UNION RESCUE MISSION
545 S. San Pedro St (btwn 5th and 6th St)
Los Angeles CA 90013
213-247-6300
Clothing given out Tuesdays-Fridays at 8 am.
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Free Showers, Job Training, Health Care Services, Transitional Housing
PATH
340 N. Madison (Beverly/Vermont)
Los Angeles CA 90004
323-644-2200
Call to see if the clothing store is open.
Showers available Monday-Fridays from 7:30am-3:15pm.
Transitional housing, job training, and health care services also available. Be there at 6am, Monday-Thursday. Intake starts at 7:30am, first come first serve basis.
Free Clothes, Meals, and Showers
MIDNIGHT MISSION
601 S. San Pedro St (Wall St)
Los Angeles, CA 90014
213-624-9258
Clothing is offered when available. Meals are offered three times daily: Breakfast btwn 6:30am-7:15am, lunch @ 12:15-1pm, and dinner @ 4:30-5:15pm. Please note that there is no lunch in Sundays. Showers are offered three times daily: 8:30am-11am, 1:30-4pm, and 6:30pm-9pm except there are no morning showers on Tuesdays and Fridays.
Free Clothes, Shower, Meals, Housing, and Rehabilitation
LOS ANGELES MISSION
303 E. 5th St. (Wall St)
Los Angeles CA 90013
213-629-1227
Tickets for clothing and shower btwn 6am-10am. Meals, showers, housing, and rehabilitation are also provided free of charge. Monday-Friday.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Free Clothes and Prizes
FOOD N FOOT
1625 N. Schrader Ave.
Hollywood CA
Located in the parking lot of the Gay & Lesbian Center where they offer job opportunity, free meal, clothing, and prizes.
Sundays @ 11 am
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Apple One
Apple One is a reputable and aggressive employment agency. They have some of the highest statistics of placing their candidates with the most suitable positions. Their performance separates them from their competitors. Many of their clients are satisfied with the positions they've been placed with. Their impressive record speaks volumes for their keen talents or so it seems . . .
If you visit their website, www.appleone.com, you can quickly begin your application process and be scheduled for an interview. It's evident how efficiently this agency operates. This decisiveness is generally transferred over when placing clients with positions, but Apple One requires that their clients have a minimum of one and a half year experience in an office position in order to be eligible for assistance. This is a fact that's "conveniently" unaddressed on their website. Plus, the expected qualifications for computer knowledge is demanding and diverse.
With such high standards of proficiency from their clients, it's no wonder this agency successfully finds positions for many of their clients. Apple One is deceptively elitist, works with the most qualified of candidates who inevitably is more than eligible for many positions only to take credit for that outcome. It's misleading. That's like working with the most gifted children and priding yourself on their advanced aptitude scores. That isn't a demonstration of an educator's talent, it's a demonstration of the subjects'. Of course with Apple One following strict exclusivity, the only statistics available reveals that most of their clients obtain positions they're seeking in an exceptionally fastidious manner. Unqualified or, shall I say, more challenging candidates are denied their services.
This hidden truth, Apple One's eligibility status, and my disarrayed apartment led to an unexpected interview and unnecessarily created a sense of inadequacy within me. Apparently, an hour before my interview at the Pasadena location with Estelle, I received a phone call informing me to not come in because I'm not qualified for their services. I, however, did not receive that message because I left my cell phone at home in an attempt to arrive early to my appointment, might I add. I could have easily located my cell phone if I wasn't trying to show up early to make precautionary measures. What a counterproductive effort that was.
I arrived 15 minutes earlier than my scheduled interview only to be greeted with a cold and somewhat snappy welcoming. This was when I learned that Estelle was unable to assist me. She was audibly complaining to someone else about what she was supposed to do with me because she called to tell me that she couldn't assist me and I showed up anyways and early. It was the first time I felt unprofessional for doing something professional - arriving early.
