California Institute of Jewelry Training

Reviews 6

MA

Madeline Scarlett

Dont walk away, run away from this school. I have 20 yrs in the jewelry industry, so I am pretty clear about what jewelry entails. I tried to take a stone setting course here. I had to say it was an obscene experience. Where shall I begin. What everyone says about the owner/ administrator, Dee, is true. 1) she lured me in telling me she had a 2 week course for $995, I showed up, then it was a one week course for the same amount, oh, plus $100 tool fee. We verbally discussed what I would learn in this amount of time, as that is a LOT Of money for a 5 day class???? She failed to keep her word, and I did NOT learn what she promised. It wasnt even covered. .... 2) as I was talking with her, for her final "close the door sale" she told me she would be able to get me a scholarship to cover $100-$200 off this $1095 payment I was going to be making to her. When I arrive to pay on Monday, she was conveniently not there. I asked the man whom I paid about the scholarship she promised me. He said I should pay him now and take it up with her later. Later, she said, "oh, they are available sometimes, but I dont have one for you". Um, really? 3) Ive already paid.....:-( so, suck it up and take the course. I enjoyed the course for day one. On day 2, there was a passive aggressive instructor who seemed to have some personality issues and def didnt like me. Okay, no biggie. I blew it off. The next two days were the other instructor, fine. Then Friday, the last day (we still havent even began to cover the matierals that I paid for, and the tools that went with the material I paid for btw...the instructor tells me the way I sat was cowardly, as he approached me in the corner, and that nobody would want to hire me if I sat like that, as they saw a cowardly person. What an A%%%. He then proceeded to tell me I was aloof and standoffish. REally? is this a class or a personality assesment.....What a lunatic. Again, I was crying by lunch, and had to approach this instructor throughout the day, as he didnt come to me to offer help. I have to say, I was not impressed. Beyond the apparent emotional feel of this place, not somewhere you want to try to learn, it was DARK. How do you set a stone in the dark ?? Three women come in and out all day smoking right outside the door, so I smelled their cigs all day. It was not a hospitable environment. I saw one student just sitting at her bench, no instruction, no guidance, asking me about her work....it was just WRONG. I wrote Dee, and told her all of this, she promised to refund me one day, okay...that is negligible. I sent her a comp for te materials we covered in her class to other classes, and it was about $500. I asked for $500 back as I was NOT taught what I was promised, and then I was harrassed by the instructor on top of it. I was just livid and crying. :-( Icing on the cake. I have a serious health problem. I tried to be friendly and told her I had struggled with that, even though she had already lied to me twice, I tried to write it off and build a relationship, and she told me that people should suck it up and she thinks poorly of someone who cant get up and go to work in the morning. She obvs has NO idea about empathy, compassion, or health issues. WOW. That is personal, but it stands as who she is. It is a summary of her character. All about her, but unfortunately it is a school, not an empire, or it should be a school. Anyway, I cant possibly find enough bad things to say about this school. All of these summarize my experience here, and I only wasted 5 days here. Do not go to this school. Go to Revere. I have taken ample courses there and they are a top notch school!!!! I just was living here and tried to ignore their bad rep, but they have it for a reason, this school I mean. Sorry to say this, but it is all TRUE. I was disgusted. It is not an accredited school, so she has no moral standards in which to stand. She can lie, do whatever she wants, and she never did refund my one piddly little day. Hm. I am not dropping it.

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A Private User

1) It was very difficult to get clear answers and information in writing from the owner of the school. 2) The owner would harass the students periodically to hurry up even though we were promised to "go at our own pace" 3) In your repair module you do not learn enough. Specifically with gold or other precious or semi precious stones, which the industry needs you to have to become an apprentice. 4) We didnt get all our tools on time. 5) There was a period of time where we had no teacher after ours was fired in front of all the students (very unprofessional), and we were still expected to attend school. 6)The current teacher barely speaks English but is fluent in Russian. It was VERY difficult to communicate with him and his qualifications in his replacement of our former teacher was withheld from us. (This is OUR education and OUR money we are talking about, here). 7) Bottom line, way too expensive for the education you actually get which is really a basic silversmithing type of education with SOME variations of stone setting education When I first came to check out the school I was unimpressed with the old and un-updated feel of the school, I could not get clear answers on most of my questions. It was not until I spoke to their teacher that they had at the time who impressed me and counseled me personally in aid to helping me make the decision whether or not this was the place for me. Now, he is no longer there, but the rest remains. There are many many other personal reasons which I do not recommend this place whatsoever, but, I will keep that to myself for now. This should give you a general understanding of this place. Serious thumbs down.

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Kirk M

California Institute of Jewelry Training does such a good job with their classes in Gemology and Appraisal that I cannot recommend them high enough. The owners are great and I have been working with them for years. Try the Jewelry arts program if you would like a great career.

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MA

maltmann

I attended night class on Tuesdays. They were a positive experience. The school was very flexible, and accommodating and worked around my availability. The instructors were inspiring and personable. Technical content was good. Overall, quite positive.

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Ronnie Kamps

Hi all, I Love your classes very easy to understand an follow! The staff is is excellent :-) I had to cut my time short because of a long drive. I have moved closer, an look forward to returning soon! Sent from my iPad

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Joseph Jacobs

I would definitely go here to learn professional jewelry training. I went here to learn how to make a prototype earring finding to patent. Cathy, Lodi CA

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