I attended the two days leasing Agent Course at the Chicago Real Estate Institute for two days…read moreleasing agent course, it was great experience. The admissions process was smooth, easy and helpful. The staff was professional throughout. Anais Fowler, the instructor, was extremely knowledgeable and did a fantastic job teaching the course. She made the material easy to understand and engaging. I highly recommend. Thank you!

The Real Estate Institute has been an excellent resource for my continuing education. The entire…read moreexperience was professional from start to finish -- clear course instructions, well-structured material, and an easy-to-navigate system. I also appreciated how responsive and helpful their team was whenever I needed assistance. It made the CE process smooth and stress-free. I would absolutely recommend them to any real estate professional looking for reliable and high-quality continuing education. FIVE STARS

Wonderful opportunities for fast paced learning towards certification in HVAC and electrical…read more Success stories of students in previous semesters have advanced in their career or started a new trade because of their experience here.

horrible communication they never pickup the phone next to imposible to sign up! have been calling…read morefor a month and no answer

This place is great. I needed to learn how to weld and what afternoon my instructor completely told…read moreme what to do and I've been doing it on my own ever since. I plan to go back for a refresher because they're so good. They also rent benches if you are a true welder, you can go in there and do your own work for a minimal fee.

Took MIG1 & 2 from Daniel and had a great time. Other people in the class were fun to hang out…read morewith, I felt completely safe all the time, I felt like got good 1 on 1 instruction. I will definitely book some shop time soon so I can practice and then finally weld that bumper I've been meaning to weld for a year!

I love making things with my hands; I love the sense of accomplishment it gives me. My grandmother…read moretook up upholstery in her 70's and made some beautiful pieces, one of which I inherited. The fabric on the piece isn't really my style and I decided that if it was going to be re-done, I wanted to be the one to do it. There aren't many places to learn upholstery. I am lucky to live a few blocks from the shop; my classmates weren't so lucky, they all lived at least 20 miles away. I wasn't sure what to expect with the beginner's class, so it's worth noting that in the beginner class you most likely won't work on an actual piece of furniture.* What you will do is complete four projects that give you the skills to move on to actual furniture. The class is very hands on, you will thread a machine and start sewing in your first class. There are no prerequisites for this class; half of us hadn't used a sewing machine before. Owning a garment machine, there were a few things that took getting used on upholstery machines. There are two instructors; Jeff, the owner, taught my class and one of his staff taught the other. I can't speak to the other teacher's style, but Jeff is very laid back and a firm believer of learning by doing. Jeff is very generous with his time, knowledge, tools and materials; many students don't finish all of the projects in the allotted class time, but you're welcome to come back and finish after your session is complete (provided there's room). You're always your harshest critic, but I was so flattered when the manfriend thought my final project was something I had bought. I really loved this class and can't wait to start the intermediate class. The intermediate is like an independent study, you bring the piece you want to work on. If you've meandered by and seen the work in the window on Lincoln, those are student pieces. * One project is a bar stool cover. If you've got a piece to work on, you can use it. TIP: There's a lot of close work in the class and it's easy to get into a groove. Wear comfortable clothes you wouldn't mind getting dirty and bring your glasses, water and a snack.

I just took the "Beginners' Upholstery Class" with Jeff Kraut and LOVED it!…read more The class covers upholstery techniques that can be applied to automotive upholstery, furniture upholstery, and bag making. It is taught on industrial sewing machines (no previous sewing experience necessary). I already knew basic sewing and I definitely picked up lots of new tricks/techniques. Some of the topics we covered: * setting up the machines and basic sewing. * quilted stitching on vinyl (like on the back of a car seat or stuffed chair) * adding piping trim * zipper installation and sewing a small case * stapling construction and making a panel (like recovering a chair seat or a car side panel) * beginning pattern making and making a seat cushion Projects might vary a little from class to class. I've posted photos of my work. The class was Mon & Wed, 7-9pm for 5 weeks. It's located just down the street from Trader Joe's on Lincoln. Easy parking & near the El. You can get more info from Jeff at canvasboss@yahoo.com. I'm looking forward to the advanced class!

