My reviews keep getting deleted, so after having a few days to calm down, I'm still upset but wanted to still leave an honest review of my experiences at Cortiva Institute in Arlington.
My dream to become a licensed massage therapist and fulfill the dying wishes of my mom was shattered the week of May 16th, 2022. During the registration process, Byron Hendricks, my admission rep, told me that parking in front of the building was first come first serve. I enrolled on May 3rd, my mom's birthday. I chose this school because Ms. Donna, Ms. Eureka, Ms. Laila, and the other teachers were so sweet. The energy was wonderful! Clearly, Andrea Wady, the campus director, wasn't present at this location at that time.
On May 16th, I arrived at school at 8:30 am, excited to get started. I was dismayed to find out that not only was my admissions rep not there, but it was the first day of class, I wasn't in uniform, and hadn't been made aware of anything. I wasn't told that orientation was the week before and that the 16th was actually my first day of class. Ms. Donna and my teacher, Mrs. Laila, were really nice and understanding about it being my first day and were reassuring me that it was okay. I was still so embarrassed because I pride myself on being professional.
My second day in attendance, I was still really excited. I hadn't been able to sleep the night before, and had stayed up reading and studying my new textbook since I didn't have access to any of the other things I was supposed to online (school email, some course thing, online quizzes). Students aren't able to clock in until 8:45, so I was sitting at the front waiting. I was the only student in my class, so Mrs. L was up there with me. Ms. Donna was there too. So I'm inside saying my good mornings and here comes this lady bursting through the door. She said, "Who's in my spot? The Maserati?" I said, "Oh, that's my truck". She then responds, "You in my spot again!" She was yelling so unprofessionally and disrespectfully in front of employees.
"I'll see you in my office in just a few minutes," and stomps down the hall to her office. At this point, no formal introductions were made so I still had no clue who she was. I had to ask Ms. Laila. Andrea Wady, campus director, calls the front desk and Ms. Donna told me, "You can go back". When I got into her office, Andrea proceeded to tell me about parking my truck in her spot. I replied that there are no names on those spots and I was told during registration they are first come first serve. I even showed her a selfie with Byron asked to take of us in front where he told me I could park. I'm not parking my car miles away when I got here and there was available parking out front. Andrea had the nerve to tell me to " drive a different car". I said, "No, ma'am. This is my everyday car, my other car is more expensive than this one." Then, for some reason, she says, "Yesterday, I saw your $6000 Louis Vuitton purse." I said, "Yes, I did!" Andrea then said, "Carry a $20 purse here or a fanny pack". I said, "No, ma'am, I will drive and carry what my money can buy." Andrea then said she likes nice things too but this is not the place for me to be wearing and driving mine. When I asked to speak with her supervisor, she stated she had no superior and she is cleaning house so a lot of things will be changing because "they are too lax". She wrote down her email and told me to send her an accommodation request and maybe then she will be able to assist! Then she told me to go move my truck.
Here I am, a student driving a $120,000 truck with a $6000 purse on my arm yet I look young for my age. I'm 39 with 4 kids and a grandchild. I held my composure, but Andrea triggered so much anxiety and made my experience at Cortiva HORRIBLE. In just the short time I'd been at school, I'd also heard her using curse words with the staff. After I left class for the day, I realized I could spend my money elsewhere. DO NOT GO HERE. read more