about it, you will go after the RN. So if you have nursing in your heart, don't waste your time in a technical school, especially if you're young. Leave technical schools for the older population, 40+. Take the long road, the education you will get can never be compared to Porter and Chester. Their instructor turn around is very high. They don't get paid enough, the majority have no experience at all, and moat RN's do it as extra income. If you think I'm kidding, work at a hospital so you can see how these RN work. They work like slaves, nonstop! It's a wonderful field full of opportunities, but you can always tell the ones who do it for the money. They're always sitting down delegating and never want to do patient care. It's not part of their work. If this is the type of nurse you have your eyes set on to be, don't bother, we have enough of those everywhere. Think of your loved ones and how you would want for them to be treated. I worked with best RN's, and those are the ones that know that bedsores are 100% preventable. If you work in a place where bedsores are caused after patient was admitted, please run. It takes an entire team to prevent them, not just the CNA's. I was lucky enough to start off as a CNA, and be able to see nursing from all angles. I love what I do and love more that I had the opportunity to work in St. Mary's ER with some of the best nurses ever. Not all are good, but some are the best. These are the ones who take that extra mile to make sure their patients look like a million bucks before being sent to another unit. RUN RUN RUN, DONT WASTE UR MONEY IN HERE FOR NURSING. TAKE THE LONG ROAD, YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT. THE EDUCATION IS INCREDIBLE!
View full review
Reason of review:
Bad quality
3 comments
Guest

Tollensc 765210. So, basically, from what you wrote, you have no respect for LPNs or people over age 40 who are not nurses.

Guest

Other comment?

Guest

You describe in detail the awful experience you had in the proprietary technical trade school environment. You don't remember the name of your "clinical" practicum, but you say the "teachers", who are all RNs, are incompetent.

You then describe your admiration for the RNs you work with in your CNA position, but you didn't take their advice. And you diminish the LPNs altogether. You say some of your coworkers are essentially lazy, manipulative and unpleasant; and describe others as conscientious. You will find people like that in all professions and across all ecosystems and cultures.

You say you truly have nursing in the heart and something along the lines of being "passionate" about all of this? Whoa! Passion is a very intense state. If I become weak with age or illness, I don't want "passion" in that context.

I am a mature adult and very well aware, and quite protective, of my own health care needs. In fact I had a catastrophic illness a few years ago. I am not young; but not exactly old. The good people compassionately acknowledged my concerns and explained the treatment plan, asked for and answered questions, administered the APPROPRIATE treatment, and deterred the over-eager medical students from interfering with unnecessary procedures!

The BAD PEOPLE set me in the middle of my private room with no call-box or access to my meager meal (after thirty hours fasting) when I was so weak I could not get up by myself. Oh, right. Of course. They had to stand in the doorway of my private room to make their plans to, uh, "paahr-taay" after shift.

You mentioned your concern about various aspects of patient care, seemingly aware of the fact that the majority of patients are likely twenty-five years older than you. AND THEN YOU SAY "leave technical schools for the older population".

Older than 40, huh? Why you disrespectful, obnoxious, ignorant, worthless hypocrite!

View more comments (2)