I am looking into schools that offer gemology programs. I have found several, but it seems like graduates from outside of GIA are not mentioned or suggested as reputable gemologists or appraisers....why? When one views the curriculum of the schools I have looked into, they all teach the same thing? I would love to attend GIA graduate gemologist school, but cannot afford the $23K tuition, where as ISG offers their gemologist/appraiser program for a little over $2K and I can do most of it at home at my own pace, great for a disabled person like me. Open to any insight or thoughts...........