Daytona State College — Attraction in Daytona Beach

I have been having so many issues with the Administration, Admission, and Financial Aid Department the past couple of semesters. I recently got diagnosed with a severe medical issue and has to drop out of my classes last semester so I could fly home for testing. Before I left, I went in to ask what I needed to do to drop out of my classes so I didn't get bad marks & so I didn't have to pay the tuition. I was told that all I needed was to turn in a paper stating what happened & fill out a form with what classes I would be dropping. After turning those in, they said that they will be going on my account and dropping my classes for me. Come to find out, while I was attempting to register for the same classes for the upcoming semester, that they never actually dropped my classes & it said I owed them over 1k for tuition. I went back to speak with someone & she said I needed to turn in more proof, so the next day I brought in a packet full of proof. I was told to check my email for whether it was approved or not. After not hearing back for 4 days I began calling whoever I could, every day, getting voicemail's every time I called & never getting a call back. I would go in to the q & A office and ask what is going on every single day & the woman that handles it was never around. The day before Thanksgiving break, I went in there AGAIN to get some help, and was told she won't be back until after break!! I had been trying for weeks to get a hold of someone so I would be able to register before the break. That same day I decided to go speak to the Dean. I told him the whole story, and it turns out he just started working at the school 5 days prior! He was very nice & told me he would do what he could and get back to me by Monday at the latest. As I was leaving I was called back up to him & this lady was standing with him & she had all my medical info in her hands with a sticky note attached saying "approved" on it. Said she found it in the woman's office. Wonder how long it has been sitting there as she was never in office, it's like she doesn't even work?? The lady was very nice though, and said she would see if she could go ahead and sign for it since that isn't her job but wanted to help me out. Finally I could register. I was afraid some of the classes I needed wouldn't be available anymore when I could finally register, and of course, one of them was full by that time. You have to jump through hoops if you want anything to get done & harass them until what you need done is complete.

Now, I could finally figure out my FAFSA. Already had it filled out as I was going to use it last semester. I went online and updated it & I am now just waiting for it to be sent to the school. I had a financial aid hold on my account, which is where you don't have to pay tuition until you get your financial aid figured out. I called the Daytona financial aid office yesterday to make sure my classes wouldn't be dropped since I have the hold. She told me I already filled out my FAFSA and I didn't get any help. I told her made corrections and she tried to tell me I wasn't allowed to make corrections. I told her I was allowed & I am waiting to find out what is going on with it. She was very rude to me and had an attitude the entire time. She then said that if I didn't pay for my classes that same day that she was going to drop my classes. I told her that she wasn't allowed to do that because I have a hold on my account and because tuition isn't even due until the 1st. She then said shes taking the hold of my account. She spoke to my like I was an idiot and like she was better than me. I wish I never even called them. I will never EVER deal with a financial aid counselor in Daytona EVER again. There is a very nice and helpful woman who works at the Flagler campus & I now have to go see her to get this straightened back out. This is all so ridiculous, I can't believe how they treat...

I went to the Palm Coast location during the open house, as a prospective Web Design student. To this day, I'm still not sure if I really visited the college, or it was just someones idea of a joke, because no college can be this poor. I first spoke with the head of technology, and my first question was if college credits from DSC transfered to Full Sail. Her response of "What is Full Sail?" Didn't exactly encourage me.

After a brief argument, she condescendingly asked me that "No, Full Sail is the program name. What is the college name?" At this point, I lost most faith in this college, and the idea of natural selection. Considering I have already informed her that I was going for the Web Design program, I fail to see how she could somehow link a Web Design program, to a non-existent course called "Full Sail."

From there on, I went to talk to the Head of the Web Development program. This was even more of a disappointment. I first started studying Web Design for about 30 minutes a day at 16. I visited the college when I was 17, and in that time I learned the Web Design languages of HTML (most basic), CSS (less basic) and small bits of Javascript. When I asked him what languages he knew and would be teaching, his answer was almost soul crushing from an educational standpoint.

"Well... you will be learning the.... uhh... the language... it's.. uh..."

Finally, I asked if he was looking for HTML, and he replied in the positive. A Coder not knowing what HTML is, is comparable to a car mechanic not knowing what an engine is. He informed me we will also be learning the:

"Uhh... its the.. uhh.. other language?"

From there, I figured out he meant CSS. This wasn't encouraging, as the main program was something I already knew. I asked if he was teaching any other languages, and he replied that I would need the advanced courses, which would cost extra. He also informed me that I wasn't allowed to test out of the main course without six months of learning the basic lessons, and I would have to pay the full course fee, as well as textbook costs, and so forth.

That was terrible enough, but the worst part (if it could get worse) was the duel enrollment seminar I had to sit through. The lady who gave the presentation (I believe the Dean of Admissions) was one of the rudest, most condescending people I have ever met. According to her, most students are too stupid and lazy to take more than 2 courses at one time. She also intimated that the students would never put any effort into life without the parent's forcing them to do anything. the hour long seminar was basically listening to a hate speech thinly disguised as a presentation seminar. Keep in mind that the students she was referring to were mostly 16-18 year olds who had already decided what career they wanted to go into.

In short, the Deans were insulting and uninformed, the teaching was terrible, the classrooms were basic, and I had a better education after about less than a month of self study than I would get in a decade of study here.

I've heard good things about the other program, but for Web Design students, don't...

We recently visited Daytona College for the first time to enroll my son in college. I'll be honest, I walked away concerned about many things. First, the Admissions Advisor (who was very uptight and said many coined responses with an insincere smile) assured us that my son was ready to now sign up for classes online. We were excited, but found out later when we got home that a hold was placed on his account. Second, the Academic Advisor (who was genuinely nice) also told us that he was all set to sign up for classes. Wrong! It seems that the employees are narrowly trained to only do and know the bare minimum of information. This is not a good sign...it tells me the right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing. I did not say anything to my son about my perceptions of our initial visit as I wanted him to keep positive. I went to college (all the way through grad school) and am aware that all colleges have bureaucracy.

Later, when we got home and my son tried to register for classes, he became very frustrated with this college. He mentioned that he had read the reviews and they were not good. I must confess, he has every reason to be frustrated. I'm wondering if maybe we should move to an area where they run the local college a little better. I want my son to have a good experience. I don't think I am asking much for the college to have its ducks in a row when advising students.

Another concern of mine was noted right when we entered the building, "Pearson" was prominently displayed on the window of the testing room. This college has bought into the over-testing mantra that is so prevalent here in Florida (test it if it moves). Although my son didn't need to take any entrance tests, the advisors recommended it, which is ridiculous...it's just a means for Pearson to make money and gather data.

If you are considering actually moving to Daytona to attend this college, I would recommend you explore other colleges. Dealing with some of these employees (and the bureaucracy) for the next 2 years is not something we look forward to. I had a GREAT experience in the colleges I attended in California. Florida is too wrought with corruption. Policies are enacted just so that someone can make money. Caught in the middle are the citizens who are just trying to get ahead and move forward. What I've told my son is to overcome those obstacles put in front of him and not let anything get in the way of his goal. I've also told him to vocalize his concerns as it is his money and his country and he should speak up (which is why I am posting here).

If you look at the reviews on this college, not much has improved over the years. There seems to be a lack of empathy for the students....a disregard. Employees greet you with a smile, shuffle your paperwork but somehow end up putting obstacles in front of you or misinforming you of something. This is the result of poor management and sub par systems/policies that are in place. Why we are doing this to citizens who are trying to improve their lives, is beyond me. Let's INSIST on better.

Hope...