Gwinnett Technical College — Attraction in Lawrenceville

Trash school, worst experience ever at a school of higher learning. Only people who don’t know better think this school is good. This is my 3rd college, with my first being dual enrollment and my second being what I thought was my perm school but they discontinued my degree program and I had to transfer here. Worst mistake of my life. Everything has been a fight with this school. The online system is not setup properly for ANYTHING you have to do. Whether that’s enrolling (had issues with that, they kept asking me for documents I already sent and didn’t transfer all my credits properly at first), submitting documents (had issues with that, they’re asking me about/flagging me for things that aren’t relevant to me and/or easily verifiable on their end), or asking questions (can’t reach anybody via phone, you have to email or go in person and I live too far). But don’t bother leaving a voicemail or actually trying to setup an in person appointment. That doesn’t work. When you ask questions via email, they send generic responses that DO NOT answer your questions. I ask them every time I get flagged why they keep asking me for things they can just verify via DegreeWorks/my account and get a response of “thank you for your question. It’s under review and nothing is needed at this time.” EVERY TIME. No answers to my questions and if you email them again asking them to respond to what you’re asking, they copy and paste the same email and send it AGAIN. I’ve been flagged 3 times for 3 different things. It’s like they don’t want me to attend. I always clear it up but isn’t that ridiculous? If it can be cleared, why is it even being flagged. Clearly I didn’t do anything wrong. A lot of foreigners attend and work here so I’m not sure if there’s a language barrier or what but it has been hard to get anything done correctly for me. They’re rude and act like they hate their jobs. I got charged for things I didn’t receive through the bookstore and had to escalate a student complaint to get a response. By the time that happened, I was only able to get a bookstore credit and not my money back. That was a joke because why would I shop here again if you messed up my order the first time and then just never responded to several emails? I finished my degree and now they’re trying to kick me out without letting me complete my certifications unless I pay out of pocket and/or re-enroll. I guess since they got what they wanted: credit towards their graduation rate (which is extremely low btw and I see why). Now I’m trying to appeal THAT and my advisor even sent them the approval and plan to continue and now they’re asking me what happened to cause this “issue”. What do you mean???? Nothing “happened”, I got my degree and wish to continue beyond that!!! I simply want to take 1 more class to complete my cert!! I’m not re-enrolling for ONE class. I can’t stand this school. I would have never come here if my previous school didn’t...

I've been going here for a couple of years, and have had literally every teacher in the Welding program, so I have a good feel for their Welding Program as a whole. The teachers do the best they can with what they are given, but are vastly overwhelmed by the amount of students the administration takes. There is about 1 teacher for 40+ students, and the teachers have no time to actually instruct their students, spending the whole class period grading lab assignments, so I don't view this as their fault. After 2 years in their welding program and a mere 2 classes away from getting my Welding Diploma, I feel VASTLY unprepared for a career in Welding, as the teachers are so overwhelmed that they don't actually have the time to be "teachers", so it makes this program as more of a "qualification program", where you would get a diploma for what you already know versus coming here to learn how to actually weld. Don't get me wrong, I've learned a bit, but most of it has been learned from book work and the TAs. The TAs spend much of their time completing assignments given to them by the program to assemble their program (I.E. putting things together, setting up machines, etc) and while they do help at times, even they are overwhelmed by this horribly put together program that gradually is being constructed while students pay full price on classes that only actually last half a semester. Which brings me to another point, many of the classes contain FAR too much information and skill to be confidently absorbed in half a semester. Such classes as Tungten Inert Gas Welding (TIG) cram a ton of lab assignments that are near impossible to properly complete in the short 2 months (4 hours a day, 4 days a week) a class lasts.

I have a lot of respect for the teachers of this program for trying to be the glue that holds this program together, but it simply is a poorly put together program and it is very ambitious for the staff to think you would be ready for the working world of welding when you barely feel able to complete the assignments in the controlled environment of a school classroom.

My recommendation: know how to weld before entering this program, consider another school, or be prepared to pay for multiple semesters of the same class if you decide to go here.

My wife has also gone to school here for the Surgical tech program, and has made similar criticisms of that program as well.

I give the school 2 stars simply because the teachers do put forth a lot of effort and you can tell they care about helping you through this program, it is just simply overwhelming to both the teachers and the...

First off, I loved most of my professors. I only had issues with one professor of my two years attending there. Also, sorry everyone but this is going to be long. I am not happy with this school at all. I attended the collage because it was close to home and I thought I could get my Associate's degree and transfer to a 4 year school with no issues. Boy, was I wrong. They will tell you over and over that all the credits will transfer and there will be no issues. That is a major lie. MOST CREDITS DO NOT TRANSFER. I have had to start over and retake classes I already took. Waste of my time and money. I graduated from this school in 2012. I am still trying to make up my loss credits and graduate.

Financial Aid department had the worst customer service I have ever experienced. They speak to you as if you cannot speak English. I had to see the head of the financial aid department and even she gave me a very hard time. Other schools that I have transferred to have a better and more organized financial aid department.

With as large as Georgia State University is, someone still answered the phone in less than 3 minutes. As well with Georgia Gwinnett College. Do not bother with this school. They do not answer the phone. If you leave a message, expect a call back in 2-4 weeks. I had an issue with my registration, called and left a message, and some girl called me back 2 and a half weeks later (too late by then) and asked what my question was then proceeded to tell me she did not know the answer to my question and would have someone call me back in 24 hours with the answer to my question. I asked to speak to a supervisor and she gave me an attitude. Then she said "I will have someone call you in 24 hours, goodbye." I went to the office to complain about this and the supervisor put an annoyed smile on and said "You know how some students are. They are just working for financial aid. I am sorry you had that experience. We will try to talk to her for you." That was just unacceptable.

The two women in the front of the school are especially rude. They are always just chitchatting and when you interrupt them to ask a question, they give you an attitude.

DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME AND MONEY. CREDITS DO NOT TRANSFER. (except certain Math and English) STAFF IS RUDE AND THEY DO NOT CARE. I really feel bad for the professors. They have very good professors but horrible support staff. This school is just...