MASSAGE THERAPY PROGRAM**
Before enrolling in the Massage…read moreTherapy program at Horry-Georgetown Technical College, I strongly encourage anyone to do their research and ask a lot of questions. My experience left me feeling like the program was more of a trap than an opportunity.
One of the biggest frustrations was the residency process, EVEN if you're a resident, they will FIND a reason to say " you don't qualify for the SC lottery wins" i had to send in my MARRIAGE license & when my husband's work confirmed he was working full time 40 hours a week, they declined it. The communication was confusing, inconsistent, and incredibly inconvenient. Financial aid isn't available for this program, so many students are already paying out of pocket or relying on grants. In my experience, there was very little transparency about how grant money and tuition were handled, and I was disappointed with how refunds and financial questions were addressed.THEY WILL FIGHT & MAKE you JUMP through HOOPS!!!
The program itself lacked consistency. Rules seemed to change depending on the situation or the person involved. There were multiple instances where policies weren't enforced the same way for everyone, making it difficult to know what standards actually applied. It felt like different students received different treatment.
Clinicals were another HUGE disappointment. Students provide services to real clients from the public, CHARGE them $$ for the massage, yet we don't get paid for our time and aren't allowed to keep the tips that clients leave. For a program that requires so many hours of hands-on work, that was discouraging.NOT TO MENTION they will tell the people " leave the tips in the tip box for the massage therapy programs for grants etc" WE DONT GET A DIME !!
We were also required to purchase materials and supplies under the impression they were essential. Some items were presented as mandatory, with warnings that we could be removed from the program if we didn't have them. Yet several if not ALL of those materials were barely used or NEVER used at all. That felt like an unnecessary financial burden on students who were already paying THOUSANDS of dollars out of pocket. This program ONE semester cost $5,550 ..... Together you're paying well over 10grand if not more after books etc. HGTC will say " we offer a payment plan" it's a joke, they want 1,000 a week.... HELLO?! & If you don't have your first semester paid in FULL, you will not be able to sign up for your next one, & if you have a balance after finishing the program,you will NOT be able to take the MBLEX exam, you wont be able to get anything. They pretty much hold it hostage.
The scheduling was another major issue. The first semester consisted of only two classes, meeting two days a week for about four hours a day. Then the second semester suddenly jumped to four classes, four days a week, with eight-hour days. On top of that, the program was shortened by about a week, which meant even more material was crammed into an already demanding schedule.
Because HGTC doesn't offer traditional financial aid for this program, the workload makes it extremely difficult--if not impossible--for many students to maintain a full-time job. The program demands nearly full-time availability while providing very little flexibility for people who still have bills, families, and responsibilities.
I did learn from some knowledgeable instructors and gained valuable massage skills, however, THEY DO NOT HELP YOU PASS THE EXAM, THEY just want you to PASS what they require for their program, you're on your own. the administrative side of the program created unnecessary stress. Better organization, consistency, transparency, and respect for students' time and finances would have made a huge difference.
This review reflects my personal experience, and I hope future students ask detailed questions about scheduling, costs, clinical policies, residency requirements, and financial expectations before committing to the program.
These photos are from the classroom we were in while massaging the PUBLIC as well.