Comments on: Is Full Sail University a scam?

By: Matthew

Matthew — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 05:30:46 +0000

Well, 1st of all the school is not a scam! People say crap about all the for-profit schools but the truth is a schools a school you dont get hired because of the name of that school you get hired because of the knowledge you learn mainly what im trying to say is college does help you into a entry level postition but you have to work that out yourself thier not going to hold your hand people grow up and stop sitting on computers and trashing on for-profit schools at least thier making something of themselves!

By: Ryan

Ryan — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 03:45:39 +0000

I’ve spoken to Full Sail grads that work in every level of life. Fact is, you either blaze your own path, or you sit on your ass and wait for something to drop in your lap.

The entertainment industry is fast paced and very, very competitive. This is not a school where a job is guaranteed upon graduation. Many parts of this industry aren’t fair and you’ll probably end up working a couple of crappy jobs at first to pay off the loans.

Also, if you go to class and jerk off until tests come around just to appease the letter scores, why not go get a degree in “Business” that’ll guarantee you a cubicle for the rest of your life where the only thing you’ll need to learn how to do is work a copier and use Microsoft Office.

This school isn’t for everyone, because the careers aren’t for everyone. The passion that drives people like us is different from your hobby of making beats in your basement or photoshopping boobs onto dogs.

Full Sail tells you up front that you will have to WORK your way up to the top. That doesn’t mean getting handed a degree, submitting a resume for 6 months and then raging when you don’t get hired working the boards for Aerosmith.

By: OuttaCoutrol

OuttaCoutrol — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 01:57:23 +0000

Do NOT send ANY ONE to this school! FULL SCAM! I have a hundred classmates that graduated ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS in debt and work at freaking coffee shops and night clubs in whorelando. This school should be shut down for FRAUD! If you had any sense at all you would not go to this “school” after reading any of the info online. How the hell do you pay back that amount of money by going to this place and getting basically a fake degree as this “university” is not regionally accredited. Talk about the worst decision to starting you “career” path.

By: Wanda

Wanda — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 17:22:26 +0000

My son just graduated from high school and really wants to get into the music production business. He wants to work in a recording studio mixing and recording music. We came across Full Sail online and their recording engineering program is EXACTLY what he wants to do. Has anyone been through this program? Is Full Sail a scam? I see that it’s VERY expensive, but I haven’t had much luck finding any other school that teach what he wants to do. PLEASE give me some feedback on whether I should let him pursue his dream at this school or should we look elsewhere? We ARE NOT rich and would have to take out student loans, financial aid, and whatever else we could do to pay for the schooling PLUS having to move and live in an apartment there until he finishes. PLEASE HELP WITH HONEST ANSWERS.
Thanks so much……..a very concerned mom.

By: Full sail grad.

Full sail grad. — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 03:37:44 +0000

Full sail is a joke. As mentioned above, how hard you work has nothing to do with whether or not you will be awarded accordingly! its all bout showin up for classes, and then if you fail exams, the teachers will just pass you, but if you are competent and actually take pride in your work, then as mentioned by other posts, you will be subject to threats, ridicule, and being mistreated by being put through the admin’s red tape, and they will fail you, to prove a point. I sincerely hope that one day, the federal government looks long and hard into this school. Its like the teachers feel they own you, and you are not allowed to be original or a free thinker, just so long you do what they say, and help them along with their business ideas. Their graduate level programs don’t even compare to associate level programs elsewhere, and I feel sorry for the students, who think they have graduated college, upon commencement at Full Sail, as the real world will prove otherwise. Full Sail is a great idea, though some of the teachers are amongst the biggest group of nothings and never have beens, specifically in their graduate programs. I believe they deserve to go to jail, for a very long time, away from people’s children.

By: Kayte

Kayte — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 19:10:39 +0000

I went to Full Sail between 2004- 2005 in the Film Program. For the most part it was great, that’s because I really wanted to be there. I would still go back and do it all over again, however there are things I have since learned to ask about.
1) When going for the loans to make the dream a reality I would find out more about how much money AFTER graduation would be a good start at pursuing my new career. Small things a person from a low income background may not be aware of, like types of programs used most in freelance editing and the best type of computer for said programs. This way the reality of expenses may delay enrollment so that once graduation has passed you’re not dead broke while your buddies’ great idea of sharing a loft in NY or LA isn’t out of reach.
2) Keeping with getting as much insight to after graduation as possible: Understanding that the placement program is run more like a temp service for cruise ships and janitors for all those that made a 3.5 or less because someone in your class is a freaking genius that has all the good offers bombarding them to the point the genius decides to go for broke and win a job (not offered) making the next “Saw” movie. All those offers suddenly disappear when genius denies them. hhmmm.
3) Find out that (at least while I was there) the “textbooks” are not really books, they are workbooks that are Xeroxed, bound and distributed on campus. So what was that charge for books really about in the break down of tuition costs?? Ink???
4) All the little things EVERYONE finds out they will need in “the real world” for their craft; heat resistant gloves for lighting, mcguyver like tools for being a grip, slip resistant shoes that don’t scuff the floors or mark up your nicely painted set’s floors, all black clothing, non-reflective coating on your glasses, cases of high energy drinks and emergen-C to help keep you from getting sick & the energy to keep going in the 16mm labs… etc…

So maybe these things strike you as nothing to worry about, your parents (or lottery winnings) will keep you in the money for these things. You are one of the luck ones in this world, money is just there for you or easily found. There are people out there with similar or worse backgrounds them mine that just want to stop being held down by their low income status and learn to earn enough to buy new things not just used or free leftovers.