In the beginning I believe Estelle reviewed my resume as a professional courtesy, but it was evident how discouraged and inconvenienced she was by exercising this procedure. I have ten months office experience, over two years of retail experience, and light computer skills. It's not exactly the most enriching experience to work with, which is why I went to an employment agency for assistance. I wanted access to opportunities I was unable to obtain independently. That's what most employment agencies are supposed to offer. A competent, resourceful, and adept employment agency will exhibit the ability to introduce and provide clients with employment opportunities in spite of the challenges, rather than reject their services.
In my case, Estelle decided to offer her services to me because I'm fluent in Japanese. That's apparently a marketable asset. She allowed me to take the assessment tests. I scored highly on my typing speed, alpha and numerical data entry skills, Word, Excel, grammar, and basic office skills. After seeing my test scores, Estelle revealed that she didn't regret her decision. Despite feeling inadequate, I courteously thanked her for this opportunity. Estelle began to warm up to me and didn't mind at all. She said that upon talking to me it's evident that I'm very bright and I have good communication skills, so she'll do what she can to assist me.
So the interview turned out a lot more optimistically and productively than originally suspected, but I'm still very displeased by the experience because of how preventable it was. I'm not blaming Estelle for making me feel inferior. As Eleanor Roosevelt put it, "Nobody can make you feel inferior without your consent." And as I've previously mentioned, I was given an opportunity that I wasn't supposed to have. That reflects positively on my ability to win people over, a valuable asset in life especially if you're looking for chances without anything sufficient to offer. But I'm a strong believer in being honest and direct. It's important to represent yourself or your company for who or what it is. I suspect Apple One withholds the fact that they don't offer services to anyone without a minimum experience requirement because that'll portray their company in a potentially negative light.
I don't appreciate paying the price for their strategic plot. I don't want to waste my time, and I certainly don't want to waste any employment agency's time especially if I don't meet their criteria because for better or worse, Apple One does provide a service to their community. I just happen to not meet their demographic. If this company had more professional integrity and was open about their guidelines, I would've searched services elsewhere and allowed Apple One to be more productive with their time. I suppose everything comes in all forms, shapes, and sizes. Employment agencies are no different. I can't categorize whether Apple One is a great find or not because it really depends on your situation. If you're seeking a reputable employment agency to assist you in finding an office position with a minimum of one and a half year experience in that setting, Apple One is an asset that I encourage you take advantage of. That's what it's there for.
I also want to provide a basic profile of Estelle, the Account Executive I interviewed with, for anyone who's interested. She is professional, direct, uncompromising, aggressive, ruthless, from what I can tell, efficient, and resourceful. I did find that she talks more than she listens, which can be a challenge. I wasn't trying to be difficult. With my limited experience, it's unrealistic to find a job in my city. But my personal life requires me to stay within a designated area. Rather than working within those guidelines, Estelle offered me a position 10 miles away from home after I repeatedly told her, clearly, that I will not be able to work outside of the city of Pasadena. As grateful as I am that she kept me in mind and managed to make me a candidate for a job, she demonstrated her selective hearing abilities. I had to visit her a second time to re-iterate my requirements. Since then I haven't heard from her. This doesn't mean that Estelle is ill-suited to assist anyone, just be sure to be a qualified candidate who can travel further distances, and she's likely to find you a position quickly. You will have to take extensive tests. Apple One expects you to be proficient with every Microsoft program.
Apple One
150 S. Los Robles Ave. #970
Pasadena, CA 91101
(626) 796-0395
If you visit their website, www.appleone.com, you can quickly begin your application process and be scheduled for an interview. It's evident how efficiently this agency operates. This decisiveness is generally transferred over when placing clients with positions, but Apple One requires that their clients have a minimum of one and a half year experience in an office position in order to be eligible for assistance. This is a fact that's "conveniently" unaddressed on their website. Plus, the expected qualifications for computer knowledge is demanding and diverse.
