Katharine Gibbs Schools

Shawn of Brooklyn, NY May 26, 2009

I graduated from katherine gibbs in 05. While attending that school, I was told that I was guaranteed a job after graduation which I never got. I attended the school to study computer networking it was a two year program. Now as far as financial aid they say I owe sally may 34,000 and I owe higher education about 25,000. When I try to ask how is it that I owe so much I could never get a proper explanation. And when I tryed to start attemting to pay salle mae there asking for to much every month.

Im working a regular paying job. I live by my self so i have alot of bills. basically I don't know how I'm being charged over 50,000 for going to a 2year college. Going to this school was the worst decision ever made. And I need help with situation, cause its to much for me to pay back I don't even make that much in a year.

Dwayne of Central Islip, NY April 24, 2009

I attended Katharine Gibbs from 2000-2001. Long story short, I learned more about graphic design at B.O.C.E.S. Tech, where I got a certificate than I learned from Gibbs. I am still paying off my loans, which is about 11,000 now. I promiced a job in the field but only got non-paying internships that I had to travel to. I feel like I waisted my money and I am affraid to go back to school because of this experience. I am doing a security to pay my bills. I have not been able to get a job in the Graphic Design field.

Dwayne of Central Islip, NY April 24, 2009

I attended Katharine Gibbs from 2000-2001. Long story short, I learned more about graphic design at B.O.C.E.S. Tech, where I got a certificate than I learned from Gibbs. I am still paying off my loans, which is about 11,000 now. I promiced a job in the field but only got non-paying internships that I had to travel to. I feel like I waisted my money and I am affraid to go back to school because of this experience. I am doing a security to pay my bills. I have not been able to get a job in the Graphic Design field.

Erica of Conshohocken, PA April 30, 2009

I wanted an education, I was getting to the age where I didnt want to do the 4 year programs. I had no idea what "visual communications" meant. When I went for my tour, I asked the gentleman and he responded with...what were you looking for? I told him Interior Design. He said-Oh, this covers everything! Interior Design Included! I thought, this is great!

On my first day of class, my instructor was going around the room asking our names and what we were looking to get out of the degree. First of all-what degree!?!? I told him and he said-this has nothing to do with Interior Design! So, the recruiter staight out lied to me. It was too late to back out, I already signed everything!

Then the very last semester, they "forgot" or screwed up our schedules. One of the classes we were supposed to take the semester before was never set-up and they didnt realize it til the very last semester. So they swamped us with classes last minute. I worked full-time, I couldnt take day classes. It was either take the day class and get fired from my job, or dont take the class. I needed my job.

I was so disguisted with the school, the program, the instructors...everything, I took time off and only had my portfolio class left to take. Because I took time off, they started bombarding me with harrassing phone calls, bills...Now Im stuck with a loan that in the end is going to be about 120,000. No degree. Cant transfer any of my education from these people to another school and now they are closing.

Everyone always said-you need an education to get a good job. Well, I went for an education and have a job making minimal . This school has ruined my future. Nothing about it has brightened it at all. And the worse part about it is, the recruiter that lied to me...yeah, now he works in my office. They lied about being an accredited school, the program, the amount I would be paying after I graduated and my success afterwards. KG's name means nothing to the business world, and I wish I would have done more reasearch about this school before attending. I would have never attended and put myself through this. The job I have now I could have gotten before attending school.

Angela of Brooklyn, NY April 10, 2009

I attended Katharine Gibbs of New York from 2001-2003 and have not been able to find employment in the field I majored in. When first signing up for the program, I chose Visual Communications as my major, however, when I got my program confirmation in the mail,they have informed me that the program was now called Digital Media & Communications. Basically, they'd decided to combine the 2 programs (visual communications and web design), hence it was now given a new name.

That was not a problem in the beginning, as a matter of fact, I was very eager to learn coding and web design. However, when I started attending classes, I realized that they had no idea of what they were doing. We were taught the very basics of photoshop and minimal HTML coding, not to mention, the teachers were all under-qualified, and as I would come to find out later, were only there to teach because they themselves could not find a job in a design field.

Most of the teachers would talk to us about their life and just told us to read the books they made us purchase. Some books were NEVER USED AT ALL, but we were made to purchase them, not to mention the material package they made us buy, which consisted of some color pencils, markers, color paper, etc, AND a VERY LOW QUALITY digital camera, which I could never even use because the pictures would be of such bad quality(for that camera alone I was charged 350.00, something that I wouldn't paid a dollar for because it was simply useless of it's bad quality). But that's just the basics of it all, as I would come to find out later on. Some teachers were so bad that we, as a class, would often go to the director begging to switch us to another class. Some of us were able to do that, but it was just as pointless because the other teachers were just as bad...they either id not know the material they were teaching or were extremely slow in teaching it, even the books that were used, were only half way completed throughout the course. You ask, why not just drop out and go to another school? Well, I was very young and did not possess the knowledge I do today. Nowadays, I would do thorough research way before I signed myself up for one of these quickie schools/programs. But back then, I was trying to get a career as fast as I would, so I could live on my own and make something of myself. Long story short, I stayed to complete my courses so I could get a diploma which I was told in the beginning would be equivalent to Associates Degree, which was another lie on it's own).

