|
Sheffield
School's 5-week Dispatcher program
|
Some
others who claim to be "competitively priced"
Here is what they offer (subject to change). This column
does not apply completely at all schools (please read
their fine print) |
| Registration
& Tuition = $5,000, or $4,400 or less with coupon(s) or special offers. |
Registration
& Tuition =
approx. $4,000 - $6,000
[this
excludes the cost of attending Sheffield AFTER
they've already attended another school. Yes, it happens.
Some students pay TWICE for their education.]
|
| Each
student has access to an individual computer workstation
for computer flight planning, weather briefing, unlimited
Internet access, FAA test prep, e-mail account setup,
résumé writing and printing, aircraft
situation display, etc. |
Just
ask what they currently provide for each student.
Now
that some schools are downsizing, what you see in
their old web site pictures IS NOT what you
receive when you arrive.
Some will crowd you around
a conference room table!!!
|
|
Clock
hour approval: 200 hours |
Clock
hour approval: 200 - 225 or more hours |
|
Lunch
break IS NOT counted
as a clock hour.
|
Lunch
break counted as a clock hour at some schools. Sheffield
won't charge you for eating lunch.
You
can do the math based on the school's published schedule.
The results are enlightening. This
is also a Certification legality issue that you do
not want to chance.
|
|
Actual
clock hours you'll receive is 200 - 215 hrs, this excludes
lunch, FAA testing, tours, computer workshops and tutoring
Since
we provide our students with over 200 hours of
instruction, which excludes FAA testing time,
field trip time, lunch time, etc., our graduates
have no fear of FAA retesting or license suspension
due to school certification violations. Yes, it has
happened at other "schools."
|
Typically,
the approval amount; however, if lunch is counted as
an instructional hour, true clock hours may reduce from
200 to approximately 170-175. |
|
Tuition
refund policy - extensive details are enclosed in our
online catalog |
No
full tuition refunds at any time at some schools. One school refuses any refunds within 30 days BEFORE class start date!
|
|
2012
Tuition refunds are prorated
through the 40% point (80th hour) of our course;
however, see our online catalog for updates.
|
Tuition
refunds are prorated from the 1st day (no full refunds)
and cease at the end of the 2nd week of class.
(50-60 clock hours for some).
One operator gives no refund within 30 days BEFORE
the class begins!
|
|
Our
least expensive housing is approximately
$1,650.00
for the full 5-week period (plus exam/workshop extra time!).
If your assigned roommate does not show or drops out,
you're not charged additional.
The
maximum number of students in each of our housing
units is 5.
Also,
our housing is WITHIN walking
distance (5-20 minutes) from the school!
|
The
least expensive housing may be about $1800.00
for a 5-6 week period. Housing may be a cheap motel.
The
maximum number of students in their housing may be
more than 5-10 students. Some schools may stick you
in a dormitory or "frat house-like environment."
Some
schools offer NO housing options or options that are
NOT within walking distance. You'll rent a car or
require public transportation.
|
|
5-week residency Tuition
includes
all (non-retake) exam fees.
No extra charge for FAA Knowledge test exam.
No
extra charge for Practical exam.
All
FAA examinations following course are typically conducted by either
the Sheffield staff or hired examiners. We have examiners
ready to assist you with final certification.
|
Tuition
may include exam fees; however, you may be overcharged
to retake the FAA knowledge exam or practical exam
if you are unsuccessful.
The
FAA examinations are not usually conducted by the
School staff, but rather individuals who do not know
you on a personal level.
AS
OF LATE 2009-EARLY 2010, SOME SCHOOLS HAVE NO DESIGNATED
EXAMINER HELP FOR YOU. Confirm that there will be
a designated examiner for your certification exam
following the course or INSIST that an FAA Inspector
give it. They are required to and it is FREE. Contact
us if you need help!!
|
|
Materials:
Sheffield
produces their own popular comprehensive manual -
a multitude of small books. In addition, Sheffield
GIVES each student
a 400+ page electronic set of bookmarked Jeppesen
pages & charts - pages that ALL airlines use.