With such high standards of proficiency from their clients, it's no wonder this agency successfully finds positions for many of their clients. Apple One is deceptively elitist, works with the most qualified of candidates who inevitably is more than eligible for many positions only to take credit for that outcome. It's misleading. That's like working with the most gifted children and priding yourself on their advanced aptitude scores. That isn't a demonstration of an educator's talent, it's a demonstration of the subjects'. Of course with Apple One following strict exclusivity, the only statistics available reveals that most of their clients obtain positions they're seeking in an exceptionally fastidious manner. Unqualified or, shall I say, more challenging candidates are denied their services.
This hidden truth, Apple One's eligibility status, and my disarrayed apartment led to an unexpected interview and unnecessarily created a sense of inadequacy within me. Apparently, an hour before my interview at the Pasadena location with Estelle, I received a phone call informing me to not come in because I'm not qualified for their services. I, however, did not receive that message because I left my cell phone at home in an attempt to arrive early to my appointment, might I add. I could have easily located my cell phone if I wasn't trying to show up early to make precautionary measures. What a counterproductive effort that was.
I arrived 15 minutes earlier than my scheduled interview only to be greeted with a cold and somewhat snappy welcoming. This was when I learned that Estelle was unable to assist me. She was audibly complaining to someone else about what she was supposed to do with me because she called to tell me that she couldn't assist me and I showed up anyways and early. It was the first time I felt unprofessional for doing something professional - arriving early.
In the beginning I believe Estelle reviewed my resume as a professional courtesy, but it was evident how discouraged and inconvenienced she was by exercising this procedure. I have ten months office experience, over two years of retail experience, and light computer skills. It's not exactly the most enriching experience to work with, which is why I went to an employment agency for assistance. I wanted access to opportunities I was unable to obtain independently. That's what most employment agencies are supposed to offer. A competent, resourceful, and adept employment agency will exhibit the ability to introduce and provide clients with employment opportunities in spite of the challenges, rather than reject their services.
In my case, Estelle decided to offer her services to me because I'm fluent in Japanese. That's apparently a marketable asset. She allowed me to take the assessment tests. I scored highly on my typing speed, alpha and numerical data entry skills, Word, Excel, grammar, and basic office skills. After seeing my test scores, Estelle revealed that she didn't regret her decision. Despite feeling inadequate, I courteously thanked her for this opportunity. Estelle began to warm up to me and didn't mind at all. She said that upon talking to me it's evident that I'm very bright and I have good communication skills, so she'll do what she can to assist me.
So the interview turned out a lot more optimistically and productively than originally suspected, but I'm still very displeased by the experience because of how preventable it was. I'm not blaming Estelle for making me feel inferior. As Eleanor Roosevelt put it, "Nobody can make you feel inferior without your consent." And as I've previously mentioned, I was given an opportunity that I wasn't supposed to have. That reflects positively on my ability to win people over, a valuable asset in life especially if you're looking for chances without anything sufficient to offer. But I'm a strong believer in being honest and direct. It's important to represent yourself or your company for who or what it is. I suspect Apple One withholds the fact that they don't offer services to anyone without a minimum experience requirement because that'll portray their company in a potentially negative light.
I don't appreciate paying the price for their strategic plot. I don't want to waste my time, and I certainly don't want to waste any employment agency's time especially if I don't meet their criteria because for better or worse, Apple One does provide a service to their community. I just happen to not meet their demographic. If this company had more professional integrity and was open about their guidelines, I would've searched services elsewhere and allowed Apple One to be more productive with their time. I suppose everything comes in all forms, shapes, and sizes. Employment agencies are no different. I can't categorize whether Apple One is a great find or not because it really depends on your situation. If you're seeking a reputable employment agency to assist you in finding an office position with a minimum of one and a half year experience in that setting, Apple One is an asset that I encourage you take advantage of. That's what it's there for.