So come graduation time and we were all told that the certificates/diplomas were printed out wrong and that there would be a delay in sending them to us. I went to the admin office NUMEROUS times to get my diploma for 6 MONTHS AFTER graduation and was given one excuse after another, to the point where I almost gave up on it. Finally, they did send me my diploma in the mail 6 months after.

After finally getting my diploma(which is just a worthless piece of paper which they make out to be 30,000 in loans), I was ready to apply for jobs. As I was told in the beginning, Gibbs GUARANTEED a lifetime of job placement. All it turned out to be was some lame internships at start up companies that would never hire and would not even pay a minimal fee. I never signed up for any of those internships, because at that point in time I knew better, BUT, some of my classmates did and it was just a waste of time and travel money and they were treated very badly. When I confronted someone at the job placement department, they basically told me that i was not their responsibility of what kind of jobs they placed people in, their job was to simply provide a job ad and that they did not guarantee the actual job or pay(something that I couldve done on my own on ANY job site). As a matter of fact, when I went on craigslist, I found the SAME ads that Gibbs provided word for word. When 2005 came around, I was trying to do some freelance work for friends and family but it was not enough to make a living AND pay off loans on top of it all. I was still unable to get a permanent job in the field, after having applied to about 100 different companies, if not more. At one interview, they even bluntly told me that me having Gibbs degree on my resume did not qualify me for anything and that actually it was not a degree at all!

After much disappointment, I just gave up applying for jobs in the field and now work a regular front desk job which requires minimal computer skills. I get low pay and it hurts me everyday, knowing that I was fooled into a promising career and a brighter future. I wish I had that 30000 back, at least I would be able to invest it into something worthy. My family still laughs at me for not being able to find a job and it hurts because I really tried my best and have exhausted all my energy and sources...and it's really not my fault at all, other than I was young and was fooled into what I thought would be a real education. I hope the school closes for good and that no one would have to suffer and go through what all of us have gone through.

Asha of East Elmhurst, NY March 28, 2009

I was enrolled in Katherine Gibbs School and attended all classes towards an Associate Degree in Business Administration, I was always on the Honor Roll and had an 3.95 average. I was unable to attend graduation because I had a diffcult pregnancy so I asked that my degree be mailed and I was lied to and never received anything. I tried numerous times by mail and by telephone to get a responce but I am given the run around and now I am told that the school in closing.

I am stuck with 12,000 dollars in loans that I am unable to pay, no degree, no college credits for the classes that I had taken, and my credit is greatly effected by this. I have been after the school for the past two years because I would like to continue my education. I have called, visited the Manhattan location, and sent written requests but I am been lied to and given the run around.

I am unemployed and in debt with students loans for which I have nothing to show for it.

K. Choice of Brinx, NY March 25, 2009

From 2003 until 2005 I attended and graduated from Katharine Gibbs School located at 50 West 40th Street New York, NY 1013 with an associate degree in Applied Science in Computer Network Operation with a 3.6 GPA. After graduating I made numerous attempts to acquire a Bachelors degree in Information Technology by applying to SUNY and CUNY colleges and to my surprise and disappointment I discovered that my degree is worthless. Due to my lack of knowledge regarding college accreditation the administrative staff at Katharine Gibbs intentionally misinformed me concerning my ability to transfer my credits. Because Gibbs is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) many Colleges and Universities are unwilling to accept the credits Ive earned. In addition the administrative staff at Gibbs provided me with false graduation and job placement statistics.

My degree from Katharine Gibbs has not increased my earning power and the education I received from Gibbs does not qualify me to work in the career for which I have a degree in, I am unable to transfer my credits therefore I have to start over and I do not earn enough to repay my loan. Unfortunately my attempt to achieve a college education in order to increase my income and live the American dream has become a life-long financial burden.

Due to the unethical behavior of the administrative staff at Katharine Gibbs School and Sallie Mae representatives I signed my life away by taking out an unsecured private student loan for 21,000.00 at a 13.875% interest rate which does not include the Stafford loans making my current total loan balance 45,815 and the total amount to be paid is 120,195 for a worthless two year degree, with no educational benefit from a school that will close at the end of this year. Sallie Mae is requesting that I pay 623 for the unsecured private education loan and an addition 200 a month for the consolidated Stafford loans. The lender alleges this is the lowest monthly payment plan they can offer me.

Because I am a woman of a certain age earning a degree in an area of interest which I am talented and passionate about is critical because time is not on my side and now I will never be able to start a family, buy a house or a car with this overwhelming amount of debt. I have nothing more to look forward in life all because I wanted more for myself in the hopes of a better quality of life.

Dana of Staten Island, NY March 25, 2009

I decided to take up the Visual Communications program t the school for a certificate, they told me it would run me 25,000 and guarantee me a job, career better yet. I was close with all my teachers, and even received an Honor Roll status on my certificate for getting straight A's. Not only did I NEVER get set up with a job in graphic design, but the attempts from the career offices only lasted approximately for 3 weeks. The job postings sent to me were from regular job sites like craigslist, & Monster.com, I could've done that on my own.

