CBA
Reviewer
0 helpful votes
Brilliant Lectures, But the Tutoring System Ruined My $9,200 Experience
I competed the 5‑week program, and I'm leaving deeply disappointed—not because of the lectures, but because of a fundamentally broken tutoring system. The Good (The Lectures) The founder, Dr. Francis, and the majority of the lecturers are exceptional. Dr. Francis has a gift for breaking down complex concepts in a way that sticks. What some reviewers call "tangents," I see as relaxed, memory‑retaining diversions that actually help you absorb the material without stress. About 70% of the staff are great, and the overall atmosphere is conducive to studying—provided you don't need tutoring. The Fatal Flaw (Tutoring & Communication) The tutoring department is a mess. Here's what happened: · My session was originally scheduled for a Tuesday. When I logged in to confirm the time, I discovered it had been moved to Monday—with no direct notification. I missed it. · When I reached out, my tutor was nonchalant about the miscommunication and flatly stated it couldn't be made up. · In Week 1, I emailed my assigned tutor and never received a reply. · Result: I'm in Week 4 and have had only one tutoring session. When you point out that their explanations don't make sense, the tutoring leadership gets defensive. The tone of their emails suggests they don't actually care about the students' progress—it feels like their real goal is pushing you to buy extra tutoring sessions. At 10 per question**—steep for a program already costing thousands. Trust & Professionalism I initially trusted Dr. Francis and the staff, but my experience with the tutoring director and their team has completely tarnished that trust. Professional leadership means staying composed, focusing on facts, and addressing issues that block a customer from getting value from your product. Getting defensive and dismissive does the opposite. They don't know how to accept feedback and not see it negatively. Instead the CAO and her team retaliate. People come here to learn, not to deal with unnecessary drama. Amenities & Logistics A few quality‑of‑life upgrades would go a long way—an automatic barista machine for coffee drinks and a prepped‑meal vending machine would be great. I also wish they had a housing partnership so students could stay closer to the center. These are minor compared to the tutoring issues, though. The Cost This 5‑week endeavor—program tuition, food, lodging, car rental, and incidentals—has cost me nearly $9,200. That is a massive investment. I didn't pay this much to chase down tutors or feel pressured into buying more sessions. Final Verdict & Advice Looking back, I should have taken an online review course or Kaplan. It would have been far less stressful. If you're considering this program, I would only recommend the "pay to study independently at the center" option—it puts you around other students and creates a productive peer‑learning environment. Avoid relying on their tutoring system unless you're willing to accept unreliable scheduling and dismissive support. This review is honest, objective, and based on facts. I'm leaving disappointed, but I hope this helps future students make a fully informed decision before spending nearly $10,000.
