The American Intercontinental University is falsely representing themselves as a legitimate study abroad program. They share incorrect information about their overseas campus to make thier prospective students feel secure and confident about attending school in a foreign country. The lies and deception have caused trauma, debt and future problems for me and my family.
When I first became interested in the AIU study abroad college I was agressively purued by advisors to get the process started, assured it was the best decision for my future resume, life experience, educcation and finances. I was told that not only would going to the school overseas be very rewarding, but it would also be a process that they would guide me through 100%. I was promised advice and correct information on every step from enrollment and finance in the states to finding accomidation and beginning classes in the UK.
This however, was not the case. I was told that I had some paperwork to fill out and sign, a loan to have approved and a passport to get. My advisor assured me I would have enough time and I started the process. One of the problems that kept coming up was last minute info and fees. There was always more money needed to go to the school and prepare before leaving.
I became concerned about my arrival to the UK. I wasnt sure how to get to my school, what the country would be like and where I should look for housing as well as what to stay away from. Because all of the websites the school gave me were basically the same and had only apartment listings I found myself not knowing what to expect in price or procedure. The school offered me nothing but an assurance that I would find something when i got there.
When I tried to find out what the deposit for an apartment was or areas that were good or any info at all, no one would assist me from the UK in the states. I had to be there first. I was told that 2000 dollars would cover finances for housing, food, fees and transportation before I started school. Because I was going to live off campus I decided to go a little early to the UK to assure availability, another thing they couldnt tell me. This was according to them a great idea. I not only took 2000 dollars, I took over that.
When I arrived the whole city was not working. The housing companies were not working and finding accomidaton was almost impossible. I also was not made aware that people in the UK DO NOT like Americans and hate to be of assistance. I ended up staying in a hostel they reccomended where someone slept in my bed and they tried to kick me out. Also at this place their phones did not call the US so I couldnt even reach my parents. The place was not safe because I was pick pocketed and someone stole my credit card and maxed it out.
I am very protective of my things and this has never happened before. My parents repeatedly called to see if I was ok and the hostel told them I was not answering my phone in my room. There were no phones in any of the rooms. I was told that my cell phone would work but it didnt. My parents started calling the school who said they would help with housing and give me a 400 dollar advance and a bank letter so I could recieve financial help in a bank account. They did none of these things. In fact they were wired money from loans and lied and said they didnt have any. Now even though im home and didnt attend class i still have to pay back these loans.
I ended up paying around 200 dollars for an apartment finder and they could only show me one property. I was running out of money so I took it. Becuase I didnt know anything about the rental agreements over there I was connected to a lease by default that I didnt even sign. No one was there to help me. My landlord was given 1000 dollars as a partial deposit and nothing ever worked. My toilet would leak water all over the floor, my fire alarm always would go off, and my electricity would shut off all the time. The area I was living in also was horrible which is something that I didnt find out from the school with lots of crime and so on.
When my parents found out they called the school to help. They told my parents they could for sure get me out of my lease. Of course they did not and I am out the money now. I could not live in an apartment like this and I was out of money for a new deposit.
Another thing they told me was that going early I would find employment and that minimum wage was 13 (7 pounds) dollars an hour. I could not work without an apartment and the minimum wage was only 10 (5 pounds) dollars an hour. And you have to remember that EVERYTHING in london is TWICE as expensive as NY city with absolutely no bargain stores at all. Also 60 percent of your pay goes to healthcare because they are socialist. I was not made aware of this so I was completely over budget with what they told me to bring in cash. They also told me that a bank would exchange my money at a low rate of 1.8. I could not exchange money there and the best exchange rate I got was 2.11.
All of this lead to me having nowhere to stay and no money to come home or eat. I had to sleep in the airport without food and try to get someone at home to get the fastest tickets available. The school offered no help. I asked them to withdraw me before classes started and cancel my financial aid before I left for the states. They told me all I had to do was go to the embassy on the other end of town to cancel my student visa. They knew I had a flight the next morning.By the time I got there and talked to the embassy they told me they had no idea what I was talking about and that they didnt do that.By the time I got back to the school no one was there. I had to board my plane without canceling it because no one could tell me how.
Now I am struggling to get answers from them as to how to cancel my student visa because they are still going to keep my loan money even thogh I didnt go there. They say they have no idea how to cancel my visa and that they will not cancel my loans becuase of it.
They not only lied throughout the process of my attempt to go there but also lied about the conditions of the school and country. I was left moneyless and homeless in a country with no way to do anything so I lost thousands of dollars invested in going there and am now in debt and worried about being in more. I would advise never going to this school or allowing your children to. Not only was it unsafe, it was the most traumatic experience of my life and I will never trust an institution of learning again.
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