I applied to every job, and got no responses. It doesn't end there. the 25,000 loan from Sallie Mae all of a sudden turned to almost 35,000. The school I went to closed its doors, and upon many attempts of trying to get in touch with the deans at the school, I failed. Also none of these credits were credited to my CUNY school - The College of Staten Island, not even art credits, which I still need.

I am extremely in debt, and do not make enough money now to cover the tuition that I owe Sallie Mae. I currently bartend at a family restaurant in Staten Island, and my high hopes of starting a career early in my life is shut down, and god knows how long I'll live at home now with this debt on my back.

Laiquan of Far Rockaway, NY March 16, 2009

I also attended Katharine Gibbs School in New York City with the hopes that I would be joining the work force with a career in Criminal Justice. I was also told on the first day I enrolled that I would be able to switch to an acreditted College of my choice provided I kept up my grades. I did just that not only that they honored me on the Deans List for having a grade point average of 3.69. I was excited when I first attended but then I started noticing that a lot of my counselours started to disappear or were no longer working for the school, so I was never dealing with the same advisor for no longer than three months. They also were not prepared for the course I signed on to take so they gave me shorthand secretary classes and business management classes.

The Advisor told me that it was in the same cycle that was April of 2004 when I enrolled it was February of 2005 and I still had not taken a single course of the criminal justice program I signed up for I took courses in typing, Business shorthand, Math, English, Oral Presentation in large crowds, I could gladly prove this with my transcripts. Mr. Sensei, my first advisor told me thay by July of 2004 I should be in my correct programn then he disaapeared and then july came and my next advisor Mark told me the same thing and he followed the same path as Sensei gone without a trace. It was the same thing for the whole first year I attended that they were not ready with the progarm and that they would be ready in a couple of months all the while I was actually using the loan I appled for courtesy of Gibbs to take the classes they had given me not what I applied for.

Then I ran into a former student who told me that she completed the school and it did absolutely nothing for her and that she had to not only pay for school but actually start from scratch as far as enrolling into college was concerned. I was on my way that same morning to pick up my phot from the Deans List ceremony when I jokingly said to one of the staff members I can't wait to transfer to John Jay and get out of this school and she replied you can't transfer your credits from Gibbs to John Jay and at that very moment my heart stopped. I felt betrayed and saddened because I knew what had happened to me. I immediately stopped further attendance at the school.

When I was finally sure about leaving in an attempt to persuade me to stay, the staff member said why are you quitting the criminal justice course will be starting in two weeks it was february of 2005 when that conversation took place. I was swindled and for them to make a comission it costed me my young adult life to the point where I am straddled with loan payments. I can't explain why it took me so long maybe it was fear. Maybe it was being in denial about the whole situation. It definately discouraged my faith in the higher education system.

No matter the education facility or commission a staff member could receive for how many students they enroll, peoples lives are definately in a state of ruin as well as for some forever in debt. That's too high a cost for Gibbs to just simply close their doors. I am calling for action on behalf of me and every student who was simply just trying to go for a goal that could change their lives. Even if the facility was Katharine Gibbs or Harvard we as a free country have the right to make our own decisions and mistakes and should not have malicious faculties and non-acreditted schools make those choices for us. I really need your help to get MY life back Thanks Sincerely,Laiquan Bates.

I have a loan that's thousands of dollars in debt. My credit is in ruins. Emotionally I am distraught my taxes will be garnished I have nothing to show for my almost two years of attending Katharine Gibbs I have not been able to get a decent job because of my loan situation. I also cannot attend any school even if I were to pay myself because I don't make enough money currently were I work.

Louann of Queens Village, NY March 6, 2009

I attended this school in 2001, first i contacted the school to find out information to attend i had just came to this country and was very niave. I was assured that upon completion they would put me into an internship that would lead to sponsoship that they have done this many times before. I was told that they would get me a loan where i would pay 50.00 a month i wasnt even told how much it was and the interest rate. Because i was a visitor here they asked me to get someone who was a citizen to co-sign for me. Not realizing that this meant that he would be repsonsible if i couldnt pay.

A couple of months into the program i started asking questions and got no answers i started getting scared so i went to the financial office and told them i wanted to stop the program that i was told a lot of lies in the beginning. The person there told me that i couldnt stop that i would still have to pay for the whole thing. I wrote letters to the president and everyone that i could think about to find out what would happen when i was finished, i just kept getting pushed around and lied to. I was always on the president and honors role and tried to do my best so that i could have a good chance of getting a good internship, well that was a nightmare

i was put into a company where the manager was horrific and treated us with disrespect. So now I am stuck i cant legally work, my monthly payments are 750.00. And i am trying to clean apartments for a living. I also have three kids i thought going to this school would make my life a little better instead iam depressed and in a financial crisis.

Sallie mae calls me 4 times a day everyday threatening me. I cant work legally to pay. I am depressed and have no way to turn.

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