I'm so excited!!

-
Hot chocolate butterflies dance through my heart and tell me you're the one.
Come take a sip of this so I can look into your beautiful eyes and say,
"Ouch! I spilled some on my lap, burning my leg, but I don't mind. I'm with you."

* Too much of a good thing can be wonderful * ~ Mae West

September 6, 2009

____________________________
Piece of cake and a candle.
**ng gift**

[it's good to be good to people you don't understand]

* Too much of a good thing can be wonderful * ~ Mae West

September 6, 2009

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined." Henry David Thoreau

Sephora is the mothership! - diamondfan

Leasing any car is not a smart thing, but leasing a Mercedes is flat out stupid.

Date: 1/9/2008 11:05:53 PM
Author: Sparkalicious

Date: 1/9/2008 8:45:33 PM
Author: MC
That's great Pandora. Sounds very fun! I'm planning to sign up for a gemology course next year after my younger son starts Kindergarten and am pretty excited about it.

Sorry for the threadjack Pandora ... MC, can I ask where or how? I know that you are in the Pacific Northwest and I am interested in doing the same.

I would jump on Pandora's train but you are a little too far away. ... Pandora, actually, do you know if your school offers courses on this side of the world or would you be able to share any info. Everything I have found online seems to not speak to me but to people who are already in the 'know'.

Certainly does - most of the people doing the correspondence course are in India, Thailand etc.

You just need an approved centre where you can take the practical and sit the exams. There's a list on their website.

Everything else is done via email - assignments etc and you have a personal tutor to mark them.

Here's the link with details:

The prices I found were:

FGA:

On campus:
16 month course - £2850 - approx $5579
5 month Fast-Track - £5850 - approx $11,450

Correspondence:
Foundation: £1124
Diploma: £1599
Total for FGA cert including all practicals - £2723 which is approx $5,336

GIA:

On campus - $14,695 (In the USA)
Correspondence - $7,510

This was some info that I found online about the courses:

Gemmological Association of Great Britain

The FGA is the world's oldest and (in my opinion) most valued gemological designation. Cost for their program is significantly less than the GIA, although you will have to get your own study specimens and be more motivated to do your own study. But the FGA will give you the highest level of knowledge and expertise in both the practical and theory of gemology. Both distance study and on-site study available. Strength is the wonderful amount of knowledge offered by their courses.

Weakness is the overall lack of proper marketing of their program, and the slow response to student requests by the Gem-A office. US Students have specifically complained about very slow response from their US based tutors in returning graded lessons. If you are going to enroll in the FGA program, ask for a UK based tutor. You won't have problems that way.

Gemological Institute of America

The most recognized gemological credential in the United States. Offers a wonderful array of services along with on-line teaching and a lot of assistance with study by sending out specimens for grading, etc.... VERY expensive, even for home study. The Graduate Gemologist program costs in excess of US$10,000.00 at the last report I had. Which makes this a long term and costly effort. Their strength is that the program is well supported technically and the GG is the most recognized designation in the US. Weaknesses are the exceptionally high cost, and the fact that the GIA does not teach enough theory in my opinion. Leaving some GG's without a firm foundation in some areas.

Another draw back on the GG program is the over reliance on expensive gemological equipment. Perhaps because the GIA owns Gem Instruments as a for-profit corporation, but the GIA courses teach students to rely heavily on expensive gemological equipment...all for sale by Gem Instruments. Not a proper match up in my opinion. And I got my first GIA certificate in 1978, and the latest in 1996, so I have been around them quite a few years.

More info here

There are cheaper courses, but my thinking was that if I am going to put the time, effort and $$ into doing this, I want one of the best recognised qualifications world-wide. I was also more drawn to the FGA as I am less interested in the more retail orientated stuff than the very scientific bits which really fascinate me. FGA also provides a big equipment pack full of instruments that are yours to keep included in the price.

* Too much of a good thing can be wonderful * ~ Mae West

September 6, 2009

* Too much of a good thing can be wonderful * ~ Mae West

September 6, 2009