disapointed in massage school

[faithful me!]

Hi everyone, i am new to the forum.I started school 1 month ago and am very discouraged.OK, here is how it started....i had always been interested in massage therapy, so i figured, OK go for it.  I was reading the paper, saw the add NOW ENROLLING for massage therapy school, so i called, they told me to come down and get an information packet so i did.It was very detailed, had course times, tardiness, all the policies, procedures, schedules, etc..AND ofcourse the price.So i decided after reading the packet, that this is somethign that i definately wanted to try..So i call the place back and tell them i want to sign up, they schedule me an appointment, I go....I get there 10 minutes earlier and wait, the teacher/owner met with me, explained everything.  Sounds good, write her a check, she tells me to come back tuesday (that is when the school starts, a week later)Tuesday i go, there are a few others enrolled.  Well, she tells me that i have to wait a few more days because she has to order me a book and work book...OK, no problem.About a week later i call her and ask when my book will be in, and when can i start, she says Oh, just come in and i will lend you a book from a former student...Yes this is long, im sorry.So i go in, get my book, she says coem back tomorrow at 8am and we will start, so i get there the next morning at 8, there are the other students, and she is not even there to teach us, she sent her daughter because she had errands to run.  Immediately she tells me to get undressed, get on the table and teaches everyone how to massage, with me as the guinea pig.No problem, its ok with me...3 hours later the  class is over, we leave she tells us to come back tomorrow at 8 am.We go back, then she has one person get on the table, and tells me to massgae them, so i start, not even knowing where to begin, and am asking questions, she is getting annoyed with me...Im thinking how am i supposed to know???So after class, she tells us to call the owner tomorrow and get a schedule.The next day i call, the owner says ok, come back next wednesday and we will do hands on from 12-8, I said ok, a whole week passes, go in on wednesday, she says she is busy and we will have to re scedule for next week!!!This is crazy, her policies are very strict, and then she changes them all around to convience her!So it has been a month, and i have been to class 3- 4 times.  I just dont understand, is this how class is supposed to be?She says next wednesday i can start my internship..I AM NOT READY, i know nothing..It just doesnt seem right.  Sorry for the long rant, any opinions, or suggestions?Plus after this, she says we will be certified, shouldnt i be licensed after paying over 3K for a class? james

 

[LoNely GirL~]

disapointed in massage school

get your money back!

 

[John N]

Is the school in the US? Is it state approved? Sounds to me like you do need to start something in motion to get your money back if you paid for anything other than your book.  (Trying not to assume anything here...) It definitely was not the quality education you'd been promised when you signed up.

 

[Ace of Clubs]

disapointed in massage school

Demand a refund immediatly!! Call your attorney general if you have to. This sounds way weird. I can sure understand why you would be disapointed.

 

[BlackLadybugXP]

disapointed in massage school

I would absolutely demand a refund and then start searching for another school. I'm sorry you are going through this, it must be very frustrating. I hope it hasn't turned you off massage completely.

 

[ngv]

Hi everyone! Thanks for all of the replies.Yes this is in the US, it is in OKlhahoma.  They have been teaching for over 3 years now.  They have adds in the papaer all of the time.  They also always have articles about the school, etc..And yes this is very true...and it is as bad as it sounds.I will check into getting a refund, and see about antoher school.I dont think it will be easy to get a refund though, she sounded very strict, and when i signed the papers for enrollment she said that if i dont complete the course, i will NOT be refunded.Plus, she is holding the class in her day spa.  We arent in a special place or anything like that.

 

[Aneel]

Seems to me a threat of calling the attorney general might be in order, and possibly the Better Business Bureau. This sounds like a very unprofessional operation, and might even be illegal. For sure, they aren't preparing you to be able to pass the  national certification.

 

[Rio Madeira]

Maybe your local television news station has a "consumer affairs" reviewer.  Perhaps they'd like to learn about how "Slipshod" this school has been run?Check out the school and day spa's reputation with the Better Business Bureau. Talk to a reviewer at the paper they Don't advertise in...Are they following all state laws? Check out their state or city licenses if required. What about the state vocational school license? Are you sure they are approved? Check it out don't take their word for it!  If they get enough complaints about the school they'll close it.

 

[XxDark (emo) AngelxX]

disapointed in massage school

Just ran to the AMTA site and sure as $#@%^ OKlhahoma is not listed as a state which is regulated.

You were RIPPED OFF.

If you have any intention of working in another state or your state starts to regulate massage you will not be allowed to practice.

I would get the Attorney Gen involved and the BBB.

Here are some schools in OK.

Oklahoma Health Academy
1939 N. Moore Ave.
Moore , OK  73160-3667
Phone:  (405) 912-2777
Fax:  (405) 912-2770
[email protected]
http://www.oklahomahealthacademy.org

Herieforum.xxxe College
7100 S. I-35 Service Rd.
Oklahoma City , OK  73149-2740
Phone:  (405) 631-3399
[email protected]
http://www.herieforum.xxxe-education.com

Praxis College of Health Arts and Sciences
8900 N. Western Ave.
Oklahoma City , OK  73114-2518
Phone:  (405) 879-0224
Fax:  (405) 879-2102
[email protected]
http://www.praxismassagecollege.com

Robyn

 

[bria]

