The Online Classes At EAE (2/3)

Let us begin with some context 

My girlfriend and I got to Spain and started working on her visa immediately (she is Argentinian, I am Belgian). She needed a visa, I did not since I am an EU-citizen. The school had sent paperwork to apply for the visa, with info on where to go, what documents you needed and how the process worked. Awesome, you might say however the info they provided not up-to-date, the website they directed us to was incorrect and the offices with required paperwork was wrong and incomplete. Perfect first impression, wouldn't you agree?

After a couple of frustrating days, we finally found what to do and went all in. Truth be told, we arrived in COVID times so we cut them some slack as this is new for everybody. After a 2-week waiting period, we had gotten all the required paperwork to apply only to find out Spain had closed the visa processing offices due to COVID. Meaning the my girlfriend' tourist visa would expire and she'd had to leave the EU for 6 months before she could enter again. So as you can imagine, we left for Belgium pretty much straight away. 

The school was aware of this situation as I kept them involved and said that due to force majeure, we had to go back to Belgium and I had to postpone my studies for next year. After going back and forth, they agreed but only if I accepted to pay €500 and the difference in tuition fee which would be another € 1000 more or less (I mean, what?!). Couple days after that I received an email explaining my options (in Spanish, even thought I enrolled for an English master's). Requested info in English and never received a reply.

A week later, I contacted them back asking more info and they basically confirmed that if I do not pay, I'd lose my money

Long story short, I paid the €500 since I did not want to lose my tuition fee (which was already paid --> € 12 500) and thought that was that.

Couple of days after that, I received a phone call with yet another option. They really wanted me to join this year and proposed to start online until the offices opened again and proceed the physically as soon as possible. Many questions had come from my side regarding the infrastructure and how the online experience was etc... They claimed that I wouldn't even notice not being there, that the quality was impeccable and they had made huge investments to get everything ready for the online classes. Great news, I could start straight away as if nothing happened and saw this as a win-win. 

I agreed, they refunded my € 500 and we I was ready to start.

The reality of the online classes

In very few words, they are useless. Classes are live streamed, and sure most live-streams would be absolute horror to follow due to lagging or audio-delays etc. Granted! Only, when they sell you on ''It will be just like you are in class and if you miss a class, you can watch the recordings later''. Perfect in theory, however EAE has not invested in proper internet. Meaning, that not only the live-stream is horrible, the recordings in general are unusable. On top of that was a good working camera or audio where you'd be able to hear the professors/students, not worth the investment for EAE as neither are part of their ''fantastic and up-to-date'' infrastructure. 

If you'd be lucky enough to fall onto a good day and find yourself with a great class connection, there is the issue of actually understanding your teacher. Since they also do not really care about the level of English of their teachers, you'd find yourself getting class in half Spanish, half English. It is so bad that even native speakers wouldn't understand the words used by the professors. I kid you not, it is honestly the worst joke of your life. 

After a month of this ''incredible'' EAE- experience, we sent a letter from the class (which all of us signed) to the school board explaining the issues. As of yet, they have still to care enough to even reply... Repeatedly, I have contacted the school board myself raising my concerns of simply not being able to follow due to infrastructure issues and yes, you've guessed it. Still no reply. From anyone. I could not believe what was happening. I just paid a fortune of my hard-earned money to a business who does not even care a little about there students. They do not even provide us with the proper tools to make the best out of a bad situation. To even do it all ourselves. We simply cannot! And still, they refuse to refund, they refuse to improve. Oh wait, they did.. They hung a better camera and ''improved'' audio. True! Only, apparently the professors weren't made aware as we still could not understand nor even hear a word coming out of their mouths. 

Terrible. Shameful. Embarrassing. If I would work for them or even create a business with this attitude, I wouldn't be able to live with myself. So morally wrong on so many levels. 

Guys stay away. Easily put, RUN! Do not give these guys any seconds of your time and look for schools who DO want to teach you what you deserve to know. 

Not good enough? Oh but we're not done yet.. Yes... There is MORE...