I decided to take the course because I was looking for a landscape design education but did not want to necessarily attend a college in order to do so. I was planning my retirement after 35 years as a professional nurse and did not want to return to the classroom with college students.
Did you make any contact with the Institute before enrolling?
After looking at several courses in landscaping on the internet, this particular course(three years ago) appeared very reputable and offered exactly what I was needing.
No other course provided a personal tutor with as much one-on-one instruction and feed back as this course. (And has provided exactly that!!) In fact, my tutor has been extremely knowledgeable and encouraging in all of her communications.
This particular course was willing to back its reputation with an assurance that I could make my investment back as soon as I began working as a Landscape Designer on my own.( Now, no school would have that much faith in their students, usually.) So, that gave me a bit more courage to go ahead and take the step...to try to complete the course. And fulfill my dream! It sounded like they had more confidence in me than I did!
What was your impression of the course when it arrived?
When the course arrived it was a little bit overwhelming because it IS a real course of study. I have not taken a serious study course like this in the past 18 years. But I decided to take it one lesson at a time and not panic. I am on lesson #6 and all has gone very well so far. Yes it is a challenge. There has been study and reading outside of the materials that are just "handed over" to you. So, a little research is required, but it becomes very exciting and really peaks your enthusiasm for the field of landscaping.
Ultimately, what do you want to do?
But, when I complete the course I intend to have a business of landscape design and possible find a partner interested in the "green team" aspects of planting the project so we can see it through to completion for clients.
What might you say to someone who was thinking of enrolling on the course?
I have never regretted a minute of my decision to take this course. It is taking me longer to complete than I thought only because I have so many personal interruptions. THAT'S JUST LIFE! And if I was enrolled in a college no professor would be understanding about it, I'm sure.
I have been able to design and complete 2 small gardens for friends of mine during my course so far. The practice of what I was learning at the time was extremely valuable.
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