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I worked as a GS in the Pentagon a few years ago and one of my side deals was to supervise over the janitor cleared for the work area (he had a clearance).

We were talking one day and he brought up his off-hours education deal. He was one of the dopes who’d bought off on the for-profit-education school in the DC area. He was going for a IT-certification and bought into the hype of $50,000-$60,000 career opportunities when he finished.

Well...the school had gone bankrupt the month prior. He was probably seventy-percent through their program. They weren’t coming back and he needed advice. I researched the whole thing...because he just didn’t have anyone to provide reasonable and ethical advice.

None of the classes he took were acceptable by any community college (Maryland, Virginia or DC). That was problem number one.

The college was permanently shut, but would allow a request via some lawyer for a print-out of your progress. I asked around for other-for-profit schools...if they’d take what he’d done. They all basically wanted him to start fresh and pay the full deal over.

Getting money back? Zero chance.

There might be one or two decent for-profit schools out there....but you really need to avoid all of them and stick with state community colleges. I felt sorry for the kid and it was obvious that he really was counting some type of advancement for the time and money wasted. Other than resume filler....there was nothing else he could do.

The problem here is you need real people giving advice and helping folks avoid the advertisements and sells gimmicks. These community organizers who ought to something positive for their communities...like leading kids away from rip-offs...instead are just frauds and do little to nothing for their community or the kids who do need help.

I am guessing your janitor attended this DC area for-profit school. It’s a wild story.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Northern_Virginia

There might be one or two decent for-profit schools out there....but you really need to avoid all of them and stick with state community colleges.

Part of the solution (going forward) might be right there. No federal loan guarantees for for-profit school tuition.