Pinellas Technical College – St. Petersburg

I loved the program I completed. The Dental Assisting program is great and ensures you’re prepared to enter the work force with knowledge needed. The program is not the problem. The Financial Aid and Business Office need work. Aside from how unpleasant people in those offices can be, they do not clearly communicate policies regarding your “scheduled hours”‘ for your program versus your “enrolled/completed hours” as it pertains to financial aid. I completed my DA program early and because my scheduled hours were greater than the hours I was actually enrolled, I accrued a debt in the amount of $1120.02 due to an “overage” of Pell Grant disbursement based on my scheduled hours versus enrolled hours. This issue was not caught until after I graduated (which is odd because you have to notify financial aid and the business office of anticipated graduation for the term you’re graduating anyway.. this could’ve been caught prior to graduation), and now that I’m trying to receive transcripts a year later to further my education, I’m being told to pay the 1k before they will release them (which, they reduced from 1k to $800 after I questioned the entire process). I’m being charged $800… for a piece of paper. I was told that this is due to the Pell Grant I applied for and it’s essentially my fault however I do not recall reading this policy as part of the financial aid paperwork I completed and signed with my initials and signature, each term I was enrolled. If that was the case I would’ve happily set that money aside that term. After asking to enter into a payment plan to satisfy the debt, I was told until the debt is paid in full I still cannot receive my transcripts. I do understand why, however the entire process needs review. Not many people, especially the student population at this school, can come out of pocket $800-$1000 with no warning. And I say with no warning because I was told I was notified by mail of this debt a year ago, but I did not receive any notice of debt, and it’s literally been sitting with the school for A YEAR.

Long story short— don’t complete a program early. Verify your scheduled hours versus the hours you were actually enrolled each term. Set aside your Pell Grant disbursement so you can pay the school back if needed. Good luck dealing with these people.

This school has a amazing Cosmetology department ! You get the best starter kit for your business and the Instructors are passionate about the work. The future professionals are well prepared for the industry at this school!!!!!