I studied improvisation with Steve Ivcich decades ago. I wasn't interested in becoming a…read moreprofessional actor (and lacked the talent even if I had wanted to become one). I took the class just to have an interesting life experience and possibly meet some new people, nothing more. And yet what I learned from Steve has stuck with me all these years later, and I still think about my experiences in his class from time to time. They were that meaningful -- even profound in some ways. That's the mark of a great teacher!

So... I realized something the other day... I actually dove…read moreinto acting because of this guy... I took several of his Professional Program classes and never looked back. Unfortunately I never finished the last class, but wow, as I thought about it, Steven taught method acting like none other. Pure genius. Pretty much in line with the teachings of Stanislavski and Chekhov, but with Stevens' own blend of artistry mixed in! Without a doubt, his classes gave me the drive and ambition to pursue my acting career. And thankfully, I've been involved in some really, really, awesome projects. Thanks Steven! Highly Recommended!!!!!!

Cherice Taylor is the Making It Sew Fun director and teaches sewing classes for adults and children…read morein her home sewing studio. She is very hands-on and patient with her students, but she does expect for students to learn her techniques and be open to building on them. I have had the pleasure of receiving her instruction since April and she has even taken time to help me with my personal, non-class related sewing projects. I recommend her class to anyone who has little to no sewing experience. Even if you sewed years ago and want to sharpen your skills, Cherice is for you!

From the owner: Making It SewFun is Chicago's place to go if you're looking to learn how to sew. With programs for…read moreadults, teens, and kids, we offer a structured curriculum and workshops that empower the home-sewist with the skills necessary to create well-fitted and professionally constructed garments. Classes are available for every skill level from beginner to tailoring. Our mission is to teach you everything about sewing in a positive and encouraging environment. Sign up for a class today and explore your inner fashionista, sewist, fashion designer or a little of all three.

Been fighting myself either to take a CNA class or just take my nclex exam but taking the CNA class…read morewith our very humble Clinical Instructor Ms Candice has been the best decision I made in my nursing career. She's an experienced nurse and doesn't hesitate to share the good and bad side to mold us in this career. She teaches so much more than the text book and thats what makes her so unique.She also teaches us in a way that makes it easy to understand the material. I have gained so much knowledge within this short period of time. I'll definitely recommend the school and all. Thank you Ms Candice

I went through this top notch program a few years ago when my Dad suffered a debilitating stroke…read more Completely prepared me for the home health environment. Their holistic approach equips you with the know how as well enabling you with the professional compasion to provide exemplary patient care. Their program gave me the credentials needed to land a great job at a physical rehabilitation hospital even though I lacked clinical experience. The program also gave me a complete foundation to build toward an RN-BSN. I would highly recommend the program at Career Training Center of Chicago. It's afforadble - with flexible payment options. It's a concise, concentrated program that will get you quickly into the medical field. It's in depth, high quality, and comprehensive which will put you a cut above other CNAs. And it provides a great foundation to build from if you wish to pursue nursing or other allied health fields. They easily earn 5 stars.

I sought out a school for my autistic child, and upon receiving a call for further details, I was…read moreinformed that they are focusing on students who can express themselves and are performing above a high grade level. Given that they position themselves as a therapeutic institution, I believe they should be more inclusive in their admissions process. Based on this experience, I cannot recommend this school.

The O-School has been life-changing for my son and our family. My son is Autistic and gifted, and…read morethey do a wonderful job meeting both his social-emotional and academic needs. Public school was not working, but he has been successful at the O-School, and we are so thankful for that.