I also want to provide a basic profile of Estelle, the Account Executive I interviewed with, for anyone who's interested. She is professional, direct, uncompromising, aggressive, ruthless, from what I can tell, efficient, and resourceful. I did find that she talks more than she listens, which can be a challenge. I wasn't trying to be difficult. With my limited experience, it's unrealistic to find a job in my city. But my personal life requires me to stay within a designated area. Rather than working within those guidelines, Estelle offered me a position 10 miles away from home after I repeatedly told her, clearly, that I will not be able to work outside of the city of Pasadena. As grateful as I am that she kept me in mind and managed to make me a candidate for a job, she demonstrated her selective hearing abilities. I had to visit her a second time to re-iterate my requirements. Since then I haven't heard from her. This doesn't mean that Estelle is ill-suited to assist anyone, just be sure to be a qualified candidate who can travel further distances, and she's likely to find you a position quickly. You will have to take extensive tests. Apple One expects you to be proficient with every Microsoft program.
Apple One
150 S. Los Robles Ave. #970
Pasadena, CA 91101
(626) 796-0395
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Pasadena City College
Pasadena's community college surprisingly offers an enriching educational experience. Many of the professors have at one point taught at UCLA or still do, so you'll be receiving a university education without the exorbitant cost. In some ways, I find that the professors at Pasadena City College offers more substance because they prefer a more direct teaching approach and value the benefits of interactions with students that isn't offered in universities. Many PCC professors find the disconnected teaching environment to be disadvantageous, but they're qualified to teach at such institutions. So that's very telling. In fact, some of them don't even lower their quality of education, so it's equally, if sometimes not more, competitive as UC's.
Many of the professors are proficient in their field, articulate, organized, and truly enjoy the teaching experience. I plan to review some professors I've had the (dis)pleasure of encountering. Their contributions are evident in their students' success in their chosen fields. PCC's success rates are exceptional and dynamic in their accomplishments. It's one of the most reputable community colleges that exists. PCC excels in their art, some athletics, beauty, dental hygiene, engineering, English, fashion, mathematics, and science programs.
The art program begins by emphasizing and focusing on the fundamental basics. It develops and strengthens your core structure. PCC enforces this essential building block through a rigorously demanding program. Their approach isn't as repetitive and redundant as other institutions but serves to be a lot more rewarding. While repetition can improve one's technique through practice, that method is tiring, uninspiring, and can quickly become stagnant, all very discouraging consequences. Rather than relying on discipline and focus alone, which can wane over time, PCC concentrates on refining a student's technique as it's developing, rather than waiting for improvement to be a consequence of repetition.
A dynamic range of art is offered at PCC. You have the privilege of abstract art, ceramics, charcoal drawings, conceptual art, crafts, digital art, game design, historical art, jewelry making, screen printing, sketching, oil painting, a wide range of printmaking, sculpture, watercolors, etc. Bodies are extensively examined from an anatomical and physiological perspective before sketches are even attempted. Art instructors prefer their students to understand what they're being asked to draw before the assignments are provided. This strategic method is largely responsible for the students' confidence and refined talent. The art instructors are well-versed in their field, so much so that some of the most talented artists in the Los Angeles area have received some formal training from PCC.
The women's basketball team is highly competitive and have even gone to nationals. Athleticism isn't exactly my area of expertise, so unfortunately I'm not qualified or informed enough to elaborate. But the records speak volumes. For more insights, you can go to Instructor J. Peron or Greg Smith. Peron is the primary coach. If you've ever taken a class with Peron, you know how rigorous and demanding, as well as how beneficial and productive his physical requirements are. I truly believe his high performance expectation and resilience building exercises are to thank.
The body building class is also challenging. A word to the wise, though, it's important that you have some muscular development and strength before taking this class. As a feminist, I hate the idea of being discriminating, but I'm not that kind of feminist. I believe that both males and females should be treated with respect equally, but I don't want us to lose sight of the big picture. Males and females are anatomically built differently. We both have different pros and cons. To ignore them is denying who we are. And it can, at times, potentially be dangerous.