By: James

James — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 00:33:22 +0000

I work at a real university with a campus, a reputation, a long history, and admissions standards. Do you see Harvard University running adds alongside Jerry Springer etc? If you were going to hire someone for a job would you rather hire someone who graduated from a brick and mortar university with standards, or one who has graduated from an on-line “university” that only requires a pulse and money? Think about it people.

That’s not to say that these so called “universities” do not have some well intentioned and capable instructors. These places often have at least that much. After all, they are paying them good money. Your good money. These institutions exist primarily to exploit people who have neither the time, the will, or the capacity to attend a genuine undergraduate program.

They target the poor because the poor will be most likely to receive funding and loans from institutions and the federal government. As a corporate entity, they don’t care about your ability to pay back these loans, they care about their ability to acquire money from you by virtue of your so called admission to increase their bottom line.

It’s like a miracle weight loss program. Sure some people will lose weight after buying into the program, but it’s no substitute for old fashioned diet and exercise. If you want to get ahead in the world, get an education through reputable institutions. There are plenty of good community colleges where one can begin, and then to a state school to finish it off. Yes, it takes time and hard work, and some money, but that is how it’s done. Either that or you have to be a rich kid living off a trust fund and your daddy’s connections. That works too, but for those of us for whom it is not an option, it’s off to class.

In short, this place has scam written all over it. From their so called “Hall of Fame” (again to the diet analogy – before/after pictures), to their endless videogame/3D front page features preying on the young who are too inexperienced and addicted to television to know any better. Beware, youth of America. Fullsail or any other bogus university on your resume is not an attribute, it’s a red flag that you are gullible, exploitable, delusional, and worst of all, desperate.

By: wockawocka

wockawocka — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 14:15:31 +0000

You can learn a lot from Full Sail if you’re willing to work hard, it’s not all bullshit, but really you can figure this stuff(audio) out on your own if you are so inclined…mostly it’s just a parent appeasing, jerk-off year for rich kid fuck ups who can’t get into a real college. You know what’s funny/tragic? I’ve talked to many Full Sail grads over the years and they all tell the same joke “Full Sail: We Take Your Dreams, Seriously” Bwahhh ha… (fullsailgrad2002)

By: Jamie Needham

Jamie Needham — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 18:27:47 +0000

I’m currently enrolled in the school and doing some research on it and finding nothing but “It’s a scam!” Oh come on, I’ve done some work in Game Art, and I know for a fact that unless you really want to get into it, you won’t. You NEED to have the passion, and the pushing that will get you through the degree program. It takes actual talent for the degree I’m going into, not smarts, but talent and a drive to succeed.

I looked at six or seven other art schools, which was basically someone standing up, screaming art, and sitting back down to receive applause. Needless to say I’m not sold. I took the tour of the school twice, and I’m excited, because I know I have what it takes to work, and I’m not worried about money. A school where I can brush up my skills, and in the process meet other people that are in the same boat as I am? I’m sold. I don’t care how much it costs, because passion is priceless. Yeah I could do the same thing by taking countless individual classes, going to a shoddy public school and sitting in a class of 50 people, but I’ll take my chances. If I’m not satisfied, I’m not satisfied, end of the deal.

It sure beats 85 grand for the same degree at the art institute, and yeah, that’s without supplies. Enjoy that.

By: Dandelion

Dandelion — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 01:03:47 +0000

I left Full Sail after 5 months because I found out that the school’s accreditation is not appropriate for teacher education programs. My state department will not renew my certificate because Full Sail is not regionally accredited. There are many Master’s candidates in the program that are in the same boat and stuck because the money is spent. Full Sail maybe a school with great promise, but there is no doubt in my mind that they know that marketing this 12 month masters degree to school teachers will pull in many who have no idea that the degree is useless until the school becomes regionally accredited. The advertisements all over the web is very compelling and I wanted a degree from a school that understood “industry” related technology. What is sad that the school has not done it’s research on advanced degrees for teachers as it relates to accreditation or it simply does not care and enjoys the 30plus thousands of dollars it receives per head. As icing on the cake the school is billing me for the loan money it sent back to the lender. No recertification credit. No degree. And the jokes on me. I was in the Educational Media Design and Technology program.