Western Technical College — Local services in La Crosse

The Short Version: Don’t bother with this college. They will waste your time, money, resources, and mental fortitude. Then they will try to tell you that it’s your fault for thinking you could try to work and get a degree at the same time. Go to another technical college, one that gives a hoot. If this review stops even one person from attending this college, I will have done my job.

The Long Version: To start, when brought in for orientation, I was not given a campus tour or even a map. For a transfer student, this makes college all the more daunting. Not knowing where I could go to eat or to get a coffee, or even where the library was did not give me a positive outlook on my learning. On top of that, I was not assigned an adviser. When I had questions about enrollment or complaints about teachers, I had no one to turn to. This is a serious lack of support from the Western staff.

From there, I think this is the only college that requires students to take summer classes. Spring break is a quintessential part of college life that Western has decided to deprive of their students, for no discernible reason. Their program isn't any more well regarded than other colleges, and it's not any faster, and for how much more wasted time and money? I wish I would have gone to CVTC, or stayed at WTC for this factor alone.

But there's more! The 'professors' seemed not to care about their working students one bit. I work a 40 hour work week, take care of my family, and am enrolled full time. I was enrolled in online courses because I don't have the time for in person meetings, and because I don't have the extra money to be driving to campus. Alas, there were still in person meetings required throughout the courses. The amount of times that teachers told me that I just needed to make more time or work it out even when I had sufficient proof that it wasn't possible amazed me. The amount of times that teachers were unwilling to work with me to find a suitable answer to a problem was more often than not. I have never had such little support. And then, they claim that this is because they are trying to prepare me for the real world! In the real world, businesses understand illness, and they are always there to support their employees. At least the professional businesses that I have worked for have set that example.

When I brought this issue to the Dean, I was informed that I misunderstood what 'Flexible Learning' and 'Online Courses' were. How can that be misunderstood? In every tech school across Wisconsin, flexible learning means that the school wants working people to be in control of their degree. Western is more concerned with competing with Viterbo and UW-La Crosse than they are about their students. In conclusion, I am so dissatisfied with this college experience that I not only don't recommend Western Tech, I am actively informing people...

Cons: Do yourself a favor and do not enter the nursing program. Their new "petition system" is a glorified waitlist that punishes hard work and encourages the bare minimum, shoving high achieving pre-nursing students to the back of the queue in favor of students with low GPAs and TEAS scores simply because those students enrolled earlier. They will only take 24 students at a time max, maybe 40 if you're willing to travel an hour or more one way to go to one of their other locations, and some of those students are re-entry (they failed a class and had to re-apply), which will shove you even further back in the queue. You will end up waiting about 2 years AFTER prereqs to get in because their "petition system" is so unorganized and noncompetitive that all you need to do is complete the easy prereqs and wait. WSU and even Viterbo (you will have to take up to 18 credits of theology) are a better bet if you're seriously passionate about pursuing nursing (and not doing it only for the "easy" "2-year" degree with a $60k salary a lot of the candidates are there for) and want to attend a college where your efforts are actually recognized and your As will take you places.

Pros: The classes themselves are just as rigorous as UWL, WSU, and Viterbo and the instructors are usually excellent, knowledgeable, and understanding. In general, I felt challenged and well-prepared for exams, and I feel like I retained a lot of information from classes. Some classes, like Advanced A&P, are definitely hard and university-level. The trimester system seems fast-paced if you are used to a semester system, but you get used to it. Many of the programs ARE great (CNA program, for example) and worth the money despite the nursing program...

I'm enrolled in the instructional assistant program and have had a very positive experience. The IA Instructors have been great at presenting us with information that is truly valuable in the work place. During my general courses, some teachers were better at explaining their subject than others, but I think that is true for any school. The staff are always willing to help with student needs, and there are many services available to help make the student experience a good one. I often recommend the...