With that said, I believe it's possible for the body building class to be harmful for women because of the large equipments used. Now I'm a particular petite woman, but I wasn't the only female struggling to use the machines. A lot of the machines seem to be built to accommodate the proportions of a male body. I was too short for many of the machines even after modifications. Some of the lowest weights were too heavy even from the beginning. Until you develop the strength to use them, your shoulders can get damaged in the meantime. On the other hand, if you're already well-built, the body building class will sculpt you and get you into even better shape.
The beauty program at PCC does an amazing job educating students on how to become proficient in hairstyling. They do a fantastic job with haircuts and styling. These services are less than $10! I've had enough professional hairstylists to recognize talent when I see it. Obviously the quality varies from student to student, but I've had enough experiences with the student stylists to recognize the cohesive training they've all received. While most of their clients are students, middle aged adults, and seniors, some clients visit PCC's beauty program to have styling errors corrected from department store salons. So many of the students graduate and immediately obtain a hairstyling position that charges $45 for a haircut. I've also gotten beautiful French manicures. Their facials are ordinary. Some of the students do an exceptional job with eyebrow shaping, but they use such inferior quality wax that it's better to get threading or tweezing. I began writing a detailed record of the beauty school's performance, but it became so overwhelming that I've decided to use that for another entry called "PCC's Beauty School".
PCC has an impeccable dental hygiene program. Their meticulous cleaning technique demonstrates a more advanced cleaning standard than what's offered in most dental offices. In fact, I knew a woman who became a Dental Hygienist through PCC's program and actually recommends that I get a teeth cleaning there then at her own clinic because PCC accommodates for a more thorough cleaning. They break down your teeth cleaning appointment into four sessions. A quarter of your teeth is cleaned at each visit. By breaking down your sessions, the students have an opportunity to refine their cleaning technique in a timely manner.
PCC has an exceptional English program, not to be confused with their journalism program, which I'll elaborate on at another time. The writing discipline, scrutiny, and quality in the English department is responsible for many of the talented, introverted poets and short story writers. There are traditional professors that keep the classics alive and try to open their students to poems no matter how unreceptive some of them are. There are also professors that advocate reading from the Best Sellers list. Regardless of the writing requirement, reading seems to persistently be a high standard. But not every professor assigns daily journaling. The only criticism I have about the English Division is their closed-mindedness for modern learning techniques and topics. The English Division is represented by traditionalists who expect their students to conform to their learning preferences, while exhibiting complete intolerance to what the demographic of students would most benefit from.
To my surprise and endless horror, PCC also has a reputable fashion program. Many fashion students graduate with job offers almost immediately with a starting salary of $20,000 or $30,000, which isn't a lot of money but is an impressive offer coming from the fashion field when all you've got is a Certificate. The fashion classes are more disorganized than the beauty program. At least with the beauty program, students demonstrate competency. I've yet to see students rise above the disarray during the actual process, but evidently they prove themselves at the end. Also, I was exposed to a beginning class for about a week, so my observations aren't well-informed.
The mathematics and engineering program is advanced. Many students have to re-take classes they've done well in in the past because PCC teaches those classes at a much more complex level. For example, PCC's pre-calculus is the equivalent of calculus at most other institutions. Professors passionate about math get excited and are more than willing to assist their students in demystifying problem sentences and introduce abstract concepts.
The science division is also superior, not just compared to other community colleges but is a formidable opponent of UCLA, as many former UCLA professors now reside at PCC. The quality of education within anatomy, anthropology, biology, chemistry, and physiology is impressive. Your intelligence, memory, and tenacity is tested. Of all the classes offered at PCC, I would venture that math and science is equally educationally enriching as it is at other UC's.
