Hillsborough College - Plant City Campus — Local services in Plant City

Transient student for the summer of 2015. I have had an overall AWFUL experience with HCC. I am very disappointed in the institution and how it jhas managed it's communication. I have been passed from office to office, NOT transferred, but I had to call individual offices over 14 times in total because information I was receiving was incorrect or was not adding up with the information given by the past worker. I was treated very rudely by one of the tech informants, who would attempt to hangup the phone with me every possible moment after he had "fixed" my problem, which was actually just telling me the same information over and over again without being very obvious where it applied to. After giving me the "fix" he would try to hang up on me, I had to practically beg the man to stay on the phone with me until the issue was officially resolved, when it was I was quickly cut off with a curt goodbye. I have been given so much different information about the same problems, overall being a confusing and incredibly frustrating ordeal. One of the "mix ups" was an issue with my application "not being sent" which it very well had been. The first lady I was on the phone with told me curtly that I had to redo the entire application and without further explanation ended the conversation. Of course since the application had truly been sent I was not able to send it again, therefore I called again and was told that they had no problem locating my app. In one of the cases for me, I had been misinformed with how to apply as an instate student, therefore I was charged as an out of state student. Because of the lack of help, guidance, and given information I did not have access to Hawkmail (which I just recently have learned existed) I DID NOT RECEIVE ANY information containing billing as an out of state student which is a SIGNIFICANT difference in sums. Needless to say this would have been important to know. Luckily I researched and found out about this miscommunication before being charged and called the admission services. There I was told (by the kindest lady at HCC by far after at least 7 to 8 calls before)about the information on how to change that mistake. I told her my situation about being at a college away from HCC and how I would need my mom to take the "proof of residency" to the office. She told me there would be no problem and the issue would be easily handled. My mom has cancer and has a limited amount of time on her hands, my aunt drives all the way from South Carolina to help my mom because I am not able to be down in Tampa to be with her. Her schedule is tight because of treatments and the over all affect they have on her body. Now, she took time of her busy schedule to bring these two items to the office, and was told upon getting there that she would need a signed consent form from me, and a copy of my photo ID... THIS WAS NOT COMMUNICATED AT ALL IN MY CALL. Needless to say I am profoundly disappointed and dissatisfied, with my experiences.I must say I am incredibly frustrated with the people's lack of knowledge, lack of communication, lack of desire to spend time with the student to resolve simple issues, and the lack of agreed upon knowledge. At this point, I would not consider again to have any more involvement with HCC. We still have not resolved the out of state misunderstanding, so we will see how that panes out in the next few days, my hopes...

I'm going to start with this.... If you are a high school student, go to a 4 year school. Don't waste your time here. If you go to any community college with the intent of graduating from a 4 year you most likely will never complete your degree and will have wasted several years of your life.

If you are currently a university/college student, this is the absolutely worst school that I have attended. Go here as a last resort. If you are out of sate, forget it!

Starting with the administrative department('s) through to the 'education', this 'community college' is just awful. Admin department. Every semester - almost each week, there is something new with this place. Something preventing me from completing my education.

I have holds on my account all the time - generally because (after years of going here) they want me to submit a high school transcript, or previous college transcript.... or just something else weird like that.

Every time I speak to counseling at the Dale Mabry campus, I get a counselor who would rather spend her days sitting on the beach wasting away than doing her job - seriously the most miserable person there, and she doesn't care in the slightest if you can continue your education or not.

I have been a Florida resident for over a year and a half, and have the required documentation to prove this. HCC won't reclassify me as in-state.

Most "professors" are high school teachers. They have little more than a bachelors degree, and don't understand how college/university works. I have yet to be in a class that sticks to the syllabus, in fact - my English teacher last year didn't understand why we even used a syllabus and was baffled when I asked for an updated version.

I don't care if your teachers have bachelors degrees or masters, or PhD's, just don't call them "professors" if they aren't -- "professor" is a title reserved for individuals who have earned it, not just someone who teaches classes.

In the past two years, I have spent $5-7,000 and I have learned nothing.

Only thing I should have done differently........

This college deserves zero stars. My experience at HCC was a dreadful and stressful one from day 1. Most of the teachers have never attended the college and have other full time jobs. Every other semester there is a set of new teachers. The college does not take the time out to support their students. Most of the events are held during the day when most people have jobs, and the graduation rate is 12% of 100%. The lack of knowledge with financial aid, students services, and/or administration is ridiculous. They have too many inexperienced students handling financial aid matters which makes your experience more stressful. I turned in paper for early financial aid submission and it doesn't get looked at until a week before classes. The Deans don't have the professionalism to have a conversation with you in their office. They just handle your business in the open in front of other students. I was withdrawn from a class on a misunderstanding with the teacher due to inactivity waiting for the teacher to respond as she stated in an email that she would and never did, then she drops me from the class without a warning, did not attempt to see if I needed assistance, or to try to help. I guess they don't get paid enough to go the extra mile. You put in petitions that always get denied. They don't help you. They have over 4 campuses and you can only but books at the campus that course is assigned to. So if you live down south and you have an online course in Ybor you have to drive to the Ybor book store if you plan on using financial aid. The counselors don't follow up with you to assist you on classes or programs. You have to find your own way when dealing with anything pertaining to HCC and you go through hell trying to get anything resolved. I think the best thing that is happening is that I'm leaving. St. Pete College here I come. Weigh lifted off my shoulder. Avoid...