I'm sorry you are dealing with this type of person and a sad excuse for a school.Just because Oklahoma isn't state regulated for massage doesn't mean just anyone can pick up and "claim" to be a school and hand out certificates.  Most states have departments that oversee PostSecondary Education which is what a "Massage School" falls under.Here is contact info for Oklahoma Private School Owners Association.   Contact Person:  Francis Sells, President.  Phone:  918.251.9669You might want to give this person a phone call and see if they can direct you to the state dept that is supposed to oversee this type of education.  They might also be able to give you information about what rights you have in regards to this person accepting tuition and promising you an education.  You might also want to look in the Gov't section of your phone book for PostSecondary Education Agency/Office or do a search for this info.I suggest you seek legal representation when dealing with this "school".  Take a minute to write down everything you can remember about her promises, the number of times and reasons the course schedule has been changed and gather all the papers you signed related to her school.Here in Georgia (only recently state licensed for massage) the state requires the school to have a bond equivalent to the tuition required for a certain number of students which assures the school be able to issue refunds to students if something were to happen to the school.  If she is presenting herself as a school to the public but hasn't filed appropriately with the state she could be in big trouble.Goodluck.

 

[Lorrainey Bainey]

disapointed in massage school

I'm so sorry that you're going through this. I can't believe she's been in business for 3 years.By all means, please go through the hassle of contacting the authorities as stated above. Please do not let this fall on the side. If she's doing this to you, she's doing it to someone else and the other person/people may not have your ability and resources to fight back.I hope everything turns out for you and you find an excellent school that will nuture you and teach you.

 

[chee]

From what I've read, which may not be much now that I think about it, I thought if a state did not regulate massage, then anyone regardless of training could start a massage practice and claim they practice massage therapy.  If there are no regulations about it then it wouldn't be breaking the law.  So, if I understand non-regulated states correctly, all you needed to do was buy some books, practice on some of your friends and then start your own practice.I'm actually glad I live in a regulated state, makes things run a lot more smoothly to me.

 

[Missus Fuchs]

This isn't a question about someone without any formal school training starting a practice in a non-regulated state.  This is about someone who owns a day-spa business who has decided to offer a "school" and charge tuition to someone, have them sign papers and then not follow through on the promise.Most states regulate higher education and IMO, this is where this would fall.

 

[~ <3 ~]

remember- small claims court, too.  it's just an option...my understanding is that it is very inexpensive to file a claim and if she starts getting a summons or whatever they do, she may pay up.  

 

[amranKay]

hi everyone, Thanks for all of the replies, I dont have much time, but here is  a brief update.I called the board of vocational schools, spoke to a man, he claimed that they are  a reputable school, and have not had any complaints.I will give more details on the phone call later.I was supposed to start my internship today, but yesterday i was supposed to have class from 2-8, well she called me at 1:30 and said to come in at 3 and i would be there till 4, she had something she had to do so it would be cut short.Then after class she said to come back next tuesday, one week, and we would do a hands on and then start internship.

 

[josho]

I read your entire post and then your recent. Internship 1 month, all this 'come back later'. omg I don't know what your update is but I really hope you took the wonderful advice given here. That is unacceptable of a school. I enrolled in a school that is 690 hours. Now mine is more medical based for hospital settings so I'm forced to learn off a Cadaver too (eww, yet exciting). (don't freak, most schools don't do that) But a good school has you swimming in good books about the body inside and out and oral/essay demonstrations. CPR classes, electives and an several different types of massages to broaden your experiance. Mine also includes business courses. How to step into a practice or take on your own. And ethical treatment of your clients.  Intership doesn't start till the final trimester in my school. Educate, review, visit, and reflect before you chose your school. I got excited too.  One place I visited was a private owned and it was tiny and low quality. I got to sit in on lectures and it was like "Ok time to run away."  Listen to your instincts.This school I chose I got the full on tour an was well informed. I had a great vibe. Best medical library in the county. That helps Now good luck and I hope the better for you.

 

[nathanael b]

Greentea where are you located, what state. I think that is sooooo cool you get to work off of a cadiver!!!Welcome to the boards!I  hope you have a great experience in school.Massage2be please let us know how things are going for you. There was a girl in my class that she drove back and forth to Oklahoma to attend class. School was here in Texas, maybe a couple of hours away.So maybe you can see about crossing state line.Trish

 

[iloveTheSimpsons!]

Thank you for the welcome Trish. Yes,  I thought cadaver study would be more interesting in addtion to studying a book model.  And yet fearful of facing this this individual. Any tips to keep me my stomach in check? I'm packing up and moving to Illinois where the school is. http://www.nuhs.edu It was originally a chiropratic college but expanded to massage therapy a couple years ago and continues to add more programs. It's a wonderful big campus in the suburbs of chicago.

 

[Parviz E]

disapointed in massage school

There is a workshop offered in Rhode Island for medical students that has opened up its doors for MT students of local schools to have access to cadavers after they've been dissected. I went last winter, and will probably do it again this year. It's amazing to actually see those tendons, muscles, organs, bones...in real life instead of from a page. I actually got to hold a kidney and heart.The stomach thing was one I was concerned about. Like precari said, I didn't eat for a few hours before the class started. It was hardest at the beginning, but after about 15 minutes, the fascination with what I was seeing overcame everything else. Afterward, I couldn't stop thinking about it for the next few weeks. Anyone who has the oppurtunity, TAKE IT!!!Oops, sorry for contributing to the derailment of this string.... :

 

[ChipA]

*L* True,  But the de railment was worth it. The both of you gave me words I needed to hear...I mean read.  It definately helped.Back to Massage tables. Is it difficult to resell a table after school to upgrade? I want the Avalon now but someday I'd like an Oakworks Nova or something.  Yeah I read all the "Don't take a chance and end up spending more." So are they saying resale is a huge gamble?