While the educational programs at PCC is undeniably sophisticated, their registration, records, and financial aid department, and social setting is tragically inferior. I moved almost a year ago, and PCC has failed to update my current address in all departments. I updated my information online, at the financial aid department, EOP&S department, and even went to Records. Somehow, I still manage to receive mail from PCC that was forwarded from my previous address. Payments seem to get lost or delayed chronically. Their operation runs inefficiently. Employees seem unable to assist anyone productively. It's as though their only presence is to perpetuate or exacerbate the problems. It's very frustrating. Even sadder is that the students have become accustomed to this form of incompetence that we actually incorporate this disruption into our process, practically accommodating and tolerating such negligence. I have made friends at PCC, but it's not the most social environment. Students who have been there for five years are shocked to learn that we have a cheerleading squad, a sorority, a fraternity, etc. The school's social inadequacy is actually reflected in how PCC is rated.
Many of the professors are proficient in their field, articulate, organized, and truly enjoy the teaching experience. I plan to review some professors I've had the (dis)pleasure of encountering. Their contributions are evident in their students' success in their chosen fields. PCC's success rates are exceptional and dynamic in their accomplishments. It's one of the most reputable community colleges that exists. PCC excels in their art, some athletics, beauty, dental hygiene, engineering, English, fashion, mathematics, and science programs.
The art program begins by emphasizing and focusing on the fundamental basics. It develops and strengthens your core structure. PCC enforces this essential building block through a rigorously demanding program. Their approach isn't as repetitive and redundant as other institutions but serves to be a lot more rewarding. While repetition can improve one's technique through practice, that method is tiring, uninspiring, and can quickly become stagnant, all very discouraging consequences. Rather than relying on discipline and focus alone, which can wane over time, PCC concentrates on refining a student's technique as it's developing, rather than waiting for improvement to be a consequence of repetition.
A dynamic range of art is offered at PCC. You have the privilege of abstract art, ceramics, charcoal drawings, conceptual art, crafts, digital art, game design, historical art, jewelry making, screen printing, sketching, oil painting, a wide range of printmaking, sculpture, watercolors, etc. Bodies are extensively examined from an anatomical and physiological perspective before sketches are even attempted. Art instructors prefer their students to understand what they're being asked to draw before the assignments are provided. This strategic method is largely responsible for the students' confidence and refined talent. The art instructors are well-versed in their field, so much so that some of the most talented artists in the Los Angeles area have received some formal training from PCC.
The women's basketball team is highly competitive and have even gone to nationals. Athleticism isn't exactly my area of expertise, so unfortunately I'm not qualified or informed enough to elaborate. But the records speak volumes. For more insights, you can go to Instructor J. Peron or Greg Smith. Peron is the primary coach. If you've ever taken a class with Peron, you know how rigorous and demanding, as well as how beneficial and productive his physical requirements are. I truly believe his high performance expectation and resilience building exercises are to thank.
The body building class is also challenging. A word to the wise, though, it's important that you have some muscular development and strength before taking this class. As a feminist, I hate the idea of being discriminating, but I'm not that kind of feminist. I believe that both males and females should be treated with respect equally, but I don't want us to lose sight of the big picture. Males and females are anatomically built differently. We both have different pros and cons. To ignore them is denying who we are. And it can, at times, potentially be dangerous.
With that said, I believe it's possible for the body building class to be harmful for women because of the large equipments used. Now I'm a particular petite woman, but I wasn't the only female struggling to use the machines. A lot of the machines seem to be built to accommodate the proportions of a male body. I was too short for many of the machines even after modifications. Some of the lowest weights were too heavy even from the beginning. Until you develop the strength to use them, your shoulders can get damaged in the meantime. On the other hand, if you're already well-built, the body building class will sculpt you and get you into even better shape.