The only book that we issue that is returned to us
is the FAA test prep book since it is of no use to
a dispatcher graduate.
|
Some
schools claim that tuition includes all books. Be
careful, it may turn out that the school loans you
a set of USED books, then collects them at the course
conclusion - say good-bye to ALL of your books. In
addition, some schools DO NOT teach any non-Government
material. Good luck during Initial airline training
when you are presented with a review and quiz on material
you've never seen.
[Airlines
not only hire graduates, but FIRE them as well.]
|
|
Field
trips are taken outside
of valuable class time, if at all. With the technology
we've placed in our classrooms, they are a virtual dispatch
office. |
Field
trips, if offered, are taken during class time, according
to some catalogs. This is an easy marketing ploy for
schools which do not instruct details and specifics,
yet need to fill time. This was recently confirmed from
one of our students. A student who already graduated
from another school. |
|
Many
videos are after
the official class ending time. (After 5:00 p.m.)
|
All
videos are during the official class time, according
to some catalogs. (Prior to 2:00 p.m. for some)
|
|
Much
FAA Knowledge test instruction (workshops) are after
the official class ending time each day and for a
limited number of days. We focus more on Sheffield
material and real-life scenarios, and provide electronic
assistance toward the ADX exam, which is available
BEFORE you even arrive at Sheffield!
This
produces graduates who are prepared for the Practical
examinations AND airline training.
Many of our graduates consider the Verbal phase of
the practical "thorough, yet enjoyable and a
learning experience."
|
Much
FAA Knowledge test instruction is during the first
3-5 weeks of the course. Some schools "test-prep"
you for the full course-this is one of the many reasons
Sheffield is not, and will never be referred to as
a "License mill."
This
produces graduates who are under-prepared for the
Practical examinations; therefore, many graduates
of other schools may consider the Verbal phase of
the practical "nerve-racking."
|
|
Tutoring
is everyday if requested, is provided by an instructor,
does not require scheduling and is FREE.
|
Tutoring
may be:
"whenever
we can find a tutor for you", is done by a "part-timer",
and may cost you some cash. One recent tutor from
another school applied for employment with us. That
person "saw the difference" in the Sheffield grads
in the industry. See our testimonials.
|
|
A
$1,000 refundable/transferable
tuition deposit reserves a slot in the class.
|
A
$500 or more Nonrefundable deposit reserves a
slot in some classes. |
| Unless
there is an emergency, our class schedules are
firm! |
Some
class schedules are "ON Demand."
Some course operators cancel class at the last moment,
leaving students, especially those who've taken loans,
in a bad spot. Sheffield knows, since we helped these
students out! |
| No
5-week weekend classes! A true FAA-approved course requires
FAA oversight, which typically occurs during normal business
hours; therefore, you're not in danger of having
your Certificate questioned by the FAA. |
Some
operators may conduct weekend classes or night classes.
Is there adequate FAA oversight? You may be in danger
of having your Certificate suspended by the FAA. And if
it's a "quickie" course, you've just added a
risk. |
| Finally,
included in our cost is "time."
Whether you need advice, help, or someone to talk to,
we are typically in our offices from 8-9:00 am to 5-6
pm on weekdays. We occasionally conduct optional tutoring
sessions during weekend days. Whether you are a student
or a graduate, we try our best to maximize our schedule
for you. We also provide online and email help after
hours. |
Some
Administrations are only in their offices a few hours
a day, if at all. |
| Highest Registration
& Tuition = $5,000, or less with coupon/special offer.
receives
an education, hardcopy manual, valuable electronic manuals,
tech support, job assistance, refresher training for
life in EVERY course attended. And typically, the FAA
Aircraft Dispatcher Certificate. |
Typical
Registration & Tuition =
approx. $4,000 - $5,000*
*some
tuitions approach $6000 after converting
their "Euro" value to USD using http://www.xe.com/ucc/convert.cgi
[this
excludes the cost of attending Sheffield AFTER
they've already attended another school. Yes, it happens.
Some students pay TWICE for their education.]
Be
wary of schools with no printed documentation, or unclear
enrollment/refund/payment policies.
(If
you're paying in non-US currency elsewhere, you will
NOT receive an FAA certificate!) FAA Part 65 Certification
must be within the USA. |