It says "Meh, I've experience better" for 2 stars. Well, unfortunately that isn't the case. I…read moredidn't go anywhere else for portfolio school. I chose Chicago Portfolio School. The promises they made up front and what they delivered are in stark contrast to one another. The 'classes,' while informative, felt stuck in an ad time far removed from today's ad market. This school focuses on tradition print advertising. I'm not sure if you've noticed, but currently traditional print advertising is about as relevant as MySpace. We never even looked into developing fully integrated campaigns until over halfway through this program. As anyone who is looking for jobs in today's market can tell you, employers aren't looking for 3 really great print ads. Today's agencies want fully fleshed out, integrated, web-based campaigns in your books. That isn't what you get from CPS unless you go rogue and decide to do that yourself. Follow exactly what this school tells you and you'll find a great job. Baristas at Starbucks get full benefits and stock options don't they? I was told I would come out of this school with a portfolio that would be competitive and strong enough to get a job or interview most anywhere. This couldn't be further from the truth. One person out of my entire class had a book when this program was over. Most of the ads the students put in their books were created well after this program ended as they were rushing to get a book together so they could start looking for jobs. I would have been better off taking a year and the money I spent on this school and traveling Europe or southeast Asia for a year, then returning and trying to throw a book together in 3 weeks. If you are looking for a really social school however, this school is for you. In fact, the only reason I gave this school 2 stars is because of the friends I made while I was there. Even still, If this school focused half as much time on going out and drinking, perhaps the students could focus more on their work rather than discovering new and inventive ways to nurse their hangovers. Don't expect to be motivated to do anything at this school other than to get to the front of the line so you can get at least two or three more drinks before the school closes its tab at the disgusting bar up the street. If you're contemplating this school, I have a word of advice - reevaluate your options. Hey, I hear Wal-Mart might be hiring.

A great school that helped me put together a great portfolio, which helped me land a great job. Not…read moremuch more I can really say, except thank you.

I really enjoyed taking this class and having Neal as an instructor. This class should be called…read moreWoodworking and Life Lessons. We learned a lot about wood and tools, but we also learned a lot about each other and had some deep conversations. There were two other people in my class. As far as woodworking, Neal asks questions in a way so that you think through building your project instead of just having step by step instructions. In this class you can expect safety first and that also means having a very clean classroom. Neal is straightforward when he talks. The class was very organized. Some cuts are pre-made and instructions are always posted before class starts. Neal will demonstrate how he got to the cuts and then will demonstrate next steps and possibly a lesson about tools or wood. I built a shelving unit, a toolbox, and an end table.

My uncle lives in a house that he nearly single handedly built himself in the woods of Vermont…read more It's sturdy, beautiful, and expertly crafted. So I thought, "surely I must have some of this handiness in my previously totally non-handy self." But before I plunked down thousands of dollars for lathes, circular saws and other manly machines you can buy at Home Depot, I thought I'd test the waters with a woodworking class. Finding one in Chicago proved harder than expected until one say I saw a flyer at a local coffee shop advertising Woodsmyths. It sounded like exactly what I'd been looking for: hands on, experience with a variety of common woodworking tools, and a mix of instruction and projects. The class started out fine enough: there were about 10 people, we read some handouts, received some brief instructions, then got down to business. I liked that we'd get to work on things ourselves that we'd then take home to keep, but the instruction left a lot to be desired. The teacher is a bit eccentric and seemed more concerned that everyone finished their projects than whether they actually learned anything. I felt rushed, didn't feel encouraged to ask questions and when I did, the instructor often just fixed my problem for me instead of showing me how to do it. After 10 weeks and $350, I had three items I'd crafted mostly myself: a toolbox, a simple bookshelf and a storage box-style end table. The last of these I really liked and still have, the others didn't survive my most recent apartment move. And disappointingly, I don't feel like I really learned all that much. The teacher was a stickler for safety (a good thing), so I feel mostly comfortable operating woodworking machines. But I don't feel like I know better now than I did before the class what to do with them. I know Woodsmyths also offers a more advanced class that people seem to take, so maybe others had better experiences that I. So if you can't find any other woodworking class options, it may be worth giving this one a go. But don't expect to be anywhere but a tiny step closer to building your own cozy bungalow in the New England woods.