The beauty program at PCC does an amazing job educating students on how to become proficient in hairstyling. They do a fantastic job with haircuts and styling. These services are less than $10! I've had enough professional hairstylists to recognize talent when I see it. Obviously the quality varies from student to student, but I've had enough experiences with the student stylists to recognize the cohesive training they've all received. While most of their clients are students, middle aged adults, and seniors, some clients visit PCC's beauty program to have styling errors corrected from department store salons. So many of the students graduate and immediately obtain a hairstyling position that charges $45 for a haircut. I've also gotten beautiful French manicures. Their facials are ordinary. Some of the students do an exceptional job with eyebrow shaping, but they use such inferior quality wax that it's better to get threading or tweezing. I began writing a detailed record of the beauty school's performance, but it became so overwhelming that I've decided to use that for another entry called "PCC's Beauty School".
PCC has an impeccable dental hygiene program. Their meticulous cleaning technique demonstrates a more advanced cleaning standard than what's offered in most dental offices. In fact, I knew a woman who became a Dental Hygienist through PCC's program and actually recommends that I get a teeth cleaning there then at her own clinic because PCC accommodates for a more thorough cleaning. They break down your teeth cleaning appointment into four sessions. A quarter of your teeth is cleaned at each visit. By breaking down your sessions, the students have an opportunity to refine their cleaning technique in a timely manner.
PCC has an exceptional English program, not to be confused with their journalism program, which I'll elaborate on at another time. The writing discipline, scrutiny, and quality in the English department is responsible for many of the talented, introverted poets and short story writers. There are traditional professors that keep the classics alive and try to open their students to poems no matter how unreceptive some of them are. There are also professors that advocate reading from the Best Sellers list. Regardless of the writing requirement, reading seems to persistently be a high standard. But not every professor assigns daily journaling. The only criticism I have about the English Division is their closed-mindedness for modern learning techniques and topics. The English Division is represented by traditionalists who expect their students to conform to their learning preferences, while exhibiting complete intolerance to what the demographic of students would most benefit from.
To my surprise and endless horror, PCC also has a reputable fashion program. Many fashion students graduate with job offers almost immediately with a starting salary of $20,000 or $30,000, which isn't a lot of money but is an impressive offer coming from the fashion field when all you've got is a Certificate. The fashion classes are more disorganized than the beauty program. At least with the beauty program, students demonstrate competency. I've yet to see students rise above the disarray during the actual process, but evidently they prove themselves at the end. Also, I was exposed to a beginning class for about a week, so my observations aren't well-informed.
The mathematics and engineering program is advanced. Many students have to re-take classes they've done well in in the past because PCC teaches those classes at a much more complex level. For example, PCC's pre-calculus is the equivalent of calculus at most other institutions. Professors passionate about math get excited and are more than willing to assist their students in demystifying problem sentences and introduce abstract concepts.
The science division is also superior, not just compared to other community colleges but is a formidable opponent of UCLA, as many former UCLA professors now reside at PCC. The quality of education within anatomy, anthropology, biology, chemistry, and physiology is impressive. Your intelligence, memory, and tenacity is tested. Of all the classes offered at PCC, I would venture that math and science is equally educationally enriching as it is at other UC's.
While the educational programs at PCC is undeniably sophisticated, their registration, records, and financial aid department, and social setting is tragically inferior. I moved almost a year ago, and PCC has failed to update my current address in all departments. I updated my information online, at the financial aid department, EOP&S department, and even went to Records. Somehow, I still manage to receive mail from PCC that was forwarded from my previous address. Payments seem to get lost or delayed chronically. Their operation runs inefficiently. Employees seem unable to assist anyone productively. It's as though their only presence is to perpetuate or exacerbate the problems. It's very frustrating. Even sadder is that the students have become accustomed to this form of incompetence that we actually incorporate this disruption into our process, practically accommodating and tolerating such negligence. I have made friends at PCC, but it's not the most social environment. Students who have been there for five years are shocked to learn that we have a cheerleading squad, a sorority, a fraternity, etc. The school's social inadequacy is actually reflected in how PCC is rated.
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