Burr Ridge Everest College – Small Class Sizes

Visited but will not attend.
Pros
–Very friendly
–Nice technology in classrooms
–Staff seems approachable
–Introduced to all the admissions staff, career staff, financial aid department, and the president of this school location.
Cons
–Way overpriced compared to other programs for the same certificate. Seriously!
–Wouldn’t tell me how many of their students are actually prepared and pass certification exams. Just vaguely told me that if I did well on the practice test they’d pay for me to take the exam. Not any actual percentage or numbers. My questions were almost always met with distractions and misdirects.
— The admissions people talked from like they were reading from a script. They read me what was on the papers and then would ask me a question, I would answer, then they would say something that totally showed me they weren’t listening. Horrible listener but so friendly and smiling that it took me a while to catch on to what he was doing.
— I was invited by admissions to come at a time when there were literally no students and no instructors
— They accepted me with NO proof of a transcript saying I’d graduated high school and NO aptitude or placement test. They have no way to know that I’d do well in their classes or be a good student. They must let anyone in. I suppose I just look that smart… or desperate. or like money. Maybe all of the above.
Bottom line–
These people know how to push a hard sale. They convince you to pay them 3 times what the certificate is at other places with absolutely no quality assurance. They pretend to care about what you say but they don’t. I know of one person who goes here and she loved her classes, she has yet to be placed in an externship, job or pass certification yet so that remains to be seen if she received the quality of education you’d expect for all her money.
I also researched some information online and came across an Illinois senator who wants for profit programs like everest shut down in Illinois for preying on minorities, falsifying information, and costing WAY more than they are worth.
Everest just seemed like they only wanted my money, and would smile and misdirect my questions however much it took them to do it. They did have a wonderfully pleasant staff and lovely classrooms though. You may enjoy Everest, particularly if you can’t pass the tests at community colleges for the same program for less money. It seems like an expensive gamble with my money though, not one I will take. People were friendly and you might enjoy it.
Proceed with caution and be wary of them pushing a sale. I’d have to be desperate to go here. i’m not desperate yet so I won’t be attending. I’ll save money and go to my community college that isn’t being questioned by politicians for shady practices and who had a clear number of students who have passed the certification exam.